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“Hey, Reece. What’re you doing here?” says Todd turning the music down, but still moving to beat. Dan motions for me to have a seat, and so I do. I smile at them, glad to share some good news.
“I thought I’d come and tell you in person that you guys have been green lighted. You killed your presentation today.”
They all start shouting at once. Jess runs into the house screaming, “Hold on!” over her shoulder. Lucía, Todd and Dale form a group and hug for a long time. To see them sharing this moment as comrades in arms is gratifying when I recall what a discordant start they had.
Jessica comes running back out with a bottle of very good champagne in her hand. “Let’s celebrate!” The pop of the champagne cork is followed by a chorus of cheers from the triumphant trio.
Lots of screenplays are written. Very few of them are actually green lighted for production. This is a big deal. But I’m feeling like I’m interrupting. I hadn’t expected her to have company and I decide I should just call it a night.
“I’m happy for you guys. I just wanted to come and tell you in person. I’ll let you get back to your evening.” I say as I stand and turn to leave.
“Reece, wait, stay. Please. We have more food and we’re going to be up for a while.” This is from Jessica who looks like she probably drank more than she ate. She’s very close to wasted. Dale and Todd are a little better off. Lucía in contrast, is c
ompletely clear eyed as she looks at me from across the room.
She approaches me from the edge of the deck where she’d been standing. The well-lit deck makes her look like she’s glowing against the backdrop of the twilight’s violet-hued sky. She’s wearing all black—a pair of slacks and button-down blouse. She didn’t offer even a glimpse of skin today. Her bandaged hand was the only indication that she’d been rushed to the ER just a few nights before. She’d come dressed to meet with executives. Now, I want to strip her and put my mouth on every inch of her body, and then make love to her.
Her smile becomes suggestive as if she has just read my thoughts. She puts her hand on mine and says in a soft voice that makes my dick wake up. “Yeah, Reece, stay. I want to talk to you anyway. Come into the house with me.” And then she walks inside without looking back.
I follow her in with a wave to Jess and the guys. The three of them return the gesture, all wearing knowing grins.
I find her in the living room. The wall that separates it from the kitchen makes it so we’re totally out of the view of the group outside.
“Answer my question,” she says as soon as I step into the room.
“What question?” Confused.
“Do you still have feelings for Fabienne? Are you guys going to get back together?”
I remember that she was asking me these questions when she fell. I’d totally forgotten that this was actually a concern of hers.
“What would give you the impression that I’m reuniting with my ex-wife?” I’m incredulous.
“Reece, she showed up at the guesthouse like her dropping by unannounced was normal. And she looked angry when she saw us together.” She crosses her arm and winces slightly and uncrosses them.
“Whoa. First, Fabi and I are very much broken up. I haven’t seen her again since that morning. I only gave her a ride to the offices so that I could have someone take her back to her car and make sure she really left the estate. We’ve also changed the code at the gate. Does any of that sound like we’re going to reconcile?” I don’t know why this question exasperates me so much, but it does.
“Okay,” she says. She walks toward me slowly like she’s not sure whether or not it’s safe to approach.
“I was just asking. I needed know,” she says as she continues to approach me.
As soon as she’s close enough I extend my arm and grab her waist and pull her toward me. She comes willingly. When our bodies connect she nestles into me. I’m hard and she can feel it.
“Is that all you need to know, Lucía?” I say cautiously.
“No. But that was the only one that couldn’t wait.” She leans her head off my chest and gazes up at me. “If you had feelings for someone else, then there would have been no hope.” She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, as if she’s gathering her courage.
I can feel her wanting to ask more, I decide to pre-empt her. “We were married a long time. But, we were too young when we got together. Our life experiences were so narrow. We both thought we could build a marriage out of a hot weekend hookup.” I roll my eyes as I remember how stupid we were.
“It was drama, all the time. I wasn’t a great husband. I wasn’t unfaithful, but I thought about it. And I didn’t love her. Our divorce was messy only because she’s messy. She’s only sniffing back this way because her professional football playing boyfriend was just injured and is probably going to lose his contract. She’s looking for a way to keep herself in the news. Don’t take anything she does or says seriously. Some fool with more money than sense will scoop her up soon and she’ll go away. Really. That’s over.”
Her eyes fly up to mine. “Really?” Her husky voice resonant with her emotions.
“Do you trust me?” I repeat the question I asked her last night.
Her eyes fly open and she looks up at me and says, “Of course I do.”
I smile down at her. “You’ll never regret giving that to me.”
