Heart Pulled to Pieces

19-Everything has changed

I woke with the warmth of a good man in my bed who shut off the annoying alarm clock that blared on the opposite side of the bed from me. Once he silenced it, he rolled over, put his arm around me, and gave me a peck on the cheek.

Except the reality of it all was that he groaned at the alarm, slapped his arm against me, and when I said peck I meant a quick, friendly one before Tony said, “Morning sunshine. Better get up so you can start your day of beating boys away with sticks.”

I laughed sleepily, pushing the blankets off and putting my feet on the cold hardwood floor.

Tony had come outside just as Eddie asked to spend the night, and told Eddie politely that he was interrupting our couple's night and he should go home. I thanked Tony profusely for stopping me from making a mistake right off the bat.

His response to that was, “Umm, excuse me, but if he stayed the night where was I going to sleep? The couch? I don’t think so, honey, this body does not do cushions.”

I grabbed clothes out of my closet, Tony assessing them in the low light of the bed side lamp and telling me what I should change and what I should change it with. After assembling a Tony approved outfit, I jumped into the shower, cleaning quickly, dressing quicker, and headed into the kitchen.

“Morning, Missus Lansky,” Gaylen smirked as he stood over a cutting board, chopping strawberries for the French toast he had already made.

“That’s a dangerous thing you just said there,” I warned, pointing a finger fiercely at him while trying not to laugh at the giant, giggling Greek man.

“What? Morning? How else should I greet the day?” He asked innocently as Beth back handed his gut.

“Piss her off, and you get in trouble with me.” Beth also warned as she came to stand next to me while I got on my tiptoes, retrieving some plates from the cupboards. “And how did you know her married name?”

He pointed to the phone on the wall, “I flicked the caller ID and found Mister Eddie’s name and number from yesterday morning.”

“He called here yesterday morning?” I questioned Beth.

She shrugged. “He wanted to find out if you were working, if I would tell him where, and stuff.”

I eyed her suspiciously. “Like what stuff?” I asked, handing the plates to Gaylen so he could serve up breakfast.

She shrugged again. “He wanted to know if you were seeing someone. I said yes.”

“Beth!” I slapped her on the arm.

“What?”

“Why would you say that?” I demanded.

“Because, he’s Eddie. I didn’t want him to come into town with the satisfaction that you were available. I was really hoping by some miracle you would have taken Rob back Especially after he punched him.” Beth replied a smirk.

“Did you encourage Rob to do that?” I asked, smirking.

“No,” She said, disappointed, “He did that one all on his own.”

“Okay, ladies, breakfast is ready.” Gaylen cut into the conversation. “So I suggest that we eat now so we can go to work soon?” He handed us plates with the toast done up so fancy it could have been done in a restaurant.

“Oh hello,” Tony said as he comes out of my room fully dressed. “What the hell is all this? Normally when I stay here I end up eating breakfast at work.” He took a plate from Gaylen and started to eat. “Oh my god, it’s sex on a plate.” He moaned. “It’s official, I hate you both.”