Forever True (The Story of Us) (5 page)

“I knew it.” I shuttered at the idea of doing anything sexual with a douche bag like Mitch Gallo.
Gross.
Pamela seemed like a nice person, very pretty and super smart. How in the world did she get mixed up with him? My thoughts involuntarily drifted back to Justin and the circumstances that lead me into making a series of bad decisions. Refusing to let my thoughts continue down that road, I pressed a kiss to Alex’s bare chest. I was so grateful to be here with him now.

“How long will you be gone?” I asked, trying to gain control of the anxiety creeping its way up my spine.

“A week. I fly out Sunday night and will be back Saturday. There is a charity event Friday night, and I have to stay for it, but I’ll catch the first flight home the next morning.” I hated that he would be away for an entire week, but I knew this would be a test to see if we had learned from our past mistakes. I needed to believe that things would be different between us this time.

“Ok, babe. I’m not going to lie, it sucks to hear that it will be an entire week but it will all be fine.”

“You sure?”

“Yes. How about you?” I asked, not able to hide my insecurity. Alex pushed himself down until we were eye to eye.

“I am one hundred percent positive that we’ll be fine, Court.”

“Good.” I smiled because I truly believed him. “Now kiss me.” I puckered my lips, and my sexy husband proceeded to kiss not just my mouth but every inch of my body until all I could focus on was him and the way he was making me feel. All worries about next week were forgotten, for now.

Courtney

“Oh my god! He Fifty’ed you! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What?” I laughed out loud. “What the hell does “Fifty’ed” mean, Dee?”

“The blind fold, the brushes and all that kinky fuckery! Damn, girl. I’m so jealous!” She squealed.

I called Dee on my way home from work and like always our conversations turned into random topics. Dee mentioned something about wanting to get Cole to take her to a naughty couple’s resort she read about in a magazine. The next thing I knew I was telling her all about the night of the concert.

“It was not even close to that level of kink. It was just different and sensual.”

“Well, hell. I am going to make Cole do that to me! Tonight.”

“Okay. Good luck with that.” I laughed again because I also knew that their two-year-old son Luke was still sleeping in their bed.

“So, Alex is going to be in Houston... all next week.”

“Oh no.” Dee answered. I knew there was a reason I loved her. She just got me. She knew how much I hated it when he traveled to Houston. That is where she lived. Ashley Danielle. The person I had convinced myself that my husband was having an affair with. My fingers went to the A and C pendant that I wear around my neck every day. The same symbol that Alex has tattooed over his heart. It was a reminder to us that we were each other’s true. I finally became aware that Dee was still speaking, and I pulled out of my head to listen.

“…not a big deal. I mean, it’s not like anything was happening between them, right?”

“Right.”

“Okay then. A week isn’t going to kill you.”

“Right.”

“I know I’m right.” A lot of commotion began in the background. “Tucker! What did you do?  Okay, well, why is Jack crying then?” More muffled noises before Dee spoke into the receiver again. “Hey Court, I need to go. I'll call you later.” Having four boys was a lot to deal with and being a referee was a daily occurrence in the Easton household.

“Okay, bye.” I answered before ending the call. The Bluetooth call setting in the car ended and the radio resumed playing
Phantogram
. By the time I was pulling into the driveway I'd made peace with the trip. I knew there was no need to worry. We are the new Alex and Courtney. All of those issues were behind us. No need to bring them into our future.

The next day was Friday. Alex had the day off, so I took a vacation day, too. We drove the girls to school, lazed about in bed for most of the morning, then we went to see a movie matinee followed by a late lunch at our favorite hibachi restaurant. We really needed this time together. Even though we had technically been separated for nearly a year, we'd been disconnected from each other much longer than that. Alex held my hand the whole time, and I felt like I was twenty-three again.

