The One That I Want

by Zuri Day

  Lola took another sip of her drink. “No money for the train, bus, or a plane. I’d kill for a piece of spice cake right now.”

  Tash gave her friend a comforting pat on the shoulder. “We can still get a tree and decorate the apartment.”

  “Nah, I’m not going to force you to get all wrapped up in my Christmas shenanigans.”

  Tashmir shrugged. “I’m going to be working anyway, the café is open Christmas Day for a few hours.”

  “That’s just wrong.”

  “Time and a half, who am I to complain?”

  The women toasted and Lola had glanced across the bar. That’s when she’d seen him for the first time. Tall, handsome, and dressed in a T-shirt and jeans but still looking like a million bucks. Lola’s breath had caught in her chest as their eyes locked and he lifted his drink to her, then winked. A trickle of desire had pooled between her thighs. What was she thinking? He’d been a total stranger and she wanted him. It had been as if everything and everyone else disappeared. He crossed over to her and she’d shivered.

  “Hi,” he’d said, his voice like a melodic saxophone. “You’re beautiful.”

  “Wow, thanks. You’re direct and to the point, huh?”

  “There’s no other way to be and as good as you look right now, if I didn’t scoop you up now, one of these other lames would.”

  “And who’s to say that I don’t think you’re a lame?”

  Jon had taken her left hand in his, then brought it to his lips. “Because you don’t. I don’t see you as the kind of woman who would have a conversation with a man just to pass time. You have purpose behind your eyes.”

  “If that’s a line, it’s a pretty good one,” she’d replied.

  “It’s not a line. There’s something about you. My name’s Jonathan Joseph.”

  “Lola.”

  “Lola Joseph.”

  “Aren’t you presumptuous!”

  “I am,” he replied, and smiled. “But I’ve noticed that you haven’t walked away yet.” And that had been when she’d noticed that she had still been holding his hand.

  Who knew Jon could see into the future that night?

  “Jon,” she said, looking at her husband.

  He took her face between his hands. “Lola, I’m sorry.” He brushed his lips against hers and pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I promise you that you’re going to have a good Christmas and things are going to change.”

  “But for how long?” she asked. The FASTEN SEAT BELT light began flashing on the jet and the captain made his announcement about the flight time and taking their seats.

  The couple sat side by side, waiting for the noises of takeoff to subside. “Lola, what do I need to do?”

  “Can you make time for us? We used to have a great relationship. Even in the early days of you building your company. Now that you have it established, why am I seeing you less?”

  “Love, I can’t rest on my laurels, and I have to take care of the family. This year has been rough. . . .”

  “Not just this year, Jon. This has been building for a while. Don’t act like this came out of nowhere.”

  “But divorce papers? A little extreme, don’t you think?”

  Lola rolled her eyes. “Remember your birthday?”

  He shrugged. “We had dinner, right?” She punched him in his right arm with all her might. “Damn, Lola, that actually hurt!”

  “I meant for it to! I had dinner prepared, candles and everything. You came home, late as usual, and just marched right by me.”

  “I had to get the—”

  “Kinks worked out of your game, yeah, yeah. That’s your go-to excuse.”

  “You do realize that this is the season when I make—”

  The seat belt light went off and Lola unlatched herself. She headed over to the bar in the corner and poured herself a glass of scotch. She didn’t even like scotch, but it seemed as if it was the right drink for this conversation.

  “Jon, I’ve never known anyone to forget their own birthday. And the fact that I’m pissed off that you didn’t give me a chance to celebrate your day should explain what I’ve been going through lately.”

  Jon rubbed his hand across his face. November 30, his birthday. How many husbands got yelled at because they forgot their own birthday? “Lola, I was focused on getting my signature game launched. I didn’t care about my birthday.”

