Page 50 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

“My god, you’re insatiable,” I said as I struggled to awaken.

Last night, after our first orgasm, we’d collapsed into each other’s arms, spent. At least, we thought we were. Until three a.m., we’d talked, laughed, and pleasured each other. Eventually, we’d fallen asleep, our bodies intertwined.

Robyn continued her assault on my ear. Jesus. Last night, she’d been subtle, sexy, but not this morning. She lapped at my ear. Her breath was hot, and her dripping wet tongue assaulted the inside of my ear.

“Millie! Stop that,” Robyn yelled.

I jumped and rolled over. Millie’s face was inches from mine, and her breath hit me in the face.

“Ew, Millie, you have morning breath,” I said.

Robyn laughed while Millie tried to lick my face.

I pulled the covers over my head, laughing as I did.

“Come on,” Robyn said. I felt the weight lift from beside me. “You can come out now.”

I peeked from under the covers. Our eyes met. We stared at each other for several beats. Neither of us spoke. I tried to decipher what I saw behind her eyes. Affection. Fear. Desire. Happiness. I couldn’t tell.

I knew we needed to discuss last night’s intensity, but not today, so I put my hand against my chest and feigned an expression of horror. “Thank god that wasn’t you.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Huh?”

“I figured I’d been so turned on last night that I missed how wet and slimy your tongue was. I was searching for a nice way to tell you to stop slurping the inside of my ear.”

Robyn laughed and jumped onto the bed. “Come here, my lovely.” She jutted her tongue out as she moved toward my ear.

I slipped my head back under the covers. “No!” I curled into a ball.

She grabbed me from behind and pulled me against her. “Let me at it.” She made slurping sounds as she did.

Still laughing, I rolled over and clutched her to me. She melted into my arms. We remained entangled, clinging to each other without speaking.

Next morning awkwardness wasn’t unusual, but this was different. It wasn’t a slip into my clothes and slink away awkward, but an oh, my god, what are these feelings kind of awkward.

“Emma’s gonna be worried about you,” Robyn finally said.

“What time is it?”

“After ten.”

“Nah, she won’t start worrying until at least noon.”

“Got any ideas how we can fill the next couple of hours?” Robyn’s voice held a seductive note.

“I want to take you out for breakfast—brunch,” I said.

“Oh.” It was amazing that one syllable could convey so much disappointment.

“No.” I released my grip on her and pulled back, so I could see her eyes. “I want more of what we did last night, but I don’t want you to think that’s all this is. There are so many things I want to do with you. Experience with you.”

Her eyes softened. “So last night was okay for you?”

“Jesus, you have to ask?” The doubt in her eyes tore at my heart. “Last night was incredible. One of the best nights of my life.”

“Are you afraid by the light of day it won’t be as good?”

Her vulnerability made me want to envelop her in my arms. Instead, I cupped my palm against her cheek. “Absolutely not. It’ll be just as good. Better.” I smiled. “I just thought maybe we’d want to pace ourselves.”

“Pacing is for pansies,” Robyn said with a glint in her eyes.

“Is that a challenge?”

“Maybe.” She licked her lips.

“Damn it, woman. I’ll make you a deal.”

“I’m listening.”

“I go brush my teeth. Then return for a quickie to prove I find you irresistible before I take you for brunch.”

She smirked as she pulled off her shirt, exposing her perfect breasts.

I swallowed hard.

“Hurry.” She winked. “Don’t make me wait all day. I laid out an extra toothbrush by the sink.”

I jumped from the bed still naked from the night before.

Robyn whistled as I retreated, but I didn’t stop. Instead, I hurried to the bathroom.

I stared at my unruly hair in the mirror. One would think short hair wouldn’t be prone to bed head. My hair said otherwise. I splashed water on it and smoothed it down. Not good, but it’d have to do.

As I brushed my teeth, I stared into my eyes.

“You’ve got it bad,” I said through the toothpaste.

I knew it was true. While my body craved Robyn, I wanted to experience simple things with her, too.

Things I’d never cared about with Marta.

Go to the grocery store. Walk around town.

Have brunch. But there were only two more weeks.

No, one week and six days. Would we get the chance for those things?

I finished brushing my teeth. Robyn was waiting, so I’d think of these things later.

The smile hadn’t left my face the entire drive back to Blissful Breeze. I had the windows open on the truck and the radio tuned to an eighties rock station. I belted out the words, not caring if I knew them. The ones I didn’t, I made up. I couldn’t remember a time I’d ever felt this alive or free.

It had been past one when Robyn and I left the house, so we’d grabbed a quick sandwich at the deli down the street.

She almost didn’t make it back for the program at her bookstore.

As much as I wanted to stay and watch her at work, she’d shooed me out with the promise I could return tonight after the store closed.

Earlier, I called Emma, and she’d invited Robyn to join us on tomorrow’s adventure. I’d had to hand my phone over to Robyn, so Emma could share the details since I didn’t want to know what we’d be doing.

I drove leisurely down the road leading to the villas, wanting to savor the beautiful day and be alone for a little longer to bask in my thoughts of Robyn. Once I got back, I doubted there’d be much time for quiet reflection.

