10. Bridget
CHAPTER 10
brIDGET
A small part of me knew it was a possibility, but seeing Lucas go hurt more than I ever thought it would. I don’t blame his club for trading him back to Brisbane; they need a hooker who isn’t warming a bench. My heart shattered into a million pieces the morning he boarded his plane for Australia, and for the past few days, it’s taken everything in me to not burst into tears. Trying to remain strong for Gavin is more difficult as each day passes.
Nora was kind enough to pick up Gav from school and drop him at home this week. The moment they’re here, the boys scurry off to the bedroom. Once they’re out of earshot, I allow myself to fall apart.
“Bridge,” Nora sighs, bringing me in for a warm hug.
Doing my best to stifle my sobs, I admit, “I miss him, so fucking much, Nor.”
“You can go see him,” she offers. “Gavin can stay with Ronan and me. We have the space and Leo would be thrilled.”
“What good would I do? Luc is living on the other side of the world for at least a year. It’s better if I stay here and forget he ever came to Cork.”
Nora releases me and laughs. “He’s your husband. It’s a little hard to forget him.”
“True.” I chuckle, wiping my nose on the sleeve of my shirt. I could never forget him, even if we weren’t married.
“You’re miserable. Go visit your husband. Lucas isn’t able to play yet, and though Ronan isn’t supposed to share conversations from therapy, he did tell me Luc’s bloody miserable without you. Ronan’s still a little upset about you and Luc, but I think it’s mostly because he wants to walk you down the aisle and hasn’t had the chance yet. Also, seeing Lucas broken hearted softened him a bit.”
“Ronan has no room to be angry about anything,” I huff. “He knew you dated his goalie when you were younger, but he still pursued you. This is no different. Lucas knew who I was the day he stepped foot in Cork. It isn’t as if we slept together and he found out I was his mate's sister after the fact.”
“I know, the hypocrisy is ridiculous, but I really feel he’s come around to all of it. Lucas is a good man, and it’s clear he wasn’t using you.”
I blow out a long breath and nod. “Maybe a quick trip?”
“There’s nothing quick about a full day of travel in each direction,” she deadpans.
I check my watch and it’s about time to eat before Gav’s football practice. Nora and Leo stay for a quick dinner and I’m grateful my husband’s name doesn’t come up again. We get the boys to practice and once we’re back home I sit Gavin down for a chat.
“I’m thinking of visiting Lucas,” I begin.
“When are we going?” he asks excitedly, shifting in his seat. “I miss him.”
“Oh, I was thinking of going by myself. Nora offered to have you stay with them while I go.”
“No. I think we should move.”
“What?” I bark out a laugh. We have been trying to move for months, but the housing market hasn’t been in our favour... and then Lucas left. “I don’t think it’s the right time.”
“Not here. We should be where Lucas is.” He says it so matter-of-factly, he’s clearly given this some thought.
“You’d want to move away from your friends, from school, from family?”
“Lucas is our family too. He tried to stay. He would’ve stayed. Cork didn’t want him, but you do. And so do I.”
I pull Gav in for a tight hug, willing myself to not cry. My brilliant son is smarter than I am most days and if he’s up for a big change, then so am I. With nothing standing in our way, I book two one-way tickets to Brisbane for three weeks from today.
After tossing and turning in bed for several hours, I can’t sleep. A swirl of excitement and nervous energy swirls within me. It’s almost one in the afternoon for Lucas, and he’ll likely be training or in physical therapy. A little text he’ll read later couldn’t hurt.
I wish you were here. My vibrator is almost dead.
Lucas
Such a liar. You always have three fully charged. Drop the bullet and slip the thick one in your cunt. Then tell me how it feels.
I meant it as a joke, but at his suggestion I pull out my vibrator with entirely too many settings. I only use the bzzzzzz setting, despite trying all of them at one point or another. The bzzz bzzz bzzz doesn’t do it for me. After a quick dollop of lube, I slip my vibrator between my legs, pressing it fully inside me but not turning it on.
Can you call me?
I have five minutes, pup. Use them wisely.
I call him and he picks up on the first ring. “Is my little wife going to be quiet for me?”
“Yes,” I whisper, loving him calling me that a little too much.
“That’s my girl. Turn it on.” I do and he groans as he hears the vibration through the phone. “Pull it out slowly, then roughly thrust it back inside you. Just like that, Bridge. Let me hear how much you wish your husband was filling you.”
I cheat, not fucking myself the way he would. Until he has me bent over and gripping the headboard as if my life depended on it, I torture myself with long, slow thrusts into my cunt. “Keep talking,” I whimper, needing his words to take me over the edge.
