We crash onto the bed, still kissing, touching and stroking each other. We are both going under each other's clothes, me unbuttoning her pajama top, and watching her arch as I pull it off. I take those seconds right after to take off my upper layers and return to kissing her neck as my fingers pull at the straps of her bra. Her hands reach out to me and caress my face, run over my shoulders and chest. I take one of her hands and kiss the palm. I come down on my elbows and nuzzle her neck again, then nestle my hips between her thighs.
I pull back again, kneeling and pulling at her pajama pants. She lifts her hips and helps me completely undress her. She places her hands on my shoulders and unfastens my jeans. We laugh a little as we get those things off, and I return to her arms. I sigh at the skin-to-skin contact, and she echoes me. I keep running my hands over her--her neck, her arms, her sides, her breasts, her hips, even her knees. She pulls herself up again, straddling me. She cradles my head, and I rake her back gently, my hips instinctively moving to get closer to her. My breath fans her chest and she shivers.
She gasps as I turn her onto her stomach. I run my hands up the sides of her thighs and her body, my lips following up her spine. She comes up her elbows but then I take her hands and put them over her head, letting her feel my body grind against hers. Yes, baby, this is what you do to me... she rewards me, responding with a moan that shocks my spine and spreads through me.
I lay her back on the bed again, running my lips from her inner wrists to her neck again. She rakes my back and again, she sends that lightning straight through and down my body. The ache in me sharpens and I capture one of her breasts with my lips and take it into her mouth. Her strangled cry soothes me somehow and I swirl my tongue around the tip and suck gently, riding the wave of her arching body and reveling in her moans as her thighs widen and her legs wrap around me.
"Ransom..."
Again, the lightning. First it was her eyes, then her touch, now it's her voice. It hurts, it burns, it strikes, yet it also addicting. It does something to all of me. And I want that in her...
I gently caress and squeeze her mound, not letting go of her breast and she gasps, the breath ending in a cry as I brace my thumb against her clit and push my finger into her core. I slightly turn her to me and we are facing each other as I kiss her again, working her though she didn't need it. She was so damn warm and wet. I moan softly as I keep going; I want more. Her breath comes in pants and her fingers grasp my already hard shaft, stroking back and forth as her thumb caresses the tip. "Yes..." I hear her moan softly, and again, I feel waves of relief coupled with a conflicting tension. "Mmmm." I move in time with her hand, and somehow in time with my own on her, in her.
I drag my tongue down the center of her body and hold her thighs apart as I finally taste her. We both moan, and she writhes as I stay on my course. Her fingers rake my scalp and I moan with pleasure as her fingertips increase pressure at the same time my mouth does. She's whimpering, she's moaning, she's panting, and I love feeling her tremble, hearing her sounds, and knowing maybe I feel lightning, but she is drowning in the storm I'm creating in her and between us, in us. I feast on her climax and she goes slightly limp, surrendering to me.
But I could take her higher. She knew that.
I crawl up her body between her legs and lift her leg. She was completely mine now, pliable, and reaching for me. God, she was mine when we started. For some reason, my mind goes back to our first kiss-the anticipation and how our worlds collided and stood still. I close my eyes and slide into her.
"Uhhhnnn..."
I put my forehead against hers. "Oh, God." I kiss her forehead. I feel her arms tighten around me, her other leg encircle me, trying to draw me closer. I oblige, and I begin to move, slowly at first, then harder, then faster...like a wave rolling to a crest and then breaking...only to start again...and again...
I cannot and will not stop wanting her, needing her, and loving her.
I follow Sy to his apartment and find Maira and Mimi there, watching TV.
"Babe?" I call softly. She turns and her face lights up. "I'm home, baby." She rises from her seat and I am there, pulling her in my arms. "I've missed you."
"You have?"
The edge in her voice makes me freeze and I look at her. "Of course I did. Everything okay?" I swallow hard. "You didn't miss me?"
Her face breaks into a smile. "I missed you every second you were gone." She takes a deep breath.
"Let's go home, okay?" I ask. She nods. "Thanks, man." I hug Sy again.
He claps my back and whispers, "Remember what I said."
I smile at the memory.
"Are you in love with your wife, man?"
"Yeah,"
"Look , if you love her like you say you do, you gotta tell her." Sy says.
"I tell her I love her every day--"
"But have you told her you are in love with her?"
I looked out the window.
"Scared?"
"If you must know, yes."
"Well, she's in love with you," Sy shrugs. "and she's scared too. She gets weak, right?" I say nothing and he goes on. "Look here, prep. You gotta tell her and show her that she's all you want. You guys are good friends, good partners, but if you want to have it all with her, you gotta put it out there, make her feel it."
"Right," I say to Sy. I take her hand and lead her to our place.
"I checked the generators," she informs as I close the door behind us. "We will be fine if the storm gets bad."
"Good," I turn to her. "you always think of everything."
She smiles. "I try."
"I saw the picture of you and Damien."
"Picture?" she frowns. "How?"
I shake my head. "It was sent to me." I take out my phone and show it to her.
She lets out an exasperated sigh and takes out hers. "I was sent a picture of you and Fiona." She shows a picture of me. "Looks like an occasion?"
"She sold her first home," I chuckle. "her grandparents' place, but still, quite an accomplishment for her."
"I thought it was something like that," she says softly. "I looked at the entire picture. You were giving her a hug at center, but I saw people in the background and it looked like you were holding something. A bottle?"
"Yes!" I hug her. "Yes!" I lift her and spin her around, making her laugh and I with her. I set her down. "Who sent yours?"
"I don't know, an Insta address. Who sent yours?"
She blinks in confusion. "Same one."
"How can someone get pictures of events happening at the same time?"
We both begin to trace the pictures back. We come to a deleted account.
"I know a guy," I tell her. "I'll make a call."
"You're going to trace it back to the owner?"
"Gonna try," I say, putting the phone down. "Someone is trying to shake us."
"Who?" she laughs humorlessly. "Your mom? Fiona? Maybe even Peter?"
"I don't care, they need to be dealt with."
"Hugh, don't say things like that."
"Say things like what? Someone is trying to pull us apart here. Someone doesn't realize--"
"That we are better than that--"
"That we are really husband and wife, really in love here." I saw her sharp intake of breath. I hold her shoulders, and for some reason she looks smaller, so vulnerable, in need of protection. "I am in love with you, Mimi. I won't let someone hurt you...us, ever."
She searches my eyes. "You're in love with me?" Her voice is a whisper, her eyes filling with tears. "Are you sure?"
I laugh softly, tears filling my own eyes. I shake my head at her uncertainty. "You are part of every breath of breathe, every thought I have, and all I am."
"Ransom!" she closes the distance between us, and snuggles my chest. She lets out a shaky breath. "Always, baby."
I tip her chin up so our eyes meet. "I love you." I kiss her, taste her tears and pray she believes in us. And then, she suddenly springs to life, her arms tightening around me, body trying to get closer. I lean down and pull her up against me, kissing her neck.
"Ah!" she moans softly. "I love you...I love you, Ransom. Since that first kiss, I knew!" She clings to me as I carry her to bed.
Ransom's Redemption (A Chris Evans Fanfiction), Chapter 26: Going Home
I hug Sy on sight.
"Hey, li'l bro," Sy hugs me back, chuckling deep. "I gotcha." He frowns at me. "You alright, man?"
I nod and say, "I just wanna get home."
"Me, too," he looks around. "I've been watchin' the Doppler, and this storm is no joke, it's gaining speed. These people need to get out of here pronto or find a hotel." He looks around again and I see it: he wants to do something, to help. He shakes it off. "Let's go."
For some reason, I felt like a "li'l bro" just then. He really is a soldier-trying to solve problems, do something. He really is someone to look up to, be like. "I'm sure the train people are monitoring it. They'll figure something out."
"They better, or the Guard will be out here," he sighs. "C'mon."
We get in the car, and we're gone. I mean, gone. "Learn to drive in the service?"
Sy laughs. "Well, I learned a different kind of drivin' in the service. Times like this, I'm pretty glad I did. That and--" he pats the dashboard. "buying Baby here. Made some modifications on her myself. She's the--"
"Fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy!" we both laugh.
"So, how was New York?"
"Got the shoot done," I say.
"Well, that's good, right?"
"Yeah," I agree. "but my photographer..."
"He sucks?"
"No, no, just... we were friends before, and--"
"You don't think he can accept that you've changed."
"Yeah."
"Well, you can always keep it professional or get another professional."
"That's what I'm trying to decide," I shrug. "What happened with Damien Pierce?"
"You know the guy's name, huh?"
"Hard to forget the name of the guy Mimi broke an engagement with."
"Not much," he shrugs again. "He just popped up to say hi, I made sure he was just poppin' up to say hi, and we sent him on his way."
"Made sure?"
"He might have had a plan," Sy half shrugged. "I just backed Mimi's play. There was no plan."
"What happened?"
"Well, you know, Damien saw Maira and Mimi on TV, and when she gave your last name, he knew you two were married. For some reason, he didn't believe it."
"Believe what?"
"I guess he did a little recon," Sy shakes his head. "You just got out of jail, you got married in no time after. He always hoped he would get her back someday."
"And he comes the weekend I am gone?" I tense.
Sy laughs. "Well, we all got friends, man. Friends who can give us a lowdown on the low-low."
"What happened?"
"She turned him down flat, offered him coffee and a sandwich." Sy went on as a matter of factly. "He said his last wife cleaned him out in a divorce, even took his truck!" Sy laughs, shaking his head. "What kind of woman takes a man's truck?"
"But she didn't take the dog," I point out.
