Wonderlust 

"Wonderlust" is a short story written by Emery LaRue exclusively for reader entertainment. Though some areas mentioned are actual places, they have been changed to suit the needs of this story. 

For my dear friends. Deb and Bob, you are both one of a kind.

Cumberland , Kentucky
Present Day

Deb sighed as she walked into her apartment, tossing the keys on the entryway table. "Another day, another dollar." she said to herself as she walked down the hallway toward the bathroom. After yet another day of never satisfied clients, all she wanted was a long hot soak and maybe a book to read. Travis shouldn't be here for another few hours.

Travis. Yet another unsatisfied complication. She silently laughed as she entered the bathroom, turning on the tub. The only difference between Travis and her clients was she knew what would make him happy. But damn, she just couldn't bring herself to sleep with him. Even the few kisses they had shared was just so...nothing. He would try to get her "in the mood" but nothing was ever there. Why she kept dating him she would never know.

As she poured in honeysuckle bath salts, she contemplated that thought. She did know actually. She hated to be alone. The bad thing was, he now thought he owned her. What friends she did have were no longer around, he had seen to that. Trisha had been her closest friend, but she suddenly stopped talking to Deb all together. Travis, she was sure, played his part. A small part of her feared the man he was now, as to the man who had asked her out. He had a mean streak as wide as the forest was long. He had never hit her, but she just didn't trust him. That played a huge part on her intimacy issue.

Turning off the water, she started to unbutton her blouse, when a thump sounded in her bedroom. It adjoined the bathroom, but now she couldn't remember shutting the door to her room. She never had before. Standing stock still, Deb listened carefully.

Another thump, and a mumbled curse.

Someone was in her house, in her room. "Shit." she hissed, looking around for a weapon. Whoever was there, unless they left by a window, would have to enter the bathroom. She could turn and flee, but even with her adrenaline starting to pump, she was no coward.

Just then a crash could be heard and Deb's red headed temper flared. There was someone in her house, and now they were wrecking it? "Like hell." she mumbled and marched boldly into the room. When she clicked on the light, she wasn't sure if she should scream, cry, throw a fit or laugh her ass off.

"Deb!" Travis was grappling with some ties around his ankles. "This is not what it looks like."

Another thump. This one from the closet.

Deb slowly walked toward the closet door, took a deep breath, and opened it. Now she was stunned.

"Hi Deb." Trisha said, clutching her clothes to her chest. Her face was beet red with embarrassment and she looked slightly ill.

Not knowing what else to do, Deb turned and left her bedroom. She sat on her couch, her mind whirling. Why didn't it hurt? Travis had just fucked her best friend in her bed, and she was more shocked at her lack of feeling. Her main worry was where and when to replace her bed. Okay, so Trisha's part in it stung, but only a very little. Maybe there was something wrong with her, although she really didn't think so. Deb knew all along Travis meant nothing. Realizing this she was starting to get pissed about her bed, not to mention missing her bath.

Travis walked into the living room in boxer shorts, looking for all the world like he was staying. NOT !! Trisha followed and stood quietly beside him.

"I'm so sorry, Deb." Trisha said as she started to approach her. "Please, say something."

"What would you have me say?"

Trisha fidgeted and wrung her hands together. "Well, it's not like you two were getting real serious."

Okay, that was a stupid statement but Deb was willing to let it slide. "No, were not going anywhere. But if you step one more foot closer to me, I am very likely to hurt you."

The woman had the gall to look offended. "Well, ya know what they say, Deb. Keep him happy at home, and he won't roam."

That did it. Deb stood her full five foot seven height and glared at her one time friend. A lot of nerve the girl had.

"Ya know what I say Trisha?" Deb took one step toward her. "Roam on over to his bed or yours, but stay the fuck out of mine!"

"That's it? That's all you're upset over?" Travis stammered.

Then it struck her. This was intentional his way of forcing the intimacy issue. He didn't care one lick about Trisha. The poor girl thought it was because he wanted her. It was all a game of pushing Deb into something she didn't even want. Deb started to laugh but held it back.

"No. I'm also mad at myself for ever giving you a key." Deb looked at them together. They belonged with each other. "Trisha, if you think he actually screwed you because he cares, you are truly one stupid bitch."

"So stupid he keeps coming back to me. "

"Well, ya know what they say? Why buy the cow?" she waved her hand toward Trisha. "Your more than welcome to him, Honey."

"Now wait a minute Deb. I made a mistake. We can talk through this." Travis was back peddling now and Deb found she liked it.

"A mistake?" Trisha shouted at him. "Oh, I am so gone!" As she gathered her belongings and slammed from the apartment.

Deb looked to Travis and had the sudden urge to be ill. It didn't matter that he was with another woman. It was the lack of respect.

"What the hell were you thinking?" she asked.

"That maybe you would take notice." Travis, to give him credit, looked contrite. But he had tried that before.

"Take notice?"

"We are in a committed relationship, yet you push me away at every turn."

"This is all about sex, Travis. Please don't make it anything more." she was already tired of this. "The only thing that should be committed here is me for putting up with your shit for so damn long."

"See? You're cold and unfeeling toward me."

"You actually thought bringing her into my house like that would help?"

"I don't know what I was thinking. I'm sorry. What more do you want?"

Deb considered a lie. But she wanted absolutely nothing from him. It hit her now that she never did. Whatever she was looking for, this was not it.

"Just leave Travis. Go to Trisha and have your fling. I'm leaving for a day or two myself."

"What?" his voice was tight and she had a feeling he was about to spring.

"I want you to leave. Now! Just go away."

He stomped from the room, and she sighed in relief when he returned dressed. But the anger was like a heat wave rolling from his body.

"I suppose your running to your precious forest?"

"I need to get out of the city, do some thinking."

"We will talk when you get back. We have a good thing if you would just loosen the hell up."

"Travis, I don't think there is anything to talk about. But if it will make you leave faster, then fine."

"Quite the bitch aren't you?"

"About time I would say." she smiled and walked back toward her bathroom. "Leave my key."

She shut the door and let out half the water in the tub, then refilling it with hot. As she stripped and sank into the hot, fragrant water, she was still shocked about her reaction. The front door closed behind Travis as he left, and she closed her eyes. A trip to the Cumberland Forest was what she needed. She craved the beauty like a drug. She also needed to purge her system of a nasty drug. A drug called dependency. She didn't need Travis in her life. By the time she got back from a night in the hills, she would realize that.


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