I’d just pulled into the parking spot and reached to turn off the pickup when a new song played. The unmistakable beginning of Eternal Flame by the Bangles filled the cab. As I listened to the lyrics, my chest tightened.

More serendipity? What were the odds this song would play after I’d been jamming to hair bands the entire drive?

“You’re being a dumbass,” I said to myself. Still, I sat and listened to the entire song. I wished I could rewind it and play it over and over.

No. I would only be in Madison for two more weeks—less. The last thing I needed to be thinking about was an eternal fucking flame.

The song had dampened my mood, but it didn’t extinguish it. As I walked down the path between the villas, I chuckled. Extinguish. Flame. Good one.

When I entered the square, I was relieved no one sat on our porch. Hopefully, they were out somewhere, so I’d have the house to myself. It might give me time to take a nap. Guilt washed over me. Robyn was working while I curled up for a snooze.

I waved at a group of women sitting outside Harmony House. There were thirteen of us who’d stayed on, five from our villa.

When I pushed open the door, I heard laughter coming from the kitchen. So much for my quiet time. I braced myself for the ribbing I’d receive.

“Honeys, I’m home,” I called out.

“It’s about time you straggled in,” Emma said. “We’re working on dinner.”

“It’s only four o’clock,” I said as I entered.

All four of my housemates were there. Katlynn and Helena huddled together at the table, cutting up potatoes and other vegetables while Emma and Annie appeared to be making a pie.

“What’s gotten into you guys?” I asked. Since we’d been at the resort, we’d ordered out or cooked simple meals. “This looks like a production.”

“We’re making vegetable soup and apple pie,” Emma said.

I laughed. “That might be the most wholesome meal ever.”

Annie held up the apple she was about to peel. “What can we say? We’re changed women.” She smirked. “Speaking of changed women, do I sense something different about you?”

The others laughed, while heat crawled up my neck to my cheeks.

“You guys are mean. You’re embarrassing her,” Helena said.

I was only a few feet from Helena, so I put my hand on her shoulder. “Thanks. I knew someone would have my back.”

“Now dish,” Helena said. “Tell us all about it.”

I groaned and slapped my hand against my chest. “You’ve wounded me. I thought I had an ally.”

After I’d satisfied their curiosity with as little detail as possible, I slipped into my room to shower. I glanced at my bed, thinking a nap might do me good, but my gaze landed on my cellphone I’d left lying in the middle.

Edginess grew inside of me as I scowled it. I’d narrowed my interest to two firms, and we’d exchanged several emails. Both were eager to schedule a meeting to pitch me, but I’d yet to respond.

I turned away from the phone. They could wait. I wanted a shower.

I’d taken a long, hot shower, letting the water wash over me.

The entire time, I thought of Robyn. Not just our time in bed, but the sweeter moments.

The conversation we had while her head rested on my shoulder.

All the silly things we laughed about while we talked.

When she’d reached across the table and given me a bite of her sandwich.

The way she looked at me when we parted this afternoon.

Refreshed from my shower and in clean clothes, I emerged from my bedroom.

By then, the soup simmered in a large pot on the stove.

The earthy smell of the vegetables combined with a mixture of herbs I couldn’t identify.

Whatever they were made my mouth water. Annie and Emma were the only ones left in the kitchen.

“Hey, where’d everyone go?” I asked.

“The store,” Emma answered. “They wanted fresh bread to go with the soup, so they ran into town.”

I slipped into the chair, joining Emma and Annie at the kitchen table. “That soup smells amazing.”

“Wait until we put the apple pie in the oven,” Annie said.

I smiled at the thought. “Uh, Em, I need your opinion on something,” I said.

“Do you want me to leave?” Annie asked.

“No. I’d like your opinion, too.” Plus, she might be a buffer in case I upset Emma. While Emma had loosened up from her previous rigidity of making all my choices for me, what I was about to ask might reverse the trend.

Emma studied me. “Why do I think I won’t like what you’re gonna say?”

“Define not like,” I said, stalling.

Emma scrunched up her face. “Just spit it out.”

Here goes. “You know, I’ve got my job search narrowed down to two companies.”

Emma nodded.

“Will they wait around for two more weeks? I mean, what if they move on? You know, choose someone different?”

“Serendipity,” Emma responded without hesitation.

I groaned. “Not everything is about serendipity.”

“What are you asking, Blake? Do you want to go home early?” Emma asked.

“Whoa, I didn’t see that coming,” Annie said. “You’d leave Robyn?”

I shook my head with vigor. Just the thought of it stopped me in my tracks. “Absolutely not. I’d fly out for the day. Leave early in the morning and come back at night. I’d only be gone one day.”

“Make them come to you,” Annie said.

I was busy rolling the idea around my mind when Emma said, “Yeah, it would show who really wanted you.”

“Serendipity,” Annie said, slapping the table. “I love it.”

“Exactly. Who’d make concessions for her.”

The seed grew in my head. “You know that’s not a half bad idea.”

“Not half bad.” Annie snorted. “It’s a damned good idea, if I say so myself.”

“It is. You’re a genius.” I jumped up from the table and wrapped my arms around Annie from behind. I glanced at Emma. “Mind if I go send them a message now before dinner?”

“Get out of here.”