"Naw, she didn't take the dog," Sy shook his head. "Anyway, he said he has property down south, an off-grid place where he could live and maybe start over. I'm not sure but I think he asked her to come with him. She said she'd help him, and she put him to work over the weekend. He slept in the basement. We paid him cash for labor, Mimi doubled the cash and bought him a plane ticket, too. I got the dog carrier, gave him some old clothes and he was gone."
"Heh," I shrug. The stories matched.
"Is that why you're comin' home so fast?"
"I missed her."
"Aww, ain't that somethin'."
I smile. "It is. And I finally figured out what song she put on my phone."
"Oh, yeah, I Get Weak."
"Does everybody know?"
"Amaira and I have ringers too." He smiles. "My ringer on her phone is Home by Daughtry."
I think of the words: The miles are getting longer it seems the closer I get to you. I've not always been the best man or friend for you, but your love remains true...and I don't know why. You always seem to give me another try. I'm comin' home to a place where I belong, where your love has always been enough for me. "More than enough."
"Huh?"
"Nothin'," I take a deep breath.
"You're really not the same guy, Ransom," Sy says. "and that's alright. In fact I'd I think I'd kick the old you's ass."
Ransom's Redemption (Chris Evans Fanfiction), Chapter 25: So Close
The weather service is already casting warnings.
I didn't even bother with the airport. It sounded dismal. I bought the last first class ticket on the New York-Boston Express and it was the last train of the day going out. The weirdest thing happened; I saw Marta. I am pretty sure it was her, and I turned away before she could look and see me. To me, that was an omen to get the hell out of Dodge. I decide to call Mimi from the first class lounge, and got voice mail. Something is wrong. I haven't talked to her all day, and honestly, I am beginning to worry.
I call Amaira instead.
"Hello?" I hear her voice, and it sounds hushed.
"Maira?" I say softly. "It's Ransom. I've been trying to get through to--"
"She's sleeping."
"Oh." A part of me is relieved, but another part of me is worried. "Is everything okay?"
"She had quite a day yesterday."
"Oh?"
"Your mother was here."
I close my eyes, trying to calm down. "Really?"
"Yeah," Maira says slowly. "she came to the tea house. I personally served them tea, and that woman..."
"I'm sorry."
She sighs. "Anyway, I think your mom said some not-so-nice things to her."
I exhale heavily. I can imagine. "I'll take care of it."
"How--"
"Anything else?"
"Nothing worth mentioning."
"So, her ex-fiancee isn't worth mentioning?" A short pin-drop silence begins. "A friend of mine in New York was more than happy to share the picture of them at the Tea Time."
"He left this morning."
"What?!"
"He needed help, came to her--"
"Of course."
"She put him and his dog in the basement on the couch, and Sy gave him some extra clothes. They talked awhile, both of them being veterans." She pauses, and I say nothing. "He came a couple of days ago. He worked in Tea Time for a couple of days, we paid him cash, she doubled it, and bought him a ticket back home. Sy gave him clothes and bought a crate for the dog."
"Uh--huh."
"Uh-huh what?"
I exhale. "Nothing. When she wakes up, just...tell her I'm coming home, and I love her."
"You're coming home?"
"Yeah, I'm about to get on the train."
"I'll tell her," Maira assures, but then says, "be careful out there, alright? I hear this storm is going to be bad."
"Thanks, I'll be careful, and thank you for looking after her."
"She's my friend, Ransom. I guess we'll become friends too at some point."
"I'd really like that, Maira." I hear the train announcement. "Gotta go."
I catch the train. Express? No, the snow started, and though the train did reach 150mph, it was only a minute or two instance and far and few between. I begin to panic. The snow is catching up, and things don't look so good.
Realizing that I have time to do what I can, I call my mother first.
"Ransom--"
"What the fuck did you say to my wife?"
"She invited me to your little tea place, I came."
"And?"
"If you want to see me, you could have called, not sent a messenger."
"I didn't send anyone, I'm out of town." I let that sink in for a few seconds. "I guess with the baby coming--"
"Oh, my God," she gasps. "You mean you did get her pregnant?"
"Jesus, Mother, that is what married people do!"
"I thought she was lying, I thought--Is it about the money?" she asks. "We are still fighting in court, you know--"
"I'm not part of that--"
She gave a little snort, and I knew she'd taken her mom hat off. "I guess since you have that little clause--"
"We have our own money, Mother, and we are not going to court," I bite out. "you don't ever have to see any of our kids, either!"
"Any of your--how many are there?"
"Just this one on the way so far," I growl. "I don't think this will be the last."
"Hugh Ransom--"
"I love my wife, Mom, I love her. I think I always have." I take a deep breath. "And if you can't treat my wife with respect, don't call, don't come!"
"Ran--"
I click off. The phone rings and I don't even look at caller ID.
"Mom, I am not going to argue--"
"Ran?"
I recognize Paul's voice, and it doesn't sound good. "Paul? What's wrong?"
"Fi got caught with coke."
I sink in my seat. "Aw, shit."
"She got caught at the hotel!" Paul can't believe it. "How did they know?"
"Not me, man." I tell him. "In order to report it, I have to say I saw it which means I was near it and breaking parole. That's why I left--"
"I overheard a cop say a woman reported it."
"Calida wouldn't do it, besides she wasn't even there." I sit and think. "What do you need?"
"How much can you give to get her out?"
"Did she get a bail amount?"
"She has to spend a night in jail." Paul sounds miserable. "She tried to bribe the cop, and he took her in for that!"
"Okay, just call and let me know how much it is," I tell him. "I have to talk to Mimi first."
He exhales. "Okay."
I click off and try Mimi again. Voice mail! I could fuckin' scream now.
The snow is starting to affect the signals. This gets me worried. We pull into Providence, Rhode Island, and we are informed over the loudspeaker that they are trying to fix them so we can get to Boston. I sink in my seat. This isn't looking good. We might get stuck here! Or not get in until very late.
I call Sy. I don't know why, but I need to talk to someone.
"What's up, preppy?"
"I am stuck in the snow."
"Damn, sorry."
"Is that guy really gone?"
"News spreads fast, huh?" Sy's chuckle is not one of humor. "I saw him go through the gate, man. All good."
"You took him to the airport?"
"Yeah," Sy replies. "Look, I told the guy that this is my home, you're like a little shithead bro to me, and I don't want any trouble for you and yours. He got it. I mean, shit, he's a southern boy, and he knows we take family serious."
I am honestly touched. "Thank you."
"No problem, shithead," Sy chuckles. "Besides, she loves you, man. I don't know if you deserve that--"
"I don't know if I do, but I want to," I admit. "and I just called and checked my mom."
"Well, that's a start," Sy says brightly. "Wait, I thought you were flying."
"Took the train."
"Where you stuck at?"
"Providence."
He laughs out loud. "You lucky son of a bitch! I'm in Cranston picking up custom rockers for the nursery! I'm five minutes away. Get off the train, man, I'm coming to get ya."
Ransom's Redemption (Chris Evans Fanfiction), Chapter 24: The Song (Ransom's POV)
I can't get it out of my head. Leave it to Fiona to throw me off.
She sent me a picture of Mimi on Insta with none other than her ex-fiance. The guy cheated on her before the wedding. She was hurt, but she walked away from him though. He was stupid enough to think they could work it out. I held her while she cried, and she only cried about it once. I even called in a favor and had the guy's car towed by the city. He loved that Mustang. But it was years later, and they looked too damn close at the tea shop in the online photo.
She was married to me, carrying my kid, right? So why did this bother me?
It simply. Fucking. Did. I found myself going over shit I did, didn't do.
"These shots are okay," the photographer says. Her name is Raine Phillips and she had a pretty nice portfolio. She was a senior at NYU, and Calida called in a favor to get her on this project.
I sigh. "They're missing something."
"Yeah, the electricity, the 'X' factor, I dunno," She shook her head. "I can try again-"
"Uh, can you give us a minute?" Calida asks. She gives the young woman's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "It's definitely not you. Let me talk to him, okay?" She pulls me aside. "What's wrong?"
"Calida, it's--" I exhale, wanting a woman's advice. "I just saw a pic on Insta of my wife with her ex."
Calida frowns and gasps, "Where?"
"At our tea and coffee shop-It's Tea Time Somewhere?" I tell her. "I guess--"
"He stopped by to say hi?" Calida finishes.
I exhale. "I sound like an idiot, don't I?"
"You sound like a jealous husband," she chuckles. "Let me tell you something," she gives me a small shake. "Your wife has always been in love with you."
I laugh humorlessly. "What, cause we're married?" I swallow hard, and turn away. My mom and dad are married. And a big ew on that little mess.
"I don't know about you, but I know she loves you."
I turn to her. "You--"
"I remember when we were dating in college, and I met her?" Calida looks into my eyes. "Her heart was breaking, Ran. I didn't care back then, I was stupid, but I grew up, and I never forgot it. I never did that to any woman again. And I never dated a man who was too blind to see it without at least pointing it out."
"Calida--" I watched her pull out her phone, and quickly click and drag and everything. "What?"
"Listen to this."
The link popped up on my phone and I clicked:
And then I couldn't get it out of my head. The memories of our conversations, our hugging over the years, and the way we lingered played back in my mind. And, oh, God, our first kiss! Could it be that we always were? That song played in my head over and over as we continued the shoot, and I kept thinking of Mimi every time I looked at Calida.
"Oh, now this is good!" Raine smiles ear to ear. "Good pep talk!"
"Naah, he just misses his wife," Calida shrugs, making me blush.
"Oh, that is so cute!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
We all turn to see Paul.
"Well, look who's here!" Calida says with forced brightness.
Paul's anger and outrage is plain as day on his face. "Calida?!"
"We knew you couldn't start early, so I got you an assistant."
"Assistant?" Paul repeats, outrage in his features.
"Yes," Calida smirks. "We are done with shots here, but will you be ready for the next background?"
