The Love Square

by Jessica Calla

  “D-Barnes,” Alex said. “We’re in bed together with no chick.” They started laughing again.

  Jenna came back and handed them each three pills and a cup of water. “Take these,” she said. “You two are quite a sight.”

  “Hop in, Stecs,” Alex said. “Let’s play out the fantasy.”

  “You two drunks? Nope. One of you has to leave.” She tugged Alex’s shoulders. “Out, Alex.”

  “Why do I have to go? Make him go,” he said, pointing to Dylan.

  “I should make both of you go, actually. But he’s going to fly away soon,” she said, pointing to Dylan. “So you’re getting the boot. Can you make it upstairs?”

  Alex tried to pull himself together. He sat on the edge of the bed and watched the floor spin. Jenna grabbed his hands and helped him stand. “I can make it,” he declared. But Jenna kept a hold of him and walked him to the door.

  “You remember where you live?” Jenna teased as she opened the door for him.

  Alex stopped and turned to her in the doorway. She looked sleepy, sexy, and sweet. As they stared at each other, Alex remembered the first time he’d danced with her at Uncle Nino’s party.

  “What’s wrong?” Jenna asked quietly.

  “I miss you,” Alex whispered.

  Jenna smiled and sighed, then kissed him on the cheek. “Go,” she said, and when he walked down the hallway, he heard her lock the door behind him.

  “Fucking Barnes,” he said as he made his way to the eighth floor.

  ***

  Jenna

  Jenna woke on Tuesday afternoon to Dylan kissing her shoulder blade.

  “Hi,” she whispered.

  “Hi,” he said back. “Sorry we caused a scene last night and I passed out on you.”

  He trailed a line of kisses down her spine, and she melted right into the bed. When he got as low as he could go, he put his palm on her leg and ran his hand down to her ankle. “I missed you last night,” he said, resting his head on her back.

  “I missed you too. It’s our last day together,” she said as he ran his hand up her leg. He flipped her around and laid his head on her belly. His bloodshot eyes looked into hers. “You smell good,” she sang as she ran her hands through his hair.

  He looked up at her face, his chin resting on her ribs. “I showered.”

  “I wish you could stay.”

  “Me too. But we have to go back to real life. When can you come to LA?”

  She stretched and moaned. “Tomorrow?”

  Dylan grinned that gorgeous, white smile. “For real?”

  “No,” she said. “I have to go to work one of these days, and Scott will murder me.” Jenna mentally ran through her schedule. “Maybe for a long weekend, middle of August? Like two weeks from now? Then maybe you can meet me in Vegas for nationals at the end of August?”

  “So I’ll get to see you in LA in two weeks and then in Vegas in four?”

  Jenna nodded. She couldn’t believe this beautiful man wanted to spend time with her. The heat from his chest radiated against her thighs. “I wish I could bottle this feeling,” she said.

  “Which feeling?” Dylan asked.

  “The way you feel against my skin. Your warmness. The way your hair feels in my hands,” she said quietly.

  “Oh no.” He tsked and playfully bit her waist. “No emotional good-byes today. I have another plan for us.”

  “More plans? I’m not listening to any plan that involves leaving this apartment.”

  “No, really. It’s a good one.” Jenna grimaced, but Dylan continued. “Let’s go up to Central Park, pack a lunch, a blanket. Walk, get some fresh air, talk, hang around. Then we’ll come back here, order Chinese, go to Alex’s game, and stay naked until I have to leave for the airport tomorrow.”

  Jenna squinted. “You promise we’ll be back by dinnertime?”

  “Promise. If I make it that long.”

  “I might need convincing,” she said. “And since you passed out on me last night, I think maybe you should make it up to me.”

  “My pleasure,” he said, as his lips trailed up her side.

  ***

  After a joint shower, Dylan and Jenna walked into Central Park with their packed lunch and a blanket. Dylan hid behind sunglasses and wore a baseball cap but looked adorable in his shorts and a polo. After they ate lunch, they stretched out on the blanket.

  Jenna’s foot twitched uncontrollably.

  “Why are you so jittery?” Dylan asked.

