by Rye Hart
“No, you’re not. You’re grown. You have plans, not impulses, which is different from last night because last night felt so …”
“Familiar?” I asked.
“Yeah. Familiar.”
I got up from the table and came around to her chair. I scooped her into my arms and kissed her, robbing the breath from her lungs. She caved into me, her body sliding farther into my grip as her hands grasped the fabric of my clothing. Her lips tasted like bacon and coffee, and I could feel my need for her rising.
“As much as I would love to strike up this party again, I have to work,” Chanel said.
“I figured you would at some point,” I said.
“But, if you wanted to come over to my place later, I wouldn’t mind. I think I would enjoy seeing you after a long day of staring mindlessly at my computer screen.”
“The life of a writer,” I said with a grin. “I might just do that after I run some errands. This place needs groceries, and I’m out of toilet paper.”
“Oh, dear. That’s no good. You need toilet paper.”
“No one wants to get caught without toilet paper.”
“Well, I’ll text you my address, and if you want to come by later, I’ll be around,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I cleaned up from breakfast as Chanel went back to get changed. She emerged in her clothes from last night, my shirt discarded on the floor somewhere. I could see her fiddling with her keychain and a sense of dread welled in my chest. She looked like she wanted to say something, make some sort of declaration but was too scared.
But when she walked toward me and pressed a key into the palm of my hand, she looked up at me and smiled.
“A key to my place. For when you get done with those errands later,” she said. “It’s my spare key. You can use it anytime.”
Then, she rose to her toes, placed a kiss on my cheek, and started for the door. I followed her mesmerizing body, watching as she turned around at my front door. She smiled at me one last time before she left, and I grasped her spare key tightly in the palm of my hand.
Things were finally working out the way they should have all those years ago, and I sighed as a smile crossed my face. I needed to get a head start on those errands.
If I made it to Chanel’s place quickly enough, I could perch myself between her legs while she worked.
CHAPTER 39
CHANEL
“A double date,” I said. “Tommy wants to go on a double date.”
“That’s what he said. Tommy called me and said he wanted us all to do a double date.”
“Are you sure Ana isn’t the one calling it a date and making him say that in the process?” I asked.
“I’m sure. The first time they went out last week, Tommy called it a date too. Which isn’t odd for him, but it is odd for him to pick the girl up and take her out more than once.”
“So, he’s never actually dated a girl before,” I said.
“Come on. You’ve met Tommy. Does that statement really shock you?”
“I mean, if they want to do it, then I’m all for it. Do you think it’ll be weird?”
“Why would it be weird?” Rhett asked.
“I don’t know. It was just a question.”
“I think we’ll all have fun tonight,” he said.
“Tonight?”
“When did you think I was talking about?”
“I don’t know. Saturday? Next week sometime? If you want me to go out tonight, I’ve got to get on a roll with writing. I’ve got a lot to do today.”
“Then quit talking and get to writing,” he said with a grin. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“You’re not staying with me today?” I asked.
“If I do, you’ll never get anything done, and you know it.”
I smiled at Rhett, and then he kissed me before he left my apartment. Things with us were going well, even though it had only been a few days. He popped by with the spare key whenever he felt like it, and it always resulted in putting my work on hold. He was just so hard to resist, and sometimes, I needed a healthy dose of my muse to get my thoughts in order.
I worked through the rest of the day, updating my blog and working on a few projects. I was almost done with my research for the Miami Herald article, which meant I could start my week next week with drafting the first run of it. The sooner I could get that to them, the more time we had to tailor it down, and I wanted this piece to hit home for the city of Miami.
It was astounding, the number of homeless children this city had, and it was unacceptable to me that no one was doing something about the crisis.
I finished up my work and began getting ready for the night ahead. Tommy had put together a double date for the four of us, a night out at his favorite bar getting drinks and wings. My stomach was growling as I was getting ready, and I was slipping my shoes on as I heard my front door open. I stood in the doorway of my bedroom, waiting for Rhett to come around the corner and see me.
And when he did, his jaw dropped to the floor.
“Holy shit, Chanel. Where did that outfit come from?”
“You like it?” I asked.
I held out my arms and twirled around as his eyes raked over my body. I had gotten bold the other day and bought a new outfit, one I knew Rhett would love ripping off my body. It was a pair of high-waisted jeans that accentuated the dip in my waist and a crop top that cut dangerously low on my chest. There was a bit of skin on my midriff showing, and I paired it all with a pair of heels. Peep-toe black heels with bows on the front of them that flexed my legs and rounded out my toned ass.
I could see Rhett salivating as my eyes connected with his again.
“So, what do you think?” I asked.
“I think if we don’t get out of here right now, we never will,” Rhett said.
“Then come on, big boy. Time to go get us some wings.”
Ana whistled at me the moment I walked into the bar. She came over and hugged me, complimenting me on my outfit. She couldn’t believe I had put it together myself, and even Tommy was staring a bit in awe. I saw Rhett elbow him in the side, deflecting Tommy’s eyes long enough for Rhett to give him a look.