Paul looks at me, and I only raised my eyebrows to let him know I was not arguing this. I want to go home. "Yeah...yeah."
We skip lunch and power through, but I took time to buy a train ticket home just in case planes were grounded. The shots were actually pretty good. Raine was good, but Paul had experience, and once Paul had a few expressos he was over it, and helping Raine. She admired him and was willing to learn.
"That's it." Paul announces. Raine is happy and excited.
"Thanks, Paul," I nod, shaking his hand. "You two should work together more often."
Paul rolls his eyes. "It's definitely a thought. I've never had an apprentice-assistant, yes, but this makes me think."
"Merry Christmas, man."
"Merry Christmas."
I go to Calida and see that she is getting ready to leave. We both had our bags on set. "Thanks for everything."
"No problem, we got people to get home to," She smiles. "So...?"
"What?"
"You listened to the song," she grins. "Your whole behavior changed."
I chuckle. "Yeah."
"And...?" She watches me grin, and giggles. She gives me a kiss on the cheek, turns me around, and pushes me like I'm going on a runway. "Get outta here!"
"Thanks, Calida." I said gratefully.
"Invitation to the baby shower?" She calls after me.
"You got it!" I call over my shoulder. "Bring that man, I want to meet him!"
"It's a double date!"
I'm going home. No, really, fuckin' really: I'm going home!
Ransom's Redemption (Chris Evans Fanfiction), Chapter 23: The Party
I take a deep breath when I knock on Fiona's door, and brace myself. Memories of previous parties before jail run through my head, and I am still not sure if I should even be here. Half the things we did in those days were against the law.
The door swings open and I smile to see Fiona holding a not a glass but a bottle of champagne. "You got the champagne I sent!"
"Oh, my God, I thought that meant you weren't coming!" she says dramatically. "Welcome home, baby!"
"Hey!" I say with more excitement than I'm feeling. I look around and it's the same as I remember: everybody laughing and drinking and what not. I would have jumped into this like a pool before, but I'm seeing it differently now. I look around and see all the usual suspects, and I smile and wave at them.
"Long time, no see!"
I turn to see Jack Christopher, a guy I knew from school. "What's up, Jack!"
"Hey, Ransom!" Jack rises to shake up with me. "Man, good to see you."
"Good to see you, too."
"I was really sorry to hear about...you know." He shrugs.
"It was stupid." I tell him, responding with a shrug of my own.
"Glad you're out, though."
"Yeah, thanks."
"Hear you're married?"
"Yeah, and expecting."
"Holy shit," Jack's eyes go wide. "Congrats, man."
"Thanks."
"Drink?" she offers her bottle.
"Yeah, got my eye on something right now." I nod, looking at the bar. I get a bottle of European beer I recognize and haven't had in years. I pop the cap and take a swallow, the stuff making my insides tingle as I drop on the sofa. "Wow, it's been awhile since I had something like this!"
"You gotta live a little!" Paul calls from the corner of the room.
I laugh at that, and raise my bottle. "To livin' a little!" Paul smiles widely and raises his glass.
"Whoo!" Fiona cheers. "That's my Ran!"
I flinch inwardly at that. I'm not her Ran. I jokingly flash my ring when she throws her arms around me.
"Awww," she pouts. "you're all grown up and married, now, huh?"
"It had to happen sometime, Fi."
"Yo, Dry!"
"Yo, Bet!" I call back to Matthew Betman. "Still spending your days at the track?"
"Sometimes!" He laughs, clapping my shoulder. "I play the market more."
"Got any tips?"
"Maybe," he says slyly. "What's this I hear about you tying the knot?"
"It's true, man," I grin.
"Yeah, you married your assistant--"
"Also my childhood sweetheart," I say.
"Thought that was Fi."
"Fi was later." I sit to enjoy my beer.
"Too late, I guess," She says with an eyeroll.
"But I thought we'd do it together," she went on, drawing patterns on my chest.
I give a small smile and shrug. "I was never your Prince Charming, anyway."
She puts her head on my shoulder. "Oh, but I wanted you to be."
I look down at her, and see real sadness. It is probably the liquor but I get the feeling that she means what she is saying.
I look at Paul and he is smiling at us, remembering how we used to be. I decide to bust his bubble. "So, how long are you going to be here, man? We got a serious shoot tomorrow."
He makes a face at me. "It'll get done."
"Hey, Paul!" a guy calls from the bathroom. "You in or what?"
Paul raises his eyebrows at me, and I shake my head with a smile. I suddenly tense: the bathroom. I watch him walk across the room and pass the guy who called him over. Through the somewhat open door, I see people are huddling together doing lines of coke. Forgot about that. Well, that's it for me. If I am caught here, I can go back to jail, and I'm not even getting high.
The door closes and I realize how much I have changed. I would have been the first one in there years ago. That door is closed.
"Well, enjoy the champagne," I say brightly.
"Leaving so soon?" Fiona asks.
"Yeah, got to start and finish early so I can get home," I tell her. "I hear a storm's coming, and I don't want to be stuck here."
"Oh, okay," She walks me to the door. "If you are, you can come here, you know."
"I know," I say softly, and kiss her forehead. "Congrats."
"Same to you," she purrs. "Happy holidays."
I raise my bottle of beer to her in thanks, and leave. I wasn't there long and didn't need to be. I call Calida.
"Back from the party already?" she asks. She sounds impressed.
"Uh...yeah."
"Uh....yeah?"
"Paul...he..." I exhale. "I don't know if he will make it tomorrow."
"Okay."
I frown at her tone. "Okay?"
"I have a backup plan."
I feel uneasy. I know that this means that Calida has another photographer somewhere. "Paul was the one who found out about--"
"Paul marketed you and me," Calida says dismissively. "He was just taking pictures."
"He's a friend--"
"This is business," Calida interjects softly. "Look, don't you want to go home? I do. It was nice to see you again, but we didn't come here to party, right?"
I sigh. Calida was always a force to be reckoned with. "If he comes--"
"Then we will have two photographers and an even better chance at finishing this thing."
I am greeted by Callida and some other woman for dinner. The "dinner meeting" seems legit with her there, but the other woman is definitely for Paul's entertainment. We did discuss where to take pictures in the place, it was a photogenic site, and in winter, that's something. The pretty blonde named Rubia Fresa, which means "strawberry blonde" in Spanish. Her natural auburn streaks attested to her Scottish-Spanish descent, and she was pretty and young, just Paul's type. Rubia was nice enough, though, and could even keep up a conversation.
I missed Mimi, hints of wildflowers when she moved, how she strokes my back when I talk, and how when she is tired, she doesn't complain, she just puts her head on my shoulder and sighs. And when she wears those little nighties...
"Ran."
"Huh?"
"I asked if you wanted to start at the Design Lounge," Paul says, leaning forward. "All that red velvet, got that kind of sensual, mysterious feel to it."
"Yeah, I saw it on the website, looks good."
"We got night work and day work," she says. "I don't know about you, but I wanna get home."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," I chuckle. "I hated leaving Mimi."
"Oh, that's right- you're married."
"Yeah."
"You two are still newlyweds, huh?"
"And with a baby on the way."
"Oh my God!" she hugs me. "Congrats!"
"Thanks," I smile.
Rubia sighs, "Wow, in love and married--"
"Yeah," Paul exhales, kissing her hand. "The town awaits, love." He rises. "Ready ?"
"Okay," she smiles brightly.
This leaves Callida and I alone, and we chuckle.
"Looking forward to tomorrow," she tells me.
"Yeah," I nod. "This money is going into the college fund."
"College fund?"
"Mimi's expecting," I tell her.
"Oh, my God!" she gasps and then hugs me. "Congratulations."
"Thanks," I smile.
"Planning the future?"
"We have two businesses, then I sell art and model here and there.'
"Busy." She is clearly impressed.
"Yeah, kinda," I shrug. "but it's worth it, can't wait for the end of probation."
"Paul told me about that."
"What did Paul tell you?"
"It's more of what I realized." She covers my hand with hers. "You're so happy," she gives a gentle smile. "And how you've really grown, Ransom. You've grown. I hope things work out with me and my boyfriend. He designs and makes furniture."
I smile at that. "Glad you're doing okay--" Suddenly the phone rings, and a melody plays. I smile.
"Oh, my God!" sha laughs.
"Yeah, we set each other's ringers," I shrug. "She won't tell me what the song is, and I know I've heard it before, but--" I laugh. "Hold on." I click on. "Hey, baby."
"Hi," Mimi says softly.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
"I'm better," she sounds tired.
"Been hydrating, right?"
"Yeah, and I'm eating fine," she says softly. "I told you, I think the morning sickness is over."
My breath catches. She was dressed in a nice nightie before l left. Did she want me before I left? "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I think so," She sniffs.
I take a deep breath, and on my exhale, I feel...horny. I'd been trying to wait, I had, but I didn't realize how much I wanted it till now, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. "Aw, babe."
"THere is a storm coming."
"Yeah?"
She giggles at my tone. "It looks pretty bad."
"Does it?"
She laughs. "I'm serious!"
"So...I should try to get home as soon as possible."
"Yeah."
I check my weather app. "Shit!" The big blurb moving and swirling is definitely headed for the eastern seaboard. "Global warming." I turn to Callida. "We need to do this, like yesterday."
"What?" Callida frowns over my phone.
"Who's that?" Mimi asks.
"The model I'm working with," I answer. "Callida."
"Oh, my God," Callida looks concerned. "We both need to get out of here. Anton is in London, waiting for me. We are supposed to go to Italy so I can meet his parents!"
I give a low whistle. "Whoa."
"Ran, we gotta get out of here!"
"Baby, I'm still at the lounge with Callida," I tell her. "We gotta get a plan together."
