As We Lost the Light

VIII.

"Okay, that's the last of it!" I huffed, dropping the box just inside the entryway. I placed my hands on my hips, sucking in a sharp breath; I was so out of shape. I surveyed the living room, boxes piled high against all four walls. Sweat coated every inch of my body; my shirt stuck to my back and I peeled it from my skin before pushing my bangs from my face.

A loud thud resonated from the second floor, followed by a slew of vulgarities, and then laughter. The ceiling creaked as two sets of feet padded across the floor, the laughter becoming louder as Vic and Mike began to descend the stairs.

"You got it all?" Vic asked incredulously as he came into view.

"Yeah, no thanks to you!" I whined, crossing my arms over my chest. He chuckled, leaning in to press his lips to my cheek.

"You're a beast, baby." He bent down and grabbed the box that sat at my feet, lugging it to the kitchen. I watched him, my heart fluttering; his long hair was pulled up under the hat that sat backwards on his head, the muscles of his arms flexed as he heaved the box up onto the counter.

"Why did you have to pick the heaviest fucking dresser in the entire goddamn store?" Mike cried. I laughed. "It's not funny, Sadie; I could've died!"

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. "You're such a baby, Michael." Vic chuckled from the kitchen. Mike pulled his phone from his pocket and began typing feverishly.

"Well," he began, looking up at me with a mischievous grin, "I'm gonna head out. Duty calls - or should I say 'booty' calls.'"He chuckled heartily and I pretended to gag.

"Gross."

"Thanks for your help, man," Vic said, pulling his brother in for a quick hug. Mike approached me next, pulling me under his sweaty arm.

I scrunched up my face and giggled. "Yeah, thanks Mike."

"Anytime. See you guys later." He dipped out the front door, leaving Vic and I alone in our new home.

"So, where should we start?" I looked around, overwhelmed by the mess.

He sauntered over to me, wiggling his eyebrows. "How about the bedroom?" I scoffed, opening my mouth to respond, but Vic swept me off my feet, cradling me in his arms as he hurried towards the stairs.

The sun bled in through the gaps in the curtains and my eyes cracked open. I groaned, willing myself to fall back to sleep, but only seconds later my alarm was beeping loudly from my behind me. I rolled out of bed, made myself presentable, and headed off to work.

I dropped my sunglasses over my green eyes as I backed my car out of the driveway, merging into the heavy early-morning traffic. My body went on auto pilot, my mind drifting elsewhere. It was beginning to piss me off that I couldn't stop thinking about Vic. It was stupid, really. I was still irritated about the way he acted the other night, with the reminiscing and the smiling and the staring. We didn't belong to each other anymore, we hadn't in a long time, and I had come to terms with that. But now he was back in my life, and for some unknown reason he seemed to want to stay there, and I felt conflicted. I was annoyed with him. But at the same time all I could think about was how his lips would feel on my skin and it was driving me crazy.

The hours of the day ran together as I focused in on work. I sat at my desk, brainstorming ideas for my next project while also tying up lose ends from the previous one before publication. My cell phone rang, a number I didn't recognize.

"Hello?"

"Sadie? Hey, uh, this is Alysha, Mike's girlfriend." I scrunched my forehead with confusion. "I hope it's okay that I'm calling, Mike gave me your number."

"Yeah, its fine," I responded, still slightly perplexed as to why she had called. "What's up?"

"So, I know this is kind of out of the blue, but Mike and I are having a little barbecue get together thing at our house this weekend and I thought it might be fun if you came by." She spoke kindly; she seemed very genuine. But the thought of seeing Vic again turned me off from the idea.

"I don't know-"

"Vic won't be there," she interjected, sensing my declination coming. I sighed. "I completely understand if you'd rather not come. I just, I don't know. I've heard a lot about you from Mike over the years, and I thought it might be cool to get to know each other. And I know the other night sucked. But you handled it like a pro. And I thought it might be easier if you had a friend to help you through it."

I smiled. "Okay. Sure, why not?"

"Yay!" She squealed. "Awesome. I'll text you our address; we'll see you Saturday!"

"See you then."