Chat Love

by Justine Faeth

  I give him a smirk. “If people really believed that, then we wouldn’t be here at a wedding, now would we?”

  He gives me a smirk of his own and twirls me again. The band plays “Close to You,” by The Carpenters and I smile, recognizing the familiar tune. Jackson continues to grip my waist, and I assume that he wants to continue dancing. I would have never guessed that the cocky, self-absorbed Jackson Foster would have a softer side; he is a man who loves to dance and knows how to do it well. Although I’ve danced with him before, it was always while intoxicated, and usually to loud, fast music. This is different; it’s personal, slow, sensual, and warm, and the sensation makes my heart swell.

  Jackson places his lips close to my ear, lightly singing the words to the song. He continues as the band begins to play “Wild Horses,” by the Rolling Stones. He whispers the lyrics into my ear and I shiver as a contented sigh escapes my throat.

  “Excuse me, Jackson?” Caitlin interrupts, again. “May I have this dance?” We both stop moving and I open my eyes to see her smiling at us, acting as though she has no idea she’s interrupted anything. He looks down at me, his eyes wide, and I can tell that he’s conflicted. I want him to say no, to dance only with me. I don’t want to see him singing softly into her ear, too. He looks away and agrees to dance with her. My heart drops and I step back, watching him put his hands on her firm body as she wraps her arms around his neck, tugging him closer. I turn away, wanting to go and hide, and bump into Patrick. He gives me a smile and nods his head in the direction of the dance floor, inviting me to join him. I smile and nod and he gently takes my hands as we begin to sway.

  After a brief pause, he says, “You look stunning, Lucia. You’re truly a beautiful woman.” He smiles at me and I thank him, trying to keep myself from looking at Jackson and Caitlin. From where I’m standing with Patrick, I can see her resting her head on his chest, and as she comes to face me, she smirks triumphantly. Bitch. I want to walk over and pull her hair, but I remember that I am twenty-eight years old and meant to be more mature, so I pay attention to Patrick instead. He begins suggesting people that he wants me to book for the show, and I smile and nod politely.

  My relationship with Patrick had been less awkward since we had talked about the night when he’d been hitting on me. I now felt perfectly comfortable around him, and I was glad to see that we’d developed a degree of mutual respect for one another.

  I turn my head back to see Jackson staring at me once again. He looks angry and his eyes narrow when he sees my hand in Patrick’s. I ignore him, continuing to talk with Patrick. After a minute, I notice that Jackson is slowly dancing in our direction, dragging Caitlin along. His jaw is tense and his eyes are dark with rage. Thankfully, the song ends and Patrick and I part ways, each finding our seat.

  I’m startled by the sudden feeling of Jackson’s breath on the back of my neck.

  “Why would you go and dance with him? You know he’s attracted to you,” he hisses into my ear.

  I snap back, “I danced with him for the same reason that you danced with Caitlin. You know for a fact that she has a crush on you, but that didn’t stop you, did it?”

  “That’s different; Caitlin is a young girl who thinks that she is in love,” he says defensively.

  I turn my head to look at him, clenching my fists. “Well, she probably thinks that because you slept with her.” His eyes narrow and he opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “Save it.” I rise and stomp away in the direction of the bathroom.

  I storm inside and choose one of the stalls, slamming the door behind me. I immediately hear several toilets flushing as people hurry to exit the bathroom, obviously startled by my aggressive entrance. I drop the lid on the toilet and sit, frustrated and confused. I’d known about Caitlin for a long time, but for some reason, I’m on the verge of tears. Why do I care so much?

  I hear two pairs of heels entering the bathroom. Two women, whose voices I don’t recognize, are chattering excitedly.

  “Did you see that gorgeous man sitting at table four?”

  My ears perk up at the mention of my table. I lean my head against the stall door, trying to hear what the women are saying.

  The other woman replies, “Of course; how could I miss him? I think he has a date, though. Did you see the way he was dancing with the brunette in the blue dress? There’s definitely something there.”

  The first woman laughs. “Please, just give me five minutes with him and I’ll have him forgetting all about her.” I frown, crossing my arms.

