Come Together

by Jessica Hawkins

  He grumbled something to himself.

  “What?” I asked.

  “I thought the deal was you stay here tonight only.”

  “I don’t think we had a deal,” I said. “In fact, we have absolutely no plan.”

  “You might not, but, baby, I have plans for you. And I would like to get started on those plans immediately.”

  I loved the sound of that, but instead I said, “I just need a day or two to sort through everything.”

  He pushed his hips into me leisurely, and the hard-on I’d felt before was considerably harder. “I can’t wait that long,” he said, his voice edging on whining.

  “David,” I said, laughing in disbelief, “we’re obviously not very good at restraint, but I think you can wait another night.”

  “If that’s what you think, then you don’t know me,” he stated.

  I laughed again, this time at the fact that he thought a couple nights was a long time to go without sex. At that realization, the smile immediately slid off my face.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing.”

  “It’s not nothing. What was that?”

  I decided to let it go, not wanting to ruin the moment. I ran my hands up his chest and replaced them around his neck. “I just think it’s funny that after all these months, you can’t wait another day.”

  “I’ve been waiting for this a long fucking time,” he declared. “Sue me if I want nothing more than to lock you in my apartment, throw you on my bed and have you until you beg me to stop.”

  His words, aside from knotting my insides with excitement, rang familiar. I remembered he’d said them to me once before. The last time he’d said that, I couldn’t respond the way I’d wanted, so this time I did. “I’ll never beg you to stop,” I told him.

  His chest vibrated against me when he growled. He still looked slightly angry, but now his eyes were hungry. “Then we’re in trouble if we expect to have a life outside the bedroom.”

  I couldn’t suppress my grin. He was so adorable when he didn’t get what he wanted.

  “I’ll give you your space,” he said, “but in exchange, I want the whole weekend.”

  I moved my hands back against his hard pecs and nodded. “The weekend.”

  He bent his head and kissed me softly on the lips. “You’re amazing. Thank you for today.”

  I blew out a breath as my body warmed. I was just getting to see this sweet, romantic side of him, and I liked it a little too much.

  “Go back inside,” he said, “or I will kidnap you and take you home now.”

  “Okay.” I tried to pull away, but his arms were still locked around me.

  “And turn your phone back on. I hate being out of touch.”

  “Yes, sir. Talk to you tomorrow.”

  He leaned over, gave me another kiss and left.

  CHAPTER 3

  I HEARD MY NAME IN THE DISTANCE – faintly at first and then again, louder . . . . My eyes flew open to darkness, and I catapulted into a sitting position. “Bill?” I wheezed.

  “Shh, sweetie, it’s Gretchen.”

  “Oh.”

  “Were you having a nightmare?” she whispered.

  I closed my eyes and reclined back onto Gretchen’s bed. “Mhm.”

  “What about?”

  “I don’t remember. I have them about the alley.”

  “When Mark Alvarez attacked you? I didn’t know that.”

  “Sometimes it’s more like a memory. Alvarez restraining me as he threatens payback for Bill’s involvement in his brother’s trial. But this nightmare was different. Bill was in it.” I jumped when she stroked my shoulder.

  “Is there any news about Alvarez?”

  “He’s behind bars, and he’s not going anywhere. But it’s hard to forget what his hands felt like on me.”

  I woke up several times after that, half-expecting Bill, other times David, but confused when I found Gretchen. I didn’t dream of the alley again.

  I lay watching the ceiling as the room brightened with the rising sun. Gretchen stirred eventually, and I turned my head toward her. “I’m worried about Bill.”

  She yawned and rubbed her eyes before turning over to face me. “Should I ask Andrew to check on him?”

  “Would you? I don’t think Lucy wants to talk to me.”

  “Sure. I’ll call on our way to work.”

