Chapter 18 #2
Rocking my hips as slowly as I can, I listen to the sound of the plane's engines whirl and feel us gaining speed. When the plane begins to lift from the ground, I bring my lips to Raina’s again and swallow her cry of surprise as I nearly pull completely out of her, then slam back in.
I quicken my pace, thrusting into her as I play with her clit, and make sure she’s thoroughly distracted during takeoff.
Sully
You know what next weekend is?
I groan as I read the message, the light from my phone aggressively shining in my eyes. The room is fairly dark, with only a low glow from a few ambient lights for safety measures. Raina is asleep, curled into my side as she lies with my arm beneath her head.
She looks angelic as she sleeps naked with her blonde hair fanned out on the pillow.
Another text arrives, making the phone vibrate in my hand. This time, it’s my brother-in-law.
Sly
No?
Sighing, I know the group chat is about to go crazy with messages because once again, Sully is baiting us.
He’s the human definition of clickbait on the internet.
Nixon
…
Enzo
Why do I have a feeling you’re about to tell us?
Sully
Because I am.
Sully
It’s Lu-Lu’s birthday.
My heart plummets into my stomach.
Sully
[Insert ‘I’m ready to Partyyyyy' GIF from Bridesmaids]
I hate celebrating my birthday. Bad childhood memories surround my birthday. Memories I have conflicting feelings about, like how my siblings always helped blow out my birthday candles and how they got gifts too, but it was never the other way around because I was “old enough to understand.”
I may have been old enough, but it didn’t make it right.
How do you have that information?
Vinnie must have told him.
Sly
How would you like to celebrate, Luciano?
Enzo
Is my attendance mandatory?
I snort a laugh at Enzo’s reply. I’m not sure we’ll ever truly be friends, but I have to admit his dry humor is funny, although it’s hard to tell when he’s being serious. Right now might be one of those times.
Sully
Leave the planning to me, guys. Just make sure you are free on Saturday at ten.
Nixon
AM or PM because if it’s AM, count me out.
How do you know it’s my birthday? I never told you when my birthday was.
Why am I beating a dead horse?
Sully
I have my sources.
Sully
Zo-Zo, why are you such a buzzkill? We’re celebrating our friend, Lu-Lu.
Nixon
The nicknames are a lot, man.
Sully
Don’t worry Nixy, I haven’t forgotten about yours.
My fingers fly across the screen.
I don’t want to celebrate my birthday.
Sully
Too late, I already reserved the VIP lounge at Parq East.
Groaning, I consider tossing my phone on the bed and waking up Raina. I’d rather be buried in her than buried in text messages.
Nixon
A club, Sully?
Enzo
I’m busy that night.
Sully
No, you’re not.
Sully
Yes, a club.
Sully
Lu-Lu is turning 38, not 83.
What?
I’m turning 35.
Sully
Close enough.
Sly
Are the women invited?
Nixon
Can’t forget about the ol’ ball and chain.
What did I tell you about calling my sister a ball and chain?
Sully
Of course. What kind of party would it be without Raina there? I’m sure Lu-Lu wants her there.
Sully
And Cecilia.
Nice save, asshole.
Nixon
Can I bring a date?
Beside me, Raina stirs, but doesn’t wake. We have two hours before we touch down at LaGuardia, and I hope she sleeps through the landing.
My eyes burn from lack of sleep, but I’m finding it difficult to fully rest when Raina’s here, naked, and in my arms. The only thing my mind can do is replay the last ten plus years of knowing her on a loop, wondering how I denied us both for so long.
It was easy to refuse her when she and Vinnie first became friends, but these last few years?
My actions are inexcusable.
Sully
The more the merrier. And I do mean that literally
Enzo
You realize Parq East is on the Upper East Side, Nixon. If you’re paying her by the hour, it’s probably better to keep her in Brooklyn.
Nixon
You’re a fucking prick, Enzo.
Enzo
Never claimed to be otherwise.
Sly
Enough.
Sully
Wow, way to hijack this chat. ANYWAY. BACK TO LU-LU’S PARTY…
A party isn’t necessary.
Sully
Too late, it's scheduled.
Enzo
Take me off the guest list. In fact, take me off this group chat.
Sully
WOW. Zo-Zo, seriously. Go get a blowie or something. Take the edge off.
Sly
You’re going to end up blocked by him, amico.