“Down boys,” I said. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
“This place has the best wings,” Tommy said. “And all these beer pairings for whatever flavor you want your wings tossed in.”
“Sounds like my kind of place,” Ana said.
“Since when is this your kind of place?” I asked.
“Since Tommy introduced it to me last week,” she said.
“Are the wings as good as he says they are?” I asked.
“I can vouch for them, yes,” Rhett said.
“So, I’m the only one here who hasn’t eaten their wings yet?”
“Yes,” all three of them said.
“You know, I never would’ve thought this cruise would’ve brought us all together like this,” Ana said.
“When I was walking off the ship that last day, I was determined to try and put it all behind me,” I said.
“I guess that cruise did us more good than bad,” Rhett said.
“I’d say so,” Tommy said as he eyed Ana up and down.
“I know that look. Let me eat first. We can take the party back to your place after,” she said.
“My place? I figured we could go back to yours,” Tommy said.
“Are you guys really fighting over where you’re going to have sex tonight?” I asked.
“Did you really just ask that question?” Rhett asked.
“It’s a valid one. I don’t want to listen to them debate what surface is more durable for Ana’s ass all night,” I said.
“Right now, it’s Tommy’s kitchen counter,” Ana said.
“We learned the hard way with hers,” Tommy said.
I threw my head back and laughed as the waitress came to take our orders. We all ordered the beer pairings recommended for our flavors and sank into an easy flow of
conversation. As I looked around the table, taking in how this cruise had somehow brought all of us together, I smiled. I allowed myself to fall silent as I took in the moment, allowing my mind time to soak it up. I wanted to remember as much of it as I could. I wanted to remember how happy I was in this moment, how perfect everything seemed and how things somehow turned out for the better.
“You okay over there?” Tommy asked.
“You’ve been pretty quiet,” Ana said.
“Do you need anything?” Rhett asked.
“I’m just thinking,” I said. “About that last night on the cruise. I spent the entire time crying with Ana and wishing I’d never gone, but it somehow turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. Despite everything with Luke and what happened on Curaçao, I’m shocked to say I wouldn’t take any of it back.”
The four of us held up our beer bottles and clinked them together as our wings were set in front of us.
“So, Chanel. What did you do with your blog?” Tommy asked.
“It’s back on track. I decided to take a smoother route with updating them on how the cruise went. You know, ‘life’s too short’ and ‘sometimes reminiscing about the past moves you forward’ kind of stuff,” I said.
“And she posted lots of pictures,” Ana said.
“So many pictures,” I said.
“Well, my marketing ideas are doing well,” Ana said. “I took a couple of them to the board already, and they’ve dropped three different projects in my lap. I’m swamped but excited.”
“Ana, that’s awesome! Can you talk about the projects yet?” I asked.
“Not yet, but once I get to a point where I can, I definitely will. They are huge projects. I’m so excited. On another note, you’ll never guess what Tommy asked me to do last night.”
“Ana, do we have to bring this up with them?” Tommy asked.
“Now I have to know. What did my dear friend ask of you?” Rhett asked.
“He asked me to move in with him last night,” Ana said.
“Man, was the head that good?” I asked.
Ana threw a chicken bone at me as I laughed.
“Well,” Rhett said, “are you?”
“I’m thinking about it. I mean, it puts me a little farther away from work, but it also puts me in the heart of one of the most beautiful places in Miami. I think I’d enjoy the views,” Ana said.
“So would I,” Tommy said with a grin.
“You do realize you guys have only been doing this weird dating thing for a couple of weeks, right?” Rhett asked.
“So? It felt right, so I asked her,” Tommy said.
“I’m just shocked, man. That’s all. Happy for you but shocked,” Rhett said.
“I still think the head was that good,” I said.
“I’m gonna throw my beer at you,” Ana said.
“I’d like to see you try,” I teased. “But really, guys. I’m happy for you too. Ana, if it’s what you want, I say go for it. If there’s anything this insane cruise taught me, it’s to go after what you want no matter what others around you say.”
“Damn straight,” Ana said.
“So, is that a yes?” Tommy asked.
“Depends. Can we go back to your place after dinner?”
“Of course,” Tommy said.
“Then, I’ll move in with you,” Ana said.
The two of them kissed as my hand found Rhett’s underneath the table. As I watched my best friend kiss the man I knew she’d come to love, my heart soared for her. Never in a million years did I think I would ever see her settle down with someone. I looked up into Rhett’s face and saw the same shock and awe rolling across his features.
I couldn’t believe they had done it, but I was happy they had.
“This calls for a celebration,” I said.
“What kind of celebration?” Rhett asked.
“The kind that involves chocolate cake,” I said. “Do they have chocolate cake here?”
“If they don’t, we could go to that restaurant we always go to for coffee and desserts, Chanel. I think that place is open until, like, eleven or midnight,” Ana said.
“See, now I’m salivating, and you have to take me,” I said.
“I’ll take you anywhere you want,” Rhett said.
