Drowning In Love

by Beth Rinyu

  “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, Mia.”

  “Okay,” I said, looking deeply into his eyes. I stood on my tippy toes and placed a soft gentle kiss on his cheek. “Good night, Travis.”

  He took a deep breath. “Good night, Mia,” he whispered before walking out the door.

  I closed the door and smiled. Today was a great day, not only because I spent time with my family, but because of Travis.

  I shook my head to try and dismiss any more thoughts of him for the night. I pulled my cell phone from my purse and texted Juan: The bitch is back in town. I changed into my pajamas and grabbed my vibrating phone from the table to read Juan’s response: There’s only one bitch in this town and that would be me. You are junior bitch, remember? And this bitch will be over bright and early with coffee so we can catch up! Goodnight, baby cakes xo

  I smiled at his response. I was truly blessed to have such great people that I cared about so much in my life – I couldn’t help but think, was Travis Montgomery becoming one of them?

  Chapter 15

  Travis…

  I headed down the steps and to my car. There was something about her that made me feel so different. She had a way about her. She didn’t care about who I was, and I liked that. Most women that I knew were consumed with Travis Montgomery, the Olympic gold medalist, which I never cared about because I was only interested in one thing from them. But Mia looked beyond that. She actually wanted to get to know me as a person. I had never cared about getting to know any girl before or meeting their family. I only cared about getting them in bed. Mia was so different. I wanted to know more about her. I really enjoyed seeing the layers of personality peeling back. Not that I didn’t want to have sex with her. I probably wanted her more than any other girl I had ever met. She was the complete package; she was beautiful, funny, and had a great personality. I laughed to myself, remembering how she referred to herself as ordinary. She was far from it; in fact, she was the most extraordinary girl I had ever met.

  Chapter 16

  Mia…

  “Rise and shine, Petunia.” The sound of Juan’s voice made me sit up in bed.

  “Geez, Juan, you just gave me a heart attack,” I said as I rubbed my eyes.

  “See what happens when you give me a key to your place, I can pop in at any time so you better be on your best behavior at all times.”

  I shook my head at him and got out of bed. I went into the bathroom and threw some cold water on my face before sitting down to the coffee and bagels that he had brought over. “So how was the beach?”

  “Oh, I had a great time!”

  “And?”

  “And, what?”

  “What’s going on with that beautiful man that has been showing so much interest in you?” I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about Travis. Juan, who knew me so well, was able to read the expression on my face right away. “Spill your guts, Mia!”

  I told him how Travis drove down to my sister’s beach house to pick me up, about the great day that we had spent together yesterday, and that I was spending this afternoon with him.

  Juan shook his head and smiled. “How long are you going to make this poor guy wait before you sleep with him?”

  I ripped a piece of my bagel apart and stuck it in my mouth. “I’m not going to sleep with him.”

  “Oh, Mia, come on. You are insane! He is totally gorgeous!”

  “I am aware of that. But I see more to him than a beautiful face, a perfect body, and a gold medalist. I really like the person he is inside and if I sleep with him, I will just be another one on his list and he’ll move on to the next.”

  “You don’t know that, Mia. It sounds like he really likes you.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “So tell me what I have to look forward to when I come back on Tuesday?” I asked, trying to shift the subject.

  Juan waved his hand in front of me. “Oh, girl…..” He filled me in on all of the drama and gossip that I had missed in the week that I had been off. I was thankful to be off the subject of Travis. I didn’t want to think about a choice that I didn’t want to make, but that I knew was inevitable. I was too happy reveling in the present and the perfect relationship that was beginning to form.

  ***

  Travis was at my apartment by one o’clock. The cab dropped us off in front of the harbor. The bright sunny morning had now turned into an overcast, chilly afternoon. We boarded the high-end yacht and I was in a complete state of awe. I felt like I had to lift my jaw from my knees as I took everything in. I never imagined that a boat could be this big and elegant.

  “Are you okay?” Travis asked.