When we were done it was time to pick up the girls. We spent the rest of the weekend just being together. Sunday afternoon arrived way too soon. His flight left at two that afternoon. The entire process felt like deja vu. Driving to the airport, walking with him to the self-check-in kiosk and finally standing outside the security gate. All of the times before I felt like I was sending him off to be with another woman. There was always a nagging in the pit of my stomach. Dread, worry and fear would have their way with me while he acted as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Except this time, I was worried that he was the one with the doubts. It hurt a lot to know that I caused him to have these feelings.

“Are you going to be okay?” Alex asked as he pulled me close.

“Yes. I’ll be fine. Promise me that you will call me as soon as you land.”

“Alright.”

“I’m serious, Alex.”

“I am too. I will call you, Court.”

“Don’t forget.” I poked a finger into his chest to emphasize that I meant what I said. He rolled his eyes and smiled at me. I lifted up on my toes and pecked him on the lips.

“I love you.” I said to him as I pulled away.

“I love you, too.”

I looked down to see that Liv was attempting to pull around Alex’s rolling carry-on suitcase while Jordyn sat on it as if it were a wagon.

“Ok, darlins’. I gotta go.” The girls reluctantly handed over their source of entertainment and Alex scooped them both up in his arms. “Daddy will be back home next weekend. Be good for Mommy, and I’ll call to check up on you, okay?” Liv and Jordyn nodded and took turns giving him a kiss on the cheek. He pretended to bite each of them until they were squirming to get away.

“Alright. I’d better get in that line.” He motioned to the TSA check point line that was starting to grow. “Bye, baby.” He gave me one last kiss before he grabbed his bag. The girls and I waved our goodbyes while Alex turned and got in line and was quickly out of site.

I missed him already. No matter how much I wished them away, the familiar feelings of unease still managed to stick around just to mess with me. I knew that old habits die hard which meant it was going to be a long week.

****

After taking Alex to the airport, I ran a few errands with the last being the grocery store. I was at my wits end by this point. Liv and Jordyn have been fighting over the littlest things and telling on each other. I couldn’t wait to feed them dinner and put them to bed. I was standing in the frozen section considering an oven pizza for dinner with a death grip on Jordyn’s hand so she wouldn’t take off again.

“Mommy, can we please have pizza and not casserole? You always make casserole. Oh. Oh, look there's Miss Kimmie!” I heard Liv call out from behind me.

Just fucking great.

I slowly turned around to see Kimmie looking gorgeous as ever. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head in a sloppy bun, and she was wearing a casual but cool gray tank dress. Her toned and tatted arm held a hand basket that carried several items including a carton of chocolate ice cream and a package of double-stuffed Oreo cookies. I instantly thought about how unfair it was for her to have such an awesome body and still be able to eat ice cream and cookies.

“Oh, hello Olivia.” She walked hesitantly towards us as she darted her eyes around, presumably in search of Alex.

“Hi, Miss Kimmie!” Jordyn called out.

Kimmie smiled down at Jordyn and waved. “Hi, cutie pie.” She replied. When her eyes met mine, some of the warmth left her face.

“How are you, Kimmie?” I asked trying to make the best of an awkward situation.

“I’m doing good and you?” She answered with the same curt politeness.

“Fine. Things are fine.”

“Mommy and Daddy got married again so you can’t be Daddy’s girlfriend anymore. Sorry.” It was Jordyn who offered that information and heartfelt apology.

The news didn’t seem to take Kimmie by surprise. “I heard. Congratulations. I’m glad things worked out for the two of you.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as they shifted to my ring finger.

“Thanks.” I replied awkwardly and resisted the urge to tuck my hand behind my back. Not that I was ashamed, but I didn’t want to rub it in her face. As much shit as I talked about her, I didn’t hate her and honestly, I wasn’t even mad at her. She was always nice to me. She treated my daughters well. When things ended with her and Alex she didn’t take things to a Lifetime movie level and go all crazy woman scorned. While she was flawless and beautiful on the outside, I noticed a deep sadness for the first time behind her bright blue eyes. The kind of sadness that comes from heartbreak. Something I knew a lot about. As odd as it sounded, I really hoped that she would find happiness, just not with my man.

