The Friends We Keep

He moved closer and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Yes, you. You knock me out. You’re sexy, funny, a great mom and those legs. You keep me awake at night, thinking about possibilities.”


What on earth was she supposed to say to that? “Jairus, I...” She swallowed, knowing she could say no. He wouldn’t push. He was that kind of man. The kind who listened and respected and painted murals in her son’s room.

She was scared. Scared and nervous and apprehensive. Pick a word—any word. But she also liked Jairus and maybe, just maybe, she trusted him.

“Are you going to make your move?” she asked.

“Not until you’re done thinking this through. I want it to be right. I want both of us to be sure.”

She stared at his face, taking in the too-long hair, the wide eyes, the full mouth. She thought about his hands, always gentle and sure. She thought about how she looked forward to being with him and how she missed him when they weren’t together. Then she raised herself on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his.

They’d kissed before. Many times. There had even been a little passion in some of them. But this was different. This time there was anticipation.

She leaned into him. His arms lowered and his hands moved down her sides to settle at her waist. His mouth was warm against hers. He moved back and forth before brushing his tongue against her bottom lip.

She parted for him and felt need flower inside of her. Hunger grew, consuming her until the wanting was a tangible beast that had to be satisfied.

There were so many hours before dawn, she thought as she kissed him in return, meeting him stroke for stroke, letting the heat burn through her. So many possibilities.

She drew back and took his hand, then led him to her bedroom. She released his hand to turn on a bedside lamp, then shut the door. When she faced him again, she realized there was no fear, no uncertainty. She knew that everything about this was right.

Jairus’s eyes burned bright with passion. “Before we get started,” he said, his voice husky. “Do you have condoms?”

She thought of the box her friend Pam had given her several months before with the instruction to find someone to wear them, and smiled. “I do.”

“That’s my girl.”

It was the last time either of them spoke for a long time. Jairus undressed her carefully, touching and kissing, exploring every inch of her. He took off his clothes and joined her on the bed. His body was long and lean, with just enough muscle to be interesting.

Nicole lost herself in the sensations of his hands on her body, his mouth on her nipples and then between her legs. It took seconds for her to come. The sensations were almost unfamiliar—her release nearly rusty from disuse. But when he entered her, she came again and this time was better. New and pleasurable. Right.

Later, when the condom was in the trash and they’d cleaned up and were lying in her bed, the tangle of arms and legs just like she’d imagined, he kissed the top of her head.

“Go to sleep, Tango Girl.”

“You’re staying?”

“I’d like to.”

She relaxed against him, her eyelids heavy. “I’d like that, too.”

“I’ll be gone before Tyler wakes up.”

She nodded, knowing she could trust him. Jairus shifted, holding her tightly against him.

“I’m going to say something,” he told her. “Your job is to listen. Don’t say anything back to me. Promise?”

She’d been feeling a little sleepy, but was suddenly completely awake. She nodded, feeling apprehensive. What was he going to tell her? Something awful? Did he not want to see her anymore? Was his divorce not final? Had she just made love with a married man?

“I love you.”

She turned so she could look at him. Before she could speak, he pressed his index finger to her lips.

“Not a word. You promised. I don’t want anything in return, Nicole. I just wanted you to know.”

*

Hayley knew she was dreaming, but that didn’t make the experience any less real. She was alone in the house. The rooms were familiar. She knew the shapes and the placement of the windows and which floorboards creaked. But that was where the similarity ended. The furnishings were all gone and the house was empty. She was in it completely alone.

“Rob?”

She kept calling for him, but he wasn’t there. No matter how many times she circled through the unfurnished rooms, he was gone. Fear kept her moving. She knew that if she stopped, she would remember and the remembering would be too much.

“Rob?”

Her voice got louder and louder until she was screaming. Only there wasn’t any sound. Just her frantic search. He had to be here! He had to be! Without him—

“Hayley?”

She came awake with a start. Rob leaned over her where she lay on the couch.

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

She sprang to her feet and looked around. Everything was where it was supposed to be, including her husband. She flung herself at him and hung on tight.