Free Piano in the Dark by Eric Pete Page A

off, I applied a quick dab of Neosporin across it, then threw on a T-shirt for bed.
    I tried to will myself to sleep, but kept reliving memories of another bed. Kept seeing Ava expressing her satisfaction as she sat atop my face, threatening to drown me in her love. I sniffed deeply of the hairs on my upper lip, ensuring that all was left from that was the memory of it. The clock on my nightstand only served to remind me that barely a minute had passed since my last glance at it. Frustrating. As I lay there, I unknowingly slipped into a deep sleep. I hadn’t realized it until Dawn joined me in the bed, pulling the sheets back on her side. I was startled awake, not knowing how exhausted I was. I’d probably been snoring.
    “You awake?” she asked as I felt her bare leg on mine across the gulf.
    “Kinda,” I replied as my voice cracked. “What’s up?”
    “Something wrong?”
    “Besides the usual?” I responded, commenting on our ever-present tension over my career advancement.
    “Yes.”
    “Nothing.”
    “You sure?” she asked as she slid closer. I remained deathly still.
    “Yeah. I’m sure,” I replied, telling myself there was no way Dawn and Ava were conspiring, even if it felt Ava had been fed information on me. “It’s just been a long day.” Long day—the accepted marital code loosely translated as: No. We ain’t fucking tonight. Through our marriage, I’d been the only recipient of this coded dismissal before. I wasn’t quite sure how my spouse would take being on the receiving end of such an affront.
    I shut my eyes again; trying to flee back to the land of REM, for it would protect me. Keep me from revealing my guilt. I could feel Dawn’s eyes blistering my skin in the dark. Wondered what ill thoughts were hatching inside that head of hers. Her next action was a long sigh, frustration totally evident.
    “Hey,” I said, daring to communicate again as I yawned. “What do you think about a cruise? We could leave out of Galveston next week. That would be a nice getaway, don’tchathink? Or maybe a run over to San Antonio and do the Riverwalk for a few days?” Maybe time away with Dawn would give me some clarity. Give me a moment to regroup and salvage this.
    “I can’t do that, Chase,” she replied, her body’s movement in the bed not betraying any reaction to my proposal. “I just posted my SAT classes on the Web site. Testing season is full underway. Are you trying to make up for something?”
    “No, babe. Not at all,” I said, my voice lowering second by second as I feigned drifting away again. While pretending to sleep, I heard Dawn as she reached for her nightstand drawer. After another long moment of silence, she sighed again.
    Then I felt the faint vibrations as Dawn’s sigh was replaced by low murmurs and moans. I felt a minute sway through the mattress, growing to a distinct, noticeable motion. Despite that, Dawn tried to control her trembling legs as she brought herself to climax at the hands of her magic bullet. I knew she’d used it from time to time, but that didn’t make me any more comfortable that she was having to resort to this. For what seemed an eternity of building and subsiding, only to repeat again, Dawn let a deep gasp escape her throat as she buried her face in her pillow.
    Then all was still again.
    And the whole time I laid there, turned over, eyes tightly closed, pretending to be oblivious.
    Just as I hoped Dawn was to me and what I had done.

17
     
    I voluntarily relieved our courier of his duties today, running documents by the courthouse in his stead. Of course, my return to the office somehow brought me to Ava’s place. A bear in search of honey. This time, though, I came unannounced.
    As I approached the intercom to ring her, I observed a man exiting her door. The tall, gaunt fellow wore a pair of Ray·Ban aviators, which concealed his eyes, and a heavy brown trench coat—a bit too much for the mild weather we were experiencing. Gave the impression