Tales From The Triple Suns (Chapter Five)

(Sort of an adjunct to the story, yet still a part of it.)1

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I remember the exact moment I fell in love with Craig.  4

We had been dating for a few months, and although I thoroughly enjoyed being with him, we had yet to…well…have sex.  We had both decided…or, at least I did…that forming a strong personal bond would be better first.  Truth was, I was still severely emotional burnt by Tony in the sexual mystique area, and wasn’t ready to open that part of my soul to anyone yet.5

Craig said that he understood, but I could tell he was getting a little frustrated.  At times he would gently push the issue, only to pull away when I softly refused.  Fearing that I would lose him, but knowing that if I ‘put out’ when I wasn’t emotionally ready that I would do more harm to us than breaking up would...I decided to let him off the hook.6

I had a few drinks one night (remind me to NEVER again drink Cabiania Brandy), and called him to come over.  He showed up an hour or so later, and sat on the couch while I tried to explain it to him.  His eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked; “So you’re just gonna dump me because you’re not ready?”  I nodded slightly, the movement making me dizzy.  “For fuck sakes, Cali…what kind of guy do you think I am?”  Damn it…I had really hurt him.  He only swore when he was annoyed at something, and the word ‘fuck’ only came out when he was thoroughly annoyed.7

I got up to get another drink, trying to compose a response in my mind…it wasn’t working.  I went back to the living room, and sat on the arm of the chair.  Craig stared at me, then got up and got himself a beer.  He fiddled with the mug for a few minutes.  "Fine…you don’t want to be with me…okay…got it…" He downed his beer in one gulp then stood.  “See ya around.”  He started for the door.8

“Craig…wait.”  I started to follow him, but tripped over the end table.  I fell to my knees, then hard on my butt.  “Wait…” I put my hands on the side of my head.  “I want to be with you…I really do, but…”9

He walked over and crouched beside me, then put a finger under my chin and forced my face up to look at his.  Concern lurked behind the anger in his eyes.  “But what?”10

No, I couldn’t tell him the reason.  I pulled away from his searing touch, and tried to stand.  I got dizzy again, and opted for sitting on the floor a few feet away from him.11

“Calinda,” he said in a low voice.  “What the hell is going on with you?”12

I don’t know why, but I unsteadily got up, made it to my desk in the corner, and took out a computer disk.  I put the small circle into a hand-held notepad, and tossed it at him.  He caught it out of the air, and looked at me in confusion as I walked back into the kitchen to get another drink.  I downed it as he watched, and punched in the code for another one.  Craig sighed, got up from the floor, and walked over to me.  He took the drink from my hand, poured it out, and punched the code for a glass of water.  He handed it to me.  “Drink that… the bar’s closed for you.”13

I snorted rudely and walked away.  He came back in to the living room, sat on the couch, briefly looking at me as I fell none to gracefully into the overstuffed armchair.  He looked at the notepad, hesitated, and then opened the file that was on the mini disk.  His eyes flashed to me again, and I cringed at the anger in them.  The muscle in his jaw clenched as he read and I could see the knuckles turning white on one hand.  He suddenly sucked in his breath in shock, and I knew he had finished the police report and taken a look at the accompanying pictures of what Tony had done to me.14

He finally put the notepad down, then rubbed his hands over his face.  He got up, walked over to me and crouched in front of the chair.  “Cali, I’m…”15

“Don’t say you’re sorry,” I spat out.  “You did nothing.”16

“Neither did you,” he whispered and took my hand in his.17

The full effects of the Brandy hit me like a meteor, and I stood quickly, then found myself falling just as quickly.  The next thing I knew, I was being carried into my bedroom and laid on my bed.  I felt my shoes being taken off, and then the covers were over me.  For some reason I started to cry, blubbering something stupid.18

I felt a weight on the bed beside me and an arm came across my waist.  I rolled over and buried my face in Craig’s chest.19

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I woke the next morning with the worst headache in history, and a tongue that felt like it was wearing winter socks.  I opened my eyes; curious when I felt something behind me, and rolled over to stare into Craig’s sleeping face.  I glanced down at our fully clothed bodies, and closed my eyes as the night’s events came into focus.  I opened my eyes again to find Craig watching me.21

“Thank you,” I whispered.  I would have been so easy for him to have taken advantage of me in my drunken state last night, but he hadn’t.  22

He seemed to have read my mind.  “You’re not ready,” he said softly.  “But I’ll be here when you are.”23

That was when I fell in love with him.24