by J. P. Comeau
After we enjoyed dessert and she had some more wine, we got into my car, and I invited her back to my place for a nightcap.
“I’d say that I’ve had plenty to drink tonight, but I’d love to spend some more time with you. This evening has been so enjoyable. I don’t know if you noticed, but I was a bit guarded after we slept together. Sorry.”
I put her hand in mine and squeezed it. “Don’t be. You have every reason to be wary. I mean, I’m not exactly someone who’s known for being in long-term relationships. But like I said earlier, people change when they meet someone special.”
I drove us back to my place, and she rested her head on my shoulder the entire way home.
I helped her out of the car and into my house, then told her to relax on the couch. I decided against giving her any more alcohol. Instead, I grabbed her a bottle of sparkling water and then made myself a whiskey on the rocks. It wasn’t until I plugged my phone into the charger that I remembered the child custody drama.
I had made Addison the background on my cellphone. It was a decision that I questioned at first, but now that I was looking at her, I realized that I’d made the right one. Regardless of what happened, she was my daughter. Heather could never take that away from me. If Heather decided never to let me see her, well, that was only legal until Addison turned eighteen-years-old. And according to Danielle, the father had certain rights.
There would come a day when Addison would know her father. Of that, I was sure.
I walked back out into the living room, drinks in hand, and found Annie fast asleep on the couch. It was evident that she'd had a long day. I placed the drinks on the coffee table, picked her up, and then tucked her into bed in one of my guest bedrooms. I quietly stepped back, admiring her as she slept. Annie was utterly beautiful, and I knew she was much more to me than a friend and neighbor.
11
Annie
I woke up and yawned. As I rolled over to look at the clock on my nightstand, I found myself squinting through a double-take.
That wasn’t my nightstand.
I usually kept a Victorian-style vase full of pink flowers on top. The vase I was looking at was a modern one, with straight lines and a green plant inside. I ran my hands through my hair, wondering if I had replaced the flowers with what I assumed was a fern.
Then, I shifted my focus to the alarm clock. Mine was vintage and pink, with a pearly white face and black hands. The one in front of me was square and had no character.
That was when I realized that I wasn’t in my bedroom.
I looked out the window, which at my place was above my studio, and I had a clear view of the coffee shop across the street. I often went there before heading into work, where I ordered an organic coffee with coconut milk.
The view from that window was nothing but trees, and I suddenly realized that I wasn't in the city. I was in the upper-class countryside of River Valley.
I plopped my body back down on the bed, covered my eyes with my hands, and tried to remember the night before. I’d had some alcoholic beverages, but I couldn’t remember what kind and just how much I’d consumed. As I squinted my eyes, I started to remember an Italian restaurant, eating lasagna and having dessert.
I shot up in bed, and that’s when it hit me. Tiramisu. I had eaten the Tiramisu that Richard had recommended, right as he was about to tell me something important, and the waiter interrupted us.
As I looked around the room, I started to remember where I was. I was at Richard’s house. Julianna and I had crashed there the year before. It was after a massive party with her, Richard, and Jake. Richard had invited us over along with some of his friends, which I didn’t like. They seemed like the type who frequented strip clubs. After a few too many mixed drinks, Richard let me sleep in this exact room.
After the party that year, Julianna had stayed in the guesthouse with Jake. Richard had woken me up with breakfast in bed, concerned that I’d partied a bit too hard. I didn’t know where he was at that moment, though. The bed I slept in didn’t appear to be rumpled, which made me breathe a sigh of relief, and my dress was still snug around my waist.
That meant we didn’t have sex.
As I rubbed my temples, I realized that I’d fallen asleep on his couch. Richard must have brought me up there and tucked me into bed. Most guys would have taken advantage of the situation, but not him.
That type of romantic gesture made me realize that, despite my reservations, I wanted to be more than just friends. I wanted to be in a committed relationship with him. To hell with all of my concerns about getting hurt. If Richard was half the playboy that I thought he was, there was no way that I’d have woken up alone in one of his guest bedrooms.
I’d be in his bed with his naked body lying next to me.
I saw two bottles of water on the dresser across from the bed, with a large bottle of ibuprofen on the side.
Thank God.
I popped the top from the pills and shook three out in my palm, dropping them into my mouth. As I washed the pills down with some water, I overheard Richard talking. It was hard to get a clear understanding of what he was saying, but he sounded angry—something about an attorney and having to sign some documents.
I laid back down on the bed and closed my eyes, deciding to give the ibuprofen a few minutes to work before I went out to see Richard. His voice seemed to be getting louder, though, as if whoever he was speaking to didn’t want to cooperate.
“Tell her that I’ll sign those papers when I’m good and ready, and only if she agrees to my terms. I refuse to let her jerk me around anymore. What she's doing is pretty low, even for someone like Heather.”
I thought back over the past year to all of our conversations but couldn’t remember Richard ever mentioning someone named Heather. I realized that it probably had to do with some property his company was purchasing. Richard worked incredibly hard, which made me like him even more even though his father was a billionaire too.
