Discovering Truths, page 4
Hope the rest of your Monday is great. Talk soon.
Abby
Chapter Eight
The day to meet Gage had arrived and nervous was understatement. I was all but having a panic attack. I tried to pull myself together, practicing calming techniques I had learned in Yoga. I just hoped I’d stop sweating long enough to look presentable and not smell like a sweaty construction worker. To be safe, I tossed my deodorant in my purse to touch up before I got out of the car.
I decided on a pair of cute jean shorts with a small rip near the pocket. My top was a simple black tank-top with a silver design on the front. I let my hair hang down long and threw in a few loose curls. I wanted to look good, but I didn’t want it to appear that I tried that hard. Although I wanted him to be impressed, I didn’t want him to think I was desperate. I slipped into a pair of sparkly sandals and I was ready.
A swarm of questions and emotions took over me as I made the drive. What are you doing? Are you sure you want to do this? I pushed those thoughts aside. I was doing this. I was taking control. Marcus thought he was slick, but he didn’t know that I could play his game too. I wasn’t dumb; I knew this wasn’t the best way to handle our problem. In fact, it was nearly insane, but it was my way. If he could seek happiness somewhere else, why couldn’t I? I’d barely heard from him since he’d been gone. He finally sent a text last night, saying that he’d had a full day and was going to bed. I didn’t believe a single word I read. His night was probably just getting started.
I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant and circled around to find a spot. It was a busy place, which for us, was a good thing…less noticeable. Gage said he drove a blue Chevrolet truck and I spotted it, backed into a parking space in the corner of the lot. He was there and waiting for me inside. My heart dropped, but I shook off the feeling of nervousness and climbed out of the car before I could talk myself out of it.
I stepped inside and the hostess greeted me immediately. “Hello! How many in your party today?”
“I’m actually meeting someone,” I said, looking around. And then I spotted him. He was towards the back in a booth, sitting there in a black t-shirt and black hat that he wore backwards. He smiled softly and raised his hand slightly. “There he is, thank you.” I said to the girl.
The walk to the table seemed like it took forever and I clung to my purse on my shoulder. It was my safety net. The thought of turning around and running should have crossed my mind, but it never did. What was I getting myself into? Here we go.
When I reached the table, he stood to greet me, pulling me in for a hug immediately. Oh. My. Gosh. He was even more gorgeous in real life. He was tall, well over six feet. He was working, so he wasn’t dressed up, but he pulled off the work look so well. The backwards hat and t-shirt that clung to his chest was so sexy I thought I might faint right there in the middle of the crowded room. There was a little scruff on his face and his skin was tanned. Somebody just slap me. I couldn’t believe this man’s strong arms were around me. Although he’d been working, he smelled so good, like woodsy cologne with a hint of spice. He could keep his arms around me and we could just stay like this. I’d take it.
“I’m Gage,” he said, finally pulling away. His voice. Even it was sexy. Good gosh, I’m a goner.
“Abby,” I said, smiling. Would the smile ever fade? “Nice to officially meet you.”
“You as well. You look…amazing.”
“Well, thank you,” I said, slightly embarrassed. I was never good at taking compliments. “You are very handsome yourself.”
He smiled. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted to drink, so I got us both waters to start out with.”
“Oh, this is good. Water is good. I could actually use some right now,” I said, pulling the glass closer to me. I wrapped my lips around the straw. This drink could have been drugged, but that was a chance I was willing to take. I was hoping the water would calm the nerves. I didn’t get the creeper vibe from Gage, anyway. I felt an automatic connection to him, just like I’d been feeling through our e-mails. We’d be just fine.
Gage laughed. “Don’t be so nervous.”
“I’m sorry, Sir, I can’t help it. It’s not every day that I meet someone online and then actually meet them in person.”
He laughed again. “You make it sound so bad.”
“You’re not nervous?”
“I was…a little…but now that you’re here, I’m fine.”
“Okay,” I said, letting out a dramatic breath. “I’m good.”
He smiled. “You’re cute. And funny.”
“Well, I try,” I said with a wink. “How’s your day going?”
“A lot better now.”
“Oh, please,” I said smiling as I rolled my eyes.
“I’m serious,” he laughed. “But aside from this moment that I’ve been anticipating, the rest of my day is going pretty good.”
The waitress came and took our orders and I opted for a salad. I usually didn’t even eat lunch and I definitely didn’t want to look gross, so I figured a salad was safe. Gage didn’t hold back at all, ordering a burger and fries, but he was a guy, and guys usually didn’t care how they appeared.
“That’s good to hear. I applied for some jobs the other day. Hopefully one of them calls. I need to do something. Being in the house all the time with nothing to do is driving me crazy.”
“What if you get a job and regret losing all your free time?”
“I don’t see that happening.”
“Well, hopefully something works out. I’d say you could come do the bookkeeping at the shop, but I’m not sure we’d actually get any work done,” he said, a cocky smirk on his face.
“Oh yeah? What makes you think that?” I flirted.
