I must have fallen asleep myself while watching Alana because I feel something on my cheek, and when I open my eyes, Alana is crouched in front of the chair.
“Hey, sleepy.” She laughs
“Hey, sleepy yourself. I guess you looked so peaceful you made me fall asleep as well, huh?” I look at my watch, and it’s only 8.15 p.m.
“Are you hungry now? I made us some food earlier, but you fell asleep. I just need to put the rice on and warm up the rest of it and the wine should be chilled now.”
Just then her tummy rumbles. “I guess that’s a yes,” she says. I get up, and we both head into the kitchen. I set about putting the rice on and warming up the chicken I made. I get the wine out of the fridge and uncork it, letting it breathe a little before pouring two glasses.
“Mmmm, that smells so good, Theon. You seem to know your way around a kitchen pretty well.”
I pass her the glass of wine, and she takes a small sip. “I’ve had to learn with it just being the Evs and me. I couldn’t take them out to eat every night, now could I? Although, if you ask them, I’m sure they would prefer that.” I raise my eyebrow. Alana laughs again, and I love hearing it.
“I doubt its bad, Theon. I think most kids these days like to eat out. It gets expensive though. It was a once in a while treat for my three with not having a wage coming in.” She looks down at her wine and swills it around the glass in thought. She looks really sad again.
“Hey, we could go out for a nice meal tomorrow night if you want? My treat. Then we could have a BBQ on Sunday, how does that sound?”
“Great, but I can’t expect you to pay for all of us as well. It’s bad enough you have your two.” I look at her like she has four heads. She really has no idea about me. I think that will change once she comes over this weekend. I’m sure she’s going to ask what I do when she sees the house.
“Alana, my treat, okay? No arguments about it. You’re my guests for the weekend, so it’s on me. Do the twins have a favorite place they like to eat at?”
“Ok, no argument this time. They both like The Cheesecake Factory but only because they usually get to choose a cheesecake between them.”
I laugh. “That’s Evelina’s favorite place for that exact reason. You would think it’s the only place to get dessert from the way she goes on. Evander likes a place we found called Button Mash, but we have to go in the afternoon or very early evening for that one. It’s full of arcade games, which is why he loves it, but after 8 p.m. it turns into a bar, so no children allowed. We don’t go to that one often because he would rather play than eat.”
“Maybe we should put it to the vote tomorrow? With five kids, I’m sure we will—” She stops dead. She looks at me, her face full of anguish, sorrow, hurt, and pain. I see the tears pooling in her eyes, trying to escape down her cheeks. I’m at her side and pulling her into me before they start to fall. She hugs me, holding on tight to my shirt.
“It’s okay, baby. Let it out. Don’t bottle it up. You will have many of these moments, but they will get easier to handle, I promise you. Shhh, I’ve got you.” We stay like that for a few minutes until I hear the rice. “Shit!” I move away quickly and just manage to grab the pan off the stove before it catches on the bottom. I spoon the rice out onto two plates. “That was a lucky catch.” I look at Alana. She isn’t crying now. “Are you okay now, baby? Ready to taste my amazing concoction?” I say, wiggling my eyebrows at her and she rewards me with a big grin and nod of her head.
We sit at the small kitchen table and eat, mostly in silence, but it’s not an awkward silence, it’s a nice peaceful silence. After we finish, I take the dishes to the sink, fill our wine glasses up, finishing the bottle, and take Alana by the hand into the living room and sit her on the couch with her glass of wine.
“I will be right back,” I say kissing her head. I head to the kitchen and start to wash the dishes. I try to be quick so we can cuddle on the couch for a while, and maybe put a film on the TV.
I head back into the living room and find Alana is fast asleep again. As its late this time, I decide to take her to bed. I will sleep here on the couch. I lift her gently and start up the stairs. She doesn’t wake but makes herself comfortable in my arms. I sit on the end of the bed and pull the covers towards me so I can then place her in the bed and cover her up. I’m not going to undress her. She can sleep in her clothes. I’m just covering her, and I lean down and kiss her gently on the lips. “Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep tight,” I whisper to her.
