Solving Us

by Susan Renee

  “Yes, Sir, let me get that for you.”

  “I’m sorry we have to leave before the presentation. I’m being called to a patient who needs me.”

  I feel Finn freeze when he hears voices, but after a quick second I feel his finger slide lazily inside me as he starts all over again quickly and purposely quickening his pace.

  Oh My God!

  Finn!

  I can’t….

  I….

  Don’t stop...

  “Certainly, Sir. It’s not a problem at all. Your coats are right here.”

  His finger moves in and out.

  His tongue swirls around me.

  I can feel my climax coming.

  I bite my tongue hard and hold my breath.

  “Thank you. Merry Christmas to you.”

  “And to you as well, Sir. Have a good night.”

  The voices trail off as the lights go back out, and the door closes. Finn’s finger picks up speed as he rubs the inside of me, hitting me right where he knows will make me lose all control.

  “Olivia,” he whispers

  “Finn! Oh God! Finn!”

  I dip my head down into my chest before throwing it back in a huge release of ecstasy. I release the breath I was holding, and hear Finn chuckle from underneath my dress.

  “It’s not funny, Finn!” I tell him, even though I’m softly chuckling right along with him.

  “Oh, Olivia, but it is. I would ask if the risk of getting caught turns you on, but I already know the answer.”

  Finn emerges from underneath my dress and grabs a hold of my waist to steady me as I let go of the bar above me. He backs me up through several coats until my back is against the wall.

  “Are you okay?” he asks, sliding my ripped panties into the inside pocket of his jacket before taking it off and laying it over the rack behind him.

  “Yes.” I smirk at Finn though I’m practically panting coming off of my high. “I’m perfect, Finn.”

  “I know you are, Beautiful. And you’re so brave. I’ll make this quick; I promise.” I watch Finn unbuckle his belt and throw my hand out to stop him from going any further.

  “No. Let me, Finn. Let me.”

  He gathers the material and lifts up the front of my gown as I pull down on the zipper to his pants, smoothly slide my hand into his boxer briefs, and release his erection.

  “Shit.” Finn gasps. “Damnit, your hand feels good right there.” Placing his hands under me, Finn lifts me up and holds me against the wall. “Wrap your legs around me, Liv, and hold on.”

  In one swift thrust, Finn slides into me, my own arousal covering him like a warm, slick oil. “So good,” he groans, leaning his forehead on mine. “So fucking good, Olivia.” He pulls out as much as he can and takes his time gradually sliding back in. He fills me with his slow thrusts over and over again until I think I can’t take anymore.

  “Fiiiinn….” I groan. “Please, Finn. Faster.”

  He kisses me hungrily, and with one hard thrust after another, says in my ear “As. You. Wish. My. Beautiful. Girl. Olivia!”

  “Yes!”

  Together we reach our high, breathing against each other, as we float back to reality. My body feels heavy, even more so in this dress, as I slump over Finn’s shoulder breathing heavily. He lowers us to the floor, both slightly sweaty, but oh so happy.

  “You, Olivia McGuire, are the best Christmas gift I could ever receive. I could enjoy unwrapping you like that every damn day.”

  “I love you, Finn Kellan.”

  “I love you, too.” He kisses me softly once more and tells me to stay seated for just a moment. I watch him, amused and confused, as he quickly puts himself back together and then searches through coat pockets of nearby winter coats clearly belonging to women.

  “A-ha! Yes!” I hear him proclaim before he reemerges from the coat rack. “You ladies are all so predictable”. Chuckling, Finn lowers himself beside me and holds out the package of tissues he found in someone’s coat pocket. He pulls a couple out and tenderly cleans me off, disposing of everything in the trashcan by the door. He pulls me up from the floor and helps me adjust my dress before we head back to the ballroom.

  “I didn’t peel you out of your dress, but I guess I really didn’t need to.” Finn smirks, kissing my neck softly.

  I wink at him. “The night isn’t over, Hot Runner Guy.”

  31

  “Would someone puh-lease tell my overbearing mother ta’put her fucking camera away? God, I’m so’over posing for her!”