  Her gaze trailed his long body as he lay on his side next to her in the sun, his glasses hanging down around the tip of his nose, and she sighed at the sight of him. “I can’t remember the last time I sat so still for so long. How do you do it?” She flipped onto her stomach and played with the grass.

  “I like being still. It settles my brain.”

  “Alex is the opposite. He’s always jumping around like a maniac. I think the only place he sits still is in front of the television.”

  “He’s always been like that,” Dylan said. “We could never watch a game without him wanting to get up and play. As soon as we’d find a place to sit on the beach, he’d pop up and be like, ‘Let’s go for a walk’ or ‘Let’s go eat.’ Me and Steve wanted to relax and watch the girls, and he was all hyperactive needing to move.”

  “It’s nice you guys are still close after all these years,” Jenna said.

  Dylan lay back and shut his eyes to the sun. Jenna did the same. They held hands on the blanket. “What about you? Who do you hang out with?” Dylan asked. “Besides Alex.”

  “I guess Scott is the friend I’ve had the longest,” Jenna said. “I met him in high school. We’ve been partners ever since. I met Penny in college.”

  “Penny seems okay. A little intense.”

  “I think the weekend with Steve calmed her down a bit.”

  “Last night, he said he was really into her.”

  Jenna made a mental note to tell Penny. “Alex hates her.”

  “He’s probably jealous when you hang out with her. He’s been complaining about having to share you with me. He’s pretty possessive.”

  “More like psycho,” Jenna said.

  “Hey. Be nice to Pops. He’s got issues.”

  “Believe me, I know. I asked him why he never told you about me, and you know what he said? He was afraid we’d hook up and you’d steal me from him.”

  Dylan pushed his sunglasses to the top of his head and rolled on top of Jenna. “Maybe he’s psychic, not psycho. The moment I saw you, I wanted to hook up with you.” He brushed his lips against hers lightly, and she sighed, reminding herself they were in public.

  “Yeah, I vaguely remember you kissing me at a bar in Long Island and declaring yourself my boyfriend.”

  “I did do that, didn’t I?” Dylan murmured before he kissed her cheek. “You didn’t seem too upset.”

  “‘Upset’ is not the word I would use to describe how I felt when you kissed me in the club.”

  “I’ve been around beautiful women, Jenna Stecco, but you? Friday night? That dress? Irresistible.”

  Jenna pouted and held him close. “Please don’t leave. I want to fold you up and keep you in my pocket, then take you out to say sweet words to me.”

  Dylan pulled back onto his side, eyes wide. “Why don’t you come to Hollywood? You can be an actress…or a model.”

  “There’s that sweet talk again. I’m a New Yorker, Dylan.”

  “I know. And Alex would kill me. And Scott. And Penny. They are ready to kill me after these five days. If I tried to steal you forever, they’d come hunt us down. It’s back to real life, I guess.”

  Real life, yuck. “Work tomorrow will be a major bummer after such a fantastic weekend.” Jenna rolled onto her side to face Dylan. “We only have a few more hours before Alex’s game tonight. I’d say we should skip, but maybe it’s better we go. It will be like weaning off you.”

  “You promise you’ll come to LA in two weeks, right? I’m getting you a tic
ket. Promise me. Makes it easier knowing I will see you again soon.”

  “Definitely,” Jenna said. “I can’t wait.”

  Dylan pulled out his phone and looked for flights while Jenna wondered how a long-distance relationship with Dylan could ever work in the long run. Does the prince ever live on the other side of the kingdom? She’d have to check her fairy tales.

  Chapter 15

  Alex

  Alex made the coffee while Jenna got ready for work and Dylan packed for the airport. Dylan came out first and took the mug Alex offered.

  “Thanks,” he said, “and for driving me to the airport. “

  “No problem. I got used to having you around. I’m going to miss you.”

  Dylan rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “I was getting used to being here.”

  Jenna walked out of the bedroom ready for work, wearing a summery work dress and heels. She’d left her hair down, except for the front, which she’d pinned back. Alex admired how it framed her face—her immensely pretty but sad face.

