As promised, my dear Flashers... Here is the next installment of Roman and Abby's summer love. In the August chapter, we left them a little hot and heavy. Abby is going to have to make a decision about going back to LA and about her relationship with Roman. Right now, Roman just wants to hold onto Abby for as long as possible...
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ONE SUMMER
CHAPTER 11
ABIGAIL
Roman is a very thorough lover. I’m laying here in bed
next to him and I feel content, cared for and at peace. I turn over on my side
so I can study the man next to me. His skin carries a summer tan from his head
to the bottoms of his feet. Muscles define every part of his body, a soft snore
slips through his lips and I smile. If we’re comparing him to Lucas, it’s like gooey
delicious cavity causing caramel versus plain old apples. Lucas was more and
more like rotten apples that had been left on the counter too long, but
whatever. I have to shake the image of those wrinkled forgotten apples from my
mind. After another lengthy and I mean lengthy morning of lovemaking, I am
achy, hungry and too exhausted to care. Roman is next to me, dead to the world
with his snoring now, and his thick arms and legs hang half off the bed. I’m
almost afraid to wake him because he might try for another round and as much as
I think I could handle it, my body might combust. I slither from the bed inching
my body out from under covers and I’m careful not to wake him as I head into
the shower. A few minutes all to myself under the hot spray will clear the
cobwebs of my love drunk hang over.
Washing my hair, I think about my conversation with my
dad. I have to go back to L.A. I do kind of owe him for providing all the
advantages he’s given me at some point and sooner rather than later if I’m
going to keep my job at the firm. Admittedly, I’m scared of this new step with
Roman and its guilt propelling me back to my old life not any unfinished
business with Lucas. All I have when I return is my job, right under my dad’s
thumb. I could give it up but I’d be starting all over and I don’t even know
where to begin. Roman will be a twenty hour drive from L.A. to Seattle up the
coast. Fuck that, I’ll use whatever money I make to take a plane. If Roman
wants to still see me that is. I choke back a sob from the overwhelming
emotions between what I want and what I feel I should be doing. I took a huge
gamble running away from L.A. because if I’m honest with myself, that’s exactly
what I did. I ran and even though it forced me to learn things about Lucas,
Leah and my dad, it hasn’t changed the fundamental fact that I’m still too
scared to make a real decision here. It’s not fair to Roman to run from one man
to the next. After I’ve convince myself that going back is the right thing to
do I turn off the water, throwing my arm out into the cool bathroom, grabbing a
towel just outside the glass shower door. Now I have to work up the courage to
tell Roman.
“Hollywood.” The sound of my nickname jars me a little,
seeing Roman standing inside the bathroom admiring the view I’m giving him from
the completely see through shower stall. I smile shaking off the uneasiness I
feel.
“You promised me coffee, sailor.” I say taking the fluffy
towel and drying my body slowly letting his eyes linger and travel down my body
as I rub the droplets of water from my shoulders and breasts down to my hips
and thighs. I keep my eyes on his letting his heated gaze warm me.
“So I did. Meet me at the microwave, sea-witch.” Roman
smirks giving me one last look over before swaggering towards the kitchen. I
shake my head laughing, how easily this man improves my mood.
I get dressed and meet Roman in his bachelor pad kitchen
and like everything else in his apartment, it’s clean and simple. “So what’s on
our agenda today?” I say as the microwave beeps. Roman is careful to put the
paper covering back on the cup and hands me my steaming coffee.
“Well I thought we might take the afternoon and visit the
Aquarium and find dinner somewhere on the pier.” We both take a sip of our
coffee and the warmth of the cup is nothing compared to the warm feelings I
have looking at Roman.
“Sounds like a nice little adventure. Is it going to rain
today?” I ask looking out the large floor to ceiling windows into the greyish
late morning sky. Its overcast but I guess that’s Seattle.
“Probably, and I will even let you pick which umbrella we
can bring.” Roman laughs.
“So generous of you.” I smirk. “Roman…” I begin and he
turns towards me slowly.
“Whatever we need to talk about, can we table it until
after dinner? Please?” Roman asks.
