by J. D. Rivera
Moments later, our kissing was brought to a stop when the front door swung open. I gave Vanessa one last peck on the lips and turned around as she hid behind me.
“I’m glad you two worked it all out but please don’t do it on my kitchen table. That’s just nasty,” Amanda said as she walked into the living room.
I turned around to see a mortified looking Vanessa. “I’m so sorry, Amanda. I promise we weren’t going to have sex on it,” she told her.
An idea crept into my head. “Hey, Amanda? Have you ever had sex on this table?”
They both gaped at me and Vanessa elbowed me. “The only reason I asked is because I’ll take this one and buy you a new one unless you’ve had sex on it before.” I looked over at Vanessa who was still eyeing me like I was crazy. “What? This table now has a good memory attached to it and, if I were her, I wouldn’t want it now. Win, win.”
Amanda piped up. “No I haven’t and I’ll gladly take a new one. I’m sure I can pick out a really expensive one.”
A COUPLE of hours later, I stood in what seemed like the millionth furniture store looking at dining room tables. My idea seemed more and more stupid by the moment, especially since Vanessa had let me know that we wouldn’t be finishing what we had started earlier. She wanted to try this friendship thing immediately.
I wanted to yell “just pick one, damn it,” but I knew that I wouldn’t score any points for that so I kept my mouth shut and checked social media while they inspected every damn table. The sales guy kept eyeing me every few minutes and I could tell that he wanted to ask if I was me, but I just averted my eyes and looked very busy.
“Hey, is this price okay?” Amanda asked me.
At this point, the table could have cost a hundred grand and I would’ve bought it just to end this shopping trip. I’d gone along because I thought I would be spending time with Vanessa and of course I had to pay, but Amanda kept asking her questions about every dining set she saw, limiting my time spent with her.
I glanced at the price and it seemed reasonable to me. “Yeah, that’s fine. This the one you’re getting?”
“I think so. As long as you’re really okay with this.”
I took a peek at Vanessa who was watching me with a smile on her face. “I’m really okay with it,” I told them as I moved to stand beside Vanessa. I placed my arm around her shoulder and she gave me an eyebrow raise.
“What?” I whispered. “Friends can touch each other, can’t they?”
That earned a laugh from her before the salesman let us know we could follow him to pay. At the counter, I pulled out my credit card, handing it to the salesman.
He glanced at the name then me. A huge smile broke out on his face. “I knew it was you, man. I knew it. I guess you’re getting your new place set up.”
I looked back and smiled at Vanessa, who was standing behind me with Amanda. “Sure am,” I told him.
Vanessa
I SPENT the remainder of the weekend with Jackson, just hanging out. We went to the movies on Sunday afternoon and spent the evening watching Modern Family on Hulu Plus. He’d remembered it was my favorite TV show and it warmed my heart. After talking for over an hour about my car situation, I’d agreed to borrow his car again for a bit longer.
A local reporter was meeting Jackson to interview him about his new team and the city while I was stuck in a building with a bunch of rambunctious fifth graders. The rain had forced the students to have indoor recess and they had pent-up energy that was coming out by tearing things up in my classroom.
After the final bell of the day, I leaned my head on my desk and closed my eyes. I was exhausted. My phone rang in my purse and I almost let it go to voicemail. “Hey,” I answered without pulling my head up.
“You sound tired,” Jackson told me.
I yawned. “I am. The kids wore me out today.”
“Can I come over with some food?” He sounded hopeful.
The thought of him bringing me food and me doing nothing sounded amazing. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
“Okay. See ya in a little bit.”
I WAS lying on the couch when Jackson knocked at my door. At that moment, I really wished that I had given him a key because I didn’t feel like getting up. I got up and dragged myself to the door. I unlocked the deadbolt and Jackson stood in front of me with a take-out bag from Bolero. He made me so happy.
“You really are tired,” he said as he walked through the doorway and into the kitchen.
I followed behind him. “You know how to make a girl feel good.”
Setting the bag on the counter, he said, “You know I think you’re gorgeous, but you still look tired.”
“I am. Really tired.”
He walked over to me, grabbed my hand, and pulled me to the couch. “You lay down, okay? I’ll get everything ready while you relax.”
We had just finished eating when someone knocked on the door. I cleaned my hands and walked to the front door.
I opened it, then wanted to close it. “What do you want, Shane?”
“I was wondering if you had had time to think.”
What in the hell was he talking about? I felt a warm body behind me and an arm wrap around my waist. I melted into Jackson as I spoke to Shane. “Think about what?”
“You’re still dating this asshole? I thought for sure you’d ditch him after I came over last time.”
“Excuse me? Wait. You only wanted me to take you back so you can say you won. So you could tell yourself that you got the girl away from the famous basketball player. It had nothing to do with me and everything to do with your ego.”
“He’ll cheat on you. That’s what you’re good for. You’re a worthless wife and no man will ever be happy with-”
“Shut the fuck up and leave. Do not ever come near her again. I promise you’ll regret it,” Jackson said angrily.
