by Vera Roberts
“Funny how it took another man buying you a loft to get Dean some much-needed Act Right in his system,” Sarah shook her head, “I wonder about men sometimes. They act like you’re never going anywhere and you’re always going to tolerate their shit until you leave. Funny how that works.” Sarah turned around to face her best friend. “How do I look?”
“Oh my gosh!” Sydney’s eyes watered and she fanned her face so she could stop the tears from ruining her makeup. “You look so beautiful!”
“Oh shit, now you’re going to make me cry.” Sarah dabbed her eyes with a napkin. “Stop that shit!”
“I’m trying!” Sydney sniffled. “I’m just so happy for you, bestie!”
“What about you?” Sarah blotted her eyes. “When’s your wedding day?”
“I don’t know,” Sydney honestly answered, “I guess whenever we get our stuff together, then we’ll get married.”
“I hope sooner than later. I hate seeing these older chicks who are with the same tired ol’ dude, waiting years for a ring, and maybe not getting it.” Sarah shook her head. “Better he lets you know now what his true intentions are than several years later and he’s like, ‘You know what? I was just playin’.”
“Well, he did. I just hope this all works out.” Sydney thought about their conversation on the way to Vegas. The fact Dean offered to sleep on the sofa didn’t make things better for her. They agreed to go slow but Sydney wondered if she was going to be an old woman with a flurry of cats that have cute little names like Sprinkles and Mr. Whiskers because Dean is still waiting for the right time.
Patience was never her virtue.
~~~~~
“She’s gonna kill me when she finds out,” Dean shook his head.
“She was with her boss, right?” Jameson asked. “I say you two evened each other out.”
“It’s different,” Dean replied. “She knows the history I have with Becca.” He paused. “It wasn’t for one night.”
“Oh?” Jameson’s mouth circled. “How many nights was it? Two? Three?”
“The entire week.” Dean remembered after Sydney moved out, he called the only number he could remember at the time. Rebecca answered the phone and in hindsight, she answered so fast Dean assumed she waited for him to call her.
The entire week between missing Sydney, being angry with her and Ian, and nursing a few bottles of whiskey that Rebecca happily supplied, they had sex in every room of her home. He remembered how he threw her up against the glass sliding door of her condo and fucked her from behind.
He was just glad no one saw them. “I’m wondering when I should tell Syd it was Rebecca.”
“Who said you had to tell it was her?” Jameson asked. “You don’t have to. Take this to the grave, man. To the damn grave.”
“I don’t know if Rebecca adheres to the same belief. She has the reality show and I just gave her a storyline.” Rebeeca was the storied villain of a Real Housewives spinoff and people loved to hate her.
Meanwhile, Rebecca laughed all the way to the bank. She’d received an offer from Dancing with the Stars in addition to creating a line of hair straighteners. She was currently in talks with L’Oreal to represent their platinum blonde hair color line.
Dean was more concerned about Rebecca going to the gossip blogs than any potential reaction Sydney had. He already envisioned her sitting down with an exclusive to Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters, or whatever TV interviewer looking to keep their relevancy by jumping on the latest gossip. Not to mention the magazine covers, the reality show, and whatever else.
Kim Kardashian made it a science and Rebecca would definitely follow her playbook. “Dude, I’m fucked,” Dean admitted.
Jameson nodded. “Yeah, you are.”
Four
The wedding was three minutes, tops.
Jameson hired a local last-minute photographer, straight out of high school to take the photos. “I’m about to make you rich and famous, kid,” he boasted to the young man who simply went by Sapphire.
After the minister officiated, with Sarah and Jameson choosing to use the standard vows instead of writing their own – Sarah felt they were good enough for the time being – everyone went out to dinner to Joël Robuchon. Flowing champagne, scrumptious dinner, and lots of laughter and well wishes filled the evening as Sapphire snapped up more pics.
