Mid Life Love: At Last

by Whitney Gracia Williams

  She sucked in a breath and I ran my fingers through her hair, whispering again. “I go through withdrawal every time we go our separate ways because being without you for one second is damn near unbearable. So, if I’m being completely fucking honest about what you’re asking me to do—I can’t.”

  There was a thick silence hanging in the air between us, and before she opened her mouth to break it, I knew exactly what she was going to say.

  “It would make me happy if you would do this for me—if you would at least try... I’ve been thinking about it for a while and it’s something I really want us to do...”

  “Claire...” I shook my head and sighed, wishing I could find the asshole who’d filled her head with this nonsense. “If I agree to this, if I fully commit to this absolutely ridiculous idea, I want you to know that I will not give in until after we’re married.”

  “I’m so very honored.”

  “No matter how much you beg—and you will beg because I know you better than you know yourself, I will not have sex with you until after we’ve said I do.”

  “Thank you very much.” She smiled and kissed me, and I had to prevent myself from pulling her into my lap.

  “Since we’re going to have a pretty boring afternoon...” I picked a silver box up from the nightstand and handed it to her. “You didn’t get a chance to open your anniversary present yesterday.”

  “You didn’t get the rest of yours either.” She pointed to a strange white patch on her left foot. “Peel this off.”

  I raised my eyebrow and slowly peeled back two layers of gauze and tape. There was nothing underneath it, nothing but—I stopped.

  “I had my freedom date tattoo removed. I’ve been getting pieces of it etched away for months...” she whispered. “I don’t want any part of my past in our future...”

  I looked at her bare foot, running my fingers against where her divorce date used to be. Then I looked into her eyes, not saying anything—hoping she could simply see how much that meant to me.

  Sighing, I pulled her closer. “Open the box.”

  She smiled and gently pulled at the silver ribbon, purposely taking her time. Then she popped the top off and read the small handwritten note aloud: “I loved you the first time I saw you, I loved you the first time I met you, and I’ll love you for the rest of my life—Jonathan...”

  She ran her finger against those words a few more times, and gasped as she pulled the sparkling silver necklace out of the box.

  I’d thought long and hard about what to get her for our first anniversary since we’d come so far from where we used to be: She no longer questioned our age difference or had any hesitation about other people knowing she was mine. In fact, she was the happiest I’d ever seen her and she talked about our “forever” more than I did.

  “How much did you pay for this?” she whispered.

  “It doesn’t matter. You’re more than worth it.” I took the necklace from her hands—a glittering diamond strand with an infiniti charm and the word “love” etched within its loops. “I’m adding the same charm to your other necklace next week. I want to add a new one to it every year.”

  She smiled, and then she shook her head. “I never said it back that day, Jonathan...Why is this our anniversary when I never said it back?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The first day you told me that you loved me last year—when we were in the Jacuzzi together, I never said ‘I love you’ back...I didn’t tell you until months later at that conference...”

  I sighed and pulled her close. “You said it in your sleep that night. More than once...You say it in your sleep now...”

  She blushed.

  “Where are your friends taking you for your bachelorette party? Is there a reason I didn’t get an invite?”

  “Because you’re not invited.” She laughed. “They haven’t told me where, but I’m pretty sure we’re going to Vegas. Helen keeps talking about getting lucky. Where’s yours?”

  “Vegas.”

  “That doesn’t mean you’ll be seeing me while you’re there.”

  “I’m pretty sure it does.” I smiled. “How long will you be gone?”

  “A week. I have to meet them at the airport tonight.”

  “You’re flying on a commercial plane? With other passengers that you don’t know?”

  She nodded.

  “Interesting.” I pushed her down onto the bed. “Well, since we can’t have sex anymore, there’s one thing I need to do to you before you leave...”

  Chapter 10

  Claire

  I was sitting in the back of the town car, smiling and running my fingers across my newest necklace. All I could think about was last night—the way Jonathan looked at me while I was dancing, the way he kissed me once I was finished.

