First, Best and Always

Chapter 13 – Old Friends

“Vin!” Raven said surprised, as she tried to disengage herself from Eric. With her feet finally on the floor she moved to the door, kissing him as she arrived and slipping her arm around his waist pulling him inside.

“Ah…Vin, Vin this is Eric…Eric is ahh….” Eric finished the sentence for her, “…an old friend”

“Yes,” he said eyeing Raven appreciatively, “….Raven and I go waay back.” Again, the message was unmistakable, and Raven blushed under Eric’s unabashed scrutiny.

Vin set his bag on the floor and placed the bouquet of coral colored roses atop it. Holding out his hand he said, “Well, it’s always nice to meet Raven’s old ‘friends’.”

Taking Vin’s hand in an overly firm handshake Eric looked at Raven saying, “Ahh look Jicarilla, Vin here brought you roses….”

Then looking Vin straight in the eye said, “Too bad you couldn’t find wildflowers, wildflowers have always been her favorites…no matter though roses are nice too, right Jicarilla?”

Diesel never missed a beat, and took this opening to initiate sending Eric on his way.

“Yeah right, well it’s been nice meeting you….Eric was it? We’ll have to get together for dinner or something one of these days.”

“Great Idea,” Eric said shaking Vin’s hand and ignoring his sarcasm. “How about tomorrow Jicarilla? My schedule is open; do you still make that great cobbler? Ya know this little lady’s a hell of a cook….I still remember that roast leg of lamb you made me that time for my birthday, no wait…you made the standing rib roast for my birthday, you did the lamb on our first anniversary….”

Vin’s eyes widened and he was just about to speak when Raven cut him off…

”Okay,” she cut in quickly trying to lessen the tension, “Enough of memory lane, I’m sure Vin isn’t interested in ancient history stories right now…”

“Actually I’d love to hear what he has to say” he responded, venom dripping from every word.

“Well perhaps another time” Raven said hastily, as she ushered Eric to the door.

“So are we on for dinner tomorrow Jicarilla?”

In an effort to get him out the door before he said anything else incriminating she quickly agreed. “Yes. Dinner. Tomorrow.”

“About sevenish?”

“Yes, seven is good, I’ll see you then.” With that she gently shooed him out the door and closed it behind him.

Eric stood on the other side of the door smiling devilishly, “Well now, that ought to keep things stirred up, at least for tonight.”

“So” he said aloud, “you wanna hear what I have to say huh? Good, cause tomorrow we go to phase two, and you’re gonna get an earful.”