0 comments/ 2652 views/ 4 favorites Ed's Drive By: Latenight_Pondering It was Ed's day off, the Saturday they'd been able to spend together in weeks. They'd talked about going for a drive in the new Subaru so Ed grabbed a couple of bottles of water and put them in the lunch cooler while Dina packed the leftovers from last night. "Where are we headed today?" she asked. "I thought we'd run up the back roads up to Riverwood and then over to that antiques place in West Virginia you said you wanted to check out. On the way back, I wanted to take you to a little restaurant on the river." "Really? You're going to take me to antique store?" "Hey, it's both our day off right?" She leaned over and hugged him when they got to the car. "You're the best, babe." The car started with the deep grumble he loved and they were off. The day couldn't have been more perfect, warm and sunny with occasional puffy clouds blocking the sun. They got to Marietta and followed the road east, out of town. Dina rolled down her window as they left the town behind, tucking her long blonde hair under a baseball cap. Ed smiled over at her, there wasn't a soul he'd rather be with. "Don't you make me carsick," she teased him as the road dropped into the river valley and began to twist back and forth. He gunned the engine in response and she laughed, putting her head against the seat, dangling her hand out the window, playing with the air moving past. Life was good. There weren't many other cars on the road and they made it to Riverwood before 11:00. Ed filled the car back up and then they were back down the road. "Hey, are you hungry?" she asked as he downshifted, following the road down a hill with a sharp curve. "I could eat, sure." "Next right, there's a picnic area with a pond." He slowed up, following the narrow road as it turned back and forth out of the valley. They passed a large gas station and turned down the dirt road. "Did you bring me back here so I could rally drive?" "Definitely no. Be careful on this bridge, it looks scary." "We're fine, it's a park. They're careful about stuff like that." "There's the entrance." He pulled in and turned off the car. Without the engine everything seemed very quiet. "There's picnic tables over there," Dina said. "Under the pine trees." She walked across the meadow toward a grove of pine trees and Ed got the cooler out of the hatch. He looked around, it was really quiet, the forested slopes around them swallowed the sound. All he heard was the wind in the trees. It was nice, but for some reason the place bugged him. Dina climbed up on a picnic table as he put the cooler down. The breeze hissed through the pine needles and he could smell the pine sap. It always reminded him of turpentine for some reason. Usually he liked the smell, liked sitting under pines with the soft carpet of needles. Not today. They opened the water and Dina put the Tupperware between them and gave him a fork. The lasagna from last night hit the spot, especially cold. They didn't say much, he concentrated on eating and she was looking around at the pine trees they were eating under. "Are you okay?" Dina finally asked. "Yeah, why?" "You're hunching your shoulders, it looks like you're waiting for someone for someone to hit you." As he was about to tell her he was fine, the wind blew harder, making the trees hiss again. He let the sound interrupt him, glaring up at the trees. Dina frowned. "Something's sure bugging you." "I'm fine, just annoyed with this place." "Then we'll go somewhere else. Do you want any more lasagna?" "It's awesome, maybe later?" "Yep," she said, packing it away. She drained her water bottle as they got up and dropped it in the cooler. "You going to finish yours?" "Yeah, I'll keep it," Ed said. "Let's just get out of here. They walked back out to the car and he put the cooler in the back. Dina smiled at him. "Feeling better?" "Yeah, a little. You ready?" He started to get in the car but she shook her head. "What?" "There's an abandoned graveyard up on the hill." "No kidding? Wonder why." He looked around but there wasn't any sign there had been a church. "This was a little pioneer settlement here. There isn't much now except the graves and an old well. They're up the hill, you want to go look?" What he really wanted to do was get out of there, but he didn't tell her that. She'd picked the spot on purpose, something to make him happy. Ed liked old graves, nothing emo or creepy though. The old stones and the names set his imagination off for some reason, wondering what the people had been like, what they'd died of, if there were any of their kin were left. "Yeah! Let's go check it out," he said and she gave him a brilliant smile and took his hand. It wasn't as bad up here. Everything was perfect but there was some kind of itch he couldn't reach. He'd snap out of it, today was going to be perfect and the engagement ring had come in yesterday... Yeah, today was going to be perfect. "There's the well," she said, letting go of his hand to point. They walked over to the fieldstone wall and looked down. There was a heavy steel grate