by Shayne Ford
“You were that man,” I say.
He grins. A soft, beautiful smile.
“No, I wasn’t. I was the sole provider for my sister and my niece. I was also someone who worked for you. I had nothing in my name. I might've not been on the streets, but I was still a hustler. The world I had in my mind for you, and us, wasn’t within my reach. The world in which I’d be the stable ground for you, wasn’t within my grasp. Money was only part of the problem, but there were other things.”
His face light up with a grin as his eyes sets on his hands.
“It was ironic in a way. I knew what you were missing. I used to have what you were missing. But I no longer had it. Therefore, I couldn’t give it to you. Besides, you lived in a different kind of world. One in which I had to find my sway. One in which I was the poor boy while you were the rich girl. Both of us hated our lives, but none of us knew what the answer was. Was there a way to get out of it and find a different path? You thought you knew, but you didn’t have the right answer either. At least it wasn’t for me. That’s why I said I had to do what I had to do on my own. I also had to see if there was anything of us.”
He glances at me briefly before he brings his glass to his lips. The ruby liquid moistens his lips, giving them a brief sheen.
A rueful grin kisses his lips as he relives the memory.
“If you think it was easy for me, you’re wrong. It wasn’t easy at all. If you think I’d forgotten about you, I hadn’t. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. The emotions we had for each other spun out of control back then and made the sex addictive and unimaginably beautiful. It raised what could’ve been ordinary fucking to a memorable experience. Love does that to sex. It turns it into the ultimate thrill. That’s why people fall so hard. And that’s why we did. We got lost in each other. That’s why it was so painful to tear away from you, but I knew that by doing so, our story would live on. No love story ever dies until it lives its life and reaches its conclusion. That’s what I counted on. And that’s why we're here, tonight,” he says, his eyes sinking into mine.
He pauses.
There’s nothing I can add to that.
“Let’s eat,” he mutters with a different voice, motioning to the plates. “The food is getting cold.”
12
SENNA
We eat in silence.
Once in a while, I steal a glance at him, realizing how much I missed this familiar sight. Us eating together. Him, never rushing.
We order desserts soon after.
Chocolate cake for him, and strawberry mousse for me. I fidget a little until I voice a nagging question.
“Since when is she no longer your client?”
He shifts his eyes to me.
“Crystal Sanders?”
“Yes.”
“The night I met you.”
I’m waiting for him to elaborate.
“I ended it officially a few nights back.”
“The night you had dinner with them?”
He nods.
“Was that a goodbye kiss?”
“Yes, it was,” he says, holding my eyes. “She wasn’t what you think she was.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Would that be all?” the server asks, his gaze skimming the table.
“Yes,” Jaden says.
“I’ll have them boxed,” the man says, sweeping the dessert plates off the table.
Minutes later, he brings back a cute box adorned with a bow, and also the check. Jaden hands him his card, and we wait a few more moments until the man comes back with the receipt. I hook my finger under the golden ribbon and pick up the box, as we both rise to our feet, ready to leave.
I saunter in front of him, heading for the exit when his hand slides to the small of my back.
“Let me take you home,” he says. “We’ll use your car, and I’ll come back, later on, to pick up my mine.”
I glance at him.
“No. Follow me. We’ll finish the dessert and the conversation at my place,” I say.
Half an hour later, we slide through the gates and park the cars in front of my house.
He waits for me as I climb out.
I push the main door open and walk inside before I turn the lights on. A glow spreads over the backyard.
“Go ahead,” I say, gesturing to the patio. “I’ll bring the plates out. Do you want anything to drink?” I ask.
“No alcohol. Anything else is good,” he says as he strolls to the table.
Moments later, I set the plates, the glasses and a couple of bottles of water on the table.
“The place looks nice,” he says, glancing around.
“It is. I no longer spend that much time at home. So there isn’t enough time for me to make a mess. That’s probably one of the reasons.”
His lips part as if he wants to say something.
“They no longer work for me,” I say, anticipating a question.
He lifts an eyebrow.
“The men.”
“What happened to them?”
“School. One of them got married, the other one moved out of state.”
“You didn’t replace them.”
“No. There was no point.”
He shifts his focus to the slice of cake.
“So, back to Crystal,” I say and pause while indulging in a spoon of strawberry mousse. “She must have a great husband.”
He smiles.
“He’s smart, confident. Loyal. He loves her deeply, and she loves him too. She’s aware she struck luck with him. Not many men would agree to this type of arrangement.”
“Would you?”
He takes a sip of water, evading my eyes.
“I don’t know.”
“The truth, Jaden.”
“This is the truth. I used to believe I could. It was a fantasy of mine. It still is. It’s hot if there’s trust and there are boundaries in place, and those involved like each other. But now, I’m not so sure.”