“I just have a feeling…”
I changed the subject before it entered a territory I wasn’t ready for. “So, is your son in school? Does he play sports?”
“He starts Kindergarten in a few weeks actually. He’s going to play football and I’ve been recruited to coach.”
“They have football for kindergarteners?” Without kids of my own, I didn’t know anything about school these days. That thought was depressing.
“It’s like flag football. Nothing too serious.”
“How’d you get suckered into coaching already?”
“My buddy is a teacher at the school and he’s been coaching by himself for a while, so he asked for some help.”
“Well, that should be fun,” I said. “Is he excited to start school?”’
“Oh yeah. He can’t wait.” He smiled proudly and it melted my heart a little. I could tell he was a good dad, and that just scored him more points on my sexy scale.
“Awesome. That’s exciting. A new chapter. He’ll be grown before you know it.”
“Don’t remind me,” he said. “How was the drive over here?”
“It wasn’t bad,” I replied. “About thirty minutes with the traffic.”
“Not bad at all. I could come closer to you next time.”
“You think there will be a next time?” I asked.
“I’m pretty positive about it. What are your thoughts?”
I took a sip of my water again, leaving a dramatic pause. “Yeah, I think there will be a next time.”
Our lunch came and as we ate, we talked about any and everything we could think of to get to know each other. He’d told me he was a cop for a year before he took over his dad’s business. I then proceeded to tell him how I didn’t like cops because I received a ticket once and couldn’t get out of it. Obviously I was just joking and being dramatic again, which he thought was pretty funny. He told me about his mother dying when he was young, and I told him about my “normal” upbringing. He said he played football in school, and I told him I was a cheerleader. We were the picture-perfect couple on paper. The only issue…we were both married. To other people. And that’s one subject that never came up. Occasionally, he’d make a reference to “her,” and I’d make one to “him,” but we never broached the topic of our current relationship status. The only thing that mattered in this moment was branching off the connection that had already been established online. The rest of it…the reality of it all…that could come later.
The waitress placed our check on the edge of the table and Gage grabbed it quickly, sliding in a card without even looking at the bill. He handed it to her in a rush.
“What! You don’t have to do that. Get her back here…I can pay for my own.” I demanded.
“What kind of man would I be if I made you pay for your lunch?”
“Well…still…it’s not necessary. I got this.” I started digging through my purse.
“Abby, no,” he said, laughing.
“Well here, let me leave the tip at least,” I said, tossing a five-dollar bill on the table.
“Nope,” he said, sliding the bill back to me.
“Fine. I give up,” I said, returning the money to my wallet and zipping up my purse.
“Finally,” he smirked. “You’re persistent.”
“Persistence is a good quality.”
“That it is.”
We both slid out of the booth and walked outside. A sadness washed over me. I didn’t want our time together to be over.
“Which car is yours?” he asked.
I pointed to the black BMW.
“Look at you, all fancy,” he said nudging me.
“Oh shush,” I replied. I rolled my eyes and nudged him back.
When we got to my car, I stood with my back against the driver door. How did this end? Where did we go from here?
“I’m glad I finally got to meet you in person.” Gage started. “I know we haven’t been talking that long, but it feels like I’ve known you forever.”
“I feel the same way,” I said. “We seem to click. When we talk, it’s natural. This is crazy.”
Gage nodded. “Yeah, it is.”
Before I had another moment to think, his lips were on mine. He pulled me against him and I didn’t dare pull away. I gave in, falling into his arms and relishing in the feeling of his lips on mine. I opened slightly, allowing room for his tongue to enter, and together we collided with full force. It was full of need and desire, and when we finally pulled apart, I was breathless. This was it. I was doomed.
“Talk to you later, okay?” he whispered against my ear.
“Okay.”
Chapter Nine
Abby,
Is it too much to say that I’m missing you already? Our connection is mind blowing. I’m drawn to you. Meeting you in person today solidified all these crazy thoughts I’ve been having. I knew there was something between us. I hope the kiss wasn’t too much, but based on your reaction, I think you wanted it just as much as I did. The whole time we sat talking at lunch, all I could think about was how I couldn’t wait to taste you…and now I’m craving more.
I think you’re beautiful, but it’s not just your physical appearance that attracts me. Our personalities click, you’re funny, and I can tell that you really care about what’s important to you. Those are qualities that I admire.
I was wondering…is there any other way we can talk? I totally understand if you don’t want to give me your phone number, but I thought it’d be nice to be able to communicate more often throughout the day. Some kind of messaging app maybe? Let me know.
Hope you’re having a good day.
Gage
Truth be told, I was dying of anticipation waiting on a letter from Gage. I didn’t want to write first…again, not wanting to sound desperate. Reading his words gave me all the feels. It was like a new relationship, so good in the beginning. I didn’t want to think about things going wrong. I was on a cloud, floating on a high that I hoped I’d never come down from.