Liv and Jordyn had their faces pressed to the door of the ice cream case, arguing over which they should try to convince me to buy.

“Look, Courtney. I know this is very awkward.” She shifted the basket from one arm to the other as she spoke. “I just wanted to say that Alex never shared with me what happened between the two of you, but I knew it hurt him pretty badly.” I started to speak up because I really didn’t want to talk about Alex with her, but she raised her voice to let me know that she meant to have her say.

“But I also knew that he still loved you, and honestly I wasn't surprised when he ended things with us. He wasn’t into me the way I wanted him to be, and deep down I knew it. I had hoped that eventually… well, it doesn’t matter anymore what I hoped. I do know what it’s like to have everything you could ever want and lose it.” Her eyes traveled off to the side for a moment, and I knew in my gut that she wasn’t referring to Alex as her “everything”. “I am truly happy for the both of you.”

“Kimmie, I appreciate that. I guess we just needed time.” I stepped backward to my cart. “I’d better get down there.” I indicated to Liv and Jordyn still in debate over chocolate chip ice cream or fudgesicles.

“Yeah, time.” She sighed. “Take care, Courtney.” She called over her shoulder as she left the frozen food section.

“Take care.” I replied to her retreating back as she moved with the grace of a super model to the end of the aisle. I also witnessed a group of guys nearly knock each other over to get a second look at her as she passed by them.

“Alright, girls, grab the ice cream and the Popsicles and let’s get out of here.”

“It’s fudgicle, Mommy.” I shrugged at Jordyn and nodded to the case for her to just get the freaking things; I really didn't care what they were called. The girls were lucky to be getting both. I also had an ulterior motive. I felt a stress induced junk food binge coming on. 

The entire time, I debated on telling Alex about seeing Kimmie today. How would it benefit us to bring her up? How would it hurt us to keep it a secret? What if the kids said something first? How would he react? Would he care? While driving back to the house, I decided to play it by ear and work it in, if there is a place for it.

Maybe.

Alex

Shit!
I looked over at the bedside clock and saw that it was 1:15 am. My plane landed just after 8:00 pm and my cell battery died. I regretted using it to listen to music the whole flight. I didn't even realize how low my battery was until it was too late. I had planned to call Courtney as soon as I checked into the hotel and got a decent charge started on my phone. I looked down at myself to see that I was still fully dressed with my feet planted on the floor over the side of the bed. I must have flopped back while I was waiting and dozed off.

I was fucking up already.

The old Alex would have waited since it was so late and tried to call in the morning. The new Alex picked up his phone and immediately called his wife and hoped like hell she wasn't too mad.

"Hello?" Court's voice sounded groggy as she spoke.

"Hey, I'm sorry it's late and that I am just now calling. I landed, my phone died, I fell asleep while it was charging. Shit, baby, I'm sorry." My words were rushing out before I could control them. I really wanted to show her that things would be different and the very first day I go and screw it up.

"Alex, it’s okay, honey. I'm glad that you still called. That's all I've ever wanted."

"Yeah, but it's late now, and I know you have to get up early."

"I don't care. You can always wake me up. Don't worry, you did good. I'll give you a B minus."

I chuckled. "A B minus. I didn't know I was being graded."

"Yes. If you hadn't called. It would have been an automatic F."

"I don't want to fail so I'll work on improving my average this week. Is there any extra credit I can earn to make up for today?"

"It can be arranged." She replied in a sleepy, sultry voice that made my cock twitch. God, this was going to be a long week. It's only been twelve hours, and I miss her already. I told her so, and we spent the next half hour talking about the weird misadventures of my flight delays and odd seat companions. I'd forgotten how funny she was and how she could make me laugh so hard. After we had ended the call, I undress, got under the covers and set my alarm for 6:00am. When I fell asleep this time, I was smiling because I had the biggest crush on my wife.