CH 1-10

Summary

Sophia likes her life simple. She clocks in at the unemployment office, keeps her head down, and dreams of nothing more than surviving her toxic ex’s occasional attempts to worm back into her life. But one evening, her world literally crashes when a devastatingly handsome stranger, Oliver, plows into her car. Exchanging information should have been the end of it—until Sophia discovers why Oliver was driving uninsured. He’s no ordinary man…he’s a high-end escort. The kind women pay for the very thing Sophia swears she doesn’t need. Determined to put the accident (and Oliver’s smirk) behind her, Sophia focuses on what really matters: showing up at her best friend’s wedding in the Bahamas—preferably without fielding questions about why she’s still single. But Oliver has other ideas. His solution? Pose as her boyfriend for the wedding as a way to “make things right.” What starts as a fake date deal soon spirals into stolen kisses, simmering tension, and the kind of passion Sophia never saw coming. Between dodging her ex, juggling the lies, and trying not to fall for a man who sells love for a living, Sophia finds herself tangled in the sweetest mess of all: the possibility of real love.

Companion Gentleman

Chapter 1

Overwhelmed with happiness I closed my sliver laptop and did a little dance at my desk. I stood up and slipped back on my low heels. I skirted around my white and gold modern desked I had thrifted and made a beeline out the glass door to my supervisors offices directly across from mine. I could tell Malcolm was in there from the glass door as he insisted we all have. His office was mostly camo with dark woods and a wall of pictures his children had made for him. He looked up surprised, and then I realized he was on the phone. He held up one finger which signaled me to wait.

“I thought I heard footsteps”, Stephen said peeking his head out of his office which was right next to mine. He was all man, so macho in his black suit and so full of empathy. It was the most sexy combination, the mark of a true alpha.

“Guess what?” I bleamed shuffling over to him as I flatten out my black knit dress. Stephen was for all intents and purposes my work husband and best friend. We took care of each other which was rare in the temporary agency business. After five years of working on the same projects together I trusted him with everything.

“They’re going to let us start day drinking?” He laughed.

I wish.

“Our contract got renewed!” I said bubbling up excitement.

“Yay, We have jobs for the next… Three months?”

“Try forever!”

“No way”, he gasped pulling me into his office. The scent of oranges was strong. Stephen’s office was a little smaller than mine but with the added bonus of a window that over looked the lake.

“Yes way!” I cheered.

I loved Stephen like a brother but I my god he was disgusting. Anything touched in his office had a texture, nothing was organized even though he claimed he knew exactly where everything was at and I’m pretty sure the carpet was white when we first got here and now it looks grey. “We have to celebrate”.

“Smoothie King?”

“I was thinking something a little bit stronger”, he said going behind his desk and pulling out a clear bottle of vodka.

“Naughty boy. If Malcolm catchs you I’ll have to put in your unemployment claim”, I smiled taking the bottle and took a small swig.

An energizing shiver ran through my body as I handed the bottle to Stephan,”It’s a good thing I know how to get it all processed and approved seeing as we’ll be doing that from now to the end of time”.

Unlike me Stephen took a big drink,”To the state of Florida”.

“To the state”, I said cautiously sitting down in one of the only chairs in his office. It was covered in papers but by the looks of them they’ve been here just as long as we have. We both jumped at the sound of she was coming down the wooden hallway. Stephen quickly hit his contraband back in his desk and went over to his computer and pretended to work.

Knock knock

“Were you looking for me?” Malcolm said crowding the already small space. Malcolm was older but was the kind of guy that wouldn’t take an order but never needed to; whatever he was supposed to do, he did it. He told bad jokes and was always warm.

“We get to keep our jobs”, I blurted out.

He genuinely looks surprised as he took in the information,”So the negotiations went well?”

“Excellent”, I said proud of myself. I was the one that convinced the state to keep us on permanently,”They want to hire us full time”.

“Well the Mrs. will be happy to hear that. Good job, Sophia. I’ll send out an email and let everyone else know”, Malcolm said heading back to his office before quickly coming back,”Sophia, order a cake or something we should celebrate”.

“On it”, I said standing up as Malcolm left. Just as I was about to head back to my office Stephen stopped me.

“I’ve been meaning to ask did you get the invitation?”.

“For the cyber security?” I said completely clueless.

“No, Becca’s wedding”.

“Excuse me?” I said as my brain short circuited.

“Becca from… the law firm we worked at? She was a secretary and we worked in accounting”.

“Ooooh yeah”, I remember that. We didn’t know what the hell we were doing I don’t even know how we got hired on. But it was good money even if it was for five months,”Good for her…”

How did she get our addresses?

“Apparently, she locked down one of the partners at the law firm”, Stephen said with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m sure she did”, I said pushing my tongue into my cheek. “She wasn’t doing all that overtime just out of the kindness of her heart”.

“Truly she was Mother Teresa because we were not getting overtime pay then”, We both laughed at how terrible we were.

“It’s going to be a hard pass for me. I didn’t even know her that well. But now that we have some disposable income I could probably send her a gift or something”.

“Well, I am going. A weekend in the West Keys all expenses paid and I just have to pretend I like you? Hell yeah”.

“You’re not going to know anyone there?” I loved weddings but I hated going alone You might as well just have a neon sign that says defected goods slapped onto your ass.

“And? I don’t give a fuck I’m not there to meet people I’m there to get fancy drunk”.

“Aren’t we all”, I said resting my head on the door frame as I leaned against it. “Well let me know how it goes?”

“I will have you on the phone the entire time I’m there”, he promised.

I scrunch my face and in a knowing high picture voice proclaimed,”Your a different breed”.

“I love me too”.

I headed back to my office happy I dodged that bullet. I was all smiles for the rest of the day. I got to keep my job that I liked, and I was going to interpret Malcolm’s order as dinner reservations at Goodfella’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant. And after doing my actual job I was emotionally exhausted from hearing everyone’s unemployment stories. But I felt like I was actually making a difference by helping people letting them know what their options are and being here to listen.

It was night before I finally called it a day. I knocked on Malcolm’s door who would most likely be here for another three to four hours and said goodnight. With my purse, rain jacket and umbrella in hand I made my way out of the building into the parking lot. It’s softly rained as thunder and lightning command the sky. Puddles grew as if the land of Narnia had sent them to fetch me, their surfaces dancing with each perfect individual sky-gift.

I quickly got into my cherry red Chevy Blazer and started my short drive home. I love that it still has that new car smell. My car was my baby mostly because it was the most expensive thing I had ever purchased next to my condo. As I turned onto the street the windshield wipers worked overtime. I could tell my normal 20-minute drive was going to easily be an hour by the traffic.

I decided to call my parents and let them know the good news,”Hi mommy!”

“Hey, baby”, my mom said with a smile I could hear. I could also hear the evening news being blasted in the background.

“Guess what?”

“The contract got renewed?”

“Yes! But not just renewed they hired us. I have a career!”

“That’s wonderful”, she cooed.

“What?” My dad asked as Iron Chef was blaring in the background. He sounded like he was just next to her but I knew he was in his lazy boy feet propped up with a Miller lite in his hand.

“Sophie, did the contract thing”, My mom explained just as excited as I was. I slowly rolled down the street being blinded by lights behind me that had to be on high beam. Some people really should learn how to drive. I ignored it as my mom tried to explain to my dad the good news.

“Well she’ll always have a job”, I heard him say muffled.

And that’s all that matters.

“We have news too”, Mom said excited. Now it was my turn to be happy for her. She hadn’t told me about anything since we talked yesterday.

“What is it?”

“Do you remember Michelle?”

“No”, I said sarcastically. Michelle was my best friend from kindergarten. We grew up right door to each other, went to college together. But every graduated we had to go our separate ways. She got a job with Boeing somewhere in California and I stayed in Florida. We talk at least once a week so whatever my mom had to tell me I probably already knew.

“Well Michelle’s mother just told she’s getting married”.

“WHAT!” I said slamming on my breaks. My tires hissed an ugly sound against wet concrete and the car that was riding my tail collided into the back of my car throwing me into my steering wheel.

“Sophia? Sophia! What happened?”

“I’ll call you back”, I said turning on my hazard lights with shaky hands as I got out of my car. I didn’t want to look at the damage and I wanted to kill the idiot who didn’t know how to drive! “What the hell!?”

“Are you okay?” A man in a white shirt and black pants said getting out of a black Lincoln. He quickly surveyed the damage but check to make sure I was okay.

“What do you th—-“

And as soon as I saw his face highlighted in the pouring rain I lost 200 IQ points. He was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. He was a walking wet dream. Bright blue eyes, gorgeous thick black hair, and a jawline you could cut marble on.

“Get out of the middle of the road”, a car passing by honked splashing up muddy cold water on me.

“Fuck you”,the man yelled in my defense.

I held my middle finger high as if that would solve my problem. The stranger touch my arm and led me over to the sidewalk. Clearly, I was in shock even though I was technically fine.

“Do I need to call an ambulance?” The man said concerned. I thought it was fine.

“No”, I said shaking. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the rain or because of the accident. As I spoke I realized how breathless I was,”Do you need one?”

“No”, he said reaching into his pants pocket. He pulled out his phone and started texting someone. I took this opportunity to look at the damage up close. Other than a few scratches the damage to my car wasn’t that bad. His car on the other hand had the front bumper torn completely off and even with the night and rain I could tell something was leaking from his car.

I made my way back to my car and grab my purse for my insurance information. At least I be able to drive my baby home.

I went back over to the stranger who was in an intense conversation with someone on the other side. As soon as he saw me he ended the call,”Here’s my information”.

He plastered on a megawatt smile and under the street light I could see through his wet white shirt. Well defined muscles and a gorgeous six-pack made me blush,”Yeah….umm I don’t have insurance”.

“O… okay”, I had to switch to my professional voice, “I have to call the police—“

“Whatever the damage is I can pay you in cash”.

“I don’t think this is how accidents work”, I said squinting my eyes. This felt like a scam.

“I can Cash App you”, He said defensively.

“I would feel more comfortable calling the police—” I said stepping away from the man.

“You kind of got me by my balls. I really don’t want to go to jail for driving without insurance”.

“How do I know you’ll actually send me the money? Insurance is the only way I can CYA. As soon as you leave I’ll never hear from you again”.

“It’s a Chevy Blazer L…2021?”

“2022 LT”, I corrected as he did something on his phone.

“Sticker price of $40,000?”

“Somewhere around there—“I said throwing up my hands.

“I’ll give you $42,000 either that covers the damage or gets you a new car”, He said shoving his phone in his pocket and crossing his arms.

“If you have that kind of money just laying around why don’t you have insurance?!”

“Do we have a deal?” He stressed.

“At this point it would just be cheaper to go to jail for the night”.

“I can’t have a record with my job. I’ll never get another client if I have anything on record”. I had a lot of questions namely what he did for a living to have that kind of cash just laying around.

“You’re not like some kind of drug lord are you?”

“No”, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet and handed me a white card.

---

Oliver Kennedy

Companion Gentleman

555-314-5555

---

I had no idea what companion gentleman meant. “Cash app lets me send $7,500 a day. I’ll send you a payment now and at least with that you’ll be able to fix your car. Take the rest as an inconvenience fee”, I wanted to ask how do I know I would get the rest of the money but he answered it as if reading my mind,”You know where I work. Call that number and my agent will definitely get me”.

Oooooo… He’s like an actor. That makes sense.

“Fine”, We exchanged information and I was immediately paid. No sooner did the money hit my account did a taxi pull up to collect him. He slid into the back seat of the yellow cab and with a nod he was gone.

Chapter 2 RSVP

I just wanted to collapse dead in bed. I had my car towed to a mechanic who would make sure he got to it first thing in the morning. Then I had to catch an Uber back to my condo.

As soon as I got out of the Uber I saw my mail box was full. I knew what was in it and I should be proud of Michelle. I should be happy for my friend but I just felt… I didn’t know how I felt.

There was no getting around not going to this wedding. I wanted to be there for Michelle I just wanted someone to be there for me. I collected my mail and I knew from the white envelope with the golden sticker it was the invitation to save the date. A shuffled into my house that normally felt warm and inviting but today it felt dark cold and lifeless.

At least Bubbles was happy to see me. My condo had a strict no cats or dogs policy. So I got a Koi fish when I moved in and surprisingly I’ve been able to keep him alive for 3 years now. I even put little hoops in his tank that he knew how to maneuver around by the point of my finger. I was proud of him but that said a lot about my personal life.

I turned on the lights, fed Bubbles and through the wedding invitation on my nightstand. All of the furniture in my condo was thrifted. I liked older Victorian styled things the fluffiness and girlyness of that time. I wanted my space to feel like I was the main character in a Emily Bronte book. After a warm shower I fell into bed and stared at the white envelope. Michelle and I were the same age, went to the same schools, same college and she was about to start living happily ever after and I was probably going to die with Bubbles .

I had my chance at love.

At least I think I did?

This wasn’t about me. This was about Michelle. And the fact that she wanted me there on her big day.

Woman up, open the letter, say you’re going and get over yourself.

And that’s exactly what I did with a surge of energy. I tore open the letter and admired the beautiful invitation.

Wow, Bermuda.

They were really cutting it close that was only two and a half weeks away.

I guess that’s what happens when two engineers get married.

I quickly grabbed a pen and before I can lose my nerve I find the RSVP letter.

