by Mia Ford
“Really?” She looked up at me and smiled. “I’m falling in love with you, too.”
I smiled big and lifted her chin up, bending forward and gently kissing her lips. She rolled over to the side and pulled my arm with her, wrapping it around her tightly. I kissed her on the cheek and relaxed my head into the pillow, breathing in the sweet smell of her perfume. We fell asleep like that, wrapped up in each other’s bodies, feeling the emotions that we had been holding back swirling around us. It was the first time in my life that I felt completely content.
Chapter 9
Amanda
The sound of the birds outside my window and the bright streaming sunlight coming in roused me from my sleep. I hadn’t slept that well in a really long time, and I wasn’t even surprised that the clock read noon when I looked over at it. It was Sunday, so there was no rush to get up, and Nathan had made sure to pay for two nights so we could sleep in and not be bothered. I rolled over on my back and stretched my arms over my head, yawning. Nathan propped himself up on his elbow and looked over at me, smiling.
“How long have you been awake?” I asked.
“Just about five minutes before you,” he said, pulling me into him. “You were so sweet in your sleep that I wanted you to wake up on your own.”
“Thank you,” I said, kissing him on the cheek.
“I love you,” he said, nuzzling my neck with his nose.
“I love you, too,” I said with a big, excited smile.
I couldn’t believe that we had both gotten to that place so fast. I was head over heels for this guy, and he had broken through all of my walls, forcing me to open up to him without much effort at all. I didn’t know why, but I just trusted him. It was crazy.
“I can’t believe how fast I fell for you,” he said.
“I was just thinking that,” I said, laughing. “You are reading my mind.”
“I wish,” he said. “Women would be so less complicated if that were possible.”
“I just never expected to fall in love again,” I said, sighing. “When my ex and I broke up, I was done, and I stayed like that for a long time. Then I met you, and it has been a whirlwind. I was totally going to leave the restaurant that day, but I was starving and had nothing else to do on that Friday night.”
“I’m glad you were starving,” he said. “I’m glad that both of us were content to be at that bar, scooting close to one another, and then letting go of our inhibitions. I knew the moment I started talking to you that you were different.”
“Me too,” I said. “I knew you were trouble.”
“You figured me out,” he said, laughing. “Let’s get up, get dressed, and go out on the town for the day.”
“In my evening gown?”
“I had the hotel send up some clothes for both of us,” he said, smiling. “They are in the living area.”
“You are too sweet,” I said, shaking my head.
We got up and went out in the living room, checking out the clothes that were sent over. I pulled on the cute pink panties and bra and then put on the jeans. They were low-rise with rips in the thighs. I liked the style, and I nodded in approval as I pulled the grey t-shirt over my head and sat down to slip on the Chuck Taylor’s. I stood back up and turned around, facing Nathan. We laughed, looking at each other’s outfits. Someone had a sense of humor because we were dressed almost identically, only his was the manly version.
“I guess we are twins today.” He chuckled.
“It’s not so bad. At least you look hot.” I smiled.
“So, do you,” he said with a smirk. “Like, woozier hot.”
“Woozier hot? Where does that fall on the scale?”
“Like way over the top,” he said, measuring it with his hand.
We went down to the lobby and hopped in the car waiting for us. We spent the entire day together, exploring places in the city I never knew existed until that day. Nathan wanted to show me all his favorite spots. Most of them were outside of the city on the outskirts of Los Angeles. We talked about his childhood and how he grew up in a middle-class family, his father owning the mechanic shop and his mom staying home with him. He had a really normal upbringing which I didn’t expect to find in a billionaire. Most of them came from money and then moved right into their own fortune. He was down to earth, which made me feel comfortable with him, especially since I didn’t grow up in a rich household, either. The whole day was fantastic, and I really enjoyed spending time with him and learning more about his life and how he became the man that he was. It was interesting not feeling like we had to rush, like we had the rest of our lives to learn about each other.
When it was time for dinner, he had the driver take us back into the city to a little Italian joint off the main streets. We pulled up out front, and he took my hand, walking up to the door and opening it for me. As I walked inside, I stopped, staring over at the counter where Sarah was standing. She turned and looked at me, a smirk floating over her lips. I couldn’t believe that out of all the restaurants in LA, we ended up at the same one as her. Immediately, I grabbed tightly to Nathan’s hand, and he looked down at me slightly confused. Sarah pranced over, stopping and looking at me for a moment.
“Oh, look, she found a new boyfriend for me to fuck,” she said, throwing her head back and laughing. “Good luck with this one.”
I gripped tightly to Nathan’s hand, and he cringed. I looked up at him with angry tears in my eyes, not knowing what to say. He had heard what she said, but she had no idea who she was. Nathan turned toward me and looked down into my eyes.
“I don’t know what is going on, but let’s find another place, okay?”
