Come Together

by Jessica Hawkins

  Brian was waiting by himself when we arrived downstairs.

  “Ready?” I asked.

  “Yes, ma’am, just waiting for your friend.”

  I noticed Brian’s girlfriend standing by the door. “Oh. Morning, Kat, didn’t see you there.”

  “Hi.”

  “Are you getting a lesson too?”

  “No,” she said. “I burn easily.”

  “Oh.”

  David’s face brightened as if that reminded him of something. He grabbed a bottle of sunscreen from the counter and passed it to me. “Don’t argue,” he said.

  I didn’t and was just finishing rubbing it in when Gretchen appeared. She was all shiny again with her hair and makeup fixed and her contacts in. “Let’s hit the beach,” she said cheerily.

  David and Brian stuck longboards under their arms as the four of us made the short walk to the water. “The waves are small right now,” David observed. “We can just practice in the whitewater.”

  I shrugged. “Whatever. Let’s go.”

  “Not so fast,” he said. “First you have to practice on land.”

  I crinkled my nose. “Why? Can’t we just do it?”

  “No.” He set his board on the sand next to Brian’s. “On your belly.”

  “Oh, yes, sir,” I teased, but his expression was serious.

  “And these have to go,” he said, sliding my sunglasses off and tossing them with our stuff. “You need to be alert out there, Olivia. No messing around. You could get hurt.”

  I saluted him. Gretchen and I giggled, but his jaw hardened. We stopped laughing immediately and dropped onto the boards. He demonstrated how we should paddle and pop up. We both imitated what he’d done and held our poses as instructed. He and Brian squatted next to us, fixing our stances by adjusting our legs. I tried in vain to flirt with David as he corrected my back foot.

  “What is all this?” I heard Brian ask Gretchen. When I looked over, he was waving his hand near her face.

  “What?”

  “All this hair and makeup just to get in the water. It’s ridiculous.”

  She shrugged. “Who cares?”

  “I do. You don’t need all this. You looked prettier this morning. Bed hair, no makeup and pajamas.”

  Her lips drew into a line. “Shut up, Brian. Why do you have to be such a dick?”

  His brows knit. “I’m being serious.”

  “Well, then, I don’t need your pity.”

  “No need to get defensive,” Brian said. “All I asked was what the point is. It’s going to get ruined anyway.”

  “It’s waterproof makeup,” she pointed out as if it was obvious.

  “Oh, is it?” he retorted. Suddenly he scooped her up, and she screamed as he ran her to the ocean.

  I cringed as he tossed her in easily. “He is so dead,” I muttered, but she came up laughing.

  “See?” David said. “They like each other.”

  ~

  Gretchen and I were splayed out on our towels, wrecked after two hours in the water.

  “I think I could be really good at surfing,” I said. “I mean, I stood up almost every time. You only got up, like, twice, right? And you’ve had lessons before? David said I was a natural.”

  “Whatever,” she said. “It’s not a contest.”

  “So, um, you and Brian were sort of chummy out there.”

  “We were chummy? I’m pretty sure small children had to be removed from the beach because of you and David.”

  “Oh, please. A little making out never hurt anyone. I mean, have you seen David without a shirt?”

  “Good point.”

  “So? You and Brian?”

  “Ugh, what? I don’t like him. He’s been actually tolerable today, but that doesn’t mean anything. Right now I’m just trying not to think about Greg.”

  I nodded. “You’re right, I’m sorry. It’s just that David thinks he likes you.”

  She got up on an elbow and lowered her sunglasses at me. “He said that?”

  “Yup.”

  Her answering laugh sounded forced. “That’s crazy.”

  “Is it?”

  “Look, I never told you this, but after the one date we had, I kissed Brian.”

  “I know. He told me.”

  “Oh. Well . . . he turned me down.”

  “So? That was a long time ago.”

  “So, clearly he’s not into me. Not that I’m into him, but, anyway, he’s not into me.”