  “Is there a reason you’ve been holding that smile for half an hour?” Helen raised her eyebrow.

  “What smile?”

  “The ‘I’ve been thoroughly-well-fucked’ smile.” She rolled her eyes. “I know it all too well. And are those fucking hickeys?” She leaned over and touched the bright red marks on my neck.

  “Hickeys?”

  “That asshole marked you on purpose didn’t he? Because you’re going away for a week and he wants every man to know you’re unavailable, right? He’s so ridiculous!”

  I laughed and looked out the window as we approached the airstrip—reading the huge pink banner that was draped across the entryway of the plane: “Claire’s Last Weekend of Freedom”

  Helen told me that she’d originally bought first class tickets for the flight, but Jonathan had called her hours ago and insisted that we use his jet.

  “Do you have your passport, Claire?” Helen looked at me as Greg opened the backdoor.

  “Why would I need my passport?”

  “Because we’re going out of the country and you need a passport to get in and out of the states. Please tell me you have it.”

  “Out of the country? I thought we were going to Vegas.”

  “Vegas? Seriously, Claire? I went there last year—been there, done that. We’re going to Costa Rica!”

  “What?!”

  “Why do you think I’ve been making such a huge deal about this? I want you to experience ultimate bliss. Let’s go.” She tugged me towards the plane.

  “But I told Jonathan we were going to Vegas.”

  “You’re not supposed to tell Jonathan anything. This is a bachelorette party, Claire. Whatever happens in Costa Rica, stays in Costa Rica—unless he has an American VISA and I want to bring him back for a week or two.” She winked and gestured for me to get on the plane.

  I stepped aboard and took a deep breath, squeezing my way past two carts of alcohol. On the very first seat was a huge bouquet of white lilies and a card:

  Dear Future Wife & Exotic Dancer,

  I’m not thrilled about the next few weeks of torture, but I do hope that you enjoy your bachelorette party. (Just not too much.) I’ll be in the penthouse suite at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas this week if you need anything.

  Your Future Husband & Awed Fan,

  Jonathan

  PS—I love you.

  I smiled and noticed that there was something else in the envelope—a small packet with four red pills and another note: “To help you sleep on the way there and back—Jonathan”

  “Welcome aboard, ladies!” I heard Helen say as high pitched laughter filled the cabin.

  I turned around and found myself face to face with Helen’s other set of best friends—Kimberly and Bobbie Jo. They looked like they’d stepped right out of a magazine—perfect makeup and hair as usual, which was fitting since they were both former supermodels.

  She’d met the two of them years before she met me, and she always bragged about how she helped them to sue Maybelline for millions of dollars.

  I still remembered the first time I’d met them, the time they dared me to do a body shot with a complete stranger and encouraged me to “gently
brush up against his dick...just to see if it’s as big as it looks...” They’d claimed that that was step one to getting over Ryan, step one in showing him who was better off.

  I can’t be left alone with the three of them for A WEEK...Where the hell is Sandra?!

  “Nice seeing you again, ladies. I’ll be right back.” I smiled and slipped away to the restroom. I immediately pulled out my phone and called Sandra.

  It rang six times before she picked up.

  “Hello?” She was whispering.

  “Are you on your way to the airstrip? The flight leaves in thirty minutes.”

  “Ohhhh, no. I am so sorry, Claire...”

  “You’re not coming to my bachelorette party? Are you serious?”

  “It wasn’t intentional. I was packed and ready to go this morning but...I’m engaged now!” She squealed. “Michael popped the question and he’s taking me to France tomorrow! Can you believe that?” There was a man’s voice in the background. “Wait, wait. It’s Claire. Give me ten more seconds.”

  “Ten more seconds?”

  “I really am sorry, Claire. I’ll make this up to you, I promise. I’ll take you out for drinks and a night on the town the second I get back.”

