The Scale (Martha's Way)

by Mika Jolie

  * * * *

  Blake’s elbow landed on Jason’s ribcage. Minka looked on as Jason winced in pain and pressed his chest closer to Blake’s back. He leaned forward, reached in and snatched the basketball out of Blake’s possession and sprinted forward to the basket. He grabbed the ball in his wide palm, bounced it once or twice then threw it hard over to Blake.

  As Blake dribbled the ball past Jason, Jason quickly turned on his heels to catch up with his opponent. But Blake was also quick on his feet. He spun around Jason as he made a drive for the basket.

  Caught up in the intense competition between the two men, Minka leaned forward and continued to observe. She could detect the competitive edge taking over Jason. Something else was there too. Anger. He reached from behind and smacked the ball away from Blake. As he did so, the two men tangled just before their bodies came crashing down on the hard court.

  “Flagrant foul,” Blake said, clearly irritated by the hit from behind.

  “That’s bullshit!” Jason said, just as irritated.

  To make matters worse, Blake chuckled, took the ball and made his way to the basket.

  “That wasn’t a foul,” Jason complained.

  “Want to ask our audience?”

  Things unraveled quickly. Minka turned to see Keely watching with a concerned look in her eyes. Lily also looked concerned but not so much for Blake. Adam stood leaning in the doorway looking amused. Lastly she caught sight of Jason, his facial expression revealed nothing. But she knew him well enough by now to know inside he was a raging mess.

  He knew.

  She felt his frustration. Her deception. She almost walked away from him over Rita, but not once had she come forward about Blake. Instead she buried it and in a way almost pretended her infatuation with his best friend didn’t exist.

  She was a hypocrite.

  She heard Jason admit to the hard foul. Blake made one of the two shots, which meant Jason still managed to win the game by one point.

  The two men shook hands and shared one of those men hugs, the incident water under the bridge. Keely walked over, patted Jason’s shoulder, silently letting him know all was well. Minka waited for him to come to her. To show him her heart only belonged to him, but he walked past her without even a glance in her direction.

  Her heart sank.

  Minka entered the bedroom just as Jason emerged from the shower stark naked with a towel drying his hair. She remembered their first morning together, how embarrassed she had been by his nudity. Now every inch of his body was familiar to her. He slipped into a pair of gray boxer briefs before reaching for his jeans and slipped into them.

  “Enjoying the view?” he asked with his back to her. His voice indicated he was clearly amused by her.

  Feeling caught in the act, Minka quickly looked away. She’d followed him to the room to talk and clear the air. After the display on the basketball court, she couldn’t continue ignoring the big elephant between them. But he was quickly by her side and reached for her hand.

  “Don’t be shy.” His voice was soft and gentle.

  A slight smile touched her lips. “I’m working on that. We need to talk.”

  Tilting her chin up with his free hand, his lips covered hers with a soft kiss. “Talk later. Let’s work on that shyness thing,” he whispered against her lips. “Do you want to?”

  As always he had the ability to make her do whatever he wanted. “Yes,” she answered somewhere from the back of her throat.

  “Good. Make me hard then,” he said as he placed sweet butterfly kisses along the nape of her neck. “With your mouth.”

  Minka had limited experience with the actual physical act of oral sex. Her experience amounted to zero. It wasn’t that it hadn’t crossed her mind. God, every time Jason had touched her, she wondered, but shyness and lack of confidence had held her back.

  Fear of disappointing him rushed through her mind. Jason was experienced, had been with many experienced women. No way in hell would she live up to any expectations he had or past experiences.

  “Jason…” She opened her mouth to tell him she couldn’t, not because she didn’t want to, On the contrary, she didn’t want to fail.

  “Do you want to?”

  She nodded.

  He smiled. That damned sexy smile that always made her quiver. “Tell me.”

