Then She Walked Away, chapter 5
As expected, Mike had given Terri a call the next day. He had called the pool first, but since she wasn't there, one of the lifeguards had given him her work number instead. So calling her up at work was definitely a pleasant surprise to her day.
Mike had asked her if it was possible for her to meet up with him either tonight or tomorrow night, but Terri chose to give up her Friday night for Mike Dirnt. So Mike had offered to pick her up from work that day and then bring her over, much to Estelle's delight.
"You like her?" Mike asked his daughter as they drove to the building that Terri worked at.
Estelle looked up at her father. "She's nice. Do you like her?"
Mike turned to face his daughter. "Yeah, she's a good person. But I don't know her that well or anything."
"So? Do you like her?"
Mike averted his eyes towards the road once more and then raised an eyebrow directed at Estelle. "You're awfully curious," he told her.
Estelle grinned. "Is that a yes?"
"It's a nothing. I don't like her Stelle."
"So you hate her?"
Mike looked at his daughter. "Estelle, quit it. I don't hate her, but I don't like her in the context that you're thinking."
Not truly satisfied with that answer, Estelle turned to look out the window and watched as the building passed them by. When they reached the building that Mike knew was their destination, he was going to park the car and get out, but he noticed Terri had just exited from the main door with her sweater and files in one arm and her bag in the other. Mike got out of the car and rushed towards her, taking her bag and files out of her hands. "Oh hey... " she started when she saw Mike standing before her. "Thanks," she finished as he held her things for her, making her life that much easier.
"How was your day?" he asked her as they walked towards his car. Estelle had her nose glued to the window and was watching her father with a knowing smile.
"Alright. It revolves around numbers and bills, how exciting can it be?"
As Terri stepped into the car and threw down her sweater, she noticed Estelle. "Hey there princess," she said in greeting.
Estelle grinned widely and Mike stepped back into the driver seat. "Do you like being an accountant?" he asked her honestly.
Terri shrugged. "It's a job and it's easy. I was always good at math so things just come easily to me. And it's straightforward. It's something that I'll always be in complete control of, and I like that."
Mike nodded, knowing the feeling. As they drove back to Mike's home, he almost laughed out loud. Here he was, picking Terri up from work, asking her how her day was and having Terri and Estelle laughing in the back seat and stupid comments that he made. Hell, if he didn't know any better, he'd say that they've fallen into the same category as a married couple.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Mike snapped out of his trance and turned to Terri who was watching him with interest. He just shook it off. "Just wandering, something musician's do a lot."
Terri nodded. "I know. I've been around my fair share of musicians," she noted.
Mike glanced over at her. "Perks of the job," he asked.
"Sure... Perks... " Terri teased.
Mike rolled his eyes and pulled into his driveway. "Now, I am making dinner, and then after that, we'll get started," Mike announced to Terri as she had gotten out of the car and grabbed her things.
Nodding, Mike took her bag from her and the three of them walked into the Pritchard house.
* *
Terri laughed as she took another sip of wine. It was just her and Mike at the table now, as Estelle wanted to watch her movie on television and had left just about two seconds ago. Terri leaned back and sighed. "So when do you guys head out for tour again?"
"In three weeks," Mike spat out.
"Don't you like it?"
Mike sighed before looking up at Terri. "Sure I like it, but... I hate the fact that I have to leave Estelle behind. I mean, I love being onstage and fucking rocking hard, but I also love being at home with her," he said as he motioned to the other room.
Nodding, but not really understanding, Terri set down her glass of wine with finality. "You ready?"
Mike looked at the table. "Sure... I guess... " he started, but Terri knew why he had he'sitated.
"I'll clean up later. Trust me, when I'm done with you, you'll be out like a light and then I can clean up and by the time I'm done, you can drive me home."
Mike watched as Terri stood up and tied her hair back in a ponytail. "You seem to have it all figured out," Mike mocked.
Terri winked at the blue-eyed man. "You have no idea," she joked.
* *
"Alright, here, lie on your stomach," Terri asked him.
Mike gave her a curious look, but Terri only returned it with a smirk. "What, you don't trust me?" she asked.
He trusted her alright, but he didn't trust himself. Surrendering to her, Mike forced himself face down and rested his chin on his forearms. Sighing for a moment, he nearly leapt in the air when Terri crawled on top of him, straddling him. "Uh... Terri?"
"Mmm?" she asked as cracked her knuckles.
"What are you doing?"
Terri titled her head to the side. "I'm going to see what part of your back needs the most work. Why?" she paused. "Are you uncomfortable?"
Uncomfortable wasn't the word that he'd use, but he was definitely feeling something. Shutting his eyes and thinking of anything else to get his mind off the only thing that it was stuck on, Mike took another breath. "I'm fine."
"Alright then, let's take a look."
Terri stretched forward and her hands started to work along Mike's back. Now, although he could definitely enjoy this under any other circumstance, Mike remained completely immobile and tried to get his mind thinking of anything else. As Terri's hand worked their way on his upper back, Mike could feel the parts that caused him the most pain. "Shit," he hissed.