“Why?”
“I learned how easily you could lose someone you love. I’m not sure I could take that risk.”
“Would you share me?”
He shifts his gaze to me, surprised, his eyes searching mine for a brief moment.
“I don’t have you so I can’t share you.”
He looks back at the plate.
“Probably not,” he mutters after he ponders for another moment.
“What if I’d ask you to?”
He shoots his eyes at me. He looks torn. Unsure whether this is a trap or not. Aching that I can even ask him that.
He recovers quickly.
“It depends,” he says, collected. “There’s a time for lust, and there’s a time to heal. They have a solid, tested relationship. No wounds to heal, no dark past. They’re loyal to each other, and for them, it was a nice way to spice things up. They’re both smart, and they enjoyed the thrill, but we all abided by the rules. He laid the terms for me, and I honored each of them.”
He briefly looks away before he brings his eyes back to mine.
“To go back to your question. I'm not intimidated by another man if that’s what you ask of me. Would that answer your question?”
I nod.
“What about the pair of women?”
This time, he stretches an amused smile.
“You do have a good PI,” he says.
“Yeah. I like to hire the best professionals that I can find.”
He flicks his gaze to me and gets a glimpse of my smile.
“I didn’t fuck them. We discussed business.”
I quietly laugh.
“Must have been a hell of a business.”
He gives me a playful grin.
“Actually, their business wasn’t for me. They have a solid company, but I wasn’t interested in the retail space. So that was that.”
He drinks water.
“What about you. Would you share a man you love?”
The question takes me by surprise. I remember my reactio
n when I saw Crystal’s arms wrapped around him.
“No.”
“Hmmm...”
His nose creases with a smile.
He slides his hand inside his suit jacket, retrieves a cigarette from his pocket and lights it up. The orange dot glows briefly as he takes a drag. A few moments tick by.
He muses over something while I drink in his features. And then his expression changes.
“I know that some things may no longer be possible between us,” he says with a serious, even voice, “but I’m hoping that we can figure out which are and which aren’t, and if nothing comes out of it, then fine, we can both move on.”
We lock eyes for a moment.
“For starters, we can still talk and eat dessert together,” he says with a lighter tone.
I smile.
“Yes, I guess that’s good, but things could’ve been so different. I could’ve been with someone else by now,” I say.
He examines my face for a second.
“Are you with someone else?”
“No.”
“Were you?” he asks and takes another drag, and then he narrows his eyes as he releases the stream of smoke.
“I think you know the answer to that question.”
A soft grin brushes his lips.
“Any paid help?” he asks, still smiling.
“No,” I say, lowering my eyes and focusing on my mousse.
I sink my spoon into the creamy dessert and bring it to my lips. The aroma fills my mouth.
“What happened to your old friend?” he asks.
He blows out the smoke and puts out the cigarette.
“Abel?” I ask as he takes a bite of the chocolate cake.
“Mmm-hmm,” he says, grinning around the spoon. “You said he was running a promotion,” he adds. “What was that all about?”
He glances at me just as I feel the warmth of a blush rolling over my cheeks.
“Long story. Alcohol was involved. And a party.”
“Is he still around?” he asks, no longer smiling.
He sets the spoon on the plate.
“Yes, he is,” I say, smirking.
“What’s so funny?” he asks, not at all amused.
“I like to fuck with you.”
His eyes light up with a sly smile.
“Really? Can’t you do it other ways?”
“Haha. Funny,” I say, pointing with my spoon in his direction.
I take another mouthful of mousse.
“He is off the market,” I say.
“How come?”
He pushes the plate to the side and gulps water, his eyes trained on me.
“Harper took him off.”
His eyebrows lift in surprise.
“How did that happen?” he asks.
“Same party.”
“Okay... Am I missing something?”
I lower my eyes.
“It wasn’t such a good story,” I say, no longer smiling. “But in the end, something good came out of it.”
The growing silence makes me raise my eyes.
“I’m not proud of it,” I finally say.
“I’m not the one to judge. Life is messy, most of the time, anyway, but once in a while––as you just said, something good happens.”
His gaze shifts to his phone.
“I need to go,” he says, pushing his chair back.
I follow his example, and we both amble inside the house.
In the foyer, he collects his car keys while I hold the door open for him. Hesitant, he halts for a moment, his eyes roving on me.
“I’ll see you then,” he says.
Silent, I nod.
He spends a few more seconds on me before he pulls away and strides to his car.
“It’s Harper’s birthday next Friday,” I toss behind his back.
He halts and turns around.
“I’d like you to come with me. We go out to a restaurant.”
He ponders for a few moments.
“Sure.”
“You can pick me up.”
“We’ll talk before then. I hope.”
I smile.