“Here’s a list of everyone who should get those pictures along with e-mails,” Jameson handed him a list. “People is getting them soon, followed by ESPN. Family gets the pics first or I’ll never hear the end of it from my sister.”
“You got it, man!” Sapphire smiled.
“And for your trouble,” Jameson pulled out a wad of hundred dollar bills and gave it to Sapphire. “And if the pictures turn out great, and I’m sure they will, you’ll get more and more business.” He patted him on the back. “Thanks, kid. We’ll be in touch!”
“Thank you! And congrats!” Sapphire waved goodbye.
Jameson turned back to Dean, who was standing on the side waiting for Sydney to finish speaking with Sarah. “You’re a married man,” Dean grinned. “Still unbelievable.”
“Hey, it had to happen sometime.” Jameson replied. “You got next.”
Dean sighed as he looked over at his girlfriend. He didn’t deserve her but he couldn’t see anyone else but her in his future. He had an insane amount of love for Sydney and would do anything just to see her smile. “I hope so.”
“Hey, whatever happens after she finds out is for the best. If she decides that’s it, you two were never meant to be. If she decides she wants to stay with you forever, you need to worship the ground she walks on.” Jameson advised. “You will never find woman that sublime.”
“I hear you,” Dean agreed.
“Dude,” Jameson became serious. “Sydney put up with a lot of shit regarding Rebecca. Rebecca stealing her art and claiming it’s hers? The picture you two took together after the fact? And the interview that never was? Sydney put up a lot. She’s not innocent herself but she also knows when to leave. Do right by her.”
Dean nodded. “I’m going to.” He glanced over at Sarah and Sydney, who were drunk laughing at whatever girls drunk laugh at. “Starting tonight.”
~~~~~
“What an amazing day,” Sydney entered the shared suite as Dean followed suit, “our friends are crazy.”
“Yeah, but they’re perfect for each other,” He removed his jacket and slipped out of his shoes, “they’re crazy but it works.”
“For real, though.” Sydney walked to her bag and rummaged through it to get her sleeping clothes. “I’m going to go freshen up unless you need the bathroom first.”
“Just one moment before you leave,” Dean pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of Sydney. “Now you can go.”
Sydney shyly smiled. “What was that for?”
“You looked so gorgeous and I wanted a personal pic,” he calmly replied, “that’s all.”
Sydney felt her stomach drop to the bottom of her feet. She blew out a small breath and maintained her composure as her heart pounded against her chest. “That’s all?”
Not really, Dean wanted to answer but remained silent. “That’s all. Go freshen up. I’ll pour our some champagne for us.”
“Good. Pick out a movie!” Sydney headed to the bathroom.
Dean went into the fridge, pulled out a chilled bottle of Moet, and poured two champagne flutes. He quickly removed his clothing and changed into lounge pants and a white tank top. As he waited for Sydney to return, Dean thought about what Jameson said.
They had been through a lot and it hadn’t even been a full year since they’ve known each other. He could admit they moved too fast and probably rushed head first into everything without checking to see if there was water at the bottom. But life was meant to live fast and hard, not to take it slow and do a wait and see approach.
He was 22 to her 24 and could admit they both had a lot of growing up to do. He could also admit he couldn’t see anyone
else growing old with. He needed to make it right for him, for them.
He pushed all thoughts of Rebecca out of his mind once he saw Sydney return to the living room. That weekend was about them and nobody else.
~~~~~
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Sydney said in a sing-song voice, quiet enough so Dean wouldn’t be able to hear as she removed her eye makeup, “and I don’t know why I’m here. But I do know I want to be the guy in the living room and I hope I don’t scare him with fear.”
She exhaled a frustrated breath and stared at her half-removed makeup face. She knew it was their last chance of being together. After going back and forth for almost a year with two huge breakups in the midst of it all, it was now or never. She was on the cusp of stardom with her artwork and Ian promised her the stars. Having Dean by her side would only solidify her legendary status.
