What Comes After

by Toppen, Melissa

  Again, this is where a peephole would come in handy. But Henna doesn’t care, she tears the door open without a moment’s hesitation.

  “Well, well, well,” I hear her say as I turn, my eyes honing in on the man standing in the doorway.

  “Abel?” I say, my voice coming out as shocked as I feel.

  “Hey.” He rocks back on his heels. “I thought maybe I’d see if you still wanted me to take you to the airport.”

  “I thought you had to work last night?” That’s the reason he gave me when he said he couldn’t take me. Why we had our physical goodbye before his gig.

  “I did. But when I went home afterward I couldn’t sleep. And since I couldn’t sleep and you need a ride, I thought why not.” He shrugs.

  “So you’re taking her to the airport?” Henna steps back, allowing Abel to enter the apartment.

  “If that’s okay.” He looks at me and I immediately nod.

  It’s okay. More than okay, actually.

  “If it means I can go back to bed, I’m all for it,” Henna interjects.

  “You can go back to bed,” he tells her.

  “Praise the gods.” She lifts her arms up and sways them in the air.

  “Gee, thanks.” I shake my head at her.

  “No offense. I love you and all. But this is way to freaking early for me to be awake.” She takes a step toward me. “You’ll call me as soon as you land in New York.”

  “I will.”

  “Have a fun trip and be safe.” She gives me a tight hug.

  “I will.”

  “Thanks, Abel. You have no idea how much I love you right now.” She steps back, her gaze going to the man behind me.

  “I do what I can.” He chuckles.

  “Well, we should really get going. I have to be at the airport in less than thirty minutes.” I turn toward Abel.

  “Here.” He leans down and grabs the handle of my suitcase. “I’ll take this down and meet you at the car.”

  “Okay, thank you. I’ll just be a second,” I say, watching him pull open the front door and disappear outside moments later.

  “Eeeek.” Henna makes a squealing noise the instant the door snaps closed.

  “What?” I hit her with a questioning look.

  “Are you really that blind or are you purposely trying to avoid all the signs?”

  “What signs?”

  “Girl, that man is head over heels.”

  “No he isn’t,” I disagree.

  “He shows up at your house at four o’clock in the morning to drive you to the airport even though you already had a ride.”

  “Yeah, because he’s a nice guy, and because he couldn’t sleep.”

  “Sure he couldn’t.” She rolls her eyes. “Or maybe he’s going to miss you and wanted to see you for a few minutes before you leave.”

  “Not likely.”

  “You’re so stubborn. You can’t even admit to something when it’s staring you right in the face.”

  “On that note.” I sling my purse over my shoulder. “I’m leaving.”

  “Okay.” She smiles and throws me a little wave. “Love you,” she calls after me as I reach the door.

  “Love you too,” I call back, throwing her one last look before exiting the apartment.

  When I reach Abel’s car, he’s already inside. Slipping into the passenger seat, I lay my purse on the floorboard before snapping my seatbelt in place.

  “Thank you again for this,” I tell him, knotting my hands nervously in my lap. Why I’m nervous is beyond me. Maybe it’s the flight. I’ve never been a huge flyer. Or maybe it’s because I wasn’t mentally prepared to see Abel this morning and the soaring feeling in my chest is harder to control than normal.

  “It’s my pleasure,” he tells me, starting the car before backing out of his parking space.

  The drive to the airport is quiet. Abel hums along to the music that’s playing softly from the speakers, while I stare out the window and watch the sleeping city of Chicago pass by.

  I’ve always loved being up and out while the rest of the world sleeps. It makes me feel a little less small.

  “So you’re flying back on Monday, right?” Abel breaks the silence as he pulls into the airport.

  “Yes. I think my flight gets in around noon.”

  “Do you want me to pick you up?” he asks.

  “If you want to.” I try to sound indifferent.

  “I do.”