  Finn and I watch from our seats as Mandy throws herself into her chair taking a huge gulp of her cosmopolitan. I’m pretty sure she’s had more to drink than she should at this point, as she’s already slurring her speech; but hey, when it comes to her mother I won’t ever judge her. Karen makes me want to drink, too.

  “Posing? What are you posing for?” I ask her.

  “Who fucking knows? She’s finishing up a project for some Photoshop class and won’t leave me the hell alone. ‘Mandy, stand against this wall and look this way. Mandy, hold your arm out this way like you’re dancing with someone. No, Mandy, the other hand. Mandy, let’s go over here. Mandy, are you listening?’ Good God, shoot me now.” She rolls her eyes and finishes her drink, while raising a hand to signal a waiter to bring her a glass of champagne.

  “So wha’have you two lovey birds been up to this evening, huh?” Mandy slurs her speech again, and Finn chuckles at her silently.

  “You never could handle your liquor, Mandy,” he laughs. “Maybe you should slow down a bit.”

  “Screw you, Kellan. I’m fine. It’s my mother’s fault.” She grins.

  “As long as you’re not driving out of here tonight, and don’t make an ass of yourself in the name of my company, I don’t really care what you do. You’re a big girl. I’m not your brother, Mandy. Just be careful. You look lovely tonight, by the way. Green suits you.”

  “Always watching out for people, Finn. That’s why we all love you,” she says, fixing the deep V-neck on her green silk dress. She looks up at Finn when she finishes and winks at him, which causes me to chuckle this time.

  “Yeah, yeah, keep talking.” Finn laughs again. “If you ladies will excuse me, I need to check in with Mr. Sparks about the presentation.” He kisses my hand and winks at me. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Can’t wait.” I watch Finn walk away and can’t help but smile at the super sexy man that I get to call mine. In the nine months we’ve known each other, I’ve fallen for him more than I ever imagined. He’s changed my life by leaps and bounds in what feels like a very short time. I have more confidence in myself and more courage to take risks and try new things. I owe him so much.

  “Yep,” I hear Mandy say. “You’re a lucky girl, Olivia. Finn is a sexy catch, and you’ve caught him hook, line, and sinker.”

  Amused with Mandy’s demeanor, I flash her my biggest cat-ate-the-canary grin. “You think so?”

  “Hell yeah I do, Liv. I mean, look at him.” She nods her head in his direction, and we both watch as he talks with Mr. Sparks. I notice Karen walking up to the two of them and shaking Mr. Sparks’s hand.

  Ugh. Get away from them, Bitch!

  “What’s not to love? He’s the sweetest teddy bear of a man I’ve ever met, Liv, and I’ve known him a long time. And his body?” Mandy whistles, causing me to stare at her with eyes of surprise. I’ve never heard her talk about Finn that way, especially because as far as I know her interest lies with the female variety. You would think she’s a high school kid with a little crush. Nevertheless, she has a damn good point. His body is sexy as hell, especially in that sleek tuxedo he’s wearing. I can’t help but imagine walking up to him and unbuttoning his shirt, one slow button at a time.

  Or just ripping the damn shirt wide open!

  Catching my bottom lip with my teeth, I watch Finn with a level of lust building up through my body. “You make a great point, Mandy. His body is definitely...mmmmm... it’s nice.” I remind my
self where I am and who I’m with. Finn doesn’t need me divulging our sex life to the entire room, and Mandy is too tipsy to be trusted.

  “Nice?” She giggles. “Oh, come on. The man has his own lucky charm! He’s magically delicious.”

  Wait.

  What?

  I try to smile at her, but I can’t. My stomach just did a somersault, and my heart feels like it’s trying to escape out of my chest.

  “What did you just say?” I ask her, hoping to God I heard her wrong or that what she said doesn’t mean what I think it means.

  “I said he’s magically delicious.” She giggles and leans across the table closer to me like she’s about to tell me a secret. “I mean you’ve seen it right? His birthmark? It looks like a damn horseshoe, don’t you think? Sexy as hell too.”

  I can’t move.

  I can’t even plaster a smile on my face.

  That birthmark is not located in an obvious spot.

  Please God, no.