  “I guess this is it,” she said. She and Dylan looked at each other as if it were the end of the world.

  “Um, I’m going to wait outside,” Alex said. They barely noticed as he walked out into the hallway. He left the door open a crack and listened.

  “Thanks for the best weekend ever,” Jenna said. Alex recognized her shaky crying voice.

  “I got you something,” he said.

  Alex heard Jenna open a package. “It’s beautiful,” she said. He heard them kiss.

  Alex gave Dylan credit for a good effort, but he knew nothing would make Jenna feel better except a good cry, a pint of chocolate-chip mint, and her DVR.

  “I’m not going to say good-bye, okay? Two weeks,” Dylan said. More kissing. Then Jenna’s keys rattled and her bags shook, and he knew she was ready to go. He knocked gently on the door and pushed it open.

  “You okay, Stecs?” Alex asked.

  Jenna nodded and turned around to wave to Dylan one last time. The brown stone Dylan had bought the night they were out to dinner hung from her neck.

  “Call me tonight. Promise?” Dylan said.

  Jenna nodded. “Two weeks.” She smiled and turned to Alex. “See you later?”

  “Of course,” he said. He watched her walk to the stairs instead of the elevator and disappear. She’d need him tonight.

  Alex turned to Dylan, who didn’t look much better. “This is crazy, right? It’s been five days. Why do I feel so connected to her?”

  “Took me about five minutes,” Alex said. “She’s different. Can’t explain it, really.”

  Dylan nodded and washed out his mug, then put it in the drainer to dry.

  “We have a couple hours to kill, D-Barnes. What do you want to do?”

  Dylan zoned out in the kitchen, silent. If this is any indication, Jenna is going to be a mess later.

  “I know,” Alex said. “Let’s go harass Steve.”

  Dylan smiled. “To Wall Street.”

  At Steve’s office, his secretary, Robin, who hated Alex, collected them from reception. After she scowled at Alex, she recognized Dylan right away and almost fainted, babbling about Maxwell Policastro’s untimely death as she led them through the busy office. Dylan posed for pictures and talked to the gaggle of women who gathered around, while Steve and Alex waited patiently in Steve’s office.

  “This is going to get worse after the gladiator thing gets into full swing,” Steve said.

  “Little Round Robin almost passed out when he smiled at her, that nasty little witch,” Alex whispered.

  “That nasty little witch is the best damn secretary in the place,” Steve said. “This will get me major points with her. How’s Jenna?”

  “She held it together for the big good-bye. Dylan’s been pretty spaced out all morning. I think it’s time for everyone to get back to their routines.”

  “You mean you want everything back to how it was before Dylan showed up. Good luck with that.”

  “I’m not a prick, you know. I want them to be happy, so I decided I am going to support this,” Alex said. “But they need a break from each other.”

  “Yeah, all that sex must be horrible,” Steve said sarcastically. “Being apart is way better for them.”

  “Fuck you, Steve,” Alex said.

  He walked out of Steve’s office to the crowd surrounding Dylan. “Um, excuse me, Mr. Barnes? It’s time to go back to Hollywood, sir,” he said snottily. Robin rolled her eyes and growled at him.

  Dylan kissed the ladies good-bye and thanked them for being so kind. Alex admired how Dylan charmed everyone without trying. Alex had to joke around and spew sarcasm to get people to like him, but Dylan was so naturally pleasant, people couldn’t help but love him.

  “You are such a movie star,” Alex teased as they walked to the elevator.

  “It’s not as fun as it looks.”

  “Yeah, you keep telling me that.”

  “You’ll see when you make it to the majors and you’re the famous one.”

  Alex chuckled. Dylan always believed Alex would make it.

  He drove Dylan through the Holland Tunnel to New Jersey and Newark Airport. At the departures thruway, they embraced without words, and then Dylan grabbed his bag, jumped out, and disappeared into the terminal.

  On his way back to Brooklyn, Alex stopped for chocolate-chip mint and flowers for Jenna, knowing it was going to be a long but oddly perfect night. He’d be there for whatever she needed from him. That’s what they did for each other.

