Chapter Seven #2
“But I realized that was horse shit.” I smile when she laughs.
“I simply hadn’t found the woman I could see sharing that kind of life with.
From time to time, I think about what my life would be like if I’d made different choices, but I’ve been fortunate and I’ve been happy.
” I cup her face, focusing on her. “Until yesterday, I was content. But I also realize I was just waiting for you, and I no longer want to settle with content. I want more.”
“Xander,” she whispers, her eyes growing misty.
I lean down to kiss her again, savoring her, showing her, this is more than a passing fling for me. “It’s never too late.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“And don’t think I’m looking to erase what you had with your husband. I’m not looking to be his replacement. I’m looking to be your next chapter; our next chapter.”
“I know. All our choices have led us on the path we’re meant to be on.
That’s something I firmly believe. I had a good life with Stuart, and it took a little time for me to realize my life wasn’t over after his passing.
” She places her palm on my cheek. “Nothing says we can’t start again and have something with each other. ”
I nod and start to take her mouth again when I hear laughter that sounds like Rafe’s.
I raise my brow and peer around the edge of the umbrella to see Rafe and Stacy kneeling in the sand, smiling at one another.
Stacy then grabs Rafe’s shirt and hauls him to her for some serious kissing.
Surprised at first, Rafe then gets with it, framing her face and reciprocating.
Michelle finally manages to turn and see what’s taking place. Her eyes widen but she’s smiling. “Well, well,” she says, causing the pair to spring apart. “Oh, no need to stop on our account.” Michelle extracts herself from my lap and we both join Rafe and Stacy in the sun as they stand.
“Oh, no, sweetheart, no running from me now,” Rafe says, snagging ahold of Stacy’s hand to keep her by his side. She merely gives him a shy smile before looking to Michelle.
I take notice of their hands, which looked stained with red and blue coloring, along with Stacy’s mussed hair.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
Rafe grins. “Oh, yeah. You happen to be looking at one badass chica here.” He lifts their joined hands to kiss the top of Stacy’s.
“What’s going on?” Michelle asks.
“Had a run-in with Ted,” Stacy says.
Michelle tenses. “What? Where? What happened?”
“Relax, Mamá, your girl handled herself spectacularly.” Rafe beams with obvious pride.
“Ted was on the beach,” Stacy says, waving her hand behind her. “Seems he didn’t like seeing me with Rafe. Wanted to know what he was doing with his wife. Can you believe that?”
“Stacy promptly put him in his place. Specifically, when he tried to put his hands on her, she put him on his ass before I could even play the hero.” Stacy looks up at him with cute puppy-dog eyes. “Any way, I don’t think that pequena perra will be bothering her anymore.”
When Michelle looks to me, questioning what Rafe said, I supply with my limited Spanish skills. “Called the ex a little bitch.”
Michelle and Stacy sputter with laughter as Stacy explains. “Because that’s what Ted called me after I knocked him down, and Rafe proceeded to make sure he wasn’t able to retaliate by stomping on his ankle.”
“I didn’t stomp,” Rafe says. “I drove his ankle into the sand with my subtle pressure.”
“That you did.”
As they stare at one another like kids with their first crush, I look down at Michelle and smile.
“Would you mind taking me home so I can get cleaned up before the show?” Stacy asks of Rafe.
“Happy to.” He places a chaste kiss on her lips before the two of them look at me and Michelle. “Xander’s got my number. I’ll take good care of her.
Michelle simply nods.
“See you in a bit,” Stacy says, winking at Michelle.
We watch them walk up a path toward the street and once they’re out of sight, I turn to Michelle.
“And next for today’s entertainment?”
Michelle laughs.
“Let’s decide how we want to spend the next hour before meeting them later.” I wiggle my brows at Michelle, earning another laugh.
“I can think of a few things to pass the time.”
“Just a few, eh?” When she nods and grins, I prod her. “Care to share?”
We reach the sidewalk, and Michelle slips back on her shoes while scanning up and down the street.
“Something I can help you find, because the bar’s that way.” I hook my thumb over my shoulder indicating the direction needed to return to the bar. But more importantly, the apartment located right next to it.
“I know which way the bar is, silly. No, I’m looking for… ah-ha! This way.” She snags my hand and leads me directly west instead of going south toward the bar. After several blocks and half a gallon of sweat later, we arrive at an ice cream shop.
I look up at the storefront then back to her, seeing the delight in her eyes.
Laughing, I grab the door handle and open the door, ushering her inside as I follow.
As much as I love the sun and heat, the air conditioning is a blessed relief.
I scan the interior while we step in line, which isn’t too long.
“What’s your favorite flavor?” Michelle asks from my side as she looks up at the choices on the board.
“Depends on my mood. Sometimes it’s straight up vanilla, other times I like a berry blend.”