  “Okay. I can text you the exact time once I get to the hotel and have a chance to look at my return flight details.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “You know, you don’t have to walk me in,” I say as he drives past the drop off area into the parking lot.

  “I know. I want to.”

  “Okay.” I have to fight the ridiculous smile that’s threatening to split my face apart. He finds a spot relatively close and throws the car in park before killing the engine. By the time I get out of the car, Abel already has my suitcase out of the trunk and is waiting for me.

  Grabbing the suitcase handle with one hand, he reaches out with the other, sliding his fingers around mine before leading me toward the airport.

  As we approach the doors, a wave of anxiety washes over me and I instantly want to ask him to take me back home.

  “You seem nervous,” he observes, guiding me inside.

  “I am nervous.”

  “You’ll be fine,” he reassures me, squeezing my hand.

  “I’m a nervous flyer. I’ll be okay once I’m in the air.”

  “Peyton.” My attention is drawn behind me when I hear my name being called. I turn just in time to see John speed walking toward me. “Hey.” He smiles when he reaches me. “You made it.” His eyes slide to Abel and I don’t miss the way his brow furrows.

  “I did.” I pull his gaze back to me.

  Abel shifts next to me.

  “Abel, this is my boss, John. John, this is Abel...”

  “Her boyfriend,” Abel interrupts me, releasing my suitcase to extend his hand to John.

  I watch the interaction with wide eyes, still trying to decide if I actually heard him right. Did he just introduce himself as my boyfriend?

  “Nice to meet you, Abel.” John shakes Abel’s hand, his gaze once again falling to me. “I didn’t realize Peyton was seeing anyone.”

  “It’s still new,” I explain. Not that I really owe him an explanation. But Abel’s little announcement has me feeling a bit off kilter.

  “I see.” John nods. “Well, it was nice to meet you, Abel.” He looks between the two of us, his eyes eventually settling on me. “We should probably get going,” he tells me.

  “Yeah, okay.” I shift, turning toward Abel. “Thanks again for the ride.”

  “I’ll pick you up on Monday,” he tells me, grabbing my forearm before tugging me toward him. His arms wrap around me, securing me in a tight cocoon that I never want to leave.

  I inhale his scent, knowing how much I’m going to miss it while I’m gone. How much I’m going to miss him. And while I know I will only be out of town for four days, four days without Abel feels like an eternity.

  Abel pulls back slightly and tips my chin up, laying a light kiss to my mouth right in front of my boss.

  “Call me when you land.” He kisses me again.

  “I will,” I promise, feeling all sorts of flustered when he releases me and takes a full step back.

  “You ready?” John steps up next to me.

  “Ready.” I reach for my suitcase, throwing Abel a smile and a small wave as I turn and follow John toward security.

  ——

  “So, a new boyfriend, huh?” John gives me a sideways glance as we sit next to each other at the hotel bar, enjoying an evening cocktail.

  We arrived in New York early this morning and spent a good portion of the day exploring. Diego, John’s partner of sorts, has been here several times and proved to be a rather handy tour guide to have around. And while I enjoyed my first day in the Big A
pple, I haven’t been able to shake Abel from my thoughts.

  Him showing up at my house unannounced to take me to the airport. The way he introduced himself as my boyfriend. How he kissed me in the middle of the airport lobby without a care in the world who saw. It got the wheels turning and ever since then I haven’t been able to get them to stop.

  “Yeah.” I smile, the thought of Abel as my boyfriend making it impossible not to.

  For all I know, he just said that for show. We haven’t actually discussed what we are beyond that first night when we agreed to keep things casual. And even though I know I should ask Abel about it, I’m not ready to come off of this high I’m feeling just yet.

  “When did that happen?” John asks, taking a sip of his scotch and water.

  “Like four weeks ago.”

  “Four weeks and you haven’t told me?” He draws back playfully, his palm flattened against his chest.

  “We’ve been keeping it low key.” I shrug.