  I shake my head slowly in disbelief at what she just said. I feel the furrow in my brow as I look at her silently, pleading for her to tell me I’m wrong about what I’m thinking right now.

  “Mandy, I don’t...how do you…” I close my eyes and exhale the breath that I’ve been holding. “How do you know about that birthmark?”

  My mouth goes dry as I look into Mandy’s eyes to see the realization hit her of what she has just revealed to me. Her eyes pop out of her head as she covers her mouth with the palm of her hand.

  “Fuck,” she mumbles. She reaches across herself with her other hand and places it on top of mine, but I withdraw my hand immediately startling her.

  “Okay, Liv, don’t be mad. It was a long time ago.”

  “WHAT was a long time ago Mandy?” I don’t want to hear what I know in my heart is the truth, but I have to hear it from her anyway. I watch Mandy take a deep breath, deciding what exactly to say to me; how will she explain to me something she obviously wasn’t supposed to reveal?

  “We…” She spits out her next words all in one breath. “We slept together. Olivia, it was one time, a long time ago, and we were so drunk. I don’t have feelings for him like that; you have to believe me.”

  “No. I don’t have to believe a fucking thing you say, Mandy. Why didn’t you tell me this before? Why are you telling me this now for the first time?”

  “I wasn’t supposed to tell you ever, Olivia. Finn didn’t want you to know about it because he knew how you would react. We were young and stupid, and neither one of us really wanted it, Liv. He doesn’t love me. He loves you. I’m so fucking sorry. It was right after his dad died. The night after his dad’s funeral. I saw him in a bar in a sad, drunken stupor, so I stayed with him to make sure he was okay. He was so damn sad, Liv. First Sydney, and then his father. He just needed a release.”

  “Oh I see. So, you took advantage of a depressed man in mourning? How could you do that to him, Mandy?”

  I’m going to be sick.

  The room is spinning

  My thoughts are all over the place.

  Is this inconsequential?

  Would Abby tell me I’m overreacting?

  Where the hell is Abby anyway?

  “Olivia, Finn wasn’t the only one mourning the death of someone special. Mr. Kellan was like a father to me! He was there when my father wasn’t! I grew up with the Kellan family, so no, I didn’t take advantage of anyone. We were two people who needed to lean on each other.”

  “Stop. Just stop. I can’t.” I put my hands up in front of me and shake my head. I can’t hear anymore. One of my best friends slept with my boyfriend and never thought to tell me about it? I get that it was years ago, but why the hell didn’t either of them even mention it to me? How could they just keep it from me like it’s no big deal?

  “Olivia.”

  “STOP MANDY! You’ve said enough! I can’t do this. Not tonight.” The tears begin to release and crawl down my face. I swipe them away just in time to watch Finn walk back to the table. I don’t know how to handle this. I don’t know what to say, but I can feel my insides breaking apart.

  If he kept this secret for so long, what else is he hiding?

  Finn’s hands caress my shoulders lightly as he bends over to place a sweet kiss on my cheek. He doesn’t say anything, but I can tell he feels the tension in my body.

  “Everything okay?” he asks in my ear.

  I nod affirmatively without speaking. I lean over to pick up my clutch purse from under my chair so that I can excuse myself to the restroom.

  “Good. Mr. Sparks is ready for the unveiling. Everything is set for you. Karen is setting up the file for you now. All you have to do is open the program, and it’ll all be there. You ready?”

  Karen is doing WHAT?

  Why is she…?

  What did he…?

  Oh, God, can this night get any worse?

  I have to tell him.

  Right here.

  Right now.

  I jump out of my seat. “No I’m not ready! What do you mean Karen is setting up the program? What the hell did you do?”

  Finn smiles and has the audacity to laugh lightly. He rubs both of my arms as if to settle me down.

  “Relax, Beautiful. You’re just nervous. I get it. Karen’s got you covered. She offered to start the program while I was talking with Mr. Sparks. Don’t worry. It’s fine. I gave her your zip drive.”

  “Finn,” I say breathlessly. I’m starting to panic. “I don’t trust her. She’s been fucking with me for months now. This is going to go all wrong; I can feel it.” I look all around the room as if everyone has stopped to look at me, but all I see are people dancing, drinking, and having a great time. Music is still playing, and I hear laughter all around me.

