by Ariel Ellman
“Last night,” Sawyer whispered, raising guilty eyes to meet Ani’s incredulous ones.
“Holy shit,” Ani sighed, tossing the damp towel on the coffee table and sinking back against the couch.
“I know,” Sawyer sighed back.
“How was it?” Ani asked, fascinated as she stared at her blushing sister.
“It was actually pretty good,” Sawyer admitted with a blush. “You know what they say about Italians….”
“I think this is the first time that I’ve ever seen you blush when talking about sex,” Ani laughed. “Soooo, what does it mean?”
“It doesn’t mean anything, it was just sex,” Sawyer replied with a shrug.
“Just sex,” Ani repeated, staring at her sister disbelievingly. “Sex with a guy Soy!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands up. “And our fucking landlord. We better not get kicked out when he learns you still like to dip into the honeypot…..”
“I was lonely and you and Bast are always all over each other,” Sawyer pouted. “You’ve probably fucked on every surface in this apartment already and we’ve only been here a week.”
“So it’s my fault you fucked our landlord?” Ani teased.
“Okay so I know it’s weird after all these years, but I think I might be a little bi,” Sawyer admitted with a grin. “And he was determined to show me that guys can eat pussy like pros, sooo……”
“You’re such a horny slut,” Ani laughed, tossing a throw pillow at her sister. “You’re like a frat boy!”
“It’s true,” Sawyer admitted with a sigh.
“So are you guys like a thing now?” Ani asked making a face at her sister.
“Nooooo,” Sawyer protested in mock horror. “He was sweating me and I was horny and a little curious about his moves that’s all!” She lowered her eyes a little guiltily.
“Oh my God, what else are you not telling me Soy?” Ani demanded narrowing her eyes at her sister suspiciously when Sawyer looked down into her cappuccino. “Spill!” Ani poked Sawyer with her foot.
“It was actually a threesome,” Sawyer admitted with a gleeful grin, “and the girl was fucking hot!”
“Oh shit, really?” Ani asked, her eyes widening in fascination. “How the hell did that come about?”
“Bobby texted me a photo of a smoking hot babe last night after Bast dragged you away to ravish you for the eighth time. I could tell he was definitely drunk when I called him back, and I asked him if he was sending me Internet porn. He challenged me to come over to his apartment and find out for myself, soooo I did,” Sawyer confessed with a blush.
“Wow, you know I’ve never seen you blush before and this is twice in one night!” Ani teased her sister in awe. “It must have been some threesome!”
“Who had a threesome?” Sebastian called, walking into the loft with an armful of driftwood, old rope and sea-weathered buoys.
“Sawyer fucked our landlord and some hot chic last night to get back at us for leaving my bra and tank top in the kitchen,” Ani replied, dipping her head back for Sebastian’s kiss as he leaned down to her.
“How hot was the chic?” Sebastian asked in interest.
“Hey,” Ani protested, swatting Sebastian. “I’m the only hot chic you’re interested in, remember?” she warned with narrowed eyes.
“Actually she was totally your type Bast, she’s a blond,” Sawyer laughed.
“Ahhh, you finally gave into the allure of the blonds…..” Sebastian laughed, sinking down on the couch between them and slipping an arm around Ani’s shoulders.
“She’s not just blond,” Sawyer laughed. “She’s Irish, straight off the boat and her accent is fucking killer. Bobby didn’t fuck around when he went searching for temptation. All she had to do was whisper in my ear with that accent and I was gone. And her body, oh my God,” Sawyer sighed. “I hope she calls me.”
“So when you say threesome, did you actually fuck the landlord, or just the Irish chic, or both?” Sebastian asked Sawyer with interest.
“Bast!” Ani protested, swatting Sebastian on the head.
“Oh c’mon baby, lesbian threesomes are every man’s fantasy. You’ve got to at least let me hear the details,” Sebastian teased, covering his head to ward off Ani’s blows.
“Don’t you dare tell him any more,” Ani warned her sister, pushing Sebastian off the couch and onto the floor. “But I definitely want to hear the dirty details!” She grinned.
