Friday (Timeless Series #5) (18 page)

I growled then shoved the phone back into the clutch. Then I got out of there as quickly as possible, not wanting Axel to wake up and try and prevent my escape.

***

To my surprise, Francesca was awake when I entered the apartment.

She was sitting at the kitchen table going over the blueprints to the bakery. They’d already begun construction of the little shop, and in just a few weeks it would be ready to open. “Spill it.”

“I need a date—tonight.” I needed to find a guy and move on without looking back. The only thing that could get Axel off my back was another man. When Jason was around, Axel respected his significance to me.

“Wait, what?” She turned around and looked at me, her hair in a messy bun and her eyes still drooping with sleep. “What the hell happened over there?”

“Axel is done. I’m done with him.”

“Ugh…then why did you sleep there?”

“Because he tricked me.”

“He tricked you into falling asleep?”

“It’s complicated,” I argued. “All I know is, I need to move on right now. Otherwise, he’s going to keep chasing me.”

“Did you sleep with him? Like, you know?”

“We just fooled around. He said he didn’t want to have sex—just to sleep with me.”

“Awe…”

I’d never heard Francesca utter that word about Axel. “Don’t let him drag you down.”

“Come on, Marie. I’ve never seen Axel work this hard for anything in his life. I think he’s finally got his head on straight and he’s ready to have the relationship you want.”

“Or that’s just what he thinks. Once he has me and he gets bored he’ll take off again.”

She rolled her eyes. “He never took off because he was bored. He left because he convinced himself he didn’t love you. But we both know that was just a defense mechanism over all the people he’s lost. Now that you helped him confront those feelings, everything should be fine.”

“That’s what you think…but who really knows.”

Francesca gave me an irritated look. “Now you’re doing the exact same thing he was. You’re trying to find any reason not to be with him because he hurt you.”

“Can you blame me?”

“I just think you should both let go of the past and just be together.”

“It’s more complicated than that.”

“Well, I think—”

“Frankie, I don’t care what you think. This is my problem and not yours. I’m going to find a date tonight and I’m moving on for good.” I marched down the hall so I wouldn’t have to see the pissed look on her face. I knew I ticked her off but I didn’t care at the moment. I didn’t care about anything.

Slip Away

Axel

When I woke up the next morning she was gone.

She slipped out of my grass and left the apartment without locking the door behind her. Since I was already running late to my new job I didn’t have time to call her and confront her about it. I didn’t like waking up alone. It made it seem like last night meant nothing to either one of us.

Which wasn’t true.

I got to work just on time to meet with a new client. Since my day was booked with back-to-back appointments I didn’t have a chance to call Marie. I wanted to talk about last night, to make sure she wasn’t running from me.

Hawke’s words made a lot of sense, in retrospect. If I loved this woman and wanted to be with her I had to make it right. I couldn’t just let her go. If I did, she would eventually get over me and end up with someone else.

I should end up with her.

I’d been with a lot of women in my lifetime. When I lived in Florida all I did was party, get laid, and study. My time there accumulated into a lot of sex so I had a lot of experience. I think that’s why Marie meant so much to me. She was the first woman I wanted to sleep with more than once.

Didn’t that mean something?

I didn’t think about marriage and kids. In fact, it never crossed my mind. But with Marie I could picture a future—one that I wanted. I could see myself spending my life with her. I could picture her having my children. These thoughts had never entered my brain before.

So, I should listen to my instincts.

I had to get her back. I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage it but I would figure out a way.

***

Just when I got ready to call Marie, Francesca’s message popped on the screen.

Marie is being a brat. She found some guy online and now she’s going on a date.

What the hell? How did she pull that off so quickly?

Don’t tell her I told you.

This conversation wasn’t meant for texting. I called her and listened to her pick up on the first ring. “She has a date? With who?”

“I don’t know. He just picked her up and they left.”

Damn, she didn’t waste anytime
. “This is a nightmare.”

“Tell me about it. She’s so determined to move on from you that she’s being stupid.”

“Very.” I stood outside my building with my hand in my pocket. I thought sleeping together would fix everything. Whenever we were together all the pain disappeared. But she was clearly holding a grudge. “Where did they go?”

“That Thai place next to her office.”

I was new to the city but I think I knew what she was talking about.

“But you shouldn’t intervene. I’m just telling you so you have a heads up.”