keeping people from falling in, other than that, the bright light made it too dark to see the bottom. He thought he could hear the water at the bottom though. It made him have to pee. "Hey, I'm going to duck behind this tree for a second," he said. She smiled and shook her head. "We just walked by a bathroom," she teased him. "Hurry up." He left his bottle of water on the edge of the well and kissed her. "Be right back." He walked to the edge of tangle of trees that made a large shaded area and went against the base of the tree. Ed zipped up and walked back but Dina wasn't there. She probably thought it was gross and went on without him. He grabbed the water, why was it full now? He squinted at the cap, it was still sealed. He knew he'd drank half already, it had to be someone else's. He left it there, last thing he needed was some soccer mom screaming that he stole it. He walked down the path to the little graveyard but there was no one there. She must have gone back down to the car then. She wasn't at the well, but the water was still sitting there. His foot scuffed the dirt and he was surprised how loud it was. There had been all kinds of crickets before, did they all stop? He could see the parking lot ahead. That's where she was, she'd laugh at him for being all nervous when he told her. There was still that rock in the pit of his stomach though. He was on the edge of the lot when he remembered the water. She'd give him hell for littering in the park if he didn't have it but he really didn't want to go back up there, too hot and too still. Besides, someone else might have left that one. He glanced at the car as he walked by but she wasn't there. Still the only car here and it was getting quiet down here now. He'd wait for her at the outhouse but when he walked around the brick building he saw that the door was still latched open and it was empty. The feeling in his stomach abruptly got worse. Fuck nervous, he was getting scared. Ed called her name again, turning in a circle as he looked for her. Had someone kidnapped her? He had the sudden urge to run back to the well and look for traces, but that was ridiculous. He'd been fifty feet away, he would have heard something and besides, she was hardly helpless, he'd seen her put a drunk on the floor at the bar before without breathing hard. But whose water was that? The picnic table under the pines was the only other place he could think of. He couldn't see into the shadow from here and was surprised how much he didn't want to walk over there. But if she was in trouble he was going to help her, she'd do the same for him. They always said it; 'I'm yours and you're mine' and he wasn't going to let her down because he was spooked. It was maybe a hundred yards to the trees from here and he began to walk that way. The sunlight wasn't friendly and warm any more, it was a glaring heat on top of his head. The dry grass rustled under his feet, nothing had moved but those trees looked like they were miles away. It was going to take him forever to get out there. He glanced back at the parking lot, hoping that she was standing by the car, hands on her hips, wondering what he was doing wandering around like this. The parking lot was still empty and now the car looked as far away as the trees, he couldn't possibly make it there now. It didn't matter, she was his and something had gone very wrong and he was going to find her. He kept walking toward the trees, not looking back. There were small puffs of dust from the grass, baked brown and dead by the merciless sun. There was a scrap of something on the ground, a scrap of nylon strap someone had abandoned a long time ago looked like. Maybe a dog collar. He'd had a dog once. He could still hear it; the screech of tires followed by its anguished screaming. It was the first thing that he'd ever had to kill, kneeling there in the street with the knife while the blood spread, staining the knees of his school pants. The bad feeling in his stomach was fear now and he swallowed, holding off the panic. Why were the trees scaring him so much? Jax was long gone, no need to worry about that. It had been quick for Jax, not like his stepfather slowly beating his mom to an early grave. He moaned quietly. He was thought he was done with remembering this shit! Why was he doing this to himself? Ed could've cried when he saw her sitting on the same picnic table. He stumbled into the shade of the pines, shuddering as he stepped out of that merciless heat and glare. The cool dim air washed over him, almost like stepping into water. He looked up, knowing he was going to see Dina, they were going to laugh about this later. It wasn't her. Dina was wearing khaki shorts and a green t shirt with a faded Hornet logo. This woman was wearing black jeans and some sort of sleeveless vest thing. Dina had blonde hair to the middle of her back, this woman had short black hair that was spiked up. It definitely wasn't her and Ed felt the fear and despair return in full force. Where had she come from? The parking lot was still empty, he could see it from here, across the endless wastes