Love Never Fails

by L. D. Harmison

  “Baby it’s no problem. She deserves it too.”

  John and Jake waves their goodbye and heads to Galveston. Monica grabs the book she started reading last night, turns Barney on the television, motions Ella to sit next to her, and while Ella watches, she gets lost in her romance novel. They must have fallen asleep, because Monica jumps when she hears her cellphone ringing.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey biotch. What are you doing?”

  “Well I was reading my book. But I guess I feel asleep. What’s up biotch?”

  “Do you want to go have dinner with Josh and me at Landry’s in Kemah?”

  “Ah, I don’t know. I have Ella with me.”

  “Bring her along.”

  Monica doesn’t know what to do. She promised Jake to never be alone with Josh. But her best friend and daughter will be there. So it’s not like she’s alone with him. What would Jake do if he was in the same situation? He’ll never risks being in that situation, because he doesn’t ever want to lose her again. But her best friend did beg her to go. And she barely sees her anymore. They can catch up on each other’s’ lives. She forces herself to go along.

  “Ok. What time?”

  “Say six.”

  “Ok. Ella and I will be there. Can I bring my mom too?”

  “Sure. See you guys at six.”

  Monica takes a deep breathe. What is she going to do if Jake finds out? He doesn’t like her being with Josh when he isn’t around. Monica picks up her phone and tries calling Jake, but it goes straight to his voicemail.

  She leaves a message, “Hey babe. Kelly invited me to go eat with her and Josh. I’m bringing Ella and my mom with me. Hope ya’ll are catching a lot of fish. I love you. Bye.”

  She gets Ella ready and walks to her parents’ place to invite her mom. “Mom are you busy?”

  “No dear. What’s going on?” Lauren lowers the remote.

  “Kelly wanted me to go eat with her and Josh.” And before Monica can finish, Lauren interrupts her.

  “Oh dear. Does Jake know?”

  “Yes mom I called him, and told him.”

  “So do you want me to watch Ella for you?” Lauren is bothered that she’s going to go eat with Kelly and Josh without Jake.

  “No mom. I was hoping you weren’t busy, so you can come with Ella and me?”

  “Oh dear. That will be great. I’m ready when you are.”

  Monica smiles. She knows what her mom was thinking. She’s worried Jake will be mad, and she wants to come along, so Jake will feel a little more comfortable that someone is there to keep an eye on Josh.

  Monica buckles Ella in her car seat, and drives while her mom is on the passenger side talking up a storm about everything and anything. Once they get to restaurant, Josh and Kelly are waiting for them with Josh chugging on a beer and Kelly sipping on a pina colada. Kelly runs up to them, giving them hugs. When Monica greets Josh, he comes up to her and gives her a kiss on her cheek. He places his hand on her hips, squeezing tight. Her heart pounds fast, scared of what Jake might think. He gestures them inside, and Josh follows behind Monica, checking her out. Monica turns, and smiles nervously when she notices he’s looking at her in a “I want you right now” kind of way. Kelly sits herself, and when Josh pulls out a chair for Monica, Lauren takes a seat, just so Jake wouldn’t get mad. Monica sits between her mom and Ella.

  “Did you want me to spend a night tonight since you guys are leaving so early tomorrow?” Kelly asks.

  Laurens brow rises letting Monica know that isn’t a good idea.

  “Yeah I think that’s a good idea babe. You and I can spend a night at their house tonight. I mean if that’s ok with Monica?” Josh gives Monica a wolfish smile.

  “Well I was thinking if you can come tomorrow morning instead. I really wanted to spend some alone time with Ella tonight.”

  “Oh ok.” Kelly pouts.

