by Sofia-Rene Paderborn

Created on: February 09, 2007   Last Updated: January 27, 2009

"Must you chase all Toms, Dicks, and Abes you meet?" I cried. Lynn turned to me and smirked. "I don't chase 'em, WE check 'em." I turned back to the road in front of me. She was right; I was the one she took with her on these 'runs', as she called them. No one else but me. I guess I kind of like the spy game she plays, but this just was not a good night! I was with my girl when she called, and I could still feel the heat from my kiss on her... I sighed. Back to the road.

This is just what Lynn does. She'd say she 'keeps watch' over her man; I say she stalks him. Lynn just won't trust a man. But she trusts me. We grew up on the same block. I think she thinks I'm tame. It's just as well; I don't want her. Still, I won't let guys hurt her. "What do you think? I just do this for fun? I know he's with that girl!" Lynn's voice cut straight through my thoughts. I don't doubt that she's right. She seems to catch men with all kinds of bad traits: they lie, they cheat, they steal, they like men... you name it, she's met him.

"What tipped you off," I ask.

"He left my house in too big of a rush; said he'd left a pot on the stove. But he can't cook. In fact, I taught him what bit he does know." Lynn frowned, tried not to show her pain.

"Make a left here. His house is at the end of the block." I turn on the street she points out, and turn on my sixth sense. That's what I'm here for, to keep track of all the things she'll miss while she rants and raves at him for his crimes. As she gets out of the car, the lights in the house go out. Not good. Lynn just grits her teeth and takes the steps two at a time. By now Lynn could kill! She knocks on the door with all her strength, screams out his name, then starts to pace the length of the porch and peers in the windows. I can't help but smile. 'Mad Lynn' is a great show; she's just too much to take.

The door creaks; a thin shaft of weak light peeks out. Lynn steps in, then stops cold. My sixth sense tells me this is new; I rush up the stairs and step in front of her. I don't know what we've found: soft light, good scents, nice sounds...? I hear a slam, and as I start to tense up he shows his face. He looks me up and down, spies Lynn as she peeks from my back, and breaks out in loud peels of mirth. "I knew you'd do this. You think I was with some girl, don't you. I'm not that guy. You've got to stop this, Babe. I can't be with a girl that thinks I'd do her wrong at the drop of a hat."

For once, Lynn has no words. She seems to find them, then lose them, then looks at him as if to beg him for help. A one tear slides down her cheek. "But you left... and I thought... I'm so..."

He puts his hand to her lips. "Shh. There's no need. Come eat. Stay the night with me; we'll talk 'til the sun comes up. "'kay?" Lynn nods, looks at me, gives me a weak smile. I guess she has a good one this time. I shake his hand, place her hand in his, and take my leave as he pours wine.

Hope my girl's still up. I start the car, pull off, and damn near hit a car as it flies out of its drive! The girl at the wheel looks at me, flips me off, and leaves in a blur. I shake it off. It's at the end of the next block that it dawns on me... That drive was on the side of his house! It all rushed back then. He'd said, "let's eat", but he can't cook... I'd heard the back door slam, and then he came to greet us. The wine he poured for Lynn and him was half gone...

Still, Lynn had smiled at me for the first time in a long time. And I don't know for sure that he's a cheat, just things point to it. This would crush her. Hell, I want to go home, my girl is there! Do I go back now, or wait for the next day?

What would you do?

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