“Yes, we will,” I say.
JADEN
Light filters through the windows and soft music travels through the air as I pull my car in front of her house on Friday evening.
I’m early. I’m nervous, and I truly hope she hasn’t changed her mind.
I push the door open and enter the living room. Her voice drifts through the air, coming from the bedroom.
“I’ll be ready in a few minutes. Get yourself a drink,” she says.
“I’m good,” I say, stepping out on the terrace.
For a few minutes, my eyes follow the hypnotic dance of the paper lights swaying in the breeze.
“Hey.”
Her voice rings out behind me.
“Hey,” I say, turning around, and drinking her in.
My heart races as I lay my eyes on her.
She’s never looked so beautiful. And different.
“You look good,” I murmur, perfectly aware that my words don’t do her justice.
Her eyes glitter with excitement while her lips curve into a warm smile.
I look at her, thunderstruck.
“Are you okay?” she asks, noticing my bewilderment.
“Yes. I like your dress,” I mutter, running my gaze down on her.
Her black dress hits above her knees, a tasteful combination of black lace and chiffon, a molded bustier, and a pencil skirt.
Long sparkling earrings almost touch her shoulders.
Her hair waves down her back, her eyes sparkling, full of life, dark amber gleaming between canopies of curled, raven lashes.
I dip my eyes to her lips, a nude, glistening layer coating them.
“You like it?”
“Yes,” I murmur.
She checks the time, grabs a small purse and curls her hand around mine. I hold her tightly. It’s soft and warm, pulsing with life.
Smiling, she gives me a quick once-over.
“You look great as well,” she says, running her eyes over my tailored shirt and pants.
Her gaze sweeps my clean shaven face, her lips pursing as she’s running her inspection.
I look at her, mystified.
“Ready?” she asks, gently squeezing my hand.
“Um... Yes. Ready,” I say, leading her to the door.
Minutes later, we drive downtown.
She stretches her legs, meeting my eyes as I give her a sidelong gaze.
A smile creases her lips.
“You look different,” I say.
The mysterious grin makes her eyes twinkle.
“I feel good. I haven’t been out, in a while. I mean besides last week, but I’ve never had couple’s night out.”
“We’re not a couple... yet.”
She grins and looks out the window, averting her eyes.
“Do you want us to be?” she asks.
“Is that even a question?”
She swivels her head to me.
“I’m just testing you.”
Smiling, I waggle my finger at her.
“No, no. No testing please.”
A few moments slip by.
She’s back at gazing out the window.
“I think we’ve been a couple for some time,” she says.
“You think so?” I ask, serious.
She turns her head to me.
“Yes. I think we were all this time. Even when we were apart. It’s not something we could’ve planned. It’s in our blood.”
She laughs softly. I don’t.
“What makes you say that?”
“After you left...” she says with a softer voice, “things weren’t the same for me. I was angry and blowing off steam any way I could. I felt trapped, and I was...” She pauses, looking at me as if she expects me to contest what she just said. “I couldn’t understand why you did it,” she continues. “I thought you had so much for me in you. But it the end I
had to let it go. It didn’t matter what I did or how hard I fought your memory. The change was done. The bound was sealed. The things that used to work for me no longer did. My life was different. Different than before I met you.”
I shift my eyes to her.
“I felt the same way.”
I bury her hand in mine and bring it to my lips. She stares at me, motionless, as I gently place a kiss on the back of her knuckles. A fine shiver goes through her before I let her free.
She looks out of the window again.
“Here... This is the place.”
I pull in front of the restaurant, a valet already rushing to attend to us. I climb out and toss the key in his hand before I swiftly stride to her side, open the door, and help her out. Our bodies touch for a moment while she struggles to maintain her balance.
I curl my arm around her waist and press her into me. Her hands slide to my chest, her eyes flicking up to me.
Fluid electricity barrels through my body.
I drink her in, getting hot for her in an instant. It’s the warmth of her body and her scent. It’s the slight shiver rushing through her frame, and the gleaming in her eyes.
It’s everything.
Above all, it’s the idea that after all this time, she’s back in my arms. More beautiful than ever. Softer, brimming with emotions.
She blinks a couple of times, a small gasp escaping her lips.
“I’m good,” she says, tearing away from me, her fingers still laced with mine.
A playful smile tugs at her lips as she leads me inside.
13
JADEN
Abel and Harper wait for us, seated.
It’s a nice place with a dark interior, opulent lights, white linens and floral arrangements on the tables.
Harper spots us first.
She waves at us, her eyes sparkling as she gets a glimpse of me. Not because of me. But rather because I’m accompanying Senna.
She shifts her eyes to Abel, whose back is turned to us. It takes me less than five seconds to realize that she’s fallen hard for the man who sits across from her.