of dead grass. "I'm sorry, but have you seen a blonde woman in shorts around here?" he managed to ask. The woman turned around gracefully, almost swiveled like a machine, to look at him. Finally she smiled. This wasn't someone you'd expect to see somewhere like this. She looked like a supermodel, high cheekbones, flawless skin and lips on a hard angular face. Her eyes were a strange gray color. Ed had never seen anyone so beautiful. It was like a statue's beauty or like the iridescent curve of a beetle shell. The kind of face you'd see walking down 5th Avenue surrounded by photographers, not sitting on a picnic table in a park. "Her?" The woman said it like she couldn't believe it, like she was disappointed Ed could even think about Dina now that he'd seen her. "She's up there waiting for you, at the well." Ed's terror had returned, he was almost nauseated with it, his knees were made of water and every neuron he had wanted to run. Right now. The woman was looking past him now, like someone behind him was talking to her. Ed didn't hear anything and when he turned to look there was no one there. "You know? At the well?" She was talking to him like he was stupid. "No, I just came from there," Ed said. "She was gone." "Not that well." The woman laughed and it was unpleasant sound of cheerleaders in the hall laughing behind his back. Ed just looked at his feet, ashamed of everything he was. But he wasn't leaving until he had an answer. He was hers, she was his and he was going to find her again. She sighed. "Fine, I'll show you." She got up gracefully and Ed almost screamed but bit his lips before she noticed. No one moved that way, no one real. It was too smooth, too perfect, it looked like she was animated or something. There was something to it that woke up the ancient parts of his brain. 'Predator!' it screamed. "RUN!' Ed had a hard time making his legs move, but finally followed her. There wasn't any choice, he had to find...what as her name again? Dina! How the hell could he forget that? It had to be this heat. The sun blasted meadow was shimmering in the heat and Ed stopped to look back at the shade and a jolt of terror ran through him. He hurried after the woman and the fear faded when he was close to her again. Ed tried to stop walking again and there was immediately the terror of his memories, pushing him back toward her. His car was right there, a beautiful blue promise of escape if only he could make it, but he couldn't stop. His hands were shaking so badly that he couldn't have even gotten his keys out anyway. The terror began to close in on him again as they climbed the path until Ed was right behind her as she climbed. He didn't do anything but follow her, he didn't want to be left here by himself. As they climbed the movement of her buttocks under the tight jeans began to occupy more of his attention. He stared at the strip of perfectly smooth skin between the vest and her low cut jeans. The movement under the fabric was graceful and perfect. Ed was baffled that he was somehow getting turned on, he couldn't look away from the perfect motion in front of him. She led him to the well and pirouetted and sat on the edge of the well in one swift movement. Ed looked for the bottle and was confused. Had he had been at the wrong place? Then he saw the trees he had gone behind. No, this was the same place he'd been before. "Maybe she got tired of waiting for you," the woman said. "Maybe she went off into the trees with him." "With who?" "Him! You won't know his name." There was a spark of anger inside of him. Of course he didn't know the name, would he have to ask if he did? "He gets impatient. Go look in the trees." she said, waving him on Ed was drawn to the tangle of trees, aware of every footstep, not wanting to look, suddenly sure he'd see Dinah there, ripped and lifeless. He couldn't stop himself, he wanted to close his eyes...and then he was gasping in relief, there was nothing there but the carpet of pine needles. He turned back to the woman and she was opening her vest, letting it fall onto the ground. She looked up at him, pulling off her jeans. Ed saw that she hadn't been wearing underwear, she was walking toward him naked, even more like a statue now; beautiful and inhuman. Whatever was driving Ed's arousal didn't care, his cock was rigid as his heart beat faster in renewed terror. He wanted to turn and run until his lungs burst and he wanted to crawl on the ground to please her and he wanted to climb into the trees to hide and he wanted to scream his sanity away. But he didn't move, he was frozen in place and out of choices. He was going to do whatever she wanted, crawl, lick her, rip his own eyes out to please her. Whatever she told him, obedience not desire. "Where is she?" Ed whispered. To find her or make sure she didn't see this, he wasn't sure. "I told you, he gets impatient! She's right over there, look." She went on, saying something else but he ignored he woman, he could see Dina! She was so close he could hear her. Hear them. She wasn't alone? They were so close he could hear them both. Dina was gasping