One Little Letter_A Bad Boy, Second Chance Romance

by Robin Edwards

  “Emily,” she began. “Sorry it had to be so dramatic, I just wanted to snag you before you got home. I have a surprise for you, and I owe you a thank you.”

  “A thank you,” Emily questioned. “What did I do besides go to work.”

  Bridgette smiled and looked over at a bottle of wine sitting in a chiller next to her. She opened the wine and poured two glasses, handing one to Emily. They both took a sip and Emily started to fidget. She was starting to get slightly nervous since she had no idea what was going on or where Bridgette had been recently. Emily never was one for surprises, they caused her more anxiety than anything else. Even as a child Emily’s parents would just hand her gifts since she always sighed at the idea of having to open presents in front of people. It was that whole, all eyes on Emily thing that she didn’t like and she could tell Bridgette was starting to notice. Emily looked up at Bridgette pleading with her eyes for some answers and was relieved as Bridgette took the cue.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Bridgette said as she looked out the window. “I have needed a change, I have needed motivation. Emily, you are a breath of fresh air and after the other night, I realized exactly what I needed. I needed a change of pace. Eric has been asking me to go to Paris and head up the new international headquarters for High Point. I have turned it down for reasons I can’t understand. But after the other night, I felt like I was alive again, like I was a girl right out of college, and your excitement caught on. So, I accepted the position and so you are looking at the new International Vice President of Marketing for High Point Paris.”

  Emily’s mouth dropped open, and she clinked her glass with Bridgette. She felt that rush of emotions again and she was trying to work through them quickly since a response was warranted. First she felt envy at such an amazing position in such an amazing place. Than she felt excitement for Bridgette, imagining what it must feel like to finally have all your hard work pay off for you. Lastly, but not least a wave of sadness washed over Emily as she realized that little bit of time together would really be the last of it for the two of them. Emily immediately shook the feeling away, guilt replacing it for being so selfish.

  “Bridgette that is amazing,” Emily gushed. “That is what you have been doing this whole week? Have you been preparing for this position? When do you take over?”

  “I leave tomorrow,” she said laughing. “If I was going to do I wanted just to do it! Oh, Emily, I owe it to you. I just am amazed, so I figured what better way to spend my last night in New York than with the girl that inspired my dreams!”

  Emily smiled and took another sip of her wine, excited, but disappointed she would be leaving so soon. The car came to a stop, and Emily looked out a park on the water where a blanket was laid out with candles and plates. Emily smiled and took Bridgette's hand as she helped her out of the car. They spent dinner sipping wine and talking excitedly about the future. The sky was turning colors that Emily hadn’t seen since she was in Nebraska and the breeze off the water was warm and welcoming. This was the most relaxed Emily had felt since she was a little girl and she couldn’t help but hope she would be able to keep ahold of this feeling even after Bridgette had left. The one thing she didn’t want was for her dreams and motivation to get her so wound tight that she wouldn’t remember what it was like to enjoy nights like tonight. Emily let go and found herself lost in conversation with Bridgette.

  Emily opened up about her past relationships, about her goals, and about being happy for Bridgette but feeling their time was too short together. Bridgette felt the same but Emily couldn’t help but see the halo shining from Bridgette as if she was a renewed person. It was almost as if Emily was letting go just as Bridgette had that first night and feeling the ability to talk to someone else was missing from her life. She spilled everything out at that moment knowing there wouldn’t be a better time and when the sun came up Bridgette would be off on her own adventure. The feeling was thrilling and Emily felt honored that Bridgette wanted to share it with her. She only hoped that all of these things lead Bridgette to exactly the life that she wanted, that it lead her to all the things she felt were missing. They finished dinner and jumped back into the car right after the sun had set over the New York skyline.

  They stopped in front of Emily’s apartment building, and Emily invited Bridgette up for a drink. They slowly walked arm in arm towards the elevator and took it up to Emily’s floor. The night had been warm, and Emily could still feel the wind on her cheeks from the water, and Bridgette’s excitement was contagious. She locked the door and turned towards Bridgette who was standing in the hallway looking at her with darkened eyes.

