by Jillian Dodd
I lay my head on her shoulder in exhaustion. Her mouth is at my neck, layering on sweet kisses. I kiss her shoulder and hold her tightly, still afraid I’m going to wake up to find this isn’t real. This, this is why no one has ever compared. Ariela is the only girl I can truly say I’ve ever made love to.
“You look the same, but you're different,” I observe. “More confident in yourself during sex.”
“Who me?” she says surprised. “No, I don't really like sex much anymore,” she blurts out, then realizing what she admitted, immediately lowers her head in embarrassment.
“You didn’t like that?” I ask, shocked.
“No, god, no, Riley. That. Us. You. Was amazing. I just meant, before this.”
“Nothing has ever compared to us,” I state, knowing exactly what she means.
“That’s what I meant.”
“Hang on,” I tell her. “I’m going to roll you over, but I want to stay inside you.”
She looks like she’s going to cry, but more out of happiness. I touch her face. “I still love you, in case you couldn’t tell.”
Holding her ass to keep her close to me, I roll over, so we’re lying face to face.
“I still love you too, Riley. I never stopped.”
I push her chin up and kiss her softly.
Just softly.
Then I back away slightly. “Do you remember how you wished me luck before the homecoming game? I found you naked in my bed.”
“I wasn't completely naked,” she says with a grin. “I had my pompoms.” She grabs our underwear off the floor and holds them in front of her chest like she did the pompoms. “Go, Cougars!” she says, throwing her arms into the air and revealing her perfect breasts.
I bend down and circle one with my tongue, taking it in my mouth and sucking on it, while growing hard again.
“Riley, you're—”
“Getting hard inside you? That's what happens when you wear nothing but pompoms.”
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7th
Captive Films - Santa Monica
RILEY
“Where have you been?” Dallas says as I enter my office and go straight to my closet. “We were supposed to have a meeting twenty minutes ago. And you know I fucking hate early morning meetings.”
I grab a suit, shirt, and tie and take it into my bathroom to change.
“Wait. Are you wearing the same suit you had on yesterday?” he asks.
“Yeah, that’s why I’m changing,” I say from the bathroom.
“Must have been a hell of a business dinner last night. Who did you meet with?”
I walk out into my office buttoning my shirt. “Dave from Capital.”
“Oh,” he says, looking confused. “Then you went out?”
“I went to see Ariela. And I know I'm gonna sound like a girl when I say this but we are like magic together. She's so beautiful and I'm so ruined.”
“Oh, boy,” Dallas says, slowly sitting in the chair across from my desk.
“Oh boy is right. I'm so fucked if we don't end up together because, now that I've had her again, I don't want anyone else. I don't think I’ll ever be able to fuck anyone else.”
“True love’s fuck,” Dallas says, while I’m looking in the mirror tying my tie.
“What’s that?”
“You know how I was when I was single. My pecker always believed there was a greener pasture just beyond the fence. But it was different with RiAnne. I liked her a lot from the start. We had incredible chemistry and she was sweet and fun and all that other stuff, but when we fucked for the first time, I knew. She was the one. It was different than anything I’d experienced. Hot as fuck, but it had this power, these emotions layered on top of it. It was making love in the best sense of the word.”
I hear a sob from behind us and turn around to see Keatyn standing behind Dallas, tears streaming down her face. “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. Riley, you have to write that down and use it in a movie. Everyone in the audience will be crying.”
“Uh, okay,” I say, appeasing her. She’s been awfully freaking moody lately. I wish she’d just get over her damn period already.
“Keatyn, get your ass over here,” Dallas says, motioning for her to stand in front of him.
She leans up against my desk, sniffling.
Dallas studies Keatyn like she’s going to be his next greener pasture. In fact, I’m a little shocked at how lewdly he is studying her chest and looking her up and down.
“The tabloids are saying you had a boob job. You’re eating like a horse and not gaining any weight. You've had the flu, fainted, haven't been drinking. The smell of Riley’s coffee makes you sick. And, now, a very male conversation about fucking has you in tears.”
“Not just any fucking. True love's fuck. I’m so happy for you, Riley,” she says, smiling at me.
“I just noticed your boobs too,” I say. “They look huge. Did you have surgery and not tell us?”
“No, I’ve been in the middle of filming, I couldn’t have—”
Dallas shakes his head. “She didn’t have a boob job, Riley. Our little Keatyn's knocked up.”
Keatyn’s eyes widen.
“Knocked up?” I say. “Is that what the quickie wedding is all about?”
“Yes and no,” she admits.
“What!? Jeez, you can't be pregnant now! We've got so much going on.”
“Aiden didn’t know I was pregnant when he proposed.”
“Is that what he meant when he said she always surprises me?”
“Probably. I told him I was pregnant after I said yes.”
Dallas gives her a hug. “I bet Aiden is happier than a coon dog on a bare leg. Your first little hoodlum. Congrats. How far along are you?”
“Just starting my eighth week, so not too far. We haven’t told our families yet. We’re supposed to have dinner with them this week.”