Yes.

I happily check the box.

And then I stared at the little two lines for names.

Names as in plural.

“No. No”, I said speaking to myself. It’ll be a wonderful weekend to celebrate Michelle and Mason.

Go to bed Sophia, just go to bed.

The only thing that can save me from the demons of my tomorrow is sleep. A rested mind will have the sharpness to make the kind of decisions that could be the difference between keeping my newly hired position and being fired. After a tumultuous few hours of vivid disaster-fuelled dreaming I am more awake than if a gunshot was fired by my ears. Commonly I remain in the inkiness, willing myself to return to sleep, unpleasant though it is. But I cannot. I can lie still, becoming more irate at my sleeplessness, or I can rise and start my day. I get a lot done before the sunrise: exercise, food preparation, cleaning. My personal organization is the envy of my friends; but I’d give it all away to slumber until breakfast.

Maybe if I take a NyQuil everything will be okay?

I quickly shuffled into my kitchen pantry and found the medicine bin I kept on the top shelf. I quickly took two of the blue pills and went back to bed. This time I knew sleep would come I just had to wait for it. I stared up at my ceiling waiting to be consumed by darkness that would lead to sleep.

The wedding was going to be fun. It wouldn’t be like the other ones I went to solo.

Or would it?

It’s all fun and games until the night starts to slow down and you’re the one at the bar drinking alone. Or you’re the one going back for seconds of cake while a never-ending list of slow songs go on. Or that time I got seated at the Kids Table– I was 25!

I got puked on once. So that was memorable.

Maybe Stephen could go with me? Although I don’t think he has a passport so that may be a problem. It was probably too late. Even if we tried to fast track the application.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad and Michelle would invite lots of our friends… All of whom were married. So I would be the third wheel…as always.

Or worse I’d be the third wheel to my parents.

Why does this always happen?

This morning I was completely fine being single, going to work and loving my fish. Now it just seemed to echo how lonely I was. Being single enabled me to become more true to myself, to resonate more deeply with my loving soul, to feel my own strength, to keep my own opinions and to modify them with confidence when appropriate. And I was fine with that this morning now I was a needy pile of pity.

But before I could completely sink into that pity sleep hit me like a brick to the back of the head.

Chapter 3 Person

Today, I was off my game. I woke up late and now I could barely keep my eyes open despite the three cups of coffee and energy drink I was constantly pouring into my body.

“Knock knock”, Stephen said opening my door. He looked refreshed in khaki pants and a green polo,”I thought you were out sick today I didn’t see your car in the parking lot”.

I yawned typing on my laptop,”Rough night”.

Stephen shut the door and sat in the white bamboo chair I had. “Are you finally getting laid?”

“That is so not appropriate for the workplace”, I said picking up my cup of coffee.

“So no”.

“Absolutely not”, I said finishing off my coffee.

“There’s cobwebs down there”.

“It’s an abandoned haunted mansion”, I laughed.

“I did not need that visual”.

“Think about it, absorb it, take it all the way in”, I smiled finishing typing as I turn to face Stephen. “Hey, I have a preposition?”

“If it’s an afternoon delight after that pitch it’s going to be a hard no from me”, he disclosed.

My mouth hung open in shock,”You said I was the best you ever had”.

“Emotionally”, He clarified. I rolled my eyes and let the past be the past.

“Michelle is getting married in Bermuda in two weeks. Come with me, save me from being a lonely disappointment?”

“First, of all you’re amazing. And secondly, I can’t I’m locked in for Becca’s wedding. I RSVP-ed last night and bought a stupidly expensive ladle. I’m a $150 in the hole—“

“A weekend in Bermuda all expenses paid? You would be treated like a king”.

“That’s a damn lie. Because you’re going to have to go to the bachelorette party help set up and break down the venue. When I go to a wedding I just want to be a guest. I don’t want to be the help. Sorry, you have to ride solo”, Stephen apologized.

Ding! Ding!

“I’m sure you are”, I said picking up my cell phone and read the notification.

Cash App deposit for $7,500

From AmazingOllie_92

That’s a total of $15,000 in two days.

Oliver must be one heck of a actor.

“O don’t forget Sarah and Bridgett are hosting dinner tomorrow. So it’s probably going to be very low-key, board games, movie and a puzzle night”, Stephen said standing up and heading out the door.

“So bring alcohol”.

“Only if it’s vegan, non-GMO and cruelty free”, he joked.

“Tequila”, I chucked leaning back in my chair as Stephen left shutting the door softly behind. him. I pushed through my exhaustion and got back to work. I put in several new unemployment claims and got to make a few good calls to people and several bad ones. The people I got that get denied their unemployment I tried and walk them through other options: food banks, church organizations other programs the state offers. But it’s never easy to tell someone no.

It was going to be another long day because I like to take my time and make sure everyone got the help they needed. It was 5:00 before I looked back up I should be going home but I still had a mountain of other things I needed to get through today.

Tap, tap, tap

“Don’t burn the midnight oil too much”, Malcolm said on the other side of the door waving with his briefcase and jacket in hand.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Have a good night”, I said with a small wave.

Three more applications and I’ll call it a night. But before I could tackle that I needed sugar.

I swirled around in my chair to the back wall I had turned into a floating wall of storage. I like the abstractness of each floating box. Stephen always made fun of me saying it look like I had a seizure while I was putting them up. I reached into one of the boxes with my purse and pulled out a Hershey’s chocolate bar. That was right next to Oliver’s card.

I deserved a break. Maybe I could do some research on this guy to figure out how he just has $15,000 lying around. This went against every policy. But I was curious enough to risk it. I grabbed the card and spun back around to my laptop. I pulled up the database of residence and typed in: Oliver Kennedy.

I was met with 300 results.

I put an age range on 25 to 35 and the phone number on the card.

The only thing I got of substance was when he file his taxes he did it as an independent contractor. And that could be anything.

I tried turning to Facebook and that got me absolutely nowhere. The same was true for Instagram and Twitter.

I googled the number and got a building that have been abandoned since I was in middle school.

He’s a ghost.

From my three years of working in unemployment it was never a good sign when you hit dead ends.

I was in my zone and I wanted answers.

I boldly picked up my cell phone and typed in the number on the card. I rocked back and forth in my chair as the phone rang. “This is Ivan, who you looking for?”

Weird way to answer the phone.

But, I’ve dealt with worse.

“Hi, this is Sophia Harper I’m trying to get in contact with Oliver Kennedy—”

“Booked for this week, sweet heart”.

Very condescending. But I can pull out the big guns too,”I’m calling in regards to a claim he submitted with the state of Florida. I have a couple follow up questions”.

“About?” The man said with a gruff of disdain.

“I can’t discuss those issues with you unless I’ve been given permission by Mr. Kennedy. Can you connect me to his line?”

“Like I said, lady. He’s booked for this week”.

“Tell him to give me a call within the next 36 hours or he’ll have to deal with the IRS”, I threatened.

“Now wait a second, bitch, what exactly does the IRS have to do with Oliver?”

“Please, have him give me a call and I can tell him and then he can tell you. Have a good evening”, I said quickly ending the call.

What an asshole.

With that fire under my ass I quickly finished my work.

There’s no point in getting mad. I was being nosy and this is what I get. I shouldn’t care what Oliver did for a living because it was none of my business as long as he kept his promise I would be fine.

I don’t care.

What if it’s blood diamond money? Or drugs.

O no.

Or sex trafficking?

Please stop.

White collar crime? Like money laundering or embezzling.

That’s enough. Go home forget about this rabbit hole of questions. Just take the money and hopefully I won’t go to jail for accepting it. I called an Uber as I sled back on my heels, collected my rain jacket and purse.

As I drop my phone into my purse it started to vibrate.

Vvvvzzztttt vvvvzzztttt vvvvzzztttt

“Gee, I wonder who that could be”, I whispered to myself.

Ignore it just take the money and ignore it. You don’t need answers you just want to get your car fixed and continue on with life.

Vvvvzzztttt vvvvzzztttt vvvvzzztttt

But… How could I not want answers?

If I didn’t answer I was going to come up with a million different scenarios in my head From now to the end of time.

Just answer, Sophia.

I quickly slid the green bar across my phone and accepted the call. “Hello, this is Sophia Harper. How can I help you?”

“Hello, is this Mrs. Johnson? My name is Tim Thayer. My friends call me Tim and that’s what I want you to do. I’m calling today to offer you the opportunity of a lifetime. Do you have a minute to hear how you can make a lot of money in a few short months—“

Scam.

Go figure.

I locked up the building and headed outside to my Uber. I sled into the back of the Honda Civic and relaxed into the black leather seats. As night fell the blue haze of day lifted to reveal the stars. It wasn’t long before we pulled up to my condo and I filed into the door kicking off my shoes.

“Hi Bubbles”, I sang crossing through the living room and kitchen to the back wall where I kept Bubbles. He quickly swam to the top of his box tank ready to be fed. “Aww you’re a hungry boy”.

I gave him a couple of food flakes and happily watched him eat the little pellets. “Sleep tight, bubby”.

I headed back into the kitchen and grabbed a bag of potato chips before heading back to my bedroom. I changed into a black nightgown and settled in for the night for Netflixs.

I wasn’t even going to pretend like I was going to watch something new I was going to watch The Greatest Showman for the 300th time like it was the first time.

Vvvvzzztttt vvvvzzztttt vvvvzzztttt

I absent-mindedly watch TV ate my chips and answer the phone. It was probably my mom calling for our nighty chat.

“Hey, guess what I’m watching?”

“Porn?” A deep male voice said with an air of solid confidence and was so very easy on the ears.

I choked on my chips. I coughed and hacked until tears were streaming down my eyes.

“Who is this?”

“You called me. This is Sophia Harper?” I quickly turned off my TV. I recognized the voice as Oliver’s.

“Yes”.

“Well, Sophia Harper, you put the fear of God in Ivan which isn’t an easy thing to do”, he commented.

“Threatening to have the US government look in to your tax records normally has that effect on people”.

“Am I being audited?“

“Not at this moment but I can make sure it happen”, I quickly got to the point,”You hit my car. You’re driving without insurance and you have $15,000 just laying around. How? Because my imagination isn’t going to stop until I get some answers”.

“Why does it matter where it came from?”

Definitely not the right answer.

“Because most people don’t have that kind of cash laying around for a good reason. I want to make sure four days from now some drug dealer isn’t going to come knocking on my door demanding his money or worse I get implemented in some criminal activity”.

“I’m hearing accusations but no actual question”, He said smartly.

“Where did you get this kind of money from?”

“Inheritance”.

“And you didn’t take that inheritance and get insurance?” I questioned.

“It didn’t seem like a good investment at the time”.

“But paying off every accident you have is?” I might as well be at work now. “I don’t know anything about the entertainment world other than gossip magazines. But I would think if you’re some up-and-coming star you wouldn’t want this on your record…” And even if he wants some up-and-coming star wouldn’t he have some kind of a digital footprint?

Something wasn’t adding up.

“That’s why I’m willing to pay to make this problem go away”.

“Tell me the truth and I’ll leave you alone”, Because I knew he was lying. I investigate fraud for a living. He couldn’t we go his way out of my questions until I got something substantial.

“Isn’t this an abuse of your position?”

“I can abuse it and report my findings to the IRS and make them do an audit on you so I can get my questions answered or you can just tell me the truth. The choice is yours”, I said giving him an ultimatum.

“If you want answers then we have to meet in person”.

Why? So you can mug me beat me up and make me shut up,”Why?”

“Because you could be recording me”.

So it is something illegal.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret even if I was recording you, which I’m not, I can’t prove you are you. And the recording wouldn’t hold up in the court of law. A video on the other hand would. If I was trying to trap you for anything illegal I would have said your name a couple of times which I haven’t. If anything you’ve said my name. So who’s really at the disadvantage if this is being recorded”.

“Are you lawyer?” I laughed to the point I snorted.

“Hell no. If I had that kind of brain I wouldn’t be working at 9:00 to 5:00 job. I work for the state of Florida for the Department of Unemployment. And before you hang up on me because you think I don’t have any connections I did temp at the IRS and I still have many connections that can make your life very uncomfortable. I just want the truth”.

There was an uncomfortable beat of silence. For a second I was sure he hung up on me but I heard him exhale before finally speaking,”It’s like what my card says”.

“I have no idea what a companion gentleman is and I’ve heard of pretty much every profession. A companion like you help old people or folks on the spectrum”, and even if that was the case he definitely wouldn’t be rolling in money.

“I get paid to entertain”.

“So you are an actor?”

“Entertainer”, O for the love of God we’re going around in circles.

“I’ll be as exact as possible. I’ll even use myself as an example. My name is Sophia Harper I work with the Department of Unemployment for the State of Florida as a claim specialist. Person on the phone, what do you do for a living?”

“A demimonde”.

What the hell does that mean?

I put Oliver on speakerphone while I googled his job.

… Oooooooooo.

O, I’m an idiot.

“You’re a prostitutes”, I gasped.

“Male companion”, He corrected almost as if I had offended him.

“And I’m a glorified call center girl. Call a spade a spade”.

“You wanted to know. I gave you your answer. Are we good?”

“I can’t take your money”, Jesus if he was desperate enough to sell his literal body I didn’t need to add to the problem.

“What?”