I looked up into his eyes and saw his lips approaching mine, encompassing mine with a sweetness that overpowered my want for cake.
“On second thought, maybe we could do the cake tomorrow,” I said.
“Sounds good to me,” Rhett said. “Sounds more than good to me.”
EPILOGUE
RHETT
SIX MONTHS LATER
I stood in front of the doorframe of the small space I’d rented on the water. It sat right by the boardwalk and soaked up all the traffic. I was squished between one of the most popular beachfront restaurants and a bar that did more business than most of the upscale places around Miami, and I knew I had lucked out. The building needed a lot of work, and the owner wanted to unload it quickly, so I took advantage of his desperate state and bought the place for pennies on the dollar.
And now, I was about to cut the ribbon on my surfing school.
Chanel had been there every step of the way even with everything she’d been through. Luke’s trial had been brutal. He’d tried to use his money to get out of what he’d done to her and she’d had to relive it all on the stand when she testified. But she’d held her head high, stood her ground, and took back her life, ultimately sending Luke to prison for fifteen years for stalking and attempted rape.
In addition to all of that, she’d helped me repair the place when she wasn’t writing and spent all her evenings helping me figure out how I wanted to lay the place out. She went with me on the weekends into town to find boards we could clean up and use for beginners, so they wouldn’t have to front the money for their gear. She thought about me whenever she slid into thrift shops and came back with stuff I could use for the school. She had been rooting for me through every advance and every setback.
Just like she was now.
As we stood there with Tommy and Ana, I held the pair of scissors in my hand. There was a huge celebration Chanel had put together, with the Miami Herald out there doing a piece on me. Her homelessness article had been a massive hit with their readers, and they’d ended up hiring her on as a permanent part-time writer. She cashed in a few of her favors to get them to do a piece on the surfing school I was opening, and I was grateful to her for posting about my school on her blog.
There was a crowd of one hundred or so people gathered on the sidewalk, waiting for us to cut the ribbon and open the school.
“You ready?” Chanel asked.
I smiled down at her as she rubbed my back, waiting for me to make my move.
“I think so,” I said.
“Then cut that damn ribbon, and let’s get you in business,” she said.
I sliced the ribbon in half as people began to cheer. There were some who poured into my business already, waiting to sign up for classes and private lessons. I booked them as Chanel took their first deposits and then handed out pamphlets with all sorts of safety practices and lists of the things they would need to start out. I rented out all the gear we had and still had many more people who wanted to sign up. The process was overwhelming.
Overwhelming in the best possible sense of the word.
The crowd died down once the food truck pulled up. Tommy and Ana had rented it for the party so we wouldn’t have to worry about catering. People rushed over to the truck and began ordering food as Chanel and I worked to get all the paperwork in order.
But eventually, she put her hand over mine to stop me from working.
“Let’s go enjoy this moment,” she said. “We can come back and do this later.”
I shoved all the paperwork into my desk and locked it. I stepped out of the building with Chanel on my arm, and people slowly began to turn our way. They were all smiles as Tommy and Ana mingled with the crowd, bragging about
how good a teacher I was and how my school was going to be a great success.
Then, the crowd slowly started chanting.
“Speech! Speech! Speech!”
I hadn’t prepared to make a speech. I figured we’d cut the ribbon, some people would sign up, and then everyone would eat and go home. I looked down at Chanel, and she smiled at me. Then, she pulled a piece of paper from her pocket.
She had written me a speech, and I chuckled as I unfolded the piece of paper.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you all for coming out today. For making time in your busy schedules to usher a new business into the community. This surfing school has been a dream of mine ever since I was a Navy SEAL, and I hope the joy and relaxation I get from being out in the ocean can be passed down to anyone who wants to learn how to surf.”
That was it. Short and sweet, but somehow, it didn’t fully encompass what I wanted to say. My heart slammed in my chest as I turned my situation over in my head, and then I settled on my decision. It was now or never, and as I looked over at Chanel, I was filled with a type of comfort. She smiled up at me, her eyes sparkling with pride as I shoved the piece of paper into my pocket and fumbled with the ring I had been holding onto.
Then I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close to my side.
“It was a cruise, actually, that brought about this discovery. I would stand on the deck of the ship and watch it pierce the waters, and it was the greatest peace I had ever felt. That cruise forever changed the trajectory of my life, but not just because it opened my eyes to this business. That cruise also gave me back the love of my life.”
Everyone in the crowd sighed as Chanel’s eyes filled with tears.
Yep. It was now or never.
I sank down to one knee and pulled the ring from my pocket. I heard Ana squeal as Tommy whooped while my fingertips trembled with fear. I held the ring up for Chanel to see as tears ran down her cheeks, her hands covering her mouth as the entire audience gasped.
“Chanel, I never stopped loving you. From the moment I first saw you walking down the halls of our high school, I knew I had to have you. I knew you would bring a light to my life I would never find anywhere else. And even though misunderstandings and pain got in our way, we somehow managed to find one another again, to grow and become the people we are now. And somehow, we managed to stay the same, perfect for one another in every single way.”