"Oh."
I hear her tone. It wasn't good. "We're just catchin' up."
"Well, I'll leave you to it," she sighs.
"As soon as I get upstairs, I'll call, okay?"
"Okay," she says softly.
"Love you, baby."
"Love you, too."
We click off and I sigh.
"She okay?" Callida asks.
I sigh again and shake my head. "I don't know. Pregnancy hormones, I don't know."
"Paul said this was a marriage of convenience."
"What?!" I couldn't believe he said such a thing. "No, no, we are childhood sweethearts. We were each other's first kiss."
"Wow."
I call Paul.
"Hey, man, what's up?"
"We want to start early," I tell him. "We want to shoot from sunrise to sunset."
"What?!"
"There's a snowstorm coming and we need to get out of here tomorrow night."
"Aw...okay, hey, guess who's in town?"
"Who?"
"Fiona."
"Fiona?"
"Yeah, she just sold her grandparents' condo, put that real estate license to use," he says happily. "Huge profit, she's having a party there."
"Oh, okay."
"You comin'?"
"I am getting up tomorrow morning for a shoot, Paul!"
"C'mon, stop by, at least."
"Paul--"
"Can't you congratulate Fi?"
I exhale. Checkmate. "For a few minutes."
"See ya there, Ran!"
He clicks off and I exhale. "I gotta go to--"
"Seal the deal?" Callida finishes. "Thanks, Ran."
That told me I was on my own. Great.
I hail a cab and call Mimi as soon as I get in.
"Hey!" I hear the smile in her voice.
"Hey."
"You don't sound like you're back in your room."
"HEading to a party--"
"A party?"
"Fiona sold her grandparents penthouse by Times Square," I blurt. "Paul is there, and I'm hoping to get him to come back with me so we can shoot all day and I can be home--"
"Oh."
I close my eyes and try to stay calm. "Seriously, baby."
"Okay."
It's not ha-ha funny how her monosyllabic answers feel like paragraphs. "I'm doing this so I can come home before the storm--"
Ransom's Redemption (Chris Evans Fanfiction), Chapter 21: New York, New York (Ransom POV)
Oh, yeah. JFK, and I could feel the heartbeat of the city.
I do miss this place. My god, when I think of all the parties I had here, went to there, it's a wonder I wasn't in jail sooner.
I call Mimi as I head for the pick up area.
"Hello?"
"Hey, babe, I'm here."
"Sounds like the airport."
"Yeah," I look around. "I wish you were here."
"Me, too." I see a driver holding a sign: RANSOM DRYSDALE. "Hey, my driver is here--"
"Driver?"
"Looks like it," I say, trying to hold in my excitement.
"Call me when you get to the hotel. I wanna see the room."
I laugh. "You got it."
"Love you."
"Love you more."
I hear her do a little gasp.
"Talk to you later."
"Okay," she giggles softly. "later."
I click off and head to the driver. Aw, yeah. I love New York. I t just makes my heart beat faster. "I'm Ransom." I nod to the driver.
"I'm Curtis," he nods and does a tip of his hat. He takes my carryon, and I wave off him carrying my backpack. "Alright, follow me, sir."
"Thanks."
"Did you have a good flight?"
"Yes, wasn't long." It was actually ninety minutes. Somehow, flying in made me feel as if I traveled far, far from some of the bad stuff in Boston-like my parole officer who isn't that bad, and Mr. Green whom I was happy to finish that part of my community service for. It had been a long three months. Then there were the guys at Clockwork, who I loved having a beer with.
I was taken to a hotel in Manhattan, a nice one at that. It reeked with romance, and I realized that was what Paul meant by "one stop shopping." We were going to do some work around the hotel. Though I was happy to see that, I also didn't like it. My parole officer ordered that I be in a room instead of a rental, he didn't realize how much could happen at a hotel if you could keep quiet or grease a few palms for discretion. I did love having my own room. I almost thought I'd have a celly.
But I wish Mimi was here. It's nice to work in a place like this, but even nicer to bring her along. Even the room made me wish she was there, and I realized that I missed my chance:
I groaned as the alarm went off this morning.
"Hey, you." Mimi said softly.
"Hey, you," I echoed.
She scooted over to me and put her head on my chest. "It's much better today."
"Yeah, I noticed." I smile down at her. "Nice to see you."
"Yeah," she said, snuggling closer. "Between Jojo and Dr. Renquist, I'm not as queasy anymore."
"That and knowing now that the smell of fish is a trigger."
"Yeah," she says sadly.
"Don't worry, you'll be back to eating salmon in no time, Mimi."
"I never thought a favorite would be off the list."
"And now all you want is burgers from that place down the street."
"Like some people I know," she teases. "I think it's the ketchup mayo thing I really like."
"Me too." The alarm sounds again, and I sigh, "Gotta get going."
"Awww--"
"Raincheck, babe," I tell her. "We can watch anime another day, okay?"
"Oh...okay."
I am an idiot! I realize what she was wearing:
She usually wears one of my t-shirts and pajama pants!
Come to think of it, she's been wearing alot of really nice stuff lately...tempting me in the mornings...
I get to the hotel room and before I even begin to unpack, there is a knock at my door. I look through the peephole and laugh at Paul on the other side of the door. I open it, asking, "Damn, Paul, were we on the same plane?"
"I got here early to set things up for tomorrow," he laughs. "I mean, a long weekend sounds fun, right?"
"I plan on going home first chance I get," I tell him. "It's almost Christmas, man."
"We're a ninety minute flight away."
I look at him. I plan on being home on the 23rd. What is this guy talking about? The answer I come up with makes me feel bad for him. "Who are you spending Christmas with?"
"I dunno, changes year to year," he sighs. "I was thinking about going to see my sister."
"You two are like cat and dog!" I laugh.
"But we're all each other's got," he shrugs with a grimace. "Mom died, and Dad followed within months."
"I'm sorry, when--"
"Two years ago."
"Aw, I'm sorry, man." The idea of a pal spending Christmas alone sucked. I would get all kinds of presents from Mimi every month-tea and book. Art magazines came every month. Even then, the guards felt she loved me. I would get comic postcards or some that were of places from around the world that I actually left behind when I got out. Some kingpin of the block got jealous, thinking I had friends everywhere (which I did), but when I pointed out that they were all postmarked in Massachusetts, he let up. I spent time binding them into joke books, some given in deals I had to make. My first Christmas in prison was the best. She sent me brushes, paints and paper (directly from the manufacturer) and I shared my art markers with other 'resident artists.' In fact, I left it all behind, and promised to send supplies to the library. I literally spend $200 a month to try to keep supplies up in there.
"You ready to go?"
I laugh at him. "I just got in, barely had a thought. I haven't shown Mimi--"
Then I'm just in time!" Paul cheers. "The lounge here is great, let's go down for a bit."
"Dinner and drinks," I say slowly. "I remember many wild nights that started that way."
"Aw, I can't help it if the Big Apple is always ready for another bite." He gives me a playlful slap on the shoulder. "We're on a pass--"
"Oh, we're military now?"
"Might as well be, with " the man" watching. C'mon, we should get going."
"The cuffs are lose, but--" I raise my ring hand. "This one isn't."
Paul raises an eyebrow at me. "Whatever."
"See ya in a bit, okay?"
"Alright, Ran."
That's what he used to call me when we used to go out partying. I pushed him out the door. "In twenty."
The second he left, I called her:
As soon as I got rid of him, I called Mimi.
"Hey, babe," she greets with a little giggle. I smile at my reflection in the hotel mirror, looking at my bed, knowing that my ringer on her phone was I Wanna Do Bad Things With You.
"Hey, at the hotel."
"Nice?"
"Yeah," I sigh as I plop down on the bed, kick off my shoes and put my feet up. "It'd be alot more fun if you were here."
"I miss you, too." She is quiet for a moment. "Where's Paul?"
"Paul is someplace being Paul."
"'Photographer getting my money Paul' or 'I want my running buddy back Paul?'"
"Doesn't matter," I recline back on the pillow. "He's not wearing a ring."
"Good answer!" she giggles. "So, what're you up to, tonight?"
"Tonight is just dinner and drinks," I sigh. "Wish you were here for dessert, babe."
Her little sharp intake of breath makes me smile. "Oh, I wish I was, too."
"But then I wouldn't be as motivated to get work done and get home," I look around. "Wanna see the room? I'd love to bring you here."
"Let me see."
"Nice!"
"Restful, romantic," I correct. "But I bet it's a damn good view in the morning."
"Yeah."
I note the sadness in her voice as I set my travel clothes aside. "What?"
"Nothing."
"What, babe?" I start
"In the past, I seem to remember you being quite the party animal there."
"Say it again."
"In the past--"
"Stop right there," I say quickly. "Let's leave it there."
She laughs softly. "I love you."
"I love you, too, baby," I say softly, responding to the lilt in her voice.
Suddenly there is a knock on the door. "Ah, hold on." I look to see Paul again, and let him in.
"Aw, you're not dressed?" he asks.
"We're just going downstairs."
"But--" he notices my earbud in my ear. "Is that--"
"Yes, Paul."
"Oh, hey--"
"Flip him off for me," Mimi says with a smile I can hear.
I laugh out loud and do it.
"Rude," Paul sticks out his tongue.
"Just playin' around man--"
"Not really." Mimi laughs. "Have fun."
"Thanks, baby. I'll call you when I get back in." After we click off, I tell Paul, "You've got to do better with her."
"Yeah, yeah," he rolls his eyes. "C'mon man, let's go!"
I was excited, but nervous. I'd done some catalog modeling, but it is different for a fragrance. This could lead to a contract for that company or more opportunities. I was happy that Paul called to talk about the format of the shoot.
