21 Days (Time for Love 2)

“Just enjoying the view,” I admitted, then added truthfully, “I’ve never seen you look more beautiful.”

Sasha’s face lit with pleasure, and I was thrilled to be the person that had put it there.

She wrapped her towel around herself and joined me on the blanket. “Thank you,” she whispered, bringing her chilled lips to mine.

I indulged the both of us by deepening the kiss, then laughed when my stomach growled. “How about that food?” Sasha nodded her consent and I reached into the cooler to bring out the sandwiches. I handed one to her before going back in for the bag of celery and carrots for her, and a large bag of Doritos for me. “Water or coke?” I asked her.

“Water, please.”

We ate quickly. Well, I ate quickly, then laid back with my hands behind my head and watched Sasha finish her food.

“You want some music?” Sasha asked. When I said that I did, she pulled out her phone and searched until she found what she was looking for, then set the phone down. When she finished eating, she laid down next to me, ensuring most of her body was shaded by the umbrella. She covered the lower half of her still exposed to the sun with her towel, and I scooted over so she could lay her head on the crook of my arm.

“Hey, how did the dinner with your dad go on Friday night? You never said?” I asked when I realized that we’d been so caught up talking about Cal and the shop that night that I’d never asked her.

Sasha sighed deeply and said, “The way it usually goes. He talked about work, how annoying my mother is, and told me to move with him to Florence …”

“Why does he even still talk to your mother? They’ve been divorced for years.” I’d met her father a few times over the years. I wasn’t a big fan. He wasn’t a douche or anything, just a self-obsessed man who didn’t realize how wonderful his daughter is. He got on my damn nerves.

“I don’t know, he’s a glutton for punishment I guess. Anyway, he talked about his job and I listened. I did have a nice gorgonzola and pear salad with a nice glass of Merlot, so it wasn’t all bad.”

“Argh, that sounds terrible.” Sasha laughed, so my attempt to lighten the mood a bit worked.

“Can you believe Shelly and Cal are having a baby?” Sasha asked, apparently ready to move on to a new topic.

“Yeah, it’s cool. They’ve wanted kids for a while, so it’s no surprise, I guess the timing’s the only thing that worries me. I hope they’ve truly put everything in the past.”

“I think they have. I don’t think Shelly would have agreed to take him back if she hadn’t totally forgiven Cal, and I know they’ll be great parents. I can’t wait to be an auntie,” Shelly gushed happily. She had brought her finger up and was swirling it around my stomach absently. I loved when she did that; it was like she always wanted to have her hands on me.

“I’m sure you’re going to spoil that kid rotten,” I said with a laugh as I imagined Sasha using this baby as an excuse to go shopping.

“You bet I am,” Sasha replied gleefully. “He or she is going to be the best dressed baby in town. I wonder if I can find one of those huge stuffed giraffes, I’ve always wanted to buy one of those.”

I shifted a bit, since my arm was starting to go numb, but the feel of Sasha’s body tucked into mine felt great.

“So do you still think that you don’t want to have kids?” I asked softly. We’d had this discussion before, a few times over the years, usually when alcohol was involved, and Sasha and I were the only two in the group who’d always said we never wanted to have kids. It was one of the only things we’d ever been on the same page about.

It seemed funny that for the past eight years we’d spent most of our time arguing, at odds over something or other, but now … now that we’d spent a great amount of time with just the two of us, and without the bullshit, it seemed like we were on the same level on most things.

“I don’t think … I know that I don’t want to have kids. That’s not going to change for me. Has it changed for you?” she challenged.

“No, Red, it’s not going to change for me either.”

We both laid there quietly after that, rock music playing softly in the background as Sasha’s fingers ran gently over my skin, both of us lost in thought about the things that had made us who we were in that moment.

Chapter 20 – Sasha

“So, you enjoyed your date with Brock. Do you guys have another one planned?” I asked Gaby. We were sitting outside having coffee after our lunch break before returning to work. It was one of those beautiful days where you just had to take a minute to sit outside and enjoy the feel of the sunshine on your skin.

“I really did enjoy it,” Gaby admitted, her face somewhat surprised. “He’s more than I thought he was.”

“What do you mean, more?”

“Well, like I mentioned at dinner, he was really cool about having to pick up Gwen, and then including her on our date. He’s the oldest of three boys, and I guess he’s really close to his brothers. He was really sweet with her. I already knew that he owned his own painting business, but did you know that he also plays guitar? He talked about it with Gwen. It totally took me by surprise, I don’t know why. He’s just this big overwhelming guy, with the muscles and the beard, and I guess I wasn’t expecting him to have this softer side,” Gaby explained.

“You really like him,” I guessed from the happy little smile.

Gaby looked at me and her smile bloomed. “Yeah, I guess I do. We’re supposed to go out again some time next week.”