over and over, crouched over a figure in the shadows. She was pushing herself onto his penis, the breath being driven from her every time he drove himself up into her. Ed wanted to weep, knowing whatever it was had gotten to her, just like the woman was about to get to him. He wasn't angry or jealous, they had no choice. Like a mare being inseminated had no choice. Was that what they were doing to Dina and him? Why? Ed stood and stared, aware of the woman standing beside him, close enough that he felt the heat coming from her perfect flesh. "Who are you?" he whispered, pleading, keeping his eyes on Dina. "Up and beside," she said, sliding her hands down his back. He shivered at the warmth of her hands. "Don't worry, how would Mr. Square know of up?" "What do you want with me?" "Mmm, you're all so snuggly and scared!" she laughed, her hands tracing the edge of his shorts. "Not pets, not quite right, but close. Cattle? Ooh, so mean! But we like playing, you're so adorably tri-dimensional." "Is this real?" "Oh, see?" Her hands slid over his stomach and he felt the heat from her skin along his back, almost like sunlight. "Adorable!" Ed couldn't look away from Dina. Could she see him up here? She pushed him forward as she stepped away. "Her again!? Why are you thinking about...oh! I forgot! You have a relationship. This must be very upsetting for you then. But see? Isn't he magnificent?" Dina cried out suddenly, sitting down hard on the man, grinding her hips into him. Ed was shocked to realize she wasn't being forced at all, she was enjoying it. She was begging for more. She never said that to him but she was screaming it at a stranger while his hands grabbed her ass. She began to move up and down on him again, starting to moan again. She wasn't being forced, she wanted more, wanted more of him inside of her. She moaned it, screamed it, she was enjoying this. Ed turned to look at the woman and she gave him a little smile. "He's so impatient," she sighed, sounding oddly happy. Her clothes were back on and she was backing away, toward the well. "Too late too late' she said, almost singing it. "Slowpoke, too late." Behind him, Ed could hear Dina orgasming. The woman reached out into the air, like she was pulling a curtain back and then she stepped behind it somehow and she was gone along with the fear. Ed fell to his knees, his entire body cramping as he gasped and sobbed. "Baby!" Dina yelled, running toward him from the well. Looking past her, he could see his half full water bottle sitting there in the mellow June sun. Then her arms were around him, rocking him as he shuddered. "Where did you go?" she asked him. "You just disappeared." "Who were they?" he gasped. "Who are you talking about?" she said. "That woman, and that man. Oh God, I thought I'd lost you!" "Shh, I'm right here. You just disappeared, I looked all over but you were gone. Where did you go?" "I was here," he said. "I was right here." == She finally got him to the car, helping him walk on shaky legs down the path. Everything looked normal, he didn't feel anything at all, the grass was as green as it had been earlier. Even the irritation was gone. "You're not okay to drive." "I'll be fine, let me catch my breath." Ed sat down in the grass, Dina fussing over him. "You really didn't see anyone?" he said. "Up there? No, there wasn't anyone there. Are you sure you didn't hit your head?" "I'm sure." "What did you see?" "I came back from the tree and you weren't there. I went looking for you and couldn't find you in the graveyard, I came down here and there was a woman over there," he said, pointing toward the trees. "I thought it was you and she said you were waiting at the well." "Baby, you should go to the hospital," Dina said. "Seriously, you might have had a stroke or seizure or something." "It wasn't that, it was real, it happened." "So you came to the well and that's when I found you?" "She led me up there, said you were in the trees and I saw you with..." "What?" she said, looking into his eyes. She looked worried. "Nothing, it wasn't you, I turned around and you were by the well." Ed's Drive Did she just relax? He couldn't tell and didn't trust his eyes right now anyway. "Well, I saw you walk behind that tree," she said. "Then nothing. After a few minutes I asked if you were okay but you didn't answer, so I went and looked and you weren't there," she said. "How long was I gone?" She shrugged. "Twenty minutes maybe? Did you wander to a different parking lot?" "And you didn't see anyone, that whole time?" "Ed, sweetie, I didn't see a soul," she said. "I walked around a little then I came back to the well. I was looking for you." He took a long breath. "I must have had sunstroke or something." She felt his head. "You're pretty warm, maybe. Do you want your water?" She held out the half empty bottle and he recoiled slightly. "What's wrong? You left this on the well." "Thanks," he said, taking it. "I'm feeling better actually." "So we can go to the hospital. You are not okay to drive." He shook his head. "Not spending my weekend in the hospital. Would you drive home?" She