  “Well, it didn’t seem that way this morning when he practically pissed all over your leg.”

  “What?” I bark out a laugh.

  “I’m just saying, I know when a man is marking his territory and he was marking you good.”

  “He was not.”

  “Oh yes, he most definitely was.”

  “Why would he feel the need to do that with my boss, though?” I wonder aloud.

  “Because I’m a man,” he states the obvious.

  “But you’re my boss.”

  “And, you think they’re aren’t bosses out there that hook up with their employees?” He gives me a look that says I should know better.

  “But you’re not that kind of boss,” I point out.

  “No, but he doesn’t know that now, does he? Besides,” he takes a long drink, setting the glass back on the bar in front of him. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted.”

  “Tempted?” I question, my eyes making a quick pass around the room in search of Diego. He stepped out to make a phone call and has been gone for quite some time. While I adore John as a boss, I’m starting to feel this conversation might be going somewhere I don’t want it to and I could really use a buffer.

  “You’re beautiful, Peyton. You know you are.”

  “John.” I raise my hand to stop him.

  “I’m not hitting on you,” he promises. “As much as I wish I could be that kind of boss, I’m just not. I didn’t get to where I am by mixing business and pleasure.”

  Thank goodness for that. I release the breath I was holding.

  “But I will say this. He’s one lucky guy. I just hope he realizes it.”

  “Me too,” I mutter under my breath as I lift the wine glass to my lips and empty the remainder of the contents into my mouth.

  “There you are,” John says, his eyes moving to somewhere behind me. I turn to see Diego reclaim the seat to my left.

  “Sorry, Natasha was having trouble getting Em down so I had to read her a story.”

  “Aww, that’s so sweet.” I smile at him. “How old is she now, three?”

  “Yep. As beautiful as her mama and as crazy as her pops.” He chuckles.

  “Sounds like you could use another drink.” John signals the bartender for another round.

  “None for me. I think I’m going to call it a night. Waking up at three this morning has me dragging.” I slide out of my stool, grabbing my purse from the bar. “What’s the game plan for tomorrow? I know we have a luncheon.”

  “Yeah, meet me in the lobby at eleven.”

  “Okay.” I nod to him and then to Diego. “You two have fun,” I tell them. “And don’t drink too much.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Peyton

  Abel: Is it Monday yet?

  I smile at the text message Abel sent a couple of hours ago. He’s playing tonight so he must have sent it between sets.

  Honestly, I feel the same way. While I’ve enjoyed my time in New York, the city really is something to be seen, and I’ve met some amazing people over the course of the last three days, I’m so ready to be home I can barely stand it.

  Me: Almost.

  I type out a quick response, then drop my cell phone onto the bed as I get ready to jump in the shower. We have to be at the airport tomorrow by eight in the morning, so I want to have as much done as possible tonight so that the morning goes off without a hitch.

  When my phone signals an incoming message I’m a little surprised. I didn’t expect Abel to text me back right away.

  Only when I grab my phone it’s not Abel’s name I see, but Sam’s.

  Sam: You’re dating Abel!?!

  My stomach lurches and before I can think of one single thing to say, another message comes through.

  Sam: Aaron just told Andrew. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.

  My fingers hover over the keypad for a long moment before I finally start to type a response.

  Me: We aren’t dating. We’re just hanging out. And I haven’t told you because it’s not anything serious.

  I watch the dots bounce across the screen as she types her reply.

  Sam: That’s not what Aaron said.

  Me: What exactly did Aaron say?

  Sam: That you two spend practically every night together.

  While that’s a bit of an overstatement, considering Abel plays three or four nights a week, it’s not completely untrue. We do pretty much spend all of our free time together.

  Me: We don’t. But even if we did, that’s none of Aaron’s business.

  I pull up a separate message and immediately text Henna.

  Me: You told Aaron?

  I switch back to my conversation with Sam right as another message comes through.