I nodded my head, totally not wanting to fight him on this. Either I left, or I would explode on her, and I didn’t want to lose my cool, especially in front of Nathan. I didn’t care about my ex, but I cared that Sarah was such a bitch. How dare she make a snide comment like that to me? She was the whore in this situation.
I let Nathan pull me out of the restaurant, turning away as we passed Sarah. Once out on the sidewalk, he kept walking, taking me down the block and to a park down the street. I sat down on the bench and took in a deep breath. Nathan sat across from me, patiently waiting for me to talk to him. I felt like an asshole, allowing myself to get so irritated and upset over Sarah. It was a good thing I saw her for the first time again tonight, and not at the wedding. I would have had an issue getting away from her there, and I didn’t want to make a scene in front of everyone at Lindsey’s wedding.
“That’s one of the women that my ex cheated with,” I said, trying to get through the emotions. “That’s Sarah, the one I told you about. She knew I was in a relationship with him and slept with him anyway, just to spite me. She has always had it out for me for years. I don’t understand what I ever did to her, but she just doesn’t like me.”
“Oh,” Nathan said, shaking his head. “I figured it was something like that. I heard what she said, and I want you to know, I am not a cheater. I would never in a million years’ cheat on you, no matter what, and definitely not with a nasty woman like her. I could tell just by looking at her that she had no self-respect whatsoever. I don’t want that to be a worry in your mind. I know that’s easier said than done after having your last boyfriend betray you like that, but I want you to know that I won’t hurt you like that.”
“I know.” I sighed. “I was just thinking about how I trust you already. I don’t have any fears with you.”
“Good,” he said, scooting around to my side and wrapping his arms around me. “That girl looked really familiar. Tell me who she is again.”
“She probably looks familiar because she is Lindsey’s little sister,” I said. “They are like twins, only Sarah is a bit younger than Lindsey. If you know Lindsey, then Sarah will definitely look familiar.”
“I’m sure that’s it,” he said. “And now I get it. She is Lindsey’s little sister, the one you told me slept with you ex. Okay. And she’s going to be at the wedding?”
>
“Yeah,” I said. “And she will probably try to be the center of attention. She will most definitely hit on you, too, now that she knows we are together.”
“She might not want to try me,” he said. “You may want to keep the peace, but I will embarrass the hell out of her in front of everyone. I give no shits.”
“You’re silly,” I said, hugging him. “But I appreciate your support. It really means a lot to me to have you there and understanding that this is something that is really sensitive to me. It’s not about my ex. I don’t give a shit about him. It’s about her and what she did.”
“I don’t blame you at all,” he said. “She has known you her whole life. It is really messed up that she would go and do something like that to you. I don’t know anyone in my life that would betray me like that. There is something wrong with her if she thinks that kind of behavior is acceptable. Are you going to tell Lindsey what she said?
“Maybe after the wedding,” I said. “I don’t want to upset her or cause any turmoil before her big day. I want her to have an amazing wedding and be happy and joyful, not worry about whether a cat fight is going to break out on the dance floor.”
“You’d win if it did,” he said, chuckling. “Just go for the hair and then straddle her and smack her around a bit. I’ll bring the camera and get it on tape. I’m sure we could make some serious dough off of that.”
“Shut up,” I said, laughing and slapping him on the chest. “Besides, that would only work if we were naked. Nobody will buy a regular cat fight.”
“Just let a nip slip or something,” he said, laughing.
I dried my eyes and laughed hard, feeling the stress rise up off my shoulders. I felt better just being next to Nathan, but having him there to talk to was even more comforting. I was leaning on him, and I had never done that with any man in my life. He was there for me, and I was okay with that, feeling like I could give him my problems and let him help me sort them out. There was a connection there that went beyond sex or love, and it was pretty intense. I knew that seeing Sarah had made me emotional, but this was something different. I breathed deeply, not wanting to think too much about it.
“Why don’t we try this again and go get some food somewhere?”
“I like that idea,” he said. “I was starting to think about eating out of the park trashcan, I’m so hungry.”
“You are gross,” I said, standing up and shaking my head.
“Oh yeah?”
He stood up and started chasing after me, growling as I ran away. I giggled loudly, shrieking as he caught me in his arms and turned me toward him. I looked deep in his eyes and smiled, leaning in and kissing him on the lips. He was exactly what I needed.
Chapter 10
Nathan
It was only Tuesday, but I felt like I was going insane not having Amanda by my side. I had just seen her on Sunday, and now, I was sitting at work with her running through my mind. I had texted her several times that day, sending cute messages back and forth, but it just wasn’t enough for me. I had never been this wrapped up in a girl before, and I was starting to feel the repercussions from it. Even when I was with my ex, I didn’t crave to be with her, to see her, to touch her, but with Amanda, I did all the damn time. I wondered if this was how Jordan felt about Lindsey because if it was, I needed some pointers on how to function in day to day life.
