Sleeping with Mr. Sexy(4)

“Lydia! Ooooh, Lydia!” Mitch bellows down the long hallway.

We jump in excitement. He’s found us.

“You better get out there,” Ally says, and starts giggling.

“I haven’t even used the toilet yet,” I laugh, leaning against the counter, waiting my turn.

A loud knock at the door makes both of us jump then squeal with excitement.

“Found you!” Mitch says, knocking the secret knock on the door.

I can hear the happiness in his tone. I’m happy, too. I’m also drunk and feeling giddy. Slowly, I open the door against Ally’s playful protests.

Mitch pushes the door open wide, and says, “Gotcha.” He grabs me around the waist and kisses me hard.

While clearing my throat, I signal to the right, alerting him to our present company.

As his lips leave mine, he sees Ally standing there with her arms crossed. She raises her hands up, and says, “As much as I love you two, I’m not into the voyeur thing.”

We laugh as Mitch holds the door open, a silent invitation for her to leave. He closes the door then locks it after she leaves. Pressing his erection against my middle, he kisses my neck. “I’ve missed you.” His warm breath covers my neck as he nips a wet path up toward my ear.

“Not here. Later,” I whisper, wanting privacy from the party, but to continue the celebration with our friends. I take his hand and pull him back into the living room.

Checking his watch, he says, “It’s almost midnight. I’ll hurry and get us drinks.”

He walks away backwards, smiling and blowing me kisses. Goofball!

My phone buzzes in my purse. I unclasp it, and pull out the phone to check my messages. I figure it’s my mom because one of our traditions is to touch base at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

“Ten… Nine… Eight…” I hear everyone around me chanting. I look down at the message as I hear, “Seven… Six… Five…”

It’s been a year today. You’ve not contacted me or replied. Your message has finally been received loud and clear. I won’t bother you again. You’ve moved on. It’s time I do, too. I love you. Goodbye. C.

“Happy New Year, Lydia.” Mitch leans down to kiss me, but I turn away from him, wiping the tears that came on with the sudden heavy emotions of my heart. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks. I swallow hard, needing to calm myself. “Lydia? You okay?”

I turn back around, hiding my face against his chest. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I reply, my voice cracking from the pain I feel.

“No, you’re not. Lyd, talk to—” He sees my phone, and snatches it out of my hand.

“Give that back!”

“No. I want to know what upset you. You were fine before you looked at your phone.”

I jump up and try to get it, but he holds it high above his head. He angles the screen to face him, so he can read it, and my heart sinks knowing he’ll be hurt.

“Mitch, I’m serious. Give me my phone back right now!”

It’s clear the moment the text registers in his mind. He lowers his arm, and hands the phone back to me. He looks at me confused as if I’m a stranger. The crowd is celebrating all around us, and yet, it feels eerily quiet and cold where I stand.

Reaching out, I rub his arm, trying to comfort him. “Mitch?”

“Don’t.”

I step forward, wanting a chance to explain something that I won’t be able to without hurting him, but he steps back. “Don’t, Lydia.” A couple who is kissing bumps into him, and it’s like he’s been knocked into the reality of the situation. He leans forward, his eyes narrowed at me in offense. “I’ve put up with these messages from this C person for…” he says, punctuating his words with a humorless laugh, “… The entire five months we’ve been together. Together?” He looks to me as if he’s trying to figure out if the word defines us properly. “We’ve never really been together, you and me. You’ve kept a wall up the entire time. You’ve kept your secrets hidden and your feelings closely guarded…” He turns, and walks away not even bothering to finish his sentence.

Hurrying after him, I reach forward to grab a hold of his sleeve that eludes me as he weaves his way through the partygoers. “Mitch!” I call, quickening my pace. “Mitch!” I finally catch him at the elevator outside the apartment. “Mitch, I can explain—”

“I can read, Lydia. This guy says he loves you—”

“He also said goodbye.”

“So, like this is something that’s been going on while we’ve been toget—dating?” He crosses his arms, protectively, and looks up at the ceiling. He appears to be struggling with his emotions and it’s all because of me.