by Aly Martinez
"Oh yeah? What’s that?" She smiles teasingly.
"Well, now that we’ve gotten the sprint out of our systems, next up is the marathon." I wink.
She lifts her eyebrows in mock surprise. "I have to be able to walk on Monday for work. Maybe you should ease me into the marathon. It’s the least you can do. You know, since you just stole my virtue and all. " She places another kiss on my lips.
"Ah, yes. I deflowered the virgin," I tease back even while a pang of guilt hits me in the gut.
I know she wasn’t a virgin. Hell, judging by the way she sucked my dick, I’m pretty sure she hasn’t been in a long while, but I still feel like an asshole.
"Come on. Let’s get cleaned up. Then we can talk about that marathon you have planned." I slowly pull out, and the immediate loss is staggering.
I absolutely, one hundred percent should not have slept with her. But that’s more to salvage my own conscience when this goes up in smoke than anything to do with my honor.
Two weeks later…
Me: So…
Leo: ???
Me: Dinner on Friday?
Leo: Dinner tonight?
Me: Well that too…but especially on Friday.
Leo: Yeah, I’m down. Anything in mind?
Me: Lots of things in mind. All of which involve you naked.
Leo:
Me: Lol I miss you.
Leo: I’ll be back in town in a few hours. I’ve got some paperwork to do but I have an insatiable woman to catch up with first.
Me: I like the sound of that.
Leo: But when I’m done with her, I’d be happy to take you to dinner.
Me: You. Are. HILARIOUS. ← Sarcasm.
Leo: I figured.
Leo: So, Friday?
Me: Yeah. It’s my birthday and Emma wants to go out to dinner.
Leo: Dinner with the parents!!! Count me in! ← Sarcasm.
Me: I figured.
Leo: I miss you too.
Me: That’s not an answer.
Leo: I miss you a lot.
Me: Still not an answer.
Leo: All I can think about is fucking you in the security room with all the cameras aimed at you. Can you imagine all the different views I could get of you coming?
Me: STILL NOT AN ANSWER! (But I really like where you’re going with that!)
Leo: Lol. It’s your birthday, angel. If you want me there, I wouldn’t be anywhere else.
Me: Can we order takeout tonight? You’ve been out of town for, like, three days. I won’t make it through dinner without mole-sting you.
Leo: Ah yes. Mole-sting. My favorite.
Me: Molesting* Fucking autocorrect.
Leo: Don’t lie! If you want to get kinky, just say so. I’m not sure how I feel about moles, but I’m willing to discuss.
Me: I hate you.
Leo: I hate you too. My place at six?
Me: I wouldn’t be anywhere else. XOXO
Friday Night…
Leo: What are you wearing tonight?
Me: Just jeans and a top.
Leo: Does it show off your boobs?
Me: Yes.
Leo: Heels?
Me: Yes.
Leo: So…I heard the party was moved to my bedroom. Totally true story.
Me: Your bed isn’t big enough for all four of us. I can ask Caleb if he’d like to snuggle with you though.
Leo: Too far.
Me: Yeah, I got a little sick thinking about that one too.
Leo: It’s a nice night. I’d like to take the bike, but I wanted to make sure you weren’t wearing a dress first.
Me: Yes! That sounds awesome! I’ve never ridden a motorcycle before. OMG! Does this make me your old lady?
Leo: Well, you are turning 35.
Me: You. Did. NOT. Just. Say. That.
Leo: I bought you a present!!!! Does that help?
Me: Get your ass over here now! I’m going to show you old lady.
Leo: Ohhhh…I like the sound of this. Leaving now.
Two hours later…
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Emma yells as Leo and I walk into the restaurant fifteen minutes late.
My legs are almost shaking from the sheer number of times I came earlier. Leo took birthday sex very seriously. He left the most delicious red burns on the insides of my thighs from the stubble on his beard—a subtle reminder every time I close my legs.
"Thank you!" I yell back, pulling her into a hug. "Y’all remember Leo, right?"
"What’s up, man?" Caleb says, extending a hand.