She swings her gaze to me. “No chocolate?”
“Eh,” I shrug, looking her way. “I can take it or leave it.”
“Blaspheme!” She teases, causing me to laugh. Turning her body toward mine, she snuggles close, resting her hand on my chest as she peers up at me with those luminous eyes, mischief dancing in them. “So, what are you in the mood for?”
I slide a hand around her waist while brushing back her wavy hair as I answer softly so only she hears. “I was in the mood for a double scoop of Michelle Surprise. It’s a flavor I recently discovered and now I’m completely addicted.”
“Oh really? And what does this addictive flavor taste like?”
“Like heaven, full of sunshine and ripe peaches.”
Michelle throws her head back and laughs, making my heart quicken as the other patrons ahead of us turn their heads in our direction. Not that I care. Let them see how marvelous she is and how crazy I am for her.
When she settles and meets my gaze, she crooks her finger, beckoning me closer.
I lean down and she frames my face, giving me a noisy kiss.
She pulls away just as we hear the gal behind the counter ask us what we’d like.
Michelle spins causing her hair and skirt to flutter before she steps forward, ordering one scoop each of vanilla and peach ice cream in a waffle cone for both of us.
While it’s being dished up, Michelle turns her head around to me and winks.
I chuckle as I step to her, nestling against her backside.
When the cones are ready, I fish out money from my wallet to hand to the clerk before relieving Michelle of a cone for myself.
We each take a few licks while eyeing one another, grinning.
I hear a throat clearing behind me, so I turn just as Michelle peeks around me. She smiles and straightens, stepping to my side.
“Oh, hi, Priscilla, Henrik. How are you? Looks like we all have the same idea about cooling off in this heat.” She tips her cone their way before swiping her tongue across the cool treat.
The couple, appearing to be in their mid-60s maybe, remain silent while their stares bounce back and forth between Michelle and me. Priscilla looks like she just licked a lemon with her squinty eyes and pursed lips, while Henrik’s face is unreadable.
Michelle looks up at me with raised brows before turning back to the couple. “Let me introduce Xan–"
“That won’t be necessary,” Priscilla says, her voice already grating with just a few words.
I recognize her demeanor, and it reeks of snobbery as she gives me another look that says volumes about her disapproval.
Michelle tries again. “We were—”
“It’s very clear what you were doing.” Her words are berating and hushed, as if she can’t stand to have someone else overhear. As if they’ll change whatever Michelle and I were doing that has her appalled.
Who the fuck is this woman?
“Excuse me?” Michelle says, stepping close enough to my side so that our bodies touch. I take the opportunity to wrap my free arm around her waist.
“Putting on such a display in public. And with this man. What would Stuart say?”
“Are you…” Michelle sputters. “Are you serious?”
“Quite serious. What’s happened to you?” She looks at Michelle as if she’s a despicable person.
“What’s happened to me? What happened is I’m learning to live my life again.”
“And this is how you honor Stuart’s memory?” She begins waving her hand toward me which brings even more attention to her, suddenly uncaring whether this encounter becomes a spectacle. “By cavorting with, with a—”
“Priscilla,” Henrik says in warning.
She rounds on the man who I assume is her husband. “What? She’s practically making out in public with a man who looks like a bum!”
“That’s enough!” Michelle says briskly, causing eyes to snap on her.
“You don’t even know this man, whose name happens to be Xander.
He’s a friend, and not that it’s any of your business, but yes, he’s also my lover.
” Priscilla gasps but Michelle charges forward.
“I’m not ashamed of that or of him because he’s a wonderful man.
As for Stuart, my husband is gone, Priscilla.
Gone. And while I had a great marriage, I think Stuart would’ve wanted me to be happy.
I’d want the same for him. It’s taken me until now—nearly sixteen months after his death—to have any sort of attraction to another man.
So don’t you dare stand there and speak about honoring Stuart’s memory.
You knew nothing of our relationship beyond what you saw with our appearances at the club.
I don’t have to justify my life to anyone other than myself, and certainly not to you.
So, you can take your high-and-mighty attitude and stuff it up that tight ass of yours. ”
Priscilla gapes like a starving fish while her husband narrows his eyes.
“That was certainly uncalled for,” Henrik says.
“Oh, believe me, it wasn’t,” Michelle counters. “There’s plenty more I could say, but unlike your wife, I’m actually a nice person.” She turns to me, the silent behemoth, and grasps my hand. “I think it’s time to get some fresh air. It’s rather stuffy in here.”
Michelle and I walk to the exit as every other patron in the shop follows our movement.
Another couple actually applauds as we pass them.
Michelle simply nods while giving a tentative smile.
Once we make it outside, she hurries down the street, forgetting all about her ice cream as it drips down her hand.