“You do realize that the whole room heard you tell her that you love her, right?”
“Don’t really care who heard me, as long as she did. I mean it, man, she’s the one, and I just hope that she’s come to her senses and sees it now.”
“If not, it’s a good start tonight. Just don’t be all, Lenny, let her control the situation.”
“What’s that mean?”
“I know you, and I’ve been watching you over the last few weeks. I’ve been waiting for the moment when you haul her over your shoulder and march out of this office.”
“Is that inappropriate?” I ask, laughing.
“Very, but then again some like the alpha male. Now, get out of here and go buy a gift.”
“What do you buy a sixteen-year-old girl?”
“I have no idea, jewelry always works.”
“Good one, man. I’ll see ya later.” I pat Blake on the shoulder and exit the conference room. With my keys in my hand, I head out as I need to get Sophia the best gift I can find. If I can win her over, I’ll win Jules over. There’s no other optional ending here—it has to end with us. I want to capture Jules’ lips with mine. I want to claim her for the whole city to know that she’s mine.
Yep, there’s that alpha coming out in me that Blake was speaking of. Down, boy, there’s time for that later.
27
Jules
“Is he coming, Mom?” Sophia asks. I glance at her from my closet. She’s been sitting on the edge of my bed while I get ready.
“I think so, he said he was. We will just have to wait and see,” I say and can’t help the restriction that runs through my chest.
“Did you tell him how you feel, Mom?”
“No, I already told you, Sophia, that we were in a meeting and he let it slip pretty loudly. I was embarrassed and didn’t know what to say.” I laugh to myself. The whole office heard him. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.
“I still think you should’ve told him, but I’m happy for you. You deserve to be spoiled by a guy like that, Mom.”
“It’s hard to accept the truth of your statement, but I think you’re right.”
“Today, it’s the wisdom of a sixteen-year-old.”
“All right, smarty pants, finish getting ready or we’ll be late.”
“It’s my party, I can be late if I wanna.”
“No, you’ll give your grandmother a heart attack; let’s try not to, shall we.”
“Fine,” she groans and lifts off the mattress and exits my room just as fast as she can. I hold up a dress in front of the full-length mirror, wondering if this should be the one I wear tonight. It’s a mauve wrap dress with a split halfway up my thigh. I bought this a few months ago and haven’t worn it yet. I can pair it with my black heels and my single diamond necklace. The slit alone will drive Lenny mad. Not to mention the way the front dips between my cleavage. It’s more daring than anything else I’ve ever worn. If I didn’t capture his attention today, I sure will this evening.
I’ve had a lot of time to think over the last four weeks. In that timeframe, my divorce was finalized, and I’m free to do what I want with whom I want. That person just so happens to be Lenny. It doesn’t help matters that I’ve had Sophia in my ear telling me how happy I was when I was with him. He makes me crazy, but he’s all I can think about. It also adds a little salt to the wound when your now official ex-husband is engaged to a woman who is half your age. The question I’ve been asking myself repeatedly since hearing this news is, “Why can’t I have what I wish for? Why don’t I deserve to be happy?”
I’m pretty sure Lenny will come tonight, but at this point, it’s anyone’s guess. I’ve been standoffish toward him for way too long, and I don’t want to get my hopes up.
Sophia and I enter the clubhouse that’s set off the side of the country club. I gasp at how elegant everything looks. It has my mother’s touch on everything, right down to the tulle draping the tables. Oh, and did I mention the goodie bags? They are filled with nail polish, files, little pink and gold candies, and I’m not even sure what else. It’s classy but still Sophia.
“Grams did good,” I whisper to Sophia who smiles and nods before she runs over to my mother with open arms. Maybe allowing her to host this party was a good thing. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own stuff that I forgot that you only turn sixteen once. My party was huge, and I hated it. I remember it being so over the top that I felt like I was at a ball and not my birthday party. When I agreed to my mother throwing this party, I also had her agree that it would stay simple. I had to remind her that this wasn’t a wedding, but instead a birthday party. In the years before we always did small gatherings at the house. David didn’t like to host outside the home. In a way I think he wanted to show off the massive home that was almost five thousand square feet; it wasn’t about his daughter or anyone else for that matter.
“Do you approve, Jules?” my mother asks as she approaches me.
“Very much so, Mom. Thank you, you did amazing.”
“See, I can bend every now and then.” She laughs and pats me on the back.
She waltzes over toward a group of family friends. My eyes switch to where Sophia is chatting with her friends, hugging each one as she thanks them for coming. Before I can move to a table, the lights dim creating a soft glow around the room. Music floats through the space, and the group of girls centers on the dance floor. I find a table and take my seat as I watch from the sidelines.
“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” comes from next to me. I don’t have to look to know whose voice it is. I’m surprised I didn’t feel him enter the room. I blame my lack of concentration on the fact that I can’t keep my eyes off Sophia and how happy she is.
“You came,” I say more as a statement rather than a question.
“Of course I did. I was invited, wasn’t I?” Lenny replies as he motions to the seat next to me.