  This whole talking thing and telling her partner what she wanted, what felt good was completely out of her comfort zone, but with Jason she had become more vocal. And the more she did it, the more comfortable it had gotten. So she said the words she knew he wanted to hear. “Yes.”

  He smiled, a slow satisfactory smile. “Then you should probably unbutton my jeans.”

  Clumsily, her fingers snapped the waist of his jeans open.

  “Pull me out,” he said, his face a dark mask of desire.

  Minka licked her bottom lip and reached inside the thick material to feel Jason. Her fingers automatically tightened around him. His eyes met hers with a teasing smile when she pulled him free from the constraint of his jeans.

  She longed to touch him, to caress him, to take him in her mouth. Like a kitten, she started to slide her body down to her knees. He reached and held her back.

  “If you do that, I won’t last.”

  A slow devious smile curved her lips and she lowered herself to her knees. With her hand around him, she stroked him back and forth before sliding her tongue around the crest of his shaft, taking him fully in her mouth in one slow, swooping movement.

  She heard him hiss before letting out a sharp curse as he buried his fingers into her mass of curls and pushed himself deeper inside her mouth. Loving the reaction she got out of him, a sense of confidence rose inside her. Lifting her head, she looked at him. He looked back at her. Feeling empowered, she ran her tongue over his shaft once more before swallowing as much of him as she could while increasing the thrusting rhythm with her mouth.

  “Damn it, Minka.” His voice dark with torture. “Slow down, sweetheart,” he begged. “Shit.”

  The pleading sound enticed her more. Never had she felt this much in charge. It made her hungry for more. Removing him from her mouth but only inches away from her lips, she asked, “Would you like me to stop?”

  She prayed he said no. She had never seen him looked so tormented, so much so that she half expected him to bring her back to her feet, but he shook his head and dropped his hands to his sides. He looked defeated.

  “No,” he growled. “I will let you know when I’m near.”

  She heard the words, but didn’t care for them. His reaction to her touch made her want to please him more. Her lips wrapped around him once again. He muttered something in French before his body joined her lips in a thrusting motion, allowing her to control the speed.

  Up and down, she moved her mouth, her tongue sliding, circling over him. Jason sucked some air deeply into his lungs. His hands found her head again, his fingers buried deep in her curls as he helped guide her mouth over him.

  The whole scene drove her crazy. She felt free and, probably for the first time in her life, completely uninhibited. Wanting to pleasure him even more, she leaned her body a little forward so that she could allow more room in her mouth to take him further in. She heightened the stroke of her mouth and tongue along Jason’s hardness.

  With his fingers deeply buried in her curls, she felt Jason lift his hips to push himself deeper in her mouth. A slow moan of pleasure escaped her throat. Minka shifted her body on the floor so she could take most of him in her mouth.

  “Minka, it’s time…let’s…”

  He tried to remove himself from her, but her hands cupped his butt and pressed him deeper in her mouth, not allowing him a chance to escape.

  His body shivered just as a tremor ran through her. To her surprise, Minka realized she also had reached that pinnacle just from pleasuring him.

  After a few seconds of silence, he reached and brought her to her feet into his arms. She buried her face in his chest.

/>   “Look at me, Minka.”

  Shyly, she did as he asked.

  “You didn’t have to do that.” His voice was gentle as he said the words. “I know you’ve never done that before.”

  “I wanted to,” she confessed. “Was it not good?”

  He laughed and held her tighter. “Darling, it was beyond good. You blew my mind.”

  Her cheeks warmed with pleasure. “Oh.”

  Her eyes stayed on him, the salty taste of him still in her mouth. “Jason…”

  “Yup…”

  He was back to being the cool, laid-back Jason. I’m in love with you, she wanted to confess, but unable to voice the words. The reason for her hesitation was clear. In order to give herself completely to Jason, she had to deal with Blake. Close that chapter in her life and say goodbye to him. Only then could she free herself and embrace the future.

  She closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed the man who had managed to take her heart and soul.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “You can't put being in love on a scale. Either you are or you aren't.”