  “Or Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or the fact that I wanted my husband to just give me a hug after I watched a little boy from the Miami Children’s Hospital die of the same cancer that took my grandmother.” Tears sprang into Lola’s eyes, but she fought them with all her power. Taking a swig of the scotch, Lola turned her back to Jon. “There is more going on than your precious video games, but you’re too blind to see that.”

  “Lo, I’m not blind now. I’m right here, and again, I’m sorry that I hurt you and let things get so . . .” He touched her shoulder and Lola hadn’t even been aware that he was behind her. Turning around, she wished she had something to say that wouldn’t sound bitter and angry. But his sorry didn’t make up for the lonely nights, for the doubts that she had about his love for her. No, his sorry pissed her off.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  “Lola, I didn’t come to Aspen, put you on this plane for us to be angry at one another. I need and want your forgiveness. I have to make things right because I’m not living my life without you.”

  Her heart quivered. She wasn’t going to give up either, but how did she know the change would last? How did she know that Jon would keep his word to focus on their marriage more and business less?

  “I don’t just want a holiday where it is all about us. This is how our lives need to be, our love should always come first.”

  “I’m sorry you ever had to question that our love isn’t the main priority in my life.”

  Her right eyebrow shot up in a flash of anger. She took another sip of the scotch. Ooh, it burned.

  “Give me that, Lola,” Jon said with a smile tugging at his lips. “You know you aren’t built for this.”

  She handed him the glass. “You’re right. Ugh, how do you and Langston do it?”

  Jon set the glass on the edge of the bar and then drew his wife into his arms. “Because we’re men. We’re supposed to. Listen, Lola, I messed up. I never wanted you to think that anything was more important than you. When we were in Orlando and you stood by me while I was broker than a joke—”

  “Money never mattered to me. We always had enough.”

  “You were working like a madwoman while I was selling you dreams. You believed in me when other women—”

  “I wasn’t with you for the money. If all of this disappeared, I’d still be by your side.”

  “I don’t want you to ever have to struggle. I don’t want—”

  “And I don’t want to be in this marriage alone!” She pounded her fists against his chest. “Are you listening to anything I’m saying? Do you get it?”

  “Do you get that I watched my mother struggle for a long time after my father died and I never want that to be your reality.”

  “Is there something you need to tell me?” she asked as fear made her blood run cold. Was her husband dying? Was he trying to line up the stars so that she wouldn’t end up like his mother when she lost her husband?

  “No, but life is short. . . .”

  “Life is short and you’re not living it.” She waved her hand around. “What’s the use of having all of this if you’re not going to enjoy it? You take care of everyone and everything, Jon. When’s the last time you’ve done something for yourself?”

  “It’s not about me.”

  “It should be. I mean, it’s always about your investors, your company, your demons. Take something for yourself.”

  “I know what I want right now,” he said, then captured her mouth in a hot kiss. Lola shivered, moaned, and fell against his chest like a rag doll. Jon broke their kiss and stared into her eyes. “All I need is you.�
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  “Prove it.”

  He all but ripped her blouse open and then lifted her onto the bar. Jon massaged her breasts until she threw her head back in delight. Her nipples cried for his lips and he was happy to oblige. He nibbled and sucked her nubs until she cried out in pleasure. “Jon,” she cried as his tongue lashed her nipple and his fingers unbuttoned her pants. Lola pressed forward, wanting nothing more than to feel his fingers and tongue all over her body. She wanted all of her husband. Needed him to remind her that they were still in love and that he still wanted her. His kisses told her just that.

  “Lola,” he intoned as he pulled her pants down to her ankles, then pushed her thighs apart. He stroked and rubbed the wetness between her thighs until her moans became screams of passion.

  “Oh, Jon!”

  “You like that?” he asked as he pressed his finger deeper inside her. “So wet.” Before she could say a word, Jon had dove between her thighs—licking and sucking her throbbing pearl. Lola pushed her hips forward, encouraging her husband to dive deeper. And he did. And she exploded.

  “Damn, you taste so good,” Jon said as he lapped her sweet release.

