Bound Together

by Marie Coulson

  Chapter 26

  Ruby Tuesday

  Jared left for the airport at six in the morning as planned but not before making me breakfast and ensuring his assistant Jerry would have a car to pick me up and take me back to the dorm. I hadn’t planned on spending the night when I had been carried out of the coffee shop the previous evening, so I didn’t have any clean clothes or shoes. That would mean a frantic shower and change before class. I stood there in a pair of his oversized sneakers like a child wearing her father’s shoes. Before climbing into the black stretch limo that had arrived to take him to LAX, he gave me a long lingering kiss and told me that he loved me. He would be traveling on the company plane so there was no need for an early arrival to check in. A second after his car left the driveway, an extremely expensive looking Mercedes pulled up in front of me. A young blonde haired man got out and ran around to the back passenger side door. He was tall and it was obvious that he took care of himself. His broad shoulders and thick muscular chest made his uniform look as though it were trying desperately to contain his enormous arms. He opened it and gestured for me to get in.

  “Your car Miss Jennings. I’m Daniel and I’ll be your chauffeur this morning.”

  Giving him a friendly smile I climbed in and gazed at the beautiful cream interior. It looked brand new and smelled like pine and lemon. I stared out of the window at the house as we reversed off the drive and onto the street. It would be several days till I was back there again and back in Jared’s warm, loving embrace. The thought was distressing and I was instantly in a bad mood; a mood that didn’t dissipate on the ride back to campus.

  I thanked Daniel as he held out his hand to assist me out of the car and made my way to my room. The halls were totally soundless except for the noise of the creaky and well trafficked floorboards underneath my feet as I walked down the long corridor to my room. I was just about to slide my key into the lock when I was gripped on my elbow and hauled backwards. I believe something along the lines of “what the fuck?” left my lips as I stumbled, dazed into Oliver’s room. Staggering back and trying to regain my equilibrium, I scanned my assailant. Standing in front of me, hair tousled as if he just got out of bed and wearing nothing but a pair of sweat pants, Oliver held his finger to his lips and shushed me. “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. Nick came banging on your door last night and he never came home. And unless Amy found a rebound guy sometime during the evening, I’m pretty sure it was him she was calling ‘god’ all night.”

  I cringed and put my fingers in my mouth pretending to gag. “Too much information Ollie. How could she forgive him like that? He had some girls’ panties in his car for heaven’s sake. Is she nuts, desperate or totally stupid?” I rolled my eyes and shook my head thinking about the emotional rollercoaster Amy was willingly riding and how bad it would be when it was over. You know, that moment you step off and come over all shaky, nauseous and you wonder why the hell you thought it was a good idea in the first place. “Anyway how did you know I wasn’t there?” He ran his fingers through his dark tangled hair and a ghost of a smile touched his lips. “I heard your door slam last night so I opened mine and saw you storming down the hall. I was worried about you being out late and it getting dark soon so…I kind of followed you but I didn’t want to crowd you so I hung back. You looked like you needed some space. I just wanted to make sure you were safe. It wasn’t some weird stalker thing. When you got to the coffee shop I waited on a bench across the street but left when I saw pretty boy turn up. I figured you’d called him or something.” I stared at him in total disbelief. He’d followed me all that way without saying a word. It was a little creepy and yet totally sweet and typical of Ollie. He was obviously oblivious that the reason for me storming out was over an argument I’d had with Jared, otherwise I was pretty sure he’d have blown his cover and launched himself at him to stop Jared from upsetting me any further.

  Tilting my head at him I pressed my hands on my hips. This had all gone on long enough and it was time I set him straight no matter how hard it would be.