  Jenny Han, We'll Always Have Summer

  Minka walked over to the sofa to retrieve her shirt. The house was still quiet, but she knew most of them were awake and busy packing. They were just moving a little slower than usual, hung over from consuming too much wine on their last night. She wrinkled her nose. She was in the same boat. They all were; well, not Jason. He had gone for his usual early morning jog. Minka had chosen the opportunity to do a once-over to make sure nothing was left behind.

  As she stepped on the patio, she spotted Lily’s lithe figure exiting the pool house where Adam had chosen as his place of residence for the weekend. Minka quickly tiptoed out of view but continued to observe the situation.

  Adam appeared by the door, dressed in a pair of dark pajama pants. With his thick, unruly curls, he leaned between the doorway and pulled Lily back into his arms for a kiss. Her friend didn’t seem to hesitate and kissed him back before walking away. Their hands intertwined until the distance eventually caused their fingers to drift apart. Without looking back, Lily crossed over the yard to the house. Adam continued to watch her until she disappeared before closing the door behind him.

  With a smile, Minka followed her friend inside and cleared her throat, announcing her appearance. Caught in the act, her friend spun around to look at her. Minka noticed a glow on her friend’s face that wasn’t there when she first arrived or had ever been there before.

  “Had a good night?” she asked.

  Lily immediately picked up a pillow and fluffed it. “Blame it on too much wine.”

  Minka let out a soft chuckle and shook her head. She wouldn’t let her friend get off that easy. “Or maybe it was just good.”

  Lily rolled her eyes. “Well, obviously. But my friend, you can wipe that smirk off your face and kill the hope while you’re at it. That was just sex.”

  “I didn’t say anything,” Minka said with feigned innocence. They knew each other too well.

  Lily smiled, appearing more like her old self. “I know what you’re thinking. Now that you’re in love, you want everyone to fall in love.”

  Feeling guilty, Minka tried to shrug her friend’s words away. “Well, you guys have great chemistry.”

  “No, we don’t,” Lily answered quickly. “We don’t like each other, but yes, the sex is awesome. I will miss it, I guess, but it was nice while it lasted.”

  “That’s it, then.”

  Lily nodded. “Of course.” She giggled and brushed the bangs of her pixie cut from her eyes. “Did you think I was going to continue seeing him?” Not giving Minka an opportunity to respond, Lily continued, “The man spends most of his time in Italy racing cars all over these exotic places and sleeps with all these exotic women. I’m just a Puerto Rican girl from New Jersey with a great teaching job that I love. I don’t need the complication. I already kicked one asshole out of my life.”

  The words failed to convince Minka, but she chose not to say anything or point out the fact her friend’s eyes were still staring in the direction of the pool house. Instead, she gently removed the pillow from her friend’s grasp and placed it back on the sofa.

  “You don’t believe me, do you?” Lily continued.

  Minka smiled. “I didn’t say anything.”

  “Where’s that sexy boyfriend of yours?”

  “Running.”

  “Oh yes, he has a great body, by the way. Those tats would make any woman drool.”

  “Adam has a tattoo.” Minka pointed out.

  Her friend sighed. “Yes, so does Adam. And he makes me drool. Happy?”

  Lily’s voice sounded exasperated, but Minka knew better. “Yes, I am.”

  “Seriously, my friend, there’s nothing between me and Adam. I just chose to live free this weekend and do something out of character.”

  Minka nodded. She understood where Lily was coming from because she was an example of it, except she had fallen in love and had learned to let go of something that was never hers. And in some bizarre way, she managed to find herself along the way.

  She also knew Lily long and well enough to know that hooking up with a complete stranger wasn’t the norm for her. But with all she had gone through, Minka was sure she needed the distraction and didn’t blame her friend. Especially when her choice was someone Minka had grown very fond of.