No matter how silly they could be, how immature their arguments were, she could only see Dean in her life. Now the burden was on her – she needed to prove to him he was just as important – if not more – than her art. He wasn’t the only thing that mattered but he was very high on the list.
Tonight was now or never.
~~~~~
“What’s all this?” Sydney smiled as she saw the champagne flutes.
Dean walked from behind the bar and gave Sydney her glass. He focused on her face so it took the attention off her too-small tank top that barely contained her full breasts and equally small boy shorts that barely covered her pear-shaped ass. “I wanted to toast to us.”
“Okay,” Sydney put away her clothing and returned to Dean. She took a glass from him. “What are we toasting?”
“A fresh start,” he replied, “a new beginning.”
Sydney studied his eyes and noticed how soft they’d become. They were usually a sharp emerald but they’d softened to a Caribbean amber-like color. “A new everything,” she softly replied.
They clinked glasses and sipped their champagne. “So, I picked out a movie for us.” Dean headed to the living room. “Zoolander 2.”
“Zoolander?” Sydney laughed. “Um, okay.”
“The other choices were sappy chick flicks I have no interest in, and scary movies you have no interest in. There were a few other dumb comedies that were probably too dumb for both of us.” Dean shrugged. “So, Zoolander it is.”
“Zoolander it is.” Sydney crawled on the bed while Dean sat down on the sofa in front of her. Sydney frowned at how they were so close yet so far from each other. “Hey, join me up here.”
Dean turned around. “You sure?”
“Yeah,” Sydney put her flute to the side, “there’s no point in watching this movie with you there and I’m up here.”
“Sounds good to me.” Dean joined Sydney on the bed and snuggled next to her. “Is this better?”
Dean still smelled like musk, patchouli, and all man. Sydney took a couple of soft inhales while she relished in feeling his arms around her body. “Much better.”
The pair began watching the movie, laughing at the funny moments while collectively eye rolling at others. The movie was stupid and silly but it didn’t matter to them; as long they were together, they could be watching paint dry and would still have a good time.
“Well,” Dean began as the ending credits began to roll, “I think I lost a few more IQ points.”
“That’s the movie when you watch it, you know the actors only did it for the paycheck.” Sydney giggled. “Because yeah…”
Dean got up and stretched while Sydney’s eyes traveled to his lean muscular physique. When he caught her staring, she didn’t hide it. “You became more lean.”
“Lean Dean,” he rubbed a hand over his washboard abs, “I don’t want too many muscles.”
“Too much wouldn’t look good on you, anyway. Some men are meant to have some flab, some are meant to be skinny, some are meant to be muscular.” She added.
“Would you still love me if I built like Rick Ross?” Dean smiled.
“Um…” Sydney tried to picture what he looked like and her eyes widened once she realized who he was. “…can we try a bit more for 50 Cent? Or Eminem before the drugs?”
“That works,” Dean smiled. “Did you want a refill of your glass?”
“I thought we killed it?” She asked.
Dean grabbed the bottle and held it. It was completely empty. “Wow, I guess the movie was really bad.”
“Yeah, it was.” Sydney had an idea. “Say, you want to kill some time before you go back to no-man’s land over there on the sofa?”
“Wow, that’s pretty damn awful now that you’ve mentioned it,” Dean laughed and rejoined her on the bed, “what did you have in mind?”
“I know we’re taking things slow so we can just kiss?” Sydney suggested. “Our clothes stay on and nothing gets pulled out or popped out.”
Dean rolled on top of Sydney and she opened her legs to him. He forgot how well they fit together. “I say that’s a plan.”
Sydney let out a breathy sigh as she looked up to him. His eyes softened again and she read everything he told her – second chances, love, and a hope for the future. His lips hovered above hers until he placed a soft kiss on the side of them, trailing his lips from her cheek to her ear. “I love you, Syd.” He whispered.
“I love you, too.” She replied.