I pulled up my cash app and sent all of the payments back to him,”From what the repairman told me it is paint at most and it’s not like I can’t afford not to fix it. I don’t even really need to fix it. Take your money and do what you need to do”.

“You don’t have to do that”.

“I want to. See what happens when you tell the truth”, even if I had to literally pull it out of you like a tooth.

“Sophia—“

“Good night, person”, I quickly hung up the phone. I collapsed back into bed definitely not expecting my day to end with $15,000 less.

But, for a good reason.

You really can meet anybody in Florida.

Chapter 4 Judgmental Eyes

I ate lunch in my office nothing fancy just a yogurt and some cotton candy grapes my mom had bought for me. It was a weird but good combination. Early this morning I got the email itinerary for Michelle’s bachelorette party. She was taking a couple girls down to the island early so we could help set up, have a mini adventure and a bachelor party that sounded batshit crazy complete with fireworks, strippers, alcohol and a whole lot of regret in the morning.

“Knock knock”, I heard Summer say standing outside the door with a huge smile on her face. Summer is the front desk receptionist and as far as I could tell she always had a smile on her face and was willing to help in any way she could. She stood 4 ft 11 always decked out in some vibrant color. Today she wore a shiny bright green dress that came down to her knees. It really suited her with her red hair in a high ponytail.

“Come in”, I said putting my lunch away and waving her in.

“Hey girl, I know you’re at lunch. Do you want me to come back or do you have a minute?”

“I was basically finished anyway. What’s up?”

“I wanted to say thank you for including me in the direct to hire contract. Malcolm just sent out the email with a good news”, she said smiling harder.

“Of course, the place would fall apart without you”.

“Aaww thank you”, She said like a beam of sunshine. “And, there’s a man in the front office who wants to see you. He brought flowers so I think you may have helped him in the past and now he’s back on his feet and he wants to say thank you. Do you want me to tell him you’re busy or schedule him for another time”.

O that’s nice.

“I’ll take care of him. You need to go lunch”, I encouraged. Stood up and flattened out my black business dress. Summer stood up to and headed back to the kitchen area while I made my way down the dark wooden hallway to the reception area. From the windowed wall it was going to be another rainy day in Florida at least for the next 12 minutes.

A man in dark jeans and a white sat in one of the polyester green chairs with his back towards me. At the sound of my heels he stood up with a bouquet of roses and turn to face me. I already had my hand stretched out for a handshake but everything fell as I recognize the man before me.

“What are you doing here?”

“These are for you”, Oliver said completely ignoring my question.

I crossed my arms defensively as I stared daggers into his baby blues,”Thank you. Now, take them and leave”.

“Can we talk?” He asked closing the distance between us. He towered over me at least 6’3 compared to my 5’5 in heels. And I couldn’t help but notice he smelled good like expensive cologne.

“I said everything I needed to say last night. And now this is creepy because you know where I work”.

“Well you did give me all the information I needed to Google you”, He said digging in his back pocket and pulling out his phone. He showed me my picture under staff directory website for the office.

“Nice braces by the way”.

“Thank you, they were expensive. Now, you can leave”, I said pointing him to the door.

“I can’t. How do I know in two weeks he won’t change your mind and press charges?”

“Because I told you I wouldn’t—” and it’s the corner of my eye I saw a Peggy who was the office gossip who was working on her second retirement job,”Hi, Peggy”.

“Hi, Soph everything okay out there?”I’d be on fire before I let her know otherwise.

“Perfect”, I said putting on my professional smile that was so fake it made my cheeks hurt.

“I think this is something we should discuss privately”, Oliver said making sure Peggy could hear him. If I could strike him dead in this moment I would.

“Of course, right this way”, I definitely wasn’t going to take him back to my office so the conference room had to do. It was a simple beige room that could easily hold 30 people in a half circle desk that faced a podium and a stupidly expensive whiteboard. We only use the conference room for birthdays and training seminars we got from the state. As soon as we made our way through the door I shut it making sure no one was listening again on the other side.

“We need to do something”, Oliver said sitting on the edge of the table tossing the flowers down next to him.

“I already told you. I don’t want your money. I’m not going to blackmail you. Just disappear from my life”.

“I don’t need your charity. If I make a mess I can clean it up”.

“This isn’t me being charitable this is me saying I don’t want to deal with this anymore. You worked hard for that money. Harder than I will ever work for any paycheck in my life “, I said crossing the room to stand in front of him.

“Well, forgive me if I don’t trust you with your judgy eyes”.

“I don’t have judgmental eyes. They’re annoyed that you’re here and you won’t just accept what I have said. I am getting my car out of the shop in two days and it will be like this accident never happened”, I explained.

“If you won’t to take my money what will you take? Like I said the other day, you’ve got me by the balls”.

“Don’t proposition me in my workplace”, I snapped as I put my hands on my hips.

“You know sex work is real work”.

“I completely believe you, but it is illegal. I don’t want to be complicit in anything you have going on”.

“So take the money”.

“Hell no”, I exclaimed. “Why can’t you just accept I’m doing something nice—“

“Because you’re something nice could come back and bite me in the ass. There has to be something you want, something that makes us even”.

“I’m good, I have a job, a car, friends and family, Bubbles—“

“Bubbles?” Oliver said with confusion. “That’s a new one”.

“Bubbles is my Koi fish”.

“Something…”, Oliver said leaning and closer to me cupping my cheek. I felt heat radiate from my body as my face filled with blush,”…has to make us even”.

I slapped his hand away missing the human contact,”Nothing”.

“O come on, I had a woman pay me once to build a shelf for her”.

“No”, I said repeating myself. “If I have a shelf that needs to be put up I’ll call my dad”, that sounded a lot better in my head.

“I take care of women’s needs for living. Let me take care of yours—“

“No! You’re not bribing me with”, a lowered my voice to basically a mumble,”You know what”.

“Doesn’t have to be about sex then. I’ve had gigs where I watched three kids and tidy up the house, I’ve attended corporate event, bachelorette parties, reunions, dates, weddings…”

I tuned everything else he had to say out and focused on the wedding part. Did people really pay for dates to take to a wedding?

I felt relieved at this information but at the same time disgusted with myself for feeling relieved.

“Do you do a lot of weddings?” I said cutting him off.

“Like bachelorette parties?”

“No, like actually going to the wedding as a guest”, I clarified.

“A couple, why? Are you interested?” he said with a devilish grin.

“How much do you charge per hour?”

“$200”. What the fuck! I grabbed my chest wanting to scream. $200 just to hang out with someone! “But for you, dear Sophia, $150”.

I quickly ran some numbers in my head and when I came out to the total I had a proposal. A stupid proposal but an idea,”How would you feel about going to a wedding with me?”

“Depends on when and where”.

“It’s in two weeks in Bermuda. My childhood best friend is getting married and I don’t have a date. I don’t have anyone except my parents to come with me. It’s not exactly the look I want in front of all of our friends. If you charge $200 an hour there are 168 hours in a week. That’s $33,600 in total which saves you $8,400 in what you would have paid me for my car. Be my date, just my date, for this wedding and we’re even”.

“With a saving like that how can I pass it up?” I extended my hand out for a handshake,”You’ve got yourself a deal”.

“Perfect”, a date was nothing illegal. And we both get what we want.

“I’ll tell Ivan to do a background check on you”.

“Excuse me?” If anyone here needed a background check it was him. “Do you think I’m a mastermind criminal?”.

“Well, I don’t want you taking advantage of me”, he laughed. “And we’ll have to set up a time for an interview”.

“Interview for what?”

“So I can get to know you. For me to effectively do my job we have to sell whenever your idea of a fairy tale ending is to all of your friends and family”.

“Honestly, I just want you to show up and be there. I’m not selling anything I just want someone to talk to when everyone is coupled up”.

“It’s non-negotiable”, Oliver said hopping off of the table. He grabbed the roses and handed them to me again. This time I accepted them,”What are you doing after work?”

“Dinner with friends”.

“And after?”

“Going to bed by ten”.

“You’re such an old woman it’s Friday night”.

“And that’s exactly how I want to spend the night. We can’t all have such exciting lives”.

“Saturday?”

I didn’t want to tell him my real plans. I liked taking a drive to the beach in the evening and reading a book, then I would go somewhere and get something to eat take it back home and watch Netflix with a glass of red wine. “I’m free”.

“Swing by, Touch of Italy in New Smyrna Beach around three. We’ll iron everything out then”.

I hope I had my car by then or the Uber was going to be stupidly expensive. But now I was committed to this. Oliver wanted to fix my problems and I was going to let him,”Ok”.

Chapter 5 Whoever You Want Me To Be

I was the talk of office after Oliver left.

Everyone wanted to know who the sexy man was the roses was. It was the most excitement we had gotten in a long time. Even when I went to dinner that evening all everyone wanted to talk about was Oliver.

And today I was going to see him.

I had no idea what to wear to this interview. So I just decided to keep it casual with a jumpsuit featuring a knotted front, sweetheart neckline with front cutout and a wide culotte leg. I felt good and that’s what mattered the most. I didn’t do much with my hair I just decided to throw the black mess up into a bun. I slid on my dainty white flats, grabbed my notebook and I was off to the restaurant in my car. The repair shop called me this morning to come pick it up. And after intense negotiations between my father and the mechanic I came out only owing $600. I didn’t like biting into my savings but I would easily be able to replace it within a couple weeks.

I parked in the Touch of Italy Restaurant lot. Looking around at the cars and minivans, I wondered how far as I going to take this lie?

To the moon and back.

As I got out of the my car, I tightened myself up mentally as best I could.

I’m definitely doing this.

When I walked into the restaurant, I found the hostess and was led to a booth in the back corner that had a pretty amazing view of the beach not 10 ft from me. As I put my purse down, I smelled green peppers and onions and looked up. A waitress whipped by with a sizzling iron plate.

Smelled good.

The restaurant was busy, a great cacophony rising up from all the life in the place. While waiters danced around with trays of steaming food or piles of used dishes, families and couples and groups of friends laughed, talked, argued. The mad chaos struck me as more awesome than ordinary, and sitting by myself I felt utterly separate. Just as the thought entered my head a harried waitress came up to the table. The woman put down a plastic glass of water, spilling some.

“You waiting for someone?”

“Yes, I am.”

“You want a drink?”

“Coca-Cola please”.

As the waitress took off, I sipped the water, tasted metal, and pushed the glass away.

On any other day I would have smiled at the couples filling the sidewalk. I would have seen my future reflected in them, my hand being touched gently by a man who adored me and a shy smile playing on my lips.

But not tonight.

I pulled out my phone, not to check for messages, but to flick through Instagram.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught a flurry of movement at the front door.

Holy… Wow.

Oliver walked into the restaurant wearing a blue polo and and white jogger pants. There was something unnerving about how movie star beautiful he was. His shoulders were broad as the door he’d come through, his legs so long he was taller than anyone in the place. And as he strode through the knot of people at the entrance, the other men looked down or away or at their phones, as if they knew they couldn’t measure up to what he had going on.

“Your Coca-Cola”, the waitress said handing me my drink. I didn’t even have time to say thank you before she was heading to the next table.

“Hey,” Oliver said rushing over to me breathless. His voice was spectacular. A deep, resonant drawl.

“Hi, yourself.”

“I’m sorry, I’m late”, he quickly kissed my cheek before taking his seat across from me. He stunned me with his kiss.

Quickly, had to pick up my IQ off the floor,”It’s fine, life happens”.

He probably had another client before me.

“It won’t happen again. And definitely not on the island”.

“Really, it’s okay”, I said pulling out my notebook and a glittery black pen,”It’s only a couple minutes nothing to worry about”.

The waitress came over and slowly put down a glass of water in front of Oliver. I could practically smell her lusty response to his face and his body.

“Hi, I’m Amber,” she said sweetly. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Water is fine”.

The waitress stepped a little closer to him. “Can I tell you about our specials?”

“No, thank you”, he smiled politely. The waitress clearly wasn’t expecting that and deflated walked away. I kind of felt bad for the way she was completely rejected. “So I found my passport”.

“Yay”, I smiled. “And I have your plane ticket, the itinerary and hotel room information”.

Oliver took the the pink folder I made for him and flipped through the pages,”Jesus, a 5 AM flight?”

“It’s the one everyone in the wedding party, but not a real wedding party is taking. We got a discount”.

Oliver nodded as he continued to read,”Did you put your résumé in here?”

“Yup. I have no idea what information you need”.

“You went to Daytona State College?”

“I basically did the absolute bare minimum. C’s and B’s for the most part and almost lost my liver to alcohol poisoning”, I joked.

“O God. You do not strike me as the type to party your way through a degree”.

“I was so completely different person. I have no idea what I wanted to do other than I needed to go to college. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what the plan is”.

Oliver chuckled himself,”You still don’t know what you want to be when you grow up”.

“Happy. If I’m happy I’m successful. Everything else will come”, I confessed meeting looking into his eyes. I hadn’t realised that blue could be such hot fire until I met Oliver.

“Where did you go to college?”

“What makes you think I went?” He challenged.

“You have some pretty good analytical skills if you can track me down to my exact office”.

“Street smarts have nothing to do with book smarts”.

“Tuition is also stupidly expensive so I can understand why you pursued this job”.

He put down folder and directed his attention to me,”I’ll dissect this later. This is just a getting to know you session: What do you like? What do you not like? Your expectations on how you want this week to turn out”.

