by Lexi Wilson
“Miss Capal, this picture says it was taken by Brett Capal. Do you know him?”
I glanced down at the textbook, and I felt a swell of pride. There was the picture from 2008 democratic national convention that catapulted Brett’s career. I remembered that moment; I was there in the crowd and seeing the picture again made my skin break out in goosebumps recalling not only the charismatic man that would end up as president four years later, but also Brett’s excitement at the time seeing one of his images on the front page of the paper. The picture brought me back to that moment and the sense of pride I felt built.
“That’s my husband,” I told the class proudly. “He took that picture and so many others, capturing the things going on in not just our country, but the world, at its best and its worst.”
There was a sense of awe and wonder that passed through the classroom as the kids murmured to each other. I put aside our lesson for a moment and pulled up Brett’s private online portfolio on my smart board and showed the students some of the tamer photos he had taken. They were impressed, or at least as impressed as fourth graders get, and as they packed up for the end of the day, I felt lighter than I had in a long time.
At the end of the school day, I headed out to the front of the school to assist with the car riders getting picked up. A different teacher helped Hannah to Brett’s car, but I smiled and waved at him as he pulled up and he waved in return. I watched them leave, and a pit of sadness settled over me. I managed to get through the rest of the car ride line before I was able to disappear back to my classroom. I had lessons plans that needed to be worked on, so I threw myself into those to get my mind off of anything else.
An hour and a half after school let out for the day, I looked up at the sound of a knock at my door and found Matthew leaning in the doorway. “What are you doing here so late?” he asked.
“Just trying to catch up,” I answered.
“Catch up or keep busy?”
I sighed. “Both.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“I’m just not sure what I’m doing anymore.”
He nodded. “Pack up your stuff, let’s go grab some dinner and hang out. I think there’s a RuPaul’s Drag Race marathon on tv we can watch so we don’t even have to talk about what’s on your mind if you don’t want to. But if you do, I’m happy to listen.”
I smiled. “That actually sounds really great. Thanks for being such a good friend, Matt.”
“You’d do the same for me. Now, what do you feel like eating tonight?”
“Italian?”
“Mmmm, that sounds fantastic.”
“I just need to get my stuff packed up.”
“Take your time. I’ll call an order into that little place near your house, and we can pick it up on the way to your place. Meet you back here in five.”
“Perfect.”
Matthew and I stuffed ourselves on bruschetta, ravioli, fettuccine alfredo, and chicken parmesan laid out on my coffee table as we sat on the floor leaning against the couch with pillows. We watched tv and talked about church and the upcoming children's choir concert, as well as about our students and the lessons we were currently teaching.
“I called Brett my husband today,” I admitted to Matthew.
His eyes went wide with shock. “You what? When?”
“During our social studies lesson in class today, the kids were following in the textbooks and there was a picture Brett took. One of the kids noticed that our last names were the same and asked if I knew him. I told them that I did, that he was my husband and then instead of teaching the rest of my planned lesson, I looked up some of Brett’s other photographs to show them.”
“Ev, that’s kind of a big deal.”
“I have no idea why I called him my husband.”
“I do. It's because you still love him. Evie, please tell me that you’ve seen how he’s changed since he got back.”
“I do.”
“You believe him when he says he isn’t leaving?”
“Yes.”
“What’s in your heart?”
“A lot of feelings that I haven’t sorted out.”
“What is there to sort out? He loves you.”
“It’s not that easy, Matthew.”
“It’s only as hard as you make it.”
“That’s easy to say, but trust me, it feels a lot more complicated than that.”
“It doesn't have to be though. He wants to move forward; he’s told you that.”
“I know, and I think he’s forgiven what has happened in the past, but I don’t know if I can forgive myself. I’m seeing the part I played more clearly, and as much as I tried to put all of the blame for our divorce on him, I’m just as at fault for the missteps in our relationship as Brett.”
“The only thing that matters is whether you want to go forward with him, and if you do, then you need to tell him that. Healing your heart will come once you do that.”
Chapter 33
Brett
It was a little after ten Wednesday evening, and I was working on some papers for my new job. My start date had been moved up, and I was fast-tracked to start right before the end of the current semester, so I was getting myself up to speed on the current lessons of the classes I would be taking over and preparing my mind for the new career path. I had picked Hannah up from school; we had done her homework, had dinner, and gone to choir practice. I had been surprised that Evie wasn’t there, and I tried texting her, but my message went unanswered. I was worried but couldn't think much about it during practice while trying to ward off both Monica and Melissa’s attempts at catching my attention. I really needed some way to make it clear to those two women that I was not available since telling them that didn’t seem to have any effect on them.
After practice, I deliberately drove out of my way to check on Evie since I still hadn’t heard from her. As I had approached her house though, I saw Matthew’s car in her driveway and kept driving instead and headed for my house. If something was wrong, she or Matthew would have called me, so I figured they were having girl time and left it be.