"There we go," Terri said triumphantly. "I figured as much. Hold up," she told him.
Mike was about to ask her what she was going to do, but when he felt her hands under his shirt and sliding up to the spot on his upper back, he swallowed the lump in his mouth, thanking the lord that he was facing down. When Terri started to feel around the tender section, Mike shook his head. "You know, this does hurt when you do that," he told her.
Terri laughed. "I know, but I could leave it and it could get worse you know."
"Touché," Mike finished lamely.
"How does this feel now?" she asked him.
'Quite alright, ' he thought. "It fucking hurts," he whined.
"Eugh," she sighed. "Men."
"Well Terri... That... Ow! Hurts you know," he told her again.
"You'll get used to it."
"I don't want to get used to sharp pains," Mike retorted back.
"Honestly Mike, I've had to train kids that weren't as bad as you."
"Very funny."
Terri continued to work through the major knots and tightened muscles in Mike's back and Mike was truly surprised that she hadn't noticed the sudden shiver he gave when she moved lower down. Closing his eyes and wondering if there was anything in the world that would get his mind off of this, the next thing he knew, he was drifting off to sleep.
* *
When Mike woke up, he looked around and saw that he was still lying face down on his bed. 'Thank God, ' he told himself as he realized that he hadn't changed positions since Terri was on top of him. Looking around though, he noticed that the door to his room was open and that most of the lights were off, but the television was glaring light into the house. Standing up, Mike felt the little 'pins and needles' sensation in his back and slipped on a sweater over him. Walking through his home, Mike passed by the kitchen to see that everything was absolutely spotless. Just to make sure, he opened the fridge and saw that the leftovers were packaged and put away in order. Shaking his head in care and stifling a laugh, Mike closed the fridge and walked into the living room to see his Estelle asleep, her head resting on Terri's lap. Terri meanwhile, was asleep, or at least half-asleep and her hair was falling around her shoulders, shining against the little flashes of light.
As Mike stood there watching the two girls dozing off, he couldn't help but think of how Terri would just fit right in as his wife. 'Wait... ' Mike thought. 'Wife? I've only just met her! '
As if to take his mind off his 'ludicrous' thought, Mike heard a small beep noise and then turned to see Terri's phone light flashing on the side. Walking towards it, he saw that she had three missed calls. Curiosity getting the better of him, he clicked the 'view' button and saw Tre's number twice and one long-distance call. Grimacing, Mike snapped back into reality. Tre.
Mike had asked her if it was possible for her to meet up with him either tonight or tomorrow night, but Terri chose to give up her Friday night for Mike Dirnt. So Mike had offered to pick her up from work that day and then bring her over, much to Estelle's delight.
"You like her?" Mike asked his daughter as they drove to the building that Terri worked at.
Estelle looked up at her father. "She's nice. Do you like her?"
Mike turned to face his daughter. "Yeah, she's a good person. But I don't know her that well or anything."
"So? Do you like her?"
Mike averted his eyes towards the road once more and then raised an eyebrow directed at Estelle. "You're awfully curious," he told her.
Estelle grinned. "Is that a yes?"
"It's a nothing. I don't like her Stelle."
"So you hate her?"
Mike looked at his daughter. "Estelle, quit it. I don't hate her, but I don't like her in the context that you're thinking."
Not truly satisfied with that answer, Estelle turned to look out the window and watched as the building passed them by. When they reached the building that Mike knew was their destination, he was going to park the car and get out, but he noticed Terri had just exited from the main door with her sweater and files in one arm and her bag in the other. Mike got out of the car and rushed towards her, taking her bag and files out of her hands. "Oh hey... " she started when she saw Mike standing before her. "Thanks," she finished as he held her things for her, making her life that much easier.
"How was your day?" he asked her as they walked towards his car. Estelle had her nose glued to the window and was watching her father with a knowing smile.
"Alright. It revolves around numbers and bills, how exciting can it be?"
As Terri stepped into the car and threw down her sweater, she noticed Estelle. "Hey there princess," she said in greeting.
Estelle grinned widely and Mike stepped back into the driver seat. "Do you like being an accountant?" he asked her honestly.
Terri shrugged. "It's a job and it's easy. I was always good at math so things just come easily to me. And it's straightforward. It's something that I'll always be in complete control of, and I like that."
Mike nodded, knowing the feeling. As they drove back to Mike's home, he almost laughed out loud. Here he was, picking Terri up from work, asking her how her day was and having Terri and Estelle laughing in the back seat and stupid comments that he made. Hell, if he didn't know any better, he'd say that they've fallen into the same category as a married couple.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Mike snapped out of his trance and turned to Terri who was watching him with interest. He just shook it off. "Just wandering, something musician's do a lot."
Terri nodded. "I know. I've been around my fair share of musicians," she noted.
