Three. I was going to count three orgasms, just in case they didn’t happen again.
“I—,” I tried again. Shit, why did this have to be so damn difficult. “I used to have this boyfriend, we grew up together and I guess we were a lot like you and your ex. You know, perfect couple, perfect first love, perfect everything.”
When I stopped, wanting to talk but not cry over another man, Alex waited patiently. His thick fingers with clipped nails gently intertwined around my long glossy black nails.
I could do this.
I had to do it eventually. Alone in my thoughts, but no longer alone in person, this man might just understand.
“Twelve months ago today, my fiancé broke up with me by text and I didn’t take it well. I bad mouthed him all over town, did some things I’m not proud of out of spite.” I looked to Alex for some sort of sign he understood, didn’t judge and didn’t want to know the details of my revenge.
Instead, silence and blank face.
“Nothing to say?” I asked.
“What do you want me to say, you’re naked in my tent talking about another man!” He squeezed my hand, “I figured the safest play is to shut the fuck up and listen.”
“We’d never been closer before he left to go deep sea fishing. I truly thought we would be together forever until he sent the text. A text! He couldn’t be bothered waiting until he got back home to dump me.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“That’s not the worse part, the next day his boat got into trouble and he dived in to try and fix it, but ended up drowning. He was trying to save his mates, drowned and I’m the bitch who was home bad mouthing him, telling anyone who’d listen that I wished he was dead. He was, but I didn’t know. I said all those terrible things about him, but he was already dead and I didn’t know.”
“I’m so sorry.” Alex squeezed my fingers to his lips. “Babe, I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t understand.” There was no hiding my bitterness. Even twelve months later, the rawness and unfairness of what he’d done and then what happened tore me apart. “One minute he loves me and never wants to live without me; and then the next he’s breaking up. Before I can see him to yell at or ask why, get some answers, he bloody well dies. I didn’t get to ask why, or say goodbye.”
“I’m so sorry.” This time he pulled me tightly to his chest until I felt the rapid beat of my heart against his calm.
“His family didn’t want me at the funeral because they were concerned I would take all of the attention away from their son. I wasn’t allowed to view his body I wasn’t allowed at the funeral I wasn’t allowed to do anything. I’d lost my fiancé and then I lost the man I loved. Nobody knew how to talk to me or how to listen.”
“Babe, I’m so sorry and when I tell you I understand, it’s only half the story. I understand being dumped when you don’t have a clue what you did wrong, and I understand having to try pick up the pieces when everyone’s looking at you.”
“I guess that’s why I left town. I did some things and said some awful shit that apparently was unforgivable because even when the bastard dumps you, nice girls don’t speak ill of the dead.” At least Alex chuckled at my black humor, knowing it came from pain.
“No wonder you are hard ass out on the football field, you had most of us scared.”
“Let’s call it repressed hurt or rage. At least playing footy kept me slightly sane.”
“You said this weekend was about you coming back to your family?”
“They were going to come to me, not wanting me to be alone, but like I said before, dad hasn’t been well and mum has a business to run. Normally, I slink into town to see them and then leave. I figured it was time to come back and show my face again. Everyone else has moved on with their life while I’ve still been in this holding pattern. Thinking that there’d be a sign or something would happen to either make everything alright or tell me why. Why wasn’t I good enough for him? I didn’t get a chance to be angry with him or get answers.”
“Oh, babe,” he smothered me in loving kisses. “Oh, babe, oh, babe.”
This time when we came together it wasn’t the physicality of sex that I’d been craving and he’d already given in spades. Each of Alex’ kisses penetrated more than my lips, etching deeper into my heart as we gave into each other.
I even dared to hope as he entered me for the second time, the ghosts of past loves lost all power over our future.
One perfect night of talking, napping and then making love again on repeat all night until no one knew me better than Alex. Not my ex, brother or friends.
We had a ridiculous number of things in common, from loving pineapple on pizza to Netflix binges; from an unhealthy obsession with Japanese anime to cycling. We even wanted the same things out of life.
“What do you miss the most about your ex?” I asked. Having shared all my secrets, I could afford to listen to Alex.
“The hope. I thought by the time she finished university, she’d realize how much she missed home. By then, I’d have finished the house and nothing would stop us from getting married and starting a family. When she took off, all the work seemed for nothing.”
“It’s been months.”
“Yeah, and if you listen to my mates, I should have dumped her ass when she first moved to Sydney, and I should be grateful she ended up being the bad guy. Makes me seem more sympathetic to women.”
“You think this was a pity fuck?” I laughed. “Oh, baby, you’ve got it all wrong.”
“No,” Alex answered in all seriousness. “I think it started off as two people who’d wondered more than once, what if, thought why not. Only we got more than we bargained for.”
“Like?”
“Like, this isn’t a one-night or one-weekend thing. Not for me, and I don’t think for you either.”
“Alex?” I asked, so tired. Twelve months of feeling guilty, angry and hurt had been exhausting.
“Yeah?”