“Sorry, it’s free,” I say and turn my body to face him.
“Thanks for coming, Sophia will be tickled pink.”
“What about her mother?”
I swallow a little louder, hoping that Lenny didn’t hear me over the music. Lifting my chin, I focus on his eyes, taking them in and how I can see the tiny sparkle of amber flashing back at me. Over our short time, I’ve learned that sparkle is lust and desire. When Lenny becomes passionate, his once green eyes move aside allowing the amber specks to show.
“She’s happy too,” I say in a whisper, causing him to lean forward.
“What was that?”
“I said, she’s happy too. Thank you for coming.” I lean forward and place my hand on his knee. “Maybe we can talk?”
“I’d like that, but first I need to see the birthday girl,” he states as he places his hand over mine and looks out at the dance floor. It doesn’t take long for Sophia to spot Lenny next to me. I know the second she does as a low shrill of excitement floats toward us.
“I told her you’d come,” she says, standing before the two of us.
“I wouldn’t miss it, kid. Happy Birthday,” Lenny says to Sophia as he hands her a tiny box that’s wrapped in black wrapping paper with a gold bow on top.
“You didn’t have to, Mr. Ward. You coming here was enough,” she says as she takes the box and looks at me for permission to open it. After a quick nod of approval, she tears it open.
“Oh, it’s beautiful,” she exclaims as she pulls out a silver Pandora bracelet with a ‘Sweet 16’ charm on it. I can’t see it well, but I notice the pink background and how it’s got the numbers in the middle and surrounded by what I hope isn’t diamonds.
“Lenny,” I say, trying to get his attention, but he squeezes my hand tight before releasing it to accept the hug that Sophia gives him. He clasps the bracelet around her wrist, and she leans in once again for another hug.
“Thank you, Mr. Ward. I love it.”
“Welcome and how about you call me Lenny? Mr. Ward is my father, and that makes me feel old.”
; Sophia quickly looks over to me, and once again I nod giving her permission.
“Thanks for coming, I’m going to go show my friends,” she says in excitement before taking off to the group of friends that she left moments ago.
“Now, how about you and I have that talk, shall we,” Lenny states, putting his hand out for me to take and I gladly accept it.
As we round the table, we are approached by David and Scarlet, his model of a girlfriend.
“Bets on how long that lasts,” Lenny whispers, causing me to laugh.
“They won’t make it to the wedding,” I say in return as I glare at my ex-husband in passing.
“How about a walk down the docks?”
“Sounds great.” I link my arm in his and follow him outside toward the docks. I guess this could be considered the sink or swim moment in life. It’s ironic that we’re standing here on wooden planks with water underneath us. I mean, I could leap into the river and swim away as an escape, or I can accept that I want to give this a try with Lenny. It’s not like he’s dropping down to one knee and proposing to me. Wait, that’s not what this is, is it?
28
Lenny
With a deep breath, I squeeze Jules’ arm as we walk down the docks toward the end. The one thing I never told her was that I own one of these boats, and it’s a great place for us to just sit and talk. Reaching the end, I turn us toward the left and head down a little more. Neither of us have spoken a word. I’m almost afraid to say anything as I might ruin this moment. Even though I was invited this evening, it wasn’t until I saw the look on her face when I asked if the seat was taken. That smile… It sealed the deal for me. I knew right then and there that we were going to talk about us, and I wasn’t leaving until we agreed to give this a go.
“After you,” I say as we stop in front of my boat.
“What, is this yours?”
“It is. Why do you sound shocked?”
“I just didn’t see you as a boat person, that’s all.” She shrugs before taking a step onto the boat.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Jules. The one up there is my family’s yacht, but I like mine a little smaller.” I motion for her to take a seat.
“It’s nice,” she says, looking around.
It is nice. I’ve had this thirty-seven foot Rinker cruising boat for almost ten years. I don’t get to use it as much as I’d like these days, but when the weather’s nice, I’ll head out and just stroll down the intercostal for a few hours to clear my head.
“Jules, I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, but I’m still scared, Lenny.”
“I know, but what scares you more?”
“Walking away from you, I think.”
“You think, or you know?”
“I know, but either way I’ll get hurt—if I don’t try, and if I try and it ends.”
“That sounds like some wise words, did you borrow them?”
“No, it’s the truth, Lenny.”
“Well, my truth is I want you. I want to try to have a real relationship with you, and I’ve grown pretty fond of your daughter.”
“She’s pretty fond of you too, you know.”
“I had a feeling that was the case,” I say, pulling her onto my lap.
“I still need to take this slow, Lenny. We started pretty fast.”
“I’ll go as slow as you need me to go. I just need you, Jules.”
“How do you make it sound so easy?”
“It is, isn’t it? We’re adults, and we like each other,” I say, nuzzling my chin against her neck.
“I guess you’re right,” she responds, and I hear the underlying tone she has.
“What’s on your mind, Jules?”
“You’ll laugh if I tell you.”
