Loving The Enemy

The question plagued me as nothing else about the situation did. Does he think that as well? Does he question whether or not I’d be with him if my situation had not changed so drastically? I hope not.

“Would you stop worrying? Everything’s going to be just fine.”

“But what if people think I’m only with him for the money?”

“I’m guessing you haven’t seen the latest article. They’re already hinting at just that. What the fuck do you care what they think? You’re the one who has to live with the decisions you make. I know you’re in love with him. I knew it even before you went out together.”

“What? How did you know? I didn’t even know.” She had to be pulling my leg.

“I knew because every time you mentioned the guy, even when you were pissed and thought he was a thief, you always got this goofy ass look on your face.” I brushed that off for now once her other exclamation hit home.

“What article?” She pulled a well known gossip rag from her purse and held it out to me.

I saw the picture of him dragging me off the stage first and then I read the words written below and felt my stomach drop. “Oh… I wonder if he’s seen this.”

“I’m sure he has. He strikes me as the type to stay on top of things like this.” I slumped back in my chair and gazed off into space. It was my worst fear realized. The conjecture that I had found a new sugar daddy was bad enough, but this went even deeper. It cast me as nothing more than a money grubbing slut.

“How do you stay so poised, so confident all the time, even in the face of such bullshit?” I asked because she like the rest of us has had to deal with her life being picked apart in the news rags in the past. But I always remember her just brushing it off like nothing they said made a difference to her one way or another.

“The trick my friend, is not to care what anyone else thinks. Not just say you don’t care, but really deep down have no fucks to give. To do this, you must first know yourself. You must find the you that you like in here.” She pointed at my chest before going on.

“Once you find that person, no matter who she may be, you be her all day everyday. If you choose to be a boss bitch then that’s what you go with. If you want to be a wilting violet…” She broke off with a laugh at the sneer on my face.

“You get what I’m saying, you get the point. Now you find your happiness and hold onto it, and don’t let anyone take it from you. And I don’t mean screwing the delectable Mr. Storm, for fuck sake are you two rabbits?” We both fell out laughing at that. I’d maybe told her more than I should have about our weekend locked away in this apartment.

23

Jason

I can’t believe I’m this excited to open my own door. I hadn’t had time to call her because of back to back meetings that I couldn’t put off, not if I was going to take time off in the near future. I don’t recall the last time I took time off. Not since my first company was up and running.

But I feel the need to take her away somewhere. I can’t forget that she’d just suffered a loss and her life had been turned upside down. The last thing she needs is the asshole press constantly at her heels about us. It’s none of their damn business.

I listened for her voice when I opened the door and was pleasantly surprised when a little whirlwind came flying towards me down the hall, before I’d even cleared the doorway.

I snatched her up in my arms and twirled around with her, grinning like a simpleton. “Hey beautiful, you missed me?” I kissed her like she had the answer to life hidden away in her lungs.

I ignored Simone’s throat clearing behind us until I had my fill, before putting her down. “Hi.” Her eyes were bright and I wondered what the two of them had been up to.

Although I had resisted calling her, I’d called the house and spoken to Celeste who said the girls were in my room watching a movie. She’d of course been spoiling them rotten all day. She was in her element I know, and it showed when she walked towards us on her way out the door.

She should’ve been long gone but I’d asked her to stay and watch over my baby until I got home. Simone, smart girl that she is, said her goodbyes and left with Celeste, leaving me alone with her. It was a good thing too because I had a need for her that wouldn’t wait.