Page 53 of Notes About Vodka (Happily Ever After Hangover #1)

He leans back, crossing his arms over his chest, his jaw clenched. "I knew you wanted to go to med school, yeah. But I thought moving in together was a sign that we were building something here. Together. Not that you’d be ready to up and leave as soon as something better came along."

The frustration that’s been building up finally spills over. "You act like I’m leaving you behind for good! This is six weeks. Six weeks in a program that could give me the experience I need for med school. You can’t be that threatened by it."

“Threatened?” he snaps, his eyes flashing.

"It’s not about being threatened, Laura.

It’s about feeling like I’m just here, some sort of support prop for you to lean on when it’s convenient.

Six weeks here, a semester there, then what?

You’re going to keep picking up and leaving whenever you need to?

What’s next, you are gone for what, years? ”

I meet his gaze, my anger giving way to something colder.

"And what do you think this relationship is supposed to be, Val? Just me putting my life on hold, waiting around for you to finally let me go after what I want? If you really loved me, you’d support me instead of trying to guilt-trip me into staying. "

He lets out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You really think love is just cheering you on from the sidelines while you follow your dreams? What about mine? What about settling down, building something here, together? You act like that doesn’t matter."

"I’m not asking you to give up your dreams, Val! I want both of us to get what we want, but that means supporting each other. I’ve worked too hard for this. You don’t get to make me feel guilty for wanting more than just a shared apartment and a job at a bar."

His face hardens, and he’s quiet for a long moment, as if he’s choosing his next words carefully.

"It’s not about the bar, Laura. It’s about feeling like I’m not even a part of your plans.

And it’s hard not to think that if you had to choose, you’d leave me in a heartbeat.

I mean, look at how fast you left Sam for another man. "

I stare at him, his words landing heavier than he probably meant. "If you feel like that, maybe it’s because you’re trying to make me pick between you and a future that includes you."

For a moment, I think he might say something back, something that will bridge the gap between us. But he just stands there, shoulders tight, a hurt expression in his eyes I’ve never seen before.

Finally, Val speaks. "Do whatever you want, Laura. Go to Baltimore, quit Pianissimo , chase this dream. But don’t expect me to sit here and wait while you decide if I fit into it or not."

Tonight, we're back at the piano bar where Val and I first met, but the atmosphere feels charged with tension.

My heart beats faster as I hand Tony my resignation letter, knowing he won't take it well. He's been on edge all night, shooting disapproving glances at Val and me, making snide comments just loud enough to hear.

Val stands close beside me, his presence comforting even though I’m mad at him. Amidst Tony's bad attitude, I’m glad I have Val. I feel his hand gently squeezing mine, a silent gesture of solidarity and reassurance.

Tony's face contorts into a scowl as he scans the letter.

"This is a mistake, Laura," he says sharply, his tone dripping with irritation.

"You're throwing away a good job for what?

Pursuing some medical career? Laura, you could be one of the greatest pianists this world has ever experienced, just think of the money you could make one day. "

My anger flares, but Val steps forward before I can retort. His voice is firm and unwavering. "It's not just a career change," he asserts, his gaze fixed on Tony. "Laura's pursuing her passion and her future. She's making a decision that's best for her. And for us."

Huh, where did this come from… Val wasn ’ t supportive at home.

Tony's jaw tightens, his eyes darting between us.

I can see the struggle on his face, the clash between disappointment and resignation.

He hesitates, then speaks again, his tone slightly softer but still edged with disapproval.

"Well, it’s your decision, but I think you're making a mistake, Laura. And don’t try to come back when this new job is over. "

I take a deep breath, steadying myself against his words.

Val's presence beside me steadies my resolve. “Tony, it’s not a job, it is an internship. You are right, it will end, and when I do get back to New York, I promise you don’t have to worry about me coming back here.

Dr. Marsch at NYU has already hired me as a chemistry teaching assistant next year. ”

Without a word, I turn in my resignation letter, sad that I can’t give them a proper two weeks notice.

Tony watches us, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighs heavily and nods. "Fine," he says tersely. "If that's what you want."

When we exit the piano bar, I lean in and kiss Val on the steps of the building where our romance started, a silent expression of gratitude for his unwavering support, even if a little bit delayed.

As I turn away, I feel a mixture of relief and sadness. Walking away from this job feels like closing a chapter, but Val's steady presence reassures me that I'm making the right choice.

Nine mornings later …

I wake up to the delightful smell of bacon, eggs, and coffee. I can hear Val in the kitchen. Taking a moment to brush my teeth, I slowly make my way down the hall.

When Val sees me from where he’s standing at the stove, his dark eyes light up and a back smile crosses his face. The past few days, we have been back in the honeymoon stage.

“Laura,” Val says with reverence as he moves towards me.

Pulling my coffee from the microwave, he hands it to me. As I sip, his fingers slip under the shirt I’m wearing. It’s an old Russian shirt of his with the sickle and hammer behind a two-headed eagle. Faded red and soft, it’s one of the few items I’ve collected of Val’s for myself.

“Woman, you are going to be the death of me.”

“Why? How so Valerie?”

“Do you have anything on under my shirt?”

“Nope!” I say, popping the P proudly.

Val’s fingers track lower. Tickling the tops of my thighs, he takes his time as he presses two fingers into my very wet pussy. I put my coffee behind me on the counter as Val pushes me against the drawers.

“Fuck, baby. Why are you always ready to go?”

“Can’t help it, it’s what you do to me,” I say as Val’s lips find mine. The way this man kisses is a sin. His tongue tangles with mine. Before I realize it, Val has lifted me on top of the counter. Dropping his sweatpants, he lines up his thick hard cock before slamming inside of me .

