Chapter 112: There's Always a Morning After

Even though it was late when we went to bed and I was exhausted, I still awoke at 7AM. It was a fancy bedroom where I woke up. It certainly wasn't my usual bedroom. Mine with the industrial decor was a lot more dismal. It took me a minute to realize that I was in Cheryl's bed. It took me a minute because Cheryl was nowhere to be found. So there were no clues and that morning I needed clues.

The first thing I did was go to the bathroom and drink a glass of water to dilute the funky taste in my mouth. Cheryl's body tasted a hundred times better than any man, but it still left a stale taste in my mouth. I decided, my best move would be to put on whatever clothes I had worn over, then get my ass home. I wanted to brush my teeth first, then I wanted a shower.

As I passed through the kitchen, I found Cheryl sitting at her small glass topped iron table with matching chairs. Very chic, I would have told her had she not spoken first.

"You better hurry, if you plan to be ready for breakfast by 7:30," she said it then turned away. Cheryl might be all about routine. It wouldn't be unusual for institutionalized people to be heavily regimented.

That was it. No good mornings, thanks for eating me out so good. It was just hurry up or you will be late. "Right," I said as I walked out the door in jeans and a sweatshirt no underwear at all.

The untouched coffee from the night before made it into the microwave, then into me. I carried a cup of it into the bathroom with me, while I brushed my teeth and showered. I managed to get into my bra, panties, thermal suit, jeans and a funky sweater before Cheryl knocked on the door. But I only beat her by a couple of minutes."

"You about ready?" she asked.

"Just need to put on my parka and hood. I'll get my bike started and meet you in the front parking lot." I said it very much aware that Cheryl acted exactly like she had the morning before we had slept together. She had been serious when she said, it was about her biological needs. not any emotional ones. Okay I said it using different words, but that's obviously what she had meant.

"Are you okay with last night?" I asked.

"Sure, what's not to be okay with?" she asked genuinely surprised that I would need to ask. I knew then that I would never fully understand how Cheryl thought. Her experience base was just too different from my own. I would need some time to work that out, but I had always managed to understand people. It's why I was successful at problem solving. It was about knowing which button to push and then hitting it with a big ass hammer.

It was a bit of a twist, instead of the tenant being upset that the relationship wasn't all she wanted, it just might be the landlady who was upset. I obviously didn't know how it would end, but I was pretty sure Cheryl had been correct, when she told her dad that she would manage.

The bike started right up so I was in the parking lot before Cheryl, who had to roll hers out. It was a little about being considerate of the other tenants, but a lot more about having to work the bike through the walk gate.

It was cold and the bikes were noisy, so we didn't speak again until we arrived at the Hardee's parking lot. "It's kinda cold this morning," I said.

"Yes, it is still in the low thirties," Cheryl replied. She knew that I hadn't meant just the temperature. Since she chose to play it that way, I was determined to go along.

"Did you see that red Ford that we passed on the square?" I asked.

"You mean the one parked on the street, across from the statue of the confederate soldier?" Cheryl turned the answer into another question.

"Yeah that was Mike, I'm pretty sure. The car is right for the rental he got."

"Then he will show up here," Cheryl suggested.

"I would bet on it," I replied.

Sure enough his car drove in right after the words made it out of my mouth. I watched him park before I opened the first of the doors into the restaurant's air lock for Cheryl. "He will probably want to film us going inside," I advised her.

Since Mike hustled, he obviously was trying to beat us in. Even though I was cold, I gave him first shot at the second set of doors leading into the heated dining room. He took a seat with a view of the door, then pointed a tiny video camera at us as we entered.

Since our favorite booth was available, we went for it. Mike had to move to get a clear camera view. Then he pointed the camera at Cheryl as she removed her Navy Pea Coat. When that coat was gone, she was down to a tight fitting thermal top. With her over sized boobs it was a sight the TV audience was going to love. My guess is after last night and this morning Cheryl would be one of the real stars of the show. She might even outshine me, which would be just fine, I thought.

"So what are your plans for today?" Cheryl asked me.

"I don't have any plans to be honest. I think I might play around on the computer today. Maybe find an old TV show I missed. How about you what are your plans?"

"I'm going to look for a job, I think." Cheryl said.

"Oh do you know where yet?" I asked.

"No, I worked in the kitchen at my last gig. I could probably find something in food services. I also have a K9 trainers certificate from the cell block dog program." she suggested.

So there it was, she had let the dog out of the bag. Nothing I could no about it now. Mike would have her complete story by sundown. I knew she wasn't stupid so she had decided that she just didn't give a shit.

I was tempted to suggest Helen, but it all rang too close to the Mosby thing. "Well good luck. I am sure you will find something."

"Oh I'll be fine. I mostly don't like being bored," she admitted.

"I have that same problem," I admitted. "Oh hell, I'll tell yo u what, if you really want to work just to pass the time, I have a friend who might still have an opening."

"Yeah I know, Helen," she said. "Remember, Daddy likes to know everything about everybody."