  Lauren gives her daughter a proud glance. Monica isn’t trying to put herself in a situation that can jeopardize her marriage. After their food arrives, Josh gives all his attention to Monica, making her feel really awkward. She’s thinking, how come Kelly sit there, unaware of what he’s doing? If Jake was ever to do that especially in front of her, he would have been knocked out on the ground. Monica keeps looking at her phone, checking to see if Jake called back, but he hasn’t. Lauren can tell Monica is rushing to get out of there, so she tells them she’s feeling tired, and hopes Monica can hurry up so she can drop her home. Monica is so delighted that her mom can read her mind. Kelly promises to be there in the morning and they part ways. Josh reaches in for another hug, but Monica holds out her hand instead. Josh surprised, shakes her hand.

  Saturday morning comes, and Kelly shows up without Josh. Monica feels so relieved. She doesn’t feel right with him around. Ella hugs her mom and grandma, and she seats on the couch with Kelly so she can watch Lion King again.

  The spa is so luxurious. You are treated like a queen the moment you enter the doors. They’re offered champagne, and they’re led to the lockers to change into soft fluffy robes, and memory foamed slippers. Their masseuse greets them at the waiting area, and they were taken to a couples massage room. Monica and Lauren ask for the deep tissue Swedish massage.

  Their masseuse taps on their shoulders letting them know their massage is done, and now it’s time for their manicure and pedicure. Their massage felt so great, they both fell asleep. After they get their nails done, they both get their hair colored and trimmed. Monica doesn’t want that much of her hair cut off. She likes it when Jake pulls her hair when they’re having sex.

  30

  As Ella is tucked asleep in her room; Monica jumps in the shower, and gets ready for bed. She slips into her lavender silk and lace slip, combs her damn hair, applies Oil of Olay night cream on her face, grabs her book on the night stand, climbs on the bed and starts reading her novel.

  She hears the door open, and she gleams with joy when Jake enters the bedroom. Without any words, Jake clambers on the bed taking his clothes off in a hurry. He sits between her legs, meets her lips, and embraces her. He smells like sweat, Gulf water, and his natural odor, but he still smells great as far as Monica is concerned. She receives his need for her and pays him back with her longing desire to please him.

  “I missed you.” He whispers.

  “I can tell.” She feels him against her private area.

  He nestles his lips on her neck and with his delicate but mighty touch, she begs him not to stop. He cups her head in his hand, and slowly puts her beneath him. He spreads her thighs with his knees, and endearingly penetrates her. She rolls with the punches he relinquishes, and with her ineffectual efforts to hold back, she releases her undeniable affection.

  “Oh baby, you feel so good when you come on me.” He nibbles on her lips.

  “Babe, please don’t stop.” She pleads.

  He isn’t finished just yet. He wants to gratify her urge again. With one easy swoop, he spins her with one arm, and he lay on his back under her spell. She demands him to put his arms above his head and to leave it there. She plants both feet flat on the bed, and bounces her butt up and down on him, smacking his flesh intensely. When she sees him move his arms, she commands with her index finger.

  “Don’t think about it.”

  With a couple more forceful springs, he brings his hands to her thighs, and he tightens as their secretions implode in sync.

  “Baby I really missed you.”

  “I really missed you too babe. Did you guys catch anything?”

  “Yeah we caught a couple of Reds.”

  “Oh really? That’s nice. Who caught the biggest one?”

  Jake curls his lips, “You’re dad.”

  Monica laughs, kisses him to coddle his pride.

  “So how did the dinner go?”

  “It was weird. But we left right away.”

  “I don’t know why he’s all of a sudden interested in you?”

  “So I’m not a person to be interested in?�
��

  “Baby you’re mine, and my best friend shouldn’t be interested in you like that.”

  “Babe I’m yours and will always be yours.”

  “I can ask you a question, without you getting mad?”

  “Ah ok.”

  “Have you ever dated Josh?”

  “Dated? No.”

  “Why did you say no like that?”

  “You asked if we’ve ever dated, and I said no.” Monica tries to play it off.

  “Oh ok. You guys didn’t date, but have you ever had sex with him?” He questions sarcastically.

  Monica pauses and inhales slowly, “Yes.”

  “Yes? What? When?” Jake’s voice increases with every question.

  “In junior high. We wanted to experiment.” She pauses. “We were each other’s first.”