“I just… I just wanted to know what I should wear today.”
I plaster on a fake smile because I don’t know how Roman efficiently reads my
mind to know I need to discuss something serious with him already.
“Whatever your heart desires, maybe very little?
Although, it will probably sprinkle rain on us at some point.” I shake my head
and try to remember what’s in my bag. I decide I’ll keep Roman’s oversized
t-shirt on tucking it into a pair of shorts with a wide belt and sandals.
We
get dressed and Roman sneaks kisses as he pulls me close to him and grabs a
scarf from his closet before I can spy any umbrellas. “What’s this for?” I lean
back asking him as he gently drapes the scarf around my neck.
“Trust me, I wouldn’t want you to catch a chill,
Hollywood.” Roman gives me a quick peck on the lips and now I want to skip the
aquarium. Screw seeing these cute sea animals, my legs are weak and I feel
adrift standing in Roman’s presence.
“We could see the aquarium tomorrow.” I whisper coyly and
Roman leans his head down into mine, his eyes close and then open exhausted as
if he’s run miles. I’m glad I’m not the only one affected here.
“Then we would never leave this apartment.” He growls
chuckling and I have to nod and agree. We’ve been so into each other since we
left Gold Beach, it would be nice to finally go out and see the city he loves
so much. Roman opens another closet and walks in taking my hand with his. The
one wall is lined with umbrellas. Different sizes, colors and fabrics. I never
knew there were so many kinds of umbrellas. Okay, he wasn’t kidding when he
said he had a ‘collection’ of umbrellas. If he had a crazy cat lady aunt, I
would have sworn he had an umbrella gifted to him for every birthday or holiday
that passed.
“Blame
Maddie, I swear I haven’t purchased a single one of them.” I look back at him
amazed and he laughs nudging me forward to pick one out. “I don’t lie about
these things.” He says and of course, how could one lie about several dozen
umbrellas?
“No, you definitely don’t” I say and grab the first one I
see. I’ll have to ask Maddie about her fascination with gifting umbrellas.
ROMAN
Watching Abby get out of the shower was torture… Wrapping
a scarf of mine around her neck was a little like marking my territory… Walking
to the Aquarium under an umbrella in an afternoon sprinkle covered in pink
flowers and butterflies… now that was a bit emasculating, but I managed to
survive. This would remind me to tell Maddie once again, no more damn
umbrellas. My collection was something ridiculous and not even one of my own
making as much as I loved Maddie.
We walked on the sidewalk dodging other couples and kids
not yet in school on our way to the aquarium. Being much taller than Abby, I
had to hold the umbrella and navigate the way. It made holding her hand
difficult and disappointing for the twenty minute trek from my building. I
hadn’t been to the aquarium in a year, maybe two but the layout was still familiar.
“So when was the last time you visited a place like this?” I ask Abby who is
looking through the glass wall of the aquarium behind a group of pushy little
kids fighting to see the larger fish swim by them. Her forehead is a little
scrunched up looking for the fishing darting between rocks and plants.
“Um… I must have been eleven. It was definitely before my
mom’s first cancer treatment, probably before we all found out what had been
making her so tired and sick all the time. She took Leah and I down to San
Diego for the weekend and we went to Sea World. I couldn’t wait to see the
seahorses, seals and penguins.” Her hand touches the thick Plexiglas of the
tank and I know she’s lost in a thought about her mother.
“What
was she like?” I feel terrible for bringing it up but I guess these will be the
moments we learn from each other.
“She
was beautiful, smart… I remember her cooking a lot and braiding our hair for
school.” Abby touches her loose braid reverently and I feel her loss keenly.
Her mother was taken suddenly by cancer and mine suddenly by a drunk driver.
Neither is something that a kid can emotionally plan for and we’ve both got that
open wound still. “She was always home for us which I guess you kind of take
for granted back then. You never know which moment will end up being the most
precious or last.” She says and I tug her into my arms squeezing.
