Waiting for Us

by Stanton, Dawn

  “Did daddy give you hell at work over it? I told him I wanted him to stay out of our relationship, but he said he can separate being your boss from being my dad.”

  Now this is starting to make sense...he works for her father. Interesting. I’m surprised he’s dating anyone never mind his boss’ daughter. What an idiot. I guess he’s never heard the saying - you don’t get your honey where you get your money. It almost never works out well and I’m actually looking forward to this ending poorly for him. Someday, I may forgive him for what happened, but I will never forget it.

  Chapter Twelve

  July 3, 2010

  I’m so excited for the fireworks show tonight and sharing it with Marcus. The past two years Erik was here with me and even though we had fun I didn’t spend as much time with Marcus. I’m hoping to make up for that tonight. His mother is out of town with her new boyfriend so I’m going to stay over at their house. This actually works out well, because Jake and his friends are all here. Yes, Lulu is here too. I don’t want to be around them anymore than I have to. I’m trying to let it go, but that doesn’t mean I want it shoved in my face all day and night, either. It’s not easy being the bigger person. I’m really struggling with it because all I want to do is go over to him, punch him in the nose and then explain to his girlfriend what a prize he is. I’m only eighteen and he’s almost twenty-six, so why do I have to be the bigger person? If he had offered any kind of apology or acknowledged what happened was wrong, not because of our age difference, but because he’s involved with someone else, I might feel better about the whole thing. Instead, I’m feeling guilty for having sex with Lulu’s boyfriend when I didn’t even know about her.

  ***

  Marcus and I are on my favorite blanket, in “our spot” when the fireworks begin. He leans over, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me in front of him and placing me between his legs. He rests his chin on my shoulder and we watch the fireworks cuddled up against one another.

  “This is nice. I’m glad I have you to myself this year.” He tells me. I nod my head in agreement.

  “I was just thinking the same thing. The last couple of years were fun, but Erik was here and it took away from our normal routine. Tonight you're stuck with me.”

  “Are we heading to the bonfires as usual or do you want to switch it up?” He asks.

  “Let’s head down there and see who’s there. You better not run off with Lexy this year.” I say and poke him in his stomach.

  He laughs before saying, “you need to let that shit go.”

  “I have. We’re still friends aren’t we?” I ask innocently batting my eyelashes. He barks out a laugh and squeezes me tight. “You kill me, Hails. You are too much.”

  We watch the remainder of the fireworks mostly in silence, just enjoying the peace of being with each other. His arms around me make me feel as if I can make it through all the craziness of the past couple weeks and be better for it. He’s helped me deal with a lot of difficult things that have happened to me since the New Year’s Eve debacle with E. We’ve had a great talk about it all, including what happened with Cory. At first he wanted to beat the shit out of him and I have to say, judging by how angry he was, I think he could’ve easily taken him. I somehow managed to talk him down and he hasn’t spoken a single word to Cory since. They’ve never been best buddies or anything, but they’re usually polite and occasionally joke around. I haven't spoken to him at all, either. If he comes into a room, I usually get up and walk away. I keep waiting for Jake to catch on and ask me about it, but so far so good.

  ***

  After Marcus and I had hung out at the bonfires for about an hour, we decided to head back to his house. It was nice seeing old friends, but I don’t think either of us was feeling it. It’s now ten at night, so the beach is mostly empty. The dry sand is making it difficult to navigate in the dark and more than one time I’ve nearly fallen down. Marcus has been laughing at my lack of coordination.

  “I’m going to start calling you Grace.”

  “Ha-ha, you are such a riot. Now give me a piggy back ride so I don’t break my ankle.” He stops and squats down for me to hop on, before standing up. His hands are holding the back of my thighs near my ass, and I like the way it feels. I grip his broad shoulders with my hands and lean my cheek up against his.

  “My hero,” I say kissing him on his cheek. “I have a reward for you once we get to your house.”

