Intense 2

by Hebert, Cambria

  S. E. Lund is a writer and former policy wonk who lives with her family of humans and animals in a century-old house on a quiet tree-lined street in a small city in Western Canada. She dreams of living in a warmer climate by the ocean where she can smell the salt air when she opens her window.

  Love Handles Club

  (A Love in the City Novella)

  by Liv Morris

  Love Handles Club

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  For the Reader

  Chapter 1: Bradley’s Turn

  Chapter 2: Kelly’s Turn

  Chapter 3: Bradley’s Turn

  Chapter 4: Kelly’s Turn

  Chapter 5: Bradley’s Turn

  Chapter 6: Kelly’s Turn

  Chapter 7: Bradley’s Turn

  Chapter 8: Kelly’s Turn

  Chapter 9: Kelly’s Turn

  Epilogue: Kelly’s Turn

  Bonus Excerpt

  Adam’s Apple

  Chapter 1

  Hungry for more?

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2013 Liv Morris

  Digital Edition: March 2013

  Edited by Write Divas Editing and Proofing Style

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above author of this book.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Dedication

  This short story is dedicated to the original Love Handles Club. A unique group of men who meet on Thursday nights somewhere near our nation’s capital. These men and their lifelong friendships inspired me to write this fictitious story.

  Bradley, Bob, Dave, and Matthew, many thanks!

  For the Reader

  I’m brewing up more books in my cauldron, so please sign up for my mailing list by clicking here (http://eepurl.com/VY_k9) to keep up-to-date on my newest works. I promise to never spam your inbox.

  I’d love to hear from you too. Perhaps leave a comment on my web site or Facebook page.

  You can also connect with me on twitter. It’s a favorite of mine.

  Stop by my Amazon author’s page to see what else I’ve published to date.

  Happy reading,

  Liv

  Chapter 1: Bradley’s Turn

  “Okay, there’s one more signature left, and we should be done here.”

  Stephen Jensen, my attorney, placed the last remaining document in front of me and I signed where he directed. A sick feeling gripped my stomach as ten years of my life vanished with a simple stroke of the pen.

  “Well, that should do it.” Jensen gathered up the papers spread across the conference table. “I know this finalization has been a long time coming, Bradley. But I think in the end it was fair.”

  “Fair or not, at least Natalie and her father’s company are out of my life. For good.” I stood and shook his hand. “Thanks, Jensen, for getting this settled. I just hope that I never need your services again.”

  “Me too, Bradley.” Jensen returned my handshake with a sad smile on his face. “You take care of yourself, and try to put this behind you.”

  “Will do.”

  While exiting the office building, I exhale a deep, cleansing breath. I looked up at the clear Dallas sky as the warm afternoon breeze blew across my face. The warmth felt good and... freeing.

  As I walked toward my car, the reality that I no longer had any ties to my wife of ten years sunk in. The thought of calling Natalie my “ex-wife” made me laugh. It was bittersweet. Finding humor in the tragedy of our marriage gave me a bit of relief.

  No one around would’ve noticed, but there was a definite weight off my shoulders. I felt it down to my bones. Removing the heavy load hadn’t come easy. But I had no regrets. That part of my life was over, and now it was time to finally move on.

  It had been a long and lonely year since I’d filed for divorce from Natalie. Even after I walked into her office and found her having sex with a senior executive, I’d played it safe after the official filing. I needed to stay spotless without even a hint of another woman in my life. We were playing a poker game and I wanted to hold on to my chips and possibly take some of hers. Her father owned the company and I had more to lose, so I’d remained faithful to her until I signed the divorce papers.

  It had been over a year since I’d been with anyone. I missed being around a woman and not just sexually. Although that would be nice, too. Real damn nice.

  Hell, I was sick of being alone. I missed having someone to share my day with, and join me for dinner out instead of eating alone.

  I guess after all the crap I’d been through in the last year, I still believed in love. My parents lived it everyday of their life. Even after thirty-five years I can still see the sparks fly when they’re together. A love like theirs can’t be hidden.

  My cell phone rang once I was inside my parked car. I saw that it was Dave, my best friend since elementary school, likely calling to check up on me. Dave had stood by me throughout the yearlong divorce battle. He was the friend I called when life was throwing shit at me.

  “Hey, Dave.”

  “Hey, man.” His enthusiasm made me smile. It was his happy go lucky way. “How did things go? You met with the lawyers today, right?”

  “Yep. I’m officially divorced. Just left their offices.”

  “Wow. Thank God it’s finally over. You can start over now.” He had no idea how much I wanted to do just that.

  “My thoughts exactly.” I turned on the car to get the a/c circulating. The heat of the day turned my interior into a sauna.

  “You can begin tonight. Love Handles at seven.” Dave had a convincing way of telling people what to do. I think he missed his calling as a diplomat for the State Department.

  “I’ll be there, but I plan on getting a car service tonight. I have a little celebrating to do and don’t want to worry about how much I drink.”

  “I’ll swing by and pick you up around six thirty. It’s no problem.”

  “That’d be great. I’m not one to turn down a free ride.” We both laughed.