  We got ready together and headed to a café down the street. After we put our in order at the counter, Gretchen called Lucy, who told her that Andrew would go by the apartment. Bill was close with Andrew, Lucy’s husband, so I didn’t mind asking. Lucy didn’t want to speak to me however, and from the way Gretchen stopped mid-sentence, it appeared that Lucy didn’t care to hear about how I was doing.

  Gretchen assured me again that Lucy would come around, but I wasn’t so sure. I had stomped on her values, everything she believed in and the vows she and Andrew had just taken. It hurt to think that I had tainted the meaning of love and commitment for her the way my parents had for me. It pained me to realize that I might lose friends in addition to Bill. But even though I was still laden with grief, doubt, fear . . . in some strange way, I felt a certain lightness too.

  “So what’re you gonna do about a living situation?” Gretchen asked.

  “Trying to get rid of me?”

  “You know you can stay at our apartment as long as you want. Like, forever even. My roommates are hardly there anyway.”

  “I don’t know if Bill would appreciate my breaking up our marriage for one long sleepover at your place.”

  “Touché. So? What are you gonna do?”

  I sighed as the barista handed us our drinks. We left the café and started toward the train. “David and I made plans to spend the weekend together, so we’re starting with breakfast tomorrow. I haven’t really thought beyond that. I guess I should start looking for my own place.” The thought made me grimace.

  “Like, your own apartment?” she asked. “What about David?”

  “What about him?”

  “Have you thought about moving in with him?”

  “Um, we should probably date for a while before we get that serious.”

  “Um,” she mimicked, “did you not just end your marriage for him? That’s pretty . . . serious.”

  “No, I know. But really, Gretch, David helped me see the cracks in my marriage. I’m doing this as much for myself as I am for him. And I don’t want to put too much pressure on him.”

  “Pressure?”

  “Well, yeah, that’s a lot of pressure. Ending my marriage for him? I don’t want David to feel like he owes me anything.”

  She sipped her coffee. “Don’t do that.”

  “Do what?” I asked, looking over at her.

  “Don’t prep yourself for disaster before things even get started.”

  “I’m not,” I said defensively. “I’m just trying to be realistic. David and I have time now. I don’t want to push him.” I paused, chewing on my lip. “I mean, I don’t even know if he’s ever lived with anyone.” I realized then that I was essentially leaving my life behind for a man I didn’t know much about.

  Gretchen twisted her lips as she thought. “I don’t know. Dude seems pretty intent on taking things to the next level with you.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, but, don’t forget, he’s a bachelor who’s spent his life doing what he wants . . . and who he wants. This may take some getting used to for him. Like I said, we’ve got something we didn’t have before: time. Time to get to know each other.”

  “True. All right, girl,” she said, breaking off toward her train. “See you tonight?” I started to answer but she stopped, turned and came back to me. “I’m serious, Liv. Don’t start this relationship with one foot out the door. Believe him when he tells you what he wants.”

  I promised her I would and then waved good-bye to my best friend.

  ~

  Gretchen and I had the apartment to ourselves again on Friday night, though this time it was
because Ava and Bethany were out partying. I marveled at their active social life. Since I’d arrived the night before, I hadn’t even seen either of them, but I was glad for it. I wasn’t exactly eager to explain why I was staying at their place. I knew Gretchen was sitting the night out to be with me, and it made me all the more grateful for her.

  David had kept in constant contact all day, but I hadn’t heard from him since right before I’d left work. In fact, he’d never answered my last text, but I shrugged it off. I focused on the fact that we’d be meeting in the morning, and I’d be going home with him for an entire weekend. Just me and him, alone. For the weekend. As much as the idea elated me, it also scared me. What if we weren’t as compatible as we’d thought? What if a whole weekend with me was too much for him?

  I spent the rest of the night ignoring that thought as Gretchen and I mindlessly watched reality TV.

  ~

  I hadn’t slept well. My nerves were frayed with anticipation, excitement and unfortunately, guilt. Spending a weekend with another man felt wrong, but spending it wrapped up in David felt all kinds of right. Only when I realized David still hadn’t responded to my last text did some anxiety creep into my thoughts.

