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DAX: I do.
TONY: You do?
DAX: It’s why they’re not mad at me. I don’t spend the money.
TONY: Fuck off.
DAX: Love you too. Got your back.
Well, I guess flying commercial is in my future. There’s no way I’m going almost seven weeks without seeing her. I will miss the jet though.
mak
Icurl my fingers through his chest hair as he tickles my back lightly. We’re in a plain hotel, not on the Strip. There are some machines and a table or two in the lobby, and it’s meant to be a desert oasis, not a casino. The sliders are open as the chill starts to take hold of the night. We haven’t spoken since we cleaned up and settled into these positions. My heart is bursting. I love him so much, and I finally think I deserve it all. But for the first time since Lana’s funeral, I’m worried about him.
He’s distant. Over the past weeks his calls are infrequent and from a new number. Not that I have time, but when I do, my mind wanders to the dark side. It’s where I don’t come out of this scenario whole. I shouldn’t doubt any of it, but is he here for closure or to get laid?
We lie in stilted silence for another minute or so, and I can’t take it.
“I don’t want this between us.”
“What, my love?”
“There’s something you’re not telling me. About your divorce, or why we’re hiding even more than we were. I’m an open book to you now. Please don’t be the old me. Even though I know I deserve it.”
He grabs my cheek and holds it gently. “Where are you getting silly ideas?”
I shift out of his arms. He’s only visited twice in two weeks and it’s been really weird. Good sex, but weird emotions. “Sporadic phone calls, flowers from Lill, and you’re not here even when you’re here. You’re freaking me out. Where are you? Am I a side piece you’re hiding? I can’t do that. I respect myself too much to do that, Tony.”
“Oh my God. You thought I was hiding you because of Laura? Jesus, this got beyond me without me noticing.”
I pull the sheet around myself, and he pouts. I flash him a tit, and he perks up.
“I’m serious. What is it?”
He holds his head and stands up. I enjoy the flex of his ass and those side dimples. Delicious. He puts on shorts.
“It’s serious enough you need shorts? Quick toss me a shirt so I’m not so naked, figuratively and literally.”
“My love—”
“Thank fucking God you started like that.”
He laughs, but my heart sinks as he places a long jewelry box on the side table. Then he puts his hands on his hips. “I told you about gifts. But I do like the flowers.” He kisses me.
I open it and stare at him. “This is under a hundred dollars?”
“Ish.”
“Oh, this is the three-hundred-dollar bracelet. I’ll allow it.”
I want to refuse it, but it’s an old charm bracelet that needs to be cleaned. It has only two charms, and I’ve orgasmed in and around both iconic landmarks. I hold it to my chest.
“Thank you. Will you be adding charms of other iconic places we do it? Like the Henderson Motel 6 or The Four Seasons in LA? He laughs and swipes his tongue over my lips, and I instantly open for him. Our tongues tangle, and eventually, his hands slide to the back of my head, but just as we heat up again, he pulls back.
“Thank you. I love it.” I fiddle with the bracelet, and he helps me put it on my wrist.
“Christ, I love you. I love you so much. It’s my dad.”
