Sunday Love

by K. J. Lewis

  “My family moved to New York from Tennessee when I was five. Someone called me Southie and it stuck.”

  “I went out with a guy from Tennessee,” Gabby says, laying down her card.

  “Didn’t work out?”

  “He cried during sex.”

  “Ugh,” Fran and I respond.

  “Are you going to look up Frank while you are in town?” Ryan asks Fran. He’s on the iPad I was using.

  “No.” The look on her face only invites more questions.

  “What was wrong with him?” Ryan asks. “He was a nice guy.”

  “He’s a no. He’s a face-eater. Thought my lips went all the way to my forehead.”

  “How was he with your other lips?” Gabby asks. “I could forgive the messy kissing if it meant he knew how to kiss Roxy.”

  “You are the only girl I know who has named her vagina,” Blake says, throwing the last card. We lost this round.

  “How many times do I have to tell you Roxy is not my vagina?”

  “Forgive me.” Blake offers his hands up in a conciliatory manner. “Your love lady.”

  “You named your pus—”

  “Dean,” Reid says, not looking up from his laptop.

  “Have you ever had a threesome?” Fran’s question stops the conversation. Everyone turns to look at her.

  “Why do you ask, Frannie?”

  “I was just curious, Elise.”

  “Yep,” Blake answers.

  “Nope,” some of the others answer. I raise an eyebrow at Dean, West, and Reid who choose not to answer.

  “What about William?” I ask Fran. “He still lives in New York.”

  “No. He kept trying to slap my…Roxy…like it was a whack-a-mole.”

  West isn’t used to this group and is unable to hold in his laughter.

  “Newbie,” Gabby says, nodding at West.

  “Speaking of West,” Reid interjects. “Graham Taylor has asked us to look into making the Rodman Community Center a viable center. It appears there has been some mismanagement of funds, and he needs us to see who’s been working the books.”

  “Why doesn’t the city handle it?” Ryan asks.

  “The city closed it two years ago. The Foundation is rejuvenating community centers in urban neighborhoods. The initiative is to give jobs to the local adults while giving care to the youth of the area.”

  “The Foundation? Is that the one that all the billionaires created and gave like half or more of their money to?” Fran asks.

  “Yes. No one knows what their resources are, but rumor has it they are a 150-billion-dollar foundation. Graham’s wife—”

  “Emme,” I correct Reid. “Her name is Emme. She is more than just Mrs. Graham Taylor.”

  “Emme, is passionate about reaching the youth of these areas and oversees all presentations that go before the board. Graham wants to make sure this project succeeds. We have to get a handle on where the money is going and minimize any negative publicity the mismanagement of funds could create.”

  “I take it since West is at the table he’s been ruled out?” Ryan comments.

  “Yes. He’s a volunteer coach. He doesn’t have any interaction with the books. He is on the inside, though, and has a relationship with Emme. Graham says we can trust him, and he can help fill us in. Blake will be lead on the project and will update each of you when needed.”

  The conversation turns back to random things. I’ve been watching Dean who hasn’t taken his eyes off Gabby. This doesn’t deter Gabby one bit, and she remains as crass and rambunctious as ever. You have to love Gabby. She is who she is.

  “If you could sleep with one celebrity who would it be?” Gabby asks, throwing an ace.

  “Matt Bomer,” I answer without hesitation.

  “He’s gay,” Ryan says.

  “And? What does that have to do with anything?”

  “You can’t choose a gay man, Elise,” Fran says. “You’ve already slept with a gay man.”

  “Is there a gay-man quota I don’t know about? And to be fair, when I slept with him, he wasn’t out as a gay man.”

  “But was he—”

  Cutting Blake off, I answer my ringing cell.

  “Elise Donovan.”

  “Elise, this is Dr. Davis.”

  “Yes. Thank you for calling me back.” I shuffle out from behind the table and head inside. “I wanted to talk to you about Emily,” I say when I am out of earshot of the others.

  “Yes, I saw her this morning. She told me I could expect a call from you.”

  “I gotta give it to her. She’s thorough.”

  “She’s an exceptional child.”

  “She is. The keyword is child. I assume she told you her wishes.”

  “Yes, her mom had gone back to the charity house to shower for the day. She discussed openly her desire to stop treatment. She asked me not to discuss it with her mom until she had a chance to talk to you. This is highly unusual, but I did see you are on the approved HIPPA list. Can I ask your relationship to the family?”

  “I’m a close family friend. I call and check on Emily often, and I stayed with her for a couple of days so I could arrange for a few days away for her parents. I was added to her caregiver list then. I’m afraid I know a little more about you, doctor, than you know about me. Not to startle you, but I know you have three kids. One not much younger than Emily.”

  “You know this how?”

  “It’s an occupational hazard, I’m afraid. No one was going to touch Emily without a full background check. My apologies, but I need you to talk to me as a physician and not as a parent. Is this the right decision for Emily? I understand she is on a new experimental medication. What are the chances this one will work?”

  “Well, we’re getting smarter every day. More and more we are extending the life of the patients that have the kind of cancer that Emily has.”

  “Dr. Davis. please.”

  “This treatment I believe could give her a couple of months added to her life.”