“Oh you get to hear about the Italian stud with two women but I don’t get to hear about the hot blond Irish chic?” Sebastian continued to tease Ani until she pressed a pillow over his face and threatened to smother him.
“It was the most intense sex I’ve ever had,” Sawyer admitted seriously. “I don’t know if Bobby was necessary, I mean a girl with a dildo or vibrator probably could have achieved the same affect, but holy shit, I’m definitely a fan of threesomes now,” Sawyer admitted with a grin.
“A girl with a dildo could have achieved the same affect?” Sebastian repeated mournfully. “Man that’s harsh. I hope you never say that about me baby!” He cast Ani a worried look.
“Now I’m dying for the details,” Ani exclaimed, ignoring Sebastian. “Ignore Bast, just tell me what you did!”
“Oh A, it was fucking incredible,” Sawyer admitted, leaning forward and lowering her voice. “Bobby fucked me from behind hard and fast, with his hands on my tits and his mouth on my neck and Siobhan kneeled in front of me and buried her face in my honeypot. I seriously thought I was going to die, it was so intense,” Sawyer sighed in recollection. “Then we went a second time with Bobby going to town in an effort to prove his worth, and she sat on my face and dangled her hair on my breasts. She smelled like lilies and tasted like honey. It may have ruined regular sex for me for awhile.”
“Meaning you want to mix it up with guys?” Ani asked her sister curiously.
“Nahhh…… like I said, a girl with a dildo would have been just as effective,” Sawyer grinned, sticking her tongue out at Sebastian. “I’m just thinking I need to try out threesomes with girls more…”
“Never be as good,” Sebastian vehemently disagreed. “But I think we should try it, test out Sawyer’s theory, don’t you?” Sebastian cast Ani devilish grin. “I bet I could find a nice blond to have a threesome with us,” he teased Ani with a wink.
“You wish!” Ani exclaimed with a gasp, kicking Sebastian. “You’re with the wrong sister if you want lesbian threesomes!”
“I’m with exactly the sister I want,” Sebastian murmured back, pulling Ani down off of the couch and on top of him.
“See! This is what drove me to fuck the landlord!” Sawyer declared, throwing up her hands in exasperation. “FYI Bast, I may need you to change that mural on my wall to a blond,” Sawyer called out as she stood up and walked to her room. “And for God’s sake, don’t fuck my sister on that couch! Ani and I spent a fortune on that thing and it’s impossible to clean velvet!”
Chapter Nineteen
“Hi,” Jordan said, standing up as Ani walked into their attorney’s waiting room. “Was Sawyer able to watch the bakery for you?”
“No, she had a client. I just closed early, but Kate said Raffi could come back to their house after school if I’m not back in time to pick her up,” Ani replied, referring to Raffi’s best friend Erin’s mother.
“Sorry about the meeting time,” Jordan murmured.
“It’s fine. The bakery will survive and it’s probably better to move forward sooner rather than later,” Ani replied quietly.
“Hey guys,” Andy called out to them, walking out of his office. His beautiful custom-made dark pin-striped suit was molded to his tall well-built body like a glove. His pink shirt was open slightly at the neck, exposing a glimpse of his dark chest, and the only jewelry he wore was the ten thousand dollar Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox watch on his wrist that he’d bought himself when he made partner in his law firm. His father was a well-respected Federal Court Judge and his mother was a cardiac surg
eon, and Andy moved with the ease of a man who knew who he was and where he had come from.
“No tie today?” Ani teased, leaning forward to kiss Andi hello.
“I’m keeping it casual just for you baby,” Andy replied, kissing Ani hello and pulling her into his arms for a hug.
Andy had been a part of Ani’s life since the beginning of her days with Jordan. His father had married them on the beach in Nantucket because Ani hadn’t wanted to get married in a church, pregnant. She had danced with Andy at her wedding and spent many lazy Sunday afternoons curled up between him and Jordan on the couch watching football games. It felt strange to be standing before him now with Jordan to discuss her divorce.
“It’s been awhile since we’ve played tennis girl, where you been hiding?” Andy asked Ani as he slapped Jordan on the back and led them down the hall to the conference room.