He deflected hard.

“We do everything on the itinerary and on the day of the wedding we make sure Michelle has the best day of her life. Once we get her down the aisle successfully we drink the night away”.

“I don’t drink on the job”, he stated.

“It’s going to be a long week then”, I said sipping my soda.

“Your water, sir”, the waitress said back perky again. “Can I get you started on something?”

“We’re not quite ready”, he smiled.

“Okay, just let me know when you are”.

“Actually, I am—” she ran off completely ignoring me,”Okay…”

“I’ll wave her down next time she passes by”, he said.

“No, I got it”, I answered turning around to the other booth who was just placing their order with a young blonde man who couldn’t be out of high school.

“Hey, I know I’m probably not in your section but can you tell the redhead woman I would like some bread and the Stuffed Challed Freach Toast”, I turned to Oliver,”Do you know what you want?”

“No”.

“That it for now. Thank you so much”, the waiter who’s name badge said Tim quickly wrote down what I said and made a beeline to the kitchen. I apologize to the couple behind me and returned my attention back to Oliver who had casually gone back to my folder of notes.

“So it looks like schedule-wise You have everything planned down to the micro second except Friday”.

“A day of rest. Thursday is the bachelor and bachelorette party and I will be passed out until noon”.

“You daredevil”, he muttered. “So what do you want me to do??”

“Whatever you want”, I shurgged.

“Cool”, I want to put down the folder,”So how do you want the week to play out?”

“Like I said I just don’t want those awkward lonely moments sitting at a table alone, feeling like the 3rd wheel”, or like there’s something wrong with me because I don’t have anyone.

“Gotcha. And tell me about your friends”.

“So if you turn to page six I have like a mini bio for each of them with pictures. So it’s Michelle’s wedding, we’ve been best friends since I don’t even know when. She used to live next door to me, we went to grade school, middle school, high school and college together. She’s an engineer at Boeing in California, super smart and loved dogs. Sara Norah I met her in college. Her car had broken down and I gave her a jump. We kept running it into each other on campus and the rest is history. She’s a lawyer up in Chicago and she got married about a year ago just between me and you her husband cheated on her about 4 months ago. Apparently, they’re working on it but it’s definitely awkward when they’re together. We just ignore it or try to at least. Elisabeth Thérèse is another childhood friend she lived two blocks away from us and is the sweetest person you will ever meet. She is always so genuinely pure and happy. Just picture a Disney princess come to life. She met her husband in preschool and After a year of going to different colleges she and her then boyfriend just decided to get married one weekend. Everything went wrong basically we were in the middle of a hurricane and had to evacuate. But it’s definitely memorable”.

“It’s a full house”, Oliver commented.

“And there is always drama when we get together. So it’ll be nice to have one normal person there”.

“We’ll put them all to shame”, He promised raising his water glass. I raised my Coke glass and we clinked our plastic cups. “I think I have the basic idea of you but if you had to pitch yourself to a stranger how would you do it?”

“Umm”, I felt like this was a question someone would ask you on an interview,”Hard-working, kind, career driven woman who loves my family and friends. And what about you?”

“Whoever you want me to be”.

“That sounds miserable, to be a character for an entire week? You can just be yourself”.

“What if myself is a crack addict?” He jested.

“Then you are the healthiest looking crack addict I have ever seen”.

“Weed?”

“Pass that shit”, I reponded.

“I’m an alcoholic”.

“For this weekend so am I”.

“I’m vegan”.

“You monster”, I joked making us both laugh.

“Here you go”, our waitress said passing me my French toast before giving all of her attention to Oliver, “What can I get you?”

“I’ll do the Chicken Alfredo with a salad on the side”.

“I’ll get right on that”, She said giving his shoulder or squeeze before giddly walking away.

“If she squeezed any harder she’d take the whole arm”, I articulated.

“At least she doesn’t have talons for nails”.

“You take it better than I would. I don’t like strangers touching me. Everyone has a bubble that should be respected”.

“You have no idea how true that is”, I never thought about it before but I bet in his line of work a lot of people don’t have boundaries.

My heart softened. I didn’t know what led him to prostitution. But, I could tell Oliver was smart he had so much to give to the world and I felt sad for his predicament,”Hey—“

“Teddy? Ted”, a gentle voice said. Oliver and I both turned to the voice to see an old woman in a walker slowly making her way over to us followed by an older man. The old couple looked picturesque together.

Oliver quickly whipped his head back to me,”I have all the information I’ll make sure I’m at the airport on time and I won’t be late. If you come up with any ideas reach out to Ivan and he’ll get me”.

“Okay?”

“You can go”, But I just got my food.

“Am I missing something?”

“Heather is one of my clients”, He said with pleading eyes.

Eww?

I mean good for Heather forgetting some at her age but…

Yeah, I should go.

“I’ll see you at the airport”, I said collecting my notebook and purse. I quickly threw down a $20 bill which should be more than enough for my half of lunch.

We both stood up at the same time and Oliver turned around to the old couple and with his arms open announced,”How’s my favorite girl?”

I made my way out the back quickly and silently. Thank God I wore flats and not heels. The uneven pavement mixed with my ability to trip on flat surfaces would make a dangerous combination. I made it to my car and toss my items in the passenger seat. Now that I had all of the big details ironed out tonight I would break the news to my parents I was bringing a date to the wedding. After I did that I could officially send my RSVP.

Since I was akk the way out here I might as well go look for a dress for the wedding. Just as I started to pull out of my parking spot I heard a tap at my window that made me scream.

It was Oliver.

I rolled down my window and stared at him confused,”Did you forget something?”

“Heather saw you. She wants to meet you”, He said getting right to the point.

“Why? I’m all for having your kinks and fetishes but I really don’t need to be a part of any role play you have going on”.

“Heather has Alzheimer. She comes in and out of it. But the one thing she has held on to is her son. She’s forgotten her husband, parents and siblings but she remembers her child. Apparently, I look a lot like him. So it makes her happy to see me. Her husband, Tommy, pays me to come by once a week and we sit and talk; she tells me about whatever is on her mind”.

“O my god… That’s horrible. What happened to her son?” There had to be a reason Oliver was filling in for him.

“He die in a car crash 40 years ago”.

“O…” I didn’t even know what to say other than oh.

“She saw you and now she thinks I’m hiding a woman from her. Ten minutes of your time will mean the world to her and—“

“Of course”, I said cutting him off and grabbing my purse. I turned off my car and got out of my car,”That’s really nice what you’re doing for her. They probably look forward to moments of respite”.

“It’s easy money”, He shrugged as we made our way back into the restaurant.

“You know I have a good bullshit detector. It’s off the charts right now”, before he could tell me more lies I quickly asked,”Are there any topics I should try and stay away from?”

“We don’t talk about cars for obvious reasons. Try and keep things as simple as possible and focus on her feelings not facts”.

“Okay”, It wasn’t long before we walked up on the booth I had just fled from. The elderly couple sat lovingly side by side,”Hi, Heather and Tommy”.

Looking at these two I didn’t have to fake a smile they were adorable together. Heather leaned against Tom my and it looked like he was reading her the menu. Heather pushed her white hair back out of her face and she sat up straight elated to see me. “Come sit, my dear”.

I slid back into the booth and if I didn’t know any better I would say Heather and Tommy were Oliver’s parents. Heather had amazing blue eyes just like Oliver and Tommy was just as tall him as well. “It’s so nice to meet you. Ted has told me so much about you”.

“Well we’ve been dying to meet you”, Tommy said speaking up as Oliver put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close against him.

“Who are you, my dear?”

“Mom, this is Sophia. She’s come to meet you”, Oliver said softly.

“O, right”, Heather said still looking a bit lost.

“Teddy’s girlfriend”, Tommy smiled. “He’s been hiding her form us”.

“She’s too pretty for you, Teddy”, I liked hearing that,”Pretty girls have options. They have affairs”.

“O no”, I gasped.

“Sophia isn’t like that”.

“Right”, I said quickly backing up Oliver.

“Definitely not a home wrecker.. or a potential one”.

I felt all of his hand snake down my leg and squeeze my knee as if to give me a queue for something,”Mom, did you go to the beauty shop?”

“O yes, yes I did”, she brighten up,”Dose my hair look good?”

“You look like a million bucks”, Oliver encouraged.

“Prettiest girl in the room”, Tommy echoed. Tommy and Oliver collectively work together to get Heather in a good spot mentally. Tommy ordered her meal and Oliver and I got to finish the one we started. There were moments I could tell who Heather actually was. Most of the time she was lost but happy when she looked at Oliver.

As Heather finished her soup She stared blankly at me,”Do you go to school with Teddy? He’s going to be a doctor, you know”.

“School was never my thing. I work for the state”, I answered.

“He’s going to help people like me”, She said in a moment of clarity.

“Changing the world one good deed at a time”, I said looking up to Oliver. His eyes were the blue of every dancing sky, infinite hues illuminated by newborn light.

“Well, I think we closed the place down”, Tommy said making me look up to see the restaurant that was busy just a few moments ago and was empty and it was dark outside. I had completely lost track of time,”Ready to go home, baby doll?”

“The New will be on?”.

“It will”, Tommy vowed. It was adorable how they interacted with each other. It was still like they loved each other like teenagers. Tommy helped Heather out of the booth and as she started walking with her walker he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He laid a wad of cash down on the table,”Thank you, she’s going to remember this for a long time”.

“Anytime”, Oliver smiled.

“And your rate ma’am?”

“Excuse me?”

“She’s not a worker. She’s just a friend”, Oliver explained.

“Well I appreciate it kindly. I can write you a check—“

“No, God no you don’t owe me anything just doing my good deed for the day”.

Tommy noted his head with appreciation and followed after Heather. “You could have made some good money five hours of work”.

“At $200 an hour that’s highway robbery to the tune of $1,000. You like talking to Heather if you didn’t you would have let me go home. I’m good at sniffing out bullshit. Is there some unwritten rule about you can’t like your clients?”.

“It has to be a line between professional and personal. Heather and Tommy, even you are clients frist”, he explained.

“So even though you enjoy talking to Heather if she didn’t pay you you wouldn’t stop by from time to time to make an old woman’s day?”

“No”.

“Bullshit”, All of the warmth, kindness care and attention he gave Heather wasn’t an act. It was genuine even if he didn’t want to admit it.

“We’re getting ready to close”, One of the bus boy said coming to collect our empty plates.

“Right”, We got out of the booth and I stretched not used to sitting down for that long. My bones cracked like a plastic water bottle being squeezed too hard.

We made our way outside of the restaurant and into the parking lot. Sunset came to the highlands as God’s poetry, hues from flame to heather told in soft rolling verse,”Did you get a new car?”

“No, I think I’m done with driving at least for now?”

“Do you need a ride?” I asked I asked as a cold shiver ran down my spine.

“No, I can walk”.

“Aren’t you afraid to get mugged?” I lowered my voice as I said my next concern,”And you’re carrying a lot of cash on you. People have been killed for less”.

“It’s just a rule. I don’t let clients know where I live. Safety”.

“My God your paranoid. What do you think I’m going to do against you? I’m 5’5 on a good day and maybe 135 lb on a bad day. I’m lucky if I can even lift the bar at the gym. I promise you I’m not going to break into your house and take advantage of you”, I promised. I can see he was debating with himself,”We’re spending a week in the Bahamas together. I’m trusting that you’re not going to kill me I’m asleep. And didn’t you do a background check on me? If I had any felonies they would have definitely shown up but I bet you only found a couple of parking tickets”.

“Like eight”, he stated.

“Driving is hard. Now, get in the car”, I said finish debating.

Chapter 6 You Think I’m Dreamy

As soon as we got into the car a heavy downpour hit from blossomed sunset clouds come hard water-petals. We pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main street,”Make a left”.

“Okay”.

We drove in silence listening to the radio. I told Oliver he could pick anything he wanted on the radio. He said he was fine with listening to top 40 hits mixed with the sound of rain and windshield wipers.

“So are you really going to school to be a doctor? Or is that just part of the story Heather believes?”

I kept my eyes focused on the road but I could tell I had Oliver’s attention,”I am”.

“You’re going to give the cast of Grey’s Anatomy a run for their money”, I smiled.

“Not that kind of doctor. I’m studying to be a Psychiatrists”.

“Are you still in your undergraduate?” I asked.

“Recent graduate. Hoping to go to The University of Florida in the fall if I have the money to pay for it”.

He just made $1,000 tonight. If he didn’t have enough money to go to school in the fall there was something truly wrong with the system,”Don’t you qualify for financial aid?”

“Very little”.

“How? You’re a student you make legally no money. You should qualify for every assistance available from food stamps to housing vouchers”.

“Something to do with my taxes I’m not 100% sure. Ivan normally takes care of it”.

“I’m not trying to insult your friend but I feel like he’s ripping you off. You’re a student and technically independent contractor I would assume it takes a lot of money to do what you do. And everything from clothes, your phone, car even your rent if you’ve ever entertained in your home it’s a tax write off”, I explained.

“Do you work for H&R block too?”

“No, I’ve picked up a couple of things as I temped around. I would definitely look into why you only get so little”.

“Are you offering?”

“I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you”, I said.

“I would greatly appreciate it”.