  “Ollie you don’t need to babysit me. I can take care of myself. It’s really not your place to be following me around. What do you think would have happened if Jared had seen you? He’d have gone completely bat shit crazy. He likes you almost as much as you like him. And stop calling him names. I shouldn’t have to keep telling you that. Jared is my boyfriend and if we’re going to stay friends you two are going to have to learn to get along. I’m getting really sick of this bullshit Ollie. I know how you feel about me and I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I don’t feel the same and that I’ve hurt you and yeah maybe if things had been different we would have ended up together, but they’re not different. I met Jared, he asked me out and now we’re a couple. I love him and he loves me right back. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care very deeply about you. You’re one of my best friends and I really want things to be ok between us. So would you please just try and be happy for me and move forward from this? Please?”

  He winced and his face was contorted as if I had just punched him in the gut. Staring at the floor he shook his head. “You love him?” It was almost a whisper. His voice was husky and pained as though the words stuck like poison in his throat.

  “I do. I’m sorry if that hurts you to hear it Ollie. But I won’t lie. I love him and he loves me back.” His head snapped up and his expression had turned quickly from sadness to intense anger. His eyes were dark and he glared at me. “Seven weeks. We’ve been here seven fucking weeks and this guy comes along with his shiny fucking car, high society lifestyle and sweeps you right off your feet and out of my hands! And after only a few weeks you fucking love him!? Are you shitting me Layla? How can you not see this guy for what he is? He’s a tool. A bonafied cock! A liar, playboy and a chew you up and spit you out jackass. He doesn’t love you. You’re just the next in a long line of women he uses to dick around with between meetings. You’re a number honey so don’t go thinking you’re something special to him. You’re not.”

  A loud crack reverberated around the room and it took me a moment to register that it had come from me. My palm was stinging as I watched the pale flesh on Oliver’s cheek turn a deep shade of pink. I’d slapped him, hard and with violent intent. His eyes bore into my skull as he glowered at me. I couldn’t bear to look at him. How could he be so cruel? I knew he was hurting but I never thought he could say such venomous things to me. Turning my back to him I cried gently into my hands. This really was going to end our friendship. I just couldn’t see a way for us to get back from this; it was all just so fucked up. His hand reached out and touched my shoulder and as furious and upset I was with him I still couldn’t bring myself to reject the physical contact with him. Pulling me sideways he wrapped his arms around me tightly and squeezed me to his chest. Resting my head on his shoulder I continued to cry when I felt a drip of warm liquid slide over my forehead and down my nose. Lifting my head, I was taken aback when I saw the tears in his eyes. He was crying.

  Brushing them away with my thumbs, my hands cupped his face. He gazed down at me and swallowed hard, closing his eyes as his eyebrows furrowed together. When they reopened I could see the regret and torment in them. My heart broke a little as I saw the pain he was trying so desperately to hide. I let out a long soft breath. Without warning he closed the distance between us and kissed me. I felt the cool steel of his lip ring pressing against my warm plump flesh. His hands swept around my back as he pressed me against his body, deepening the kiss but most shocking, was the fact that I didn’t stop him. I stood frozen and completely stunned the entire time his lips were against mine. I was unable to move, speak or even think straight. My eyes closed and for a moment the entire world just melted away as I became totally absorbed in the sensations. When my senses finally returned, my eyes flew open and I pressed my hands against his strong chest and pushed him away.

  The two of us stood, gasping for air equally dazed by what had just happened. My heart was hammering in my chest as ad
renaline began to surge through my veins. I gawked at him totally confounded. Raising his hands he stepped towards me but I immediately took a step back towards the door. I touched my lip with my fingers trying to comprehend what was going on between us when a wave of fury flooded into my body. Outraged I stormed at him and shoved him hard, so hard in fact he stumbled backwards before landing with a thud on his bed. Standing over him I raged. “What the hell do you think you were doing!? I have a boyfriend! Why did you do that!?” Shaking his head in bewilderment, he seemed at a loss for words. “I don’t know what came over me. You were in my arms, crying and when I looked down at you I just couldn’t stop myself. It was like some uncontrollable force I just had to kiss you Layla. I know you’re mad and I’m sorry that you feel that way but honestly Layla? It was wonderful. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’m crazy about you. I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re the first thing I think about when I wake up, the only thing I think about all day and the last thing I think about at night. You’re my muse. I must have written at least twenty new songs since I met you and they’re all about you. Your eyes, your smile the way you laugh and the way you make my heart want to tear its way out of my chest when you’re near me. I can’t fight it any more, it’s killing me. I’ve tried to forget it, to get over you but no other girl even compares. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