“We should definitely play soon,” Ani murmured awkwardly, glancing at Jordan and looking away. She wondered fleetingly if it would be appropriate to still be friends with Andy now that she was divorcing Jordan, if Andy would even want to ever speak to her again.
“Coffee, tea, water?” Andy asked as they sat down and his assistant hovered in the doorway waiting for their order.
“I’ll have tea,” Ani whispered, suddenly feeling cold.
“Nothing for me, thanks,” Jordan murmured with a shake of his head as he sat down next to Ani.
“First of all, before we get started, are you two absolutely sure about this?” Andy asked them softly, looking from Ani’s pale face to Jordan’s red eyes.
Jordan didn’t respond, just stared at Ani with a challenge in his eyes, waiting for her to say the words that would end their life together.
“Yes,” Ani whispered hoarsely.
“Okay,” Andy said with a sigh, uncapping a pen and flipping a yellow legal pad open to a fresh page. “Well then, Jordan has already talked to me a little bit about what he wants, why don’t you tell me your thoughts regarding division of property and custody, and I’ll assess whether I can serve both of your interests properly or whether or not you should seek independent counsel Ani,” he said gently.
“I want the bakery and equal, shared custody of Raffi,” Ani replied softly.
“That’s it?” Andy replied, raising an eyebrow at Ani. “You’ve been married for over nine years, you’re certainly entitled to more,” he said carefully.
“I don’t want anything for myself,” Ani murmured. “My only sticking points concern Raffi. I can’t afford to pay for her school and I don’t want any restrictions regarding my custody. I want equal time with her, and an agreement that neither of us can move out of the area with her without the other’s consent, stuff like that.” She wrapped her hands around the mug of hot tea that Andy’s assistant had brought her and brought it up to her lips.
“Well,” Andy began as Jordan nodded his head subtly at him. “This is Jordan’s offer.” He slid a typed document over to Ani that he had already prepared.
Ani stared at the page in front of her, blinking at the words and numbers as they started to blur together.
“Jordan, you don’t have to do this,” she whispered, turning anguished eyes to meet her husband’s. “It’s your money, you don’t need to give me any.”
“You’ve been my wife for 9 ½ years and you’re the mother of my child,” Jordan replied softly. “Who knows what you would have done on your own these last ten years if you hadn’t been staying home and raising Raffi. Maybe you’d have ten bakeries or a catering company,” Jordan murmured. “I have no interest in seeing you struggle financially Ani.”
“Jordan,” Ani whispered, blinking back tears. “These past ten years with you and Raffi have been the best of my life,” she wept. “I never viewed them as a sacrifice. I loved being your wife and staying home to raise our daughter. I never wanted anything else.”
“I can’t do this,” Jordan choked, standing up and pushing his chair away. “Look it over and if there are any issues, let Andy know and he’ll contact me.” He turned around and strode out of the room.
Ani lowered her head to the table as her tears overcame her, and her shoulders shook as she sobbed all over the document that she was supposed to sign.
“Ani, are you sure about this?” Andy asked her softly. “I know Jordan doesn’t want to wait, but it’s really better to have a trial separation for at least six months before you begin divorce proceedings,” he recommended. “It gives you time to change your mind after things settle down. Jordan told me what’s going on, and it sounds like emotions are really high right now, but I know he would forgive you if you told him you wanted to come back. He understands that you never had closure with your past and he would forgive the affair Ani.”
“It’s not just an affair Andy,” Ani whispered. “Bast is my soul mate. We gave ourselves to each other as children and we’re meant to be together. I can’t guarantee the future, but I would never ask Jordan to wait for me to see what happens. I spent fifteen years waiting for someone to come back to me and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.” Ani swiped her eyes on the sleeve of her dress. “This is the right thing to do Andy, no matter how much it hurts.”
“I danced with you at your wedding,” Andy said sadly. “I know you still love him, I see it in your eyes Ani,” he pushed, making one last try.
