The Boyfriend
“So, this is how to get to Buffy’s,” Spike mused in a teasing tone as he pulled into the parking lot of a large, white Victorian style apartment building.
“I live with my brother,” Buffy told him. “I was told that I was living with Lindsey before in his home—a real big house, but after the accident my brother insisted I move in with him. I wasn’t exactly going to argue with him.”
“In your memory you’ve only known Lindsey a month.”
“Right, and since my brother is home to me . . .”
“You’ll find your way again, Buffy. Even if you have to create new
memories to do it.”
“Yeah,” she said wistfully, staring up at the house. “I lived here for a
while with him before I guess I moved in with Lindsey.”
“Do you think you’ll move in with Lindsey again?”
She looked panicked at the thought. “Oh God, it’s too soon to be able to
tell that. For me anyway. I know he’d love it if I would, but I have to get to
know him all over again.”
“And what you know so far?”
She smiled, “I’m not telling.”
“Why not?” he grinned.
“Gee, I don’t know,” she said in faux wonderment.
“Buffy, I want you to know that you can tell me anything.”
“Is that right?” she sounded as if she didn’t believe him.
He nodded. “Friendship won’t work if you start keeping things from
me.”
“Start?” she laughed at the terminology. “Seems as if a lot has been
kept from you by me already.”
“This way we can start fresh.”
“There is no we, William.”
He tried to hide his hurt at that. He also refrained from adding ‘yet’ in
his head. It hit him then that there might not ever be a ‘yet’. The truth was, if
this Lindsey bloke was what she wanted, then he had no place to deny her
that. He certainly had no claim on this Buffy. Not that he had much of a
claim on the old one either. Just his damn wishful thinking. The only thing
he knew with clarity was that he wanted to be here for her now. She seemed
so strong, and yet so lost. How could he walk away and leave the woman he
loved like that? He couldn’t. He wouldn’t.
“What time will I see you tomorrow? And where? Go gentle on me, I’m
still learning my way around.”
She giggled and to him, it was the most endearing sound. Next, he
wanted to hear her full belly laugh. He’d also like to hear the sounds she
made while underneath him, but he wasn’t going to start making rash
wishes.
“How about you meet me in front of the store again? I’ll take you
around Cambridge a little bit. Maybe take the T into Boston.”
“Maybe help me find where I can hang my hat?”
“Oooh,” she rubbed her hands together. “That sounds like a project. I
need a—oh.” Her face fell.
“What?” he asked suddenly nervous.
“I have to go back to work on Monday.”
“We have the weekend. And nights.”
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “You never quit huh?”
“It’s in my blood.”
“I can see that. Spike.”
He grinned. “So, tomorrow—what time?”
“Um, make it noon.”
“All right then miss. I’ll see you at noon.”
“Thank you William.”
“No Buffy, thank you.”
She waved him off and climbed out of the car. Spike refrained from
following her and begging her to let him stay with her for just a little while
longer. He had this fear that if he drove away, she’d disappear again and that
was just not something he’d be able to handle again. He raked a hand
through his hair as he watched her bounce up to the door and let herself in.
He hoped that it was him that gave her that extra bounce in her step.
“You’re really under it, aren’t you?” he muttered to himself and drove
away, back to his very empty hotel room.
Buffy was smiling. Take note world, I’m smiling. Rounding the corner
to the apartment she found Lindsey standing outside her door in the all
season porch, grinning at her. His briefcase and coat were in a corner. He still
had his dark suit on and the blue of his shirt underneath brought out his
eyes. They weren’t like Spike’s though, she noted. Immediately she chastised
herself for the thought. She was supposed to be dating Lindsey and here she
was, grinning like an idiot because of Spike. A man she’d just met. A man she
didn’t know but was apparent she shared some kind of past with. Apparently
the person she was before cheated on Lindsey and here she was thinking
thoughts of Spike. Cheating on Lindsey with her mind. Oh God, then there
was tomorrow. Did Lindsey know of Spike at all? Did he know about him and
that’s why he never mentioned him? Something inside her told her to keep
Spike a secret. Maybe she’d tell Angel. One day. But for now, Spike was a
secret.