“Can you hold me while I sleep?” I didn’t ask for him to be there in the morning, knowing he would.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
One night with one perfect man. No one else could have given me a better welcome back to the world.
Alex
Waking with a beautiful woman to my right, and sounds of birds welcoming in the day while the surf crashed on the beach behind us.
Could my life be any more perfect in this minute?
Well, if my tent came with a coffee machine, that would work.
I gently extracted my limbs from Simone, rolling her onto her side. If we were going to do this again—what with the if I quickly chided—before we did this again, I’d go into town and grab a large throw. My single sleeping bag barely covered us and I’d spent half the night awake making sure I didn’t accidently take it all for myself.
Coffee.
Nectar of the gods.
Screw oil and gold, wars could easily be justified based on little black beans.
I kissed my sleeping princess who didn’t even grace me with a groan, before reclaiming my shorts from the edge of the tent and giving up on finding my second shoe. There had to be an old pair of flip flop style thongs in my ute.
With a momentary look of longing at my surfboard, I half jogged through the caravan park to the main street. Handfuls of people walking towards me with dogs, prams or hand in hand. A typical morning routine with one important common denominator—they all carried coffee cups. I might not be the smartest tool in the shed, but I followed the signs until finding the source of the happy smiles. Out of the three coffee shops, only one had a line out the door.
Wait for what the locals had proclaimed the winning coffee, or take a risk and delay my return?
I stood, filled with indecision. Life shouldn’t be this complicated.
“Hope it was worth the wait,” a young couple said as they brushed past me.
Okay, decision made.
The doorbell rang and the barista seemed surpris
ed to see a customer. Shit.
“Hi, I’ll grab two coffees to go.”
“How do you want them? Cappuccino? Flat white?”
“Shit.” I grimaced, deciding honesty would be my greatest reward. “This is slightly awkward, but I don’t know how she has her coffee.”
“What if she hates the stuff?”
“Then we have no future, but on the off chance she likes coffee, can I work with you to make sure our one-night stand lasts longer than last night?”
“Sure.”
He looked at me as if I was a fool, but within ten minutes, I’d not only helped him adjust the grind so the pour was smooth and lacked the bitterness of his regular cup, but I walked out with my regular long black, plus a second long black for Simone and three cups of steamed milk for her to add as she wished.
“Seriously, is she worth this much trouble?”
“Actually, can I have two of your curry pies and two plain?” I knew she wasn’t a vegetarian, and the smell of freshly baked pies was too good to resist.
“Cup of frothed skim milk, cup of frothed full cream, cup of frothed almond milk, two long blacks and four pies. This is seriously the most wacked order I’ve had.”
“How much do I owe you?” I handed over the credit card, not flinching at the amount.
“On your way out, why don’t you grab a bag of the vegemite scrolls or the pesto pull-aparts. My thanks for helping me work out the coffee machine.”
“No probs.”
I couldn’t jog with the coffees, but Simone was only starting to wake by the time I returned.
“Mmmm, coffee. Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Not without coffee, I can’t. Morning, princess.”
I waited until she tied her tangled hair into a messy ponytail before handing her one of the long black coffees.
“How’d you know what I like?”
“Easy. I’ve got frothed full cream, skim and almond milk. Take your pick and I’ll make you a flat white or cappuccino.”
“You went to all that effort, for me?”
“Babe, just don’t tell me you hate coffee or have soy!” I laughed hoping neither was a deal breaker.
“What’s in the other bag?” Simone looked at me suspiciously.
“Plain pies and curry pies.”
“From Simon’s Bakery?”
“Yep.”
“The coffee, too?”
“Is that a problem?”
“His pies are the best but his coffee, meh.”
“Try it, unless you hate coffee—and why haven’t you answered me about that?”
“Because I love good coffee but bad coffee makes me sad.”
“How do you like it?”
“Long black. Which is why I’m so picky. You can’t hide a bad coffee with the milk.”
I knew the coffee was good, it had all been in the grind. Would Simone admit it?
“Mine is fine, try it. Perhaps Simon has changed things up.”
“Doubt it. Many have tried to help him,” Simone screwed up her pretty face before taking the first sip. “Luckily, I need the caffeine more than I need a decent coffee.”
I waited, trying to keep my face bland.
Waiting.
“Oh, that’s so good!” Simone almost screamed. “He never does coffee like that!”
“I passed the test?”
“What test? Getting me coffee, hell yes.”
“Simon made it.”
“How?”
“I showed him how to adjust the grind. He knew I was making coffees to bring back to my one-night stand and was willing to—”
“Your what?” Simone grabbed one of the cups of milk and threatened to throw it at me.
“My one-night stand that I assured him I wanted to extend.”
“Two nights?”
“For a start.”
Simone tossed the cup of milk aside, pulling me in for a coffee flavoured kiss. “Does Alex only come out to play at night, or can I encourage a day-time performance as well.”
“Oh, babe, you can perform with me all day and every day if you keep kissing me like that.”
“Keep me supplied in great coffee and you don’t know what I’ll do.”
“Plain or curry?” I switched subjects, offering her the bag.