  “Okay,” I said, offering up my palms. “But either way, maybe you should take a break from Greg. Be single for a while.”

  “Or forever.”

  “Don’t say that. Greg sucks. Not all guys are like him.”

  She squinted out at the water. “Jesus, they are smokin’ fuckin’ hot, though. Look at them.”

  I followed her gaze to where David and Brian sat in the line-up. They were opposites; David dark and sexy, Brian blond and goofy. Both looked drop-dead gorgeous shirtless, though. “Brian is pretty ripped, huh?” I asked.

  “Would you stop?”

  “Okay. Sorry. They are extremely hot. Those girls over there are checking them out.”

  We laughed and reclined back again. I closed my eyes to soak in the warmth of the sun and was almost asleep when I heard the base of David’s voice.

  Gretchen was already up on her elbows and yawning. “Look,” she said, jutting her chin at the water. “They’re talking to the girls.”

  I frowned and squinted through my sunglasses at the shoreline. Three girls in bikinis were ankle deep in the water, their hands shading their eyes as they looked up at Brian and David. I sat up all the way, and David waved. Something warm came over me, and I smiled at him. There was so much love for him in my body that there was no room for jealousy, even as I watched the girls flirt.

  David broke away, ran up the sand and dropped his surfboard next to me. He fell over me gracefully, propping himself on outstretched arms and dripping water onto me. “Sorry, honey, hope you don’t mind getting a little wet,” he said with a wink.

  “Let’s see a push-up,” Gretchen demanded.

  He lowered, kissed me on the lips and pushed himself back up.

  “One,” I said. He repeated the motion, this time kissing the curve of my neck. “Two.”

  “Okay, that’s good,” Gretchen said. “I don’t want to know what happens when you get to ten.”

  He laughed and rolled over onto the sand. “God, I love the beach.”

  “Word,” Gretchen agreed as Brian strolled up and plopped down next to her. “How was the surf?” she asked.

  “Shit,” Brian said. “But it’s okay because we had longboards.”

  “Dude, did you see that kid ripping out there?” David asked.

  “He was like ten years old,” Brian told us, “but he trounced the rest of us.”

  “I would seriously start my kid surfing the second he could walk,” David continued. “Boy or girl, I wouldn’t care. Snowboarding too.”

  My heart skipped a beat, and I rubbed my nose. From behind my sunglasses, I saw Gretchen glance at me.

  “Same here,” Brian said. “We could move out to Florida and raise a professional surf team.”

  “I’m in,” David said. “I don’t know if your lady friend would be up for that though. She doesn’t seem to like the beach.”

  Brian laughed. “No, definitely not. Sadly, I think our time together is coming to an end.”

  “She doesn’t seem like your type,” Gretchen noted.

  “Oh, yeah, why not?” he asked.

  “For one, she doesn’t ride a broom.”

  He laughed loudly and fell back on the sand. “Gretchen,” he groaned, covering his face with his arm. “Quit bustin’ my balls, would you?”

  I looked from Brian to David, who was grinning. Florida looked good on him. I took a mental picture of his profile, wanting to remember this carefree, in-his-element David forever. His gaze shifted down to me, and he winked.

  CHAPTER 26r />
  COMPLETELY TANGLED IN DAVID was how I awoke, with my arms around his neck, my hands in his hair, and his arms circled around my waist. Our legs entwined like vines attempting to merge. There was a grey hue about the room, and I heard the light drumming of rain outside. He sighed and pulled me closer. His hair was jet black against the stark white pillow, and he looked peaceful but still severe, even in repose. I bit my lip to keep from waking him with a kiss.

  I closed my eyes again. It was another perfect weekend. After our surf session, David and I had made love in the shower and then napped until dinnertime. Brian and Gretchen prepared a seafood pasta feast while David and I canoodled on the couch. Brian’s girlfriend watched. By the time we’d gone to bed, only Gretchen and Brian remained.

  I was high on everything – David, the beach, the possibility of Gretchen and Brian – but I managed to give in to a second round of sleep.