“Hi, darlin’,” he greeted her and she felt guilt flood her. That deep voice
and the slight southern twang to his voice sent her insides to mush.
“Hi. What are you doing?”
“Came by to see you. I left early today. Needed a Buffy fix. Where’ve
you been?”
“Oh, out and about.”
He nodded slowly, his jaw clenched and then he smiled. Did he see me
with Spike? she wondered.
“Did you see work today?”
“I did. I’m going back Monday.”
“Nervous?”
“Yeah, I don’t really want to talk about it right now. . . Want to come in
for a bit?”
“I was actually wondering if I could take my lovely lady out for
dinner?”
She smiled at him, thinking how sweet he looked with the puppy dog
eyes and sweet smile.
“Of course,” she agreed. “Don’t you want to change out of that suit
first?”
“Oh. Yeah,” he looked down at himself as if just noticing he was in a
suit. He ran a hand through his shaggy brown locks and shot her a flirtatious
grin. “How bout I pick you up in a couple hours? Give me enough time to look
presentable for you.”
She smiled, “I think you’ll do just fine.”
He sauntered over to her and placed his hands on her waist. “I love
you,” he whispered.
She averted her eyes from his tender and penetrating gaze.
“I’m sorry. I put pressure on you just then.” He dropped his hands. “It
just comes out of me – I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize and make me feel worse,” she told him softly.
He nodded. “So, I pick you up in a couple hours?”
She nodded in agreement. Grabbing his things, he pressed a kiss to her
forehead and left. Wondering what she was doing, she entered the apartment
and started to get ready for her date with Lindsey, while images of Spike
danced in her mind.
“What?” Buffy asked Angel later.
“Nothing,” he said and walked away from her.
“Don’t say ‘nothing’ when the stinky cheese face most certainly says its
something,” she told her brother, following him out of her peaches and cream
room and into the all hardwood kitchen where he was heating up his dinner:
Mac and Cheese.
“Just the idea of eating this doesn’t sound as appealing as where
Lindsey will probably take you,” Angel shrugged his non committal response.
Buffy studied him curiously. “That it?”
“Yep,” and he turned his back on her.
“All right then,” and she started for her bedroom again.
“Buffy.”
Here it is. He just had to warm up to it. “Yeah?”
He kept his face blank, “How are things going with Lindsey?”
“Fine, why?”
“He doesn’t pressure you or anything?”
She grinned, “You mean does he ask me to have sex with him Angel?”
she teased.
Now Angel grimaced. “Buffy, I think you’re a beautiful woman, but
you’re my SISTER all right? That was gross.”
“Sorry,” she giggled.
“I mean does he pressure you to move in with him or to remember?”
“No, he doesn’t. He told me he loved me today and then felt bad about it. Said he didn’t want to pressure me. Is that what bothers you?”
“Yes and no.”
“Then what is it?”
“I just want you to be careful.”
“Do you not like Lindsey, Angel?”
He crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. “It’s not that I
don’t like him, it’s just that. . . “
“You don’t like him,” she finished.
“No. I just don’t want anyone to be hurting you whether they mean to
or not. You’ve been through a lot over the past couple months and you have a
lot on your plate right now.”
“I know, Angel. And I’m fine. Everyone has been real patient with me.”
Her thoughts drifted to Spike and how persistent he’d been.
“You only remember having been with Lindsey a month. So if you don’t
feel he’s the right guy for you, you can kick him to the curb all right? And if
he doesn’t take no for an answer, I’ll do it for you.”
Buffy giggled and then started singing the Mighty Mouse tune “’Here I
come to save the day!”
“Oh I get it. Comedy.” Angel said dryly, causing Buffy to laugh. “You
know you can tell me anything that’s bothering you right?” he asked once
she’s calmed down.
“I know. You’re the only one I count on.”
Angel smiled. “I’m sure one day that’ll change, but it’s good to know
just the same.”
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