Chapter 21
Scarlett
I wake up later than planned, sore everywhere. I’ve never had sex so good in my life. Matt put me into an orgasm coma. That alone is worth putting my heart on the line. He must be able to read minds; how else did he know every secret desire I had?
Maybe if there’s something between Matt and I, we could be in a real relationship. I don’t want to stay away from him, especially after last night. I want to see where this goes. I’m hoping for my own happily ever after. Everyone deserves one.
I didn’t think I was into the caveman kind of guy, but boy was I wrong. Caveman sex is my new addiction. I’d better see him soon to get another fix.
I’m sort of surprised he didn’t stay a little longer this morning. I remember him kissing me goodbye. That’s a good start; he didn’t dart off without an explanation.
I head to the bathroom to get ready. I’m going to meet the girls at the usual café in downtown before work at the gym. I look in the mirror and my lips turn up—there’s a freaking hickey. Proof last night was a lot of fun.
I take my time getting ready. I try to cover my hickey as much as I can. After arranging some gym clothes in a bag for work later, I’m ready to head out.
Paige and Lana are waiting outside at a table once I arrive.
“Hello ladies!” I greet.
“Hey!” they say with a wave.
“How did your night go?” Lana asks.
“Hold on, let me get some coffee and I’ll give you the deets!”
I walk in and order, then wait inside so I can sneak in a sip or two before I talk with them. It’s hard to function with no coffee first thing in the morning, but I stayed in bed as long as I could for some sleep.
My phone starts going off as I wait. I get excited, thinking it’s Matt, but I look down at “dad” calling. My smile disappears. I answer without giving away any disappointment.
“Hey, dad! How you doing?”
“Hey, Letti! I was calling because I’m going to need to cancel dinner this week. I know how you like your schedule. I hope I’m calling enough in advance.”
“That’s okay, dad. I understand. Anything I should be concerned with?”
“Nothing major. Something came up with work. I have a deadline to make for the summer classes. They’re more trouble than they’re worth.”
My dad teaches at Seattle University, but I’m pretty sure he has a date and had to cancel on me, rather than this story he’s making up about his summer classes.
He hates telling me about the several girlfriends he keeps.
Ever since my mom left, he won’t give commitment another thought. Instead, he dates every girl with legs.
We try to stick to a weekly schedule of dinner at the same expensive restaurant in the city.
I think he likes being able to bring me to a nice place, since we didn’t have these types of options when I was growing up.
He moved to the city to teach when I was eighteen, but I didn’t want to leave my little town I lived in my whole life.
The café associate calls my name and places my latte on the counter.
“Thanks for the call, dad. I’ll see you next time then.” I grab my drink.
“Love you! Bye Letti.”
I pull up my calendar and cancel the meeting with my dad for the week. Once I’ve snuck in a few sips of my vanilla latte, I go outside and sit with my friends.
“My dad sends his love,” I tell them.
“He canceled again?” Lana’s eyebrows shoot to her hairline.
I nod. My friends know my dad well. They also know he doesn’t always keep our weekly appointment. It’s nothing Paige cares about, apparently.
“Sure, sure.” Paige waves her hand, then leans in. “Now, you’ve left us hanging long enough! What happened you lil hoe?”
“You of all people calling me the hoe?” I tease. “Who did you hook up with last night?”
“Since you asked,” Paige says, crossing her legs, “Jason set me up with a guy he knows. Said he’s off the charts hot and would be a fun hook-up, at the very least. I think Jason missed the signals he was into him , not me.
We had a drink and he kept asking me questions about Jason.
Once we said good night, I called Jake to get laid.
Now here I am, having coffee with you ladies. ”
“Jake again?” I raise an eyebrow.
Paige and Jake have a mutual understanding about their calls to one another.
Paige is open where sex is concerned. I often wonder if she’ll find a guy she’ll want to settle down with, or if she’ll just be wild forever.
If she chose to be single, she would be the freest person I’ve ever met.
I envy her non-existent limitations on the subject.
“What do you mean ‘Jake again?’ I only call him once a week.” She shrugs.
“For two years,” I deadpan.
“Enough about my sex life. What happened last night? I see someone got a little kinky!” She points to my neck.
“I got caught up in the moment.” I lean back in my chair with a sigh.
“That’s my kind of night!” Paige claps her hands together and smiles like the Grinch. “So, you slept together?”
“We did,” I say. I’m grinning, but trying to hide it by sipping my drink. “Now I have to figure out a way for him to stay in Washington.”
“Scarlett, stop planning,” Paige sighs. “You’re supposed to just let go. Maybe it leads to more great fucking, maybe a relationship, maybe nowhere. Go along for the ride.”
“I don’t want him to just leave and never think of me again.” I fidget with my hands as my leg starts bouncing. “I don’t know how to be you, Paige.”
“For starters, you stop thinking about him. You think about you and the fun moments you had.”
“What if he goes back to Texas and doesn’t stay?”
“Ugh.” Paige sits back in her chair with an abrupt bounce.
“I don’t normally do casual. I’ve always waited for a relationship. I couldn’t say no to trying with him, though. He makes me feel like it’s safe to give up control.” I look around and lean in. “Let me tell you, it was so nice to let go. But now I’m wondering what’s going to happen.”
Paige puts her hand on my shoulder. “You’re going to be fine. Giving up control and going out of your comfort zone is okay.”
“It’d be nice to see you in love again.” Lana smirks.
“We’re not talking about love!” Paige looks ready to pull her hair out.
“You don’t know that.” Lana gives attitude back.
“Okay, you two. We’ll see what happens.” I grin. “Listen, we have a lot of work to do. Let’s go over the plan.”
“The no control thing was short-lived, huh?” Paige sulks.
“Someone needs to have a plan.” I pull out my laptop and show them the color-coded calendar I made.
“We have three more weeks until we close. I can make some calls to start interviews with trainers; we need to find someone to fill in for me and Jason. The first week I was thinking we could keep the short hours and remodel what we can. Paint, new equipment, new flooring. Those sorts of things.”
“I’m waiting to update the computer system and tables in the spa until we have more business,” Paige pipes in.
“Okay, new paint and flooring will be a good start with the spa. Paige, you have the color scheme picked out?”
“I’m still thinking about finishing touches. I’ll make my own chart so you guys can see the brilliance of my brain.”
“I’ve been waiting to see if for years,” Lana says under her breath.
I start laughing. Paige shoves Lana.
I clear my throat. “That’d be helpful, Paige. Lana, I’m assuming you want to wait until updates are done?”
“For the videos, yes. I’ve been working on the logo and business cards. We’re keeping the name, right?”
“Yes, Prestige Fitness Club and Spa is going to become prestigious once again. Plus, we don’t want to lose the clients we already have.
I think it’s a good move. Once we re-open, we’ll have to stagger our hours so an owner is always there.
Can you look over this schedule and tell me if I need to make any changes?
Lana is purple, Paige is yellow, and I’m red. ”
“Am I glowing yellow again today?” Paige asks, flipping her hair.
I concentrate and close my eyes while focusing on my breathing. Then I look up. “You’re blue. Someone’s relaxed. I think you might like Jake more than you let on.”
“Oh, please.” She swats her hand.
We spend the next hour going over the plan for our gym opening. I didn’t have it fully thought out because I was distracted with Matt. It’s all coming together, though.
My career and personal life are looking up.
At least, that’s what I was thinking.