  “Need. You,” she panted. Jon pulled Lola around his waist and kissed her slowly, deeply, and passionately. She clutched the back of his neck, falling deeper and deeper into his kiss. With one hand, Jon unzipped his pants and pressed his wife against the wall while he kicked out of his pants. She felt him against her thighs and moaned in anticipation. Jon parted her thighs and thrust into her wet valley. Maybe he was trying to make up for all the lost time, maybe nearly losing her had awakened the passion in Jon that he’d allowed to lay dormant. All he knew was that he needed to bury himself inside her and never come out again. She felt so good against his throbbing penis. Wet. Tight. Hot. His. Jon locked eyes with his wife and when he saw the blissful peace on her face, Jon lost his battle with his climax and exploded.

  Lola cried out as she reached her apex. Jon fell back on the leather love seat behind them while Lola held on to his sweaty body. “Do you know how much I’ve missed this?” she whispered.

  “Missed having sex?”

  “No, missed feeling wanted and needed by you.”

  Jon stroked her bare back. “I always want and need you, Lo.”

  She propped up on his chest with her elbows. “It’s hard to tell when you’re always too busy to talk to me.”

  “Okay, I get it. You don’t have to keep hitting me over the head with what I did.”

  Lola sighed and nodded. “All right, we’re moving forward. Today is the first day of the rest of our marriage.”

  “I like that.”

  “Now, where are we going?” she asked with a smile. Jon kissed her on the tip of her nose but didn’t say a word.

  Chapter 6

  As Lola slept, Jon watched his wife and smiled. She was so beautiful when she slept. Lately, the only time he saw her was when she was sleeping. Had he been working too much and missing out on the most important part of his life?

  Pushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead, Jon realized that life without Lola was one he didn’t want to live. “Mr. Joseph,” the captain said as he walked over to him. “We’re going to be delayed about an hour if we land at the Asheville Regional Airport, but we can land at Charlotte Douglas in fifteen minutes.”

  “Let’s go to Charlotte. We can rent a car and head to Asheville from there. How’s the weather?”

  “Rain in Charlotte. But it’s snowing in Asheville, that’s why there’s a delay.”

  “Thank you, Mother Nature,” Jon mumbled.

  “Sir?”

  Jon shook his head. “Nothing, thanks for the update.”

  Lola yawned as she woke up and stretched her arms above her head. “Are we there yet?” she quipped.

  “Almost,” he said. “We have to fasten our seat belts.”

  “And where are we going again?”

  Jon gently pinched her cheek. “You’re smooth, but I never told you where we’re going.”

  She rolled her eyes and grinned. “As long as we’ve been in the air, I’m wondering if we’re still in the USA or if we’re heading to Canada.”

  “Canada?”

  “I’m grasping at straws here,” Lola said. “Can I get a hint? A small clue?”

  Jon nodded toward the window. She followed his eyes and excitement flowed through her body like blood. “We’re in North Carolina?” But Lola’s excitement waned a bit. They were in Charlotte, home of the Carolina Panthers. Was this another one of Jon’s business trips in disguise?

  “Don’t give me that look,” he said when he noticed the frown on her comely face.

  “If this is a business trip in disguise, I will stab you with a candy cane.”

  “Business trip?”

  Lola slapped her husband on his shoulder. “Charlotte, home of the Carolina Panthers. And I know you have this new NFL game in development.”

  “So, you do pay attention.”

  “What choice do I have? All you talk about is work.” Lola rolled her eyes and chewed her bottom lip.

  “We’re only going to be here long enough to rent a car.”

  Lola smiled again. “Really?”

  He nodded, then kissed her on the forehead. “Babe, this trip is about you and me. But, if you want to, we can stay overnight and . . .”

  “I swear, I will knock you smooth out.”

  Jon looked at his watch, realizing that they were in a new time zone. “Are you up for riding for about two hours to get to our final destination?”

  She shrugged. “I’m fine. Now, where are we going?”

