Accidental Love (Accidental Hook-Up 1)

“Yeah. It was mellow.” She replied as she disappeared into the bathroom to change. I slipped under the covers and placed the Kindle on the table as Brinley joined me. We talked a bit about the party and fell asleep.

I woke up before Brinley and got up to use the bathroom, pulling on a loose sweatshirt to go down and make some coffee. The house was quiet, and I assumed that Brad was at work. I used their single cup maker and turned to go outside to drink it, pausing when I saw Remy stretched out on one of the lounges. I considered staying inside, but it was too gorgeous out.

Sliding open the door, I took a closer look. I could see that he’d gone for a run on the beach and was just resting with a bottle of water in his hands. His t-shirt was damp with sweat and I took in the curves and planes of his amazing chest. Remy glanced up, smiling weakly when he saw me. “Want coffee?” I asked, holding out my cup. He shook his head, and I took a seat in the lounge beside him, staring over the beach. We were both quiet for a while and I shifted in my seat. “Are you doing okay?” I asked him softly, stealing a look in his direction.

“I just came here under messier circumstances than planned.” He responded as I nodded. I understood that life worked that way. “I need to put it all behind me and move forward… get a job. That will ground me.” Last I heard, he had a great job in Seattle. I chose not to ask and nodded.

“You have options between working for a firm or for yourself.” I offered as he took a long drink of water.

“I do.” I felt something on my arm and looked over to see him touching me gently. “How are you holding up?”

“With what?” I asked as I looked into his eyes. They looked tired.

“A lot has happened to you over the years. I would imagine that graduating without them there hurt.” His voice was husky and low, and I forced myself to lie still.

“It did. I miss them so much, but I accepted what happened back then. I know they’re here with me on some level. Your family has been great about trying to be there for me.” I felt him stroking me and considered curling towards him for more of his touch.

“You’ve been there for all of us, Celia.” I smiled and stared forward, not reading into his words too much. “You’re one of the best people I know.”

“I don’t know about that,” I argued lightly as I remembered my moving right past the night that I slept with him.

“I do. You’ve always given me a sense of comfort. It’s like you are wise beyond your years.” He fell silent. “I don’t remember a lot of what went down after Jessie died but I do know that you helped me.” I froze as I wondered how much he remembered.

“You needed it. You helped me so much through my parents’ accident and I wanted to return the favor. We lost a lot quickly to tragedy.” I assured him, wondering if it wasn’t grief sex for me as well. I certainly worked out some emotions that night.

“I don’t think that I gave to you what you selflessly gave to me,” Remy spoke in a low voice and I stilled completely. “I was drunk, Celia. I know that, but I have flashes of us in my head. I hear you sometimes in my dreams.” I blushed and sipped my coffee with shaking hands. “I’ve thought about it a lot over the years.”

“It was just a bad night for you,” I told him as he pulled his hand away. “Maybe I needed it as well. My mom only died a few months earlier.”

“Maybe. I just didn’t see you as the type to do something so intimate just to make someone feel better,” he said as I took a long, slow breath. I’d never do that for just anyone. I wanted Remy since my hormones kicked in and the door was open.

“I wouldn’t for someone casual. But we know each other well and I think we were there for each other. It worked out good at the time.” I hated talking about this and felt his eyes on me.

“Do you ever think about it happening again?” Remy asked as I started to look in his direction, terrified of what I might see.

“Good morning.” I jumped as Melinda greeted us. “I’m sorry. Were you sleeping?”

“Just talking, Mom. Enjoying the morning.” Remy replied in a clipped tone as I winced.

“Mind if I get some coffee and join you?” She asked, and we told her to go ahead.

When she was inside, I felt his touch on my arm. “This isn’t over, Celia. We’re going to talk about it next time we’re alone.” I remained quiet and Melinda came outside to sit at the table. She flipped through the paper as she drank her coffee, letting us sit in an uncomfortable silence. I wasn’t sure if Remy just wanted closure on the night or to sleep together again. I made small talk with Melinda once she was done with her reading, laughing in the right places.