  “Which gets us where?”

  “As I told her mom last week, we are looking at three to six months.”

  “Is it three or six?”

  “There is no crystal ball, I would err on the side of three.”

  “Three without treatment,” I repeat, deep in thought.

  “Three with treatment,” he gently clarifies.

  “Is there any experimental drug in the works that will be available in the next four to six months that would significantly change the timeframe?”

  He pauses. “I’m sorry. No. There isn’t.”

  “So, I ask you now as a parent. What would you do?”

  “I would want to fight until the end. But that would be about me and not my child. As a doctor, I want my patients to have the best time they can have while they have it.”

  “So, let her have her wish and go home?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank you, doctor. I’ll see you in the morning.” I hang up the phone and stare out the picture window to the park across the street trying to catalog my thoughts.

  “Elise?” Reid calls my name, and I turn to see everyone coming inside.

  “What is it?” Gabby asks on full alert when she sees my face.

  “Ryan.” I look at him, and Blake wraps an arm around his shoulders, expecting the worse.

  “It’s not what you think. But it is about Emily. She called me today.”

  “What about?”

  “Ryan, it’s time.”

  He looks past me, out the window. “No, it’s not Elise. This isn’t your call.”

  “No, it’s not my call. It’s hers. And your parents. And yours. The four of you need to make this call together, because you are going to need each other to get through this.”

  “Stay out of it, Elise.” Ryan’s voice rises, and Fran moves to his side. He shrugs out of Blake’s hold. “This isn’t a case for you. She’s not some assignment. She’s my baby sister.”

  “Ryan, I gave her my wor
d.”

  “When she was sick from chemo and high on pain meds. We would have said anything to make her feel better that week.”

  “Ryan, this will be easier for your parents if we go in there as a united front. It’s the only way we have of convincing them.

  “Elise…” His voice is filled with pain.

  “Ryan, listen to her. She knows what she wants.”

  “She’s thirteen, Elise. She’s my sister, not yours. You don’t know her like I do.”

  “You’re right. But I gave her my word. No matter how hard this gets, I have to do what Emily wants. I’ll be flying to Memphis in the morning. I will have a plane waiting for us. Once your parents see this is what Emily wants, they will fly privately home. I’ll make sure there is a nurse on the flight, and I will have hospice set up for home visits before we arrive.”

  “She’s not your client, Elise. You can’t just ride in on your horse and take over.”

  “I made a promise to her. That makes her my client. I would prefer us to do this the easy way, but I am prepared to legally fight on her behalf. Don’t make me. Listen to your sister,” I plead with my friend.

  “Fuck you, Elise. If you step one foot in Memphis, I’ll have you removed. You’re not the only one who knows how to play this game. I can do heartless. After all, I learned from the best.”

  “Ryan,” Gabby says softly, knowing his words just ripped through me.

  “Ryan.” Blake puts his hand on his shoulder.

  “Get off me.” Ryan pulls away, taking steps towards me. I see Reid starting to move, but he wisely stops when Blake puts his hand up. With clenched fists and teeth, Ryan leans down, level with my face. The desperation in his eyes is more than enough to break my heart into two.

  “Stay the fuck away from my family,” he says and stomps out the door. Fran follows him.

  “Elise,” Gabby and Blake say in unison.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Do you need help making the arrangements?” Gabby offers.

  “No. Ryan is going to need you all to make it through this. I don’t want anyone else involved. Blake, I’ll call you with my details so you can arrange my security. Although, if someone was really going to try something, they might want to wait. I’m not in the mood for this shit.”

  “My guys will be ready when you are.”

  They all stand there frozen for another minute.

  “Go.” I wave them to the door. “Ryan needs you.”

  “Go ahead,” Reid assures them, coming to stand beside me.

  The door shuts, and Reid and I are left standing alone in his luxury townhouse.

  “I’m going to be sick.” I make it to the half bath just in time to empty the contents of my stomach into the toilet. Reid hands me a washcloth. I stand there for a minute, still holding my hair back, making sure I’m done before I move. I pull the ringing cell from my pocket. It’s Theo.

  Elise has been on the phone with Theo for more than an hour. I finally grabbed Nova and left for a run, taking my frustrations out on the pavement. Why did I ever think it was a good idea to buy Theo’s business? I knew I would be positioning this team to do corporate takeovers and then to fix the companies I get for pennies on the dollar. I just didn’t realize how involved they are in certain areas. I did my research and everyone agreed with Theo: Elise is the maestro. I underestimated not only her business connections, but her connections with the team. No matter what spin I put on this, I know the real unaccounted contingency is me. I didn’t have a plan for falling in love with her.

  Once again Elise found herself in a position to take the heat for something out of her control. I feel for what Ryan is going through, but it took all I had not to intervene when he said those things to her. One thing I have learned in business is to rely on those who know what they are doing to guide things. I had to trust Gabby and Blake to step in if needed.

  Nova and I climb the steps leading into the townhouse. Elise is no longer in the living area. There’s a note on the fridge saying she is across the street at the park. I grab an extra bottle of water before Nova and I walk across the street.

