Scout

Let me share with you just what kind of tricks my mind plays on my heart. Once again, it happens most often when I sleep...

A pile of laundry sits next to the newly refinished bathtub complete with gold fixtures. Large, thick glass windows surround the beige, marble floors. With a touch of a single button, the lights dim while soothing music spills out of the hidden speakers in each corner of the room. Warm water slowly pours into the tub as I sink both feet in, pushing the bubbles with my toes. I pull the laundry closer to me and began folding a pair of khaki shorts as he enters the room.

I smile, but his face remains expressionless. "Hey," he said.

"Baby, jump in the water is just warming up," I say with enthusiasm.

"I'm not staying long," he says coldly, looking out the window.

"C'mon, it'll be fun," I said.

He looks at me, unamused with my excitement.

"No," he said bluntly.

I got up so quickly I almost slipped, grabbed a towel off the hanging rack and threw it on the ground.

While frantically patting my feet dry, I yell, "Why don't you ever just give in for once and do what I wanna do for a change?"

His eyes began to shrink. His lips slowly tightening up. I knew then his temper was about to flare up, but I couldn't control myself.

"Who the hell put a stick up your ass anyway?” I mumbled.

He ran over to me and kicked the clean clothes into the tub.

With a sly grin he said calmly, “Guess, they’re dirty again.”

I squat down, pulling the soaked shirts and pants out, tossing them over to his neatly placed khaki shorts.

“These are your clothes. You could wash them again your damn self,” I retorted.

He grabbed my arm and yanked me up to his level.

“Don’t tempt me,” he muttered through his grinding teeth.

I stared blankly into his beady, little eyes.

“I just did,” I said with no hesitation.

His tight grip briefly stopped my blood flow, leaving red marks on my arm as he finally let go. He stormed out of the house and into the front yard stretching his arms out from side to side as if surrendering him out of this torn relationship.

That’s when she walked over.

Even-tanned, brunette with itty-bitty white shorts and a baby black tee. I stayed behind the pillar.

“Hey,” she said flirtatiously.

“Hey,” he said back with a smile I haven’t seen in over six months.

He put his arms down and walked over to her.

“I’m trying to find my cat,” she said brushing her hair away from her perfect complexion.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said with genuine concern.

“What’s its name?” he asked.

“It’s a He and it’s ‘Scout,’ mine’s ‘L’…"she trailed off. (I couldn’t make it out.)

“Nice to meet you. Now let’s scout for ‘Scout,’” he giggled.

That’s how he has always been. So sweet to strangers, pretty ones at that. And there I stood behind the pillar watching how a ‘nobody’ ignited a side of him I used to see.