City of Schemes by Bill Garwin

Author:Bill Garwin [Garwin, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

I took Crystal to her place. She owned a two-bedroom townhome on Sacramento in Nob Hill. Gray walls encased 1,200 square feet of constrained elegance. The furniture was some form of comfy modern, both useful and attractive. The artwork tended toward the Impressionistic, but made way for a few other styles creating an eclectic feeling. Nothing dominated; bathed in natural light everything worked together to soothe. I felt soothed. I also felt tired. I faced Crystal put my hands on her shoulders, bent and kissed her. Mostly explorative, not wanting to offend, but needing to make a clear statement. Without hesitation, she wrapped me up and dove in enthusiastically. The messaging was clear, unequivocal and mutual. The kiss lasted just short of forever. We released simultaneously, stepped back, looked at each other and fell back together. After another eternity, Crystal leaned away and asked if I was tired.

“Extremely.” Knowing exactly where this was going.

“Good. Take the blue bedroom, down the hall on the right. Thank you for an amazing day.”

“Are you joining me?” To say I was hopeful is to say a lion is a large cat.

“I’d love to, but I’m going to work?”

“Work?”

“Yes.” She pointed to a sizable, round, copper desk in the corner of the living room.

In a voice an octave higher than humanly possible, I asked, “Now?”

“I have an article to write. Good night.”

The kiss was a bit more perfunctory this time. I turned, bowed my head and trod down the hallway. I found the blue bedroom exactly where it was supposed to be. As disappointed as I was, the knotty-pine California King bed looked mighty fine. The blue bedroom’s theme was rustic outdoors. A massive floor mirror framed in logs leaned against the snow-white wall. I stood in front of the mirror trying to assure myself the glass was defective. I looked like there’d be a train wreck and I hadn’t survived. I sat on the bed contemplating a shower. The last thought I remember was I might just close my eyes for a couple of minutes before cleaning up.

***

I awoke, as best as I could determine, a long time later. I assessed my surroundings, astutely remembered I was in Crystal’s condo, then noticed a body laying next to me. Crystal was curled up on my back with her arm cradling my shoulder. Some soft, non-snoring sound, almost a purr, emanated from her. She looked too peaceful to disturb. I slowly rolled to my stomach and belly-crawled off the bed. I gently closed the bedroom door and wandered back to the kitchen in hopes of finding a coffee maker.

My quick survey of the kitchen revealed a note to me sitting atop a few sheets of paper. “Tell me what you think.” Crystal had printed out her article. This seemed more important than the coffee. I found my way to what was obviously a reading chair. It didn’t face the TV and cradled next to it was an ottoman.

“I’m angry. I’m angry for me and I’m angry for you.

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