"Not a whole lot," Leo responds with a warm smile, dropping an arm around my waist.
"Happy birthday," Caleb smirks, giving me a tight squeeze on the shoulder. That’s about as good as it’s going to get between Caleb and me.
I smile, shaking my head. "Thank you."
"Come on. I have a table reserved," Leo says, pulling me toward the bar and past the long-ass line at the hostess stand.
"They don’t take reservations on Fridays," I inform him as he drags me behind him.
"They do if my girl’s birthday falls on a Friday," he responds, stopping at the corner of the bar.
The male bartender approaches us. "What can I get you?"
"I spoke with Alexander yesterday about a table for tonight. He told me to come see you when I got here. It’s under Leo James."
"Right. Hang on just a second. I’ll get a server to seat you."
"You got some connections that I don’t know about?" I ask teasingly while pushing up on to my tiptoes to give him an appreciative kiss.
"I have a lot of things you don’t know about." He winks and nuzzles his perfectly trimmed scruff against my cheek.
"Score!" Emma exclaims, patting Leo on the back. "I’m sorry, Sarah. I know this is your favorite restaurant, but it’s ridiculous that they don’t take reservations on the weekends."
"Oh, hush. It’s my birthday. And damn it, I want some pulled pork cheese fries. I’d have waited all night."
Leo starts chuckling. "No one’s waiting. I brought a client here once and had to get chummy with the owner in order to do a pre-dinner security sweep. I made a call yesterday and got a table. However, pulled pork cheese fries sounds terrible."
"Disgusting," Caleb says at the same time Emma and I gasp.
"They are so good!" we respond in unison.
"Oh my God. You have to try them," I tell Leo, who is barely suppressing a curled lip.
Caleb starts laughing and mouths, "Awful," at Leo.
Emma smacks him on the chest. "You are such a liar. You ate half the plate last time we were here."
"You’ve lost your mind. That never happened," he replies, pulling her into his side and kissing the top of her head. "Whatcha drinking tonight, man?" Caleb asks, stepping up to the bar.
"Just water. I’m driving. We rode the bike over."
"Really? What kind of bike?" Caleb asks, immediately interested.
And just like that, the two guys start chatting like old friends. Emma catches my eye and tosses me a huge, award-winning grin. We’re both casually tucked under their arms, and I can’t help but smile as a sense of comfort washes over me. This is how it’s supposed to be. There’s nothing fancy about tonight. It’s low key and simple.
It’s absolutely perfect.
"FINE! THEY weren’t horrible. I still don’t understand how you two love them so much though." Caleb laughs as he polishes off the cheese fries. We had to order a second plate because the guys hated them so much.
Despite how awkward it was when they first met, Leo and Caleb really hit it off the second go-round. After they ignored us for the first ten minutes while talking about Leo’s Harley, they discussed boxing and football and every other sport imaginable. Leo fits naturally into our little group. It didn’t feel like dinner with the parents at all. It felt like dinner with old friends.
We all laughed as he and Caleb told stories about some of the stupid criminals they have come across over the years. Turns out, Leo was
a DEA agent before he started his own company. It bothered me that I didn’t know this already. We’ve been dating for a month. I should have known what he used to do. Leo doesn’t pry though. He never asks me about my past, and I think I’m just so grateful that I follow suit.
I know the here-and-now about Leo James.
I know he’s wearing a two-hundred-dollar pair of jeans, but he still orders whatever beer is on special. (That is when he drinks at all.) I know that he can spend hours at the gym, but he finishes almost every night in bed, wearing nerdy glasses, with his nose stuck in a book. I know he loves to talk to anyone about anything but won’t utter a single word during a movie, especially ‘eighties films. I know that, when we go out, he makes me feel like the only woman in the room no matter how big the crowd. I know that he always manages to put my insecurities at ease by throwing himself under the bus.
I know that I’ve never been happier in my life than I have been the last month.
I also know that I’m terrified for when this ends.
"Time for presents!" Emma singsongs, digging in her purse and pulling out two small gifts. "First, this one’s from me."