  “Hmm, I’m a guy, I’m all about being rewarded,” Marcus replies as he starts to jog with me on his back. I giggle out loud from being bounced wildly up and down on his back. I clench my arms around his shoulders and hold on for dear life.

  ***

  We are sitting on Marcus’ couch watching Jaws when I remember I never gave him his reward. I get up and walk to his bedroom, where I left my backpack. I unzip the top and reach inside for the brand new bottle of tequila I packed in there. I go back to the living room and stand in front of Marcus, holding the bottle behind my back. He looks at me questioningly, while he waits for me to say something.

  “I have something for you that I know you’re going to like. I pull the bottle out from behind me and say “ta-da.” His eyes light up when he realizes what it is and he smiles at me.

  “Thanks, Hail. You know how much I love tequila. Should we get shot glasses or just pass the bottle?”

  “Marcus, we are civilized people. We don’t drink from the bottle; we need shot glasses. Besides, how else am I going to keep track of how much I’m drinking?” He laughs and gets up from the couch to grab some glasses. He places them on the coffee table, before cracking open the bottle’s seal and pouring us shots. He hands me mine and we both knock them back at the same time. I gasp a little from the after burn in my throat.

  “You’re a lightweight Hails. Here, have another one.” He pours me my second one and we clink them together before tipping them back. I cover my mouth and my eyes water a little from the sensation of it burning my mouth.

  We continue to watch the movie and shoot back shots for the next hour and now I’m feeling very mellow and warm. My limbs feel heavy and tired so I lean my head on Marcus’ shoulder. He puts his arm around me and pulls me into his side, so I’m cuddled against him. I look up at his handsome profile with his straight, narrow nose and full kissable lips and I think about how hot he actually is. I don’t know if it’s the amount of tequila I’ve downed or if I’m seeing him in a new light, now that I’m no longer in a relationship with anyone? He looks down at me and our eyes meet and lock...two very different shades of blue with the same hunger reflected in them. I’m not sure which one of us moves first but suddenly our lips are fused together and I’m straddling his lap. His hands are gripping my hair and I’m rubbing his coarsely stubbled jawline with both hands. I can’t wait to feel it scratching my sensitive areas. His hands slide down to my hips and around to cup my ass, inside the waistband of the boxers I’m wearing. They are loose so they make for easy access. I slide my palms slowly up the ridges and ripples of his stomach and pull his tee-shirt over his head. Resting against his muscular chest is the white gold cross that was his grandfather’s. Marcus never takes it off, not even to surf. He leans forward and aids me in pulling it over his head, before connecting our lips again, teasing my tongue with his. I sit back and remove my shirt, leaving me bare from the waist up.

  “I knew you’d be beautiful, just like I imagined. I’ve dreamed of this so many times, baby.” He cups both my breasts in his hands, rubbing my nipples. I groan at the contact as he takes one in his mouth and sucks gently on it. I grip his hair with both my hands and push my chest towards him. He moves to the other side and nibbles on my nipple, before gently biting it. I gasp from the feeling and roll my pelvis into his. I can feel his very hard and rather sizeable erection pressing deliciously against my core, leaving my boxers drenched.

  He stands up with me wrapped around him and carries me to his bed, laying me gently down on his navy blue comforter.

  “I want y
ou in my bed. I’ve pictured you here so many times.” He strips off his shorts and boxers in one sweep, before climbing on the bed to remove my boxers. We’re both naked now as we pause to gaze at each other.

  “Marcus your body is so freaking hot. Get over here now.” I order. He grins, laying over me and presses our lips together once more. I can feel him hard and ready up against me.

  “Marcus, how many girls have you been with?” I know this seems like an unorthodox time to ask this but, it’s better now than after. We’ve spoken about so many things from the fact that I’m on the pill to me reassuring him that Cory did wear a condom, that I’m shocked I never thought to ask him before. I just naturally assumed he had lost his virginity with some random girl.