laughed. "Now I know there's something wrong with you." He laughed, making sure he didn't' shake as he stood up. Dina took the bottle and he gave her the keys. They got in the car and he put the seat back a little. "I'll take you to dinner tomorrow," he said. "Okay, deal. You just rest right now." He managed to stay awake until she got the car to the main road, but his eyelids got heavier and heavier as they drove. "Falling asleep?" He nodded. "That okay?" "That's fine, we'll be home before you know it." == Ed was almost instantly dreaming, the noises from the car and road were part of it, the woman was on the picnic table, turning around and he tried to force himself awake. "Shh," someone said and he relaxed again, feeling the movements as Dina sped up, she was taking the freeway home. The windows rolled up and she turned on music. "Just sleep," she said gently. He wasn't sure if he was awake or asleep and kept his eyes closed trying to decide. The woman laughed at him again, then there was music again. Ed realized he was drifting in and out of sleep. He heard something rustle and then unzip and there was a soft sigh. He thought he was in the dream again and tried to wake himself up. There was a wet noise and a very quiet moan. He opened his eyes slightly, afraid of what he might see. Dina was beside him, not the woman. Ed relaxed, then she made a small noise like she was in pain almost. She was biting her lip and at first he thought she was crying and felt a wave of affection that she would worry about him this much. He was about to reassure her when she whispered 'oh God'. He looked down and saw that her shorts were open and her hand was in them, in her underwear. The wet noise became rhythmic with her breathing, he heard the echo of her gasps when she was with him. He wanted to watch her, to hear what she said but the darkness was coming up to claim him again. == "Hey sleepyhead, we're here." Ed sat up and Dina kissed his cheek. "Feeling better?" "Little bit," he mumbled. "Feel like I ran a marathon." "C'mon, let's get you in the house." He followed her into their small rented bungalow. He found himself watching her ass, the same way he'd watched the woman's. Sudden anger, if he'd known Dina was going to like it, he would've fucked the black haired woman. Then she could watch him moaning. She unlocked the door and held it open for him, smiling and the anger dissolved. She wouldn't do that to him. "Couch or bed?" she asked. "Bed." He followed her up the stairs to the bedroom and sat down and kicked his shoes off. "I think you had heat exhaustion," she said. "That's why you're so tired. I'm going to get you some water, be right back." Ed pulled his shirt off and flopped back onto the bed. He held up his hand and watched it tremble. Some sort of hallucination from heat stroke. Had it been that hot? "Here," Dina said, putting the water on the table beside the bed. She sat on the edge next to him, putting her hand on his cheek. "You're cooling down I think. You've been working really hard and we were up late last night. I think you push yourself too much, just relax and rest. I'm going to do some stuff downstairs and then I'll come up and we can watch some TV, okay?" "I'd like that," he said. "Sorry about your day off." "Don't worry about it, make sure you drink all that water." "In the car earlier, were you..." "Was I what?" He was silent and she stared at him. "Tell me Eddie, I'm not kidding." "Uhm, touching yourself." "Edward! I was driving and you were asleep the whole time." She sounded irritated. "Sorry, must have dreamt it." "You really think I'd do that in public?" "Heat exhaustion, remember?" "More like a filthy mind," she said, leaning over to kiss his forehead. "Get some rest." She went downstairs and as he fell asleep there was a little voice telling him she'd never said she wasn't, and if she lied about that who knew what else there was. It was irritatingly gleeful as he fell into darkness again. == "Hey, I brought you some more water. I want you to wake up and drink it." Ed opened his eyes, there was a dull blue light outside. "What time is it?" "Just after ten. Sit up and drink this, you." He sat up against the pillows and took a long drink of the cool water. "Thank you." "You're welcome. I'm mad at you; you scared the shit out of me today. You're going to the hospital next time." "Yes ma'am." "You better call me ma'am if you know what's good for you," Dina said as she took off her shorts and sat on the edge of the bed. "Move over, I want to lay by you." She turned on the tv and started the movie they always watched, just nature and music. Ed sighed and leaned back against the pillows. He still felt like he'd busted ass all day but this was nice. Dina took his hand and laced her fingers through his. "I'm mad because I'm scared. I love you," she finally said. "I know." "Baby, I want to ask you something though." "Yep." Ed had been about to sleep when she'd spoken. "What's that?" "You were falling asleep? Never mind, tomorrow is fine." "No, tell me now." "I want to know what happened," she said. "You didn't say