“I’d never laugh at you.”
“Well…It’s two things actually.”
“Go ahead.”
“One, are you sure you liking me has nothing to do with your past with David? Two, is it bad that I want you to take me down below?”
I laugh. It’s not that I think it’s funny, it’s just that we agreed to go slow and here my girl is asking for me to take the edge off.
“First, what I feel for you, as I’m sure you can tell, has nothing to do with that asshole. Second, if we had time, I’d take you on every spot of this boat, but something tells me we don’t have that kind of time. Instead, let me help you.”
“What are you, oh,” she says as I slide my hand up her dress, caressing her through her panties that I want to rip off and toss overboard.
“Did my girl miss this, the way I can make her wet with just a flick?”
“Yes,” she moans as I slide my fingers under her panties in search of her folds. Separating them, I slide two fingers in as I pinch her clit. Jules arches her back against my chest as I continue down the path of getting her off. As much as my swollen cock wants to be deep inside her, I know now isn’t the time. I’ll wait until I can devour her the way I’ve been dreaming about over the last month.
“Lenny, don’t stop.” Her breaths are labored as she pants while I move my fingers over her swollen sweet spot.
She’s coming down from her orgasm as I claim her mouth with mine. Breaking apart, I say, “Fuck, I’ve missed this mouth of yours. I never want to stop kissing these lips.”
“I’ve missed you too,” she mutters through our kisses.
“Jules, will you officially be my girlfriend?”
“That sounds so high school you know, but yes, I’ll go steady with you.”
“Thank fuck, because I wasn’t sure what else to do.”
“Just be careful with my heart, it’s yours, and I don’t want it to break.”
“I’ll treat it like it’s gold.”
I help Jules stand, and she carefully puts her dress back in place.
“Let’s get back inside before my mother sends a rescue crew out for me,” she says, gesturing out her hand for me to take. It’s then that I know I’m now the lucky one. Maybe what David and Rachel did all those years ago was the great plan for my life. Their mess up landed me here with Jules. I just pray I don’t fuck it up again.
29
Jules
Four Months Later
I can’t believe that today is the day I turn forty. Today also marks mine and Lenny’s four-month anniversary. He told me to not plan anything for this evening, and part of me was a little sad that my mother gave in to my request to not throw me a grand birthday party. I shrugged it off when Lenny sent me a calendar invite and blocked off my schedule from six tonight until tomorrow afternoon.
“What are your plans tonight?” Lacy asks as she plops down in the chair in front of my desk.
“I have no clue; he won’t tell me, and Sophia is tight-lipped. At this point, your guess is as good as mine.”
“I bet it’ll be fun. He does the best dates,” she says.
“He really does,” I agree as I think over the last few months. Lenny’s gone on dates with me, then with Sophia and me. We even started a Thursday game night at my house where we order pizza and play all the old board games. Those nights are my favorite. Of course, when I dug out all the old games from my bedroom back at my parents’ house, they laughed that I still had them. It wasn’t me who kept them, that’s for sure. The best game was Hungry Hungry Hippos. That got a laugh from Lenny so loud that I was sure it alerted the neighbors.
“He’s good for you, you know that, right?”
“He is, isn’t he.” I know Lacy’s right. I can’t picture a life without him now. Before I was scared, but now I’m open for the next step. No, we’ve not talked about marriage or anything other than what we’re watching on TV when we binge watch while Sophia’s gone to her father’s. Which, by the way, I won that bet… Scarlet left David for another man, and it turns out karma is amazing. He walked in on her with the guy, and I loved hearing the story float around the club. I should feel sad about this, but I can’t. However, I’m pretty sure he was
n’t as busted up as I was over the two of us. But like Lenny has said over and over: it was meant to be, and that statement I agree with, with my whole heart.
A text comes through my phone.
* * *
Lenny: You better be headed home to get ready for tonight. There’s a box on your bed with a surprise for my birthday girl.
* * *
Me: I love it when you leave surprises on my bed… Is it you?
* * *
Okay, you got me... I can’t get enough of him. Don’t judge, I love sex with Lenny Ward. It doesn’t matter where or when. I crave it like the air I need to breathe. There are times when he’s passionate, while other times it’s hard and quick. No matter how he does it, he makes sure to tend to my needs before his own.
* * *
Lenny: It’s not me, but I’ll give you that later if you’re good.
* * *
Me: Aren’t I always?
* * *
“What are you smiling about?” Lacy asks as I totally forgot she was in the office with me.
“Nothing, just Lenny.”
“Geez, are you sexting again?”
“No!” I act shocked.
“You totally are; you’ve become such a little vixen.”
“Maybe.” I shrug and give my oldest friend a smile.
“Go, get out of here before you’re late and I have to answer to him.”
“Okay, I’ll text you tomorrow when I can. I’ve been told that I have to turn my phone off when he comes to get me.”
* * *
Lenny: You are, and if you play your cards right I might make good on that later. See you soon, sweetheart.
Forty Candles: A Standalone Romantic Comedy Page 17