Shane placed his hands on his hips, wearing a smug face and looking for a fight with Jackson. “Is that a threat, Berrios?”
“No. Not a threat. A promise. Get the fuck out of here, now!” Jackson growled.
We closed the door in Shane’s face and Jackson walked me over to the couch. “Are you okay?” He asked as we sat down.
I snuggled into the cushion. “I’ve gotten used to his crap over the years. I’m fine.”
He nodded but didn’t seem satisfied with my answer. “When did he come over here?”
I stared at him for a minute. “A couple of hours before I went to your place and saw you with Cynthia.”
“Damn it. You know you are so much better than what he says, don’t you? You aren’t worthless. You’re amazing.”
I moved and put my arms around him for a hug. “Thank you.”
THE NEXT day I was enjoying my planning period when Amanda called me.
“What’s up?” I asked her.
“Have you checked out that paper that interviewed Jackson yesterday?”
“No, why? Should I check it out?” I was starting to get nervous.
“Yes! Are you by a computer?”
“Yeah, hang on a sec.” I told her as I moved the mouse around to bring the computer back to life.
“What’s the web address?” I asked her and she rattled it off to me.
“Are you there? Read the last two questions.”
Question: You were spotted around town over the weekend buying new furniture. What’s your style?
Answer: I was actually out buying for a friend. My personal style is about memories. As long as it has memories attached to it, it can be cheap and I’ll love it.
Question: Some have speculated that you may be dating a local school teacher. Would that be correct?
Answer: Some things are private. My relationship with her is between us but I can say that she is very special to me.
“Oh my gosh, Amanda. I don’t think anyone has ever called me special before,” I said trying to contain my tears of happiness.
“I think he’s got it bad for you.”
“I think I mi
ght have it bad for him too,” I told her.
The rest of the day I floated on my own happiness. The kids could have stuck thumbtacks on my chair and I wouldn’t have cared. Things were finally looking up for me and, with any luck, I’d be a single woman tomorrow.
Jackson
I STOOD on the courthouse steps waiting for Vanessa to arrive for her divorce. I was pretty excited and had woken up really early. I went for a run and worked out all before arriving at the courthouse.
I watched her walk up the sidewalk with Amanda and an older man and woman whom I assumed were her parents. Not the best place to meet them but it would need to happen eventually.
I walked down a few steps to greet her. “Hey. Today’s the big day. Are you ready?” I really hoped she said yes.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for close to a year now. I’m more than ready.”
I looked over at whom I believed to be her parents and stuck my hand out. ‘Hi. I’m Jackson a friend of Vanessa.”
Her father eyed me for a moment, then took my hand. “Walter Adams and this is my wife, Mary.”
I shook both of their hands, then greeted Amanda. When we began walking up the steps, I took Vanessa’s hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze. I wanted her to know that she was doing the right thing and that she wasn’t alone.
“I’ll slide into the back so nobody notices me. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, that’s probably for the best. I don’t want to rile Shane up. I just want this over as quickly as possible.”
I gave her a peck on the forehead and turned loose of her hand. I could see out of the corner of my eye that her dad was inspecting my behavior. I didn’t care. I was glad that she had him to care about her. I knew that I was going to be good for her and that she wouldn’t need to guard herself anymore. I would guard her from now on.
After the divorce was finalized, I stood up and waited for her to walk down the aisle toward me. She had the biggest grin on her face and looked—relaxed. She hadn’t gotten very much moneywise, but I knew that I would take care of her. She had gotten what she wanted, which was the divorce.
I grabbed her for a huge hug, whispering in her ear. “I have big plans for you today.”
She pulled back. “What type of plans? I at least have to eat lunch with my parents.”
“Can I come? I’d like to get to know them.”
“Of course. Don’t be silly.” She smiled.
We went to a chain restaurant and I sat beside her, with her dad in front of me.
“So tell me what you do, Jackson,” he said.
I had no clue if he had already figured it out, but I didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t want him to automatically assume I wasn’t good for his daughter. I knew I couldn’t lie, though. “I play basketball.”
He finished chewing his food. “You play basketball? What’s your last name again?”
I took in a deep breath. “Yep, I play basketball. My last name is Berrios. I just moved here a month or so ago to play for the Thunder.”
He dropped his fork. “Vanessa, you never mentioned this.”
“I didn’t think what he does for a living was important.”
I jumped in. “Mr. Adams, I assure you that I’m nothing like your ex-son-in-law. Just because you’ve heard things doesn’t make it true.”
He picked up his fork, shaking his head as he chewed. What in the hell was I supposed to do to make this better?
While her father did his best to ignore me, her mother was very friendly asking me all sorts of questions about my family and basketball. I could tell Vanessa got her personality from her mother. She even looked like her.
I looked back over at her father who was looking at me, scowling. “If you hurt her, I’ll break your neck.” He told me quietly while Vanessa spoke to her mother.
At least he didn’t bullshit, that’s for sure. “That’s fine with me because I don’t plan on hurting her. She means a lot to me.”