"Does it freedom matter?" Paul asked. "Your old flame and you get to light up the screen!"
I chuckle at that. "We do photograph well."
"Better than you and your-uh-Mimi?"
"We got it where it counts, Paul."
"So you're not the least bit excited about Calida?" he pressed for effect. "Seriously, now."
"It'll be nice," I can't help but smile, being coy. I laugh outright. Some jobs can be just plain fun.
"Too bad you have to stay married--"
"You make it sound like prison, Paul."
"Yeah, whatever."
"It's not a bad thing."
"Isn't it?"
"AS long as you like celly it can be great."
"Ugh, man." Paul snorts. "Like a ball and chain?"
"Ball and chain," I repeat. "I feel quite free, actually."
"Well, can't wait to see this."
"Me, too."
"See you in the Big Apple, dude."
"Yeah, see you there." I click off and turn to see Mimi standing there. "Hey!"
"I forgot," she says softly. "how long will you be gone?"
"Three days at the most."
"A three day pass," she half jokes.
I grab her by the hips and pull her to me. "I wish you could come, babe."
"Yeah, my focus for next you is to hire a replacement at Tea Time."
"But the fact you are needed means you guys are doing great."
"We," she corrects. "We are a good team."
"Always have been," I smile, but something about the look bothered me.
"As long so we are honest with each other."
"Of course," I agree, and mental flags pop up. "I love our partnership."
She swallows hard. "Me too."
"I love us," reword.
She smiles and hugs me. "Just...always be honest with me, okay?"
"I can't lie to you, Mimi."
She exhales heavily. "I sent some of your favorite clothes to the cleaners. I 'll got get them."
"I can--"
"No, no, I got it," she smiles brightly, grabs her coat and heads for the door.
"I'll take Roger out," I offer.
She left, and I felt something was wrong. But what?
******
For once I am excited about going to see my parole officer. At least I could talk to him and we were on a first name basis.
"So, you ready for this?" Elliott asks as we sit down.
"I think so," I shrug. "It's a pretty good opportunity."
"And you aren't taking your wife," he nods.
"Christmas rush stuff at the shop," I smile broadly.
"And you are doing a photo shoot with an old flame?"
I roll my eyes at him. "That's ancient history, Elliott."
"Is it, though?"
"It is," I frown. "Look, I'm married with a kid on the way."
"Who are you trying to convince?"
"I'd never cheat on Mimi."
"Why?"
"What?"
"You told me about the whole million dollar heir thing," Elliott prods.
"Hold it," I raise a hand. "I love my wife, Elliott."
"Okay, okay," Elliott raises his hands in a defensive gesture. "Just make sure she knows that."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Just make sure you tell her," Elliott shrugs. "It's your first Christmas."
"Yeah, I've been kinda stumped on what to get her."
"Oooh, better get that one right, man!"
"Yeah," I sigh heavily. "I'm hoping to find something in New York."
"Well, the possibilities are endless."
"Yeah."
"A bit of advice."
I start chuckling. "Shoot."
"If he, she, and or it is not good for you and good to you, let it go."
If He Was Your Fan (A Henry Cavill Fanfic), Chapter 76: Suitor and Vistor
SORRY, POSTED IN WRONG ORDER!
Chapter 76: Suitor and Visitor
Trying to work and learn of your new status has been daunting to say the least. First you had cultural classes, and then you had to learn English history or what you called, “English-his story” much to Graham’s disgust. You always believed that wherever you go, every country has a slant on its past. You amused yourself often with the question, “and what did the other guy think?” Wilson entertained this question, but Graham was often flustered.
Wilson, who is your trainer of sorts, did something you appreciated. He always answered the questions. He taught you self defense and how to survive in a forest, which wasn’t far from you. You became familiar with flora and fauna of the land of your ancestors, and he often chuckled when you took pictures with your phone and made notes.
Since Henry was sort of in down time, he and Kal spent free time at your estate. You took horses from Trent, and rode daily, or well at least, you did, often back and forth between the village and the estate, and at times in the forest and countryside.
One day you and Henry come back to find the place with cars parked that you’ve never seen.
“They’re here, Lady Edenvale!” Graham says excitedly.
“Who?” you ask, feeling panic creep up your body and choke you. “Who are these people?”
“Why, suitors, of course,” Graham nods, and gives Henry a look.
“I beg your pardon?” Henry frowns. “I have been with—Lady Edenvale for close to two years now. She is spoken for—”
“But her new status, Mr. Cavill—”
“Henry Cavill, Esquire,” he corrects.
“Ah, an English gentleman,” Graham nods respectfully. “And I believe you have an ancestor in the Knighthood under King Edward centuries ago? Our Lady Edenvale is of higher rank, you understand--”
“As of a month ago!” you interject. “This is preposterous—”
“But true, nonetheless,” Graham tsks shaking his head at you. “Don’t you wish to at least meet some people who can help with your projects?”
“I didn’t invite them,” you shake your head and then you temper starts to simmer. “did you?”
“Well, I am not one to turn them away—”
“Graham!” you are exasperated. “Now it would be rude to turn them away!”
Graham looks apologetic. “Just a few—neighbors, people who live close by. It shouldn’t take long—”
“From now on, forward messages to me to deal with!” You frown at him.
“Yes, milady,” he looks uneasy.
You turn. “Henry, I—”
He shakes his head and gives a small smile. “I think I’ll go for a ride.”
“Thank you,” you say.
You are led to the house and waiting for you…is well…a surprise. You are greeted by broad shoulders and a very fit body turned away from you. Then he turns.
“Hello,” he says.
“Lady Edenvale,” Graham smirks. “Meet Lord Jared Oxfordshire.”
You are taken aback. This man is…well, he’s absolutely handsome. For some reason, you thought you would be meeting some old fuddy duddy type wanting to see your books, not you. He looks familiar but dismiss it. You do a small curtsy. “Good morning, Lord Oxfordshire--”
“Jared, please.” He accepts the drink Graham offers. “Thank you.” He gives a small smile. “I’ve seen you at some of the events.”
“Oh, off the horse, I hope?” you half joke. You are at the lowest skill of the low in any competition. In fact, you really haven’t competed yet. You have only done training, not even first level.
“You have real potential,” Jared nods. “Have you kept up your training?”
“Not really, but I want to get back into it,” you shrug and smile sheepishly. “A lot has happened.”
“Ah,” he nods. “you are a natural, and the fact that Lucifer—”
“Luc—”
“Luc is yours, makes it a wonder to see,” he smiles gently, then leans into you lowering his voice. “He has a reputation, you know.”
You whisper with a grin, “I have never really seen that side of him.” You both laugh, and you hear horse hooves. Henry has left on his ride. You’d hoped he would wait.
“I’d love to take you and Luc out, or maybe you two can visit my estate not far from here—”
“That sounds very nice,” you nod with a smile and then mutter, “I guess now being noticed—” Graham coughs and you roll your eyes. You realize you thought aloud.
“I always noticed you,” he says softly, leaning closer. “An American woman riding Lucifer and bringing him to heel?”
“I just loved him—”
“Ah, as you did the other beast who guards you.”
“What other?”
“The one who just went for a ride.” His look is one of humor at your discomfort and embarrassment. “How do you feel about the gentleman, milady?”
“I love him…” your voice trails off, the memory of Lara and him in your mind.
“But you are unsure of him,” he reads you.
“He noticed me, knew me, before all this—”
He raises a hand at your defense and offers it to you. “Then we shall be friends at the very least.”
You extend your hand and he steps up to kiss the back of it. “Have a good day.”
“Thank you, and likewise,” you can’t believe you used the expression.
“I’ll be in touch,” Jared nods. “I’ll see myself out, Graham.”
“Have a good day, sir.” Graham says brightly.
“Thank you.”
After the door closes, Graham smiles widely. “See? Making new friends!”
“How many more?”
“One,” he looks nervous. “Lord Oxforshire asked to see you tomorrow.”
“Elevensies for Oxfordshire,” you say, striding outside. “And I’m going to apologize to whomever is in that car over there.”
“But, but, why?”
“I am still settling in,” you say dismissively. “Thankfully, he just came to introduce himself.”
“But the place is—” Graham sighs at your look. “Yes, milady. But you are making friends?”
“Or rocking my boat,” you snap. But the truth is, the boat was rocked weeks ago. And you haven’t changed your mind. You hope to stay with Henry, but you wish you knew his feelings. Now, with all the new developments, you wonder if you’ll ever know.
If He Was Your Fan (A Henry Cavill Fanfic), Chapter 77: Blue to Green to Blue
I'd had it:
"Why can't you understand what I am trying to do?" she asked me.
"Jared Oxfordshire is not just interested in a children's library!" I accused.
"That's all I'm interested in!" she cried.
"How about the dressage event?" he asks.
"How about it?" she retorts. "He asked if I was going. I said I wasn't sure. He said I should go—"
I snort at her.
"He didn't ask me to go with him! And I thought you would want to go with me!" she lets out a cry of frustration. "I don't know this world, what I'm doing—"
"You've been with me—"
"This is different!" she interrupts. "Different somehow. There are clubs I am getting invites from, and some are not honorable. Do you know how hard that is-to find who wants to get to know you and who sees you as some sort of token or novelty?"
I swallow hard. She knows I do. "And if I go with you, some may see me as some rake actor trying to connect with your status and fortune?"
"My God, Henry!" she wipes a tear. "You sound like a gossip rag. We were before this ever was. How can you say that? Why is it you had no trouble when they said such things about me and now..." She shakes her head.
"So this is a time of adjustment for you."
"Yes!" She was exasperated.
"Then, maybe I should go back to London—"
Her gasp brings tears to her eyes. "Henry!"
"I don't want to get in the way, just like when you were with me on Witcher and Argylle." I kiss her forehead and give a small smile. "Go on."