She pushes an envelope in front of me. I grin as I tear open the paper. I may be thirty-five, but I love present time!
"It’s a gift certificate for a spa…for both of us. We get to go away for an entire day. Manicures, pedicures, facials, massages. No babies crying or diaper changes. Just you, me, and a hot masseuse named Bruno."
"Oh hell no," Caleb snaps.
And at the exact same time, Leo declares, "You’re not going."
Emma and I both bust out laughing as the guys clink glasses in agreement.
"Leo. You’re next," Emma informs him.
"Wait. I didn’t get her a present," he replies, surprised.
"That’s okay, baby. I kind of sprung this on you at the last minute." I pat his leg and look up to find him giving me the look that says he definitely got me something and is insulted that I would believe otherwise. "I, uh, mean…give me my damn present?" I bite my lip.
He reaches into the inside pocket of his motorcycle jacket, which is draped over the back of his chair, and pulls out an envelope of his own. I give him an apologetic smile then snatch it from his hands.
"Hmm." I stare down at a single printed piece of paper.
No pomp or circumstance, just black-and-white paper that was no doubt produced on his office printer. I begin to read the first few lines and my eyes grow wide.
"Is this…a plane ticket? To Puerto Rico? For next weekend?" I turn to find his gorgeous face beaming.
"I confirmed that Erica was pregnant to the Tribune in exchange for the Wicked Witch giving you next Monday and Tuesday off."
"What?" I ask in shock.
"It was bound to leak eventually. You’ve seen her. She can’t hide it forever, and rumors will start circulating soon. So, this way, the truth goes out and you get a four-day weekend for our trip to Puerto Rico."
"I’m sorry. What?" I repeat as Emma gasps from across the table.
"Happy birthday." He smiles and brushes the hair off my shoulder.
"Okay. I’m lost. One, we’re seriously going to Puerto Rico?" I ask but don’t give him a second to answer. "Two, what the hell happened to not talking about your clients?"
"One, yes. That’s your plane ticket." He nods to the paper in my hand.
"And two, Erica and Slate are family and were more than excited to help. I didn’t share anything without their permission."
I blink rapidly, trying to allow a minute for my brain to catch up. "Really?"
"Yes."
"Next weekend?"
"Yes," he says slowly as he begins to chuckle.
"That’s a really big first birthday present."
"It’s a selfish birthday present. I get to go with you."
"I get to spend the whole weekend with you speaking Spanish. I’m pretty sure I win there."
"Oh, tu no tienes idea quién realmente ganó."
"Yes! Just like that." I smile and pull him into a hug. "Thank you so much! I don’t even know what to say."
"You don’t have to say anything. Happy birthday, ángel." He leans in, placing an all-too-brief kiss on my lips.
When I turn my attention back to Emma and Caleb, they are silently watching us, Emma is chewing on her bottom lip as her eyes sparkle with happiness. Hell, even Caleb looks sentimental from our exchange.
"I want to go to Puerto Rico too," Emma whines, looking up at Caleb.
He shakes his head and looks back at Leo. "Fucking hell. I’m never living this one down."
"Sorry, man." He laughs then takes a sip of his water.
"Okay, Caleb’s next," Emma announces pushing a small, unwrapped box in front of me.
"It’s not a present."
My eyes flash to Caleb to find him looking down, uncharacteristically nervous.
"Yes it is," Emma disagrees, cuddling under his arm.
"It’s not a present," he repeats.
"Shhh. It will be to her," she whispers in a way that almost makes me nervous.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I reach forward and lift the box open.
"Oh my God." I choke on the sob that tears from my throat, and maybe even my soul, as my eyes make contact with the one thing that I never thought I would see again.
"OH MY God." Sarah sobs, and tears immediately flow from her eyes.
I study her carefully, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. But as I glance into the open box sitting in front of her for an answer, I only become more confused when I see a simple gold necklace with a half of a heart that says: st ends.
"Shit," I hear Caleb cuss from across the table.