“The test isn’t necessary, Danielle. I’ve seen the pictures. I mean, I see what you’re saying, but it’d just be a waste of time and money.” As he paused to let this Danielle person speak, I started to wonder who she was.
The name sounded familiar, but I still couldn’t put a face to it.
“That’s fine. Heather knows that money isn’t an issue. I’m surprised she isn’t asking for more.” My mouth fell open a little bit.
Richard was strict when it came to negotiations. Either way, it wasn't any of my business.
When he stopped talking, I slowly slipped out of bed and put my shoes on. One look in the mirror, and I rolled my eyes. My hair was a complete mess, and I desperately needed a cup of coffee.
I pulled my hair back and let myself out of the guest bedroom. Richard’s office was directly across the hall. He was sitting behind his dark oak desk, staring at something on his cellphone, and his eyebrows scrunched together. Whatever that conversation was about had put him in a bad mood.
He looked up at me and smiled, but his eyebrows remained scrunched.
“Hey,” I said. “Is everything okay?”
Richard’s smile appeared to get wider, grinning from ear to ear as he turned off his computer.
“Yes, just work stuff. How did you sleep last night?”
“Just like a baby,” I said, making my way over to his desk and sitting down in a chair.
He looked utterly handsome, even though he was simply wearing a grey t-shirt and sweatpants.
“I figured you could use some pain relievers,” he said, laughing a little bit. I nodded and put a hand to my head. “You enjoyed that shiraz, didn’t you?”
I tilted my head. “Yes, but perhaps a tad too much.”
He stood up and walked over to me, helping me up with his hand. “I think a hearty breakfast will do the trick.”
He put his arms around me as we made our way downstairs. It felt natural to be against him that way, my petite body sinking into his muscular one. Even the way we walked downstairs was in sync.
/> I sat down at the counter and watched him make coffee. “Is your job always that stressful?”
He shrugged his shoulders, and I got the feeling that he didn’t want to give out too much information.
“It’s nothing that I can’t handle,” he said. “Jake and I inherited our fathers’ work ethic, so I’ll survive.”
As I watched the coffee brew, Richard made us some pancakes, bacon, and eggs. The smell alone was making my mouth salivate.
“Stress can be a good thing,” I said, “but you’d be surprised about how too much of it can damage your body. I’ve read books and even attended seminars that show the physical side effects of living a stressful lifestyle. It’s one of the many reasons that I chose to stay in River Valley, and live a normal, quiet life.”
“Sometimes I wonder if it’s all worth it,” he said. “I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t enjoy material things, such as vintage cars and a huge mansion. But there’s something to be said about the quality of your life, too. What’s the point in having all of this nice stuff if you don’t have time to enjoy it?”
“Exactly,” I said. “Although I haven’t had too much free time lately, either. If it weren’t for Crystal, I’d be working sixteen-hour days and sleeping in between classes. Which is something that I vowed never to do.”
“You’re a smart woman,” Richard replied, staring at me with those steel eyes.
I wanted to melt into him right at that moment. I wanted to climb into his arms. I wanted to kiss his seductive lips. Hell, the truth was, I just wanted him. All of him. At the same time, I was pretty sure that killer wine hangover I was suffering wasn’t going to let me do anything other than sit there.
“I’m a hungover woman right now.”
He chuckled. “A beautiful hungover woman.”
My cheeks went red, and I looked down as he set a plate in front of me. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a home cooked meal. For me it was either prepackaged, or nothing. I wasn’t the biggest fan of cooking, though I did when I had to.
After we drank our coffee and ate breakfast, we sat outside on his deck for some fresh air. The deck faced the guest house that Jake had lived in the year before, which was three times the size of my loft apartment.
Richard kept looking over at me as we sat there, drinking coffee and just sitting. We weren’t talking, but it wasn’t awkward either. I wondered what he was thinking, but based on the look on his face, it appeared to be good.
“Do you have any plans today?”
I took a sip of my coffee and shook my head.
“Nope,” I said, admiring the view of the mountains and the way it gave way to the blue sky. “I don’t have any appointments.”
“I thought that we could drive to the coast for the day,” he suggested, setting his coffee mug down on a side table. “Both of us could use a little relaxation. Plus, there are some shops that I think you’ll enjoy.”
“Shopping, huh? That sounds wonderful. I haven’t been to the coast in a while, either.”
“These stores are right up your alley. There’s a health food store, a boutique that specializes in the kind of clothes you wear, and a few restaurants if we get hungry.”
I looked at him from over my sunglasses and smiled. “What kind of clothes do I wear?”
“Long, floral tops and capris. Yoga pants, which makes sense given your occupation. And some sexy dresses that I’ve been admiring over the past year.”
I laughed, but on the inside, I was brimming with excitement and passion. No one had ever paid enough attention to me to know those kinds of things. Even my ex couldn’t tell someone how I dressed, or a specific outfit of mine he liked. I just wasn’t important enough or high enough on his list. But Richard had been storing me away in his mind since long before we slept together. It made me feel more secure about a possible relationship with him.