  “You sure? There may be snow.”

  “Jon! Are we going to Asheville?” Her excitement made her face glow. Jon couldn’t help but smile as well.

  “We’re going to Asheville,” he said. “We’re going to stay at the Biltmore and—”

  Lola took his face in her hands and kissed him. “I love that we’re going to Asheville, but I don’t want to stay at Biltmore. I think we should go to my grandmother’s.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “Then tomorrow, we can decorate the place and just be us—alone.”

  “I like the sound of that. Alone.”

  Moments later, they landed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. As Lola grabbed her purse, she realized that she still had Jon’s phone. Looking down at the device, she decided that if this Christmas was about the two of them, then Jon didn’t need his phone. She powered it down and dropped it in the bottom of her purse while Jon and the pilot chatted.

  Okay, I’m not saying that I’m going to keep his phone off the whole time we’re here, but he said this was about us and I’ll call Mama Joseph and check on her. There’s no one else he needs to talk to. Lola wrestled with herself for another few minutes; then she decided that she had done the right thing. Joining Jon and the pilot, she smiled. “Are we ready?” she asked.

  “Just checking the weather reports,” Jon said. “We might need to leave in the morning after sunrise and some of the roads thaw up.”

  “Sounds good. Where are we going to stay?”

  “I can see if there are any vacancies at the Airport Double Tree,” the pilot said. “And I’ll get the SUV you requested brought over here, sir.”

  “Thanks, Dave, and Merry Christmas.”

  He tipped his hat to Jon and Lola. She hugged her husband and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for this.”

  “I’m glad to see that smile on your face again.”

  “Jon, this feels like Christmas to me.”

  “Just standing out here feels like Christmas?” he quipped.

  “Yes, silly. Because I’m standing here with you.”

  “This does feel good,” he whispered in her ear. She moaned as he pulled her closer to him. Holding Lola in his arms, Jon’s world felt complete. Yes, he had been too focused on work. Maybe it was his fear of leaving Lola in a situation like his mother was in when his father died.

>   “Why did I have to go to such extremes to get your attention?”

  “I wish I had the answer to that question. Lola, you know there is nothing in the world more important to me than you.”

  “I wish I felt like that,” she whispered.

  Jon’s words froze on his tongue. What could he say? He never wanted her to feel this way. She was supposed to know what she meant to him. She was his world. “Baby, I’m sorry,” he said again. If he had to apologize to her a million times until she believed him, then he would.

  “You keep telling me that you’re sorry, all I want you to do is change,” she replied, as if she read his mind.

  “Lola, this company is my legacy and . . .”

  “This company is your legacy? Really, Jon. Give me a break. If you took the time to create a real legacy, maybe you wouldn’t have to depend on these damned games.”

  Jon shook his head. “I don’t want to fight with you, but you’ve known that this has been my dream.”

  “And I thought I was a part of that dream,” she said, taking a step away from him. “I’m so proud of you, but at the same time this isn’t what I signed on for. I married you, not this shell of an executive who comes home to me in the middle of the night and forgets that I exist!”

  “You’re over-exaggerating things.”

  “Am I?”

  Jon sighed. “It’s just because it’s the holidays and . . .”

  “Then it’s just because it’s the beginning of football season, then it’s just because it’s a new gaming system that’s being launched. You have more excuses for ignoring me than a man having an affair. Sometimes I wish there was another woman. I can compete with that.”

  “That’s one thing you never have to worry about,” he said vehemently. “Lola. . .”

  She shook her head. “But that’s the first thing you thought I did.”

  “And I was ready to take him out because no other man will ever love you the way I do, Lola. You’re everything to me and I’m going to prove it to you, today and every day for the rest of our lives.”

  She rolled her eyes. “All right. Let’s start now. I want this Christmas to be like the first one we shared in Orlando.”

  “You got it.”

  Lola smiled as she saw the SUV approaching. “We have to get two trees,” she said.