Charleston Downs

The Night With Hailey

A storm rolled over the chrome sky, the wind howled loudly outside and a faint whistle lead me to discover an unpleasant draft under the front door. I'll have to get that fixed. The rain pattered against the windows viciously, the refraction of the streetlight through the drizzle reminded me of looking up at the water's surface from the bottom of a swimming pool.

I turned on the TV and flicked through the channels aimlessly, but they all aired the same static. The wind howled again, louder. 'No TV tonight I guess', I go to make a cup of tea. Tea bag first, then water, two sugars, stir, milk, and stir again. I carry my mug to the sofa and sink down, bliss.

The rain weeping down the window echoes Charlie. I trace the edge of the mug with my finger, lapping the circumference repeatedly as my mind circles that boy, I don't even know him. I didn't notice anything peculiar while I was at the Rowley's, nothing that could be upsetting. It must be something else, something personal. I suppose it's none of my business.

Suddenly the doorbell rings, I look at the clock; its 11:35pm. I put the steaming mug on the tea table and wander over to the drafty door.

"Hailey?" I exclaimed, "what are you doing here?" She stands on my porch, drenched; her strawberry blonde hair reduced to a damp mop. Her makeup running barcodes down her face, she is wearing a white sweatshirt that now reveals her pink bra.

"I'm sorry, this is so unprofessional. My boyfriend, well I live with him so its more like partner, really. He was supposed to be - well, I just walked in on - I came home early. They were in my bed." She wiped her teary cheeks with the back of her hand and caught breaths rapidly between the sobs. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have come to you. I don't know what I was thinking." She was about to to walk away when I reached out and held her shoulder.

"Come in" I smiled, I couldn't turn her away in that state. "I've just made tea."

I put the cup of tea down on the tea table and retrieve a large shirt and pair of jogger bottoms. I make another cup of tea while she changes into some of my spare clothes. When I bring the drink in, she is resting on my sofa with her knees up to her chest. She's only wearing the top, the jogging bottoms sit, rejected, at the foot of the sofa. I sit down next to her, again placing the tea on the table.

"Thank you." She sniffs, "Oh, God. I'm such an idiot." She lifts the mug to her lips.

"No you're not." I reassure.

"No, I really am. All the 'late nights at work' and the 'guys nights out', of course the whole time he's been nailing someone else!" She starts to cry, and puts the mug on the table to avoid spilling the tea. "Mr Sutcliffe..."

"Finn."

"Finn." She smiled, taking my name and turning it around on her tongue. She tasted it, evaluated it. What was it like? Was it honey, sugar or cinnamon? "I hope I'm not imposing." She suddenly looked around as if expecting to see a large party of guests whose evening she'd interrupted.

"Not at all Hailey. Actually it's nice to have some company on a night like this."

I reach out and move a strand of strawberry blond hair, wetly stuck to her cheek. She looks at me, her big, blue eyes searching mine. Neither of us speak, the only sound is the faint ticking of the swiss clock on the wall behind me.

"Well, I've been seeing James for about 6 months now - you know, it's not the first time he's done this but I made him promise he wouldn't again. My mother always told me a leopard never changes it's spots, and you know what the hag was right!" She returned the gaze to me from the fireplace, noticing I was smiling. "What's so funny?"

"Not funny, it's just you - you're very sweet." I stood on the precipice of indulgence, shouting at myself for restraint. There was a reason I moved here.

"Have you got anything stronger?" She asked, holding the mug, I take the mugs and retrieve the only alcohol I had at that moment.

"Is Bourbon OK?"

"How old are we?" She giggled, taking the quarter mug I'd poured. We drank, loosening like warming rubber. I even asked her about Charlie Rowley. I'm on the precipice, and I know I shouldn't, but I dive into the rich blue of her eyes. She leans close, I take her head in my hands holding her close to me. Her sweet breath brushing my lips. Like magnets we connect, her lips are soft, like velvet. I take her bottom lip between mine. She fondles my ear lobe as she holds my head in her hands.  My hands, their own masters, investigate the landscape of her body; her curvaceous waist, her slender legs. As we kiss my hands drift up lifting off the top. She wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me down on top of her.  Her head lolls back as I kiss her down neck, venturing south. Slowly, softly, her breathing deepens. She unbuttons my shirt as my hands glide up her thigh. We kissed again.

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Special thanks to rdiamond89, your lovely comments spurred me to finish this chapter! :-)
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