  At first Emily was nervous but then a calm senuality fell over her and she knew it was her turn to show gratitude. Bridgette had done something for her too, and she wanted her to know that she thought she was an absolutely amazing woman. Emily’s experience was limited, having focused more on the future than relationships, but she felt a surge in her stomach that sent a twinge down through her thighs and she couldn’t help but move toward Bridgette. She looked so beautiful standing there, her hair blown across her face, the remnants of the wind from the ocean covering her even in the dimly lit apartment.

  Emily walked towards Bridgette and took her by the hand, leading her back to her bedroom. Bridgette put her hands on Emily’s face and kissed her softly, pushing her slowly backwards onto her bed. They made love to the sound of the wind through Emily’s cracked windows but this time, it was soft and careful. Bridgette's hands moved slowly over Emily’s body as if she were caressing every part of her in thanks.

  They undressed each other slowly, kissing each other’s necks and shoulders as they went, and laid with their legs entangled and their mouths pressed together on the bed. Emily attempted to take control and move downward on Bridgette, but she flipped Emily on her back and put her mouth between her shaking thighs. Her tongue moved in rhythm with Emily’s body over and over until Emily cried out in a climax. Bridgette moved upwards slipping her hand into Emily’s wetness and sliding her fingers inside of her, starting the process over again. When Emily arched her back close to orgasm, Bridgette climbed on top of Emily and began to rub herself against Emily’s wet mound. Bridgette's moans grew louder, and her movements stayed fixed at a deliberately slow pace until Emily grabbed her hips in ecstasy and began to move them faster against her.

  Bridgette gripped Emily’s head and screamed out as Emily moved quicker and quicker underneath her. As the wind whipped through the small New York apartment, the sounds of climax could be heard simultaneously from both woman, and the motion continued in a quivering accent on top until Bridgette, breathless, fell beside Emily in the bed. They breathed heavily in the silence of the dark bedroom, the intensity still lingering between them. Emily knew that when she woke in the morning that Bridgette would have to leave so she fought sleep hard. Bridgette ran her hands down Emily’s back and pressed her warm body against hers. Her breasts heaved from her breathing and Emily felt as if their bond would never be forgotten. Bridgette had moved something inside of Emily and she felt just as changed as Bridgette.

  She wrapped her arms around Emily and kissed the back of her neck and whispered thanks into her ear. The warm sweet breath on Emily’s neck brought goose bumps over her and Bridgette pulled the blankets over them. The warm air blew restlessly through the apartment and Emily closed her eyes with visions of beaches and warm waters floating through her mind. She secretly hoped she would wake up still wrapped in Bridgette’s arms and a suitcase ready to tag along with her. Emily knew, though, New York was where she need to be but that didn’t mean she couldn’t dream about a life across the pond with an amazingly beautiful woman by her side. They fell quietly asleep, wrapped around one another for one last time.

  Chapter Five

  Emily woke with the sun and rolled over stretching in her bed. She looked out the window and could see the park filling up already. She realized, suddenly, that she had fallen asleep with Bridgette next to her. She turned t
o look, but no one was there. Instead, there was an envelope with Emily’s name written on it, a cup of coffee on the side table, and a bag with a muffin.

  Emily turned over in the bed, pulling the covers around like a dress. The sheets were soft under her skin and the cracked window allowed the warm breeze to wash over her bare back. The day seemed absolutely perfect and Emily couldn’t help but be a little excited that she didn’t have to rush into the office since it was the start of the weekend. She probably just had the best Friday night of her life and doing anything fast paced seemed out of the question at the moment. Emily stopped for a moment realizing that she can’t remember ever being excited about not having work to do. Relaxation for Emily was normally organizing and reorganizing her closet. At the thought she glanced over and realized it was something she hadn’t done in this new apartment, but at the same time, this new wave of comfort made it so she pushed the thought from her mind.