  Gretchen invited herself to breakfast, I figured because she had a habit of being nosy, so we walked arm in arm to the café.

  “I started researching apartments yesterday,” I told her once we were seated. “Not looking forward to doing the roommate thing again.”

  She shrugged. “It’s not that bad.”

  “It is once you’ve gotten used to life without them.”

  “Well, maybe you should just ask David if he needs a roommate?” she suggested with a smirk.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “I really envy what you’re doing, you know,” she said.

  “Why?”

  “To know so strongly based on a feeling alone that you want to be with him. That’s amazing.”

  I let her words sink in as the waiter poured three glasses of water. “I think I knew it the moment I saw him,” I said thoughtfully. “I just couldn’t see through everything else.”

  “So that would make it love at first sight.”

  “No, no,” I said, waving her off. “I don’t believe in that.” Despite my brushoff, I couldn’t help but smile a little.

  “I do. And I know Lucy does. Once she sees you two together, she’ll understand.”

  “Gretch, you haven’t even seen us together.”

  “I may have spied on you guys a little when he came to my apartment.”

  “Gretchen!” I admonished with a laugh.

  “We should have a party for you two.”

  “Nah. I don’t need to be rubbing Bill’s face in anything.”

  “Speaking of, have you heard from Bill?”

  I furrowed my brows. “Not a peep. Maybe you could find out how Andrew’s visit went.”

  She nodded. “I’ll call later. Anyway, I personally think a party is a great idea. I can’t help but feel a little excited that my best friend is head over heels in love.”

  “I’m head over heels in something. I mean, what happens to all my stuff? Our joint bank account? I have some savings, but it’s pitiful compared to the joint. I mean, what happens to all that?”

  Gretchen looked sympathetic. “Divorce. That’s what happens.”

  “It’s going to be hell,” I said, raking my fingers through my hair and resting my head in my hands. “Our parents’ divorces took years.”

  “It’ll be worth it when it’s over.”

  “I don’t even have a lawyer. Bill is a lawyer, so of course I’ve never needed one before. I guess I should ask . . .” I groaned. “So not looking forward to telling my dad about this.”

  She grimaced. “Will he be mad?”

  “How can he be? He gets divorced all the time.”

  She giggled. “Well, maybe he’ll know a good lawyer.”

  We both looked up when David walked in. Something always shifted when he entered a room. I didn’t call him over as he scanned the restaurant but took the opportunity to appreciate my new . . . what, boyfriend? . . . from afar. I couldn’t decide who was sexier: businessman David in his tailored suits or this weekend David I watched now in his jeans and aviators.

  “What did I say about your phone?” He was angry, and he was stalking in our direction. I admired the sexy way he moved, surprisingly graceful for someone as tall and sturdily built as him.

  His hand found the back of my chair and the other planted on the table, boxing me in. He was focused on me like he was waiting for a response, but I’d been too busy appreciating him to hear the question.

  “What?” I breathed.

  “I’ve been trying to get ahold of you since yesterday. You haven’t returned any of my texts or e-mails, and my phone calls won’t go through. Hell, I almost drove over last night just to make sure you hadn’t skipped town on me.”

  By this time, I was pulling out my phone and examining it. “I don’t have any missed calls,” I said, showing him the screen.

  He took the phone from me. After a moment of furrowing his brow with concentration, something I knew I would never grow tired of watching, he cursed under his breath.

  “What?” I asked.

  “It’s disconnected.”

  “Oh. Bill must’ve canceled my plan.”

  “Sounds like something he’d do,” Gretchen put in.

  I sighed and took the phone back. I added a new phone plan to my growing list of expenses. I looked at David and pouted. “Sorry. I didn’t even think to check my e-mail last night.”

  He closed the space between us to kiss me. “Hi, beautiful.”

  I smiled. “Hi.”

  He inhaled and gave me a harder kiss before pulling back to sit at the table. When he did, my eyes darted around the restaurant nervously. It was definitely weird, kissing in public.