Hannah was asleep in her bedroom, and the only sound in my small house was the hum of the refrigerator and the clicking of the keys on my laptop keyboard. A soft knock at the door grabbed my attention, and I sat back, thinking I must have imagined it when my eyes fall on the clock on the wall. 10:13. It was too late for there to be someone stopping by for a visit. I started to go back to my laptop when another knock interrupted me.
I crossed the room and pulled open the front door to find Evie on the other side. There was a look of uncertainty on her face, and she was wringing her hands in front of her. “Evie?” I said in surprise.
“Hey,” she replied quietly.
“Are you okay?” She nodded, but I saw tears form in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
It took a minute before she answered and even then, it was barely a whisper. “The house was lonely. I hate being alone.”
I didn't say anything. Instead, I stepped forward and enveloped her in a hug and her arms wrapped around me, clinging to me. “Come on, let’s sit and talk,” I told her, taking her hand and leading her around to a couple patio chairs. I left the front door open so if Hannah called out we could hear her, but I knew she was a heavy sleeper and probably wouldn’t wake up.
There was a gas fireplace outside, so I turned it on as Evie moved her chair closer. I grabbed a second chair and positioned myself in front of her, reaching forward to place my hands on her knees. I didn’t want to push her, but I was also dying to know why she showed up at my house so late. There was more to it than being lonely.
“When do you start your new job?” she finally asked, breaking our silence.
“Next week actually. I wasn’t supposed to be starting until the summer semester, but the professor I’m replacing has decided to retire now. I guess his wife is sick and he wants to spend his time with her.”
“She must be pretty sick for him to do that.”
/> I nodded. “Cancer.”
“How sad. Are you just teaching photography?”
“No, photojournalism. I’m really excited. When the school knew they were going to need to hire someone, they wanted someone younger and newer.”
“I guess it’s a good thing you got that teaching certificate, huh?” she teased me.
I chuckled. “The only reason I went to those classes was because you were in them and I didn’t want anyone else getting ideas about you. You were so pretty, and guys fell all over themselves to try and flirt with you. I couldn’t risk you figuring out you could do better.”
“There’s never been anyone better for me than you, Brett.”
“Do you remember during senior year that guy that lived next door to you in the apartments?”
“Ben?”
“Yeah, that’s him.”
“You hated him.”
“Because he was constantly hitting on you.”
“He never hit on me.”
“Evie, the guy worshipped you. How do you not know that?”
“I think you read more into a person just being neighborly.”
“We were twenty-two-year-old horny dudes. Trust me; he was never just being neighborly. He wanted in your pants.”
“What about that girl your sophomore year from your math class that was in your study group?”
I laughed. “Oh yeah, she was something.”
“Yeah, something alright,” Evie frowned.
“Aww, are you still jealous, Evie?”
“No!”
“I was so jealous of Matthew when I got home, thinking you and him were together. I hated him instantly.”
“Well now you know there’s nothing to be jealous of. In fact, I bet you two would be good friends if you got to know each other.”
“I’m sure you’re right. Doesn’t change the fact that I thought he was the guy who had gotten my wife pregnant and I alternately wanted to kill him and trade places with him desperately.”
“It’s getting late,” she said abruptly. “I should go.”
“Or we can have some tea,” I offered. “I have the black tea you like from Istanbul.”
“Okay, one cup,” she relented.
“Be back in a few minutes. You just sit back and relax.”
She nodded, and I stood up, heading inside. After I started the water to boil, I peaked in on Hannah, who was still fast asleep, before going back to the kitchen. I fixed two mugs of tea for us and brought them back outside. Evie had her head leaned back and her eyes closed but as she heard me approach she opened her eyes to look up at me and accepted the mug of tea with a smile.
“Thank you,” she told me.
“You’re welcome.”
We sipped our tea in silence, and after a few minutes I set my mug aside and scooted back chair back just enough from her to lift one of her feet into my lap and begin to rub it. She let out a contented little sigh.
“I called you my husband today,” she blurted out.
Her admission gave me pause, and I met her eye with surprise. “Who did you tell that to?”
“My students. One of your pictures is in their textbook.”
“Except it’s not true.”
“I know,” she said sadly, looking away from me.
I set her foot down and slid my chair right in front of hers. “Unless you want it to be.”
She looked back at me, and we stared at each other for a long moment before slowly, as if she’s unsure of herself, Evie leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine.
Chapter 34
Evie
“Unless you want it to be.”
Brett’s words were ringing in my head as we stared at each other. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t know what to say because my head was warring with my heart and I knew I wanted to follow my heart. I didn’t need words for what I wanted to say, not that I could have found them at that moment anyway. I leaned forward and kissed him.
As soon as my lips met his, Brett was kissing me back with passion.
“Brett,” I murmured against his lips.
“Yeah, Evie?” he replied as his lips slid from my mouth to my neck, nibbling a path that made me shiver.
“Should we really be doing this in your parents’ backyard?”
“We’re just kissing.” As he said the words, his hands slid up my thigh and pushed my knees apart. I was wearing a dress and leggings, and his hand slid to the waist of my leggings and tugged. I lifted my hips from the chair so he could pull them down my thighs, and his hand slipped up again, and his fingers brushed the front of my panties. I gasped at the contact, which quickly turned into a soft moan as he teased me.