  “Yeah, just a little shocked. This boat is beautiful!”

  Travis nodded in agreement.

  “Who owns this?” I asked.

  “I’m not really sure, I’m thinking one of the presidents of the company.”

  Travis introduced me to over a dozen people throughout the afternoon. I found that he was focusing his constant attention on me, almost seeming bothered when someone would come over to talk with him. I looked out of the corner of my eye and watched as a very tall and very beautiful brunette approached us. She was dressed casually in capris and a halter top, which she had no business wearing with the size of her chest. I quickly looked down at my chest and couldn’t help but think, my bra must look like a training bra compared to hers.

  "Travis! I haven't seen you in a while." She wrapped her arms around his neck. I looked away, reminding myself that we were just friends.

  “Are you going to be around later tonight? I would love to catch up - if you know what I mean?" she said in a very sexy voice.

  Travis removed her arms from his neck. "No, actually I'm not."

  "Oh?" She looked at him like she was disappointed.

  He quickly turned his attention to me. "Kelly, this is Mia."

  “Oh." She sounded surprised as she finally noticed me standing there. She looked me over, up and down, and raised her eyebrow. "And she is?" she asked Travis rather sarcastically.

  I hated when people would refer to me in conversation as if I weren’t even standing there. "She would be a friend of Travis,'" I answered back just as snidely. I could see Travis smirking at my sarcasm.

  "Well, Travis has a female friend; that's a first."

  "Well, you know what they say, there's a first for everything," I said with a smile.

  "Hmm, well it was good seeing you again, Travis. Call me sometime," she said,

  giving me a fake smile before walking away.

  I looked up at Travis. He was smiling and shaking his head. "Sorry, sometimes the inner bitch comes out in me every now and then," I joked.

  I quietly excused myself as two men approached Travis and began to strike up a conversation with him. I stood by the railing of the boat, looking out onto the water. The clouds and cool breeze were making the hair on my goose-bumped arms stand at attention. I silently scolded myself for not remembering to bring a jacket to throw over the sleeveless shirt that I was wearing. I thought back to the last time I had been on a boat. Eric and I were taking a fall foliage tour of the Hudson Valley. I closed my eyes, feeling that dull ache in my chest whenever I thought of him.

  It was a bright, crisp October day. Eric placed his arm around me as we looked out onto the river taking in the beautiful pallet of colors surrounding us.

  “I think we should get married in the fall, what do you think?” Eric asked.

  “Sounds perfect. Then we can have our first baby a year from that and then a second one in three more years.”

  He shook his head and smiled.

  “Well, I want some time to be able to enjoy the first one.”

  He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer. “You’re quite the little planner, aren’t you?”

  “Yup, I am, especially when it comes to planning out the rest of my life with you.”

  He smiled and kissed me softly on the lips. “I love you so much, Mia.”

  “I love you too, Eric �
�� forever.”

  I quickly rubbed the tear that was flowing down my face as I heard Travis approaching.

  “Hey, are you okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, just thinking of old memories.”

  He looked at me sympathetically. “Old memories are good, Mia, but don’t let them stop you from making new ones.”

  I nodded, wiping away another tear that escaped my eye. I crossed my arms in an effort to keep warm.

  “Are you cold?” he asked.

  “A little.”

  He stood behind me and took me totally off guard when he wrapped his muscular arms tightly around me and pulled me close. I bit my lip, wondering if I should break free. Instead, I leaned my head back on his chest and closed my eyes. I felt his lips kissing the top of my head – Suddenly, I wasn’t cold anymore.

  Chapter 17

  Mia…

  On the way back to my apartment, Travis received a text from his friend, asking if we wanted to join him and his wife for a drink before they headed out to a business dinner. Since I had no other plans for my big Saturday night, I agreed. We entered the restaurant and Travis immediately spotted his friends, sitting in the bar area. “Mia, this is Mike and Stacy.”

  “Hey, Mia.” His friend Mike extended his hand to me.

