by Xyla Turner
“Let me rephrase the question,” she said, the lawyer coming out. “What do you want to do in the next few years?”
This felt like a trick question but Bethany was not that type of woman. She said what she meant and meant what she said. That was something I could count on.
“In the next three years, I want to be lying in bed with my wife making sweet love because we are tired after a week of building a business, or two, running charities, her working as a partner, or we’re traveling all over the world,” I answered with no smirks, smiles or hints of humor. “Don’t really give a fuck which one it is, I just want to be with her.”
Bethany cleared her throat, then nodded her head.
“Well, that was clear.” She noted before continuing to eat her stew.
“I hope so,” I commented and dipped my spoon back in my bowl as well.
***
We explored Colorado and all its glory, rested when we needed and I tried to take Bethany’s mind off of the decisions she had to make for at least those three days.
Every night, we went out to eat, every morning, I had breakfast delivered and for lunch we explored a local diner. At night, we continued to explore each other physically. Our likes, kinks and even playing with toys, since we ran into an adult play store during our travels.
It turned out Bethany liked almost everything they explored which meant we had a hell of a lot of fun.
As we boarded the plane, I knew I should have told her about the call from Comer. It was the thing that lingered in the back of my mind. Praying it wouldn’t come back to bite me, I decided it was not worth her upset.
****
In Colorado, I told Bethany we would have the holiday dinner at my place back home. Age said that was less work she had to do since she would be left with the cooking.
Since Bethany decided she wanted to make a feast that requires food prep two days prior, it only made sense for her to stay at my house during that time.
We went grocery shopping together. It felt like we purchased the whole damn store. It was only the two of us, so I was not sure why we had so much food. Bethany sweetly informed me I was a bachelor for years, so I was in essence out of touch.
During the holidays, I watched that woman transform my house into a loving home. This almost had me regretting not having kids that could partake in everything she created. It also made me realize how she must be feeling not having her own child present for the holidays.
One night, I pulled her into me on the couch and whispered in her ear, “Have you spoken to Brittany?”
Her body grew tight, and she quickly grew alert, almost making me regret asking.
“No,” Bethany answered simply.
“Let’s give her a call,” I offered. “We can do FaceTime.”
She shook her head before saying, “I don’t think so.”
“Angel,” I coaxed. “It’s Christmas, she’s your only daughter and at least you can say you tried.”
Her shiny eyes met mine before she murmured, “She doesn’t want to talk to me. I called the damn cops on her.”
“Yes, that was intense. But you’re also her only mom. So, there’s no changing any of these factors,” I offered. “Call her.”
She nodded reaching for her phone. The chiming sound signaled the phone was attempting a call.
“Hello,” a quiet voice answered.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Bethany face turned into a watery smile.
“Hey, Mom.” Brittany was a bit reserved.
“I’m sorry, I, uh, didn’t want to interrupt you, but I did want to wish you a happy holiday,” Bethany said. “You look good.”
“You too,” Brittany commented. “I received the Christmas gift from you and Cole. It’s so nice. Is he with you? I wanted to say thanks.”
“Yes, Yes. He’s here.” Bethany smiled and turned the phone around so it was on me.
“Hey, Brittany,” I greeted her. “How are you liking New Jersey?”
“These people can’t drive or park,” she remarked. “The Starbucks is miles away and Dad says I need to get a car.”
Brittany’s face moved closer to the screen then she whispered, “He says I need to get a job and work for it.”
I tried to tamper down my laugh but managed to say, “That’s not a bad thing.”
“Urg, Yes. It. Is,” she annunciated each word with absolute horror on her face.
Both Bethany and I laughed out loud. Brittany just shook her head at us.
“Alright, Brittany. I’ll put your mom back on. Merry Christmas!”
“Bye Cole and thanks again,” she said with dare, I think, genuineness.
“Hey, honey. Glad you’re doing well. You look so good.” Bethany eyes started to water some more.
“You’re glowing, Mom. What’s different?” she asked. “I go away and you start wearing makeup.”
“Oh, there’s nothing different. No makeup.” Brittany laughed. “I guess I’m happy about retirement or whatever I decide to do.”
“You and Cole going to travel the world, right?” she sighed. “Just take me to Paris. That’s all I want. A Paris boyfriend.”
“Oh, Lord.” Bethany rolled her eyes. “Please no boyfriends until you’re forty.”
“Forty, oh hell no. Bye, Mom! You’re breaking up.”
We all laughed at the lightness in mood and tone. It seemed as though she was doing better or at least they were doing better, now they were separated. It was odd, but so far, so good.
They spoke for a little longer, until Bethany blew a kiss at the phone and hung up. Then my lady put her head in my chest and murmured, “Thanks Cole.”
I held her, even with the slight wetness on my shirt from her tears of joy, then I watched the game until we both passed out on the couch. A major weight had been lifted, and it was evident in the atmosphere.
Almost like permission to move forward.
***
A few days before the New Years, after dropping Bethany off at work, I stopped by Beans & Things to get my favorite muffin. There I and ran into Roger again.
“Cole, we keep meeting at the same spot,” He called out to me.