what the man was like, just that I was with him. Then you asked me if I was getting off in the car. What did you see baby? I want you to tell me all of it, about this woman, the man, what happened that scared you so bad?" "It was just a dream or something, no biggie." "Then you can tell me tomorrow, deal?" "Deal," Ed said. == Ed's eyes opened in the darkness, something was under the sheets sliding over his cock. He couldn't breathe as he reached down then gasped as he felt Dina's long hair in his hands. He'd been afraid it would be short and spiky. Dina moaned, her mouth moving over his cock. "Put your hands on my head," she whispered. "I want to feel your fingers in my hair." "Dina, baby, I don't feel too good," Ed mumbled. "Shh, don't worry, you just lie back and I'll do all the work." His cock was back in the wet heat of her mouth and she slurped as she sucked him. Ed glanced at the clock and was surprised to see it was after two. Dina was crawling up his body, giving his nipples little bites as she went by. She moaned happily as she took his cock and put it inside of her, sitting up in the dim light. "You feel good," she said, bending down to kiss him. "Just lie back, I'm going to make you feel really nice." Ed was surprised, Dina usually didn't like being on top, she never talked dirty. "How is it?" she asked. "Can you feel how wet I am for you?" "I can," Ed said. "It's tomorrow, now tell me what you saw." Ed was half awake and she felt so good, otherwise he never would have said it. "That guy today, you were with him." "What guy?" she whispered, grinding her hips on him. "The one I saw, the woman showed me you guys having sex." "Having sex." "Yeah, you were on top of him, Riding him." "Interesting," she said leaning down to kiss him. "By the way, do you like my interrogation technique?" "God yes, you can interrogate me anytime you like." Dina lifted herself almost all the way off of him and moaned as she slid back down. "What was he doing?" "You were on top of him." "Like we're doing it right now? Did I like it?" "I thought he was controlling you, you were just breathing hard at first. But then you started talking dirty to him." "I did? What did I say?" "Go deeper, fuck you hard, that kind of stuff." "Me? I said that?" Dina looked amused. "Then what happened?" "You started cumming and the woman said I had waited too long and she disappeared." "Oh God, I'm going to cum right now," Dina suddenly moaned, sitting up and leaning backwards on her hands. "I'm gonna cum baby, keep fucking me!" Dina's back arched as she sat all the way down on him, thrusting her hips against him and moaning. Ed wanted to enjoy it but couldn't forget her on top of him back there in the forest. Dina shivered, laid against his chest and kissed him. "You think it really happened, don't you? That's why you thought I was masturbating in the car?" Ed just shook his head and Dina gave him an evil smile and squeezed. Ed gasped. "Oh God I love interrogation. But I don't know what I think." "I want you on top of me," Dina said, rolling him over on top of her. She spread her legs wide as she reached down and put him back in. "So do you want me to talk dirty for you?" she said. "I will, because I want your cum in me, Ed. I want you to take that hard cock and shove it all the way into my wet little pussy. And then I want you to pump me full of cum." Ed slowly thrust into her and she groaned, putting her hands on his ass to pull him tighter. "Just like that baby. Next time I want you to cum in my mouth, I like feeling you shoot on my tongue, it's so nice and dirty when I swallow, isn't it?" She moved her hips against his slow thrusts. "Isn't it?" she repeated, squeezing his cock inside of her again. "Yes!" Ed gasped. "I love cumming in your mouth!" "You liked it, didn't you? You liked watching me with someone else." Ed moaned, thrusting into her again. "Tell me Eddie, do you like the thought of someone else's cock inside me? Making me scream while he fills me with his cum? Did you like watching me taking that big dick? Did you like me being a little slut?" "Yes!" Ed gasped. She giggled and then moaned. "Oh baby, fuck me deep like that. Cum inside me, I want you to shove it all the way up in me and let go, I want you to put a baby in there. Would you like that?" "Yes," groaned Ed. "Do it baby, fill me up," Dina whispered, pushing her hips against his thrusts. Ed began to thrust hard up into her and she cried out when he began to cum. She pulled him on top of her, breathing hard. "You came a lot, I can feel it," she finally said. "I think you might've just knocked me up." "Am I too heavy?" "No, stay there, I want to keep you inside me." Dina eventually curled up beside him, her breathing deepening and slowing as she fell asleep. Ed finally reached over and turned on the small lamp beside the bed. Dina muttered and turned over. What was going on, had he hallucinated the entire thing? Instead of being tired and ready to pass out, he was wide awake now and slipped out of bed and pulled a pair of shorts on. Dina muttered something and Ed smiled. She was always talking