  “Hi, Mia! It’s so nice to meet you!” Stacy said as she jumped up from her seat, shaking my hand and giving Travis a hug.

  They were an adorable couple, looking almost more like they were brother and sister than husband and wife. They both had dark hair and dark eyes. Stacy’s hair was cut into a cute pixie-style cut that was perfect for her petite frame.

  Mike pulled the bar stool out for me to have a seat while Travis stood alongside of me.

  “So, Mia, Travis says you’re a hairstylist?” Stacy said.

  I nodded.

  “That’s got to be a tough job, on your feet all day, trying to please everyone.”

  “Yeah, it is, but it’s rewarding in its own way.”

  “Well, I imagine it’s a lot more exciting than having a boring old office job like I do.” She smiled.

  I smiled back. “Yeah, I have some days that are more exciting than others.”

  Travis handed me a glass of wine, while he and Mike ended up in a deep conversation with the bartender. I didn’t mind, though. I was finding that I really was enjoying Stacy’s company.

  “So are you and Travis dating?”

  “Oh no, we’re just friends.” She raised her eyebrows at me as if she were surprised. “I really like hanging out with Travis and I don’t want to ruin that by – well, you know.”

  She smiled as if she finally got my point. “Well, I’ve known Travis since college and I have never heard him gush over a woman the way he has about you these past few weeks - just sayin’!” She laughed.

  I smiled and felt myself blushing at her words. “Well, he’s a pretty great guy too.”

  I looked up and suddenly saw two guys standing beside us. “Hello, ladies, we were wondering if we could buy you two beautiful women a drink,” one of them said.

  “Oh, no thanks, I don’t think my husband would appreciate that too much,” Stacy said.

  He turned his attention to me. “Well, what about you? Is a guy lucky enough to have a beautiful woman like you for his wife?”

  “Umm, no, but I’m good.” I lifted up my glass of wine.

  “Ah, come on, just one drink.” He was persistent as he moved closer and placed his hand on my thigh, making me feel very uncomfortable.

  I noticed Travis, out of the corner of my eye, stopping mid-conversation with Mike and the bartender when he noticed the man speaking to me. Within seconds, he was by my side. “Mia, is everything okay?”

  He wrapped his arm around my waist. I smiled in appreciation. “Yeah, everything is fine. I was just telling this gentleman here that I didn’t need another drink.”

  The man looked at me and nodded. “You really shouldn’t leave a beautiful woman like her unattended,” he said to Travis.

  “And you better just keep moving on before I kick your ass,” Travis said, causing both Stacy and me to look at him with surprise.

  The man stood there for a second, glaring at Travis as if he were challenging him. “Do you not fuckin’ understand English?” Travis raised his voice. Stacy’s eyes widened, while I bit my lip and held my breath, hoping that the man would just walk away. The last thing I wanted was for Travis to get in a fight with someone over me. I was finally able to breathe again when the man gave me one last glance and moved on.

  “Travis, thanks, but I had that all under control.” I looked down, noticing that his hand was still wrapped tightly around my waist. I could tell that he was bothered by what had just taken place.

  “I should have fuckin’ kicked his ass – Fuckin’ asshole.”

  “Travis, calm down!” Stacy said.

  He finally released his grip from my waist and stared at me with an intense look in his eyes.

  “Yo, Travis, come here for a sec,” Mike yelled over.

  He slowly walked away like he was afraid to leave my side. The whole time, Stacy stared at him and shook her head.

  “Wow! What the hell was that? I’ve never seen him behave that way,” Stacy said.

  I shrugged my shoulders. I didn’t know how to answer that one. She knew him better than I did.

  “Well, if he’s that overprotective of you as a friend, I would sure hate to see what he would have done to the guy if you were his girlfriend.” She shook her head and smiled.

  I smiled back; I was a little taken off guard by Travis’ behavior myself. I appreciated him rushing to my side to help, but on the same note, that wasn’t how just a friend would act. I knew deep down inside that with the time we were spending together, we were slowly becoming more than just friends – like it or not.