“Wow, this is getting weird,” I joked.
“How are you and Bethany?” he asked.
“Good, man.” I smiled. “The best.”
“Fuck, is Cole Mahon whipped?” The smirk spread across his face like a Cheshire Cat.
“Well, you’re the matchmaker,” I remarked. “You tell me.”
Roger scoffed, “By the look on your face, man, she’s got you... I know that look.”
“Nothing wrong with it.” I nodded. “I’m a big boy. Know what I want. Going to do everything I can to keep her.”
Roger’s face beamed as he held up his hands, to frame an imaginary sign and said, “Can you say that on a camera?”
I laughed.
“I’m serious,” Roger insisted. “Even a picture on a billboard will work. And those same words.”
His mind was working overtime, but I held up my hand.
“Yo, if that woman marries me, then you get whatever you want,” I shared
“Holy hell,” Roger stopped. “This serious?”
“This serious,” I confirmed.
“Yo, I’m signing off on that one. The Cole Magon I know works hard for every damn thing he gets. I have no doubts, it’s the same with the woman who’s captured his heart.” He was packing up his laptop and pile of papers. “I got to run, but you have a deal.”
“Okay, then.” I got back in line. “See ya.”
After I sat down, to really savor the taste of the Beans & Things, a shadow lingered over my booth, causing me to look up.
Goddamn.
It was never good when an ex decided to show up. Especially one named Nadia.
“Cole, oh my God. I knew that was you.” She seemed to smile from ear to ear. “Wow, you look really good.”
“Thanks!” I nodded.
Then she slid her ass in my booth facing me.
“What can I do for you, Nadia?” I asked and did not hide my annoyed tone.
“Oh, Cole. Don’t be that way.” She chuckled. “We weren’t that bad. I called you last month to tell you I was moving in the neighborhood. Can you believe it?”
She did not wait for me to answer, just kept talking. Her ass knew she called after one in the morning and that was not to tell me shit. That call was for something else entirely.
“It’s so surreal. I mean one minute we’re dating and you weren’t ready to commit and now, years later, we end up back in the same place. That’s called serendipity.”
She reached out to touch my hand and if I knew the shit that one move would stir, I would have fled like a bandit on the run. But nope, I wasn’t an asshole. I slowly removed my hand from under hers.
“Yeah, but this time I’m in a committed relationship. So, it’s very different,” I shared.
Her face fell, then she muttered, “Committed?”
“Yes, Nadia.” I repeated, “Committed. She’s going to be my wife, type of commitment.”
Well, I’m not sure why I said that because the woman nearly lost her mind.
“What happened to us?” she huffed. “We were good. Solid. Dedicated.”
“That was almost five years ago, and we were both at different places in our lives.” I shrugged. “Things change, people change.”
I looked at the phone and said, “I’ve got to run, but good luck with everything.”
Grabbing my food, I slid from the booth, and waved back. Effectively leaving her there because that was her issue.
Always so presumptuous.
Chapter 11: Next Season
Bethany Wade
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Cole in our booth with a woman’s hand over his. She was smiling, crossing her legs and there seemed to be a familiarity about her manner with him. This lady wasn’t just any woman. She was a woman an athlete would be with. Even a former athlete would be lucky enough to be with her.
The crazy part of me wanted to go in there and snatch her perfectly manicured hand off of his. Tell her and him where they could go and how I could help them get there.
Goddamnit.
I was in love with that son of a bitch and he was cozying up with another woman right under my nose. How long has it been going on? Was I the side piece? She did look slightly younger, and those breasts were speaking for themselves. Front and center, saying hello.
I’m sure there was a rationale explanation but I couldn’t muster up the will to know what it was at that moment.
Nope.
As I made my way to my car, I clearly wasn’t paying attention when walking through the parking lot without looking both ways. A car screeched and it was too late when I felt the impact of steel causing me to buckle to the ground. It knocked the absolutely breath out of me and then all I saw was people over me talking and waving their hands widely in the air. Eventually, I was able to get up and barely made it to my car to get the door open but that was about it.
“Are you okay?” she asked through my cloudy haze.
Just as I started to nod in the affirmative, another wave of nausea and pain poured over me causing me to yell out.
I barely heard the woman’s voice as she had the phone to her ear. I leaned over, huffing and puffing, in an effort to gain my breath, cool down and not cause more of a scene than I already had.
“Ma’am, the ambulance is on its way. Is there anything I can do?” The lady’s voice came back.
“No… I’m fine… I’m fine,” I barely made out.
“No, you’re really not,” she said. “They told me to tell you to take a deep breath. Try to regulate your breathing. You’ve been hit by a car.”
I would have laughed but I couldn’t even catch my breath.
If I could, I would.
I nodded, but the need to strip hit me all at once. I was so damn hot. It felt like my body had been dipped in a lake of fire.
Pure hell.
Only God knew what I looked like hanging outside the car like that. I guess it was pretty bad because by the time the paramedics came, I mumbled a few answers to their questions, then they had me on a gurney and the sirens were blaring.
How the hell did I go from going to relax at our favorite coffee place to being hit by a car and carted away in an ambulance.