Gage,
It’s definitely not too much to say that you’re missing me already because I feel the same way. We are totally on the same page. Even though we’ve only known each other a very short time, things with us are natural. That makes me happy. I never thought I’d find someone like you, someone with the same feelings and struggles as me, but I’m so glad I did. We have a one-of-a-kind connection.
Not going to lie, I wasn’t expecting that kiss, but I don’t regret it at all. I’m glad it happened. Our chemistry is palpable and the fire that ignited between us after we officially met was an explosion waiting to happen. Maybe things are moving fast, but nothing about us is normal anyway. It excites me that you say you crave more. I don’t want you to think badly of me…but after today, I’m craving more too. I can’t wait until I can see you again.
Let’s see…you’re right, the phone number does kind of make me nervous. Are you on Facebook? If so, why don’t we just chat on Messenger? That way neither of us has to download something weird.
Hope you’re having a good day too! Talk soon!
Abby
My day continued just like any other, only now I felt more alive, happier. The thing about it was…I felt no remorse for what happened earlier. Do you know how hard it is to live in the same house with someone, knowing that they’re doing you wrong? It was like I was living in my own personal Hell. Marcus played along like everything was normal, when I knew the truth. Could you imagine living with that every single day and not saying a word? Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes it just takes a while for us to figure out the exact reasoning.
***
I was on the treadmill in my work-out room upstairs when my phone blaring from across the room startled me. I slowed the speed before coming to a complete stop, hopping off quickly to grab it before the ringing ended. Melinda’s name flashed across the screen.
“Hello?”
“You sound out of breath. What are you doing?” she asked.
“I was on the treadmill.”
“Yuck. Well listen, I’m getting off in about an hour. Jon is at his parent’s house helping with some yard work, so what do you think about meeting for dinner? Marcus is out of town, right?”
“Yeah. He is,” I said, internally rolling my eyes. “How about I make your favorite lasagna and you come over here for dinner?”
“Even better!” she said. “See you shortly.”
I headed downstairs and started pulling out ingredients to make my friend’s favorite dish. Luckily, I had everything I needed. I popped it into the oven just as she was entering through the front door.
“Honey, I’m home,” she announced.
“Hey, girl. What are you drinking? Water? Tea? Was it a bad day and do you need a glass of wine?”
“Water will do for now. I’m trying to back off the alcohol. I’ve been partaking a lot lately.”
“Job that bad?”
“Not bad, just stressful.”
“I feel you. I’ve been applying for jobs myself,” I said, placing a glass of water in front of her.
“Oh yeah? That’s awesome! What kind of jobs?”
“Mostly office stuff. I have a degree in business, but no experience. I’m hoping maybe if I can start in an office, I can eventually move up.”
“Well, that’s awesome! Good luck! What does Marcus think about you looking for work?”
“I haven’t told him.”
“Oh.”
She didn’t ask anything else and I didn’t elaborate. Every time she mentioned Marcus, I immediately thought of Gage, and I definitely wasn’t going to tell her about the new man in my life. I knew she wouldn’t be able to handle it and I needed my friend. I’d already lost my husband; I couldn’t lose her too.
The lasagna finished and I made a plate for us both, carrying them over to the kitchen island where we sat on barstools and had dinner.
“What’s the deal? With everything?” she finally asked.
Man, I was hoping she wouldn’t. I really didn’t want to get into it.
“What do you mean, Mel?”
“Have you talked to Marcus?”
She had to be kidding. “Why would I talk to Marcus? He’s in North Carolina right now probably screwing his co-worker and doing who knows what else! I’m done with Marcus.”
“You don’t know that, Ab.”
“Why do you keep taking up for him? I showed you the proof!”
“But you don’t know that he’s not really on a work trip right now.”
“I don’t doubt that it’s a work trip. I’m sure it is. And I’m sure she tagged along and they’re having a grand time. He texted me once last night and that’s it. He didn’t even call, Melinda. He sent one little text to say that he had a busy day and he was tired, and that was it. That’s not how married couples interact. He has completely checked out and now, so have I. Two can play this game.”
“Abby…it’s not a game, though. You need to talk to him.”
“Not interested.”
“Do you have any interests?”
“I do now.” I said. I opened the can of worms that I knew I probably shouldn’t, but one more word about Marcus and I was going to lose it.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m handling it.”
She sat down her fork and looked at me with wide eyes. “No. You didn’t. That little plan you had…no.”
I looked at her with eyes that said, I told you so. She didn’t believe me when I mentioned my plan, but then again, who would? It was completely deranged.
“With who? Is it anyone I know?”
“No. You don’t know him, and before you say anything, yes, I’m completely safe. Nothing has happened…yet.”
“Abby…I love you…you’re my best friend…but you’re making a huge mistake. This isn’t going to end well.”
“Maybe not, but it’s soothing me for now, and in the end, things will be the way they’re supposed to be. Marcus can’t think that he can go behind my back and everything will be okay. He needs to feel the pain I’ve felt. Honestly, I don’t even know that he’ll care, but it feels good to know that I’m giving him a taste of his own medicine…even if he’s unaware.”