  We finished up our drinks and were readying to leave. “I wish we could be having dinner with you guys, instead of Mike’s stuffy old co-workers,” Stacy said.

  I smiled. “It was really nice meeting you guys.”

  They both smiled back at me. “You too, Mia. Hopefully we’ll see you around a lot more.” Mike looked over at Travis and raised his eyebrow. Mike shook my hand, and Stacy gave me and Travis each a quick hug.

  Travis and I headed out the door and waited for a cab. “You know I had that situation with that guy all under control earlier, right?”

  He looked angered by the mere mention of it. “Yeah, well, I was just making sure.”

  “Well, thanks for looking out for me.”

  He nodded as a smile finally appeared on his face. “Anytime.”

  I smiled back as my stomach twisted and turned in a very good way. My heart was feeling things that I’d never experienced, but I knew one thing was for sure; it was so not the way it should be feeling for just a friend.

  ***

  Travis walked me into my apartment. He was leaving for Arizona in the morning for some special swim meet. He explained it all in detail to me, but I didn’t really understand it. Then he was headed up to his family’s vacation home in Vermont to go fishing and unwind for a few days. I was actually getting disheartened, knowing that I wouldn’t be seeing him for a while.

  “Well, thanks for a great time,” I said.

  “You’re welcome.”

  I wasn’t ready for our time together to end, so I decided to be bold. “Are you up for pizza and a movie?”

  He smiled. “Sure.”

  I closed the door behind us, more than happy to be having his company for the evening.

  It was a great night. We ordered pizza and watched a movie on-demand. My stomach muscles hurt from laughter at both the movie and the conversation. I actually found myself getting saddened when he looked down at his watch, realizing that it was getting late.

  “I have to get going; my flight leaves at six a.m.”

  I nodded as he moved closer and brushed his lips on mine. He was staring into my eyes as our lips parted. He took my face in hi
s hands and began to kiss me deeper, this time exploring my mouth with his tongue. I couldn’t resist any longer. I knew that I wanted him just as badly. I wrapped my arms around him and lay down on the couch, pulling him toward me as our tongues continued to collide. He moved my hair out of the way and began to kiss my neck, sending shivers through my body. His hand moved up my shirt and under my bra. My insides were yearning for him as he began to unbutton my pants. I was hoping that I was just imagining the voice that I was hearing - but I wasn’t.

  “Oh, Brian, honestly –” Juan stopped himself mid-sentence. I jumped up, buttoned my pants, and adjusted my shirt as Juan mouthed the words “I’m sorry” to me.

  Travis sat up, looking a little frustrated as he ran his hand through his hair.

  “Oh my goodness, we’re really sorry. We just got done with dinner and I wanted to drop off some of this key lime pie that we had for dessert. I’ll just leave it in the fridge and we’ll be on our way.”

  I introduced Travis to Brian and reintroduced him to Juan. I walked them both to the door.

  “Continue on where you left off and I want details,” Juan whispered. I pushed him out the door as Brian followed behind him, laughing.

  “Kick his ass, Mia,” Brian said.

  “I just might.” I shook my head and smiled.

  I closed the door behind them just as Travis stood up. “I really have to get going.”

  “Oh, okay.” I was hoping that I was hiding the disappointment in my voice.

  I knew that the moment had passed anyway; no chance in trying to relive it - thanks to Juan! “Have a safe trip,” I said as I walked him to the door.

  “I will.” He smiled at me, making me detest Juan at that particular moment for stopping what could be happening right now. He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before walking out the door. I closed the door behind me, leaning my back up against it. “Damn it, Juan,” I said underneath my breath. It was probably just as well anyway. I would have just been regretting it in the morning, no doubt. I was still leaning up against the door and I jumped when I heard someone knocking. Foolishly, I opened it up without looking to see who it was. I smiled when I saw that it was Travis.