As they passed the “Welcome to Somerset! Pop 3270” sign that was probably the most interesting monument in the sleepy town, Jake wondered if he would be able to get Jo alone – even if it were just for a minute. They had ten days before the flight to Prague and Jake hoped Fallon would want to go back to wherever it was he came from if only to get clean clothes and spend a night or two in his own little haven.
That just left James. Would he be going back to “wherever it is he came from”? Jake hoped so. Jo would not leave; he knew it – felt it, sensed it. He wanted her to stay; it was time to take things to another level. He could hardly say he wanted to take things to the “next” level, so “another” level would have to suffice. While driving, sure that there would be no more “espionage” or physical threats or attacks from crazy soldiers, the four of them and the dog had agreed that there was no reason not to stay in Somerset, which comforted Jake. Though, that meant that James and Fallon would be around – all the time. Hopefully Jordi would keep him occupied.
He wanted to see Jordi, Chris and Jaimie. He wanted to see what damage Chip had done to his shop, if there was any damage at all – Chip was pretty reliable. He wanted to go back to his little house – which no one had ever been to, mostly because he never bothered to make friends and he wanted to save himself the pain of sitting through one of Jordi’s lectures on “hygiene”. He wondered if his house was okay, and if maybe an invitation to Fallon should be extended. Fallon was the only person ever to have stepped into Jake’s abode. Slyly, he thought “where Fallon goes, Jo goes”.
Mustering up all the sincerity he could, “Hey, Melon, you staying in Somerset for the next ten days?”
“Hells yeah. Have you seen the fine, wholesome women in the county? Geez, they-be-hot! Now, I don’t just know about the art of war, I know about the art of good lovin’ and them girls, they be needing some gooood lovin’,” Fallon replied with an accent so bad that James began to choke.
“So you’re staying then. Where, if I may so politely ask?” Jake said.
“With you, of course. I’ve already cased your place. It’s a dump, but it can be cleaned up. I’ll help you. We can share,” Fallon said without even stopping to consider if Jake would mind his intrusion. “Plus, Jo will want to hang out, and your place looks like a great dump-cum-hangout joint.”
“Wait!” Jo screeched. She was obviously jealous, but of who? Was the fact that Fallon wanted to stay with Jake instead of her an issue or was it that Fallon would be monopolising most of Jake’s time? Piqued at her sudden emotional outburst, Jake knew better not to press her. Fallon would do him the favour of doing just so.
“What, woman? You don’t want me to stay with big boy over here? Or you want me to stay with you and the damned dog? Speak up, she-devil, or forever hold your peace,” Fallon spewed. “Boy, I do love calling her names.”
“Easy, you, me and Jake bunk at Jake’s place!” she replied. James was laughing, obviously glad that he had nothing to do with the whole “board and breakfast” dilemma. It was a known fact that he would crash at Jordi’s place.
“Uh. No. Fallon, you stay with Jo, I have, uh, things to do,” Jake said.
“What? Fine. Don’t say we didn’t want to include you in all the fun then, Jakie-poo,” Jo replied, dejectedly.
“Yeah. Fine,” Jake snorted. So much for planning on getting her alone, in his house. That obviously was not going to happen. He used to think he was a little smoother when it came to the fairer sex, but obviously he lacked tact. He knew it was now a lost cause and would have to settle for ten days of... nothing.
As they pulled up at the driveway of the Coroner’s office, Jo produced a remote control from her bag and the shutters went up. Just like that, they were back where they started. Was it always like this? Jake wondered if this was how all scientists actually worked. It really was nothing like in the movies. They were ordered to make something by a particular deadline, and then once it was produced, they would have to wait for another order, another job, another weapon of mass destruction.
It looked so easy in Hollywood. Bombs were already made by the time the movie began, no credit given to the scientists that made them, and if the scientists were introduced, they were hideous, evil and psychotic. Nothing like Jo, except for the psychotic part. Jake spotted his truck in the garage and was eager to start her up and go home, with or without Jo... or Fallon.
He ended up going home alone to his little house, which had stale milk in the fridge and weeds conquering the garden. Fishing around the fridge for a beer, he chucked out the now curdled dairy product and made a note to “buy milk”. After his beer, he was going to have a long, much deserved shower, order-in pizza and then sleep. Hopefully for at least two days.
He felt better after the long shower, which had to be cold, mostly because he could not get Jo out of his mind. He realised he wanted her – enough to be easily thrown into a constant state of confusion and shameful arousal. Towel wrapped around his waist with another cold beer in his hand, he made the call to the “Pizza Junkstore” and turned on the television. He figured, “Who gives a shit if I don’t move from the couch for two days? Who gives a shit if I can’t be bothered to put on a pair of pants?”
There was, predictably, a football game showing. He dozed off in front of the television, revelling in the comfort of his little sofa.
***
Minutes later, or hours, the doorbell rang. Jolted out his sleep by the sound of sharp rapping on the door, the only sense he possessed was the sense of smell. Happy that the pizza had finally arrived, he grabbed his wallet and head straight to the door – in his towel.
“Whoa. Holy shit, Jakie-poo! Dinner is served, dammit and you’re not dressed. So... are we swapping then? My pizza for your, uh, very own brand of tasty?” Jo exclaimed flirtatiously.
And just like that, Jake knew he had made a mistake of monumental proportion and it was going to be the best ten days of his life.
Yes, you read it right. Wait for the next chapter!
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