She closed her eyes as she felt a hand smooth over her leg and she silently thanked God she remembered to shave earlier. His lips hadn’t met hers yet but it was game he played and Sydney was a willing participant. Instead, Dean kissed her neck, her jawline, and playfully bit her ear.
Sydney took slow and long deep breaths as Dean teased her. She felt him sat back on his heels and her eyes slowly opened to watch him. One hand softly cupped her breasts while the other massaged her taut stomach. His eyes never left hers.
Dean readjusted his position and positioned himself in front of Sydney’s sex, but he abided by the rules. Instead, he kissed her inner thighs and softly bit them while his hands worked their way up to her breasts and softly grabbed them. He moved his mouth to her stomach, finally to her chest before landing a kiss on her forehead. “You’re exquisite, Sydney,” he moaned.
Sydney gasped for air and clutched Dean’s arms. She’d never felt so aroused in her life and he didn’t even kiss her. He teased and taunted her body, only to make her want him more. Now all she wanted was to feel his lips on her – everywhere.
She found herself desperate and wanting for his touch, for everything of his. She pulled off his shirt while he removed hers and they fell back down on the bed. She felt all of him as he realized how warm and snug she felt. They slid into the position and just stared back at each other. They were perfect together and nothing could stop them.
Dean slowly began rock and he moaned, causing Sydney to meet him with a moan of hers. He leaned down and kissed her neck again, lightly sucking on it as his movements slowly increased.
Sydney’s eyes rolled into the back of her head as she gasped, panted, and pulled Dean closer and closer to her. She tried to stifle the moans, afraid of sounding like an idiot but no longer cared once she felt his mouth on her breast again. Her self-control flew out the window and a wanton woman took its place.
Moans of anguish, ecstasy, and love filled the room as she relished the feeling of him. On top of her. His mouth on her. He moved against her in the perfect rhythm she had long memorized.
He still hadn’t kissed her lips.
He rocked her body faster as he pulled up and stared down at her. His eyes, once soft, hardened with an intense and sexual gaze that left Sydney breathless and shook. She knew what his eyes said and Dean wanted to make sure they were clear:
She belonged to him and only him.
They locked eyes as they moved together – he pushed while she pulled – with moans and gasps filling the air-conditioned room. Her moans came out like soft mewls and squeals while he met them with grunts and groans of his own.
She felt the
earth moved before it shattered her body, leaving her shuddering, blissful, and calling out his name as he soon met her. He leaned down and touched his forehead against hers and they breathed against each other’s lips.
He gave Sydney a soft peck on her lips before he rolled off her and cuddled on the bed. They breathed in silence before either of them spoke. The moment was too powerful for words. “I want you to sleep with me tonight.” She softly mentioned. “Just sleep, though.”
“That’s fine by me. As long as you’re by my side, I don’t care what we do.” He kissed her forehead. “Want to watch another movie?”
She nodded. “You know, Zoolander wasn’t that bad.”
Five
Watching Dean workout was like watching poetry in motion.
As Sydney sat at a comfortable distance, stuffing her face with leftover pizza and downing a sugary Coke, she watched Dean meticulously go through his workout routine. It was arm day so he did a lot of heavy lifting. He worked out with a trainer at the gym but focused more on his core and arms with workouts at home.
The hard work paid off. Dean was constantly featured in shirtless and sleeveless ads for his endorsement companies, while consistently ranked as one of the sexiest athletes. He didn’t care about the titles and accolades; he just wanted to be in the best shape for the upcoming season.
Sydney bounced in her seat as she listened to the booming sounds of “B.O.B,” and hoped she would still be able to hear by the end of the workout session. She was just glad it wasn’t heavy metal or she would really be deaf.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Dean took a sip from his water and wiped his sweaty brow.
“Dude, this pizza is so delicious!” Sydney replied with a mouth stuffed full of pepperoni. “Like I don’t know how they make it but it is so damn good.”
“Did you leave any for me?” Dean asked.
“I left you two big slices!” Sydney promised. “But you need to hurry up before I finish them.”