“You’re welcome. I’ll even do you one better, my friend Sara Norah, the lawyer from Chicago her husband went to the University of Florida. You should network with him see if he knows of any secret scholarships. It doesn’t hurt to ask?”

“Just my pride”, he mumbled.

“You can’t do it all on your own. Everyone needs support. And there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. You’re going to be a psychiatrist. I would imagine the people you would see have to make the first big step and say I need help from Dr. McDreamy”.

“You think I’m dreamy?” He said with an audible smile. I could feel his smugness radiating off of him.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know. It’s not a good look”.

“Being confident in myself?”

“Being cocky, there’s a difference”, I clarified.

Oliver pointed to a gorgeous white brick, beach side, three story mini mansion,”That’s me”.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah”, I pulled over off the street right in front of the cement blue fence that surrounded the property.

“That’s why you can’t afford college”, I stressed putting the car in park.

“I got a get deal on it. And a house is a investment”.

“Not beachside ones that are going to end up underwater the next time hurricane season hit. Forget your taxes you need a Fiduciary”.

“I have no idea what that is”.

“It’s a Financial Planner but instead of them looking out for the business and charging you a bunch of hidden extra fees a Fiduciary acts your behalf putting the clients’ interest ahead of their own”, I explained.

“And you do that?”

“I will because there is no feasible way on Earth and you should be losing money. I reached into the backseat and pull up my notebook. I tore out a piece of paper and wrote down my email and phone number,”Send me over your bank statements or your ledgers and I’ll find what the problem is”.

I do this all the time for people filing unemployment.

Oliver took the paper and promised to send over the filed,”I’ll see you at the airport”.

“I’ll see you then”, I smiled as Oliver got out of the car, unlocked the gate and headed inside his house. Once I knew he was safely inside I made my own way home.

Chapter 7 Don’t Kill My Vibe

Toothbrush and toothpaste.

Check.

Deodorant.

Check.

Headphones and backup phone charger.

Check.

I was good to go. I had my oversized carry-on bag and my check bag ready to go. Bubbles was going to spend the week with Summer who so graciously agreed to take him. It was 2:30 AM and my Uber would be here to take me to the airport in 5 minutes.

I tried to look nice deciding to go with a light amount of makeup some brown eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush and pink lipstick. I even curled my hair which I rarely did. Michelle had planned a brunch/lunch for us once we all got to the island. So I wanted to look somewhat nice. I decided on a mint green woven knee-length dress featuring a smocked bodice, a straight neckline and a floral crochet hem. I paired the dress with my comfortable wedged braided espadrille outsole, slip-on sandal.

It only took an hour and a half for me to get to the airport, check my bag get through airport security get a badly needed a cup of coffee and find my gate. At this early hour the airport is as serene as it ever is. The people move with ease, quiet rivers of humanity freshly roused from their slumber. The floors are clean and white, reflecting the early rays of sun and the manmade light the same.

Since I was so early I decided to enjoy my coffee in front of the Starbucks not that far away from my gate. I pulled out my laptop and got to work on Oliver’s finances.

To my surprise he didn’t use a bank account. Everything was cash. Which was infinitely harder to budget. But after spending an afternoon organizing pictures of crumbled up receipts, invoices and cash app screenshots I had a pretty good idea of what he made in a month.

Now, I just needed to make it digestible and easy to understand.

And the numbers disgust me:

$11,000 on mortgage including utilities.

$800 on food wasn’t bad.

$250 on household items.

$6,000 on Personal upkeep

$750 on his undriveable car

And that didn’t include insurance.

And $15,000 to Ivan. What the hell did Ivan do to constitute that kind of money every month?

$1,500 on entertainment.

And don’t even get me started on the credit card debt.

The list didn’t stop. He spent more than what he made. And he made a ridiculous amount of money.

Oliver easily made $35,300 in a month and he couldn’t squeeze in tuition, savings, health insurance or car insurance. Clearly, I had made a mistake. Something wasn’t right so I went back over all of the receipts, invoices and screenshots and came up with the exact same numbers.

As I type with one hand I massaged my templates with the other.

No.

My math is right.

“You’re working hard”, I heard a familiar voice say as a hand gently came down on my bare shoulder.

“We need to talk…what are you wearing. Its going to be like 90°”, I said taking in his business casual navy pants and rolled up long sleeve cotton white shirt.

“Business-sexual attire”, he said coming to sit across from me,”Women love this style. It’s like part of some Victorian turn on that never went away. I guarantee you’ll be the envy of your friends”.

“You’re going to pass out”, I turned my laptop around so he could see my Excel sheet,”I looked at your finances”.

“Oooo, and?”

“You are hemorrhaging money. Just look at the numbers. In a month you made 33,000 dollars, some people don’t even make that in a year”, I stressed.

“That pretty good”, he said shaking his head.

“No, it’s not good when you spend $11,000 on your mini mansion, $6,000 on personal upkeep and what the hell are you paying Ivan $15,000 for?”

“Its the price of doing business. Ivan finds client, background checks—“

“O my god, he’s your pimp”.

“He prefers manager”, Oliver corrected leaning back in his chair.

“It takes $15,000 a month to connect you with lonely women?”

“It really depends. The most I’ve ever had to pay Ivan was $20,000 in a good month. A slow month maybe a thousand”.

I closed my laptop in summoned all of my patients,”But you can see how that is a ridiculous amount of money?”

“O, I agree. But, business is business”.

“What is more important to you? Finishing school or living in a mansion? That is so over the top you literally can’t afford it. And not to mention the six grand you spend on personal care”.

“I can’t have shampoo?”

“Not when it costs $300 a bottle and you go through two in a week. What is more important to you? Investing in your future so you don’t have to do this anymore or having a mansion on the beach?”

“I really like my house”, he pouted with sad brilliant electric blue eyes. “It was the first big thing I ever owned”.

I was being realistic but I wasn’t heartless. He loved his place I could see it in his eyes. “If your house is really important then you’ll cut corners somewhere else. Maybe even think about renting out a room or two. If you are serious about getting control of your finances I will help you. But don’t make me waste my time. You have to promise me that you will at least try to do the plan I come up with for you?”

“There’s no harm in trying”.

“If you listen to me you’ll be able to pay for school, books, health insurance, and car insurance”.

I shoved my laptop back into my bag and as I bend down black pants came into view,”Latte with cream for, Sam?”

Sam?

Who the hell was Sam?

“Thank you, darling”, a barista said giddy to to have Oliver’s attention. Before I can ask whose Sam was or why he was using a fake name. Oliver got to the real questions,”So, how are we introducing ourselves to your friends we’re a couple obviously but how?”

“I don’t know…” I didn’t really think about that,”We met online?”

“So picturesque. We’re selling a fantasy an idea. Do you just want me to make something up?”

“Sure”, I shrugged.

“Good, because friend number one has just arrived”, He said casually sipping on his coffee.

“Blonde hair?”

“Yup”.

“Disney fanny pack?”

“Horribly so”, I stood with arms wide open as Elisabeth and I hugged each other like well old friends. I don’t remember the last time we all got together after college. I could tell from the way she was dressed today is inspiration was Snow White. She wore a bright yellow pleated skirt and a navy blue sweater with red heels. Elisabeth liked to DisneyBound. Something I very quickly learned from the semester we were roommates. Everyday rain or shine Elisabeth dressed like a Disney character. It can be something as mainstream as Ariel to The background character that was used for 3 seconds in the Rescuers Down Under. It was weird but it was just the right flavor of corkiness.

“I’m so excited to see you! My god it’s been so long! The girls always ask when you’re coming around”.

Aurora and Belle were the only kids I liked. They were so sweet and appreciative of all the gifts I sent them on birthdays Christmas and anytime I found something Disney related. I always got a card, poorly written but genuinely sincere,”Someone’s birthday is coming up so I will probably be around”.

“How is Shane?”

“Wonderful, we forgot our sunblock so he’s getting some and some bottled water his tummy gets upset on planes”, She quickly changed the subject,”Did you see Michelle’s registry?”

“Hell, yeah”.

“$500 for six wine glasses”, Thank God Elisabeth thought the same way I did.

“Even crazier a $3,000 vacuum cleaner. I love Michelle but Jesus she couldn’t pick something at least a fraction of the cost. I just went with the second cheapest thing”, $400 curtains.

“I couldn’t even afford cheapest. I’m just giving her cash. I feel terrible I don’t actually have something. But—“

“Girl, You do not have to explain yourself to me. We can’t all be born with a silver spoon in our mouth”, I said defending her.

“And who doesn’t love cash?” Oliver said coming up behind me placing one hand around my waist and the other he extended out to Elisabeth.

Oh yeah, I paid for a boyfriend. I had almost forgotten he was here.

Elisabeth was visibly blushing and she extended her hand out to shake Oliver’s only for him to pull her hand to his lips and kiss her knuckles briefly,”Enchanté , Mademoiselle”.

“O fancy”, Elisabeth said like a giggling school girl.

“Elisabeth, right? I’ve heard so much about you from, Soph”.

“I hope only good things”, she smiled.

“Only the best”,he promised “Would you like to sit with us?”

“Of course”, Elisabeth sang going to sit where Oliver had originally been. Now, he sat next to me playing his part perfectly. Elisabeth reached into her fanny pack and pulled out a container of wet wipes and cleaned the spot in front of her,”So how did you two meet?”

“Onlin—”

Oliver cut me off as he wrapped his arm around the back of my chair,”It’s actually a funny story, Sophie was a Temp at FirsTrust. She was the most gorgeous woman I’d never seen, it took me a full week even to talk to her…”

“Awww”, Elisabeth melted.

“And even then when I got the courage to talk to her she completely shut me down”, He’s really selling this lie,”All business with this one”.

They both laughed at my expense,”And what do you do?”

“I’m a Fiduciary”, bullshit not with the way he spends money.

“Oh that sounds complicated”.

“Some days I don’t even know how I do it”, There was the truth. “Long story short, a lot of late nights working together we became friends and when Sophia’s contract ended I knew I wasn’t going to see her again. So I laid all my cards on the table asked her out on a real date and here we are”.

“O, that sounds so sweet”, Elisabeth said putting her hand over her heart as if she was trying to contain it. “And you, can’t believe you didn’t tell us about…”

“Oliver. Oliver Kennedy”.

“Oliver. He’s sweeping you off your feet and you’ve been keeping him a secret”.

“You didn’t tell them about our 8th month anniversary? I put so much work into my gift”.

“What?” I truly didn’t know what to say or what reaction I was supposed to give.

“What did you do?” Elisabeth said hooked.

“I surprised her with a weekend get away in Miami. We stayed at the Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables. It was really nice we saw the city from a helicopter, when wine tasting on a yacht, visited the World Erotic Art Museum and ended the day with dinner at Palme d’Or”.

“That sounds perfect”, Elisabeth said dreamly.

“Soph, what did you get Oliver?”

“Sex”, I said as Oliver answered for me.

“She rented a Jet Ski for us. It was a dream of my to try and she pushed me to”, Oliver pulled me closer to him and kissed me on my cheek.

“Awww you guys are so cute! Maybe by this time next year we’ll be heading to Bermuda for you two”.

“Who knows”, I said needing to end this conversation. “So how are the girls?”

“Well Aurora is hitting those terrible two and Belle is… Well, I don’t know. You know how we try to do preschool half days. I don’t know if she’s ready or if she just wants to stay home with Mommy. But, she’s absolutely miserable and drained when she comes home”.

“Maybe she’s not ready for preschool and she just needs to start clean kindergarten?” Oviler suggested like he was a child whisperer.

“That’s what I think but Shane is determined to keep her in school. It’s not like she’s learning anything I couldn’t teach her”.

“I mean at this point it’s just colors and shapes. Not exactly rocket science. You could totally do it”, She was a stay-at-home mom. She had nothing but time to help Belle.

“It’s not as easy as you’re making it sound. Two kids and still all the housework in the world to do. Not to mention just a moment of peace to yourself”.

“Exactly”, Elisabeth added.

There was a soft announcement over the intercom,”We will now begin boarding our first class and business class passengers for flight AA 4265 to Bermuda Airport”.

“O, that’s us”, I said standing up and collecting my bag.

“You upgraded to first class?” Elisabeth asked dumbfounded.

Was it so surprising I wanted to be comfortable for the next five hours?

“Business. My boss let me use this point. Either they went to me or they just expired so I took them”.

“Honey?” A man called out clearly lost with two rolling carry-on bags in each hand. Shane had always looked like a dad even in college. But right now he was rocking those cargo shorts, worn down flip-flops t-shirt that fit a little too tight and his signature aviator sunglasses.

“O Honey, over here!” Elisabeth shouted clear enough so the whole airport could hear her.

Shane quickly made his way over to us and Elisabeth did a quick recap of everything Oliver had just told her. While Elisabeth was impressed with Oliver and clearly swooning over him Shane was not so easily won over. He tried to stand up taller as if that was going to make any difference between him and Oliver.

“Final call for first class and business class passengers to Bermuda Airport”, the announcement woman said again.

“We’ll find you when we collect our bags at the carousel. We can all ride to the hotel together”, I promised. Oliver and I quickly said are goodbyes and boarded the plane quickly and easily.

I was so happy the seats recline back like a bed. And we wouldn’t be sandwiching it between someone we didn’t know because the seats were set up two by two. The black leather seats were extremely comfortable and spacious. Oliver wanted the window seat which was fine with me. Anytime I looked out the window on a flight my whole body wanted to have a panic attack.

