by Helen Cooper
“Gosh, it’s not like he’s sending me company secrets.” I sighed and opened up the message again. “It says:
Hey Sarah, I hope you are doing well. I’m so sad to hear that you decided to leave your position at Zoom Corp. I know Harry Green can be an ass sometimes. I was wondering if you’d like to grab a coffee next week? I miss having my office Barbie there to greet me in the morning. Lewis xoxo”
“So?” Harry’s voice was angry.
“So what?” I was annoyed at his abrupt change of mood.
“So are you going?”
“Going where?” I sighed.
“To coffee?”
“I don’t know.” I hadn’t been planning on it but he was starting to annoy me.
“I don’t think you should go.” His voice was low.
“Why not?”
“Because I said so.”
“Excuse me?” My voice grew louder. “You aren’t my dad.”
“But I could be old enough, right?” He laughed bitterly.
“Whatever.”
“I forbid you from fucking someone else while you are fucking me.”
“Excuse me?” I shouted. “You forbid me?”
“Yes.”
“You are such an asshole, Harry Green.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
“I was thinking about setting him up with Jane,” I lied. Though it wasn’t such a bad idea. While Lewis’s text had made me smile, I knew I didn’t want him for myself. I wanted the insufferable Harry Green. The one man it seemed I would never be able to get.
“Now that’s not a bad idea. Maybe he can come on the trip as well and we will set them up.”
“But then he will know about us.” I frowned.
“Which will only make it that more believable to everyone.” He smiled.
“But he’s going to think I’m some sort of slut,” I cried out.
“He’ll just think you couldn’t resist my magic charm.”
“After a few days?” I sighed.
“Well, it’s true, isn’t it?” He placed his hand on my leg and I shivered. “You did spend the night in my bed right when we met.”
“So I’m a slut and you’re not. You were there too.”
“I never said you were a slut, Sarah.”
“Whatever.” I looked out of the window and sighed. “But fine, invite him for Jane.”
“Awesome- what island should we go to?”
“I don’t really care.”
“Okay, it will be a surprise then.”
“Whoopee doo,” I mumbled but inside I felt some excitement. I was going on a Caribbean vacation with my best friend and the man I loved.
“Do you want to go home or can I persuade you to spend the night with me at my place?” His voice was hopeful.
“I’d like to go home, please.” I was determined to keep as much dignity as I could in this relationship. And I knew that meant being apart from him as much as I could. Or he would soon start seeing and realizing how much I cared for him.
“You sure? I have ice cream?”
“Butterscotch flavored?”
“I can get that if it means you’ll spend the night.”
“You aren’t fed up with me yet?” I laughed and poked him in the arm. “Anyway I need to ask Jane if she wants to come this weekend.”
“Oh and I guess you want to tell her about all the hot sex as well?”
“What hot sex?” I laughed and squealed as his hand crept in between my legs and rubbed against my pussy.
“The same hot sex you wish you were getting right now.” He laughed and I closed my legs tightly.
“You wish!”
We rode in silence the rest of the way to my apartment and Harry helped me bring my bag upstairs. “You don’t need to come up with me, you know.” I smiled at Harry as he followed me up the stairs.
“I want to make sure you get to your apartment safely, Sarah. That’s what gentlemen do.”
“So why are you doing it?”
“Touché.” He laughed and slapped me in the ass.
“Hey,” I yelped.
“Serves you right.” He laughed and stood closely behind me as I opened the door to the apartment.
“I’m back, Jane,” I called out and she came running to the door to hug me.
“Sarah. I missed you.” She had flour on her hands and I figured she must have been baking again. “Oh hi Harry.” She beamed at him and ushered is in to the apartment. “Have you guys eaten? I made a beef stew.”
“Sounds yummy.” I plopped down on the couch and waited for Harry to leave.
“That does sound delicious. Thanks for the invite.” Harry plopped down next to me and I looked over at him in confusion.
“You’re going to stay?”
“Do you have a problem with that?” He smirked at me.
“No. I just thought you wanted to go home.”
“I’ll go later.” He smiled. “Aren’t you going to unpack before you get comfortable?”
“No.” I laughed.
“That bag will stay packed until Sarah has to go on another trip.” Jane laughed.
“So you’re a messy one, huh?” Harry stared at me. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“I’m not messy,” I lied. “I just have my own organizational system.”
“The same one that all lazy people have.” Jane grinned at me.
“Jane!”
“It’s true,” she laughed and walked back to the kitchen. “Dinner will be served in about thirty minutes.”