I glance up at Emma to gather some clues. She’s watching Sarah with an anxious expression as if she’s trying to make heads or tails of her reaction.
Sarah remains motionless, staring at the box with tears streaming down her face.
All I can do is try to comfort her. I move over an inch, teetering on the edge of my own chair. But she remains stiff at my side.
"You okay?" I ask, kissing her temple.
"Where… How… I thought this was gone," she cries.
She reaches out with shaky hands to touch the necklace but pauses just inches away and brings her hands back to her mouth. I stroke up and down her back, unsure of what else to do.
"Caleb found it in a box last week along with some of her other things," Emma tentatively fills in the blanks.
Caleb clears his throat and finally speaks up. "I should have given it to you a long time ago. I forgot that I even still had it. I’m sorry," he tells Sarah, but she never drags her eyes off the necklace. "You’re welcome to come over and look through the box it if you want. See if maybe you want any of the rest of it."
"I want all of it," Sarah answers quickly as her eyes fly to Caleb’s. "I mean, if you don’t want it." She looks away sheepishly.
"I picked out a few things already. You can have everything else." He smiles warmly, fighting back his own emotions by kissing Emma on the head.
Sarah remains silent for another minute before jumping to her feet. "I need some air." Her tears are still consistently falling even as she tries to dry her eyes and compose herself.
"I’ll go with you." I begin to stand, but she stops me.
"I just need a few minutes alone. Please. I won’t go far." She offers me a fake smile.
I reach out and squeeze her hand. "Yeah. Of course."
"Girl time," Emma announces, standing from her chair.
"No. Alone," Sarah repeats and walks away only to pause just a few steps from our table. She backs up and quickly grabs the box, taking it with her.
"See! That went well," Emma tells Caleb, who is shaking his head at her.
"She’s outside crying, Emmy."
"She took it with her though. She’ll be okay. I promise."
I clear my throat. "Can one of you enlighten me on what the hell just happened?" I growl, becoming in
creasingly frustrated by being left in the dark. I have a pretty good idea what this is about, although the necklace confuses me.
"She told you about the wreck, right?" Emma asks.
"No," I answer, and it’s not a lie. I know about it, but Sarah has never uttered a single word.
"Not at all?"
"Nope."
"Oh my God. What the hell have y’all been doing for the last month? Clearly, it’s not talking."
"Excuse me?" I reply, surprised by her sudden frustration.
"Okay, calm down. This is not his fault," Caleb tells Emma before turning his attention back to me. "Look, Leo. I’ll be honest with you here. Sarah has a shit past. That necklace belonged to her best friend, Manda, who passed away about seven years. That’s all I’m giving you, but I highly suggest you start asking her some questions."
"What kind of questions exactly?" I play dumb because there is something about his words that pisses me off.
"The kind that enables you to decide if you can overlook her past…or not."
What the fuck is happening right now? I just blink at him, not sure I can honestly trust my own ears.
Is her own family actually warning me off her? I begin to choose my words very carefully while trying to keep my anger at bay. Her past. This is her family. God damn. He might not have said anything wrong yet. But I sure as hell don’t want to give Caleb a chance to get there. Luckily, Emma chimes in before I have a chance to act on my impulse to become a real dick.
"She likes you. A lot. Probably more than you even know. I know y’all haven’t been seeing each other long, but she’s smitten." She laughs. "I love it! She’s always so happy, and I’ve really missed that. I’ve missed seeing her just genuinely happy in life as a whole." Tears well in her eyes. "You just have to understand. You would be lucky to have her. Sarah is an amazing person. But it terrifies me that she isn’t talking to you. I’m only telling you this because, if you can’t handle all that is Sarah Kate Erickson, I need you to leave…like, yesterday." Emma implores.
"I’m not going anywhere," I respond firmly
"It’s easy to say that now. But you don’t have enough information to make that decision. I love my sister, but—"
"You are not listening," I start as my temper begins to slip. Sarah’s outside bawling her eyes out and I’m stuck inside listening to them spew warnings. "I’m not going anywhere."