  “Whoa, Olivia, relax. It’s just your nerves. Karen is fine. She’s done this before. She knows what she’s doing.”

  “No, Finn, you don’t understand you can’t trust…”

  “Ms. McGuire are you ready to begin?” Mr. Sparks interrupts what I’m trying to say to Finn.

  Shit!

  I can’t do this now!

  “Um, yes. Yes I’m ready.”

  Hell no, I’m not ready!

  I can’t breathe!

  “Olivia.” Finn holds my shoulders firmly and waits for me to look him in the eye. “You’re going to be great. Relax and have fun up there. I’m proud of you.” He places an endearing kiss on my forehead before releasing my arms.

  I swallow the lump in my throat and nod to Finn. I make one more sweep across the room looking for Abby, but when I spot her dancing with Austin, I know I can’t interrupt. I’m already walking across the room with Mr. Sparks. She’s the life preserver that I just can’t reach.

  Suck it up, Buttercup. You’re on.

  As the music fades in the room. Mr. Sparks stands next to me on the stage while one of the fundraising committee members introduces me to the podium. I clear my throat and look out into the crowd with a beaming smile that perfectly hides every inch of hurt and fear that has crept up inside of me in the past twenty minutes.

  Just get this done. and get out of here.

  “Good evening. ladies and gentleman! It is my pleasure to stand before you all this evening and celebrate with you the success of a wonderful development for the Massachusetts General Hospital. The expansion of the “Paws for Patients” therapy program is one that I am very proud to have been a part of. It means a great deal to me to see the program continue to thrive because I’ve seen firsthand how this program benefits many, many people, including several in my life that I love very much. On behalf of Dr. Sparks and the Board of Directors. I thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate this spectacular occasion. If you’ll direct your attention to the screens to either side of me, I’ll take you on a virtual tour of the new Paws for Patients program.”

  For the next ten minutes, I show slide after slide of the new therapy department and explain the hows and whys of the new developments. I breathe a sigh
of relief as I go through each slide, knowing that Finn was right. Karen knew what she was doing and wouldn’t dare make him look bad at an event like this. I’m able to relax and enjoy the oohs and ahhs from the crowd as I continue to show more slides.

  “Although you are all used to the program being called Paws for Patients, the hospital wanted to create a new and improved logo and marketing design in order to rebrand the program and help push its success into the future for years to come. I’m honored to have been given the opportunity to unveil the new design to you tonight. All promotional materials have been printed and mailed, and we are very excited to watch this program thrive as a result of the hospital’s efforts. It is without further ado that I introduce to you the new look for the future of the Paws for Patients Program!”

  I click my remote with a beaming, genuine smile that my presentation went smoothly. I close my eyes quickly and exhale a huge sigh of relief.

  Why aren’t they clapping?

  Did the slide not change?

  Did I hit the wrong button?

  Why are there gasps from the crowd?

  I open my eyes and look at the screens. I’m staring in horror at my very worst nightmare coming to fruition. In bold red letters above an image of three chocolate lab puppies laying in a pool of blood are the words, “PAWS FOR PATIENTS - MASS. GENERAL HOSPITAL.”

  Max?

  This isn’t happening.

  I can’t speak.

  My mouth is open, but I can’t speak.

  “What the hell is this about, Ms. McGuire? Is this your idea of a sick joke?” Mr. Sparks whispers in my ear, not so silently.

  “No sir. I…I...” I can’t even finish my sentence because I don’t know what to say. I try hitting my remote to go to another slide, but the picture is stuck there. I try to hit a button on the laptop in front of me, but nothing changes.

  What is going on?

  Why is this happening to me?

  She did this.

  I know she did this!

  I told him this would happen.

  He wasn’t listening to me.

  I feel the tears sliding down my neck, and I feel as though everything I ingested this evening is about to escape my body. I quickly run my eyes across the crowd for Finn or Abby, but when I look up my eyes are filled with water, and I can’t see anything in front of me. I thought I was sweating, but when I feel the tears drip silently from my eyes, I realize the water on my neck is from my own tears. I must be panicking to be crying uncontrollably like this.