  “The girls are joining us tonight. Hope that’s all right?

  Usually, just the guys hung out together on the weekly Love Handles Club night. Occasionally some of the wives and women we knew from our high school days joined us, as well. Looked like tonight was one of those nights.

  “Sure, I haven’t seen them in a while. It’ll be good to catch up. Who knows, one of them may have a lead on a job for me? I’m gainfully unemployed now.”

  “You may be unemployed, but you should be set for life with the divorce settlement. Unless Natalie and her father didn’t buyout your shares of the company as planned.”

  “I’m good. Everything worked out with them buying me out of the company. My attorney says it was a fair deal. I say it’s done.” I really didn’t want to talk about the specifics. “So where are we meeting tonight? The usual?”

  “Yes, The Londoner. I feel like playing a game or two of pool.”

  “Bob humiliated you last time, if I’m not mistaken.”

  “Yes, it was ugly. I need to save face tonight,” he continued. “Oh, I almost forgot. We have someone special coming. Someone I think you’ll want to see.”

  “Whoa, Dave. I just signed the papers a few minutes ago. Please tell me you’re not trying to hook me up already.”

  Dave would rattle off a list of women he thought would be perfect for me. I, on the other hand, wanted a little
time to breathe. I wasn’t quite ready to jump into the dating game tonight.

  “Oh, it’s nothing like that. It’s Kelly. She’s joining us tonight.” His words hung in the air between us.

  After a few seconds, I finally replied in almost a whisper, “My Kelly?”

  “Yes, your Kelly. Is that all right?” His question had a hesitancy to it.

  “I guess so.” But truthfully, I wasn’t sure how I felt about seeing my high school sweetheart after all these years. “It’s been a long time. I saw her at the reunion a few years ago, but I didn’t even get to say hello. Right after we made eye contact, her jerk of a husband ushered her out of the banquet hall.”

  “Yeah, I remember you telling me about that. Well, I have some good news for you then.” Dave paused, increasing my anticipation. “She’s coming alone. Tina’s bringing her. I don’t know the whole story, but she moved back here from Atlanta—”

  “So she’s back in Dallas?” I interrupted. “Permanently?” I should’ve been happy with the news that she was here in our hometown. But having my first love around with her possessive husband wouldn’t be an easy pill for me to swallow. The thought of running into them somewhere in town filled me with dread.

  “Tina said she’s moving back to Dallas and the husband isn’t. I think they split up. But don’t quote me on that.”

  Thoughts began to jumble in my head at the possibility Kelly was single now, too. I needed to find out for sure before I let my mind even toy with the idea.

  “Well, it’ll be good to see her. And thanks for giving me the heads up, Dave.”

  “What are friends for? Maybe you two can celebrate tonight. Your freedom and her homecoming.”

  “Let’s avoid divorce talk, if you don’t mind. Deal?”

  “Deal,” Dave answered with gusto. “Listen, I have a conference call in a few that I need to prepare for. I’ll see you at six thirty.”

  “Okay. See you later.”

  I tossed the phone aside and pulled out of my parking space to head home. I needed some time to mull over what Dave had said. Hell, I was going to see Kelly Parker tonight. I really couldn’t begin to wrap my mind around that fact.

  My hands started to sweat, and it had nothing to do with the day’s heat either. I knew the cause. Regret tinged with a sprinkling of fear. Pretty much what every heartbreaking jerk like me should feel after coming to his senses too late.

  Yeah, I stomped on her love with my selfishness. I have no excuse for my nineteen-year-old self. I was a dumb knucklehead back then. If I had those teen years to do over again, I never would’ve done the idiotic things that led to our breakup.

  Kelly and I had met our freshman year in high school. She had attended a private, religious school before she switched to Highland Park High. I remembered seeing her in my second period class the first day of school.

  She was nervous; it was easy to see. Who wouldn’t be? We were a snobby bunch of rich kids that been in the same crowd since preschool and didn’t embrace newcomers easily. I moved to her side in hopes of rescuing her. I also wanted to be the first one to introduce myself to the pretty girl standing alone. There was just something about Kelly. I could still see her looking up at me with those pretty brown eyes. She seemed so fragile and vulnerable.

  Standing next to her, I’d looked down and said “hi.” She’d smiled back at me and from that moment on, I’d been wrapped around her little finger. We’d just clicked. During our four years of high school, we’d shared everything two crazy, lovesick kids could possibly experience together. However, everything had changed when we’d gone off to different colleges after graduation.

  Kelly had selected Baylor University in Waco. Or I should say her parents had chosen the school for her. They were deeply religious and thought it best to have their impressionable daughter attend a nice Baptist college.

  I’d gone off to the University of Texas in Austin and joined a rambunctious fraternity. Not a very smart idea if you wanted to keep a long-distance relationship going.

  I’d convinced myself that I was immune to the temptations of booze and willing women. Sadly, I ended up living like there wasn’t a beautiful girl two hours away expecting me to be faithful.