“Pies for breakfast?”
“Why not, breakfast of kings, food of champions.”
“A bit of a change from my normal breakie.”
“Which is?”
“Nothing. I usually get up late, smash down a coffee before my shower, and another coffee before I rush out the door. No time for food.”
“Well, my darling princess, we have all day to feed you.” I smirked, “After all, you’ll need your energy.”
“Why?” Simone looked over to the tent. Somehow it didn’t seem big enough or private enough for day-time dalliance.
“Bike ride. I figured we could hire a couple of bikes and see the sights.”
“Really? What about surfing?”
“Sick of me already?” I teased, finishing my coffee.
Apparently, daylight had done nothing to inhibit my sexy princess. And as for privacy, it was overrated, in any case, my fist had her teeth marks and I bit down on her panties to stifle any screams.
“That was—” Simone panted as she joined me at the top of the lookout, “Fun.”
“Fun?” My own lungs were crying out for oxygen, but my pride wouldn’t let me show my pain.
“You set a good pace.” Her body was glistening with sweat, my spare t-shirt glued to her body. Fuck, she was gorgeous. Even though we’d grabbed her bag from her car, she refused to hand back my shirt and to be honest, it had never looked better.
“It’s been a while.” Simone dropped to the grass next to me. “This is perfect, looking at a gorgeous woman, or a stunning view.”
“The view is stunning but not me?” She teased, flicking my neck. “Then I guess my choices are a hot guy or breathtaking view.”
“Keep talking like that and I’ll take your breath away.”
“Promises, promises.”
Salty, sweaty kisses. I no longer gave a damn about the view. Fisting Simone’s hair and twisting her head until I could cover her neck in kisses. Resisting the urge to leave my mark where she would see it for days to come.
I wanted her to remember us long after she went home.
“Okay, the guy and the view are breathtaking.” She leaned back on her elbows, legs crossing mine.
“You are perfect.” I said simply. “Smart, funny, sexy as all shit, and beautiful on the inside.”
Realizing my gushing had been too much and too soon, I tried to laugh away, “Then again, you won me over with your cut-out passes on the football field.”
“Really? I thought it was because no guy could catch me when I made a break.”
“As long as I’m the only guy who can catch you off the field.”
Okay, my trust issues were a little raw. But they would come, along with my self-confidence again.
“Did you cycle with her?” Simone asked. “I mean, if you don’t want to talk—”
“No, it’s fine,” I assured her. “Our exes are a massive part of our baggage and we need to be able to talk about them.”
“Not all the time.”
“Fair call, and not in bed,” I said without thinking. “Shit, I didn’t mean—”
“Yesterday was a once off. I didn’t mean for last night to happen, with anyone. I wanted to drink, be numb and maybe reconnect with some old friends.”
“Does that mean you don’t want a repeat? We should just ride back down, hand over the bikes and that’s it?”
No! Not possible.
Ignoring the growing crowd of sight-seers, Simone pushed me to the ground. Not quite straddling me, but her intentions were clear. “If I didn’t want you last night, I’d have found another pub instead of watching you play Garry. If I didn’t want you last night, I would have gone back to my parents with Eddie.”
I waited. This started over how we were going to deal with our respective baggage, but had suddenly become more.
“Last night, you wanted me to talk and I couldn’t. Not until after we’d been, you know.”
“Simone, babe, last night meant something. I haven’t been with another woman except my ex. I wanted to come to town, cut loose and fuck anyone I wanted. Then you turned up and my plans changed.”
“Oh, you can fuck anyone you want.” Simone smirked. “As long as the only woman you want, is me.”
Each time we kissed, it was as if another layer had been peeled away. I couldn’t remember being this honest with anyone. I certainly hadn’t expected to feel this raw and vulnerable with another woman again.
“About cycling, the answer is yes. We used to cycle each Sunday. There’s some great rides back home. We’d start early and end up at a café for breakfast.”
“Oh.”
“Did you and your ex?”
“Cycle? Sometimes. He was more a runner.”
We sat in silence. I didn’t want Simone to think hiring the bikes was about replacing my past. She was more than a rebound and far more than a Girlfriend 2.0.
“This is hard,” she moaned, lying back with her hands crossed above her head. “So messed up.”
“Moving on or starting again?”
“Both. I’ve spent the last year trying not to be angry or feel guilty. I never really allowed all the pain of him breaking up with me to flow through.”
“I know what you mean. I was so angry that she wanted to leave for university. Part of me thought she was running away from me, but didn’t have the guts to break up with me.”
“And now?”
“We were perfect together, for a brief moment in time. Two childhood friends who ended up being each other’s first loves, but not a forever kind of love. Yes, we had a lot in common, but we didn’t want the same things out of life.”
“How can you be so, calm about it?” Simone rolled towards me. “It only just happened.”
“But it didn’t just happen. Yes, breaking up with me was the final nail in our coffin, but the moment she applied for Sydney University, we were on borrowed time. She knew it, I tried to ignore it.”
“And now?”
Have you met Alex: friends to lovers romance Page 6