  “What the fuck Monica. Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

  “I didn’t think it was important.”

  “Not important. You guys gave each other your virginities, and that’s not important?”

  “Jake I never asked you who your first was, because it’s irrelevant. That’s the past.”

  “But we don’t hang out with my first either. We are close with Josh. And he’s my best friend that keeps eyeing you. How is that irrelevant?”

  “Please stop. I’m begging you to stop. Don’t let this ruin the wonderful moment we just had. I love you and only you. It was in junior high. We wanted to try it, so we did. That’s all. And the next day we still acted like friends, and we’ve been friends since.”

  “Does Kelly know?”

  “Yes. I told her when they started dating.”

  “And she was ok with it?”

  “I’m guessing so. They’re still together.”

  Jake doesn’t respond, and sits there with a blank expression on his face. An expression Monica has never seen before. Monica pulls her knees towards her chest, covers her face with her hands, and massages her temples. Jake gets up and takes a shower, leaving her on the bed with uncertainties. He stands in the shower with his head against the wall, and tries to thinks of ways to go about this. How can he still be best friends with a guy that had sex with his wife? Yes it happened before he came into the picture, but it still isn’t right. What should he do? He can’t get rid of Monica. That’s the love of his life. He needs her to be able to live and breathe. Why did she keep this from him, he thought? Why keep it a secret?

  After he showers, he puts his boxers on, and gets in the bed with Monica. She’s still sitting there covering her face. He pulls her down next to him, and he apologizes for how he reacted. He shouldn’t have blown up at her like that. Yes it’s the past, and he knows Monica has no feelings for Josh. But what worries him, is how Josh still feels for her.

  “Baby I love you, and only you.” Monica cries.

  “Sshhh. Please don’t cry baby. I’m so sorry for how I acted. I just can’t bear the thought of losing you to another man.”

  “You don’t ever have to worry about that. I’m here forever.”

  She rests her head on his chest. Holding her, they fall asleep.

  Jo-Wills signed another contract with a company in New Mexico, making Jake and John really busy with work. Ella starts Kindergarten today, and she’s crying holding onto Monica’s leg.

  “Mommy, please don’t leave me.”

  “Baby girl I can’t stay. The teachers won’t let me. But I promise I will be here at three o’clock to pick you up.”

  “You promise mommy.”

  “I promise munchkin. Plus you’ll meet some kids your age, and you guys can learn and play together. Alright?”

  “Ok mommy. Only if you keep your promise to be here to pick me up.”

  “Yes baby. I promise.”

  Ella’s teacher introduces her to her classmates while Monica sneaks out. What is Monica going to do now? She’s so used to it always being her and Ella. She can go work for Jo-Wills, but she won’t be off in time to pick Ella from school. She heads to the cleaners and drops Jake’s clothes off. The lady is so nice to her, and she always asks about Monica’s family. Business owners should always be connected to their customers. That’s what brings patrons. Monica heads back home to work out. When they built their home, she wanted a gym with all the top of the line equipment. She never felt comfortable working up a sweat, and guys coming up to her asking for her name. She always wondered why men did that. They see a woman wearing their wedding ring, she’s dripping sweat, making horrible faces every time she lifts the weights, and they still want to come up and ask her name. Is that what they like? Does it turn them on? It must be a guy thing. Jake always works out every morning before he showers for work, and this is the first time Monica uses their home gym.

  Monica looks in the mirror, drenching sweat. Her phone rings, and it’s Jake.

  “Hey babe.”

  “Hi baby. What are you doing?”

  “I just finished working out?”

  “What? You’re finally using the equipment you begged for?” Jake laughs.

  “Ha. Ha. You’re so funny. I forgot to laugh.” She giggles. “What’s up?”

  “I have some good news.”

  “Oh really. Enlighten me.”

  “Your dad moved me up.”

  “That’s great babe.” Monica trying to act like she doesn’t know.

  “Ah, you knew?”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “Babe, I know you too well. By the sound of your voice, you knew.”