“Just wanted to be clear.”
WE TOLD her parents good-bye and then walked to my Range Rover. She looped her arm into mine. “So what did you want to do today?”
“Something fun. I heard the fair is in town.”
She looked up at me and a huge smile formed on across her face. “The fair? You want to go to the fair?” She practically yelled.
I smiled. “I thought it could be fun. Plus fair food for dinner tonight. You know you want a big turkey leg or famous Indian taco.”
“That is the best idea ever. I love the fair. Can we ride the Tilt-a-Whirl?”
“Only before we eat. I had a bad experience once.” I told her as I helped her inside the SUV.
“THAT GAME is rigged,” she told me after losing for the tenth time.
I had to laugh. “I hate to break it to you but they’re all rigged.”
“Whatever. It’s ride time. You pick first.”
I looked over at all the rides I could see from where I was standing. “Hmmm, how about the pirate ship one?”
She eyed it for a moment. “Okay. Looks fun.”
I climbed into the back row of the ship, dragging Vanessa behind me. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of heights.”
“No, it’s just this ride. It terrifies me up until the point that it starts moving. I know it’s weird.”
I squeezed her hand. “Would you rather us ride something else or move down a few rows?”
“No. I’ll be fine. Like I said, I like it once it starts going.”
A minute later, the ride started and she seemed to relax each time our side of the ship swung up. By the end of the ride, she had let go and was yelling with the other riders. She looked over at me with a smile of pure happiness that I hadn’t seen before, making me fall in love with her a little bit more.
By the time we sat down at a dirty picnic table, we were both grinning from ear to ear. She suggested that we get one Indian taco to share but I informed her that I would be able to eat one by myself plus a corn dog and funnel cake. I had a huge appetite.
As we were eating, she grabbed my arm. “Thank you, Jackson. I haven’t had this much fun or been this happy in a long time. I mean, the times we’ve spent together I’ve felt really happy. But today, knowing I’m free of Shane and then the fair, I’m just really happy.”
I gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re happy. That was the point of this. Just to let loose and not worry about anything.”
“Thanks. Can I have some of your funnel cake, please?” She asked while batting her eyelashes.
I playfully groaned. “I guess.” I tore a piece off, feeding it to her and letting her lick the sugar off my finger.
“Maybe we should eat this really quickly and leave? Go back to your place or mine?”
“You read my mind,” I told her as we both dug into the funnel cake.
I planned on making her a very happy single woman that night. A single woman who was ready to be in a relationship again.
Jackson
IT HAD only been a couple of weeks since Vanessa’s divorce, but I wanted things to be different between us. I was tired of only being friends with her and I wanted an actual relationship with her. “It’s a beautiful day today. I know what we can do. It’ll be fun,” I told her while walking to the car from the grocery store.
“What’s that?”
I put my arm around her. “You know how much I love memories, right? Well, I really want to go on a trip down memory lane.”
“Memory lane?” She asked with her eyebrows knit together. It looked adorable.
“Yep. Memory lane. Please?”
She shook her head. “Okay. Whatever.”
After getting into the car, I plugged my iPhone into the car stereo. I’d loaded a special playlist of songs that went with my plans for the day. Watching her sing along with them, not knowing what the day held for her, made me grin.
I pulled the Range Rover into the lake parking lot. I looked over at her, she had the biggest smile on her face. “You really
meant memory lane, didn’t you?”
“I really did.”
We got out of the vehicle and walked around the lake for a while. It was a calming place that held a great memory for me.
She pointed to a spot on the grass. “I think it was right here. Yes! I’d know that grass anywhere. My face got very acquainted with it.”
“Very funny.” I stood behind her and wrapped my arms around her. “You know when you rolled over, I was so glad that I had knocked you down.”
“You were gone. That’s what you told me that night when you found me in the shower.”
I kissed the top of her head. “That is what I told you. And it’s the truth. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since.”
“I haven’t gotten you out of my head either.”
AFTER FINISHING with the lake, we walked around Bricktown and took a water taxi ride, just like we had the day we met. I then took her to Bolero for her favorite meal and to remember the night of our first date.
After finishing our meal, we drove to my place.
“I have something else planned but we need to change first,” I told her.
“Okay.”
I pulled into my garage, meeting her near the stairs. We walked up the stairs together and I let her walk in first. “Could you get me a glass of water?” I asked. I wanted to see if she would notice. I counted in my head until I thought I had given her enough time to see it.
“Jackson. Oh my gosh, Jackson.” She yelled and I knew she had seen the table.
I walked into the kitchen. “What’s up?”
“You’re actually using Amanda’s old dining table as a breakfast table?”
“I told you, I like memories. I love that table.”
She laughed. “But nothing really happened on the table. I mean we were interrupted.”
“Did we or did we not make out on that table?”
“Yes, but…”
“No buts. I love that table. Every morning while eating breakfast, I get to think of you.” I leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Now, I have some clothes for you on my bed.”
“You have some clothes for me on your bed?”
“Just go change, please.”
