Friday (Timeless Series #5)

by E. L. Todd

  Hawke’s words made a lot of sense, in retrospect. If I loved this woman and wanted to be with her I had to make it right. I couldn’t just let her go. If I did, she would eventually get over me and end up with someone else.

  I should end up with her.

  I’d been with a lot of women in my lifetime. When I lived in Florida all I did was party, get laid, and study. My time there accumulated into a lot of sex so I had a lot of experience. I think that’s why Marie meant so much to me. She was the first woman I wanted to sleep with more than once.

  Didn’t that mean something?

  I didn’t think about marriage and kids. In fact, it never crossed my mind. But with Marie I could picture a future—one that I wanted. I could see myself spending my life with her. I could picture her having my children. These thoughts had never entered my brain before.

  So, I should listen to my instincts.

  I had to get her back. I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage it but I would figure out a way.

  ***

  Just when I got ready to call Marie, Francesca’s message popped on the screen.

  Marie is being a brat. She found some guy online and now she’s going on a date.

  What the hell? How did she pull that off so quickly?

  Don’t tell her I told you.

  This conversation wasn’t meant for texting. I called her and listened to her pick up on the first ring. “She has a date? With who?”

  “I don’t know. He just picked her up and they left.”

  Damn, she didn’t waste anytime. “This is a nightmare.”

  “Tell me about it. She’s so determined to move on from you that she’s being stupid.”

  “Very.” I stood outside my building with my hand in my pocket. I thought sleeping together would fix everything. Whenever we were together all the pain disappeared. But she was clearly holding a grudge. “Where did they go?”

  “That Thai place next to her office.”

  I was new to the city but I think I knew what she was talking about.

  “But you shouldn’t intervene. I’m just telling you so you have a heads up.”

  “Then what am I supposed to do? Let her finish her date then talk to her?” I wasn’t letting some chump touch my girl.

  “I don’t know but barging in on their date will probably make it worse.”

  I growled into the phone and started to pace. “Frankie, what do I do? Doing nothing isn’t an option.”

  “I don’t know…you’ll have to mess up the date without actually messing it up, you know?”

  “No,” I snapped.

  “What if you just bump into her and take it from there?”

  “I guess I can do that…” I just didn’t know what I was going to do once I got there. “Why are you helping me anyway?”

  “Because Marie is being a poopy head and I’m tired of it.”

  “A poopy head?”

  “If she really didn’t want to be with you anymore I’d let it go. But it’s so obvious she’s still in love with you. Not being with someone simply out of principle is ridiculous.”

  At least she was on my side.

  “So, are you going to head to the restaurant. They’re probably there by now.”

  “Yeah…” I sighed into the phone. “Wish me luck.”

  “Good luck…” There wasn’t an ounce of belief in her voice.

  ***

  I walked into the restaurant and located their table near the back. Marie was still in her work clothes but she looked stunning, like always. But she would look stunning in a beekeepers suit.

  I adjusted my tie and prepared myself for the conversation. The shit would hit the fan and Marie would probably be more pissed off at me but I had to do something. I hurt Marie several times and I deserved this. But I wanted the torture to end.

  I walked to their table, trying to appear as calm as possible.

  Marie spotted my approach, and once she saw me her eyes lit up in flames. She wanted to murder me right then and there.

  I kept going and stopped when I reached their table. To my misfortune, her date was a good-looking guy. He was built like he threw tree logs around for fun, and his suit told me he did something impressive for work.

  Marie wanted to kill me. Like, actually kill me.

  Her date stared at me hesitantly, like he wasn’t sure if I were a waiter or a friend.

  Marie refused to speak. Instead, she silently threatened me.

  Now that I was there I didn’t know what to do. Marie was scaring me a little bit, and I wasn’t sure if I could take her date if I had to. Somehow, I had to ruin this date without actually ruining it.

  How did I accomplish that?

  Then I got an idea. I didn’t like the idea very much. In fact, it made me sick a little bit. But desperate times called for desperate measures. “Oh my god, hi.” My voice came out high-pitched and over enthused. “It’s so nice to see you here. I just left Prada and thought I’d stop by for dinner.”

  Marie’s anger immediately disappeared. I’d never seen her look so bewildered.

  “Who’s your cute friend?” I took a step toward her date and gave him a smile.

  He immediately stiffened. “Charles.”

  “It’s so nice to meet you, Charles.” I rested my hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

  He tensed again but didn’t push it away.

  “You guys wouldn’t mind if I joined you, right?” I took the seat next to Charles and scooted my chair close to him.

  Marie was mortified. Her cheeks were turning red and she tried covering her face.

  “So…you’ve got a boyfriend?” I’d only do this for one person. If Marie weren’t the love of my life I wouldn’t be caught dead doing this. But there was no other way I could chase him off.

  “I’m straight, actually.” He nodded to Marie. “Hence, why we’re on a date.”

  “Oh…I see.” I sighed in disappointment. “But how do you really know what your preferences are until you try everything?” I scooted closer to him, my thigh touching his.

  He immediately moved away, uncomfortable.