I turn to leave the room. “Theon, please don’t leave me. Please stay here with me,” she says very sleepily. I turn to see she has pulled the covers back on the other side of the bed — an invitation for me to get in with her. I rub my hand over my face, shit this will be hard, sleeping in the same bed. I haven’t slept in the same bed with another woman since Evelyn. It will also be hard because I’m so attracted to her. But, I can do this. She needs me. She needs the comfort. I take my shirt off but leave my trousers on. She’s fallen back to sleep, so I gently ease onto the bed and pull the covers over me. I’m lying on my back when I feel Alana move. She turns over and cuddles into my side with her hand on my bare chest. Maybe I should have left my shirt on. I lift my arm so she can snuggle in farther, and I place it around her, pulling her in tighter. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed simple contact like this. Nothing sexual — just the cuddling. The comfort you get from it. I lay in the dark listening as Alana’s breathing gets more labored and she falls into a very deep sleep. It doesn’t take long before I follow suit, taking comfort from Alana.
Present
I WAKE UP suddenly, feeling very hot and confused as to where I am. It takes me a minute to realize I’m at Alana’s, in her bed, with her wrapped around me. I’m lying on my back, and she’s facing me with her leg hooked over my hip, her knee at my groin area and her other leg between my legs. Her head is on my chest and her hand on my stomach. Shit, I have the biggest morning wood ever with her wrapped around me. She is still asleep. I can tell from her breathing. I turn my head slightly towards her and raise it to look down. Bad choice, Theon. Her dress has ridden up her body, and I can see her little black lace knickers. Shit, I need to think of something horrible before she wakes up and sees my hard-on. All I can see in my head are her lace knickers, and all I can think about is how I would love to take them off, which is not helping. I reach down to adjust myself, very gently, trying not to disturb her. I’m very uncomfortable in the confines of my trousers.
She moves. Shit, is she awake? I listen to her breathing, but I can’t tell.
I daren’t move. I daren’t look.
I feel her go slightly rigid the second she realizes where she is and who she’s with and the position we are in. She moves her knee slightly, and it rubs me. I inhale sharply at the contact and suck air in through my gritted teeth. She raises her head to look at me. “Good morning,” she says with a knowing smirk on her face.
“Morning,” I manage to say.
She moves her knee again. Rubbing me again. Did she do that on purpose? “Sorry.” She smiles at me. God, she is beautiful.
“Why do I get the feeling you didn’t mean that apology?”
“I have no idea what you mean, Mr. Tourney?” she says, coyly batting her eyelids at me.
“Baby, I don’t think this is going to end well for me. I think if I don’t move now, I’m going to make a complete fool of myself and embarrass myself right here in your bed. I’m sorry. It’s a natural reaction when you’re in bed with the most beautiful woman you know.”
She lifts herself slightly and gently kisses me on the lips. In the state I’m currently in, I automatically open my mouth and kiss her right back. But this kiss is like none we have shared before, and it doesn’t take long before the tongues come into play and the kiss deepens and sends me to new heights. She feels it too. I can feel her nipples hard against my chest with the material of her dress between us. I have to summon every ounce of resilience I can and pull back to lo
ok at her.
“Baby, if we carry on like this there may be no turning back. If you’re sure this is what you want, then you will get no arguments from me, but I want you to be 110% positive you want to take this step. I don’t want you to do it because you are grieving, baby. I want you to want this, as badly as I want this. As badly as I want you, and have wanted you since the day I met you on our bench in the hospital garden.”
“Yes, Theon. I do want this. I want you. I have never wanted anyone since Gary, but I want you so badly. Please, Theon, take me.”
I look deeply into her eyes to make sure she wants this. I see the lust and desire. That’s all I need.
I reach for my wallet on the bedside table and take out a condom. Alana slowly pulls her dress over her head, and she is absolutely gorgeous in just her lace black panties and bra. She unzips my trouser and edges them down. I lift up to help her, and she pulls them down, along with my briefs. Here I am, in all my glory, watching her look at me.