  “Just watching TV, hanging out,” Gretchen was saying to David. “We haven’t been feeling very motivated.”

  “Understandable,” he said and swung his head to me. He reached over to grasp my thigh. “How are you, baby?”

  “All right,” I responded, squirming slightly under the endearment.

  He squeezed my leg. “One step at a time,” he said so only I could hear. “Together.”

  I nodded and covered his hand with mine.

  “Is that your stuff?” he asked, motioning to the duffle bag that currently held my life.

  “Yep.”

  “Everything?”

  I nodded. “For now.”

  “Work clothes?”

  “Some of it. I’ll manage.” He glanced down at the tiny bag skeptically and then back at me. “Well, I might have to get more things from the apartment,” I conceded. “Bill didn’t take my key, so I can go next week while he’s at work.”

  “No need. We’ll go shopping.”

  “Oh, no, it’s fine,” I said. It was beginning to hit me that between a lawyer, rent, a new life and limited funds, things were going to become very tight for me.

  “I’ll take you.” He glanced at Gretchen, who made no secret that she was listening to every word. “We’ll sit down and talk logistics later, but let me get you some things for work.”

  “Logistics?” I asked.

  “Yeah, money, apartment stuff, all that shit. We’ll figure it out, but for now, I want to take my girl shopping.”

  “I couldn’t possibly – ”

  “I’ll go,” Gretchen volunteered, and I gave her a look.

  “Olivia, don’t argue with me,” David said, ignoring her. “Let me do this for you.”

  Gretchen kicked me under the table, and I yelped. She raised her eyebrows at me and nodded.

  “You’re a little persistent, aren’t you?” I asked him as he laughed silently.

  “You have no idea. You and I are going to be an interesting couple.”

  A couple. With David Dylan.His . . . girlfriend. I shook my head in disbelief.

  “What?” h
e asked.

  “This is just all so weird. I have a new life.”

  He frowned. “I know. I worry about you. Just remember that I’m here for whatever you need.”

  “So, you’re like her boyfriend, right?” Gretchen chimed in.

  “I don’t know if that’s quite the right word,” he replied.

  I snapped my head up. What?

  “Roommate?” Gretchen suggested.

  I jumped at David’s burst of laughter.

  “Gretchen,” I squealed, staring daggers at her.

  He rubbed his hand along my thigh. “If we need something to call me, then boyfriend works for now.”

  Gretchen hummed thoughtfully, alerting us that there was something on her mind.

  “Yes?” I asked her.

  “It’s Saturday . . . Isn’t tonight the Revelin grand opening?”

  David’s eyes cut to her as my mouth fell open. “It is?” I exclaimed.

  He shifted in his seat. “I’m not going.”

  “What? That’s a huge deal, David. You designed that hotel. Oh my God, you have to go,” I insisted.

  “It’s not important,” he said, tearing his glare from Gretchen to look at me. “I’m taking care of you right now.”

  “No.” I shook my head with determination. “Absolutely not. If you don’t want me to come, I understand, but you are definitely going. How can you say it’s not important? It is important, you’ve dedicated – ”

  “Calm down,” he interrupted, smiling. “I don’t even want to go. We already did that bullshit soft opening. Although, can’t say I regret that night one bit,” he added. I blushed, remembering the oh-so-wrong, but oh-so-right night of life-altering sex in his hotel room . . . and then in his hotel room’s pool. “Really, I don’t care about it,” David continued. “The hotel’s been open a couple weeks, and everything looks good.”

  My jaw clenched. “You’re going,” I declared. “This is a really big deal, and you have to be there, with or without me. I’m a big girl, I can take care of – ”

  He cut me off with his palms in the air. “All right. I’ll go. But I’m sure as hell not going without you. That is, if you’re up for it.”

  “I’m up for it,” I stated firmly.

  “Then unless you have a gown rolled up in that bag, we definitely need to go shopping.”