A small chuckle ricochets through my chest as my fingers fly across the screen with a response.
Seems like being blocked is the problem…
Sully
OHHHH SHIT. LU-LU’S COMIN’ IN HOT.
Nixon
Hahaha
Enzo
Fuck you all.
Sully
Ah, Zo-Zo, no thank you, but we can find you someone at Lu-Lu’s birthday party next weekend!
Sly
You make it sound like there will be balloons and a face painter there, Sullivan.
Sully
There could be. Would you like that, Lu-Lu?
This man is a child.
What I would like is for you to stop calling me that ridiculous nickname. If you must call me something other than my name, call me Luce.
Sully
How many others call you that?
Everyone?
Sully
Then no.
Sully
Lu-Lu stays.
Sully
Do you want a face painter? I mean, it’s kind of a weird request, and it might be hard to get one to come to Parq East, but I’m sure I could arrange it.
Nixon
How do you mute a chat?
No, I do not want a face painter. Why do I even need to answer that question? C’mon, Sully.
Sly
If you go back to your message app, you can swipe on the group chat and options will appear and mute will be one of them.
Sully
Nixy doesn’t have the same phone as the rest of us, remember? He’s lame like that.
Sully
Sorry, Nixy, no muting for you.
No, but I can mute them by setting my phone down and ignoring it.
Turning my phone on silent now…have a good night everyone.
Raina shifts again, her hand flattening against my chest, stretching as she makes a squeaky groan.
Nixon
Sully just message details for us meeting at Parq East when you have them.
Enzo
Or don’t. That’s preferable.
Sully
Ope, he’s back.
Sly
Silencing my phone as well.
I don’t wait to see if any more messages come through before I set my phone on top of the shelf to the right of the bed. When I turn back toward her, her eyes are open.
“Hi,” she says sleepily.
“Hey.” Dusting my fingertips against her arm, I rub her skin rhythmically, back and forth. “Sleep okay?”
“Mmhmm,” she hums. “Did you?”
“I haven’t slept, but I rested. Had an interesting conversation with the guys.”
“Anything I should know?”
Shaking my head, I chuckle again. “Just Sully and his normal chaos. He’s planned a birthday celebration for me next weekend. Saturday. You’re invited, too.”
“Where?”
“Parq East.”
Nuzzling against my side more, she sighs. “What are we doing, Luce? Is this just a fun fling we had while abroad and when we’re back home, things will go back to how they were?”
I stiffen. “Is that what you want?”
“No, that’s not what I freaking want,” she sasses, shaking her head as she scoffs. “Of course it’s not. But I’m not the one who’s ever been hesitant with this. You’re the one who’s wishy-washy.”
“I am not wishy-washy.”
“So you want to be with me then? Give this a real shot and tell everyone? Tell your sister?”
Silence stretches as I think about it. I shouldn’t be hesitating in my answer, but I am, and the longer I take to respond, the more the turmoil grows in her gaze.
So much is on the line right now—too much.
My entire career could be gone if word gets out that I’m sleeping with my client.
I’ll lose my credibility, my reputation.
Potentially even my position as partner if Gamble catches wind of this.
He won’t want a cliché tied to his firm.
It doesn’t matter if my client is someone I’ve known for years.
The second she signed that contract and handed me a hundred-dollar bill as a retainer, I was screwed.
Now the lines are incredibly blurred.
“I want to be with you,” I tell her in earnest, still stroking her arm with my fingertips. “But until your divorce is final and you’re no longer my client, I can’t run the risk of us being public. It could cost me everything I’ve worked for.”
Raina’s face crumples as she lies quietly in my arms for a minute, her face contorting with an array of emotions—surprise, hurt, disbelief.
It kills me, but before I can think of how to reiterate what I just said in a way to make her know this isn’t about her, but about my career, she flips the opposite direction and sits up. Her feet hit the floor, and she reaches for the closest piece of clothing to her—my button-down.
“I get it.” She stands, draping my shirt around her shoulders.
“Baby, where are you going? Come back to bed, we’re not landing for another couple hours.” My hand brushes hers, but she steps away so I can’t touch her.
Looking over her shoulder, she tells me, “I just need to use the bathroom,” but there’s a sad look in her eyes right before she walks to the lavatory attached to the bedroom.
The door closes quietly behind her, shutting me out. The silence is isolating, and I blow out a shaky breath, feeling like I fucked everything up somehow.