  Her friend says, “I don’t know; he looked like he is pretty crazy about her.”

  Woman one playfully asks, “How much do you want to bet that I’ll have him eating from the palm of my hand by the end of the night?”

  Fed up with the stranger’s cocky assumptions, I step out of the stall, making my presence known. A woman with short, black hair sees me in the mirror and gasps. Her friend notices my dress and her eyes widen as she begins to blush. I walk to the sink and wash my hands, giving both girls a cool stare in the mirror. They look at one another, wondering what I am going to say, as I dry my hands with a towel. I open the bathroom door, preparing to leave, and then turn back to face the women.

  “By the way, ladies, he’s going home with me.” I exit the bathroom with my head held high.

  I see Jackson waiting near the bathrooms, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He sees me and straightens his posture. As I approach him, I offer an apology.

  “I’m sorry for reacting like I did. It’s really none of my business.”

  He places a finger on my lips, quieting me.

  “Caitlin and I never had sex, OK? She kissed me once when she was drunk, but I’ve never slept with her.”

  Relief washes over me. “Honestly?”

  He gives me a smile. “I promise. Now, while you were gone, the waiter came and asked for our food orders. I know that you don’t eat meat, so I ordered you the vegetarian dish. Is that OK?”

  I smile. “Thank you; the vegetarian dish will be perfect.”

  He grins. “Good, then let’s go celebrate this wedding.” He grabs my hand, taking me back to the table.

  I spend the rest of the evening dancing, drinking, eating, and laughing with Jackson. When we’re relaxed, it’s almost as if we’re partners in crime. During those moments, I can see the side of Jackson that I really love: a carefree, fun-loving man with a kind spirit.

  As the night slowly comes to an end, I am enjoying a piece of cake while watching Jackson dance with the sleepy flower girl. He is holding her little body in his arms, and her arms are wrapped around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder. I smile when I see that her eyes are closed; she looks so peaceful and content. Watching him holding her so tenderly makes me want him more than ever, and, as though he’s read my mind, he turns and winks as he gives the little girl a peck on the cheek.

  I feel a pair of arms wrap around me and I turn my head to see Skyler giving me a hug. I pat her hand and pull out a chair next to me. She gathers her beautiful dress in her hands and sits down carefully.

  “Thank you so much for coming, Lu,” she says, beaming with pride.

  I shake my head. “Sky, this was one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever attended—and I’ve been to a lot; I’m Italian.” I smile and she laughs, thanking me for the compliment.

  She picks up a glass of champagne from the table and gives me an inquiring glance. I tell her that it’s Jackson’s, and she immediately gulps it down. “Sorry, but I needed that. He can get himself another.”

  Jackson continues dancing with the flower girl, and Skyler smiles as she watches him.

  “You know, that man really likes you,” she says

  I laugh and shake my head, shoving a piece of cake into my mouth. She gives me a look of disbelief. “Lucia, you are not that stupid. I know that you notice him staring at you all the time, and he’s constantly trying to find excuses to touch you. He’s been looking at you all night with the s
ame expression that Dave has been giving me, and we just got married. Just admit it; he wants you.”

  I smile. “Do you really think so?” I ask in a hushed voice. “I’ve suspected it for a while, but I couldn’t ever be sure. Apparently I’m not the only one noticing it, though.” I nod in her direction.

  Skyler answers, “I really do, Lucia. I was skeptical too, at first, simply because I know Jackson well. But over time, I’ve seen him growing more and more attached to you, and I don’t think there’s any use trying to deny what’s already obvious.”

  I blush and lower my head, excited that my hopes have been confirmed. I feel a little bit dizzy, and I know that I’ve had enough alcohol to make me tipsy. I look up at Skyler again, realizing that I haven’t even talked to her about her wedding.

  “Can we please not talk about me? This is your night, and I want you to tell me how it feels to be a wife!” I say with a grin.

  She smiles and squeals, “I know, can you believe it? I’m somebody’s wife!”

  I laugh and grab a nearby bottle of champagne, pouring us each a glass. We raise our glasses and I announce, “To a long and happy marriage.” We clink our glasses together and drink.