“When are you due? How’s that going to work with us starting Daddy’s Angel?”
“Riley, I work remotely most of the time. That's why I need you and Dallas. And part of why I’m so glad Dawson is here. I’m hoping to give him more and more responsibility.”
“And she’ll be taking off all the time she needs, right, Riley?” Dallas asks me.
I’m happy for her, but it’s such a shock and I’m trying to work out the timing of it all. “Uh, of course,” I finally say.
“And the wedding is quick because I want to be Keatyn Arrington before the baby is born.”
“And probably because you don't want to be fat when you get married,” I quip.
She looks at me, her eyes getting big, her bottom lip puffing out, and tears filling her eyes again.
“Riley, don’t you fucking know anything?” Dallas chastises. “Pregnant does not equal fat.”
I walk over to her and wrap her in a hug. “For god’s sake, how am I going to deal with you pregnant? It’s worse than your pout. And Aiden would have my hide if he knew I made you cry.”
“You can say that again,” Dallas drawls.
She hugs me back.
“I’m happy for you, Riley,” she says.
“I’m happy for you too, Keatyn.”
Vanessa’s Estate, Guest house - Holmby Hills
ARIELA
I’m crazy excited to go out with Riley tonight. Last night—and this morning—was so amazing. I’ve been on cloud nine all day. I confided in Vanessa about what happened with Riley. She immediately got on the phone and started making me spa appointments. I spent most of the day being pampered.
I slide into the sexy black slip dress that Vanessa suggested I wear tonight. She said once he sees me, we probably won’t make it to dinner. And I’m so excited. I can’t remember the last time I truly felt desired.
Collin is a nice man, don’t get me wrong. He’s charming, good looking, and driven. Sex with him, even when we were dating or first married, was never like it was last night. I know he got served with divorce papers yesterday, and I’m a bit shocked
I haven’t heard a word from him. I’m praying that he’ll want to get the marriage over as quickly as I do. Annie said if he contests it, it could drag on for months. I know I have the photos that the private investigator took, but I really hope it doesn’t come to that.
There’s a knock at my door, causing my heart to leap in my chest and my stomach to fill with butterflies. I run to the door with my shoes in my hand and throw it open.
“Collin!” I say, when I see him at the door instead of Riley. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to give you these, in person,” he says, handing me the divorce papers.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want a divorce, Ariela. Come back home with me. Please.”
“Why would you want that? You aren’t in love with me. You should want a divorce so you’ll be free to sleep with whomever you want.”
“I only want you.”
“Bullshit. You’ve been screwing your secretary the whole time I’ve been gone. You didn’t stop like you promised. I don’t trust you and I don’t want to be married to you.”
“I’ll fight it.”
“If you do, I’ll ruin your career. You can blame it all on me, if you want, to the people you work with. But if you contest it, you’ll regret it.”
He looks around. “Do you want a house like this? Is that what this is all about? You got out here and decided we weren’t fancy enough?”
“What? No. We have a beautiful home. That has nothing to do with it.”
He looks around some more. “What does a place like this go for?”
“Way more than we could afford.”
“We could put in a pool. You always wanted a pool. Please come back. I have a big appointment with a customer and he’ll only work with stable married men.”
“Then you better get him signed while you’re still married.”
“Will you come back with me? Go to the dinner?”
“No. Just tell him I’m out of town on business. I know that’s the only reason you’re here. You don’t care about me. It’s all about your business. My dad will still make you partner. Enjoy it.”
“I’ll be getting a big raise and profit sharing, Ariela. I want to share my success with you.”
“No. I don’t want your money.”
“Then what is it?”
“I don’t love you, Collin. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have married you. And the fact that you’re sleeping with people outside our marriage tells me that you aren’t happy either. We don’t have kids. We can amicably split the property.”
“I’ll buy you a bigger house, jewelry, whatever you want.” He reaches out and touches my face. “Anything you want. Please don’t do this. I flew all this way. I want to save our marriage.”
Captive Films - Santa Monica
RILEY
I shower at work and put on an all-black suit. Keatyn says I look vicious in all black, and I’m not only feeling vicious, but also hungry and ravenous. I never imagined when I went to talk to Ariela last night that she’d be wearing lingerie.
Or that we’d make love all night long and all morning.
I can’t wait to get there, but I decide last minute to switch cars, driving to my garage space and hopping in the Viper I got on my eighteenth birthday. It’s neon green with black stripes and totally badass, not to mention fast. I don’t drive this car much, just enough to keep it in working order, mostly because it brings back too many memories. Memories of Ariela. Trips we took. Sliding the front seat back as far as it would go so she could sit on my lap when we went parking. Kissing for hours. Loading picnics in the trunk. It seems like the perfect car to drive tonight.
On the way, I pick up the big bouquet of pink peonies I ordered, her favorite flower. The ladies in the shop all swoon over my choice and tell me she’ll love them.
I tell them I just want her to love me.
I’m on top of the freaking world.
I see another car in the long driveway, but don’t think anything of it. I grab the flowers off the passenger seat and practically skip down the path to the guest house.