As we settled in the flight attendants dressed in a blue uniform came by and gave the few other people in business class tablets so we could watch movies, music and connect to the internet. We were even given complimentary headphones. But the only reason I wanted business last to begin with was the unlimited “free” alcohol. “What do you drink?”

“Water is fine. I’m working”.

“You’re going to have a miserable time on this trip if you don’t lighten up”, I said ordering my drink through the tablet. I was going to get fancy tipsy with a plastic cup on cheap champagne served like it was Dom perignon.

“I’m here to make your trip the best it can be. Plus, it’s barely five”, He said leaning over the armrest.

“Okay, Mr. Judgment. I’m on vacation. It’s wine o’clock”, I said unapologetically. “And mission accomplished. Elisabeth is in love with you”.

“Your drink, ma’am”, the flight attendant in a blue uniform said handing me my drink.

“Thank you”, I breathed taking the wine fulte. The flight attendant rushed off to help other passengers. I reached into my purse and pulled out a giant water bottle and handed it to Oliver.

“Are you carrying around Mary Poppins bag? How did that even fit in there”, He said takeing the bottle.

“I have everything in here, snacks, first aid kit, medicine, phone, battery pack, travel pillow, blanket, laptop, makeup—“

“Narnia”, Oliver laughed.

“That’s actually in my checked bag. Right next to Camp Half Blood”.

Vvvvzzztttt vvvvzzztttt vvvvzzztttt

I felt my phone vibrating at the bottom of my bag. It wouldn’t be long that I had a signal so I tried to dig through all of my stuff to answer.

“I can’t believe you have a signal”, Oliver said pulling out his iphone. “I have no bars”.

“It’s probably because my phone is connected to the internet from the airport”, I kept digging but I couldn’t find my phone. I would have to dump everything out to get to it. “It’s probably just my parents”.

“Are they on this flight?”

“No, they’re coming down the day of the wedding. But, I’ll be giving them play-by-play of everything that happens every night. It’s just part of our routine”.

“That’s nice your close with your family”.

“Yeah”, I didn’t always believe that but now that I’m older it is nice,”Are you close to your family?”

“No”, he stated bluntly as I gave up looking for my phone. From the harshness in his voice and how quickly he dismissed the idea of him being close to his family something had happened. If he was my friend I would try and figure out what happened. But what’s crossing a line and what’s not. He didn’t owe me an answer.

But I did know a thing or two about holding on to a grudge.

“Tell me to shut up if I’m being too pushy or overstepping. Whatever they did to you, however badly they hurt you if you hold on to it the pain, the hate, the anger it just eats away at yourself. It makes you bitter and small. And you deserve better than to let other people define you”, I finished off my drinks and felt my cheeks warm.

“In a perfect world that happens”, Oh he was hurt bad.

“It either happens or—“

“You avoid it. In the name of self-preservation”.

“What did they do?” I asked lowering my voice.

Oliver leaned closer to me over the armrest and I leaned in as well,”I could ask you the same”.

“Are you asking?” I challenged.

“You share your trauma I’ll share mine”. He said with a raise eyebrow as if he thought I wouldn’t open up to him.

In a deadlock I stared into his blue eyes and watched the vibrant color of the midwinter sky stare back at me,”I was going to marry my high school sweetheart but he left me at the altar”.

“That’s pretty bad”.

“It gets worse. He decided to come back into my life four months later with no explanation and I let him. I let him treat me like absolute garbage until I didn’t have any self worth. I didn’t believe I deserved anything better than what I had. And for a year I went to some pretty dark places until I snapped out of it. I just had this epiphany right after I had been kicked out of his car and I was walking back to my dorm, barefooted, crying scared at night. I didn’t need this. I didn’t want this. I didn’t deserve this. I sent him a text that just said it’s over”.

“He put you through the ringer”.

“Knock me completely down. But I got back up, it was hard but I wouldn’t change a thing”, It made me all the more stronger.

“Now you can stop me if I’m going too far but did he. You know…”

“Trey had a temper. I learned what not to do to set him off. If that answers the question”.

“Yeah, it dose. I’m… I’m sorry”.

“You don’t need to apologize. You didn’t do anything. I was young, stupid and love or at least I thought I was in love. I had a fantasy I wanted to live in reality and the real world isn’t a rom-com”.

“It’s whatever you make it”, he asked. Oliver exhaled hard and picked up his tablet and I watched him order a rum and coke. The captain came on the speaker and told us we would start our departure right on time. It wasn’t until the plane started slowly making its way down the runway that Oliver spoke again. “It’s not a happy story so I don’t lead with it with clients”.

“Can we be acquaintances at least? I’m helping refinance your life and you just learned I was a physical and emotional punching bag. We’ve crossed a line”.

“Do acquaintances have to buy wedding dates?”

“I didn’t really “buy you” we came to a mutually beneficial agreement”, I protested.

“You’re drink, sir”, A male flight attendant said handing over the rum and coke. As soon as it left his hand he was rushing to the back of the plane.

“I can do acquaintances”, He said taking a sip of his drink in the plastic clear cup. It’s only been one day and look at us being acquaintances maybe by the end of the trip we may actually be friends. I waited patiently for him to speak and once he was ready he began his story,”I don’t know who my mother is. She never wanted anything to do with me and I kind of wish my dad was that way too. My dad had a bad heroin problem which led to child services coming in and out of our lives. Some months I would be in foster care sometimes I could come back home I was just all over the place. My parents had no business having me. And yet here I am”.

“Yes, here you are living in a mansion, going to The University of Florida to be a doctor and—” Oliver gave me an extremely dry look that said I was missing the big thing in his life. “I’m counting the good things. You are the only good thing to come out of your parents. And that’s a testament to you”.

“Are you always this optimistic?”

“Yes”, I smiled. “You are amazing and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You’ve been through hell and back, and you could have put that hell on the world but you haven’t. You’re a good man and that is that”.

“I’m going to have to keep your number anytime I need a pep talk you’ll be the first person I turn to”.

“I’m happy to be your cheerleader”, I said is the plane supersonic down the runway. This was the worst part of flying that pressure that came pounding down on my chest that made me feel like I was going to sink back down to the ground. I held on tight to the arm rest and made myself hold my breath until we evened out in the air.

I felt Oliver’s hand come down on top of mine and with a gentle squeeze he said,”Breathe. As your anxiety increases, your breathing becomes shallow—but deep, conscious breathing is an instant stress reliever. Breathe slowly, Sophia and deeply for a count of five or 10, in through your nose and out through your mouth”.

I did as Oliver said and slowly I was able to open my eyes and feel a little less panic.

“Thanks”.

“I’d be a shitty psychiatrist if I couldn’t talk someone down from a anxiety attack”, he held up one the free wired headphones. We listen slow classical music that almost put me to sleep until I made an executive decision to put something with a beat on.

And for the rest of the flight we had a weird mix of classical music and any song I recognized.

And it was perfect.

Chapter 8 Welcome To Coco Reef

The airport was a cocoon of steel, the walls so elegantly curved and wrapped around to create this inner space. And the beams supported so many windows, let in so much light, that in the daytime it is as bright as any summers day. We arrived at noon, when the people moved as chaotic rainbows, so brilliant were the colours. They flowed from the check-in desks to the cafe’s and through the gates, each one of them heading for a destination of their own making.

As soon as we landed I could hear my phone vibrating. But I still couldn’t find it. As Oliver and I waited at the bag carousel I just started pulling everything out of my bag. It wasn’t until I emptied everything in my bag onto the floor did I find my phone. As I quickly shoved everything back into my bag Oliver bent down and helped me collect my things,”Thank you”.

“They let you take tweezers on a plane?”

“They didn’t stop me. I don’t know how I can take over a plane with eyebrow tweezers”, I joked to myself.

As soon as we got everything back into my bag the first set of luggage started to pour down the metal carousel conveyor belt. I flipped through my phone to see I had eight missed calls from Elisabeth and about 20 different texts. I didn’t even bother reading the text I just called her assuming the worst. What if she or Shane got sick on the plane? What if something happened to the girls? I assume they got on the plane.

“What’s yours look like?” Oliver asked looking over everyone.

“Umm hard case red roller with a black Kate Spade cat ID”, I said balancing the phone between my ear and my shoulder as I try to reorganize the things in my bag. “What’s your’s look like?”

“It’s black”, He said like we weren’t standing in a sea of other black bags.

“Do you have a tag on it? Anything that makes it look different”.

“A golden zipper”, With a description like that I could visualize it right now.

Pick up, Elisabeth.

“I see yours”, Oliver said not breaking eye contact with my bag that was so far off the line I couldn’t even see a hint of red anywhere. He quickly moved his way to the crowd to go get it.

“Thank you”, I said getting Elisabeth’s voicemail. “Hey, you called? Call me back so I know everything is okay”.

I hung up and just as I was about to check my text messages I saw a black with a gold zipper I shoved my phone back in my purse. I quickly grabbed the heavy bag and struggling pulled it off the carousel. “Jesus, Oliver did you take all of Florida with you!?”

Vvvvzzztttt vvvvzzztttt vvvvzzztttt

Are you serious?

I looked down into my purse holding on to Oliver’s luggage.

I answered the call.

“Hello? Elisabeth?”

“….I ….is here…”

“What? Elisabeth you’re breaking up?”

“…here”.

“Who’s here?” I asked again.

“Sophia?” Completely freeze as my body breaks out in a cold sweat. My brain tells me to run as my heart hammers in my chest.

I am at a loss for words.

My shock brings a quietness within, a moment to feel my emotions change gear and girder my soul for what is to come. I turn, but too slowly to be normal.

Fuck me dead.

“Trey…” He was still the kind of handsome that got into your bones, that spoke to you of olden times before he’d said a word. He had buzz cut his black hair and dark down eyes that in this moment we’re pleasant but I knew they could rain hell.

“It’s been to long, Soph. How have you been?” He opened his arms for a hug and when I didn’t move he came closer to me making me back away. I accidentally bumped into a woman and once she was gone I was trapped.

Panic switches off my brain.

“Stop!” I demanded hoping my voice was stronger than I felt. “I don’t want to talk to you. Don’t come any closer”.

“Soph, don’t be that way”, he said clearly getting annoyed by my demand. But he was playing it cool under a smile that wanted to rip my head off for not being obedient. My heart wanted to leap out of my chest like a rabbit running for its life. Trey stood 6-ft tall and had to clearly been hitting the gym by his muscles. If he wanted to hurt me he would have no problem doing that.

“Hey Sophia, this one?” Oliver asked coming to stand in front of Trey blocking him from my view. He had found my bag.

“Yeah”, I said making direct eye contact with Oliver and then I mouthed,”Don’t leave me with him”.

Oliver nodded his head and grabbed my hand,”You found my bag”.

“Hi”, Trey said trying to get our attention.

“I think we should go find Elisabeth and Shane”, Oliver said taking both our bags in one and leading me away from Trey.

The second Oliver wasn’t there to physically block Trey he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. On instinct I pushed my elbow into his chest making him let me go. And that was the final straw for Oliver,”Do you not understand she’s not interested. So keep your fucking hands to yourself”.

“And who are you?” Trey challenged. The two men sized each other up and as tensions rose the friction became palpable in the air.

“You don’t have to explain anything to him. Let’s go”, I said more than ready to run away from the situation. “Please?”

“I just wanted to say hi”, Trey smirked.

“Do it again and I’ll break your damn arms”.

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a promise”, and without another word or thought Oliver collected our things pulled me close to him keeping his arm on my waist as we headed for the taxi collection area. I feel as if my lungs aren’t there as I try to bring air in. I can feel my muscles straining and the thoughts in my head turn from fear to a dizzy confusion.

“Just breathe. Just like you did on the plane”.

I focus on what Oliver was saying more than anything else around me. And when I do I start breathing with a sense of gratitude. It is as if the storms inside me are silent, as if he was the eye.

Once we were outside of the airport I felt better like I could finally truly breathe again. I stood again the building and calmed myself. Oliver patiently waited in front of me,”I promise you I’m not this dramatic all the time”.

“I take it we just saw your ex?”

“Yeah, I… I didn’t even know he was coming. I didn’t even know Michelle invited him. I feel like I’ve been sucker punched”, I confessed.

“You know he did that on purpose”, Oliver said taking my hand.

“What, made an ass himself of himself?”

“Waited for you to be alone to approach you”.

“Yeah, that sounds like Trey”, I exhaled hard,”Thank you for stepping in”.

“Anytime, assholes like that need to be put in their place”, Oliver reponded making me smile.

“Sophia!” Elisabeth shouted coming outside practically running over to us with Shane right behind her pushing a metal cart with their bags,”Did you get my messages?”

“I think I know what they were about”.

“That butthole. I can’t believe he had the nerve to show up! It made me so mad just seeing him. I wanted to…” Elisabeth switched to Italian when she was super mad.

“Honey, let’s not make a scene”, Shane encouraged. “But if we need to we will”.

I loved Elisabeth and Shane. Outside of my parents they were the only ones that knew Trey was an actual monster. Mostly because after one particularly brutal night when I came back to my dorm with a black eye Elisabeth took care of me. If it wasn’t for her I probably would have never told my parents what was going on. If she hadn’t put her foot down and made Shane drive 2 hours to come pick us up so they can take me to the hospital I don’t know if I would be here right now.