in her sleep, usually something surreal. "What was that?" he said, squatting down next to the bed. "Impatient," she said, sounding annoyed. "He's impatient." It felt like someone had dumped ice water down his back, he'd always thought that was just an expression. == Four days later Ed got out of the car and had to hold onto the door as his head spun. He had to start getting more sleep, this couldn't keep going. He'd stopped sleeping four days ago. Dina had come in the bedroom four days ago, brandishing a pregnancy test. "My daddy warned me about you!" she said and started laughing. Ed had whooped and grabbed her around the waist, swinging her around. "I'm glad you approve but I'm going throw up right on you if you don't stop!" Dina was laughing as he set her down. She put her arms around his neck and pulled Ed down into a long kiss. "Now take me to bed and fuck me," she'd whispered in his ear. She'd been a different person in bed and Ed wondered about it but wasn't about to complain. He'd been too excited to sleep, thinking about the baby. Dina moaned and then muttered something in her sleep. Something about patience. "What?" Ed had asked her but she just grumbled and turned over. Ed was awake for the rest of the night, his mind racing while he waited for her to talk again. That was twice now. And the sex. Had that been real? It couldn't have been real. But had it? If it was true did she forget or was she hiding it from him? Was that his child inside of her? Dina couldn't get enough of him in the bedroom and then she'd sleep like a baby. And every night he laid awake next to her, listening to her breathing, waiting for her to say something He had to know but he was paying a steeper price every morning. Ed jumped as one of the haulers honked. "Eddie! Better wake up, that ain't a good place for dreamin'!" the driver yelled as he drove by. Ed waved at him and got the rest of the way into the office without being run over. == "Ed, go the fuck home." Ed sat up, eyes open. "Sorry boss, what's up?" "You're killing me is what's up. I'm sitting here watching you yawn and head bounce, you're getting me tired now. Eddie, go home, willya? We're caught up and you've been busting your ass for weeks. Take the afternoon off, go home and take a damn nap." "Gerry, I'm sorry man. Been having all kinds of trouble getting to sleep." "Yeah? I can't imagine why; girlfriend's pregnant, planning a baby and a wedding, oh right and running a quarry. No one thinks you're slacking off Eddie. Try and get some bourbon in you before bed, that'll help you out." "I'll give it a try, see you tomorrow." Dina was still home when he pulled up the driveway. He could hardly remember his own schedule some days, he'd completely lost track of hers. He didn't see her when he came in the house, maybe she was still asleep. Ed sat down on the couch and sighed. He could fall asleep right here, it seemed like a great idea in fact. "Ohhh, yeah. Do it just like that," he heard from the bedroom and his eyes snapped open. What the fuck? He got up and walked quietly to the bedroom. "Holy shit, you feel sooo good! Fuck me like you did before!" The hair on the back of Ed's neck stood up. There weren't any other cars here, who the hell was she talking to? "He was watching us, he saw you fucking me," Dina moaned from behind the door. "He liked watching. Fuck me like that again, nice and hard, I want you to fuck me til you shoot in me, fuck me til I can't walk straight!" His body was covered in goose bumps and he wanted to run but this had to end now. He threw the door open, kicking it back as it hit the wall and rebounded. Dina was lying there, her hands busy between her spread legs as she fucked herself with something. She didn't even look surprised, she just started laughing. She was laughing so hard that the cucumber she'd been using got pushed out and that made her laugh harder. "What the fuck, Dina? Who're you talking to?" She rolled on her side, holding her stomach as she laughed. "Gotcha! Welcome home!" she gasped. Something broke inside Ed. He'd had enough, this was over. He grabbed his bag off the floor, his overnight stuff was in there and he could buy whatever else he needed. He walked out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind him. "Ed!" Dina yelled but he ignored her. He didn't have a goddam thing to say to her. Torturing him was fucking funny?! The screen thwacked shut behind him. She was calling his name, laughing like it was all a big joke. He ignored it, got in the truck and pulled around. She was at the screen door, watching as he pulled around and drove back down the driveway. "I'm fucking done," he muttered as he jerked the wheel, making the tires screech as he headed toward the freeway. He'd go south. South was good, he could find work anywhere, find a place to stay when he got there, his camping shit was still in the back if not. He wasn't coming back here, nossir, never again. He had a bunch of money from a lawsuit settlement. She could have that to raise the kid. He didn't even care if it was his anymore. He stopped just south of the Ohio River