  ***

  Clare

  Is it finally Wednesday? Dylan was due home today, but Clare didn’t believe he would ever come back. He’d said he would talk to her on Tuesday but instead sent her a text. Clare knew why when she saw the pictures online of Dylan and Jenna canoodling in Central Park. Ugh. Double ugh.

  Clare dressed pretty for work on Wednesday, hoping Dylan would pop in. She spent most of her time there catching up on paperwork, taking inventory, and making schedules. Her college kids were going back to school soon and she needed to hire, then the retail holiday season would start and she’d be majorly swamped. But if she met the company’s expectations for the holiday season, she’d be in a good position to ask for the permanent general manager job.

  Clare decided that no matter what the situation with Dylan and his new “girlfriend,” she was staying in Cali. As tempted as she was to run home to the comfort of Mama and Lucas and Nebraska, she was going to stick it out. She cursed the nagging voice in her head telling her how hard it would be. The voice that always tried to convince her that she wasn’t smart enough or strong enough to make it on her own. The voice that insisted without Lucas and her parents, she was nothing but a shy thirteen-year-old girl.

  She wasn’t that little girl anymore. She was capable on her own.

  As the day wore down and the evening approached, Clare busied herself stocking the self-help section. As she arranged the books, Mary ran over.

  “Clare! He’s back!”

  “Dylan?” she asked.

  “No. CYM! In the technology section this time,” Mary panted.

  CYM was the Crazy Yoga Man, who liked to do yoga poses in the middle of the bookstore, pontificating on life and annoying the customers. Clare sighed. “Today of all days. Can’t you deal with him, Mary? I’m not in the mood.”

  “Nuh-uh,” she said. “That’s why you get paid the big bucks. He’s ranting about social media. You have to deal with him before he scares the customers.” Mary scurried away before Clare could object.

  Clare found CYM with his ass in the air on all fours on his purple yoga mat. Lord help me.

  “Sir,” she said, “for liability reasons we can’t allow yoga in the store.” It was the same thing she said to him every time he showed up.

  “I am in the middle of a pose.” CYM seemed testier than usual. She knew the feeling. “I have an issue today with social media.”

  “I am sorry to hear that,” Clare said, noticing Mary pee
k from behind the stacks. “Maybe you should write your congressperson. Better yet, you could start a Facebook petition.” Through her years in retail, Clare had discovered that sometimes sarcasm worked with crazy customers.

  CYM dropped his ass down and lifted his chin, holding himself up with his arms. “You are toxic,” he said to Clare. “You should meditate.”

  “You should get out of my store,” she said. She circled him and stared. “What is that you are doing?”

  “It’s upward-facing dog. Feels good on the back.”

  Clare watched him and figured, what the heck? She joined him on the floor and copied his pose. Mary gasped and giggled from the stacks.

  “Keep your shoulders down,” CYM said. “And breathe. Through your nose, not panting like an animal.”

  The stretch felt incredible. The tension left her spine, and just when the pose started to bother her, she copied CYM to the “ass in the air” position for instant relief.

  “This is downward-facing dog,” he said.

  Clare held the stretch. Thankfully, her clothes stayed put. “You know,” she said, “this is kind of great. Am I doing it right?” She couldn’t believe she was asking CYM for advice. “How do I look?”

  Suddenly, a beautiful face appeared between her legs, upside down. “You look damn good, Nebraska.”

  “Dylan!” Clare flipped back up a little too fast and her head spun. Dylan grabbed her into a hug and swung her around. “Darn, I’m woozy.”

  “I leave for a few days and you bond with Crazy Yoga Man?” Crazy Yoga Man glared at Dylan. “No offense.”

  Clare giggled as she looked him over. She had almost forgotten how cute he was. Almost. He held a bunch of colorful flowers and wore his navy V-neck T-shirt he knew was her favorite. She wasn’t sure why, but her eyes started to tear, so to hide her emotion, she pulled him into a hug.

  CYM scoffed. “We were in the middle of a pose,” he said to Dylan. “You’ve interrupted our flow.”

  “Well, I missed my girl here, so screw your flow. I need a hug.”