  Later, Jackson is helping me walk outside to hail a cab. His arm is around my waist, and he’s supporting me as I stumble to the curb.

  “I knew I shouldn’t have let you drink all of that champagne,” he says, playfully wagging a finger at me.

  I giggle and jab at his chest with my index finger. “That’s right, it’s all your fault. You made me drink.”

  “Of course, just blame it all on me, as usual,” he rolls his eyes jokingly.

  I suddenly straighten my posture and look around. “Where did Caitlin go?” I ask, realizing that I haven’t seen her in the past hour. As much as she annoys me, I’m still concerned for her safety.

  “She went home early,” Jackson explains. I ask him why. “Do you really want to know?” he asks, and I nod, indicating that I do. “Well, she asked if I would spend the night with her and when I said no, she got upset and left.” I look at him curiously, surprised that he’d turn down a night of guaranteed sex with Caitlin. He shrugs and looks away, signaling to a passing cab.

  Jackson helps me into the cab and sits down next to me. I give Jackson’s address to the driver, and Jackson cocks an eyebrow at me.

  “Just in case I get sick,” I explain. “I’ll have you there to take care of me.”

  He leans in closer to me, squinting. “Do you think you’re going to get sick?”

  I shake my head. “No, I was just using that as an excuse.” I’m always surprised by how alcohol makes me courageous.

  His eyes darken and he kisses me hard. Once again, we are in a cab on our way to his apartment, kissing like hormonal teenagers. His hands are on my back, drawing me closer to him.

  We reach his apartment and he practically throws money at the cab driver. I’m having trouble walking in my heels so he simply picks me up and carries me inside, brushing past the doorman and going directly to an elevator. As we ride it up to his floor, my lips are on his neck, nibbling and sucking as he moans quietly. Finally the elevator delivers us to his floor and he totes me down the hall to his apartment, being careful not to hit my head on the doorframe as we enter.

  I close my eyes and feel him lying me down on top of something soft and warm. I call out to Jackson and he gently kisses my cheek, telling me to go to sleep. I refuse to let alcohol ruin another perfectly good evening, and I grab for him. We are quickly kissing, and I feel his hands exploring my body. He helps me out of my dress, and I lie back on the bed, clad only in my black, lacy bra and panties. I hear him moan in appreciation, as he reminds me that I am beautiful. As he leans in to kiss me again, everything suddenly goes black, and I pass out once again.

  Chapter 21

  As I slowly open my eyes, squinting to block out the sunlight, I see that I am waking up in Jackson’s bed again. I lift up the sheets and see that I am wearing a large white T-shirt and blue boxer shorts, both Jackson’s. My head is killing me, my throat is dry, and the smell of cooking food makes my stomach growl. I climb out of bed and notice a glass of water and two aspirin on the nearby nightstand. Following my recent routine, I down the pills and walk to the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

  When I turn on the light, I see a mess staring back at me in the mirror. My hair is a tangled bird’s nest, my makeup is smudged all over my face, and my breath smells like I have a fish in my mouth. I spot my toothbrush on the counter, and I immediately brush my teeth, borrowing a swig of Jackson’s mouthwash for good measure. I quickly use the toilet, flushing and washing my hands. As I open the door and walk into the hallway, the intoxicating aroma of food attracts me like a beacon.

  I follow the smell to the kitchen and see Jackson, also clad in boxer shorts, hovering over a skillet as he prepares an impressive breakfast.

  “Morning, sunshine,” he says with a smile. “You OK?”

  “Yeah, I feel a lot better than I did last time.” I smile and take a seat on one of his chairs.

  “I’m glad,” he answers, smiling again. “I’ve made breakfast, if you feel up to eating. Do you want a plate?”

  I nod, practically drooling already. I hear a bark and see Ginger come running through the door. As I kneel down on the floor, she attacks me, trying to climb into my lap and licking my face excitedly. Meanwhile, Jackson prepares two plates of food and carries them into the living room, setting them down on the coffee table.