and called the bank and arranged for them to start sending her checks. There was almost 200k there, enough to easily raise a kid if she was careful. Then Ed kept driving, staying off the freeways and following back roads almost randomly. He found a National Forest and he holed up in the campground. Ed drove into town a few times for groceries and found wifi for the laptop. He should've been trying to find a new job or a place to stay but just couldn't make himself care. First it was two days, then five, then it was a week. Ed tried to keep his mind quiet, taking endless walks until he was exhausted enough to sleep. Dina had emailed him of course but he never read any of them, just deleted them as soon as he saw them. Ed couldn't read them, couldn't face Dina begging him to come back or worse, telling him to stay away. After a few days the emails stopped coming, Ed didn't know if that was easier or harder. He was back in town again on the tenth day; he still hadn't gotten a cooler and food didn't last too well in the summer heat. After throwing the groceries in the truck he pulled into a fast food place that had free internet. He got coffee and stared at it long enough that the kids behind the counter were beginning to look at him weird. Ed asked for the manager and slipped the guy $50, making up some story about a crisis at the office. The guy refused, telling him to take as much time as he needed. People were nice at the strangest times. Ed finally checked his mail, mostly out of habit. Everything was done out of habit these days. He almost missed it in all the spam. Dina had sent him another message, nothing in the subject line. He stared at it, knowing he should delete it, like all the others. He also knew he'd read it, he had to. Ed sighed and clicked. I am always yours and you are always mine, to the end of time. Come home, we miss you so much. Just those two sentences and suddenly he couldn't see, had to get to the bathroom before anyone saw him starting to cry. He finally got it together and went back out in the dining room. The manager was sitting in the booth next to his, told me he didn't want anyone walking off with the laptop. Ed thanked him and started getting stuff back in the bag. The guy nodded at the laptop and asked if the crisis at the home office was under control. "At least for today," Ed said. "Glad to hear it, you stay safe, y'hear?" Ed saw the guy standing in front of the store as he pulled out. The guy was chubby and going bald but he had a look on his face as serious as death. He nodded once at Ed, one hand held up in a wave. Ed nodded back and waved as he pulled out. He was halfway to the campsite when he had to pull over. He'd forgotten something, he didn't know what, but he was sure he'd forgotten something. He checked his pockets and bag, nothing was missing. As he sat there patting his pockets and looking through the truck he had a thought so strong it was like someone whispered it in his ear. Ed's Drive He was the thing missing, he was the one going the wrong way. Ed finally nodded and made a U turn. There wasn't anything at the campsite he needed, someone else could have it all. He had somewhere to be. == It was getting dark and Ed's eyelids were getting heavy as he pulled off the freeway. He'd get coffee at the place on the corner up there. He stopped there all the time, he drove this way to work every morning. At the next light he'd turn left and he'd be on the dark backroads home. Fine with him, the streetlights and headlights, neon, and the rest of it was getting on his nerves, making him squint and giving him a headache. I am always yours and you are always mine, to the end of time. Come home, we miss you so much. Ed didn't know if Dina meant her and the baby, or if it was her and something else. He didn't care anymore. Once he'd paid and gotten his coffee, he was going to make that left hand turn and head home. He'd find out then. He'd been wondering why he was coming back the whole drive north. He'd finally decided it was one of those simple answers that turned complicated pretty fast: he was hers and she was his. They'd never gotten up in front of a preacher but it had always been for better and for worse with them. If it had all been in his head then none of it mattered, he'd be there for her and the kid until the end of time. If something had taken her, gotten inside her, if he was headed into the embrace of something he didn't dare imagine...well that didn't matter none either. His and hers, better or worse. The old pickup crunched up the long driveway and stopped. The man sat there for a few minutes, not sure how to do this. He looked up when he heard the thwack of the screen door and there she was, walking down the porch steps. He got out of the truck and waited, watching her walk toward him. She was beautiful. "I'm sorry," he said when she stopped an arms-length away. She nodded. "You won't ever do that again." "No." "Things are going to be better. You come inside now." He followed her and a little while later the lights went out. Then it was just crickets making the usual racket.