“Definitely
not.” There isn’t much I can say that’s comforting so I offer Abby my arms. Her
warm breath puffs against my chest and I hope to hell I haven’t made her cry. I
already know we have to talk about what will happen in a few weeks when she
goes back to L.A. but I want to push that away for as long as I can.
“My
sister was all about the predatory fish.” Abby mumbles against me trailing off
her thoughts and I can’t help my laugh when she turns in my arms to look at me
and scowls. “What? Why are you laughing?” She certainly knows how to break the
ice.
“Hollywood, you and your sister are lawyers. Please tell
me she wasn’t fascinated by the sharks even at that age?” I’m trying really
hard to not laugh, honestly I am, and covering my mouth doesn’t seem to be
helping. Abby steps back, staring at me. She is shaking her head in a
combination of mad and cute before walking off to the next exhibit. “Awe, babe,
come on. It was funny. Get it? Sharks and lawyers?” I’m dodging between kids
and adults in the exhibit hallway to catch up to Abby.
“Uh huh. Yup. Funny.” Abby smirks and stands before
another exhibit, this one showcases the seahorses she loves and she tilts her
head watching them hover and dart through the water and plants. I come up next
to her from behind and kiss her neck. “Why can’t I ever stay mad at you?” She
whispers.
“Because I’m the only one who lets you be who you are.” I
say a smile on my lips as I try to kiss her neck again but she steps away.
Little brat.
“And
that would be?” She asks. Hey, she did
ask.
“Totally
stubborn and completely bratty.” She huffs so I grab her hand. I can’t have her
leaving me amid toddlers and strollers ready to mow me down. “Come on, that
seal show is going to start soon.” I say and pull her towards the outdoor
enclosure before she can think about what I said too much.
Just
as we are rounding the corner to the seal exhibit I stop suddenly causing Abby
who is behind me to bump right into me. “Oomph! Roman?” Abby says muffled
because her face is in my back.
“Sorry,
Abby. I uh...” I don’t know what to say because the person in front of me is
greeting kids and parents happens to be, well… one of those ex’s I didn’t think
I was going to ever see again. Honestly, when we ended things amicably she just
didn’t cross my mind again and so I kind of forgot she still worked here. As
in, at the aquarium. Turns out Aryn Lavoie moved up from an assistant to the lead
seal trainer here at the aquarium. Shit. “Abby, I’m kind of hungry, do you uh?”
I turn around so she can’t see Aryn but I’m obviously having one of those ‘let’s
meet every girl I banged before Abby day…’ Inwardly I’m groaning in misery
because this was not how I planned to have Abby get to know me better.
“Um,
no, I’m not, we ate food at your place, remember? Roman, what’s going on?” She
asks peering around me.
“Nothing,
I, uh…” I’m so busted.
“Roman?
Roman Winters?” Aryn spotted me. Fuck my luck like a duck. I turn and prepare
myself to face the music and hope Abby isn’t a jealous claw your face off kind
of girl though I’m sure she’s generally level headed being a shark
professionally.
“Hey,
Aryn. Abby this is Aryn, Aryn – Abby.” I say cautiously introducing the girls,
giving her a weird wave, so I don’t have to shake her hand. It’s kind of weird
to shake a girl’s hand after having sixty-nined with her, wait… forget I said
that.
“Hi,
I’m Abigail Holliday.” Abby steps forward and offers Aryn a handshake. “It’s
nice to meet you. I just love the seal exhibit.” Abby is polite and perfect
while I’m still processing how to not throw up over botching our day.
“Hi
there, I’m Aryn Lavoie, you must be a new – friend – of Roman’s?” Aryn says and
Abby laughs. Oh I am so screwed later and not in a good way.
“Yeah,
pretty much.” Abby keeps smiling and I’m ready for the bagpipers to plan my
funeral processional. “So how long have you been a seal trainer” Abby asks.
“Oh,
only the last eighteen months or so. I’ve worked here about five years though
since graduation. I mostly do the shows now and kid education programs on sea
life. I love it, except for all the dead fish you know, eh?” Aryn says and she
still has her Canadian accent.