She looked sad, but went, just the same to greet Oxfordshire.
I was packing to go home. I had come to spend time with her, and my lady, my Lady Edenvale was knee if not waist deep in projects. So many of them were one time projects, but what of others in the future? And these suitors were never going to stop. Did I have time for this and a career?
And Graham was no help. He wanted me gone. Wilson just watched and gave me looks I couldn't read, but none were good.
"Leaving, sir?"
I turn around to see Wilson standing there. "Things to do in London." I frown at him. "You didn't go with her?"
"Graham loves these things. I go where I'm needed," Wilson tips his chin slightly. "And you, you have things to do here, if you don't mind my saying, sir."
I zip my bag and look at him. "I do?"
He exhales. "So you don't love her."
"How dare you—"
"How dare you," Wilson stands toe to toe with me. "I'm going to show you something." He pulls out his phone and shows me something that happened yesterday. My lady asked me to come with her for tea with one of her guests, and I declined. He pauses it. "Slow it down. Look at her face."
I took the phone and looked at it. She looked as if she would cry. In slow motion, I see the change of feelings on her face-from disappointment to hurt to a tilting chin of defiance, then a small cordial smile and nod. Ouch.
"She needs you and you are abandoning her," Wilson accuses, and takes the phone from me. "Some Kisa you are."
"Kisa?" I repeat, but he leaves.
Well, evidently I have an ally in Wilson, or a fellow enemy of Graham. I look at my bag. I love her! Why am I ready to chuck it all?
I exhale and sit on our bed. Our bed. She actually fought for that:
"I just don't think it is fitting for you to stay in her house," Graham argued. "Think of her reputation!"
"Graham, I have stayed under the same roof with this man for over a year," she argued. "on promotions, during filmings! That horse, as they say, is out of the barn!"
"But, my lady—"
"I'm done, Graham, done!" She turned away from him and looked up at me. "So, where do we stay-the guesthouse or main?"
"Wherever you want." I told her softly. "Wherever you are."
I never really had to compete for her before, I realized. The tables turned. Project offers had come in by the stack, and honestly, I had agents sort through that unless it got my attention. She was mostly going through them, and trying to do it herself since she did not trust Graham, smart girl. I was glad of that; I didn't either, though on the surface he seemed dedicated to his job. I had models and actors and some entrepreneurs admire me, but she had that and the gentry sniffing after her money and newfound fortune. And if they got close enough, they'd know how much of a gem she really is. The memory of comments and dirty looks about us return to me in a wave, and all I could do was hold her through it, assure her, as others tore her apart without so much as a word with her.
It's worse in society; they judge, research, and then find evidence to support whatever they want to see or others to see, but not necessarily whole truths if any truth at all. I knew this and often tried to avoid it by my choices as I got older.
What had gotten into me? Not one year ago, I was fighting a stage and set carpenter in a backyard, only my opponent and I knowing it was more than sport, but about her.
****************
You want to go home.
Or wherever Henry is.
You want to talk with him about all this. You thought you had, but lately, you can't seem to stay on the same page. You want to do some rebuilding and contributing to the land your ancestors were on. You want to form some partnerships to help Edenvale, especially with the nearby colleges and universities. What is wrong with that?
"Lady Edenvale?"
"Yes?"
Jared sighs. "Are you alright? You seem distracted."
"Oh, long day, I guess," you take a cleansing breath.
"I see you confined Graham to the car?"
"I can handle this," you say evenly. Deal with Henry later, he's not here to deal with now. "Sorry, Jared, really I am."
"It's alright," Jared says softly. "Henry isn't adjusting well to your newfound status, is he?" You stiffen, and he puts a hand on your shoulder. "I'm sorry, I can't help but notice--"
"He needs time, is all," you defend, but your heart winces as you say it.
"They weren't nice to you in the articles before," Jared shrugs. "not at all. Now the shoe is on the other foot. How often does that happen?"
"Hardly ever, I'd say." He offers his hand to you, and helps you over the area where you plan to expand the school and break ground for the library. You suddenly wish you hadn't worn heels. Why in God's name did you wear heels?
You walk inside of the school, and find the conference room set up for you. Principal Norton is already there sitting, and you have a small meeting about ideas for the way the place should look. She doesn't seem on board.
"We have a lot of books already," Principal Norton nods. "An expansion may not be necessary—"
"I really think it is, Principal Norton," you interject. "Being in the technological age, we need to make libraries more appealing, a place to escape or think."
"I must admit, the ideas you have are really something," Jared compliments. "but this is a small town—"
"With a secondary school and university within a ten mile radius," you point out. "I am willing to do this, but I can't do it alone."
"She shouldn't."
You turn around to see Henry standing in the doorway with a small shopping bag.
Your breath catches, and you realize your mouth is slightly open so you close it. Principal Norton is star struck.
"Sorry, I'm late, darling," he says. "Oxfordshire—" he shakes hands with him. "Principal Norton." He gives a half bow and shakes her hand. He sits next to you and squeezes your hand.
"We're just about done, here, I'm afraid," Principal Norton says with a sad smile. "I just don't see why we should do such an expansion of the library—"
"Oh, I'm so disappointed to hear that," Henry frowns. "Books were my first love before movies. Reading and watching those stories made me want to tell or portray stories, too. Do you know that Lady Edenvale is a writer for Xanadu Productions?"
"My goodness, really?" Principal Norton asks.
"Yes," Henry smiles at you. "She writes stories, I play them out." His gaze goes to Principal Norton again. "I think we all want children to not lose their imaginations, whether it is by reading stories that inspire them to write and act or create. And something like that needs an impressive space."
Principal Norton seems to be in deep thought. "I...I hadn't really thought of it that way."
"I brought—" He reaches into the bag. "I brought those pictures you were looking at, pet."
You had forgotten them. "Thank you."
"And I brought your runners."
You sigh and smile gratefully. "Thank you, again, love."
"You forgot your runners?" Principal Norton laughs. "I do that all time. Keep a pair under my desk these days."
"I do at Xanadu, I wear—"
"All white ones!" They laugh.
Henry and Jared chuckle at that.
The morning becomes a lot easier then. The ideas went over a lot better, and Henry offers to help with the school renovations on the auditorium to help with their drama program. It was more of a wish list to fulfill, but it sweetened the pot for Principal Norton.
"Oh, God." Henry said as you walk out with him and Jared.
"What?" you ask.
"I'd better make sure I have updated contributions to schools in Jersey."
Jared laughs, "Losing track?"
"I didn't know you did," you admit.
"Many people are anonymous contributors," Henry says softly, squeezing your hand. "Part of the world will think you're a miser, but another part will know you are more."
"I-I never really thought—"
"Of course you didn't, pet," he smiles gently. "you just want to get the job done." He kisses your hair. "Like you said, it's a different world."
You smile in thanks.
"Are you coming to the event?" Jared asks as they you all approach the car park. "I know you won't be competing, but I hoped you'd want to go."
"Do we have time for that, pet?" Henry asks.
You see the look on Jared's face. Did he just imply going out in front of Henry?
Graham gets out of the car.
"Oh, Graham, would you drive Jared back to the house so he can pick up his car?" you ask. "I'll ride with Henry."
"I understand if you want to ride with Jared to discuss--"
"I'm sure we can talk later," you say. "Do you want to go, Henry?" you ask.
Ransom's Redemption (A Chris Evans Fanfic), Chapter 19: The Offer (Ransom POV)
Evince: to reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); to reveal.
"What's an Evince?" I asked.
"It's a new fragrance that is gaining traction," Paul explained. "and they want you for the ads!"
"Paul--"
"Good money," Paul presses. "Good money!"
"But--"
"Calida is your opposite."
I stood in shock, much like I am now watching Mimi look over the contract on a computer screen.
She exhales, pushing her glasses up. "It's impressive."
I didn't like that kind of reply from Mimi. It means she is trying to not say something, like she is hiding something. "It's alot of money, Mimi, alot."
"But it's in New York."
"Yeah, my parole officer is working on that," I shrug. "It seems that all I have to do is wear a damn tracer, but for the money?" I watch her. "What's wrong?"
"And Calida Ortiz is on this?" she asks, not looking at me, but at the offer on the computer screen.
I sigh. Calida and I were pretty hot and heavy at one time. I was into her. She was beautiful, smart, worked against animal cruelty. And damned if she wasn't a freak! Ah, she loved love, being passionate and in the moment, the perfect muse for any artist, really. Every time we got in each other's space, sparks flew, which is why Paul suggested her.
"She's an old friend of Paul's--"
"And yours." It was a statement.
I force a small laugh. "That was a long time ago."
"Not really."
"Come on, you don't think--"
"I didn't say anything."
I blink. Her whole mood was changing. "You don't think she'd be interested in me, do you?" I laugh. "Come on, I'm an ex-con--"
"Oh, so that means I was a second or third choice?"
Her glistening eyes give me a sense of dread. "We've always been close, Mimi. Things changed over time." I kiss her hand and look into her eyes.
She gives me a small smile, but I can see a tinge of sadness in them. "If they can make it happen, you should go."
"Really?"
"Yes, yes--"
I smother her with kisses. "We can go--"
"I can stay home."
I freeze. "What?"
"You won't be gone long, right?" she asks with a shrug. "besides, I should stay here and look after things."
My heart winces. She isn't sure of me. Why? And why let me go?
"You've been a good boy," She says as if she heard my thoughts. "Time for a pass."
I laugh humorlessly. "I'm not in the military."
"You've been in prison," she points out. "and you don't want to go back, I get that."
"Where is this coming from?" I grab her arms to turn her and maker her face me, and I swallow hard. She is hurting me. No I don’t want to go back, that’s true, but marrying her was a different decision. I’d always loved her; it just deepened. “don’t do this, Mimi.”