  We were still interwoven when I woke again, but he was on his back. I looked up to find him watching me. “We slept late,” he said softly.

  I nodded and shifted back against his chest, not ready to separate. The thud of heavy raindrops was comforting and David plus the sheets were warm and smooth against my skin. I closed my eyes as he stroked my hair.

  Suddenly he flipped me onto my back. “You’re going back to sleep?” he cried. “It’s almost noon.”

  I giggled as his face hovered above mine. “I had a stressful week.”

  “Were you dealing with unruly workers and asshole engineers all week? I don’t think so.”

  I pouted. “I’m sorry, baby. But I was stuck in a debilitating state of sexual arousal the entire time. I could barely function.”

  “Yeah, right,” he said, shifting and pulling me closer.

  “Really,” I said. “It was exhausting.”

  “Well, whoever left you that way should be tried and charged with stupidity of the highest degree.”

  I laughed and pushed his shoulder, but he caught my wrist. His smile fell, and his face turned serious. His eyes intensified as they darted over my face. “Marry me.”

  My mouth parted to suck in in a sharp breath. “What?”

  He blinked, and his eyes continued scanning. “Marry me, Olivia,” he said just above a whisper.

  “David, I – I haven’t even started the divorce process yet.”

  “These past few weeks have been the best of my life. Surfing with you yesterday, hanging out on the beach . . . You’ve been in my life for so little time, yet I can’t imagine it without you. I want you to be my wife. Maybe it can’t be for a while, maybe you even want to wait a couple years. It doesn’t matter to me. Just tell me one day you’ll be my wife. Tell me yes.”

  It was a moment every girl dreamed of, but my heart began to pound and my mouth went dry. My conversation with Jessa filtered through my mind. I’d thought we had more time, but suddenly it was simultaneously too soon and too late. Here he was, asking me to make the same promises Bill had. And I knew that with that one simple discussion we hadn’t had, everything could change. Everything.

  I looked away so I wouldn’t have to see his expression. “It’s too soon,” I whispered.

  “I know. It is too soon. But we don’t have to tell anyone.” He stroked my cheek with his thumb.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I – I can’t. Things are too . . .”

  “Hey,” he called softly. “Olivia, look at me. It’s okay. Don’t freak out.”

  “I’m not freaking out,” I said and smiled, but I could see he wasn’t buying it.

  “I’m happy to be here with you now. That just came out. I meant it, but I should’ve waited.”

  Coward! I screamed at myself. He didn’t deserve this, and I knew it. “David,” I started.

  He looked at me expectantly. He was so open, his eyes were clear, and his love was pouring over me. For God’s sake, he’d just asked me to marry him. How would I survive if he never looked at me that way again? If this one last piece of the puzzle didn’t fit? I didn’t know how I would survive, but I knew I never wanted to find out.

  “I didn’t want to ruin the weekend,” I said, “but I think there’s something you should know.”

  His body stiffened instantly. He moved back to sit on his calves. “What?”

  “The day you left Chicago, I went to your office to find you and apologize.”

  “Yes, I remember.”

  “I ran into Arnaud. Your new receptionist had been in his office, door shut, and when she came out, she looked scared. Like really scared.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “He’s guilty. I know he is. And I think he did the same thing to her that he did to Clare. I know he’s an important part of your team, and I’d hate if I couldn’t come see you at work anymore, but I refuse to be near him.”

  “Did he say something to you?”

  “Well, no. I know you said that people don’t get him, but I just have this feeling. I believe Clare.”

  He stood from the bed and put his hands on his hips. “Why are you telling me now?”

  “You need to know before he either does something to that girl or before you have another potential lawsuit on your hands.”

  He looked down at me a while, but his eyes were distant as he appeared to be thinking. Finally, he sighed. “I hear what you’re saying, and I’ll talk to him. But this is business – I can’t just go in accusing him of things.”

  “I’m not asking anything of you,” I said, affronted. “I get that he’s an important part of your team.”

  “You said that already.”