  The smell of Bridgette's perfume still lingered in Emily's nose, and it wafted off of the envelope almost as if Emily would find her hiding inside. She knew that as she read the letter, Bridgette would be looking out the window of her plane, daydreaming about what was to come. She wished she had had a chance to say goodbye and wish her luck. But, like Emily, Bridgette wasn't very good with farewells, so this was probably the best for both of them.

  She laid looking at the envelope for a while not wanting to take away this sense of freedom and happiness she had in her heart. She knew if Bridgette had gone the route of some dear john letter it would ruin the entire moment and she wanted to bask in this energy for just a little longer. Emily breathed in the scent of lavender from the pillow and tapped her feet on the cool bed. With the apartment being new and her life out here in the city being so new it almost felt like she was on vacation. She glanced out the cracked window and watched as an old man helped his wife, who had a walker, along the path to the trail.

  Emily smiled and picked up the envelope and coffee and made her way to the living room. She sat down in front of the window and slowly opened the letter. The paper was yellow and covered in small flowers; it reminded Emily of the sundress her mother wore to church during the summertime. Emily realized she really did have so many fond memories of her childhood and growing up in Nebraska, she was just to determined before to see them. Sometimes Emily thinks about home and gets homesick but she knows if she were to go back she would get bored really quickly. She would rather have these quick fleeting moments where home warmed her heart than go back to the days where she was kicking and clawing her way out of the cornfields. Emily, though still determined and motivated had grown up and she hadn’t been that little farm girl in many years. In a way she almost felt like just this last week had been a growing experience for her. She shook the thoughts of Nebraska from her mind and looked down at the letter.

  Dearest Emily,

  I am sorry I didn’t wake you before leaving, but you looked like an angel sleeping. I had a very early flight so I had to get going. First, I want to tell you to thank you. I know you don’t understand what one night had to do with anything, but it did a lot for me. I needed a change for the better and I guess I was afraid to take those steps. It is funny how we can get stuck in one avenue for a very long time and we don’t let ourselves out. We don’t even see how stuck we were until something happens that forces you to really look at your life. Sometimes you are put so far out of your comfort zone you realize you are missing so many things because your eyes are fixed on one point.

  From the moment you walked into the office, your motivation and excitement were intoxicating to everyone around you. You are so intelligent and strong willed, do not ever lose that. When you feel stuck, remember there are always ways to push through that. For me, it took you to do that. Don’t get me wrong, every time you get stuck you should probably refrain from grabbing the new girl, getting drunk, and having wild passionate sex, but this time it was exactly what needed to happen. The universe is so strange, its like it can sense what you need and it collides those two things without warning. In this reference I am referring to you and I, because as much as I will praise you, part of me knows you needed all of this too.

  I am so excited to have you as part of High Point’s team, and I know that you will meet every single one of your goals. Remember, though, goals and accomplishments are nothing if you don’t stop and smell the roses, feel the wind on your cheeks, and take unexpected turns when they show themselves. I will miss your enthusiasm but lucky for me I will see your face every Thursday at our video meetings :) That’s right, you didn’t think you could get rid of me that easily did you? Besides who will be your knight in shining armor at High Point if I don’t peak in from time to time and show you up!

  Eric is going to keep pushing you forward and when a position that is right for you opens here I would love to have you consider a move to Paris. Don't tell Eric I said that, he would kill me for recruiting his people. There are so many opportunities out there at your fingertips, and all you have to do is reach out and grab them. Buuuut, Paris is such an amazing city, I know you would absolutely love it here! Me and you, we would take over and really show them how it’s done. That being said, I always want you to make the choices that will make you happy, not anyone else, just you.

  And speaking of making yourself happy, you are beautiful and amazing, and if I were you I wouldn’t just give up on your ex-girlfriend, she sounds like she loves you. Don’t pass on love because you want a career, if you play it right, you can have both. You deserve both! Haven’t you ever heard of having your cake and eating it too? If this girl is even half as intelligent and motivated as you neither of you would let distance get in the way of your relationship.