“I’ll make the drinks. What does everyone want?”
“A gin and tonic, please.” Harry smiled at me and I felt my stomach flip. He looked so relaxed and casual sitting back in our old ratty cream couch.
“Oh sorry, we don’t have tonic.”
“Ok, just a gin on the rocks.”
“Oops, no gin either.” I grinned.
“Scotch on the rocks?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Nope.”
“What do you have? That may be easier.”
“We have some vodka, the cheap stuff, some orange juice and some Bud Light.” I laughed.
“I’ll have a Bud Light.” He laughed.
“Smart man.” I walked to the kitchen and Jane pulled me to her side as soon as I walked in and whispered.
“Oh my gosh, how was it?” she said breathlessly.
“It was good.” I kept my voice low. “But I think I messed up, Jane,” I whined.
“Oh no.” She sighed. “Are you pregnant?”
“No! Why do you keep asking me that?” I sighed. “I’m falling for him.”
“Isn’t that good?” She frowned.
“No, he doesn’t believe in love.” I felt like I was going to cry.
“Oh shit, sorry luv.” Jane hugged me and I pulled away.
“Thanks.”
“We need to come up with a plan,” she said excitedly.
“What do you mean?”
“You know. Like a how to get a guy sort of thing. How to make him love you.”
“Yeah, I don’t know if such a plan exists.” I sigh.
“Then we’ll create one.” She grinned.
I grinned back at her infectiously. “Yeah. We can call it ‘How To Catch A Billionaire’.”
“That’s perfect.” She laughed and I grabbed the beers.
“Okay, let’s talk when he leaves.” I smiled at her and walked back to the living room to see Harry completely relaxed on the couch with his shoes off. I stopped and watched him for a minute. It warmed my heart to see him there; I could easily pretend that he was my real boyfriend and that we were just spending a night in, like any other normal couple. As I stared at him, I knew that he was it. He was the one. And I wasn’t sure, no matter what Jane wanted us to plan, if I would ever see my happily ever after. I laughed to myself as I thought about the crazy story he had told me earlier about Angelica—what other man would think that acting out a story like that would make a good joke? None. Bec
ause it really wasn’t a good joke. It was an awful, awful story but it had showed me that he and I were a lot more alike than I would have ever imagined.
“There you are.” Harry turned towards me and smiled. “I was about to call 911, you were gone so long.”
“Sorry, I was just catching up with Jane.”
“Oh did she say if she will come?”
“Come where?” Jane walked into the room with some mini-quiches and nuts.
“Oh, I asked Sarah if she wants to come to the Caribbean this weekend with my family and I. We thought it might be nice if you came. We even have a nice guy for you to meet. And of course, the travel costs are on me. We’ll fly in my private jet and stay at a hotel I own.”
“You own a hotel in the Caribbean?” I looked at him impressed.
“I own hotels all over the world, Sarah. I’m a multi-billionaire with diversified interests. You should know that.” He laughed. “You did work for me.”
“I forgot,” I lied. “So are you down, Jane?” I looked at my grinning friend.
“Hello? Are you joking right now? I am sooo there. Just tell me how many days we are going for and more about the guy.”
“Yeah, how long will we be there?” I ask Harry, not that it really matters, Jane and I had nothing waiting for us when we got back.
“How long can you guys stay? I was thinking a week?”
“A week on a Caribbean island? Did I die and go to heaven?” Jane squealed and danced around the room. “This is so awesome.”
“I can see why you two are best friends.” Harry grinned at me as Jane danced across the room.
“Yeah. We’re both a bit kooky.” I laughed. “But Jane, I’m hungry. Please go and finish dinner.”
“Okies,” She giggled and ran to the kitchen.
“So I guess I’m going.” I went and sat down next to Harry. “This better be fun!”
“It’ll be great.” Harry put his arm around me. “I forgot to give you your check. Is it okay if I give it to you tomorrow?”
“Yeah, don’t worry about it.” I wanted to tell him that he didn’t have to bother giving me a check anymore. But let’s be real, I needed the money.
***
“So can I stay the night?” Harry whispered in my ear as Jane cleaned up the plates from the table.
“Oh? You want to stay?” I couldn’t keep the disappointment from my voice and Harry laughed.
“Well, I’ve never had someone sound quite so happy to hear me ask to stay before.”
“Oh no, it’s not that.” I looked to the ceiling. “It’s just that tonight is our night to, uhm, draw comics.”
“Draw comics?” Harry’s voice sounded disbelieving.
