Succeeding Love

Good Company

“Honey, I’m home!” she called out, and I heard the door closing loudly just after.

I was sitting in my office at home, rubbing my head from the stress of the past few days. The firm had just taken on a new client, and the case was proving to be difficult. More difficult than they originally led on. I’ve had my nose in law books for days and have gotten very little sleep. I didn’t even have the energy to answer her.

“I see you haven’t moved.” Fay popped her head into the doorway, looking at the stack of books on my desk. “The kids were safely handed off to Kate. She said she’ll bring them back after they get back from my parents. We have the week to ourselves!”

She had so much energy, and that triumphant glint in her eyes. Even though I was stressed and tired, I smiled tightly at her. “You should have gone too. I know you wanted to. I’m sorry I had to drop out.” We were all meant to go visit her family, but I just had too much to do here to take any time off.

“It’s not your fault.” She skipped into my office, coming around the back of my chair. I leaned back and groaned as her fingers kneaded into my stiff shoulders. “We can go anytime. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to get time alone with my husband.”

“I will not be very good company,” I sighed.

She giggled sweetly. “Are you ever?”

I scoffed, turning to look at her in offense, but then smirked, seeing that playful look on her face. She was teasing me. “I have my moments.”

“Really?” Her eyes narrowed in challenge. “Prove it.”

I looked back at my desk and the stack of papers I still had to review. “I wish I could.”

“Wish granted,” her tone was firm. She swiveled my chair around, then grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet.

“Where are we going?” I asked warily.

She looked back at me with that mischievous grin, leading me straight to our bedroom. I knew that look.

“Fay, I really have to get this case figured out.” If I lose this case, it will cost the firm a lot, and I could lose my job. That’s why I’ve been so stressed.

“You’ve been staring at the same page in that book for three hours now,” Fay said stubbornly. “What you need is to relax and refresh, then go back with a new set of eyes. Spend three hours with me, then turn the page.”

She was right. I had been re-reading the same lines repeatedly, but the words weren’t sinking in.

The moment we entered our bedroom, Fay pulled me towards the bed and undid the buttons on my shirt. I stared up at her beautiful face, clean of makeup or anything superficial. She was glowing naturally, and it warmed me instantly. Her presence was like the sun.

When she leaned down to kiss me, right before her lips touched mine, I murmured, “I love you, Fay.”

She smiled sadly at me, that glint in her eyes gone as moisture replaced it. SHe leaned in close, right next to my ear. “But you told me you were in love with someone else.”

Dread washed over me, making my inside freeze over. Suddenly, our comforting, warm bedroom, full of love and peace, was transformed into the sleek, cold one of Arlene’s. I used to think this apartment was high end and exciting. Now it fills me with nothing but contempt.

When she pulled away, it wasn’t my tiny, loving wife standing before me anymore, but the woman I chose over her. She had her signature confident smirk on her face, wearing one of her black robes that exposed most of her legs.

With a soft cackling laugh, she lifted a leg and pushed me back onto the bed with a sharp heel on my bare chest.

“You chose this,” she sneered.

Right as she was about to drop the robe, I gasped loudly, scaring myself awake. I broke out in a cold sweat all over my body. The sweat soaked my new sheets.

Looking around the room, I felt disoriented until I realized I was in my new condo, not Arlene’s apartment. Boxes were stacked near the closet, and my suitcases were still lined up on the other side of the bed. It was dark outside, but the dawn was breaking.

“Damn it,” I muttered, dragging my hands down my face. “Shit.”

What started out as a happy memory, one from when the kids were still very little and I was new to the law firm, quickly turned into a nightmare.

I wish it had remained the dream of a memory from happier times. What started as a shitty week turned into a great one as Fay helped me to stay focused and keep a steady head. She had sacrificed her entire paid vacation, that was meant to be used to visit her retired parents in Florida to be my rock.

“I’m such a damn fool.” I dropped my head in my hands. I tried to hang on to that image of Fay as she smiled back at me, leading me to a place I could find peace, but all that I felt was guilt and remorse.

~

Preston

“Hey, Micheals!” The assistant coach, Coach Anderson, stopped in front of me as I was getting my cleats on. “Your mom’s coming today, right?”

With a slight frown, I answered, “Yes, sir. She should be.”

“Good. Good.” He slapped my shoulder. “You’re going to do great today.” He slapped my shoulder one more time, then kept walking.

Mason, a senior I’m friends with that happened to be sitting beside me, laughed. “It’s true. I feel bad for you,” he snickered.

Other guys were smirking and laughing softly under their breath. “What?”

“Oh, nothing,” Carter gave me a knowing look. “Just that Coach Anderson has the hots for your mom.”

“Are you fucking serious?” I groaned. “Is that why he keeps asking me those questions?” The coach was asking me about my parents’ divorce and shit like that since we got on the bus yesterday. I thought he was just a creepy, over-concerned coach, but now it makes more sense.

“Yep,” Mason said. “I heard him talking about your mom to the head coach last night after you went to your room.”

“When did he even meet my mom?”

“Last spring at the awards dinner,” Carter said. “And at the chili fundraiser. He talked about both.”

“That’s so creepy.”

“Eh,” Mason shrugged. “Make the coach your step-daddy. That’s a sure way of getting on varsity next year.”

“Huh,” was all I could grunt out. There were two juniors on JV that should have been before me to move up to varsity with the injury. I thought I was asked first because I was better, but maybe not.

