We finish clearing off the table, and I reach into the fridge and pull out a bottle of chilled champagne. “Grab two glasses and meet me on the back deck, sweetheart.”
She gives me a little look, “You trying to get me drunk, Mr. Winthrop? Maybe take advantage of me?” She has no idea.
I flip on the twinkle lights I strung up early over the deck. I reach into the hot tub and check the temperature of the water. Perfect.
“Oh my god!” She says as she steps out onto the deck and sees the newest addition, a custom hot tub. “I’m not wearing a swimsuit.” She kicks off her flip flops and sets the glasses down.
“You don’t need one,” I say, pulling her in and nibbling on her bottom lip. I place my hand on the back of her neck and pull her in for a deep, passionate kiss.
We both strip down until we’re naked and sink down into the warm, bubbling water. I reach around us and pop the cork on the champagne, pouring us both a flute.
“What are we toasting to?” she asks.
“How about we toast to you? To you being the last woman I ever bring into a hot tub?”
She giggles as we clink glasses and take a sip.
“Oh, I have one more surprise.” I say climbing out of the hot tub. I tiptoe across the deck and grab the guitar I had hidden behind a large planter earlier.
“You’re kidding me!” She squeals as I sit on the edge of the tub and play a few notes.
She’s smiling so big, I feel like my heart is about to explode.
I start to sing "Marry Me” by Train.
It takes her a few lines before her smile drops and her expression turns into shock. Her eyes grow wider. “Oh!” is all she says when I motion for her to look into her champagne flute. She glances down and sees a diamond ring at the bottom.
“What? How?” Tears form in her eyes as she shakily pulls the ring from the glass. I reach out and take it from her, dipping it in the water to rinse it off before placing it at the tip of her ring finger.
“Pearl Davenport, you’re the only woman I see. The only woman I love. The only person I ever want to spend the rest of my life with. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” she shouts as I slip the ring onto her finger. We hold one another for a moment, both smiling and kissing between I love yous.
Whoever said forgive and forget never met Memphis Styles.
The cold-hearted prick who stole my innocence and broke my heart.
Out of sight out of mind is too damn hard,
Now that he’s back in town, determined to ruin my life all over again.
Look, I’ve moved on and all that—met someone new,
But that boy is like a bad habit,
A shot of whiskey when you’re already ten deep,
He’ll fill you with regret but he’s a helluva time.
There’s only so many bars and stop signs in a small town,
We were bound to run into each other again,
But I didn’t expect to feel the same flood of emotions come over me,
I wanted to hate him forever.
I don’t need this confusion,
I don’t need him trying to find a spot back in my life,
What I hate…like really, really hate is the way I still smell his damn cologne,
The way I still look for his car when I drive by his mama’s house.
But what I hate the most…
Is that as hard as I try,
I don’t hate him at all.
Copyright 2020 by Alexis Winter - All rights reserved.
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One
Jade
I pour a glass of wine and take it back to the living room with me. Noodle, my mini Aussie, is already curled up on the end of the couch, fast asleep. I smile down at the little black and white fluff ball before sitting on the opposite end as to not disturb him. I take a sip of my wine and set it on the end table before picking up my open laptop and bringing it to my lap. I type a message to…
Jade: Okay, I’m back.
Paul: Oh good, I was afraid I’d lost you.
I smile at his reply. Lately, it feels like he’d be the only one to miss me. My best friend, Pearl, has finally managed to bag her dream guy and settle down. They have the beautiful hand-built house, and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they’re married and procreating. I, on the other hand, am still caught up over my high school boyfriend, Memphis Styles, the one who got away… with my virginity and no goodbye. I roll my eyes at how stupid I am.
Jade: Trust me when I say, I’m not going anywhere.
The truth of that statement causes a knot to form in my stomach.
Paul: Except maybe to come out to Argentina to see me one of these days, right?
I know that my relationship with Paul can’t ever go anywhere—nowhere serious, anyway—but it’s nice to dream about. Deep down, I don’t even know if the person I’m talking to is really Paul Frost or if that’s just the made-up name of some lonely seventy-year-old man.
Jade: Well, that’s a given.
I send the message with a smile. Truthfully, I’d like to let myself believe that Paul is who he says he is. I can picture myself flying across the world the meet up with him. The moment we lock eyes, I’d fall head over heels in love, and he’d be the most perfect guy I could dream up. Everything, from his looks to the way he talks, would be what dreams are made of. The likeliness of that situation is so far-fetched, it’s sometimes even hard for me to believe, let alone, the people in my life who still claim that I’m single because internet dating isn’t really a thing.
I guess I’ve always been a dreamer. Well, maybe not always, but since my dream guy up and ran off without so much of a goodbye. The truth of the matter is that this town is small, and everyone knows everyone. The only newcomers are tourists who are only looking for a vacation romance. Other than that, it’s the same group of people it’s always been. It’s unbelievable that I managed to fall in love once in this town. I’m not holding my breath for a second time.
Paul: I can’t wait until I’ll actually be able to see you, to hold you. I’ve imagined it so many times over these last six months we’ve been talking. I already feel like I’ve known you forever.
Jade: I like to think that we know one another on a deeper level. Sure, we haven’t met yet, but I know your favorite color, your dreams, and what you hope to achieve in life. That’s more than some couples who sleep together every night.
My words aren’t a lie. It’s all true, but I long to feel his hand in mine, to feel how quickly his heart beats against my chest when we kiss for the first time. Like him, I’ve imagined it over and over.
Laughter on the TV gets my attention, and I look up long enough to catch up on the show I’m watching. I watch longer than I intend to, and when I look back at the computer screen, I see the words: Connection lost. Paul has left the chat.