Mike glanced over at her. "Perks of the job," he asked.
"Sure... Perks... " Terri teased.
Mike rolled his eyes and pulled into his driveway. "Now, I am making dinner, and then after that, we'll get started," Mike announced to Terri as she had gotten out of the car and grabbed her things.
Nodding, Mike took her bag from her and the three of them walked into the Pritchard house.
* *
Terri laughed as she took another sip of wine. It was just her and Mike at the table now, as Estelle wanted to watch her movie on television and had left just about two seconds ago. Terri leaned back and sighed. "So when do you guys head out for tour again?"
"In three weeks," Mike spat out.
"Don't you like it?"
Mike sighed before looking up at Terri. "Sure I like it, but... I hate the fact that I have to leave Estelle behind. I mean, I love being onstage and fucking rocking hard, but I also love being at home with her," he said as he motioned to the other room.
Nodding, but not really understanding, Terri set down her glass of wine with finality. "You ready?"
Mike looked at the table. "Sure... I guess... " he started, but Terri knew why he had he'sitated.
"I'll clean up later. Trust me, when I'm done with you, you'll be out like a light and then I can clean up and by the time I'm done, you can drive me home."
Mike watched as Terri stood up and tied her hair back in a ponytail. "You seem to have it all figured out," Mike mocked.
Terri winked at the blue-eyed man. "You have no idea," she joked.
* *
"Alright, here, lie on your stomach," Terri asked him.
Mike gave her a curious look, but Terri only returned it with a smirk. "What, you don't trust me?" she asked.
He trusted her alright, but he didn't trust himself. Surrendering to her, Mike forced himself face down and rested his chin on his forearms. Sighing for a moment, he nearly leapt in the air when Terri crawled on top of him, straddling him. "Uh... Terri?"
"Mmm?" she asked as cracked her knuckles.
"What are you doing?"
Terri titled her head to the side. "I'm going to see what part of your back needs the most work. Why?" she paused. "Are you uncomfortable?"
Uncomfortable wasn't the word that he'd use, but he was definitely feeling something. Shutting his eyes and thinking of anything else to get his mind off the only thing that it was stuck on, Mike took another breath. "I'm fine."
"Alright then, let's take a look."
Terri stretched forward and her hands started to work along Mike's back. Now, although he could definitely enjoy this under any other circumstance, Mike remained completely immobile and tried to get his mind thinking of anything else. As Terri's hand worked their way on his upper back, Mike could feel the parts that caused him the most pain. "Shit," he hissed.
"There we go," Terri said triumphantly. "I figured as much. Hold up," she told him.
Mike was about to ask her what she was going to do, but when he felt her hands under his shirt and sliding up to the spot on his upper back, he swallowed the lump in his mouth, thanking the lord that he was facing down. When Terri started to feel around the tender section, Mike shook his head. "You know, this does hurt when you do that," he told her.
Terri laughed. "I know, but I could leave it and it could get worse you know."
"Touché," Mike finished lamely.
"How does this feel now?" she asked him.
'Quite alright, ' he thought. "It fucking hurts," he whined.
"Eugh," she sighed. "Men."
"Well Terri... That... Ow! Hurts you know," he told her again.
"You'll get used to it."
"I don't want to get used to sharp pains," Mike retorted back.
"Honestly Mike, I've had to train kids that weren't as bad as you."
"Very funny."
Terri continued to work through the major knots and tightened muscles in Mike's back and Mike was truly surprised that she hadn't noticed the sudden shiver he gave when she moved lower down. Closing his eyes and wondering if there was anything in the world that would get his mind off of this, the next thing he knew, he was drifting off to sleep.
* *
When Mike woke up, he looked around and saw that he was still lying face down on his bed. 'Thank God, ' he told himself as he realized that he hadn't changed positions since Terri was on top of him. Looking around though, he noticed that the door to his room was open and that most of the lights were off, but the television was glaring light into the house. Standing up, Mike felt the little 'pins and needles' sensation in his back and slipped on a sweater over him. Walking through his home, Mike passed by the kitchen to see that everything was absolutely spotless. Just to make sure, he opened the fridge and saw that the leftovers were packaged and put away in order. Shaking his head in care and stifling a laugh, Mike closed the fridge and walked into the living room to see his Estelle asleep, her head resting on Terri's lap. Terri meanwhile, was asleep, or at least half-asleep and her hair was falling around her shoulders, shining against the little flashes of light.
As Mike stood there watching the two girls dozing off, he couldn't help but think of how Terri would just fit right in as his wife. 'Wait... ' Mike thought. 'Wife? I've only just met her! '
As if to take his mind off his 'ludicrous' thought, Mike heard a small beep noise and then turned to see Terri's phone light flashing on the side. Walking towards it, he saw that she had three missed calls. Curiosity getting the better of him, he clicked the 'view' button and saw Tre's number twice and one long-distance call. Grimacing, Mike snapped back into reality. Tre.
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