“Do what?”
“What you’re doing,” I shake my head at her. “What you’re thinking!”
“What?” she whispers.
“I love you.” I feel her rigid stance begin to relax. “Baby?” I stand there, searching her eyes, waiting for an answer.
She closes the distance between us, her cheek against my chest as she squeezes me tight. “I’m sorry…hormones. I’m just all over the place today.”
"We've been married a month or two, and truthfully, I haven't taken you anywhere."
"We're busy," she gives a slight frown with a careless shrug. She looks up at me with a bright smile. "And I've enjoyed staying in with you. And, there isn't much I can do."
I remember that Mimi loves to ice skate at the Frog Pond, and the doctor said no to it. “Get dressed, sweetheart, we’re going out.”
I make a few calls and take her to the Lookout Rooftop Bar on top of the Envoy Hotel. I’d been wanting to try the place; it opened the same year I went to prison.
“You like?” I ask, though I can tell by her expression she loved it.
“I like,” she smiles widely. “This is magical! And the view—” She shakes her head. “Great idea, Ransom.”
“Think everybody would like to come here?” I ask her. “For a party?”
“I think it’d be fun.”
I watch her from across the table, and take her hand. “It’s nice to just be out.”
She smiles in such a way that makes me lean over the table and kiss her.
“We can come here every month, if you’d like.”
“We should try different places, don’t you think?” she asks with a smile. “It’s like a monthly adventure. We can go to activities, too.” She chuckles. “Well, events.”
“Okay, it’s a date,” I nod with a grin, and she chuckles happily.
The weather is still sort of mild, so we opt for outside fun. We hop a cab to Columbus Park and walk to the Frog Pond where they are skating.
(208) Skaters At Frog Pond In Boston Common 2 - YouTube
I watch her watch the skaters. “Remember when we snuck here when we were in high school?”
“Yeah, I was grounded,” I chuckle. “You kept telling me that we were going to get in trouble.”
“We did get in trouble.”
“But, oh—”
“It was worth it!” we both laugh out loud.
“We skated, hit Mickey D’s, got cocoa from Dunkin,” I shake my head. “We had so much fun that night! We even went to the movies!”
“Had to do it,” Mimi shrugs. “You and Fiona had broken up again, and this time it was bad—”
I roll my eyes. “Uh, Grant Halsted bad.”
“God, Grant Halsted,” she shakes her head. “That guy could get under your skin.”
“Fiona and I were steady, so—well, as steady as we could be in high school.” I laugh at the memory. “That’s when I knew I’d never marry her.”
“Why?”
“She played too many games,” I shrug. “I realized that we could never be serious.” I smile at her. “I got grounded after getting into a fight with that guy, and you called.”
“After hearing about the fight, yeah,” She nods. “and I decided you needed a night out. So I took you out on a school night, and we were out past curfew. Bang, I’m grounded and you’re like…double grounded!” She laughed.
“I almost kissed you that night.”
Her mirth was replaced with surprise. “Really?”
“Yeah,” I shrug. “but I didn’t want it to be like that, not with you, Mimi, not with you.” I take her hand and lead her along, reminiscing about all the times we had as we leave the Commons. We catch a cab back to our car by the Envoy, and I stop her at the Seaport Christmas Tree.
“What?”
I pull out my trusty cell and find the song.
“Ransom,” she breathes, her eyes glistening in the lights.
I bow and offer my hand, and she steps into my arms. I close mine around her and we rock, oblivious to everyone.
“Mimi?”
“Hmm?”
“I was thinking—”
“Dangerous, past time, honey.” She is relaxed now.
I laugh nervously. “You know that picture we took on our wedding day by the grand staircase?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Why don’t we use that for our Christmas postcards?” I ask. “I mean, we—” I am cut off by the loudest squeal, and she puts her arms around my neck to hug me hard.
“That’s so—so—” she stops to kiss me, and I melt. She could do that to me. I could smell her tears. Pregnancy hormones? “Hey, you cryin’?”
“I’m just being silly,” she laughs, pulling away to wipe a few stray tears. “Mmmh!” she hugs me again, making her laugh. “I love you.”
Her whispered admission makes my heart flutter. “And I love you, baby.” We sigh together and keep rocking. And then I realize: I don’t know what to get her for Christmas, and it’s two weeks away.
Ransom's Redemption (A Chris Evans Fanfic) Chapter 18: Remedies (Ransom POV)
“I look awful!”
I shake my head at the door. “You just barfed up half your digestive tract from morning sickness, you’re entitled to look a little off.” I joke softly. She didn’t laugh, not even a little. “C’mon, let me in.”
She sniffles. “No.”
“C’mon, I gotta pee,” I lie quickly. “Mimi—”
She groans and opens the door.
I come in and see her teary eyed and to my surprise, a little pale. She got vomit on part of her sweater.
“This is a new sweater,” she wails. “And I look like what I just flushed!”
I shake my head, and smile. “You’re still beautiful to me.” I move to hold her and she steps back.
“You’re wearing my favorite sweater!” She gasps. “I—”
I take off her sweater, and then remove my own. I pull her into my arms. “They’re just sweaters, Mimi.”
“I am so tired of this,” she sniffs.
“How about no food till after eleven?”
“But you have to eat—”
“Hey,” I shrug. “I’ll just go to Tea Time everyday, order ahead,” I caress her cheek. “Okay?” I wipe her tears and can’t help but chuckle. Standing here teary eyed and frazzled, she reminds me of how she looked when we were kids and the idea of a mini her just pulls my heartstrings. “Aw, come here.” I hold her close, and in seconds, she puts her arms around me and sags against me. “There ya go—”
There is a knock at the door.
“Who is that?” she wails softly.
“Hold on,” I kiss her forehead. “Get cleaned up, okay? Be right back.” I frown as soon as I get close to the door. “Who?”
“Joanna?”
“Oh, Mrs. Miller, now is—”
“I can help.”
I open the door. “Mrs. Miller, I—”
“Joanna,” She slaps my chest gently with the back of her hand. She walks right past me with a tray of tea and toast. “Aw, honey, it’s bad, isn’t it?”
“Oh!” Mimi manages a watery smile. “Hi. It’s worse than I thought it would be.”
“I brought something that can settle your stomach,” Joanna smiles gently. “Come on. Oh, Ransom? Michael said there was something for you to look at, needed fixing?”
I hesitated but Mimi looked better already, and whatever was on that tray, it made her hungry, I could tell. “Uh…okay.”
I head to the Miller apartment and just as I am about to knock the door opens. “Hey, Mike—” I stop talking as I smell food.
“Come on in, Ransom,” Mike waves me in. “Bet you’re starvin’, huh?”
“Yeah,” I admit.
“Got bacon and eggs with toast today.”
“Sounds good,” I admit. “Smells good, too.”
“Well, come on, there’s enough.”
I sit with Mike at the kitchen table and he serves food from the stove. “This is really nice of you.”
“Aw, it’s nothin’ really,” Mike smiles widely. “I remember when Jojo went through morning sickness for the first time. I didn’t know what to do. I felt so helpless.”
“Yeah,” I nod. “I don’t think Mira is going through anything.”
“No, Sy lucked out this time,” Mike laughs soflty. “but he may not next time. Two of our kids gave Jojo morning sickness.” He takes a sip of coffee. “My mom, bless her, gave Jojo the cinnamon toast and ginger tea that she is giving to your wife now.”
“Your mom, huh?”
“Yeah,” Mike nods. “Salt of the earth, that woman. She was always nice to Jojo, didn’t like my brother’s wife, though. Anyway, that recipe got handed down. And now, it’s getting handed to you. You should learn to make it for her. You may need it again.”
“Again?” I laugh.
“I don’t believe you two or Sy and Mira are having just one kid,” I shrug. “Too affectionate, too passionate.” He laughs harder. “Too careless!”
“You had four, didn’t you?”
“Well, you see my point.”
We both laugh at that.
A little later, Joanna comes back.
“How is she?”
“She’s fine, might be sleeping again, though.”
“Thank you, Joanna.” I said honestly and hugged her.
“Oh, honey!” she laughs happily. “What are friends for?”
“Thanks, Mike.” I say gratefully.
“Aw, come here, kid!” Mike hugs me. “Here if you need us, alright.”
I nod, and go upstairs to find Mimi asleep…wearing my sweater. “Change of plan.” I tell myself. I open our closet. I pick another one and slip it on.
“That’s a nice one, too.”
I turn to see Mimi laying on the bed, looking sleepy-eyed but better than before.
“Hey, you!” I say softly and lay down facing her. “You know you didn’t have to throw up to get my sweater. You could have asked.”
She chuckles softly. “I’ll remember that next time.”
“You make me want to stay in bed and veg out.”
“Sorry, not sorry.”
“Today is a short one,” I tell her. “Meet me at Tea Time?”
“Okay.”
“You really like that sweater?” I ask.
“I like the way it smells.”
I feel my face slightly flush. “So I guess I’m handing this one over tomorrow.”
‘More than likely.”
I kiss her nose. “Later.”
“Later.”
I head out to the car, and the idea hits me. I call Mira.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Mira, got an idea,” I say as I slide in the car. “Is it possible to add hangover and morning sickness remedies to the menu?”
“That’s actually easy since some of the foods are the same.”
“Would it cost us?”
“Not much, some of it is already on the menu.”
“Can we asterisk it or something?”
“Okay, sounds good.”
“And maybe have a hangover combo on Saturday and Sunday mornings?”
She laughs. “It’s worth a try. I mean, it’s basically ginger mint tea and a simple cup of soup with toast.”
“You’ve been talking to Joanna.”
“Yes, and I eat her cinnamon toast whether I have morning sickness or not.”