  “You can’t leave me with Helen and her friends...It’s one or the other—I can’t deal with all of them.”

  “They’re your friends too, Claire.” She was rolling her eyes—I could tell. “Maybe hanging out with them more often will stop you from being so uptight.”

  “You think I’m uptight?”

  The line went dead.

  Ugh...I shook my head and the door opened.

  “Phone sex?” Bobbie Jo stepped inside and flipped her long, honey colored tresses over her shoulder. “Is that what you’re doing?”

  “The door was closed, Bobbie Jo.”

  She shrugged. “I used to have phone sex all the time—back when I was doing shows overseas and no one around me spoke any English. I would call home just so I could get fucked over the phone.”

  “I wasn’t having phone sex. I was talking to Sandra.”

  “No need to explain. If I was engaged to Jonathan Statham, I would have sex with him any way I could—any time I could. I bet he fucks like a champion.”

  Oh, god...

  “Claire? Bobbie Jo?!” Helen called out from the cabin. “We’re about to take the first shots of the night!”

  I stood up and followed Bobbie Jo out of the restroom, silently reminding myself that this trip was only a week and that even though they were all wild, I wouldn’t let them talk me into doing anything that would make Jonathan upset.

  “Here you go, Claire.” Kim handed me two shot glasses. “You look a lot happier since I saw you last year. You’re glowing.”

  “Thank you.”

  “If I was having sex with a billionaire every day I’d probably be glowing too...” Helen picked up a bottle of vodka and filled our glasses. “Speaking of which, is his friend Corey single?”

  I rolled my eyes and tossed back both shots. I had the sudden feeling I was going to need to be drunk all weekend.

  Helen quickly refilled my glasses before holding her own drinks up high. “To men with huge dicks, never-ending sex, and to Claire’s last days as a single woman!”

  We all laughed and tossed back the drinks seconds before the flight attendant asked us to take our seats.

  I sat down and sent Jonathan one last text—“Going to Costa Rica for the week, Love you,” and swallowed two of the pills he’d given me. Before I knew it, I was staring at the back of my eyelids.

  “How do you pronounce the name of this place again?” Kim sighed.

  “Peninsula Papagayo.” Bobbie Jo enunciated each syllable. “The Gayo rhymes with I-yo.”

  “I’ll just keep saying Costa Rica...”

  I rolled over on my beach blanket and looked off into the distance. Peninsula Papagayo was one of the most beautiful places I’d ever explored: The waters that surrounded its coast were as blue as its sky, the lush greenery that stood behind the resort stretched for miles and miles, and pure, white sand covered all of its beaches.

  We’d only been here for three days, but it’d been way more relaxed and laid-back than I thought it would be.

  When we’d first arrived and checked into our private estate—an opulent six bedroom, four bathroom villa that sat right on the waters, Helen had given me a travel brochure and told me to choose whatever I wanted to do.

  I was shocked that she’d even asked for my suggestions, but per my request we’d gone sailing, bungee jumping, and taken a five mile hike on a wildlife trail. In between snorkeling, kayaking, and sight-seeing, we’d relaxed on the beach and downed countless umbrella drinks to pass the time; I honestly hoped the rest of the week would be the same.

  Bobbie Jo tapped my shoulder. “Are you relaxed enough to finally have some fun now? Or do we need to do another recreational activity? More tropical bird watching perhaps?”

  “It was a wildlife hike. Those birds were beautiful.”

  “They were also boring!” She rolled her eyes. “We’re going out every night for the rest of the week because I refuse to do anymore touristy-bullshit. Starting tonight, you’re going to dress like you’re single, dance like you’re single, and since you aren’t married yet—you’re going to act like you’re single.”

  “Agreed.” Kim stood up and covered me with her shadow. “No more lame outdoor shit, no more beach-napping, and no more late night calls to Jonathan.”

  “I haven’t called Jonathan...”