  “Dammit. Ok I knew. He told my mom, and my mom told me.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I wanted him to tell you. I want him to see your real reaction. If I told you, then it wouldn’t be the same as if he told you. I think its best that my dad experiences your facial expression. He is the one that always believed in you.”

  “Yeah that’s true. Baby I think we should celebrate.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “Well I better get back to work before your dad fires me.”

  Monica giggles, “He’s never going to fire you crazy.”

  “I love you baby.”

  “I love you too babe.”

  Monica takes a shower, and looks in the mirror. She notices her workout is really working. She didn’t need to work out. Her body looks exactly the same from when she was in high school. Pregnancy did not ruin her sexy figure.

  31

  Ten years go by, Ella is fifteen years old and she’s in junior high. John made Jake his Executive Vice President, which means long hours into the night and business trips once a month. Monica does the same thing every day during the week. She drops Ella to school, drop off Jake’s clothes to the cleaners, go home to work out, buys the food she will be cooking that night from the grocery store, run a couple more errands here and there, pick Ella up from school, go home to help her with homework and cook dinner.

  She reads her book, waiting for Jake to come home, and manages to have enough energy to cater to Jake’s sexual needs. She has lunch dates every Thursdays with Jake, and whenever Kelly isn’t busy with Josh, she has girl’s day on Fridays. On the weekends, Ella either has a soccer games or cheerleading competitions, giving them Sundays to recover, preparing for what the next week brings.

  Everything is perfect in Monica’s eyes. This is how she wanted her life to be. She wanted to be the soccer mom that everybody talked about. She has a wonderful hard working husband, and a talented daughter. She thought it was time to add to their family. When she mentions to Jake her plans, he jumps on the idea like the way a lion jumps on its prey. He likes the idea of having another child and what it entails to make another child. He loves having sex with Monica. It never gets old with her. She knows how to entice him even after fourteen years of marriage.

  She’s at home reading her book, and Jake makes his daily call to her.

  “Hi babe.”

  “Hi baby. What are you doing?”

  “I’m reading my book. What time
are you getting off? It’s already seven.”

  “I’m driving home right now. I just called to tell you I want you naked in our bed when I get home. So whatever you have on, better be off before I get there.”

  “Oh baby, I’m already taking it off. I’m ready. Come on home.”

  “Rub our clit for me.”

  Monica does what Jake asks, and Jake gets aroused with Monica’s erotic moaning.

  “Now stick your finger inside. I want you to feel how wet you are. Move your fingers baby. Yes like that. Keep moaning for me. Damn I can’t wait to be inside. Keep moving your fingers baby. Oh yes. Moan louder for me baby. Now stick another finger inside. Does it feel good baby.”

  “OOhhhh yes baby.” Monica moans louder. “Baby I’m about to come. Ahhh…Yes.”

  “Keep pushing your fingers inside. Moan for me baby. Put the phone on speaker. Rub your clit with your other hand baby. Yes like that. Let me hear you come baby. Yes. Like that. Oh my god. You sound so fucking sexy right now. Yes baby. Let me hear you come. Come right now baby.”

  Just like that, with one little command from Jake, she comes twitching her body violently against the bed. Moments later, Jake enters their bedroom, and he fucks her in a ruthless loving way.

  The next morning, after Monica drops Ella off to school, she has lunch with Kelly. Josh and Kelly have been engaged for five years, before they actually said their I do’s.

  “Hey boitch.” Kelly kisses Monica on her cheek.

  “Hey girl. How are you doing?”

  “Ahh it could be better.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Josh wants to move. He wants to be closer to his job.”

  “The job in Louisiana?”

  “Yup.”

  “But doesn’t he work like a month on and a month off?”

  “Yes.”

  “So what are you supposed to do with the month he’s on? You’re not going to have anybody to talk to. You and I won’t be able to have our girl’s day on Fridays anymore.”

  “Yeah that’s what I told him. I don’t see why we have to move closer to where he works, if his work routine is going to be the same. At least when I’m here and he’s off to work for that month, I have you to spend time with.”