“Wow,
that’s great, this is my first time here so I can’t wait to see the show.” Abby
and Aryn keep exchanging pleasantries as if they knew each other before. It’s
weird and I’m sure some kind of girl code for: ‘Oh, he didn’t tell you about
me, well kick his ass later because he probably did something dickish, eh?’
“Well,
it was great meeting you and seeing you again, Roman. I’ve got to get back to
my babies here. Feel free to stop by after the show, if you want and I’ll let
you feed them.” Aryn says.
“Yeah,
sure.” I run my hands through my hair. “Maybe another time? We have early
dinner plans, but it was nice seeing you.” I mumble and Aryn skips off, yeah
skips off, because she is one of those peppy, always happy types of people. I
follow after Abby who walks into the small stage area to watch the seal show
and finds us seats in the middle of the risers.
“So
what’s up with Aryn?”
“Huh?”
The whole encounter has left me a little weirded out, especially after running
into Sasha this morning at Starbucks.
“Aryn?
You know, pretty seal trainer with killer legs, long brown hair and obvious
Canadian accent? That Aryn, we just met.” Abby asks and I think she might be
feeling as weird as I do.
“Oh,
Aryn. Well, we dated I guess.” My male brain is warning me to stick to the
facts and not give Abby more details. I’ve been told girls will run with
details and I’m not a total jerk that I want to risk upsetting Abby or
disrespecting someone I dated briefly.
“How
do you guess a date? Either you did or didn’t right?” She says in her lawyer
voice I’m coming to learn.
“It
was about two years ago.” I sigh. I put my arm around Abby and pull her closer
to me. I’d have put her on my lap but this was a public place and Aryn was kind
of feeding four, two hundred plus pounds of animals dead fish in front of us. Not
exactly comforting or romantic. “I saw her for about three maybe four months
and then I broke it off. I didn’t feel what I thought I should to keep it going.
It was mutual but I think she was more upset at the time.” I tell her honestly.
“Oh.”
Abby says… and wasn’t that a telling response.
ABIGAIL
So
it wasn’t the fact that Roman had dated before me, heck I came to Gold Beach
still in a relationship, or so I had thought. It was just different to actually
see that side of Roman up close and personal. I held his hand during the seal
show as Aryn whistled and threw various fish at the large silky seals that
eagerly jumped and performed on command. She seemed a nice girl and I didn’t
get that weird chic voodoo that usually occurs when one or the other is trying
to stake a claim on the man. It was nice. Most girls I knew, my sister included
were such drama whores it was unbelievable.
The seal show ended and we waved to Aryn
walking out of the seal stadium deciding to walk around a bit more before
having an early dinner. Roman kept his arm around me the entire time like a
caveman. I lo---liked his arm exactly where it was. Loving Roman would come in
good time. We exited the aquarium to a much greyer sky and I was glad he had
given me the scarf to wear when the wind picked up just enough to give me a
chill in the late August air. I missed the climate of L.A. but I would miss
Roman more when I had to go back, something I was not too eager to discuss with
him. I had been avoiding the reality of my decision for as long as possible and
I needed to figure this out but first I had another entirely inappropriate
question looming in my mind… “So Roman, did Aryn ever make those seal sounds,
you know, in bed?” He stopped walking and looked at me like I kicked a puppy
before giving me a twisted little smirk and pulling me in closer, anchoring his
arms around me so I couldn’t escape.
“No
Abigail, she did not.” He emphasizes the syllables of my name looking into my
eyes. Ugh, his eyes keep me trapped thinking about what the rest of him would
do to me if we weren’t on this busy sidewalk. “However, I’ll never think of a
seal whistle quite the same way again.” He says against my ear nipping just under the shell and I want to choke him. I
wiggle out of his grasp and walk on. I adore him and now I just want to choke
him. I settle for turning back to him and playfully punching him in the arm
instead and walking away doing my best to not stomp my feet.
“That’s
assault, counselor.” He says laughing loudly.
“Prove
it.” I retort mouthing the words right back at him in a whisper.
***
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COPYRIGHT - M. C. CERNY - SEPTEMBER - 2014