  “I haven’t had sex before, Hails. I’ve always wanted my first time to be with you.” I grab him and pull his mouth to mine so forcefully our teeth clank together and I push my hips up so he’s sliding along the outside of my slit. I wrap my legs around his hips and beg him.

  “Please, Marcus. I need you now.” He reaches down, aligning himself and thrusts inside me for the first time. He releases a guttural groan and holds still for a moment.

  “Baby, you feel so good wrapped all around me.” He starts to move his hips back and forth and a succession of moans and groans fall from his lips. I take his hand and place it where I want him to rub me and he doesn’t disappoint. I pull his mouth down to mine, biting and nipping at his lips as he thrusts his hips faster and faster.

  “Don’t stop touching me,” I groan as I feel my release building. He throws his head back and he cries out my name in the midst of his release, sending me over the edge at the same time. He collapses in a heap on top of me as we both gasp for breath. He raises his head and stares into my eyes before placing a soft kiss on my lips.

  “That was beyond words. It was perfection, Hailey.”

  “Mmm, that was amazing Marcus.” I say and I think about how that may have been the best sexual experience of my life. The sex with Erik was always good, but not great and with Cory it was really hot. With Marcus, I felt such an emotional connection that it scared me a little. With my romantic history, I need to protect myself from getting hurt again. Being intimate with Marcus wasn't just meaningless sex. I'd had that before, with Cory. Making love with Marcus felt different than any prior sexual experience. It felt like...more.

  We fell asleep in one another’s arms and woke up the same way. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel any morning after awkwardness and he didn’t seem to either.

  “Hails, there’s something I’ve been putting off telling you.” I cut him off.

  “If you tell me you have a girlfriend now, I swear I’ll never speak to you again.” He chuckles before replying.

  “No, I don’t have a girlfriend. Look, I know we planned on both being at Beacon for college, but I got a full football scholarship at Western University in California. It’s only like twenty minutes from my dad so I can do my internship with him. He wants me to come out there early so I can spend some time with him before school starts. So,” he pauses, “I’m leaving in two weeks.”

  “Marcus, why are you just telling me this? You don’t think that this is something you should have shared with me before now...before we had sex?”

  “Hails, I didn’t want to make you sad. You’d already been through so much and I didn’t want to add to that. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but please know that I had good intentions. I never want to be the reason you cry Hailey.”

  “Well, it’s too late now Marcus," I wail. “I’m going to miss you so much. School’s going to majorly suck without you.” He pulls me into his chest and holds me close.

  “I will miss you so much Hails and I know college won’t be half as much fun as it would have been if we were going to Beacon together.”

  “Marcus, I love what we did last night. It was perfect, but I just want to keep our relationship friends only from this point on. You’re going to be three thousand miles away for four years and I really don’t want a repeat of the Erik situation.”

  “Hails, first of all, I’m not Erik so don’t insult me. I could absolutely remain faithful to you no matter how many miles are between us. I understand why you feel the way you do and I’ll respect what you want, but someday I’m going to change your stubborn mind. Someday I’m going to make all your dreams come true."

  ***

  Marcus and I went off to college on opposite sides of the country and spent the next four years trying to forget about our night of passion, by convincing ourselves we were only friends.

  PART TWO

  Chapter Thirteen

  June 2015 - Cory

  This morning began much like any other day. I woke to the annoyingly loud buzzing of my alarm, jumped in the shower, got dressed and had a cup of coffee in my hand all within fifteen minutes. I rub my hair covered jawline as I sit at my small kitchen table pondering how growing a beard has shortened my morning routine by ten minutes and the ladies seem to like it too. Not that I care. There's only one girl I'm interested in and she despises me, admittedly with good reason too. I finish my coffee and rinse the cup in the sink, before heading to my master bathroom to brush my teeth.