  “Okay . . . ?”

  “He really does have a fucked up sense of humor.”

  “I know,” I said quietly. “I just wanted you to have the information. Do with it what you want. I’m going for a run.”

  “A run?” he asked incredulously.

  “I need fresh air.”

  “It’s raining.”

  “It’s not too bad.” I crawled over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  “Do you want me to come?” he asked.

  “No. Everyone except us flies out this afternoon. Why don’t you and Bri get in one more session before he leaves?”

  He nodded. “You know that to be a runaway bride, you actually have to make it to the ceremony, right?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m not freaking out.”

  “But you don’t run.”

  “I do when I have stuff on my mind.”

  His eyebrows dipped. “What stuff?” I just looked at him until defeat crossed his face. “Don’t run too far,” he said. “You don’t know the area.”

  I shot my arms around his neck and pulled him close, locking him in a deep kiss. “Thanks for this weekend,” I whispered.

  “Let’s blow off work and stay here a few more days.”

  I smiled. “I wish I could.”

  “You could if you quit,” he said hesitantly.

  I blinked at him. “Quit?”

  “I was going to tell you next week, but I have another work opportunity in New York,” he said. “This one is full-time, six months. And after that, who knows? It could be anywhere. We could go together, do some traveling.”

  “Six months?” I echoed.

  “I won’t take it if you don’t come with me, but you could if you weren’t tied to Chicago.”

  At one point, I’d wanted to live in New York, but I’d given up on that idea long ago. It didn’t matter though; I loved Chicago. “What about the house?” I asked.

  “It won’t be ready for a while, but no matter where we go, it will always be our home.”

  “What would I do?”

  “Write,” he said simply.

  “That’s just a hobby, David. I don’t see it going anywhere.”

  “Freelance for magazines while you work on a book. Plus . . .”

  “What?”

  “It would make you more available for the shelter. You could volunteer there regularly when we’re home. And when we’re not, we
ll, Chicago isn’t the only place with needy animals.”

  I stared at him, my heart warming at the thought of spending more time at the shelter. Or was it that he’d known how much it meant to me? I wasn’t sure. “You’ve given this a lot of thought.”

  He kissed me on the forehead. “Just consider it.”

  I nodded, and when he left to find Brian, I went to Gretchen’s room. She was pacing and on the phone, so I sat on the edge of the bed to wait. She held a finger up in my direction and rolled her eyes.

  “Well, you should’ve thought about that before abandoning me again,” she said calmly and paused. “Yes, if you’d stayed and talked to me like a mature adult, we would be having a different conversation . . . How am I supposed to trust you now? Frankly, I think you did both of us a favor because now . . . yes, I said favor, because now I see that this isn’t working.” She looked at me as she listened. “I’m sorry, Greg, but you only have yourself to blame. We’re not in college anymore, and you have to grow up. We can talk more at home, but I have to go now.” She hung up abruptly and flopped next to me on the bed. “Oh my God.”

  “What?” I exclaimed.

  “That was Greg, obviously. He said he was sorry for what he said and wanted to make sure I wasn’t mad. He didn’t even realize I’d be more pissed that he took off like that.”

  I scoffed. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “Right? On some level I’ll always love him, but this was sort of a wake-up call. He’s obviously got commitment issues, but I don’t think I even care anymore. Whatever we had is gone.”

  I cleared my throat and picked at something on the comforter. “Does Brian have anything to do with this?”

  She laughed. “No. I don’t know.”

  “Did you guys . . . ?”

  “No, of course not! For one, gross, and for two, his girlfriend is here. But last night we talked . . . a lot. Like, all night.”

  “Really?” I asked, beaming. “And you still don’t like him?”

  She hesitated. “He’s not gross, I guess. There was this brief moment where I thought he might kiss me, but . . . he didn’t, and I was disappointed.”

  “Wow. Strange how one weekend can change everything,” I muttered.

  “Yup. I’m hoping this rain burns off so we can hit the beach before I leave.”