Spending time with Amanda had become my favorite thing to do. I was always thinking about ways to see her sooner. It was an interesting feeling to be that close to someone, that attached to someone, even though I’d only known her a short while. It felt like we had forever to get to know one another, and instead of that being a daunting thought, I was excited about the prospect. I didn’t give a shit about giving up my dating life or spending my free time with her instead of out with the boys. I wanted to plan my days around our meetings. Lying in bed, talking all night long, and making love whenever we wanted to. You would think as the owner of a major corporation, I would be able to do those things, but instead, I was sitting in a meeting at work, not listening to anything they had to say.
Work had become a bother to me, and the meetings were hard to get through. The one I was currently in was something about internal marketing we were going to be doing. It was pointless for me to be there since I had already signed off on everything, but it was expected of me to be there and be present. Well, I was there, but I definitely wasn’t present. I looked down at my phone and smiled as a text popped up from Amanda. She had sent me a picture of herself making a funny face. I sent her a message back saying I was in a meeting, with about ten skulls after it. We conversed back and forth for a minute, and then I put my phone down.
There were people at the front of the room doing a presentation, but their voices had faded to the background as I stared out the window at nothing in particular. Thoughts of Amanda ran through my head, and I started planning out our next date. I wanted to take her somewhere out of the city, somewhere we could relax without worrying about running into people like Sarah. As I made a checklist in my head, I was pulled back into the room.
“Hey,” John whispered. “You still in there?”
“Yeah,” I whispered back. “Sorry.”
“At least try to pay attention,” he said. “These people worked really hard on this, and they are looking for your approval. You don’t even look like you’re inside of your body.”
I pulled myself up in the chair and tried to focus in on the rest of the meeting. John was right. Whether I liked it or not, I was leading these people, and they were looking to me for input and guidance. I might not have liked it at that moment, but that was the way I built the company. When the meeting was over, I talked with the group for a little while and gave them the sign off on the project. They all seemed excited that their hard work was being noticed. I knew I needed to at least try to be present for these people. I went back to my office and sat down behind the computer, opening up my email. Before I could answer anyone back, though, John walked in, sitting down in front of my desk.
“Where is my secretary?” I asked.
“She went to lunch,” John said. “Why do I know that, but you don’t?”
“I’m not sure,” I said, rubbing my face.
“What is going on with you?”
“Nothing is wrong with me,” I said. “Everything is right with me, and I can’t get it out of my head.”
“Would you like to try explaining that to me without speaking in riddles?”
“I can’t stop thinking about Amanda,” I blurted out. “I’ve fallen head over heels in love with her.”
Normally, after telling your best friend that you fell in love with a girl, you would be greeted with applause and happy comments. However, as I sat there waiting for John’s response, his face went from concerned to unhappy. It was the same face he gave me when he told me about my ex, and I didn’t like what was happening at all. Why was it that I couldn’t have my best friend be there and happy for me, and what was so bad about me being in love? I shifted in my chair and tapped on the desk, grabbing his attention.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said, shaking himself back into reality. “I’m happy for you. I am.”
“But…”
“But I want you to be careful,” he said. “I don’t have a good feeling about her. I have been thinking about that since I met her at the party, but I didn’t want to say anything because you looked so damn happy.”
I sat there for a minute, trying to soak his words into my head. I felt like I was having Deja vu, especially since this whole scenario had happened with my ex. How could he feel that way about the only two women I had ever fallen in love with? Sure, he was right about my ex, so right that sometimes it stung, but what were the odds that I found another woman that was the same exact way, and John caught on to it? It was impossible.
“You might have been right once, but you won’t be right again,” I said with a slight chuckle. “You are freaking out abou
t my love life more than I am. Amanda is an amazing girl, and you haven’t said more than two polite words to her in your life. How in the world could you come up with that conclusion after watching me with her for a few hours? Do you have these feelings about all of your friend’s girlfriends?”
“She is your girlfriend now?”
“Yes, she is my girlfriend now,” I said. “Why is it so hard for everyone to believe that I just might be happy with one girl? I let go of all the shit from the past. Now that I have, my best friend has become some kind of relationship Buddha. You really should open up a shop and start doing psychic work.”
“I’m serious,” he said, leaning forward. “I’m not trying to ruin anything for you. I want you to be happy. What would it do for me if you were unhappy? Yes, I might have only spent a few minutes with her, but that was enough for me to know that there was something off about her.”
“Maybe there is something off about you, John,” I said, irritated. “This is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard. I know Amanda better than you think I do, and there is nothing wrong with her or our relationship.”
“You’ve known the girl five seconds,” he said. “How can you know anything about her in that little bit of time? Do you really think she would stop and go, ‘Hey I’m using you?’ Come on, man. Open your eyes, and at least think about what I am saying. If I’m wrong, then great, but I really think you are being blind right now.”