“Wow, you are stunning, Theon. I had no idea you looked like that under your clothes. I think I just hit the jackpot.” She’s sweeping her hand down my body over my abs. I breathe in sharply as she gets lower. I reach over and unclasp her bra, and I return the favor of removing her panties. We both stare at each other in all our naked glory.
“You sure?” I ask to be certain.
“A million percent sure,” she says with the biggest grin.
That’s all it takes.
Much later, we are at the little table in the kitchen having coffee and scrambled eggs on toast, which Alana made after our shower together. I’m in my trousers with nothing else on, and Alana has a short robe wrapped around her. We are like two Cheshire cats, sitting and smiling at each other.
“No regrets?” I ask
“Are you kidding? I should be asking you that. Look at you? You’re perfect in every way. Do you have any flaws, Theon? I mean, you’re caring, loving, and supportive. You cook, and you definitely took me to new heights, four times or was it five?”
“Hold on there. You are way out of my league. Look at you. You’re beautiful, hot as hell, sexy and devoted, and you, lady, took me to the moon and back a few times.” I feel as though I just betrayed Evelyn and the look on my face must give me away.
“Hey, look at me. We both lost the loves of our lives, Theon. There is no way either of them would want us to stay celibate, and not find love and happiness. Nothing will ever take them away from us, or what we had with them, and in truth, I wouldn’t want it to. But it doesn’t mean we can’t move on. We will never forget them, Theon. Never feel bad for thinking about Evelyn or speaking about her to me. She was your wife and the mother of your children. Just like I will mention Gary and think of him from time to time. I know Gary would want me to find happiness, Theon, and I have with you. We have to accept this or we will never work.”
“I know you’re right. It just feels weird thinking about Evelyn when we just did what we did and feel what we feel for each other. It will just take time to get used to it, that’s all, baby, and I know Evelyn would want me to be happy too.” She looks at me for a moment.
“What do we feel for each other, Theon? I mean, I know my feelings, but we haven’t talked about this,” she says motioning between us. I look her straight in the eyes and do what I do best. Tell the truth. “I love you, Alana.”
Present
ALANA MAKES TO move past me, heading for the stairs, I know from her startled look that she wants to bolt, but I grab her by the elbow and pull her into me. “I did it again, huh?” I say with my chin on her head, which is on my chest. She nods yes.
“I’m sorry. I don’t seem to have a filter when it comes to you. I just say things out loud. I have had all these emotions going around, but, to be honest, Alana, I think I knew the first time I saw you on our bench. There was something about you then. I was just drawn to you. It’s been hard accepting the feelings I have for you, especially with all we have been through over the last month or so. They say you can’t choose when and how you fall in love, and they are right.”
She looks up at me and smiles. “You’re rambling, Theon. Are you nervous?”
“Very and terrified.”
“Of what?”
“You,” I say simply and shrug my shoulders. I kiss her nose and smile.
“Am I that scary?” she laughs at me, and I nod yes. She gently slaps my arm.
“You just shocked me, Theon. I didn’t expect you to say that. I was just going to take a few minutes to process what you said. I feel guilty like you said. I’ve never even kissed anyone since Gary, never mind fallen in love with anyone.” I see the penny drop with the look on her face and her mouth forming an O. She’s fallen in love with me.
I bend down and kiss her on the mouth. She responds immediately and before we know what’s going on we are both naked on the kitchen floor, making love. Again.
After our session in the kitchen Alana decides she now needs another shower. Susan texts to say she will be dropping the twins off in about an hour. I follow Alana into her en-suite and get in the tub with her, and even though we only just did it in the kitchen, I’m ready again.
We are drying each other, Alana is behind me, and I feel her tracing over my tattoo, very gently with her fingertips. “This turtle is amazing, Theon — so colorful. It’s just an amazing work of art. If I had a tattoo, I would have this exact one. It’s perfect.”