“I do still love Jordan,” Ani agreed softly, standing up, “He’s an amazing guy. He was a wonderful husband and he’s a fantastic father to our daughter. But I love Sebastian more, and I can’t have both of them can I?” she replied, meeting Andy’s eyes sadly. “You know what I’m learning in my old age Andy?” Ani asked as she paused in the doorway of the conference room on her way out. “Life is a series of choices, and our lives can go in multiple directions based on the choices we make. I don’t believe there is just one person in life for everyone. My own life has shown me that it is possible to love two different people, but that doesn’t mean you can have both of them at the same time. We can’t go around doing whatever we want and disregarding the consequences, as much as we might want to.”
“You’d be surprised how many people do,” Andy replied, shaking his head regretfully. “I’ll send you the documents to review,” he called as Ani walked out the door.
Ani headed straight over to Raffi’s school to pick her up even though she was a little early. It was drizzling out, but she parked and walked over to stand and wait in front of the beautiful wrought iron gates of the school anyway. She wanted to feel the warm spring rain on her face and breathe in the scent of flowers that filled the air. The front gates of the school were covered with honeysuckle, and the image always made her think of an English storybook.
“Hey there stranger,” a voice called out to Ani as she stood with her head dipped back and her eyes closed, relishing the feel of the sprinkling rain against her face. “I guess you don’t need me to take Raffi,” Kate, Erin’s mom said, walking over to Ani under the cover of a large striped umbrella.
Ani liked Kate, she always had, and they often went for coffee together while they waited for the girls to finish their violin lessons. Kate was a beautiful woman, with a slight frame, auburn hair and striking cat-like green eyes. She was a yoga instructor and organic gardener, and she ran an inner city non-profit food coop that grew organic produce for local soup kitchens and food pantries.
“No, I made it back in time, but thanks so much,” Ani murmured, opening her eyes and lifting her head up to face Kate.
“Haven’t seen you around all month,” Kate said gently, moving closer to Ani to share her umbrella. “Everything ok?”
“Yeah sure, you know, just busy,” Ani replied avoiding her friend’s eyes and stepping back a little so she was back in the rain.
“Raffi said something to Erin about you and Jordan splitting up,” Kate said carefully. Kate was the most direct person that Ani had ever met, she could never figure out if Kate lacked tact or was simply incapable of bullshit.
“Look Kat
e, I don’t really want to talk about it,” Ani replied with a sigh, staring straight ahead at the school gate. She had known Kate for years, since their daughters were in preschool together. They had served on school committees together and gone out to couples dinners before Kate and her husband had gotten divorced last year, but no one knew about her past with Sebastian, and Ani wouldn’t even know where to begin if she tried to explain her reasons for divorcing Jordan.
“Well if you need any advice or the name of my lawyer….” Kate offered, her voice trailing off. Kate’s husband, a successful investment banker had turned out to be a real bastard, and Ani knew that Kate’s attorney had taken him to the cleaners for a four-year documented affair with his twenty-three year old assistant. She could never figure out what they had been doing together in the first place. Kate’s ex-husband was the typical conservative old money Boston dad that Raffi’s school was filled with, and Kate was the complete opposite. She was raised on a commune in Northern California, and was never seen without her chunky silver and turquoise jewelry. She wore short sundresses with vintage cowboy boots or clogs in the spring and summer, and funky patterned tights and leggings with hand knit sweaters in the winter. She was definitely a contrast to the J.Crew man that she’d married.
“I’m fine, we’re settling everything amicably,” Ani replied, turning to face her friend. “But thanks for offering, I appreciate it.”
It was nice to have someone offer Ani her support even if the whole divorce was Ani’s fault. She had made several casual friends over the years since she’d been married to Jordan, but she’d never really felt like she’d belonged to his world of private schools and dinner parties with other doctors and their wives. Not to mention the fact that Jordan’s friends and colleagues were mostly ten to fifteen years older than Ani.
Other than Andy, whom she adored, and Kate who was more like her than the other moms at school, Ani had always felt the most comfortable just hanging out with Jordan and Raffi, or Sawyer and her friends who were all closer to Ani’s age than Jordan’s were. She’d also had a good friend named Alex from her early catering days, but she’d moved to California six years ago, and they’d lost touch. Ani supposed that Sawyer was her best friend, and she contemplated that thoughtfully while Kate made small talk with her about their daughters.