  Sam: I’m just saying, I can’t believe I didn’t hear it from you.

  Me: I’m sorry I didn’t say anything. You were on your honeymoon when it all began and I haven’t really seen you since you’ve been back.

  I give an excuse I hope will be enough to pacify her.

  Meanwhile, Henna messages me back and I switch out of Sam’s message into Henna’s.

  Henna: He swore he wouldn’t say anything.

  Me: Well, apparently he told Andrew and now Sam is blowing me up wanting to know why I haven’t told her.

  Henna: Shit. I’m so sorry. I’m calling him right now.

  I switch back to Sam’s message.

  Me: We should plan dinner next week and I’ll fill you in.

  Sam: Fine, but I’m still mad at you.

  I shake my head, firing off another response.

  Me: Yeah. Yeah. Love you.

  Sam: Love you too.

  I drop my phone, running my hands through my hair. Freaking Henna. I knew she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Especially when she’s dating the brother of the man I’m currently hooking up with.

  My mind wanders to Abel and a nervous knot forms in the pit of my stomach. Does he know that Aaron knows? That now Sam and Andrew know too?

  I consider sending him a message but decide against it. If he doesn’t know yet, I certainly don’t want to be the one to tell him.

  Then again, I can’t really see him caring that much. At least I hope he won’t. After all, he did introduce himself as my boyfriend to my boss of all people.

  In a way I think maybe John was right. Maybe him doing that was a show of claim so that John wouldn’t try anything with me on our trip. Not that he would have, anyway. He’s proven to me over and over again that he’s not that kind of guy.

  But if Abel felt compelled to do that than obviously he cares enough to not want me hooking up with other guys. It’s not something we ever discussed. I guess I just never saw a need for it. I just assumed...

  Another thought hits me with force, nearly knocking me off balance. What if he’s hooking up with other girls? What if he has been this whole time?

  “Stop being stupid, Peyton,” I say aloud as I gather my toiletries. When would he even have time to hook up with someone else if he wanted
to? Every night he’s either with me or he’s working. So unless he’s hopping around doing daytime bootie calls, I can’t see this being a thing.

  My phone pings again right as I enter the bathroom. Dropping my shampoo and body wash on the vanity, I head back toward the bed to grab it.

  A rush of warmth spreads through me at the message staring back at me.

  Abel: I miss you.

  I clutch the phone to my chest, letting the happiness I feel spread over me like a warm blanket on a cold night.

  He misses me...

  I let out the most girly squeal. The kind you reserve for when you’re alone and there’s no one around to judge you. The sound echoes off the walls back to me and it only makes me smile wider.

  I can’t help it. That’s what Abel does to me. He takes me from uneasy and questioning everything, to so insanely happy I can barely contain myself, all in the matter of one sentence.

  I miss you.

  It’s such a small thing, missing someone. But to me it feels enormous. It feels like the clouds have parted and the skies are opening up, showing me a clear path to the man I now know I am undeniably in love with.

  Me: I miss you too.

  I have to resist the urge to type out an additional message professing my love for him right here and now.

  It feels too soon, feeling about him the way I do. And yet it feels like I’ve loved him my entire life, if that makes any sense.

  I’ve always been a “think with my head and not my heart” kind of girl. I weigh the options. Not just with how I feel, but with the logistics of making an actual relationship work long term with said person.

  But with Abel it’s different. With Abel I care more about just being with him. Maybe that’s how it should be. Maybe that’s why I haven’t had much success in the relationship department.

  All I know is that every single thing I’ve taught myself over the years – the dos and don’ts when it comes to men – all of it went out the window the instant Abel kissed me.

  I knew he’d ruin me and I kissed him back anyway. I knew he’d consume me and yet I’m the one who begged him not to stop. And I know he’ll break me, and yet here I am, running full force into the storm to feel the wind on my face.

  Maybe that makes me crazy, or maybe it means that for the first time maybe ever, I’m actually living.