  Anyways, work hard, stay beautiful, and give me a call anytime you have questions. I hope I have impacted you the way you have me. Good luck in all you do. You will forever have a friend in me and you will always have a piece of my heart.

  Love,

  Bridgette

  Xoxo

  Emily folded the letter up and looked out the window with a smile on her face. She watched as the wind blew through the park and the sun shined brightly. Emily had never had the chance to affect someone in that way and, in turn, it reminded her that there is more than just her career on the table. In a way, Bridgette brought a change to Emily that she didn’t even know she needed. She was right, it is funny how you never realize what you are missing until you are pushed outside of the box. Just taking time to smell the air and sit in this chair was something I never took time to do. Sure I could be researching but I had done all I could do. Knowing me I would just end up rewriting all my notes and refiling paperwork. For some reason, that didn’t seem like something I wanted to do today.

  There were so many things in Emily’s plans, and they all revolved around her career instead of enveloping everything in life. Nowhere on her list did it say visit your parents, see the world, fall in love, read a book in the park on a sunny day, or anything else that makes life so beautiful. Her list was layer after layer of career goals that didn't even include anything other than make it to the top no matter what. She had become ruthless and didn't even realize it.

  It's funny too because she used to watch all these business related shows, and crime shows with her mother and Emily would tell her mom she wanted to be successful but she would always keep her heart. She realized somewhere along the way her heart had run right out from under her. Emily hadn’t turned cold or vengeful but she could see that if she stayed on this path she would be squashing people and stepping over others to reach her goals and not even realize it. Then, when all the goals were crossed off the list and all the achievements had been made she would be sitting alone in the park wondering where her life had gone. Excess almost always turns bad no matter what it is, and tunnel vision is definitely one of those things that has turned ary for Emily.

  She ran the faces of the people on the subway, that first morning she went to work, through her mind. All of those people onc
e had dreams and motivation, but they were so absorbed in goals that they forgot to live. Emily had been determined since she was six years old and Bridgette just showed her there was a part of life that she was missing. It might not be something Emily can take hold of like Bridgette just did when she changed her entire life, but baby steps are definitely something she can handle. Emily, at that moment decided to redo her entire goal plan.

  At first she ran for a sheet of paper but then she realized that was exactly opposite of what she needed to be doing. One of the first things she wanted to accomplish in her baby steps to freedom program was unplugging when she left the office. If work needed to be done she would stay there and do it. Looking around the apartment in that one moment made Emily realize she didn’t want to turn her home into a second office, she wanted to always see it as she did right in that moment, as calm, relaxing, and a sort of sanctuary for her. But where would she start when faced with all this extra time? Her entire life had been made up of appointment after goal after research assignment. Now that she could give herself permission to step away from all that she didn’t know what she should do first.

  As Emily thought about all the things, she never took the time to think about she remembered it was Saturday, and she had heard about an art show in Central Park later. She hadn't gotten a chance to go to the park yet, and she loved seeing everyone's creations so, that was going to be her first event in her baby step program. Reading the same information on Tilberts over and over wasn't going to change anything for Emily, but a beautiful sunny Saturday in the park would make an impact.

  She walked over and opened her laptop, googling the Central Park art show. It was already going on and the weather was supposed to be absolutely perfect. Emily made herself a cup of coffee and wandered back to her closet where picked out a sweet little sundress that reminded her of her mother’s, pulled her hair back in a ponytail, and slapped a little lipgloss on. It was beautiful outside and she wasn’t worried about impressing anyone on her time off. Besides, the city was so big it was practically impossible to bump into people you knew unless you grew up here. From the looks of it this art show brought people from all over the country so there would probably be a lot of tourists. Emily stopped and thought about Rosalie and how she would absolutely adore a day in the park.