  Marie’s face was getting redder by the second.

  “You know who you remind me of?”

  He kept his eyes glued to his menu.

  “One of the guys at Chippendales. He’s so fine.” How long did I have to push him until he cracked?

  Marie finally recovered enough to speak. “Axel, if you don’t mind we’d like to be alone.”

  “Oh, come on.” I placed my hand on his wrist. “I’m just being nice.”

  He pulled his hand away violently. “Marie, I have somewhere to be. Maybe we can get together another time.” He stood up and buttoned his suit before he marched off, the sway of his shoulders showing his anger.

  My plan worked.

  Marie turned on me. “What the hell?”

  I scooted into his vacated chair and returned my voice to normal. “What the hell to you? I wake up and you’re gone?”

  “Last night was a mistake.”

  “How? We didn’t do anything.”

  “It just was,” she snapped. “We’re never getting back together so you need to drop it.”

  “I’m not dropping it until you give me another chance.”

  “You only want me because you can’t have me.” Her voice rose until other tables could hear us.

  “No. I want you because I know I’m supposed to marry you.”

  Her eyes widened to their full capacity and she stopped breathing.

  Now I wasn’t afraid to say things like that. I was terrified of my relationship with Marie because I knew how much she meant to me, even in the beginning. She had the power to destroy me. I could detect it long ago. But now I wasn’t scared of it. In fact, I was scared of losing it. “I’m supposed to be with you for the rest of my life. That’s what’s meant to happen.”

  “Meant to happen?” Her voice came out as a whisper, no longer a shout like it was before.

  “I
’m not saying I believe in destiny or soul mates like Francesca does. But I know you’re the one for me. You’re the only woman who’s ever made me feel like this. And not to sound like an ass, but I’ve been with a lot of them. From the beginning I knew there was something special here. The first time we slept together I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And every time I was around you my heart was in overdrive. I’m sorry I screwed this up so many times, but the only reason why I pushed you away was because I was scared. I was scared of losing the woman I loved, so it was easier not to lose you to begin with. But now that I understand what my life is like without you, I realize it’s better to love and lost than to never love at all.” When she did nothing but stare at me I knew I was getting through to her. “Marie, please give me one more chance. I’m here now and I’m ready to give you whatever you want. I’ll be the best damn boyfriend of the year. I’ll be there, every day. Every morning when you wake up I’ll be beside you. And every time you tell me you love me I’ll say it back.” I bared my entire soul and now it was out in the open. I just set myself up for success or failure. I wanted this woman so desperately that I risked my own neck just to make it happen. In my heart, I knew she was supposed to be mine. And if I lost her forever I would always regret it. When she didn’t say anything for several moments I grew tense. “Marie?”

  She continued to stare at me passively, her eyes not giving anything away. Her breathing had increased. Her chest rose and fell at a heavy rate. Her hands were under the table so I couldn’t see them but I suspected they were fidgeting together.

  “Baby, I’m asking for one more chance. That’s it.”

  She remained silent.

  If I lost her I wouldn’t know what to do. I couldn’t go back to my previous lifestyle of meaningless sex with strangers. I couldn’t be with anyone else but her. My existence would be hollow and empty.

  “I love you.”

  My heart skipped a beat when I heard those beautiful words. Quiet conversations continued around us at the different tables. To onlookers it seemed like we were having an ordinary conversation. But in reality, our whole world was changing. She’d never said those words to me before and I said them back. Now was my chance. “I love you too.”

  Her eyes watered but the tears didn’t fall. Her chest continued to rise and fall at a rapid rate. She was in public so she tried to keep her emotions in check but it was becoming progressively harder.

  I leaned over the table so we were as close as possible. “One more chance?” I extended my hand to her, my knuckles resting on the surface.

  She stared at it for nearly a minute before she gently placed her hand on top. “Yes.”

  She said yes.

  I couldn’t believe it.

  I did it. Somehow, I did it.

  Marie was mine.

  I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it. “I won’t hurt you again. I promise.”

  She nodded.

  I continued to hold her knuckles against my mouth as I stared at her. “Will you have dinner with me?”

  She cleared her throat, dissipating the emotion. “Since we’re here…”

  “It’ll be our first date—our last first date.”

  ***

  Without discussing it, we went to my apartment. Everything was exactly the same as it was when she came over the night before. Even though I hadn’t had sex in nearly two months I wasn’t eager to get some action.

  I just wanted to be with her.

  Once the door was shut and we were alone, I cupped her face and gave her a slow kiss. It felt so good to feel her mouth against mine. The softness of her lips were unparalleled by anything else I’ve ever felt. My arms tightened around her and I deepened the kiss, pressing her against the wall. My hand dug into her hair automatically and I grabbed a fistful of hair. I loved gripping her this way, making her mine.

  Her hands moved to my shirt where she unbuttoned it from top to bottom. Her fingertips moved over my skin slowly, taking her time as she got me down to my bare skin.

  Slowly, we moved to the bedroom, a trail of clothes developing behind us. I saw her naked last night but I was eager to see her again. This time she was really mine. After we made love and went to bed, she would be there the following morning. That was the most exciting part of all.

