AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She did like the sound of that. “That’d be nice, but I like my job. If I wasn’t working at Sweet Dreams I’d be baking at home and then what would I do with all the baked goods?”
“If I were there I’d eat them,” he said.
If he were there. She tried to live for the moment, but she couldn’t. She had the feeling he’d already made up his mind to leave. She knew it.
“Time for your champagne brunch,” the pilot said, handing them each a glass flute filled with sparkling wine.
Jay took his glass and she took hers. As she stepped out of his arms the gondola rocked a bit, making her reach for him to steady herself. He let her and then arched one eyebrow at her. “What are you doing?”
“I wanted to have a toast,” she said.
“Okay,” he said.
“To the best ten days we’ve ever had together,” she said at last.
He clinked his glass against hers and took a sip and she did the same. They drank their champagne quickly and Jay pulled her back into his arms. When the pilot told them to look up and smile they did. He handed them a photo a few minutes later; they looked happy, she thought. They looked like a couple who were planning a life together.
Not like two people who could barely manage two weeks together. She felt sad and didn’t enjoy the rest of the ride, but she stayed where she was with Jay’s arms around her. She wanted to be able to remember this day and have a nice memory of it.
When they landed, Jay helped her out of the basket and they bought a picture frame from the souvenir shop before getting on his bike and heading back to Oceanside. She was tired and rested her head against his shoulders. She wished there was some way to see into the future, but there wasn’t. And when he dropped her off at her house and gave her a quick kiss goodbye, she made herself watch him leave.
She knew he was coming back later to pick her up for their date, but she still wanted to watch him go. Maybe she’d build up an immunity to him leaving so when he finally left for good she wouldn’t let him take all of her soul with him.
* * *
JAY SENT LUCIEN a text that he was bringing Alysse and the other man had decided he’d bring his girlfriend, too. Drinks turned into dinner and a long, lovely evening. Lucien’s girlfriend, India, was tall, almost six feet, and of African descent. She had beautiful skin, close-cut curly hair and the most exotic-looking eyes that Alysse had ever seen.
She felt like a pale plain Jane next to India. It would have been easy to fade into the background except that India wasn’t the type of woman who left anyone out. She worked in the fashion industry as a hand model. Honestly, why this woman’s face wasn’t in front of the camera was beyond Alysse.
Lucien was more guarded, but still, he was relaxed and he smiled easily whenever India said something that amused him. They were openly affectionate with each other and, in an instant, Alysse realized what she wanted her relationship with Jay to be like. This was how a couple should be, she thought.
Even Jay was a bit more at ease. She’d never say he was relaxed, but instead of being completely silent, he and Lucien had a steady conversation going the entire time they were eating dinner. Occasionally he’d glance over at her.
“How long have you two been together?” India asked after they were seated at a nightclub and the men went to get them drinks.
“It’s complicated...we were married for a week and then divorced and now we’ve been together ten days.”
India laughed, a big booming sound that made heads turn. “That is complicated. So what’s your story? Why are you with Jay?”
No one had ever talked to Alysse that way. “I don’t know. He’s so different from everyone else in my life and I can’t help being attracted to him.”
“He is a hottie,” India agreed. “But then so is my Lucien.”
“You two seem like an interesting couple,” Alysse said. Lucien was tall and bald and had a jagged scar running down his forearm. He wore expensive clothing but he still looked rough, as though he’d put a fresh coat of paint over his dents and scratches but she could still see them.
“That’s an understatement,” India said. “Like you, it was attraction that brought us together first. Then we got to know one another. Underneath all that hotness is a solid man.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Lucien is always there when I need him. I don’t even have to say it sometimes and he just shows up,” India said. “You know?”