  I stared at him in astonishment as his words spiraled and whirled inside my head. Sinking to the floor his knees on the ground he sat back on his heels and gazed up at me imploring me to forgive him. “I know I can’t have you but I want you. I need you, even if it’s only as my friend. I’ll take you any way I can, even if that means settling for being one of your best friends. I will never ever bring this up again and it will never come between us. We’ll forget it all and start over brand new. Please Layla. Please forgive me.” I stared at him, still in a dazzled state of mind. His eyes were red and still slightly teary and I wanted to say yes. I wanted to tell him it would all be ok but how could things ever be the same now? Could we really, realistically be friends after this? His need for us to remain friends wasn’t totally one sided. I loved Ollie in so many ways; his humor, his intelligence, and the way he could make me feel better when I was having a particularly crappy day, the way he cared about me and his sense of fun in life. I loved him for all those things. I just couldn’t love him the one way he wanted me to and I wondered if it could really ever be enough for him.

  Dropping to my knees in front of him I took his hand in mine. “I don’t want to lose you from my life either Ollie. You already are one of my best friends and I’m not willing to let you go but is it going to be enough for you? I can leave that little lip locking mistake behind me and put it to bed.” Liar, you were so into that. “But everything you just told me, all those words and feelings, you can’t take those back Ollie. It’s different now. Do you honestly think we can carry on like nothing happened? And what about Jared? Can you truthfully and sincerely tell me that you could handle seeing the two of us together? Because, if you say yes then great and we’ll start anew and forget this whole thing. But you have to be sure.”

  Placing his own hand on mine he sighed. “No Layla, I couldn’t. I won’t ever think he deserves you. I will always think he’s wrong for you and I will forever wish it was me in his place. But if being civil to him and pretending that I’m not completely obsessed with you is what it takes to keep you in my life, I’ll do it and maybe, someday I won’t have to pretend anymore. But I wouldn’t hold my breath. I even promise to stop calling him names. “

  Needing to make things normal between us again, I did the only thing I knew; I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him into a warm hug. It felt forced and uncomfortable as though we were trying to push all the emotional torment out of our bodies. Our once warm and friendly gesture now felt detached and impersonal. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek before standing up and offering me his hand. I could feel the distance between us and it tugged hard on my heart strings. Things would never be the same again. This was going to hang over our heads for a long time and that kiss was going to haunt me forever. A shiver ran up my spine as I thought of what had happened. I had enjoyed it. For a brief and fleeting moment I wanted him to kiss me. I’d felt the spark, the electricity between us and I couldn’t ignore the sexual tension that had been building since the very first time I saw him. Guilt began to flow through me and my stomach churned with an overwhelming feeling of betrayal.

  I took a deep breath and pushed the urge to vomit down my throat as I swallowed hard. Pulling myself upright, I stood and glanced at the clock behind Ollie. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the time. “Shit! Ollie, we’re late for class! Psych started fifteen minutes ago!” Grabbing his hoodie he began struggling into it. It got caught around his shoulders while he used both hands to pull on his sneakers while hopping around the room. I giggled at him but stopped abruptly as my eyes travelled over his finely chiseled body. I had never noticed how physically fit Ollie was before. His arms were thick and a snake tattoo ran from his shoulder to his bicep. His abs were deeply defined and led to the equally deep V of his torso. I quickly darted my eyes away as he turned around and straightened his hoodie before grabbing my hand and dragging me out the door, down the hall and out of the building. Breathlessly, we sprinted across campus to our class, only to find the door closed and a sign saying: “Tardiness in my class is not tolerated. Once the door is closed, you’re not coming in. Report to my office at the end of the day to explain. Dr. Harman.”