“Yeah, we like to create our own stories for the Archie Andrews characters.” I smiled at him. “So that we can make sure Archie ends up with Betty and not Veronica.”
“Uhm, ok?” He stood up. “I guess I’ll get going then.”
“Well, if you don’t mind.” I walked him towards the door. “I guess I’ll see you soon.”
“Wait, what?” Harry stopped at the front door and looked at me puzzled. “You’re being serious here? You want me to leave?”
“Not if you are too tired to go home, I guess.” I bit my lip. “I thought you would have been fed up with me by now.”
“I would have thought that as well.” He stared at me. “But I like spending time with you.”
“That’s cause I’m Shera.”
“Shera?”
“You know from He-Man.” I grinned and held my arm up. “I’ve got the power, to pick up a flower, it’ll take me an hour or two, HE-MAN.” I sang.
“Are you on drugs, Sarah?” He reached his hand up to my forehead.
“I’ve never done drugs,” I told him honestly. “I’d like to try weed though. I’ve a feeling it would be cool to get high.”
“Drugs aren’t cool, Sarah. Didn’t you go to school?” He leaned back against the door and smirked.
“Have you done drugs?”
“I plead the fifth.”
“So that’s a yes.”
“So shall I stay or shall I go?” He pulled me towards him and stared down at me.
“I thought we agreed you were going.”
“So you and Jane can draw Archie cartoons?”
“Comics!”
“So I’m leaving so you can draw comics?” He kissed my lips and played with my hair. I leaned into his kiss and closed my eyes, soaking in his essence. I pressed my lips against his harder and pretended that he wanted to stay because he couldn’t stand to be apart from me.
“You only want to stay for sex,” I whispered against his lips and he stopped kissing me.
“Is that what you think, Sarah?” His eyes looked searchingly into mine and I flinched back in embarrassment and nodded. “I don’t want to stay because I want to have sex with you.” He coughed. “Okay, that is not technically true. I do want to have sex with you tonight but that’s not the only reason I want to stay.”
“Why else do you want to stay?” I asked him softly, my voice hopeful.
“I don’t know.” He looked at me with a half-smile. “I’ve never wanted to stay with a woman before.”
“Maybe it’s because you want to draw comics.”
“Maybe.” He studied my face. “I should leave though.”
“Ok.” I let go of him disappointed.
“I have work to do.” He played with my fingers. “Contracts to read and deals to sign off on.”
“Good luck with that.” I smiled.
“Or I could stay.”
“Well,…”
“Oh my gosh, you two, please,” Jane shouted at us from the living room. “I can’t listen to you going on anymore. Stay or don’t stay, whatever. But decide soon. I want to watch a movie.”
Harry and I burst out laughing and he whispered into my ear, “I guess Archie is out.”
“Whatever.” I flounced back to the living room and smiled to myself as I heard Harry follow me. I was glad he was staying. The only reason I had wanted him to leave was so that I could talk to Jane and ask for her advice. But perhaps I could do that tomorrow instead when he left. What was a few hours? I sat down next to Jane and Harry stood by the couch awkwardly.
“So, I think I’m going to stay.”
“That’s fine.”
“Sarah.” Jane poked me. “I’m not trying to be a bitch guys but take the conversation to your room, please.”
“Jane.” I looked at her in shock.
“You know you want to.” She grinned at me and pushed me off the couch.
“I’ll get you,” I growled at her and grabbed Harry’s arm. “Come on then, have your wicked way with me.”
“I…what?” Harry grinned and me and followed me to my room.
“I can’t believe Jane just did that.”
“I can’t believe any of this.” Harry shook his head. “I feel like I’m in some alternate reality right now. I’ve never met a girl like you before.”
“That’s because one doesn’t exist.” I laughed and closed the door behind him.
“You’re really special, Sarah.”
“Special good or special bad.”
“I don’t know.” He looked at me strangely and all of a sudden, time seemed to stand still. We stood there staring at each other and I giggled nervously. “I’ve never met anyone like you before.”
“You told me that already.”
“You make me think that I can be whoever I want to be. Do whatever I want to do. Without you judging me.”
“You can do whatever you want to anyway.”
“You’d think so, right?”
“What can’t you do?”
“I can’t sing and dance around a room. I can’t go to watch a Disney movie at the theaters. I can’t make bad jokes about watching my girlfriend get hit by a bus.”
“You really shouldn’t tell bad jokes like that again, even if you are able to.” I stick my tongue out at him. “Are y
ou telling me you never had a childhood, Harry?”