“I love you guys. Let’s just get to the resort. Trey is not going to ruin this wedding or this week”, I said more determined than ever to follow through on a promise to myself. Shane waved down a black minivan taxi for us.

The driver threw our bags into the back of the minivan and we filed in to the car. Oliver and I sat in the back and Shane and Elisabeth in the middle seat. Elisabeth was still furious about Trey being here but I was ready to move on. I didn’t really care why Trey was here or who had invited him. This wedding wasn’t about me it was about Michelle and Mason

“Have you heard from Sara and he who shall not be named?”

“I heard he’s not coming to the wedding. But Sara is”, I guess things just kept getting worse. I was the first to tell Sarah she should just pack up and move on. She was too smart and educated to be held back by a cheating good for nothing. But she thought she could change him and once you’ve made up your mind like that there’s nothing anyone can do. She has to come to the conclusion that being with Todd was killing her on an emotional level.

“Was she on the plane?” Oliver asked putting his arm around my shoulder.

“I don’t think so. I think she’ll be here tomorrow”, Elisabeth asked As we got on the highway then had nothing but sea on both sides. The infinite blue water is the prettiest colour I ever seem.

“Michelle is going to have a fit. We’re supposed to go to her brunch as soon as we check in”, I said pulling out my laminated itinerary binder. I flipped to the schedule for the week just to check to make sure we were still on time.

“We’re barely going to have enough time to check in, unpack and get across the resort”.

“Did you laminate the schedule?” Oliver said taking my skinny binder away and flipped through the book. I wasn’t sure on how good the Wi-Fi would be so I printed everything out I could possibly need to Google. Maps from the airport to the resort, taxi numbers, emergency numbers, emergency contacts, walking directions to all of the activities Michelle had planned, confirmation numbers, reservation receipts, car rental options and specially for me a day pass to the Bermuda Aquarium for Friday. “Really not leaving anything to chance”.

“I like knowing what’s happening in a day”.

“Are you guys really going to do everything Michelle asked? Today dosen’t she have like four things on the agenda brunch, Sailing, a perfume making class and dinner at some five-star restaurant?”

“Yup”.

“And then at 8:00 a.m. horseback riding on the beach, followed by swimming with dolphins, then shopping in the capital and lastly a ten mile cave tour”, Oliver recited.

“O heck no. I thought we were just supposed to pick one thing to do not sign up for all of them. I thought she and Mason would want some alone time. That’s constantly going from the time you wake up until we go to bed”.

“And half of those things don’t even sound fun. A 10-mile cave tour? Have rocks changed?” Shane laughed.

“I can’t imagine the fortune she’s spending on these activities”, Oliver said officially becoming one of us. Michelle has always been this way, super active money was no object and she always expected the best.

“It’s her wedding. If this is what she wants to do then—“

“It’s her wedding day. You don’t stretch it out for a week. We’ve already decided we’re doing breakfast and dinner with Michelle and Mason every day this week but there’s no way we can check everything off of her to-do list. I mean aren’t you tired right now? I know you got to the airport at least 4 hours early. What’s wrong with taking a nap? Having a late dinner and then exploring the island tomorrow when we’re all here”.

“Well, that just makes too much sense, honey”, Shane said agreeing with his wife.

“Plus it’s supposed to rain today and tomorrow”, Oliver said looking down on his phone. I didn’t even think to check the weather. I just figured rain or shine we would be doing these activities.

“And if we all tell Michelle we’re tired. She can’t be mad at all of us”, lies.

As we went around and around with what we were weren’t going to do. It wasn’t long before we arrived at the serene beachfront resort just steps from beautiful pink sand beach. Pulling up to the gated resort to the white tall building I saw the grounds were beautifully maintained with green lush grass a pool that could only be compared to the ocean not even a mile from it. The building itself was constructed following the contours of a hillside assuring a view of the Atlantic Ocean at every turn and from every room.

The car stopped under the pavilion and a team of employees quickly open our door and gathered our bags welcoming us to Coco Reef Resort. As soon as Elisabeth’s feet touch the ground she had her phone out taking pictures of everything.

We made our way inside the resort to the lobby. Everything was beautifully decorated and the air condition was strong blowing a cool breeze. The first thing I saw was the lobby’s floating spiral glass staircase which gave me a heighten sense of elegances of our surroundings. Everywhere I looked there were reminders that you are in Bermuda, from custom carpets with abstract designs based on maps of the island to the inescapable views of the ocean and coastline.

Shane and Elisabeth went to the front desk to check in while I took in the natural woods and light grays that surrounded us to create a calm and elegant space.

Unexpectedly Oliver kissed the top of my shoulder. His smooth soft lips left me feeling hot just as they pulled away,”What are you thinking about?”

“This place is crazy beautiful”.

“It is one of the top resorts on the island”, He did some research too.

“Which would make it pretty expensive”, I said looking over to a wall in the common waiting area filled with a remarkable collection of contemporary art. And I didn’t have to be an art person to know all of those pieces were expensive. I lowered my voice so no one else could hear me but Oliver,”I mean isn’t the whole point of a destination wedding to save money in the long run? Just for our room it was a hundred bucks a day and Michelle pays the rest”.

“Which is a pretty sweet deal for you. If this is how she wants to blow her money. Let her do it. We can’t all be as pragmatic as you”, Oliver said with a wink,” And who knows who’s actually financing this pageantry. You’d be surprised at how deep pockets become when people deem something a necessity”.

“I guess”, I shurgged.

“WHAT!” Elisabeth shouted seconds away from having a mental breakdown.

“Everything okay?” Oliver asked.

“No!” Elisabeth fumed rushing over to us As Shane tried to calmly talk to the concierge,”Our room has no electricity and a pipe burst”.

“Really?” A place that’s fancy has problems,”They don’t have another room?”

“All booked because this is high season”, She said with a clear engine her voice as she pushed her blonde hair back.

“What about a different hotel?” Oliver suggested.

“With no notice, on the day of they could end up in a ghetto. And you definitely wouldn’t get the same price you were getting here”.

“Exactly”, Elisabeth same with her hands on her hip so she started to pace the floor.

I didn’t want to see Elisabeth get kidnapped and sex traffics so I pulled all over off to the side out of earshot and asked,”How upset would you be if I let them room with us?”

“Is there any space”, He questioned with a confused look on his face.

“Of course there is, I got a two bedroom suite”, He clearly didn’t read the entire itinerary by the look of surprise on his face. “There’s supposed to be a pull out couch in the living room—“

“Sophia, is this a complicated ploy to get into my pants?” He challenged with a race eyebrow and sinful smirk.

“You caught me red-handed. I flew here yesterday and broke the pipes with a sledgehammer then flew back to Florida and met you at the airport”.

“I knew it”, he chortled.

“Really, I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable”, I vacillated.

“I think I can handle sharing a bed with you”, he admitted.

“I can sleep on the couch”,I offered.

“I’m sure Shane and Elisabeth would have a lot of questions. We’re both adults. It’s no big deal”, for him it was no big deal. For me I didn’t remember the last time I slept next to a man all night. I had to become quite partial to the quarter night stand.

“Okay… but we’re getting something out of this”, with my head held high and confidence in my walk I headed over to the brunette concierge in a black skirt uniform frantically typing and apologizing to Shane.”Let me tag in?”

“You’d have to work a miracle”, Shane said throwing up his hands and moving over to the side.

“Hi…” I read the woman’s name badge,”Amanda”.

“Hello welcome to Coco Reef, I’ll be with you in one—“

“Please hang up the phone and listen to me. I have a reservation under Harper. It’s a two bedroom suite and if everything is functioning there Mr. and Mrs. Thérèse are more than welcome to stay with me. We’re here for a destination wedding and it is of the utmost importance that we all stay in the same place. And I know, you just work here and I’m not trying to make things difficult for you. But if you can get your supervisor or manager I’m sure with the extra space I have we can come to some kind of arrangement”.

“Okay, ummm my supervisor won’t be here until five”, She admitted putting down the phone.

“Then you’ll have to help me. I would be more than happy to share my space if the hotel will comp our meals and drinks for the week. I know that seems like a big ask but If you think about it from the hotel standpoint a standard king size room cost $755 per night for a seven night stay that $5,285 And that’s not even including taxes or gratuity which could easily come up to be $95 a night. That’s an extra $665 that would have gone directly into your pocket split among your peers of course. Do you really want to lose 5,980 dollars in business with the possibility of pissing off an entire wedding party bride included that could cancel the entire venue and go somewhere else and that would cost thousands more. And think of it this way if we’re not paying for food and drinks we have a lot more money to spend on tips that go directly to you. So for the inconvenience I think this is a fair trade. You would still get two guest that you originally would have to turn away but you still get the to host and charge as if they had their own room”, I could tell I was losing her so I had to go for her base needs,”And I would be more than happy to sing your praises to your supervisor about this wonderful plan you came up with to keep your guests happy. It shows you’re a go-getter and willing to do whatever it takes for the good of the resort. That would be something to keep in mind for promotions pay raise. Do we have a deal?”

I could tell by her smile we had a deal,”We’re so happy to welcome you all to Coco Reef”.

Chapter 9 A Free Therapy Session

I hated putting the front desk woman in a corner but at the same time this room was amazing and that made me fine with being a garbage bully.

The two-bedroom suites was pretty online but exquisite in person with a extended private balcony with a stone fire pit and a panoramic uninterrupted view of the Atlantic Ocean. The master bedroom was furnished with a luxurious king bed while the second bedroom has a queen bed. The two marble bathrooms had a walk-in rain spa showers, double vanities, bathtubs, plush bathrobes, towels, and deluxe shampoo and soap products. A spacious living area furnished with comfortable seating, stocked and now free mini bar fridge, additional fridge and wine cooler, and an adjoining powder room.

I threw myself on the fluffy white king sized bed ready for bed. Oliver strolled over to the floor to ceiling window showed the balcony and the ocean. He stared out to the ocean with a crystal glass in his hand partly filled with bourbon.

“I thought you don’t drink on the job?” I teased.

“It’d be ashamed to let it go to waste”, he said turning to face me.

“Well, take advantage of it. If anyone else had been at the front desk I don’t think we would have gotten this sweet of a deal”.

“I’m sure you would have talked them down like a Snake Oil Salesman”, he joked.

“I’m going to take that as a good thing”,I said closing my eyes.

“Hey, don’t go getting all sleepy on me. You have a brunch to go to”, Oliver said as I felt the bed dip next to me.

“Or I could stay here and watch Netflix. We’ll try again in the morning”, I suggested.

“You came all the way to Bermuda to watch Netflix?” I open my eyes and look up to Oliver who was laying on his side waiting for a real answer,”Do you want to talk about it?”

“About what show we’re going to watch?”

“Trey”.

“I don’t even know what to say about him”, I sighed looking into Oliver’s safe blue eyes.

“How about he has a history of violents and doesn’t care when you say no. I wouldn’t just ignore the fact that he clearly has his eyes set on you”, Oliver warned.

“If it comes to anything I have a restraining order”, and a 2-day self-defense class I took a few years back.

“That’s a piece of paper. If the bride is really your friend you should tell her what happened. So she can kick his ass out of the wedding party”.

“If he does anything else I will tell Michelle. That’s going to be an awkward conversation but I will do it. I don’t think he’s going to actually do anything at least not as long as he thinks we’re together. Hitting me was no problem but going up against another man he’ll fold. Shane got up in Treys face once and that made him back down. Shane’s a giant teddy bear. so I’m sure he doesn’t want to go up against you. Trey’s too much of a pussy”.

“Those are the ones you have to be careful about. Short fuses with something to prove to the world”, Oliver rolled over on his back and stared up at the ceiling like he was trapped in a bad memory. Before I can ask him what he was thinking Oliver spoke,”Do you really want to stay in this room for the entire trip?”

“No”.

“Then let’s go”, Oliver said standing up and pulling me up with him. I felt a strong sense of dread at the idea of knowing I’ll see Trey again. I thought I was over this. I had convinced myself I had beat this demon to death with a shovel, buried it and set it on fire. Yet, a slow building panic gripped my heart.

“You know we do need to unpack”, I said It’s all over led me through the living room where Shane was watching TV.

“Elisabeth! You ready?” He asked.

“Just a minute”, she shouted back from their bedroom.

“We can wait”, I said jumping on any excuse to prolong this brunch.

“Nah, a minute really means 45 minutes to an hour”, Shane said with a wave of his hand.

“I heard that!”

“Save us a seat”, Shane said flipping through the channels.

“It will be a minute!” Elisabeth yelled back. Shane silently shook his head no.

“We’ll see you down there”, Oliver said taking my hand and led us out the door. We walk down the white hallway filled with chandeliers expensive art and modern art decor to the sliver elevator at the end of the hall. I hit the down button and we silently we waited for the elevator to come.

I didn’t like when Oliver let go of my hand. I missed the warmth of his touch and confidence it gave me. “Sophia?”

“Yeah?”

“Who else knows about Trey?”

“Umm, my parents, Elisabeth and Shane. Why?”

“You have people that support and care for you. If they knew what he did there’s not a chance in hell he’d be here”.