“Then what am I supposed to do? Let her finish her date then talk to her?” I wasn’t letting some chump touch my girl.

“I don’t know but barging in on their date will probably make it worse.”

I growled into the phone and started to pace. “Frankie, what do I do? Doing nothing isn’t an option.”

“I don’t know…you’ll have to mess up the date without actually messing it up, you know?”

“No,” I snapped.

“What if you just bump into her and take it from there?”

“I guess I can do that…” I just didn’t know what I was going to do once I got there. “Why are you helping me anyway?”

“Because Marie is being a poopy head and I’m tired of it.”

“A poopy head?”

“If she really didn’t want to be with you anymore I’d let it go. But it’s so obvious she’s still in love with you. Not being with someone simply out of principle is ridiculous.”

At least she was on my side.

“So, are you going to head to the restaurant. They’re probably there by now.”

“Yeah…” I sighed into the phone. “Wish me luck.”

“Good luck…” There wasn’t an ounce of belief in her voice.

***

I walked into the restaurant and located their table near the back. Marie was still in her work clothes but she looked stunning, like always. But she would look stunning in a beekeepers suit.

I adjusted my tie and prepared myself for the conversation. The shit would hit the fan and Marie would probably be more pissed off at me but I had to do something. I hurt Marie several times and I deserved this. But I wanted the torture to end.

I walked to their table, trying to appear as calm as possible.

Marie spotted my approach, and once she saw me her eyes lit up in flames. She wanted to murder me right then and there.

I kept going and stopped when I reached their table. To my misfortune, her date was a good-looking guy. He was built like he threw tree logs around for fun, and his suit told me he did something impressive for work.

Marie wanted to kill me. Like, actually kill me
.

Her date stared at me hesitantly, like he wasn’t sure if I were a waiter or a friend.

Marie refused to speak. Instead, she silently threatened me.

Now that I was there I didn’t know what to do. Marie was scaring me a little bit, and I wasn’t sure if I could take her date if I had to. Somehow, I had to ruin this date without actually ruining it.

How did I accomplish that?

Then I got an idea. I didn’t like the idea very much. In fact, it made me sick a little bit. But desperate times called for desperate measures. “Oh my god, hi.” My voice came out high-pitched and over enthused. “It’s so nice to see you here. I just left Prada and thought I’d stop by for dinner.”

Marie’s anger immediately disappeared. I’d never seen her look so bewildered.

“Who’s your cute friend?” I took a step toward her date and gave him a smile.

He immediately stiffened. “Charles.”

“It’s so nice to meet you, Charles.” I rested my hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

He tensed again but didn’t push it away.

“You guys wouldn’t mind if I joined you, right?” I took the seat next to Charles and scooted my chair close to him.

Marie was mortified. Her cheeks were turning red and she tried covering her face.

“So…you’ve got a boyfriend?” I’d only do this for one person. If Marie weren’t the love of my life I wouldn’t be caught dead doing this. But there was no other way I could chase him off.

“I’m straight, actually.” He nodded to Marie. “Hence, why we’re on a date.”

“Oh…I see.” I sighed in disappointment. “But how do you really know what your preferences are until you try everything?” I scooted closer to him, my thigh touching his.

He immediately moved away, uncomfortable.

Marie’s face was getting redder by the second.

“You know who you remind me of?”

He kept his eyes glued to his menu.

“One of the guys at Chippendales. He’s so fine.”
How long did I have to push him until he cracked?

Marie finally recovered enough to speak. “Axel, if you don’t mind we’d like to be alone.”

“Oh, come on.” I placed my hand on his wrist. “I’m just being nice.”

He pulled his hand away violently. “Marie, I have somewhere to be. Maybe we can get together another time.” He stood up and buttoned his suit before he marched off, the sway of his shoulders showing his anger.

My plan worked.

Marie turned on me. “What the hell?”

I scooted into his vacated chair and returned my voice to normal. “What the hell to you? I wake up and you’re gone?”

“Last night was a mistake.”

“How? We didn’t do anything.”

“It just was,” she snapped. “We’re never getting back together so you need to drop it.”

“I’m not dropping it until you give me another chance.”

“You only want me because you can’t have me.” Her voice rose until other tables could hear us.

“No. I want you because I know I’m supposed to marry you.”