“I’d fuck you harder than that, pup. Let me hear your sweet moans that are only for me… That’s it, keep going. Who does that delicious cunt belong to?”
“You,” I admit quietly into the darkness.
“That’s right. You’re mine, Bridget.”
I increase the level of my vibe and within minutes I come for him, soaking my sheets and toy. I struggle to catch my breath and my heart won’t stop racing. We’ve never had phone sex before tonight; I’ve been too ashamed to ask for it. After this call, I don’t think I could go another day without hearing him talk me through an orgasm.
“I love you, pup,” he admits softly and it pierces my heart.
“I love you too… And not only because you made me come.”
Lucas lets out a full laugh. “I’ll call you in a few hours when you wake up. Be my good girl and get some sleep.” We hang up and I sleep better than any other night since he left.
Wanting to surprise Lucas, Gavin and I arrive in Brisbane undetected. I talk to Luc daily, and keeping this secret has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. After nearly thirty hours of travel, Gavin and I are exhausted. It’s after midnight, and even though Luc’s probably asleep, I try calling him before I check into the hotel.
“Hey, pup,” he answers, his voice low and gravely.
“Sorry if I woke you. I always mess up the time difference.”
“It doesn’t matter, you can always call me.” He groans and there is a rustling of fabric as if he’s sitting up in bed.
“I was wondering if you could remind me what time your match is tomorrow?” It’s an awful excuse to call him because I could easily look it up.
“Tomorrow night, so you’ll have to wake up early to watch.”
“Think you can get me tickets? Two, actually.”
Lucas switches to video and his brows are pinched. “Where are you?”
I glance behind me to the luggage carousel. “The airport.”
“We’re in Australia!” Gavin announces, popping into frame of the call. He then attempts what has to be the worst Australian accent I’ve ever heard. “Here for the shrimp on the barbie and?—”
“You’re joking?” Lucas laughs and slides out of bed, dropping the phone on what seems to be a dresser or desk. When he picks it up again, he’s now wearing a shirt and a smile that could light up the night sky. “Bridge, are you messing with me? Are you both really here?” He's on the move but it’s hard to tell exactly where he is going with how dark it is.
“Yes, we’re really here. We’re going to check in at a hotel and?—”
“No. Stay right there. I’m on my way.”
We hang up and thirty minutes later he pulls up to the curb in his black sports car, which is more suited for two passengers, not three. He gets out, the car still running and door wide open, and rushes over to us. The moment I’m in his arms, I’m finally home for the first time since he left. He pulls Gavin into our embrace, and I’m unable to keep myself from crying.
“I missed you so much, pup.”
“We missed you too,” I sigh, holding him tighter.
A security officer approaches to tell us we need to move our vehicle. Lucas lets go of us and a tear leaves the corner of his eye. As I wipe it away, he leans into my touch. “I love you, both of you. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? How long are you here for?”
I glance to Gavin, then back to Lucas. “I bought us one-way tickets. We’re here as long as you are.”
“Are you serious? You’re moving here?”
“Move along, or you’ll be towed,” the security officer chimes in.
“Right, sorry, mate.” Lucas puts our luggage in the boot, then adjusts the passenger seat for Gavin to climb in. He barely fits but doesn’t complain. “Sorry, Gav, it’ll be a tight squeeze but we’ll be home soon. I’ll buy a new car in the morning for you and your mum to use and it will have more room.”
Lucas moves the seat back to the original position and I slide in. He rounds the car and once he’s inside he laughs to himself, shaking his head. Keeping his hand in mine, we drive to his house and as soon as we’re inside, he shows Gavin to the spare room. It’s bare, with only a bed, vanity, and plain navy walls.
“You’re welcome to decorate it however you like, and we can order whatever you need until we get your things from Ireland delivered,” Lucas insists, then gestures to the attached bathroom. “That one is yours, and there’s a smaller one down the hall too.”
“It’s late, we should all get a good night’s sleep. Especially you.” I poke at Lucas’ chest. “You have a big match tomorrow.” Even with him benched due to his injury, I don’t want to be the reason he’s nodding off in the middle of the match.
“Yes, Mum,” he teases, then tells Gav, “If you need anything, let me know.”
Gavin rocks back on his heels. “Thanks. Were you surprised?”
“Yeah, and it was the best surprise I’ve had in a long time.”
We leave Gavin to shower and change for bed. Once we’re in his bedroom, Lucas sighs, pulling me into his arms. “You’re really here? Really moving?”
“You didn’t think you could get rid of your wife that easily, did you?”
“My wife. Fuck, I love the sound of it each time you say it. Let’s get to bed, it’s been far too long since I’ve tasted you. Can you be quiet, pup?”
I lightly lick my lip and reply, “I don’t know, why don’t we find out?”