But when I turn the corner, I see Ariela and a man.
He’s wearing a blue blazer and sliding his hands across her shoulders. Her shoes are dangling from her hand like she didn’t have time to put them back on.
I hear her say something about marriage and know instinctively that man is her husband.
And I know she just slept with him.
Especially when he delicately touches her face then kisses her passionately.
My heart stops beating.
I turn around.
Drop the flowers.
Walk to my car.
Get in.
“Fuck!” I yell, hitting my non-casted fist on my steering wheel and suddenly hating this fucking car.
I look over and see a few pink petals still lying in the passenger seat.
What the hell was I thinking? This is not me. I don't need fucking flowers or fancy dinners to get laid. I just flash a label, a black card, a hundred dollar bill. Girls wait in line.
I peel out of the driveway and grab my phone.
“Dawson!” I say, when he answers. “I need you to get to the airport immediately. Captive business. You’ll be gone over night. Meet me in twenty minutes.”
“Twenty minutes? But I thought—”
“Don’t say it,” I say, using my harshest tone. “Just get there. Now.”
“Shit,” he says. “Okay, I’m on my way.”
Next, I call Knox. “Dude, we’re going to Vegas tonight. Meet me at my plane in twenty.”
“Can I bring Jennifer?”
“This isn't boy scout dance night. This is go to Vegas, get buck wild, get a tattoo, close the strip club down because we paid all the girls to come back to our room—the penthouse with the pool, bowling alley, stripper pole. You remember the one—trash a hotel room, and steal a Bengal tiger kind of night.”
“Hell,” he says, “I barely remember half of what we did that night. Sure, why the fuck not. Hey, wait, I thought you were going on a date with—”
“Don’t fucking say it and don’t ask,” I warn. “Are you really bringing Jennifer?’
“I’m not sure. I need to find out how she feels about strippers.”
“Dude, she's anti-stripper. Every girl who isn't a stripper is anti-stripper.”
“Should I call my guy? Have him hook us up?”
“Absolutely. And, hell, the good news is if we bring Jennifer, we can write the whole fucking thing off. A Daddy's Angel contract celebration.”
“You gonna invite Keatyn?”
“No, and don't you fucking tell her. But invite Buckner and Phillips. We’ll get the old crew together.”
“Buckner is married and Phillips came out of the closet.”
“No shit? I watched him do lines of coke off a stripper’s ass. It was the best thing ever. Whatever. We’ll make our own party.”
“Hell yeah, we will. Are you sure you're not mad at me about Jennifer?”
“Nope. I don’t need that shit. We hung out. I let her drive my fucking car. And still no action. If you wanna pretend you’re in high school again, so be it. But I don't need to work that hard to get laid.”
“Oh, uh, yeah, she mentioned that you two hadn’t done it.”
“When did she mention that—wait a minute. Did you screw her already?”
“Uh, maybe.”
“Knox fucking Daniels, that's why I love you, you pussy getting dog you.”
“Well, what can I say, she liked it Knox style. What happened with Ariela?”
“You are not allowed to say her name again, ever again. But when I went to pick her up, she was kissing her husband.”
“That bitch!”
“Tell me about it.”
“You do need to fucking party. Vegas, here we come!”
Vanessa’s Estate, Guest house - Holmby Hills
ARIELA
“Collin! Stop it!” I yell, pulling away from h
is unwanted kiss.
He grabs my arms tightly, digging his fingers in. “You’re my wife. You need to come with me.”
“How did you get in here?” I ask, wondering how he got through the gate.
“I told the phone company we were in California on vacation and you misplaced your phone. They gave me the GPS coordinates. The gate was open. You told your parents you were staying in a friend’s guest house. And here I am.”
I shove the divorce papers toward him. “Take these. It’s time you face the facts. We’re getting a divorce. We’re not getting back together, and I’m not coming home!”
He leans closer to me, like he’s going to kiss me again, but instead he whispers, “But, pumpkin, you got up in front of 478 people and promised ‘Til death do us part.”
“And you promised to be faithful. You broke our vows, Collin, not me.”
“I told you I’d stop seeing her.”
“No, you told me you already had, but we both know you lied about it. You need to leave, now!” I shout.
“I’m not leaving without you!”
“Yes, you are,” a voice says.
Collin spins around to find Chad, Vanessa’s buff, massage-giving pool boy standing behind him. Chad’s arms are crossed in front of his chest, his muscles bulging from beneath a tight white T-shirt.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Collin asks haughtily. “I’m her husband.”
“Who she is divorcing. I will escort you out now or have you arrested for trespassing. Your choice.”
Collin studies Chad closely and I know which option he will choose. Although he tries to act tough, he’s not a fighter. He’s too soft.
“This isn’t over, Ariela,” he says to me, as he allows Chad to lead him away.
Collin stares at me the whole time Chad is dragging him down the stone path. That’s when I notice a pink bouquet lying on the ground.
Riley!
I run toward the house so fast that I pass Chad and Collin, looking for him. When I get to the front of the house, I see a single pink petal lying on the driveway. I pick it up and stare at it.
