Chapter 21
1133 Words
I was only going to be gone for a second. I just needed something to remind me of all the reasons I liked him to begin with, when he was just Playboy. Not Max. Not my husband. Not the father of my child. Just Playboy. And I had to return to the place where I knew him most.
The house next door was still in negotiations for being sold. I had an offer on it already, thanks to the realtor Yvette had sent over. Closing wouldn’t be for another few weeks, and the buyers were keeping most of furniture. At the moment, it was still set up the way I had it when I lived there on my own, of course, minus the little personal items I had taken over to the house already. I really missed my own space sometimes though.
I went to the living room and sat down at the couch, staring out the window at the beach. I remembered the first day I went over to his house, using the back way sneaking in the door to seduce him. I tried to remember all the reasons why I thought it was a good idea and what I was thinking. I definitely didn’t think it would lead to this. It had just been so long and I knew I had to somehow get it back to the way it was before I crossed that line
I never even heard him come in.
I just heard the music playing.
“Quietly a silhouette approaches…”
It shocked me a little at first because I didn’t think there was any music left in my house. I did love my Eric so I just knew that cd was already across the way.
I didn’t move because I didn’t know what mood he was in or how this would end okay. I just waited for him to come to see me because I knew he would.
Max came as I thought and stood in front of me. The sun was setting and I could barely see his face. I had to marvel as his body though, so firm and strong, I didn’t have any words for him. I didn’t move.
Then Max knelt down in front of me. I got so worried for a minute because it all came flashing back, the baby, the difficulty we were having. Maybe he didn’t want me any more. The thought was difficult to stomach.
“Max,” I said, wondering when he would speak.
“Shhh… I’m your Playboy,” he responded. He started taking off his shirt.
“What are you doing? We have to be introduced,” I said as he started kissing me.
“I know this isn’t what you wanted or how you wanted it,” he said, kissing down my throat. My dress, and evening gown of white satin with sequins, and hints of blue and green woven throughout was being slowly undone. “But this is how it happened.”
“We don’t have to go through this just for show. I’m a big girl. I can take care of a child on my own. We can take care of it together, I just don’t want us to go through the motions just because.”
“Silly girl,” he responded, my dress now off. “What makes you think I don’t want you?”
I paused for a minute. My voice got really quiet. “You could have anyone else you wanted…”
“I could have you,” he responded, kissing my neck. “Name one reason we shouldn’t be together.”
“You like other women,” I said, suddenly finding it fairly hard to think.
“Like who? You are more than enough of a woman for me. Give a reason.”
He was sucking on each of my breast in that expert way that he does.
“You don’t love me.”
He kissed down my stomach, pausing to listen to the baby for a while. “Of course I love you.”
“Well, as a friend yes, but not like that,” I responded, and closed me eyes. I didn’t want to even see his response.
“Lady, you had me from the beginning. I love you. Don’t you ever doubt it,” he said, kissing me lower.
“Truly, you love me,” I asked again. He stopped what he was doing.
“Yes! How else can I convince you?”
“You can continue what you were doing before I think you are lying to me,” I said. Max flashed me that smile of his and went back down to finish what he started.
An hour later, we went back over to our house to see Yvette outside frantic.
“You could have called,” she gushed out. “I’ve been worried sick and I wanted to introduce you a half an hour ago.”
I smiled. “We had to work a few things out.”
She looked from Max to me, then back to Max. “Well, I hope it was worth it. Come, we have a party attend to.”
And we followed her to the back patio. Cindy and Malcolm met us on the way there.
“Is everything okay?” Cindy asked for my ears only.
I flashed her a smile. “Better than okay.
“Good, well, no more scaring us. We have more things to attend to.”
We walked to the entrance and they left us.
“You ready?” Max asked me.
“I think so.”
“Now introducing Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell”.
We heard loud applause and walked into the crowd of people. I smiled knowing for certain that It was all worth it.
A little later, we were sitting at the table. The dancing was in full affect, but in my condition, only a few minutes on my feet was even comfortable. I sat with my husband as well wishers came by. Vince had stopped by just a few minutes ago to offer his congratulations and Emilie shortly after. Emilie of course made it a point of clicking our glass right at the head table so that we had to do a little PDA. I had to remember to thank her later on.
“You are beautiful, Mrs. “ Max said.
“You’re not too shabby yourself,” I responded. Just then, I saw Vince and Emilie dancing together. “Oh, no, should I rescue him?”
“They are grown, they can handle themselves,” Max said. No sooner did it leave his lips did Vince leave Emilie on the dance floor in the middle of the song.
“What did she say to him,” I said, starting to stand.
“No, no,” Max said stopping me. “Let them wallow through it themselves. Besides, there are some things over here that need some attention paid.”
“I love you, Max.”
“I love you, too, Tammy.”
As we watched people dance and the moon rise up in the sky over the sea, I could think of nothing more perfect.
- Writer