My luck didn’t turn for the better because after the doctor told me what he thought could be wrong and me telling him to run those tests again, who walks in?
Cole.
“What are you doing here?” I snapped as he asked.
“Sweetheart, what happened?” he was moving toward me rather quickly.
After my question sank in, he stopped and asked, “What?”
“I don’t want to see you right now.” I said.
“Wait, What?” Cole was grasping for straws.
The shock was evident on his face with his mouth wide open and wide eyes.
“I don’t want to see you,” I said with almost a plea.
Cole moved toward me and nearly growled, “You’re going to need to tell me what the hell has gotten into you and I mean right fucking now.”
His tone had me sitting up in my hospital bed without using the reclining feature. A sharp spike of adrenaline coursed through my body.
“I’m going to need to tell you,” I smiled at him. “You should be the one telling me why you’re in our shop with some woman’s hand wrapped around yours.”
I laid back down but processing the disbelief on his face, I rose back up and said, “And, for the sake of all that is holy, do not act like it was nothing, because you were very familiar with her. You know what,” I interjected, “I take that back. Do not tell me anything. I was just hit by a car, so I want you to get out.”
I reached for the thin covers in some small attempt to shield me from the hurt, the pain in my heart and the utter agony that paralyzed Cole at that moment.
“Bethany!” he snapped at me with molten eyes. “Why the fuck would I jeopardize anything with you when you’re it for me. Nadia is my ex fiancée who decided she wanted to make her play again. I am not and was not interested in her. She’s also the type to make a scene, so I didn’t jerk her hand off of mine for that reason only. What I’m most disappointed at, is your trust in me. Fuck, I would never… Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you? How lonely I was before you? How much I love you? Do you think I’d mess that up for anyone? Am I that type of man?”
Cole blew out a harsh breath and was about to continue when a nurse burst through the door and said, “Sir, you’re going to need to leave.”
It was only then the noise of the heart monitor grew louder and weakness suddenly enveloped me. My body sagged back down and when I looked back up, I saw Cole standing there still.
“Sir,” the nurse called.
“Is she going to be okay?” he asked.
“Yes, but I need you to leave. Her pressure is rising again,” she said with measured patience.
Cole nodded his head but my eyes closed after I saw him in the doorway, still looking at me with the saddest eyes I’ve ever seen on a man.
He said he loved me. Just a throw away statement in his rant, but he’s shown it the entire time. He’d never given me a reason to mistrust him.
Not one time!
That look haunted me in my haze of being awake. The life seemed to slip from him in the matter of five minutes. He was ready to fight, but the nurse interrupted us.
When I woke again, I was in the same hospital bed but I was alone. The soft beeps of the machines were like a lullaby, with its constant tempo.
On my table sat a bouquet of flowers, with a note inside them. I had to go to the bathroom, but grabbed the card sticking out from the beautiful display of multi-colored flowers.
My heart seized as I read the familiar handwriting,
Sweetheart, I pray you’re feeling better. I’m here waiting for you. Not letting you go.
Cole
> A hot tear ran down my face and damn these crazy ass emotions. I huffed out loud and pressed the button to signal a nurse.
Within two minutes, a woman, who I presumed was the doctor with her white jacket, and a male nurse with pink scrubs strolled into my room.
“Ms. Wade,” the lady greeted me. “My name is Doctor Parris. How are you feeling?”
“Better than I was,” I commented but wiped my face clear of any tears.
“Good,” she said as they both walked toward the monitors and noted things on a tablet. I assumed this was my chart. “Your vitals are normal. Which is good. You’re pretty healthy, Ms. Wade even after being hit by a car.”
She pulled up a stool and sat directly next to the bed, so we were eye to eye.
“So, what happened?” I asked with a deep feeling I knew I would not like what she said. “Besides the car hitting me.”
“Well.” She leaned in closer. “You’re at the age for it to be the next season of your life. With the symptoms you explained during intake, I believe it to be the early stages of menopause and a slight panic attack.”
Goddamn.
My head felt even lighter after her words. A harsh breath escaped my mouth, but I remained quiet.
What was there to say?
I just saw the man I love with his hands embraced with a younger, starry-eyed blingy brunette. I actually believe him that there is nothing between them. But, now it’s official, I’m an old bat that can no longer produce. Hell, not that I want to but it’s the principle that I can’t. Why would he want to be with me?
A small, internal voice said, It doesn’t matter, because Cole won’t care.
From what I gathered about the man, this was true but goddamn. Menopause. It just made everything so final.
“Are you okay?” the doctor asked.
“Yes. Um, yes,” I murmured. “What does that mean? Should I take a vitamin or something? Carry an ice pack around with me all the time. Does that explain the moodiness and my emotional state?”
She merely smiled and nodded, “Yes. There are a lot of different symptoms and women all over the world experience different ones. The hot flashes, which is usually a flushing that spreads over the body and sometimes followed by perspiration. The heat and sweating is all normal. There is no real-time limit or age when everything stops. It does eventually die down. There are some natural things you can do to help with the symptoms but I’m less concerned about that at this point.”
