CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Faye
“Here’s your morning ‘I’m sorry’ bagel,” I say, walking into Lola’s room and placing it on the desk.
She shoots me a look, but she’s smiling. It’s like we’re returning back to the Faye and Lola we’ve always been.
The past four days have been great. Things with Felix couldn’t be better. We make love, have wild sex, lie in bed for hours and hours discussing photography, debating children’s names, or just generally being crazily freaking happy.
There was some awkwardness with Lola on the first day, but she really meant what she said.
She supports us. She forgives us.
The only thing is she’s mentioned the breakup thing a few times, worrying what will happen if Felix and I call it quits.
I’ve stopped telling her that’s never going to happen.
We’ll prove it instead.
“How many times are you going to say sorry?” she asks, turning from her computer and picking up half a bagel. “Not that I’m complaining about the waitress service.”
I smile, muttering a silent thanks that we can still smile together. “I’m just so grateful. And sorry. And I want you to know that.”
She takes a bite, grinning as she chews. After swallowing, she says, “I know, Faye. It was a shock. But I’m a big girl, and I want you both to be happy. Speaking of which… shouldn’t you be getting ready? Isn’t your boyfriend picking you up soon?”
It’s taken some getting used to Lola’s light teasing, but I know it’s a good sign.
If we can joke about it, we can deal with it. It’s how we’ve always been.
“He is,” I nod. “What are your plans for the day?”
She tells me about her college course, and we talk about that for a while.
Afterward, I go into my bedroom, thinking of Felix's text this morning.
Sometimes we stay at his apartment, but we don’t stay here together since it would be too uncomfortable for Lola if she overheard anything.
I haven’t seen him since yesterday. Lola and I had a movie night.
His text told me to meet him at the studio at lunchtime to finish what we started.
Standing over my bed, I look down at the lingerie, thinking of our first photoshoot as my body floods with heat.
* * *
“Are you ready?” Felix says, his hand on the small of my back as we walk across the warehouse office.
Tingles dance all over me as I remember the day of the photoshoot, the pit in my belly when I thought about the Miss Kansas model, the shimmer which slowly turned into stampeding want when I realized Felix needed me instead.
It wasn’t that long ago, and yet it feels like years since I could’ve ever doubted that Felix wanted me, that Felix didn’t and couldn’t care about anybody else.
Felix is wearing a shirt, smarter than his usual, with chino trousers. The clothing hugs his experienced muscular body, reminding me of how strong and proactive he is and how supportive he is as if he’ll never leave my side.
“Why do I get the feeling we’re going to do something dirty?” I tease, jabbing at him playfully.
He chuckles, and even that amazes me, though it shouldn’t. I should be used to it by now.
But knowing we can banter so effortlessly about intimate stuff, with no shame, no doubt, and no worry about Lola…no worry at all except for our future, trying to make it the best it can be.