I laugh at that. “Great, so it’s more of a we have it but haven’t called it that thing.”
“Yep.”
“Great.”
“Is she coming today?”
“Mimi will be there soon,” I smile. “Just no morning schedules, okay?”
“I already know. See you later.”
“Thanks, Mira.” I click off and head out.
I drive to Clockwork Orange, but go next door to what will become the Mancave.
“How’s it coming?” I ask.
“It’s going good, but we need to promote, here,” Trey says. “I heard Tea Time is doing alright.”
I shrug. “Getting by. What do you wanna do?”
“A co-ed brunch on Saturdays,” he suggests.
“Not Sunday, man,” Brian calls, hearing the conversation as he cleans glasses at the bar. “Sunday sports are sacred.”
“I got a suggestion,” Lucas comes over from his t-shirts. “How about a monthly father and son, or father and kids?”
It sounds interesting, but a bar? I look at Trey and Brian. They are clearly not on board, though in varying levels. Trey has no kids but Brian lives with his lady and the kids, at times loving being at work “to breathe and think a little.” But Lucas is not with his kid’s mom anymore. He has on more than one occasion complained about how to spend time with his kid on a budget. We share a look; I am about to be a daddy, a real one. Suddenly, I get it. My dad wanted to teach me business, and he took me on a few outings with potential business partners, but to just spend time? I give a small smile. “How?”
“Thought it through,” Lucas smiles widely. “We could have hot dogs or pizza, simple stuff, and we could have games or viewing parties or even field trips—”
“That sounds like a bus rental,” I frown. Those can get expensive on weekends.
“How about a van?”
“We gotta research that,” I told him.
“Okay, I’ll look into it then,” he smiles. “or maybe we can look into buying a used one?”
“Like you said, look into it,” I nod. He looks so excited. I have to give him that chance. “A van wouldn’t be a bad idea. We could shuttle people to events or something, sponsor a crawl, a bachelor party?”
“A crawl,” Trey nods with a grin. “Now you’re talkin’!”
“Hey, I got nothin’ against kids, but drinking fathers?”
I froze.
“Two beer maximum,” Lucas interjects. “out of respect to the kids?”
I sigh. “Do the research, get back to me. That two beer max sounds like too much, man. We should be alcohol free for family events, I think.”
Lucas nods, but turns and leaves, happier.
“You really gonna let him do this, man?” Brian asks.
“If we can make it work once a month, why not?”
Brian rolls his eyes.
“I think we can do it cheaper than movies these days, I think,” Trey thinks aloud. “I’ll do some checking too.”
“Okay—” My phone rings and I chuckle. “Never a dull moment. Okay, later, guys.” I click on as I walk out the door, seeing my photographer’s name on the screen. “Yeah, Paul?”
“Guess what?” his voice is brimming with excitement.
MASTER LIST: If He Was YOUR Fan (A Henry Cavill Fan Fic) by NitanniChionne
FINALLY! For all of you have been waiting, thank you! I will put more of these up, promise!
While on vacation in Europe, you get to be at a panel discussion with none other than Henry Cavill,, whom you write fan fiction about. Little do you know, he is one of your fans!
If He Was Your Fan (A Henry Cavill Fanfic), Chapter 75: American Lady
The minute you rise you feel like you are going to faint.
Weeks ago you were worth maybe a hundred thousand. Now you are worth closer to a hundred million. You look to your right and left at Graham and Wilson who are standing by the doors but on opposite sides of the room. They humor you and wear Christmas tree pins with their Men In Black wear.
You look down at Henry. How is he taking this? You look down at your hand and get a lump in your throat as you see he still has it, warm and strong as it envelopes yours. You sit and your eyes go straight to his.
“I have a lot of questions,” He smiles, shaking his head in disbelief as he takes both of your hands into his.
“It’s been an interesting few weeks,” you admit softly.
“I think it’s time we catch up,” he rises from his seat. He offers you your cape.
He escorts you out on deck in the moonlight. “So, how did this start?”
“They found Al, my great great grandfather, buried at Edenvale.”
“What?”
“He was buried not far from the house he was supposed to inherit,” You tell him. “He must have come to claim his birthright, and was murdered. The SIS found out before it could be taken or destroyed. Remember the Eden family was of some rank, so finding a missing heir was a bit of a cold case.”
“But how did you—” he pauses. “The DNA test.”
“Yes, London Grand Dame always wants to know if they have nobility or notoriety in their midst,” you exhale. “so…this year, the search proved successful?”
“So what’s been going on the past few weeks I’ve been gone?”
“A lot,” you confess. “First there was the matter of releasing funds. I was given the house and grounds right away. Landcaster and Devlin was about to put up a fight, but the DNA tests were so conclusive, especially when they compared Alden to Al then to me. They moved quickly on it, but I am not sure why. Then, I was introduced to the people of Edenvale-about eight hundred or so, at a village meeting.”
His look turned to one of concern. “Oh, how did that go?”
Your mind’s eye reflects on the meeting. “Some are curious, some are threatened. They asked if I wanted anything or planned to make changes. I have been.”
He went still. “You have?”
“Well, yes, I’m updating and expanding the library at our elementary school, and I’m reopening a business and turning it into a hostel with a library and all day café-nothing like the Red Lion. Just bunkbeds, tea sandwiches, soups and pastries all day, a collegiate feel. And I’m looking to open a clinic.”
“That’s a lot!”
“It’s what is needed,” you say. “The Red Lion is really nice, but if we want to catch the college students or their visitors this may work. Oxford isn’t far, you know, so I am in talks with Plantlet, our closest secondary school in the next town for some funding...I’m excited.”
He raises an eyebrow. “They want this—”
“They’ve been wanting to develop, and I can help.”
“So how are you paying for this?”
“Out of the money.”
His concern returns. “You really should try to—”
“The projections for all projects is less than five million, though I’m not planning on more than seven,” you shrug. “that’s more than the cost of your house in California, and about a tenth of my fortune.”
“You are going to make it home?”
“One of them, I think,” you nod. “There is still leadership and a council of sorts, and I am not disturbing it. I am reopening a business and establishing a small medical resource, building as little as possible, but reusing or repurposing buildings. I am not dangerous to them. They want a doctor here, they don’t mind rekindling a business, and I am expanding their educational resources.”
“You sound like you are going to run for office, love.”
“I have no desire to participate in politics of any kind,” you say quickly. “I am just respecting and investing in my ancestors’ birthplace.”
“Alright—”
“Lady Edenvale?”
“Uh—” You turn slowly. “Yes?”
“Dancing is starting.” Graham nods respectfully.
Your eyes narrow at “Alright?”
“It seems that you have a dance card?”
Henry is as incredulous as you are. “A what?”
“For charity?” Graham says. “And besides, it’s impressive. Important people, people who can help with your projects for Evendale, milady.”
“I haven’t even—”
“Word got around quickly,” Graham chuckles softly. “The second your name was entered in the book of Lords, everyone got an announcement.”
“But I’m not a member of parliament or—”
“Maybe not, milady,” Graham nods. “but your fortune was untouchable. That is no longer the case now that you are here.”
“I don’t like the way that sounded.” Henry’s voice is a growl.
“Please, milady,” Graham looks around. “for charity?”
“I guess…I should go?” you say to Henry, pleading for understanding.
“I guess I’d better find that dance card,” Henry gives a small smile.
“I think it’s full,” Graham says apologetically.
“Save the last dance,” Henry tells you.
You nod. So much unsaid, you think as he walks away, noting his step is all business. What to do now? “Alright, Graham, let’s go.”
Just as you go back inside, you see none other than Lara Winters. When did she arrive? Was she here the whole time? Your stomach turns, and you fight your inclination to go back to Henry. Truthfully, it wasn’t much a fight, with Graham pushing you along and advising about alliances and such. At the moment you couldn’t care less.
The night becomes an endless dance on the floor. You barely get to talk to your friends, and Henry appears and reappears. He offers dances to help at the charity, and you see he is watching you a little every time he is on the floor with someone. You only feel upset when Lara buys a few dances but Chiru and Sophie work up a dance card for him and cut her off, stopping Sara from making selections of her own, saying it’s only fair to have a list. Thank goodness for friends. Graham gives you a quick “who they are, where they’re from, what they do, and why they are interested in you” rundown before they come to claim you from your chair, which never gets warm. They are surprisingly young to unsurprisingly old, but all well-mannered.
The last song played is supposed to be a jazz version of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” but then Henry goes to the DJ and talks to him.
“One more song,” The DJ smiles. “I am in the spirit and truthfully, I just looked outside and it fits.”
Henry walks to you and offers his hand. You stand up and he gently leads you to the floor.
“What did you do?” you giggle, almost ready to outright laugh at Graham’s outrage and Wilson’s amusement as Henry rocks you to the beat.
“I told you I’d have the last dance,” Henry tells you, and kisses your forehead right on the floor.
You swoon against him as others join in. “It feels like they don’t want us to be together, love. It feels like they’re trying to pull us apart.”
“Only if we let them,” he nods. “So, are you coming home with me for Christmas?”
Your eyes drop. “I want to.”
“What?”
“I am supposed to be in Edenvale for some activities on Christmas Eve Day and attend mass.”
“And you’re free after?”
“Yes—”
“Perfect,” he smiles widely. “We’ll drive back to London after.”
“But Henry—”
He kisses your forehead again. “Let it snow, darling.”
“Don’t you mean let it go?” you joke in reply.
“Eh, snow, go,” he rolls his eyes and whispers, rubbing noses with you. “the cold doesn’t bother us anyway.”
You laugh at that, and though you want to really talk about your relationship-where it was when he left before the junket-you just want to enjoy tonight, the holidays. You just want to be in his arms.
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