Coach Anderson isn’t a bad guy, at least not that I know of. I just don’t like it. The idea of him trying to hit on my mom makes me want to throw up. He’s at least two or three years younger than mom and slaps my shoulder too much. Plus, the other players call him hot links because he’s got fat fingers that he’s always waving around as he yells at us.

“Hey man, my stepdad is a dick. I would trade him for hot links any day.”

“I don’t think my mom is looking for a step dad for me right now.” I wouldn’t mind if she dated. I actually encourage it. It would keep dad from messing with her.

“I can be your step daddy,” Carter wiggled his eyebrows.

“Fuck you.” I threw a towel at him as he dodged it and laughed.

We had to be at the field to warm up, and were still bull shitting with one another, more of the guys teasing me about becoming my step dad and crap like that.

I was wishing I had told my dad about this game. I don’t want him with mom again, ever, but him being here would at least keep other ass holes like him away from her. Hopefully, she found a good friend to come with at least.

“Hey, isn’t that her?” Mason asked, pointing at the stands as we walked to the field we were assigned to.

I looked over, and sure enough, my mom was sitting at the center of the bench, wearing a shirt with my face on it.

That wasn’t what threw me off. It was our new neighbor from across the street sitting beside her.

“Oh shit,” Carter laughed. “I guess it’s JV next year for you.”

~

Feighlynn

“There he is!” I said excitedly, pointing at Preston walking to the dugout with the other boys and his coaches. I waved excitedly. Preston gave me a tight grin and a slight wave back.

“I think he likes your shirt,” Sherry, a mom of one of Preston’s friends, laughed.

“He’s embarrassed,” I giggled. “Maybe I should have just worn school colors instead.”

“I like the shirt,” Vin placed his hand on my shoulder, making butterflies flutter in my chest. “He may feel embarrassed, but his mom, being his biggest fan, is something he’s going to remember.”

Sherry sighed with a dazed grin. “That’s so sweet.”

She and the other moms were stealing glances at Vin every chance they could. Even some dads were looking at him in that way men look at other men when they were impressed.

I was impressed beyond words when I saw him this morning. After dropping Kevin off with a neighbor to be watched while we were away, I came back home to find him on my front porch, wearing the sexiest white shirt and leather jacket combo I’d ever seen. Just like out of an action movie.

When he took that jacket off and I could see his tight-fitting sleeves, and all they were trying to contain, I nearly convulsed right then.

Everything he does today has me ready to combust. I had a very restless, frustrated sleep last night, so that could have something to do with it.

Last night, the mood was tense after I returned to the backyard with a bag for Jessie to give to Nick. I don’t know what was said between them, but Nick was beet red, angrier than I’d seen him in a long time. Vin was smiling tightly, looking all kinds of yummy stretched out in a chair, dripping wet and eating the rest of the enchiladas right out of the pan.

After Nick left, the mood didn’t really return. Not like it was before. Vin was still playful as he helped me clean up the mess, but after the dishes were done, he simply kissed me, asked what time to pick me up in the morning, then went home.

I laid in bed for hours after, tossing and turning, wishing Nick would stub his toe for his interruption. Again.

The long drive didn’t help either. At some point in the first hours, Vin’s hands made its way to my thigh, and then never left. Even when we stopped halfway for gas and breakfast, he kept one hand on me at all times. Either on my back, or around my shoulder. He tangled his legs with mine under the table as we ate.

Now, he has his large thighs in his washed denim pressed up against my legs, and a hand holding the seat behind me. I can smell his cologne every once in a while and it makes my mouth water.

Vin caught me staring at him and gave me one of his lazy smirk before bumping my nose with his finger. “What are you thinking about?”

“You,” I said honestly.

“Me?” He acted surprised. “What about me?”

“You’re cute,” I poked his nose back.

“You’re the cute one,” he whispered in my ear, making the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. “You were fucking adorable singing along to every song the entire way down here.”

“I’m good company on road trips, huh?” I laughed.

“You’re great company all the time.”

My face grew warm as he gave me that look. My panties can’t handle that look today.

“So, Fay,” Sherry said, breaking the moment for me and Vin. “How long have you two been dating?”

I bit my lip, wondering how to answer. Vin must have sensed my dilemma because he answered for me.

“Not long. I just moved back to town from Fort Bragg after getting out of the Army. My mom is Feighlynn’s neighbor.”

“Oh, how sweet? So you were in the Army?”

“Yes ma’am. I just retired.”

“Well, thank you for your service. What do you plan on doing now?”

I was curious about this too. I stared at his handsome face, waiting to hear his answer.

“As of yesterday, I’m the head of court security for the city. I start next week.”

“Wow.” I grinned teasingly. “You’re a professional hero again.”

“More of a babysitter,” he laughed. “It’s an office job.”

Court security? That means he will work at the courthouse. I wonder if that means he will see Nick a lot? That will be interesting. I should warn Vin later about Nick’s job just to avoid any unnecessary drama.

“MOM!” I suddenly heard a high-pitched, familiar voice behind us. Me and every other mom turned around, but it was my daughter coming down from the parking lot.

“Jessie?” Why is Jessie here?

Then I saw Nick closing the door to a car with rental tags.

“Seriously?” Vin grumbled under his breath. I sent him an apologetic look, wondering what to do.

Sherry leaned over and whispered to me, “I thought you said your ex-husband wouldn’t be here?”

“He wasn’t supposed to be.”