42|Bowling Alley
I came hard inside her, my hands locked around her thighs, her name a raw whisper on my lips.
She clenched around me as I spilled into her, her nails digging into my back, her breath hot and uneven against my neck.
We stayed like this for a moment, both of us still, both of us wrecked.
Then I pulled out and collapsed beside her.
My arm flung across my forehead and my chest was still rising and falling like I'd run a goddamn marathon.
Naomi shifted beside me, her skin slick with heat, her breathing already steadying. "I need to go."
"Where?" I asked, voice gravelly.
"The bar," she said, slipping a leg over mine. "The partners and a few of the others are meeting me. You know... post-Perez victory celebration?"
I smiled as I watched her.
I couldn't even be bitter about the loss.
Her strategy was gold and Perez was truly innocent.
Not even I would've thought about that.
She reached for her bra, but I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down.
"Enjoy," I told her, my eyes trailing down the curve of her back.
"You're not going to try to fuck me again once I put back on my clothes, right?" She asked and I rolled my eyes.
It was the dress she decided to wear tonight that got us distracted and in bed.
That damn brown dress.
It fit her body so tightly, printing out her curve.
The thin traps could barely hold up and the completely open back ruined me.
She leaned over me and brushed her lips against mine.
I kissed her again, deeper this time, my hand sliding to the back of her neck.
Her body softened against me.
I soon found my other hand moving down to a familiar spot and cupping her breast the way I loved to.
She immediately winced in pain instead of pleasure and I quickly pulled back.
"Did I hurt you again?" I asked out of concern.
She quickly shook her head, but I could see the hesitation in her eyes.
"No, I'm fine. Just a little sensitive after you've fucked me one hundred times."
I nodded, taking that as a sign for us to stop.
"You're going to be late," I murmured against her mouth. "And you're the star tonight, remember?"
She groaned as I flipped us, sliding between her legs again.
"You can't be late to your own celebration," I said, teasing her entrance. "Especially after ripping me to shreds in court today."
"You deserved it," she whispered, biting back a smile.
"Maybe," I muttered, pushing into her again. "But you're still not leaving yet."
"Thought you were going out with Ted and Jessica?" she breathed.
"I'll be late too," I said, thrusting deeper. "Fair is fair."
And just like that, the bar could wait.
...
I walked up to them in the bowling alley thirty minutes late.
Jessica instantly looked at me. "Wow, boss. You finally decided to show up."
I scratched my head as I sat next to them. "I got caught up."
Ted turned around with a slice of greasy pizza halfway to his mouth. "Did you just go for a run or something?"
"Yeah, boss," Jessica agreed. "You look messy."
I quickly fixed my hair which Naomi had completely ruined.
"Would you two shut up and start?" I asked.
"We did," Ted answered. "We're two rounds in and I've been winning."
"By cheating," Jessica muttered.
"You cannot prove that, miss," Ted said as he pointed at her.
I sat on the bench and unlaced my boots, the echo of Naomi's moan still buried somewhere in my head.
The scent of her perfume still faint on my skin.
Yeah, it had been worth it.
Every damn second.
"What's the purpose of this random meeting?" I asked as I stood up and lifted a ball.
"We just thought you might need cheering up after getting wrecked by your wife today," Ted answered.
She wrecked me four times today.
"I'm fine, guys," I said as I rolled the ball. "But thanks for this."
"I'm so sorry," Jessica frowned and I raised my eyebrow.
"For what?"
"That you'll have to lose twice today," she smiled before rushing to grab a ball.
...
I handed the cashier my credit card before turning to Ted and Jessica like they were my kids.
"You two invited me," I said flatly. "So why the hell am I paying?"
Ted shrugged, shameless. "You make the most money."
Jessica chimed in, deadpan, "Also, you were late. Emotional damages."
I narrowed my eyes. "Emotional damages?"
She pointed at Ted. "He almost cried when you said you weren't coming."
"I did not," Ted argued. "I got teary. There's a difference."
I grabbed the receipt and card before shaking my head. "Next time, we're going to a silent library with free entry and no food."
Jessica smirked. "You say that now. But you love us, so you'll take us wherever we want."
"Whatever," I told them. "Get home safe."
"You too," they said before they wave and left, Ted still bickering that he should've won instead of Jessica.
I laughed as I began to follow them.
Then I saw him.
It's New York with millions of people.
Why the hell does he keep popping up?
Behind the counter at the far end of the alley, wiping down a row of rental shoes with a rag that looked older than my law degree.
Marcus Lane.
Seriously, why is he everywhere?
He didn't see me.
He just kept wiping.
I should walk away.
That's what I promised myself.
Be civil, Nate.
Be normal.
Be like the man in the courtroom who holds his ground.
But I couldn't this time.
Something cracked in me.
Soon enough, my feet began to move towards the corner he was in.
"Nate," he said, immediately looking up at me.
"Why?" I asked, feeling torn.
Why would someone do this?
What reason could you have to take the mother away from a six year old boy?
"You killed her," I whispered, feeling a sharp pain in my chest.
His face didn't change.
Just that blank, too-calm expression, like I'd said something about the weather.
"I don't know who you think I am," he said slowly, "but you've got the wrong guy."
Liar.
I leaned in. "I saw you. In the hallway. That day."
Marcus's jaw twitched.
"I was nine," I said, voice trembling now. "But I remember your face."
He blinked. "I think you should leave."
I stepped closer to him.
"I just want an explanation," I begged, my eyes starting to burn. "Just tell me why? I won't try to put you in jail anymore."
"Just tell me why you killed my mom," I pleaded.
He continued to look at me dead in the eyes.
"I didn't kill mom, Nate," he repeated calmly.
"Then who did!?" I snapped.
"She did."
A sharp, hot pain stabbed right behind my eyes.
I winced, staggering slightly as my fingers flew to my temples.
The lights overhead were suddenly too bright.
The pins crashing at the end of the lanes sounded like bombs.
My heart thudded so loud it echoed in my skull.
"Nate-"
"Stop," I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut. "Just stop talking!"
The pressure built fast like something in my brain was tearing.
A scream without sound.
A memory trying to rip through.
I doubled over, blinking furiously through the blur.
"I saw you!" I angrily shouted out loud.
When I opened my eyes...
He was gone.
The counter stood empty.
No rag.
No man.
Just space.
Just silence.
Just me.
I spun around wildly.
"Marcus?" I called, louder than I meant to.
People stared.
A few paused mid-throw.
One of the workers glanced at me, concerned, but didn't approach.
"Where did he go?" I asked the worker.
"Where did...who go?" He asked hesitant.
"Marcus!" I shouted out of frustration. "Where did Marcus go?"
"Marcus Lane," I said as I pointed to the counter. "He was-he was just here."
"He was working right here," I explained. "Wiping shoes."
The guy slowly looked over to the counter before looking back at me. "No Marcus Lane works here."
"No," I shook my head in disbelief. "That's-that's not true. He was just-"
I paused as I realized what was really going on.
"You're one of his accomplices, aren't you?" I asked.
"Accomplices?" He played dumb. "What are you talking about, sir?"
I turned back to the counter, feeling desperate as I searched under the counter for Marcus.
Empty.
The shoes were lined up in a neat row.
My hands started to tremble.
My heart started to beat faster then suddenly I couldn't breathe.