My lips sought his as he pushed my panties to the side and stroked my heated flesh. “Oh my god,” I whispered as he pushed a finger inside me. “Brett,” I begged.
He only smirked in reply as he pressed his thumb against my clit, circling the nub with firm strokes. “You’re so wet already, baby.”
“I think these panties are ruined.”
His finger slid out of me, and I missed the pleasure, so I whined out loud. “Shhh,” he admonished me quietly with a teasing smile. “My parents might hear you.”
I blushed as Brett pushed my dress up higher on my thighs. “Do you want me to make you come, Evie?” he asked.
“Yes, please.”
“Stand up,” he demanded.
I nodded dumbly as Brett helped me to my feet. I stood there and watched him as he moved my chair so that it faced away from his parents’ house and turned it more towards the pool house. He sat down and motioned me closer, patting his lap.
Brett spread his legs, and I stepped between them, bending down to kiss him. I felt his kiss everywhere as my body felt like it was on fire. He pulled my leggings down to my knees and then my panties before putting a hand on my hip and nudging me so that I turned, facing away from him.
Brett pulled me down into his lap, and I could feel his erection pressing into my backside. I leaned my head back onto his shoulder, and he kissed my neck as he pushed my dress to my waist and pushed two fingers inside me.
I bit my lip to keep from groaning out loud as Brett's fingers plunged inside me. With his other hand, he played with my clit, working me up to the edge before taking his hand away. I squirmed in his lap, panting for him, whispering his name as I begged for my release. Finally, he curled his fingers inside me and hit my g-spot at the same moment he rubbed my clit, and I exploded.
My vision exploded with stars, and I bit my lip so hard to keep from calling out his name that I tasted my own blood. When Brett slid his fingers out of me, he lifted them to his mouth and licked them clean, all while I watched in an orgasmic stupor.
“I want you so bad, Evie,” he whispered close to my ear.
“I want you too. Let’s go inside.”
He helped me up, and I was wobbly on my feet, but he steadied me in place, helping me get my panties and leggings pulled up. Brett turned off the fireplace before he took my hand and led me into his house. I pulled him towards his couch.
“Wouldn’t you rather go to the bedroom?” he asked.
“Do you remember that time on the couch, while I was pregnant with Hannah?”
A look of lust filled his eyes. “Yeah, I remember.”
“I want to come as hard as I did that night for you again.”
Without a word, Brett got me into a seated position on the couch, and he took off my boots before pulling me back to my feet. Quickly he pushed my leggings and panties and helped me step out of them. I stepped forward and reached for his belt buckle, unsnapping the belt and then the fly of his jeans. Brett pushed them down, and his dick popped out at attention. I smiled lovingly and gripped him in my hand, stroking him with one hand and cupping his balls with the other. He grabbed me by the neck and our lips smashed together in a sloppy kiss that was a mash of teeth and tongues that had the heat in the room going up a few dozen degrees instantly.
When we
broke apart, both panting, and Brett stepped back from me, pulling his shirt off and discarding it in the pile of our clothes. He advanced on me, and when I felt my knees hit the couch cushion, I turned and lifted my dress to my waist and give a little wiggle before getting onto my knees on the couch. As I leaned forward onto the back of the couch, Brett caressed my ass lovingly.
“One day you will be the death of me, teasing me with this ass.” He leaned down and bit me lightly.
I giggled. “Let’s hope that one day isn’t today.”
“So needy tonight.”
“Needy for you. Please, Brett.”
“Please what? Tell me what you want, Evie.”
“I want you to fuck me. I want you to make me come. I want to feel you come inside me. I need you, Brett. I need you so bad.”
He stepped between my legs, and I looked over my shoulder at him as he gripped his cock in his hands and rubbed it through my wet slit. I pushed back as the head of his dick rubbed my clit and whimpered when he pulled away.
“Quiet, baby, okay?” he whispered.
“Okay,” I whispered back.
“You good?”
“I’m yours.”
I saw his eyes widen and then a smile crossed his face. I wasn't sure where the words came from, but they felt so right to say. He nudged my legs a little further apart and stepped up before me then pushed inside me slowly before he pulled out then slid back in hard. He filled me so completely as he stroked in and out, gripping my hips in his hands. The fit was perfect, and I couldn’t imagine any other man making me feel as good as Brett.
“Touch yourself, Evie,” he grunted lowly. “Make yourself come all over me.”
I stifled a moan as I bit my lip and reached between my legs. I rubbed my clit in small circles. The angle Brett was plunging into me had my senses in overdrive. Within moments, an orgasm coursed through me. I wanted to yell out Brett’s name as I came undone, but I bit harder into my bottom lip as I released, my body shuddering, and Brett keeping me upright as he pounded into me.
My hands gripped the back of his couch as he pumped feverishly a few more times before his own release followed, groaning my name softly and kissing my neck as he laid his chest against my back.