Brisban fills the space with his grand presence and I can’t help but smile every time I see him. He walks over to me and leans in, kissing me on the cheek. “Thank you for last night and this morning. I’ll call you soon.”
“You’re welcome and okay. Talk to you soon.”
He turns to Janette. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Janette says, smiling like a Cheshire cat.
He walks himself out and, as soon as the door closes, I let out a huge sigh.
“God, I feel like I can barely breathe around him sometimes.”
“I can sure as hell see why. Mmm, mmm, mmm.” Janette shakes her. “He is so damn sexy. In just that short amount of time being around him I can see exactly why you went from Boring Belinda to Slutty Stacy.”
“Oh, screw you,” I laugh. “I was not boring.”
“Um, yeah, you were. I love you but you were a boring mother fucker until Mister-Pussy-Eating-Like-a-Boss, Hot-as-Hell, Sex-on-a-Stick came into your life.”
“Oh my God, Janette, you’re so crass.”
“And you love my crass ass.”
I give her my best bitch face. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“Okay, so tell me all about it. What all did y’all talk about? And what are you going to do about falling in love with your sex date?”
I pick up a piece of the cold bacon that was never eaten this morning and take a bite. I don’t know how to answer her because I really have no idea what I’m doing. Throwing a few more pieces of bacon and a bagel on a plate I walk by her and sit down at the table.
“I don’t have the slightest clue.”
AFTER AN AFTERNOON BEST FRIEND therapy session, I feel better having gotten a lot of my thoughts off my chest. Janette is amazing even with all of her antics. I honestly don’t know what I’d ever do without her. I sit down at my computer to catch up on backed up emails and work. As soon as I open my email account, an email from Dawn catches my eye. I’m scared to even open it but it’s inevitable that I’ll have to communicate with her sooner or later. I click it and begin reading.
Dear Candace,
I’m emailing you because no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about all the things I want to say to you in light of everything that has happened. You already know my past with Brisban—you read him as Brian in my book. Many thoughts have rolled through my mind since finding out you’re involved with the only man I’ve ever loved. I’d be lying if I said I don’t still love him and miss him, because I do. Something tragic and out of my control happened that tore us apart, but my love for him has never gone away. I realize he has moved on. I’m going to try and do the same but I know it won’t be easy. We will finally be legally divorced soon and my last thread of connection to him will be severed. He tells me he loves you. I don’t know how you feel about him but I can’t help but worry about him falling for someone he hasn’t known for long at all. He seems to be one that falls fast and hard. We moved fast in the beginning as well. But, of course, you already know that from the story.
I guess what I’m trying to say is please be careful with his heart. He has been through such heartbreak and pain. And, although it has taken me a very long time to finally come to grips with our marriage being over, I never want anything for him other than happiness. Finally, I have to say that I don’t think I can work with you any longer. I’ll pay you for the time you’ve already put into this manuscript but I’ve decided to go with someone else to complete it.
I wish you all the best.
Dawn
I let out a sigh and lean back in my chair. Nothing about any of this is easy. I have always adored Dawn. Dropping my head back, I close my eyes and exhale. As soon as my eyes close I see him, images of him consume my thoughts. I can’t remember ever feeling so intensely about anyone, not even James. Thoughts of Brisban’s lips pressed against my neck, his hands on my body, and how he looks at me like I’m the only woman in his world are on repeat in my mind when we’re apart. When we kiss it feels like one thing and one thing only; falling in love. I laugh out loud. The laughter carries through the silence of my empty house and I shake my head at myself. I’m in love with him; so damn in love with him. I’ve gone and fallen for a man I only ever intended on having sex with. How does that even happen? I never bargained for something like this. I’m not ready for a serious relationship. I told myself I wouldn’t ever allow myself to be vulnerable to a man again, though here I am. I’m hopelessly in love with this man who has come into my life like a tornado and rearranged every carefully organized plan I had for myself.