  I grab my briefcase on my way out the door and begin my short walk to work. Living and working in downtown Boston has many perks, especially on a beautiful early June morning, like today. The air has a crispness to it as I take a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs. I meander through the steady stream of business professionals moving along the sidewalk around me.

  It's a ten-minute walk to the building where the law firm I work for is located. Conveniently along my way, are Dunkin Donuts and the Good Day Cafe', a small eatery that serves breakfast twenty-four-seven. If you're a fan of "breakfast for dinner" like I am, this little hole in the wall is the place to eat. I often work late and I’ll grab a sandwich from there on my way home.

  When I reach my office, I get a phone call from Margaret, the secretary of one of the firm's founding partners.

  "Hi Cory, Chris would like to see you as soon as possible."

  "Okay, thank you, Margaret." I hang up the phone wondering what's going on that he needs to see me immediately? Something big must be happening because Chris is notorious for being unflappable. I swear the guy has ice in his veins instead of blood. I've seen him during high publicity trials and his composure is both, enviable and inspiring. I've learned a lot from him in the few months I've been working here.

  When I first graduated from law school and passed the bar, Chris tried to recruit me to work for his firm but I didn't think it was a good idea since he is my best friend Jake's father. I've known him for ten years now and he's always been a great male role model for me. That being said, he will put his boot in my ass if I need it professionally or personally speaking. After Chris repeatedly pursued me working at the firm, I finally gave in and I couldn't be happier that I did. In the short time, I'd been here I'd learned more from him and the other partners than I had in the two years I spent with my last firm.

  I turn my computer on so it can boot up while I'm away from my desk. His office is on the twentieth floor, one up from mine and the elevator is empty for a change due to the early hour. Another thing I’ve learned from Chris is to get to the office by seven each day and it gives you a good hour of uninterrupted quiet time to get work done.

  I exit the elevator and smile at Margaret as I pass her desk. Chris is working on his computer so I knock on the open door to catch his attention.

  "Cory, come on in and close the door, please." I do as he asks, again wondering what's going on?

  "So I wanted to let you know that Hailey will be doing an internship here for the summer and I am having her shadow you." Me?

  He must notice the look of confusion on my face and goes on to explain, "I want you to mentor her and show her the ropes. After all, she’ll someday be a partner at this firm."

  "Okay sir," is my reply to him. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, is w
hat I’m thinking.

  "I chose you because I trust you to do right by her and not cut corners. Also, you aren't that far removed from where she's at so you will be more sensitive to how overwhelming this may be for her."

  I numbly nod my head repeatedly like a bobble head doll. Pathetic! It's ridiculous that this tiny girl can affect me so much. "She starts today. She should be in around nine." Fuck me. I thought I'd have some time to prepare myself and figure out how I’m going to be in such close confines with her every day without bending her over my desk and fucking her senseless.

  Chapter Fourteen

  June 2015 - Hailey

  I've always loved that saying "today is the first day of the rest of your life," and today that sentiment really resonates with me. I'm starting my internship at my dad's law firm and I'm so excited about it. I'm starting my second year of law school in September and then I will be firmly on my way to being an attorney. Well, I'll have to finish school and pass the Bar exam first, but as soon as that is done I will be doing what I've always dreamed of. This internship will give me a glimpse of what my future as a lawyer will be like.

  Last night Shelby came over and helped me pick out the perfect outfit for my first day. I'm wearing a black wrap dress with red peep toe pumps. I have a large, oval, faux ruby ring on my right middle finger and small gold hoops in my ears. Shelby wanted to accessorize me up, but I prefer to keep it simple and classic. This is not the time to look like a hoochie momma.

  I use my curling wand to make large loose curls throughout my hair and hold the front back with a black lacquered headband. I keep my eye makeup minimal since it's daytime and I add some dark red lip gloss to finish my look off. I glance in the mirror one last time and I feel good about what I see. I look professional and not too young. I don't want to look like a little girl playing dress-up in her mother's closet.