  I got her on my bed, her legs already wrapped around my waist. My socks were still on but I didn’t care enough to take them off. She didn’t seem to care either. When I looked down at her I didn’t see a hot blonde with big tits. I saw a beautiful woman I wanted to cherish forever. Never in my life had I been the romantic type but now I was—with Marie.

  My cock found her entrance like it always did, and I gently pressed inside her, stretching her like I had a hundred times. Instead of kissing her I watched her reaction. The way she used to look at me had returned. There was nothing but love in her eyes, treasuring me as well as the moment.

  I loved being inside her. There were no words to describe how it felt. Not only was it pleasurable, but it was meaningful. I was the only man to have her this way, and I would be the only man to have her this way. I wanted to spend the rest of my nights like this, being with one woman. A year ago I wouldn’t have been able to fathom this moment. But now I couldn’t picture my life being any different.

  She rocked with me on the bed. “I love you.” Her fingers dug into my hair and she cradled my face close to hers. Her lips were parted from her heavy breathing. When she said those words they were innately sexy, better than any dirty talk I’d ever had.

  “I love you too, baby.”

  ***

  Hand-in-hand, we walked inside Marie’s apartment.

  Francesca was watching TV on the couch, and when she heard us walk inside she turned around. “Hey, where were you—” She stopped in mid-sentence when she saw our joined hands. “About fucking time.” She left the couch and walked over to us. “I thought this day would never come.”

  I wrapped my arm around Marie’s waist. “We just came by to get her things. She’s staying with me for the week.”

  “Cool,” Francesca said. “I get the apartment all to myself without having to pay for it. I feel like a housewife in the fifties.”

  “Just keep the place clean.” Marie walked into her bedroom and started to pack her things.

  I eyed her ass until it was no longer in view.

  “So, how’d you do it?”

  I turned back to Francesca. “Do what?”

  “Remove the guy.”

  “Oh…I came onto him.”

  Her eyes narrowed.

  “I acted gay for a few moments. It worked like a charm.”

  “I think you were supposed to fight for her. You know, do something romantic.”

  “Well, the guy was huge. Hitting on him was a lot easier.”

  Francesca covered her mouth and tried not to laugh. “Then what happened?”

  “I told her how I felt…didn’t hold anything back.”

  “Which was…?”

  “You’re nosey, you know that?”

  “Look, if you don’t tell me Marie will.”

  Sometimes I forgot they were best friends. “She’s the one.” That was all I needed to say.

  Francesca grinned from ear-to-ear. “Awe…”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “You’re going to married, aren’t you?”

  I shrugged. “Not today. But someday.”

  “Awe…” She clapped her hands again. “Marie is going to be my sister-in-law. Oh my god, I’ll be her baby’s aunt.”

  “Let’s not get carried away. She’s just spending the week with me, for now.”

  “Whatever,” she said. “I’m going to start collecting bridal magazines and putting pictures together…it’s going to be great.”

  “Whatever.”

  Marie returned with a bag over her shoulder. “I think I got everything.”

  I took it from her. “Let’s go. We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

  “Awe.” Francesca clut
ched her hands to her chest.

  “Shut up already.” I opened the door and walked out.

  Marie hugged Francesca. “I guess I’ll see you when I get back.”

  “Have fun.” Francesca pulled away then squeezed Marie’s wrists. “I want the scoop when you get back.”

  “You got it.”

  I grabbed Marie’s hand and pulled her out before Francesca invited herself to come along. Those two were inseparable, and I needed to get them apart before Marie invited her along.

  ***

  Instead of watching the movie we made out on the couch. She straddled my hips with her arms around my neck. She kissed me hard on the mouth, giving her tongue before her lips again.

  My hands had yanked up her skirt and now gripped her bare ass. My cock was hard and rubbed against her panties through my slacks. With my head resting against the back of the couch I kissed her like a horny teenager. Kissing was still my favorite thing to do.

  The alarm over the oven started to beep.

  Marie pulled away, her lips puckered and red. “Chicken is done.”

  I didn’t care about food at the moment.

  She got off my lap and fixed her skirt, hiding her beautiful ass from view. Then she disappeared into the kitchen and checked on the food.

  I eyed my keys and wallet on the table before I stood up and opened the front door.

  “Where are you going?” Marie called from the kitchen.

  “Nowhere, baby.” I pulled up the rug and grabbed the spare key from under the mat. I shut the door again then walked into the kitchen.

  Marie just finished preparing the dinner plates when I walked in.

  “I want you to have this.” I held up the spare key. “Come and go as you please.” I wanted her to be at my place all the time. Whenever I got off work I had to pick her up first then take her to my apartment since she couldn’t get inside on her own. Now she could sleep in late when I went to work and lock up before she left. If she ever wanted to come over for no reason at all, she could just walk inside.

  A slow smile crept over her lips. “You’re giving me a key to your place?”

  “Yes.” I placed it in her hand before I closed her fingers around it.

  “You’re sure?”