  They both crossed their arms and gave me blank stares.

  “I only call him once a day.”

  “He’s in Vegas right now!” Kim practically screamed. “Vegas! He’s enjoying himself to the max and you should be too!”

  “I am having fun...”

  The two of them pulled me up and walked me towards the shoreline, slipping their arms around me like they were holding me up. Then they pushed me into an oncoming wave.

  “We’re going to keep doing that until you wake up and realize where the fuck you are.” Kim laughed. “No more calling Jonathan. Okay? Helen has been planning this trip for weeks and she really wants you to have a good, sexy time. That’s why she went back to the room for the afternoon—she’s planning what we’re going to do tonight.”

  “She went back to the room with a half-naked bartender...”

  They both burst into laughter and joined me in the water.

  “Okay, so maybe she got bored from doing outdoor activities for three days straight.” Bobbie Jo shrugged. “But tonight, all of that changes. Got it?”

  Later that night, Helen slipped into a sundress and smiled. “I am now an official member of the thoroughly well-fucked club! Today’s romp goes down in my top ten fucks of all time.”

  “I thought you didn’t keep count.”

  “I don’t keep count. I do rank though.” She laughed and handed me a huge strawberry margarita. “Are you ready to finally start your bachelorette party?”

  “It’s not going to be anything crazy, right?”

  “Of course it is.” She rolled her eyes. “Hurry up and drink that so I can get you to the first surprise.”

  “Wait...Are Bobbie Jo and Kim coming with us? Why did they ditch me after the beach?”

  “Drink the damn drink, Claire.”

  I sighed and downed the drink in three huge gulps—wincing at the incredible amount of alcohol that was mixed in.

  “Okay now, here...” She pulled me up and secured a blindfold around my eyes. “Step forward...Watch your step...Step up a little bit...Okay now keep moving forward...”

  I didn’t know where the hell she was taking me, but half an hour later she was still leading me around.

  “Thank you sir,” she said to someone as she pushed me forward.

  A cool blast of air hit my face and I could feel the smooth floors of an indoor building. I kept following her directions until she suddenly grabbed my shoulders and held me st
ill.

  Clearing her throat, she removed my blindfold and I realized I was standing in the middle of a massive spa and salon. There was no one else around except Bobbie Jo and Kim, and they were standing on the other side of the room, waving at me.

  “Before we can get the real party started, Kim and Bobbie Jo are going to give you a much needed makeover.”

  “What? I don’t want a makeover.” I waved my ring in front of her face. “And I clearly don’t need one.”

  “Sweet, naïve, and foolish Claire...” She shook her head. “You’re making married woman mistake number one and you’re not even married yet. No man wants to come home to the same woman month after month. You have to switch it up every now and then. Keep him interested, make him remember why you’re the—yeah...Feel free to fill in all the shit I don’t believe in right there.” She laughed. “I personally love your style and your hair, but you’ve been wearing it the same way for four and half years so it’s time for a change. Besides, I highly doubt two supermodels will screw you over.”

  “Are you going to stick around and watch?” I noticed her stepping backwards.

  “Claire, there’s a vaginal steaming spa right down the hall. The treatment is supposed to tighten my walls and make sex ten times more pleasurable. Where do you think I’m going to be?”

  “You’re a terrible friend.”

  “I love you too.” She walked me over to Kim and Bobbie Jo. “Please don’t scare Claire too much. She’s practically innocent.”

  They laughed and shooed her away.

  “Sit down here.” Bobbie Jo helped me into a salon chair. “You have very good symmetry, Claire. I’m not sure if I ever told you that before.”

  “Thank you very much.”

  “No, no, no. I was talking about you, not to you. This is business.” She grabbed a tweezer and plucked one of my eyebrows. “Look at this, Kim. These brows aren’t in line with her natural shape. We need to fix that now so they’ll be shaped perfectly when she gets married.”