After stopping by my apartment for me to shower and change, we left for the coast. Thankfully, the drive wasn’t excessively long. We were there in a little over an hour. Richard was right about the small shops that I’d enjoy. The health food one was full of protein shakes that looked delicious, so I stocked up on a few. They also had some supplements that were similar to the kind that I wanted to develop.
“See this supplement, Richard? It’s not FDA approved yet, but it’s scientifically proven to strengthen your hair while also making it shinier.”
“Are you suggesting that my hair isn’t up to par?”
I put my mouth a few inches away from his face, and he gave me a quick kiss on the lips.
After getting a bite to eat at a sandwich shop, we grabbed some coffee and walked along the beach, hand in hand, carrying our shoes. It was pretty busy that day, but it still felt like just the two of us on that beach.
I couldn’t help but notice just how perfect things felt. I didn’t want to wait any longer to tell him how I felt. So, I took a deep breath and let it out. “I want to tell you something.”
Richard nodded. “Shoot.”
I pressed my lips together and nervously chewed on them a bit. “Up until this morning, I wasn’t sure how serious I wanted to be with you.”
“And how do you feel now?” He stopped to look at me, taking both of my hands in his.
“Now, I can’t imagine my life being any other way. I want to keep seeing you, Richard. I want to keep building our relationship.”
He leaned in and gave me a long passionate kiss. “How serious are you looking to be, though? I know you’ve been afraid of being hurt.”
I took a deep breath and then exhaled. “I want to be serious, Richard. More than just neighbors with benefits.”
He burst out laughing, then scooped me up and carried me back to the car.
He held my hand the entire car ride home, even though we didn’t say much to each other. Just a few comments about how beautiful the weather was, how quaint the shops were, and how much we enjoyed the food. When he got to my apartment, though, he walked me to my door and looked me right in my eyes.
“I’m glad you want to be more than neighbors with benefits,” he said. “Because that’s what I want, too. I only want to be with you, Annie. And I promise that I won’t hurt you.”
He kissed me on the lips before heading back to his car.
I was on cloud nine. I had taken the chance, and it had paid off. Richard wanted me as much as I wanted him, and things finally felt as if they were falling into place.
12
Richard
This morning, I woke up early for my court hearing with Heather. It was the only thing I could think about since Danielle had scheduled it, except for the time I spent with Annie. Our day along the coast was a welcome distraction from the living hell that was my life.
As I took a long, hot shower, I thought about how enamored I was with Annie. She was incredibly opposite to my personality. I was modern and conservative, with a mansion full of stainless steel appliances and the latest technology gadgets. Annie, on the other hand, was quirky and enjoyed everything that was vintage.
She seemed to have fun shopping at the boutiques along the coast, too, having picked out a few vintage sundresses. The saleswomen probably thought I was her uptight boyfriend, standing there in Gucci shorts, but I loved how different we were. Just seeing her smile melted me from the inside out.
The timing was all wrong, though.
I’d been waiting for so long to gain more responsibility at work, and just when my father gave it to me, Heather walked back into my life. My days consisted of deciding what to do with the new farmland, juggling calls from my attorney, and answering text messages from Annie.
It was all so overwhelming.
If Heather had simply contacted me and apologized for not telling me about Addison sooner, we could have worked it out. I wouldn’t have hesitated to give her child support. I would have had no problem giving her primary custody either, just as long as I had visitation rights.
Not only was she trying to blackmail me, Heath
er didn’t want me seeing Addison at all.
Why couldn’t Annie have gone out with me last year when Jake and Julianna were starting to date; back when I first showed interest? My life was a mess, and it was starting to look like I wouldn’t have time for a romantic relationship.
I walked into the courthouse and sat down next to my attorney, but not before seeing Heather. My mouth fell open.
She was wearing a Chanel suit. Even though I wasn’t up to date on women’s fashion, I’d seen similar ones sell for thousands of dollars online. Her pearl necklace and matching earrings didn’t appear to be fake, either. Having grown up in a wealthy home with a mother who loved jewelry, I could spot the difference between a real and a fake pearl.
Hers were real.
Dangling from her wrist was a tennis bracelet, that was probably worth five figures, and an enormous engagement ring. It was pink too, which was Heather’s favorite color. I squinted my eyes and, based on the light reflecting off of it, could tell that it was at least ten carats.
Heather was doing quite well for herself.
She shot me a nasty look, and I met it with an icy cold stare. If she wanted money out of me, then she’d have to drag me by the neck because I was calling bullshit.
“Are you alright?” Danielle could tell that I was angry as I sat down next to her.
“Did you see what she’s wearing? She doesn’t need a lump sum payment, Danielle. All she’s getting out of me is back child support payments!”
Danielle glanced over at Heather, who shot her a dirty look, and then back at me. “If she says that she needs the money, I’ll be sure to bring up her wardrobe and jewelry. Consider it done.”
I tried to relax while waiting for the judge, telling myself that it was all about Addison. Heather could be as unrelenting as she wanted, but I would find one way or another to see my daughter. The judge walked out of his chambers and sat down. The whole courtroom became eerily quiet, and even though I refused to look at her anymore, I knew that Heather was staring at me. She was trying to get under my skin, but I refused to let that happen.