  I love this park. Every time I insert the key into the gate I remember why I bought this place. In no other part of the city can you find an exclusive park right outside your door. Nova and I find Elise on a bench under an oak tree not far off the path.

  When I sit down, she lays her head across my lap. “Should you be taking the day off? Aren’t you behind?”

  “I’ve been working. I’ll work some more later. I’d rather talk about what happened in there today.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about. You saw everything. By the way, I checked with your assistant and booked your plane for the next two days. I’m hoping his parents will see it Emily’s way and let her go home. Since it will be a medical transport, you can write it off. I hope that’s okay. I would have chartered one, but I’m not sure what the timeframe is going to be.”

  “I don’t mind, and I could care less about the expense.”

  “I can ask to use one of the Taylor’s planes if you are going to need yours.”

  “Elise, it’s fine. I can fly commercial if something comes up. This is more important. I want to talk about how you are feeling. I know it hurt to hear Ryan say those things to you.”

  “I’m okay, Reid. Theo heard from Gabby as soon as they walked out. He’s already talked to me about it.”

  My hand falls still in her hair, and I grow quiet.

  “I love you, Reid. Theo and I have been together for a long time. He knows Ryan and this team. It’s going to take some time for me to adjust to not talking with him about things.”

  “I don’t mind you talking to him about work, Elise. What I mind is you talking to him about everything.”

  She sits up. “What are you saying? Reid, Theo and I have been friends my whole life. He’s my best friend. We talk to each other. You and I are still learning about each other. Just because we are in love doesn’t mean we don’t have growing to do.”

  “I’m in a relationship with you, not Theo. How do you propose we grow when you tell him what you are thinking and not me? I already have to share you with the team.”

  “First off, I love the team, but they are not Theo. Secondly, what do you mean share me? I have relationships with people, Reid. I’m not going to be locked up and only pine for you. You fell in love with the wrong girl if that is what you are looking for.”

  “That’s not what I want and you know it.”

  “Then what do you want?’

  “I want your intimacy. I want to be your everything. And, no, I don’t want to consume you, I want to complement you. I want to be to you what you are to me. I’ve never felt this way before, Elise. I swear to God I feel like I’ve stepped into the fucking Twilight Zone. I’ve never wanted to be a part of someone.”

  “I’m in this, Reid. Every step. You are my first thought when I wake up, and I dream of you at night. What else do I have to do to show you? I have given you a level of myself that I’ve never given to anyone. I don’t have to be in a box for you to understand that. And I won’t be. These are your issues, not mine. I suggest you fix them. I’m going back to the house.”

  I don’t say another word, but I’m grateful when she lets me wrap my arm around her. Nova climbs the stairs ahead of us once we are inside. When we reach the top floor, I can’t contain it anymore. I pin her against the wall. Neither of us speaks a word. I slide off her leggings and her sweater to find she’s not wearing any underwear. She’s naked before me. Beautiful. Frustrating. I press my body against hers. Still fully dressed, I pull the front of my running pants down, freeing my cock. It falls rigid against her stomach. I bend my knees slightly and locks eyes with her beautiful grays before pushing into her in one solid stroke.

  I pause—not out of a fear of losing control, but out of a need to be inside her. I eventually regain my composure and begin to rock in and out of her. The only audible sound is our breathing. I fuck her against
the wall, working us to a point where we explode around each other. It’s an encounter unlike any we’ve had. No frills. No unbridled passion. Just me inside of her. I’m struck by the intimacy of it.

  I soften and slide out of her. Straightening myself, I leave her standing there naked, my come running down her thighs.

  I make my way downstairs. I’ve only made it a few steps when Dean’s voice announces over the intercom that he and Gabby are in the kitchen. Fuck me, why did I ever give him a key? I release a deep breath of frustration and take the remaining flights down.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure?” Dean catches my sarcasm. Gabby doesn’t. Or maybe she does and chooses to ignore it.

  “How’s Elise?” Gabby asks.

  “She should be down in a minute.”

  “I asked how she is.”

  “You need to ask her that question.”

  “I’m asking you that question,” she glares.

  “I don’t have an answer for you, Gabby.”

  She starts to say something, but either catches the look Dean gives her or decides to hold her tongue on her own. Either way, I’m grateful.

  “We brought dinner,” Dean says and starts unpacking Chinese cartons from my favorite place a few blocks over.

  “It’s not necessary.”

  “Just say thank you, Reid.”

  “Thank you, Dean.” I roll my eyes.

  “Chinese,” Elise says, entering the kitchen. She’s wearing flannel socks that stop at her thighs, two inches below my cardigan sweater. The V-neck dips low between her breasts. She has her hair pulled into a big bowl of curls on top of her head. Her gray eyes stand out against the blue of the sweater and her face is beautiful without a speck of makeup. This girl brings me to my knees without even trying.

  “You’re exquisite.” The words leave my mouth before I even know they are coming. She’s beside me now, and I can’t help it. I have to kiss her. My lips brush hers with every ounce of love I have for this woman. Her eyes lower, but not before I catch their shimmer. Her arms wrap around me in a hug that seems to be more for my benefit than hers.

  “I love you, Reid.”

  “I love you, Dove.”