  Great, just what I needed.

  Running his hand through his now even messier hair, Ollie kicked the wall he was standing adjacent to. “Shit! Well I guess we’ve got three hours to spare. Want to see a movie? Get some coffee? Try to forget that awful and painfully horrific incident in my room?” I smiled at him, feeling awkward. I needed some space and I also needed a shower. “Actually Ollie, I didn’t get to shower and change at Jared’s so I think I’ll go have a long soak and relax for a bit. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “No, of course not. Come on, I’ll walk back with you.” With his hands in his pockets he walked beside me, chatting about the most inane of subjects and I knew he was trying hard to put what happened behind us. I prayed for both our sakes that if we tried hard enough that maybe we could and that things could go back to the way they were because the way I was feeling was anything but comfortable. I was tense, confused and very uneasy. His hands never left his pockets the entire walk back and it made me feel strangely forlorn. We’d always been so comfortable together, draping his arm around my shoulder even holding hands at times. Now we acted like two embarrassed teenagers who got caught making out under the bleachers. I wished I had powers like superman so I could fly around the world, turning back time, or maybe even climb into a Tardis like Dr. Who, go back to the bar, not flirt and go back to the room and stop him from kissing me. But all that would probably never have stopped Ollie’s feelings for me or the way I found myself feeling whenever I was near him. They say you can’t help who you fall in love with but I sure wished Ollie hadn’t picked me. And I certainly wished my libido hadn’t selected him as an object of sexual desire. It was becoming a very large problem and either it would have to be fixed, or I would have to be.

  * * *

  Entering my room, I breathed a sigh of relief. Sweet sanctuary. Amy was already at class and I would have at least three hours till my next one. Collapsing on my bed, I spotted the pile of envelopes Jared had sent me on the floor. Rolling over I picked them up and found the one marked Tuesday. Biting my lip in anticipation I opened it.

  Layla

  It’s already day one and that means that in less than 96 hours I will be back home with you. I can categorically say that I am missing you incredibly and that you are invading my thoughts even as you read this.

  Now don’t get mad but I rearranged your work schedule to coincide with my plans for you. Yes that’s right, plans. Lorraine has ensured everything is in pla
ce and I will let you know in each letter when it is you have to work. Today you have the day off. But that doesn’t mean I’ll allow you to sit around moping over me being in New York.

  At 3pm a very nice young lady called Rose will be arriving at your dorm to do your hair and makeup. She will then be followed by a young man called Christophe. Christophe is my personal stylist and will be presenting you with a variety of elegant dresses. I have already checked them all and have given him an idea of those I find acceptable for you to wear in public. I don’t want anyone else ogling your goodies while I’m away Miss Jennings.

  A car will arrive at six sharp and take you to your destination. I know you will love this evening and you must promise me that you will keep an open mind.

  I wish I could be there to share your night but I am certain you will have an incredible time without me. Try to relax and don’t miss me too much. Also, no asking questions. Everyone is under strict instructions to tell you nothing about this evening’s event. So don’t try.

  I know you hate surprises but I simply couldn’t help myself.

  I am without words to end this letter and goodbye feels too final so I have borrowed some from a man very deeply in love.

  Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours.

  Ludwig Van Beethoven

  Jared xx

  I hugged the letter to my chest tightly. Could he be more perfect? After reading the words he had written with his own hand, my heart was truly aching to be near him. I felt so far away and yet with the piece of paper currently clutched to my chest so connected also. I sat up swiftly and grabbed the laptop from the edge of the bed, firing it up. The moment it was ready, I opened my emails. There was nothing and a glance at my cell also revealed nothing. I knew he must have still been in the air at that very moment but I was desperate to hear his voice, read more of his words and feel generally closer to him. Everything seemed so plain and I felt melancholy. I needed to snap out of my mood. Considering I had missed my class, all I had left to do all day was visit Dr. Harman later and explain my absence but that was over four hours away. Jumping to my feet I headed for the shower.