Her eyes widened to their full capacity and she stopped breathing.

Now I wasn’t afraid to say things like that. I was terrified of my relationship with Marie because I knew how much she meant to me, even in the beginning. She had the power to destroy me. I could detect it long ago. But now I wasn’t scared of it. In fact, I was scared of losing it. “I’m supposed to be with you for the rest of my life. That’s what’s meant to happen.”

“Meant to happen?” Her voice came out as a whisper, no longer a shout like it was before.

“I’m not saying I believe in destiny or soul mates like Francesca does. But I know you’re the one for me. You’re the only woman who’s ever made me feel like this. And not to sound like an ass, but I’ve been with a lot of them. From the beginning I knew there was something special here. The first time we slept together I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And every time I was around you my heart was in overdrive. I’m sorry I screwed this up so many times, but the only reason why I pushed you away was because I was scared. I was scared of losing the woman I loved, so it was easier not to lose you to begin with. But now that I understand what my life is like without you, I realize it’s better to love and lost than to never love at all.” When she did nothing but stare at me I knew I was getting through to her. “Marie, please give me one more chance. I’m here now and I’m ready to give you whatever you want. I’ll be the best damn boyfriend of the year. I’ll be there, every day. Every morning when you wake up I’ll be beside you. And every time you tell me you love me I’ll say it back.” I bared my entire soul and now it was out in the open. I just set myself up for success or failure. I wanted this woman so desperately that I risked my own neck just to make it happen. In my heart, I knew she was supposed to be mine. And if I lost her forever I would always regret it. When she didn’t say anything for several moments I grew tense. “Marie?”

She continued to stare at me passively, her eyes not giving anything away. Her breathing had increased. Her chest rose and fell at a heavy rate. Her hands were under the table so I couldn’t see them but I suspected they were fidgeting together.

“Baby, I’m asking for one more chance. That’s it.”

She remained silent.

If I lost her I wouldn’t know what to do. I couldn’t go back to my previous lifestyle of meaningless sex with strangers. I couldn’t be with anyone else but her. My existence would be hollow and empty.

“I love you.”

My heart skipped a beat when I heard those beautiful words. Quiet conversations continued around us at the different tables. To onlookers it seemed like we were having an ordinary conversation. But in reality, our whole world was changing. She’d never said those words to me before and I said them back. Now was my chance. “I love you too.”

Her eyes watered but the tears didn’t fall. Her chest continued to rise and fall at a rapid rate. She was in public so she tried to keep her emotions in check but it was becoming progressively harder.

I leaned over the table so we were as close as possible. “One more chance?” I extended my hand to her, my knuckles resting on the surface.

She stared at it for nearly a minute before she gently placed her hand on top. “Yes.”

She said yes.

I couldn’t believe it.

I did it. Somehow, I did it.

Marie was mine.

I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it. “I won’t hurt you again. I promise.”

She nodded.

I continued to hold her knuckles against my mouth as I stared at her. “Will you have dinner with me?”

She cleared her throat, dissipating the emotion. “Since we’re here…”

“It’ll be our first date—our last first date.”

***

Without discussing it, we went to my apartment. Everything was exactly the same as it was when she came over the night before. Even though I hadn’t had sex in nearly two months I wasn’t eager to get some action.

I just wanted to be with her
.

Once the door was shut and we were alone, I cupped her face and gave her a slow kiss. It felt so good to feel her mouth against mine. The softness of her lips were unparalleled by anything else I’ve ever felt. My arms tightened around her and I deepened the kiss, pressing her against the wall. My hand dug into her hair automatically and I grabbed a fistful of hair. I loved gripping her this way, making her mine.

Her hands moved to my shirt where she unbuttoned it from top to bottom. Her fingertips moved over my skin slowly, taking her time as she got me down to my bare skin.

Slowly, we moved to the bedroom, a trail of clothes developing behind us. I saw her naked last night but I was eager to see her again. This time she was really mine. After we made love and went to bed, she would be there the following morning. That was the most exciting part of all.

I got her on my bed, her legs already wrapped around my waist. My socks were still on but I didn’t care enough to take them off. She didn’t seem to care either. When I looked down at her I didn’t see a hot blonde with big tits. I saw a beautiful woman I wanted to cherish forever. Never in my life had I been the romantic type but now I was—with Marie.