  A few weeks after the first semester started, I fell off my high horse when I slept with one of the sorority girls who hung around the frat house. She’d been trying to get me into bed since we met at a freshman mixer. I was as drunk as hell the night I caved, but nothing excused what I had done.

  After being apart for two months, Kelly had come to visit me over UT’s homecoming weekend in October. She hadn’t suspected that I’d cheated on her; everything between us had seemed fine. When we’d talked on the phone, I had kept up the ruse of being a devoted boyfriend in fear of losing her if she learned the truth. What a complete jerk.

  However, my secrets hadn’t stayed hidden for long. During her short stay on campus, she’d found out I was seeing other girls at school.

  Kelly had arrived at my fraternity house on Saturday morning before the big football game. I’d brought her up to my room where several of my frat brothers were enjoying some pre-tailgate partying.

  The drinks had been strong and one of the guys was wasted and forgot Kelly was coming down to visit me. I tried to keep my cheating a secret with my guy friends, but nothing stayed hidden living in a frat house full of horny guys.

  I’d warned everyone to keep a lid on what happened with the other girls. I sure as hell didn’t want her finding out what a dick I was, or where else my dick had been, for that matter.

  However, my drunken friend had spilled my secrets as soon as Kelly walked into the room, shouting that I’d found another hot girl for this week’s football game. I’d tried shutting him up, keeping him from saying more, but he hadn’t stopped and named the other girls I’d brought to the frat house. Each name had been like a punch in my gut and likely a dagger to Kelly’s heart.

  Her beautiful eyes had filled with tears as she searched my face for an answer. I couldn’t say a word to confirm or deny what she’d heard. She knew the truth because she knew my heart, and it told her that I was a lying cheat. There’d been no defense for what I’d done.

  After a few seconds, everyone around us had gone back to partying, acting like nothing earth shattering had happened right in front of them. They continued drinking and talking about the football game being played later. But Kelly and I had stood a few feet inside the room facing each other. Neither one of us moved a muscle or said a word. We’d looked into each other’s eyes for a long, long time. Then she’d whispered the last words I thought I’d ever hear from her...

  “Good-bye, Bradley.”

  I remembered them like it was yesterday.

  She’d turned away from me, tucked her overnight bag into her side, and walked out of the room. I had no idea where she was going or what I should’ve done. My feet were frozen to the floor. So I did nothing. I let her go. Biggest damn regret of my life.

  I still can’t figure out why I didn’t chase after her. Maybe I felt she deserved better than me and it was probably true. Who knows what goes on inside a stupid nineteen-year-old’s brain?

  When I finally came to my senses a few hours later and tried to find her, I was too late. Tina, her best friend from high school who also was at UT, told me that Kelly had gone back to Baylor brokenhearted.

  No matter how hard I’d tried to reach out to her, she refused to see me again. I’d lost her for good.

  Funny what stood out in my mind after all those years. I stopped her right before we entered the frat house. We stood on a shaded side of the porch away from the crowd. I wanted to have a quiet moment with her before I introduced her to everyone. She looked up at me with her eyes wide and expectant. I took her sweet face in my hands and kissed her soft lips. It ended up being our last kiss.

  Chapter 2: Kelly’s Turn

  Tina found out that I was back in Dallas. I wanted to lay low for a while, but our mothers belonged to the same bridge club
and saw each other every week. So my mother told Tina’s mom, Bitsy, because she worried I was isolating myself from the world. Truthfully, she was right.

  I’d avoided everyone since I’d left Joe and Atlanta behind. I needed some time to process the failure of my marriage, but I felt ready to get back to my life here once again. Even if I had no idea what that might be.

  When Tina called a few days ago to invite me to the weekly Love Handles Club get-together, I decided it was time to get out of the house. She explained that the club was formed by the guys we’d hung out with in high school. They planned weekly nights out together at local watering holes in North Dallas.

  It sounded like they wanted to keep the fun of their youth alive. From what I remembered, they knew how to have a good time. Hanging out with them had positively been the most fun time of my life. I missed them. To be honest, I really missed one particular Love Handles guy the most. Bradley.

  I’d be a millionaire many times over now if I had a dime for every time I’d thought about him over the last fourteen years. He was the reason my stomach had butterflies. My nerves had almost made me cancel, but in the end I knew I had to see him. At least one more time.

  I arrived early and sat outside The Londoner in my car. The others wouldn’t be coming until around seven, which was in about thirty minutes. I wanted to be the first to arrive. I hated the thought of a grand entrance and would rather be in place waiting for everyone as they walked in.

  Exiting the car, I strode to the entrance, and pulled the heavy wooden doors open. The place had the feel of a genuine English pub. The walls and ceilings were decorated with English Premiere Football paraphernalia. The smell of fish and chips hung heavy in the air. Empty pints littered every table. Truly authentic.

  The pool tables were in the back of the pub and a few dining tables stood to the left of where they were situated. They seemed like the perfect place for a large group to sit. I just needed to make a pit stop before I claimed them because I wanted to remain seated as long as I could tonight. Delay all the shocked faces for as long as possible. I still couldn’t believe that I was braving tonight’s get-together especially since Tina said Bradley was going to be here, too.