I glanced over to Oliver who was staring forward at the elevator. I looked down before turning my attention to the elevator as well,”This is Michelle’s wedding. If she wants him here then he should be here. They were close when we were in high school…and Michelle was the one who set us up”.

“That’s why you won’t tell her”, Oliver said like he solved the world’s greatest mystery,”You don’t want her to feel guilty for putting me together”.

“What’s the point in bringing up the past? It’s over. We can all move on”.

“I don’t think you can just move on from something like that. You have to have some kind of catharsis or reconciliation before you really can move on”.

“Am I getting a free therapy session?”

“A free consultation”, he answered. I could feel Olivers on me and it made me look up to him with a small smile.

“You’re going to be a great Psychiatrists”, I shared. We were barely a day into this adventure and he already knew more about me than most people did.

“I don’t know about that”, he said rubbing the back of his neck as his face turned pink.

“Are you blushing?” I teased.

“What, no”.

“You are”, I taunted like a child.

“Nope”.

“It’s either that or you’re breaking out in hives?”

“It’s the bourbon”, he quickly responded.

“Sure it is”, I laughed as the elevator doors open and killed the mood. My smile fell as soon as I met Trey’s cold dark eyes.

“Don’t let me interrupt anything”, Trey Said like you didn’t have a care in the world but I could see by how tightly he was holding his luggage bag he wasn’t as carefree as he was pretending to be.

Good.

Get angry, you dick.

“Don’t worry you’re not”, Oliver clamly grunted.

My heart wanted me to just back away and take the stairs. But my head wouldn’t let me. I would not be bullied by Trey and I would not back down. I stepped in to the elevator determined not to let Trey get in my head. Oliver followed my lead and stood in between Trey and I.

“What floor?”

I didn’t respond to Trey and just hit the lobby floor button. The elevator doors shut and we were locked in for the ride up. Oliver pulled me backwards into his chest and and wrapped his arms around my waist. He used my head as a chin rest and I held on to his wrist like they were the only things holding me up.

“Heard it was going to rain today”, Trey said trying to start a conversation that wasn’t going to happen.

We all settled into a thick uncomfortable silence. The elevator was so smooth that we arrived at fifth floor without any notion that we had risen at all. The doors smoothly opened and we waited for Trey to leave.

“Well, this is me”, Trey said getting off of the elevator but before he could let the doors close he put his foot in the divider and asked,”I’ll see you both at the brunch?”.

Neither one of us was going to answer his question and Trey was determined to get a word out of one of us. I hit the close elevator door button but he still wouldn’t move his foot,”Don’t be that way, Soph. We’re both here for Michelle”.

“Are you going to move your foot?” Oliver scoffed.

“Are you in a rush?”

“We actually are”, Oliver stated. I wasn’t at any rush if I got to make a point. The one thing that drove Trey crazy was being ignored and not being in control. He wanted to push my buttons. Well guess what I could just as easily push his. “So are you going to move?”

I didn’t even do Trey the courtesy of looking him in his eyes but I knew I had won this little standoff. Trey moved his foot and as the door closed I caught a glimpse of the hell in Trey’s eyes.

I turned around to face Oliver,”Thank you”.

“You’re welcome. It’s what I’m here for”, It really wasn’t. But I still appreciated it nonetheless,”You know I’ve never seen a tall person with Little Man Syndrome”.

Not expecting that I laughed to the point I snorted. I covered my mouth but I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. The elevator doors open and hand in hand we made our way through the hotel to the open and airy lounge. The circular room was surrounded by open windows with the ultimate vantage point of the hotel and the ocean. Just a few steps down was a private entrance to the beach. The room had a fully stocked bar and circular tables set for four with fine China and crystals and in the center of it all was Michelle. She was still gorgeous as ever in a white maxi dress with long black hair, caramel tan skin and green eyes that only spoke of spring.

She was frantically writing something on a piece of paper as she said alone at one of the tables. With her head down she didn’t even realize we enter the room until I called out her name making her jump,”O my god! Sophia!”

“Hey!” I shouted rushing over to her with my arms wide open as Michelle did the same. We hugged like we didn’t just facetime four day’s ago. I pulled back ask,”Where is everyone?”

“O, off on their assignment”, She said with a wave of her hand. Stephen was right she’s going to put us to work. “Sit, sit tell me about your flight and how are my second set of parents doing?”

“Great. Flight was good and Mom and Dad are good. How’s California did you end up putting an offer on the house you were looking at?”

“No. The fires killed that dream”, she fowned.

“Better to know now than once you’ve been locked in on an offer you can’t withdraw for a house in ashes”, Oliver said joining the conversation.

“So true”, Michelle extended her hand for a handshake and Oliver accepted,”You must be Oliver, right?”

“Correct”, he smiled taking his hand back and placing it on my waist.

“And you two are…?”

“Together”, Oliver quickly stated.

“O”, Michelle said surprised,”Soph, you never mentioned you were dating again”.

“I didn’t?” I said like a lier.

“Never”.

“I’m sure I brought up Oliver once”, I said completely gaslighting her.

“I would have remembered if you did”, Michelle said motioning for us to sit at the table that was covered with her wedding plans.

“Well it’s kind of complicated”, Oliver said stepping up with a better lie than I could concoct,”Technically we’ve known each other for 9 months. Most of it was on the job, so we couldn’t really pursue romantic relationship. But once Sophia’s contract ended. We started talking outside of work, started hanging out going on dates and it wasn’t until recently that we came to the conclusion we basically been together the entire time”.

“Oh, that makes sense You guys just made it official because I was really confused when you RSVP’d with someone I had never heard of I really thought you were going to bring Stephen”.

I laughed nervously. That was exactly what I was going to do,”What? No”.

‘Well now I feel silly inviting Trey. I thought I could play matchmaker for you two again”.

“Please don’t”.

“Well of course not now. You definitely upgraded”, Michelle said impressed which was a hard thing to accomplish.

“I like to think so”, Oliver said kissing my cheek. At least Oliver was good at keeping this lie straight I would have blown this cover long ago.

“As long as you make Soph happy that’s all that matters”.

“That’s my job”, Oliver smirked.

So, Oliver what do you do?”

“I’m a fiduciary”, He answered.

“Cool, really cool. Where did you go to college?”

“University of Florida”.

Michelle nodded head,”Are you a Penny pincher like, Soph?”

Hey! What’s wrong with being money conscience. You don’t see me reusing toilet paper or living in the dark ages. I’m just not going to blow my money frivolously.

“Absolutely not”.

“I can tell by your cologne. Is it Versace… Eros Flame?”

“Actually, it’s just Eros”.

“And of course the pants and shirt are Ralph Lauren’s. Nothing about you says cheap”, I guess I’ll just take my bindle of savings and go fuck my poor self.

“I’ll take that as a compliment”.

“It is”, were they flirting with each other?

I was desperate to change the subject so as I looked around the table I found a binder with my name on it,”Is that for me?”

“O yeah, just some errands I need done. If you’re up for it I really didn’t expect you to bring someone. So I figured you wouldn’t have time”, thanks Michelle I should just tattoo an L on my forehead. Because God forbid I actually want to do something by myself and have fun. That would just be unspeakable to Michelle.

Calm down… It’s her wedding and I’m here to make her day magical.

“Hand it over. I’d be happy to help”, Michelle handed me the binder and basically just flipping through the pages it looked like I had become the official wedding planner. I had to pick up the cake, direct the caterers, pick up seashells, make party favors, make sure all the table arrangements were correct, pick up her parents from the airport and just generally make sure the wedding runs as smoothly as possible.

And with a cherry on top of going to all the excursions she had planned for the week. I guess I just wasn’t supposed to sleep?

“Whoa…”, Oliver said picking up the heavy binder. If anything Michelle was detailed and precise on everything she wanted.

“Is it to much? I figured you were just the best person to help. You just have an eye for detail that most people don’t”, which really meant you’ve heard me talk about my wedding since we were four years old. You know exactly what I want. You’ve seen the vision boards go make it happen.

“I will take care of this. I’ll probably have to miss the excursions but I will take care of this”.

“Thank you”, She bleamed forcefully pulling me in for a hug.

What are friends for if not to help make her special day….special. Michelle pulled away and reached down on the floor into her person handed me a set of keys,”Mason rented a truck. This was part of my plan to get you and Trey back together because I know you can’t drive stick”.

“Actually I—“

“I can”, Oliver said coming to the rescue.

“Perfect. And just keep me in the loop if anything happens. Or if you need a credit card”.

“I’ll send you a bill after this”, I said collecting the binder and stood up,”If you need anything just give me a call. We could probably start on the party favors today”.

“Michelle!” Elisabeth sang coming into the room with a tired Shane. Now it was her turn to get her marching orders.

“Make sure you guys get something to eat and check out the beach. It doesn’t have to all be work”, Yes it does. That’s a damn lie.

Michelle quickly made her way over to Elisabeth to have the exact same exchange she had with me again.

“Ready to go to work?”I said looking over to Oliver.

“It’s what I’m here for”.

Chapter 10 Stuck in a Facade

Oliver and I took our brunch to go and after 30 minutes of trying to find the truck we finally stumbled upon it in the back parking lot. And to call this a rental was generous this was clearly someone else’s car by the stained seats in the breast buck et exterior. The red paint was literally falling off but at least it could carry a lot of stuff.

Without even thinking I went to the driver’s side and Oliver stop me as he reached for the door handle in time with me,”Can you drive stick?”.

“Yes, Michelle doesn’t know everything about me. I had my dad teach me after college. Manual cars are cheaper”.

“But you drive an automatic”.

“It saves on gas”.

“I got this” Oliver insisted. “Besides this drive maybe the only time you actually get to unwind”.

I didn’t care who drove as long as we got everything we needed. Oliver slid into the driver’s seat and I went around the car and hopped in on the passenger side. I handed him the keys and the car shook to life as we pulled off of the parking lot and headed into town to start our collection mission.

With the windows down and the smell of seawater fresh in the air I felt content. Driving in the sunshine, the warm blacktop leading onward into the horizon, gave a sweet sense of freedom.

It was a city of wide avenues and small places to sit and eat, to relax as folk went about their day. There were the sky towers in the centre, what was once thousands of homes now took up less ground space than an old shopping mall. The rest was parks and wild spaces, a chance to walk among nature or enjoy the trails on bicycles or horseback. “Is Michelle always like that?”

“Like what?” I said rolling up the window so I could better hear him.

“The binder of expectations. You’re here as her friend and guest not as her personal assistant and wedding planner”.

“O that…”

“Yeah, that. I mean what if you really wanted to go on the cave hike or horseback riding on the beach? She basically said here are the fun things we’re going to be doing while you’re working. I’d be pissed”.

“It’s her wedding. I should be honored that she trusts me to get it done”, I stated.

“And you would be if she asked and not just demanded and assumed You had nothing better to do than to hang out with your ex doing her laundry list”.

“I think I’d rather do this then go on all the excursions and watch Michelle and Mason suck face to prove how in love they are”, I admitted.

“With Trey?”

“Hell no. If you weren’t here I’d just do it by myself. Plan the days accordingly and then do whatever I want”, I said feeling a bead of sweat run down my back.

“Alone?”

“Yeah. I know this may sound crazy. But I don’t mind being alone. I hate being perceived as lonely. But I’m happy with myself if that makes any sense”, I confessed rolling back down the window dying for some cool air. The AC must be broken.

“It dose. A lot of people need to learn that lesson”, Oliver said barely above a whisper.

“Speaking from experience?” I asked as we hit traffic.

It was bumper to bumper traffic and we weren’t going anywhere for a long time,”A little”.

I turn my body to face all over as I leaned against the door curious to know what he had to say,”I’m all ears”.

“You really don’t. It’s more depressing than watching Schindler’s List”.

“But still an important film. The fact that it is depressingly true is what makes it a classic”, I stated.

“Stop me if—“

“It gets to real? I want to hear it all”, I breathe. Oliver turned to look at me as he shifted the car into park. I look into his blue eyes and they were ocean-strong, swimming with warm sun-lit currents.

“With my job of course you get some people who just want sex but surprisingly enough the people I do the most business with are the ones that are just… lonely. A husband that can’t get over the death of his wife. A divorcee who just wants to turn back time. A mother who will never forget her son years after he dies. To me it all comes back to loneliness. And accepting the fact that you have to grow and move on. Of course you grieve, cry shout whatever it takes but if you don’t move on you’re just stuck in a facade”.

“What makes it a facade?” I questioned.

“The relationship isn’t real. You pay for a service that I give. But it’s all smoke and mirrors at the end of the day”.

“The connection is real. The pain they feel is real. And if you can take that pain away even for a couple of hours that’s a real moment of relief. You may not be the person they’re grieving after but you are part of the grieving and moving on process. Because this person knows when I’m with you I am safe and cared for in this bubble with you. Then eventually they will take their safety bubble and continue on with their life. It could take years… or maybe just 2 hours”.

“You really know how to put a positive spin on everything”, Oliver said softly.

“Don’t cheapen the service you give people. You’re good at your job and you’ll be even better at your career”, I smiled.

“If I ever get there I’ll make sure you get half price therapy”, Oliver said shifting the car into drive. So we could slowly snail our way up the road.

“When you get there”, I corrected.

There was a drop in pressure. The clouds that gather, a silver-fade, from the strongest of grey to soft whites, have command of the skies today. Thunder came as a roared promise of rain. Just what we need a downpour.