  “I wish I’d been home when you discovered…”

  “You’re here with your sister and I’m fine. I’m over the whole thing. Besides, it looks like you and Keely have made progress.”

  “A little.” Minka nodded. “I’m working on being a better sister.”

  Lily smiled and appeared to be pleased with the idea. “Your sister loves you. Your whole family does. It’s about time you allowed yourself to be loved by them.”

  She agreed with her friend. She still had the coming week to take a more active role in her sister’s wedding. Minka intended to use the opportunity to make things better between the two of them.

  “Time to jump off the bridge,” Lily shouted, her voice filled with excitement.

  They lined up side-by-side on Jaws Bridge with Keely by her side and Jason on the other end engaged in a conversation with Adam and Lily. They were next in line to jump, fulfilling Lily’s wish to follow the island tradition.

  “It’s a wonderful feeling, isn’t it?” Keely whispered with a smile.

  “What is?”

  A wide grin spread over her sister’s face. “Love.”

  For so long, the wall she’d built had forced her to deny, to run, but this time Minka smiled and nodded. Keely reached and took her hands in hers.

  “One never plans to fall in love, my beautiful sister. Sometime you have to dive in and enjoy it.” She grinned with delight at Minka before releasing her hand and plunging into the ocean.

  She was next. Minka eyed her sister swimming in the water. A sense of foreboding bubbled inside. Jason’s hand touched her shoulder, ready to jump with her.

  “My turn,” she said with a weak smile.

  “We can do it together if you are…”

  “I can do this,” she said. Worst-case scenario she’d fall flat on her face. She had done worse. He didn’t argue, instead, he stepped aside and released her.

  The drop wasn’t extreme, barely a few feet into the ocean and the airtime lasted a mere second or two. Yet, the free fall was the most intense rush of adrenaline Minka had ever felt outside of being with Jason. The water embraced her skin as soon her body connected to it. For a moment, Minka closed her eyes and let the waves float her away.

  She opened her eyes in time to see Jason diving into the ocean. With fluid strokes he swam over to her, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her breathless.

  When Minka finally lifted her head to insert some air into her lungs, she surveyed the group. This would be their last time together as they were now. Drunk with excitement without a care in the worl
d. Blake and Keely were lost in a passionate kiss. Adam and Lily’s bodies seemed to have merged into one as he cupped her friend’s face, kissing her.

  Soon, her sister would be married and settled into a different life. Her relationship with Jason would continue, but who knew where they’d end up? Lily was now single and starting a new life, with or without Adam. That was up to her friend. Claire was due to return to the island for the wedding, but would soon head back to California where she lived. Her new CD was being released and then she had a year-round tour on the road.

  It all felt bittersweet.

  Minka wasn’t sad. They were all going to start a new phase in their lives and for once, she was looking forward to her next chapter.

  “I hate to break up this party, but I have a ferry to catch,” Lily told everyone.

  “I will drive you,” Adam volunteered.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “Get off the scale.”

  Steve Maraboli

  Jason spotted his father right away at the far corner of the restaurant. In addition to finalizing his father’s divorce, most of his time was spent on the final preparations for the wedding. To say he was tired was an understatement. There was only one place he wanted to be right now, in bed with Minka. But he needed to do this. It helped knowing she was still at the inn with her family.

  He slid onto the empty chair and quickly ordered a glass of scotch. This discussion needed to take place. He needed some closure. He reached into his messenger bag, pulled out the folder and slid it across the table.

  Jason leaned back against the chair, his eyes set on the man who had shaped most of his life as he read the final divorce settlement with a pleased expression.

  “A lump sum agreement with no ties.” His father summarized the outcome of his divorce. “How did you get her to agree to this?”

  Jason thought back to the unpleasant visit to Agnes’ house, where he calmly reminded her she had deceived his father, just as he had done to his mother. Screwing someone other than your spouse he found in their pre-nuptial automatically made their agreement null and void, which worked out for his father and gave Jason more bargaining power.