I turn to face her. “I love turtles. When we were in the Maldives, we went out swimming, and there were so many turtles. I was amazed at them and how majestic they are.”
“It’s perfect and fits your personality perfectly.”
I bend to kiss her but have to stop before it gets too heated again. Susan and the twins will be here very soon.
We are sitting out back, waiting for Susan to get back with the twins. I phone the Evs and tell them I’ll pick them up from Sonia’s, and I’ll have Alana and her kids with me. They are excited about that. I remember that I want to ask Alana about games for Bryan.
“I was talking to Bryan yesterday, and I wanted to run something past you before putting my foot in it.”
“Why would you put your foot in it?”
I shrug because it’s nothing to me but could be a lot to her. “Well, he was on his Nintendo Switch, and he was saying how he plays games online with Evander, but doesn’t have many, and has to save up for new games. Well, I get all the new release games before they go out on general sale. A work perk. Evander always has every new game, and I felt bad that Bryan has to wait so long. I can get him any game, just like I do for Evander, but I didn’t want to presume you would be okay with me doing that.”
She has the cup to her mouth about to take a sip but stops. “No, Theon. It’s about the money. I can’t go spending money on games for Bryan or Bailee when I have groceries to buy. I do try to get new games when I can, for us all to play. So yes, he does save for games and sometimes he buys the pre-owned games because they are cheaper. If one of the perks of your job is that you get all the new releases and you want to share those with the B’s then I have no problem with that. Thank you for asking though, and not just presuming it was a done deal. I really appreciate that. He will love you for that, just like his momma.” She blushes.
“I love you too, baby.”
“I never did ask you what you did for work. What do you do, Theon, when one of the perks of your job is getting games?”
Just then, the front door slams and the French doors open as Susan and the twins come out back. Alana gets up and goes to hug them all — conversation forgotten. I get up and head inside with Susan while Alana stays on the patio talking to the twins and asking them how they are and what they have been doing.
“How has she been, Theon? I see you stayed the night, which I’m really grateful for. She seems to come alive when you’re around. I know we only said goodbye to Caroline yesterday, but Alana looks relaxed this morning. I can only thank you for being there for her.”
“She’s been okay. A couple of meltdowns, which was to be expected, but she is doing okay. You don’t have to thank me for being around. I love being around Alana, even at the worst time in her life. I’m glad I can be there for her.”
She smiles at me. “I like you Theon. You’re good for her.”
I just smile back at her. Alana and the twins come inside, and they bound off up the stairs.
“They are going to pack another overnight bag, ready to take to yours. They’re really excited to be going somewhere new. It will be good for them. Thank you, Theon.”
“No need to thank me. They Evs are excited too.”
“I’m just going to go pack my overnight bag. I will be back in a minute once I’ve sorted us all out. Then we can get going.” I lean in and kiss her, not thinking about it, or the fact that Susan is watching us. Alana looks at Susan and blushes. I love it when she blushes. I just shrug at Susan, who stands grinning. Alana disappears up the stairs.
“I knew it. I just knew you both had this glow about you this morning. I couldn’t be happier. I haven’t seen my sister like this for years. I know for a fact, if you weren’t around, she would be wallowing and pushing us all away.” She looks towards the stairs.
“God knows she’s gone through so much. First her husband, and now her daughter. I don’t know how she does it really.”
“She is stronger than you realize, Susan. She has you and the twins to keep her going.”
Not long after, we are all in my car on the way to Sonia’s house to pick up the Evs. The nearer we get to the Hollywood Hills, the more I feel the change in Alana. I don’t say anything. Instead, I sing along to the radio station. I keep glancing at her out of the corner of my eye, and I can see her playing with her hands in her lap. She’s nervous. I reach over and still her hands with mine.
“You okay, baby?” She looks towards me then back out the window. She’s watching the houses getting bigger and grander with each road I turn down. When I indicate to turn into a driveway, she looks at me.
The Best Day of My Life Page 25