  “I’ll make you a deal: I’ll make coffee if you’ll go choose something for us to watch while we eat.” I nod and walk into the living room, Ginger following closely on my heels.

  Jackson enters the living room, carrying two steaming mugs of coffee. He sets mine down on the table in front of me and takes a sip from his. I continue rubbing Ginger’s belly, and he laughs as she wiggles happily on the floor. Jackson takes a seat next to me on the couch, and turns to face me.

  “Shall we dig in?” he says with a grin, grabbing his fork. I nod, and turn to face my food.

  I look at my plate, surprised. Jackson has prepared an omelet, toast, bacon, hash browns, and waffles, and I’m surprised to see that he’s even included fresh strawberries and whipped cream as a garnish. I turn and look at him, obviously shocked.

  “What?” he asks nonchalantly, handing me the TV remote.

  I gesture dramatically to my plate. “You made all of this?”

  He takes another sip of coffee. “You make it seem as though cooking is difficult.” He looks at me expectantly. “Go on, take a bite. The proof is in the pudding, you know.”

  I pick up my fork and take a bite of my hash browns; they’re cooked perfectly.

  “Jackson, I’m impressed.” I say, telling the truth. Until now, I’d never met a man who could cook well, my father being an exception.

  He takes a big bite of his cheese omelet. “Well, Lisa hated cooking, so I was responsible for feeding the two of us,” he explains. Before I can ask any other questions about Lisa, he changes the subject. “So have you chosen something for us to watch?”

  I take the remote and turn the TV to a local news station, tuning in to their morning show. Jackson nods, satisfied, and continues to eat his breakfast. I decide to try the waffles, and I’m pleased to discover that they are just as well made as the hash browns.

  I smile and take another bite, chewing contentedly. Today is going to be a good day.

  As I’m busy enjoying my breakfast with Jackson, I’m suddenly interrupted by the sound of my cell phone vibrating. I quickly locate my clutch and take out my phone, seeing that I have a new text message from Mike, reminding me about our date tonight.

  Crap. I realize that I honestly have no desire to go out with Mike. Between Jack and now Jackson, I’m not sure if I have any spare time or energy to devote to another man. I decide to just continue enjoying breakfast, planning to worry about Mike later. I tuck my phone back into my clutch and leave it on the table, ret
urning to the living room to sit with Jackson.

  After another hour of eating and relaxing, I finally decide to ask Jackson for a summary of last night’s events. “So what happened last night?”

  He turns to face me and gives me a cocky grin. “All right, well, we were at Skyler and Dave’s wedding.”

  I punch his arm lightly. “You know I remember the wedding. I mean afterward; what happened after we left?”

  He rubs his chin and continues. “Well, you wanted to come back to my place because you wanted me to take care of you—sexually.” I blush, covering my face with my hands. “So we rushed up here, and I got you into bed …” he trails off, pausing dramatically to build suspense.

  “And?” I ask, nervous.

  “And you passed out again,” he grins and tousles my hair. “I’m going to have to teach you how to handle your alcohol, aren’t I?”

  “I’m sorry,” I say sheepishly, still hiding behind my hands.

  “It’s fine,” he says with a chuckle, gently pulling my hands away. “I’m actually beginning to enjoy taking care of you.”

  I smile, and ask one final question, “How did I end up in your shirt and boxers?”

  “Well,” he begins, “you had already undressed before you passed out, and I felt that leaving you there in just your bra and knickers would have been rude. So I lent you some pajamas.”

  I mumble my thanks and he laughs. “Where did you sleep?” I ask.

  “In my bed,” he replies.

  “With me in it?” I raise my eyebrows.

  He chuckles. “Don’t worry; I didn’t go near any of your girly bits while you were sleeping. It was completely innocent.”

  He rises and takes our plates to the kitchen. I follow him, carrying our empty coffee mugs and glasses.

  “I didn’t snore, did I?” I ask.

  He laughs. “You might have, yes.” Again, I feel my cheeks heating up.

  We begin to wash the dishes, working together as a team. Jackson invites me to join him for a walk in the park with Ginger later, and I am about to say yes when I remember that I’m supposed to be meeting Mike for coffee.