I sigh in relief. Val’s lips trail down my neck. Pushing my shirt up, he finds my right nipple and sucks on his while his hips pump hard and fast.

It doesn’t take long and I’m seeing stars.

Confession, after spine surgery, I couldn’t get wet or excited about being with Sam. I tried lubes and even medicine. But with Val, it’s like I’m 17 again. I can’t get enough. I’m insatiable and luckily, he can keep up.

I come again when my fingers find my clit and I rub vigorous circles around the hard nub.

Val pulls me off the counter, flips me around and is fucking me from behind as my third orgasm hits. I can hear Val’s groans and growls behind me. It turns me on more. Especially when he spanks my ass and finally erupts inside me as I come one more time.

Val collapses on top of me, using his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face.

“Laura, juicy, fuck baby,” Val says as he rubs my back, massaging the muscles along my spine.

An alarm goes off.

“Oh, shit. Hang on, Laura,” Val says as he turns towards the stove, stopping the alarm. Grabbing the pan holder, he opens the oven door, pulling out steaming fluffy biscuits.

“Val, those look so amazing,” I tell him as I wrap my arms around him from behind. “I’m going to miss your cooking while I’m gone.”

I sigh into his back.

We haven’t talked much about me leaving for my grandparents and then going straight to my internship after visiting them. I know he still doesn’t like the idea of me going at all.

My thoughts are confirmed when his back tenses.

“Laura,” Val begins, turning and breaking my hug around him. “Don’t go. Stay here. I don’t want you to leave. ”

“But, Val, I told you. I need this, for me, for us, for an actual future.”

Val looks resigned. He doesn’t reply or say a thing as he quietly serves our breakfast.

After eating and cleaning the dishes, I head to our room to pack.

I’m in the middle of folding my last shirt into my suitcase when I hear Val’s footsteps approach, slow and deliberate. He stands in the doorway, hands in his pockets, looking at me with an intensity that makes me swallow hard.

“So, you’re really going,” he says quietly, more to himself than to me.

I pause, choosing my words carefully. “Val, we talked about this. I’m only gone for a little while, and it’s an incredible opportunity. You know how much this internship means.”

He sighs, crossing his arms. “But at what cost, Laura? It’s always something you need to do, some step you’re taking toward some bigger goal, and I’m just supposed to…what, wait in the background?”

I drop the shirt in my hands and turn to him, frustrated. “It’s not like that, and you know it. This isn’t about you or me—it’s about my future, our future.”

His eyes harden. “Our future? Because it sure as hell doesn’t feel like it.

I’ve barely seen you these past few weeks, and the second I feel like we’re finally getting close again, you’re already planning to leave.

” His voice cracks a little, and he looks away, jaw clenched.

“Do you even know what it’s like to wonder if maybe I’m not enough to make you want to stay? ”

I open my mouth to reply, but nothing comes out. I never meant for it to feel this way. “Val, you are enough. Didn’t what we just do in the kitchen mean anything?” I whisper, reaching for him, but he takes a step back.

“No, Laura, don’t say that,” he says, his voice tight with barely contained anger.

“Because every time I ask you to stay, you tell me some reason you have to go. To me, it just sounds like you’re already looking for your next escape.

And it hurts like hell. You let me fuck you, but then you turn and leave. ”

The words sting more than I want to admit, and I feel tears prickling at my eyes.

“You know it’s not like that,” I protest, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I’m working hard so we can have a life together that’s actually secure.

And yeah, I let you fuck me,” I add in air quotes, “because you are my boyfriend. Because I like how our bodies intertwine together.”

He shakes his head, looking defeated. “Then why does it feel like I’m the one holding you back? Like you’ve got one foot out the door already every time some new opportunity calls. I want someone who’s in this with me. Fully.”

His words sink in, deep, and I feel myself cracking under the weight of his disappointment. “I thought you understood,” I say, my voice breaking. “I thought you wanted this for me, for us. That we agreed this internship is a good thing.”

He laughs bitterly, a hollow sound that chills me.

“You know what? Go. Chase whatever you think is out there for you. I hope it makes you happier than I ever could.” His face softens just a little, but his eyes stay hard.

“But don’t ask me to pretend like it doesn’t tear me apart every time you choose anything over us. ”

That does it. Tears spill over, and I stand there, my mouth open, but no words seem right. I hear Skipper’s car horn honking outside, but I can’t move. “Val, I...”

He just shakes his head, his face closed off. “Don’t worry about it, Laura. I’m done asking you to stay.”

Without another word, he turns and walks away, leaving me standing there, my heart feeling as heavy as lead.

My phone pings, Skipper.

Skipper: I’m here. Want me to come in and help?

Me: No, give me a few and I’ll be out

Skipper: K

A few minutes later, I pull my suitcase out the door, trying to hold back my sobs as I close it softly behind me.

“Bye, Val,” I call out to the living room where I can see the back of Val’s head. He’s sitting on the couch, facing away from me.

He says nothing.

When I load my suitcase into Skipper’s car and hop in the front passenger seat, Skip just squeezes my hand, “Want to talk about it?”

“No, not now.”

“Okay, Laura, but if Val has done something…”

“Skip, just drop it okay.”

“Okay.”

As Skipper drives away, I look back at the apartment building.

I realize then that maybe I’ve hurt Val more deeply than I ever realized.

I don’t know his culture or every facet of his history.

How can I keep from disappointing him? But at the same time, I’m finding my happiness with Val so why can’t he just accept I’m creating a future for us.