I walked into the pub and spotted Elliott sitting at a table near the bar. I signaled to the bartender to bring me a beer and headed over to our table. "Hey, bro, what the hell is going on?" I slapped Elliott on the back. Beer would go down easy tonight. We had finished our shift; it had been a day from hell.
"Ah, not much. Been busy. I had a pile of shit to do while we were off. I'm also very worried about Tatum." Elliott looked stressed, which was unusual for him.
"Why? What’s going on?" This was not how I wanted to spend my night. I could barely keep my mind off her, since Elliott told me she would be coming down for a visit. I didn't need to know something was wrong.
"I received a call from Tatum. She started off by telling me she was coming for a visit, but she sounded strange. Then she asked me to find her a place. That she had decided to move here."
"Just like that?" Tatum was never one to change like that.
"Yep, just like that. She hadn't even spoken to me about it and had already booked movers. I can't help but get the feeling that something is wrong, but she won't talk to me." Elliott took a long pull on his beer. "I hate being this far from her, and I hate the fact that she won't talk to me."
I grew quiet. They had always been close. For Tatum not to talk to him, it had to be bad. "What was going on with her before all this?"
"Well, she's been dating this guy who hasn't been treating her very well. I am not a fan of his to begin with. She found him with another woman, and they broke up. Then she got let go from her job, and now, she’s suddenly adamant on moving down here. It’s odd behavior for her."
"Maybe she really does need a change."
"No. Something isn't right."
I knew all too well what he was talking about. A waitress walked over and set our beers in front of us, the soft smell of coconut floating by as she walked away. That scent reminded me of one of my favorite, but also one of the worst, memories of Tatum.
It was the night of the beach bonfire. It was our yearly tradition with people from college. Even though we had graduated last year, we still held onto the tradition. Tatum and I stayed behind after everyone had left, the night air cold coming off the water. I wrapped my arms around her as she sat between my legs.
"Smile for me," I whispered into her ear and held my phone out in front of us and snapped our picture. I put my phone down and held her tighter in my arms. Nothing made me happier than holding her. I inhaled the smell of her, coconut invaded my senses, instantly making me hard. I bent down and kissed her on the neck, and she turned and met my mouth with hers.
I lay back, pulling her down beside me, and covered her bare legs with the spare blanket. I kissed her, my tongue exploring her mouth as she let out a soft moan. My hand ran from her knee up under her skirt and gently rubbed her thigh. She spread her legs for me. Moving my hand, I rubbed her wet panties, pressing just hard enough for her to feel me.
"Feel good?" I whispered.
She bit her bottom lip and shyly nodded, the blush rising to her cheeks. God, I loved that look on her. Pushing her panties to the side, I ran my finger through her wetness from her opening to her clit, then rubbed her in tiny, slow circles. Kissing her, I slipped one finger deep inside her, and then another while I rubbed her clit with the pad of my thumb. She let out a low moan into my mouth. I loved the feel of her warm, wet walls around my fingers.
It wasn't long before she came, her body relaxing. She lay in my arms afterward and we watched the stars. I was in love with her. It was always so easy with her.
It was almost one when I dropped her off at the apartment she shared with her brother. When I got home, there was a message from the police recruiting agency. I had gotten the job with the Emerald Bay Police Department and I had forty-eight hours to respond. The next afternoon, armed with an engagement ring in my pocket, I went over to see my girl.
"Man, did you hear anything I said?" Elliott waved, snapping me out of my memory.
"What?" I must have looked like an idiot. Here I was, sitting across from her brother, remembering the last night I was with his sister. Thank God he couldn't see below the table; my painful erection was straining against my jeans.
"She arrives tomorrow," he repeated.
I shifted in my seat, doing my best to readjust myself. I nodded to the bartender for another round as I took a long swig, emptying my beer. It was going to be a long night.
"Aren't you working for me tomorrow?" I asked.
"Yes." He hesitated. "Parker, I have a huge favor to ask."
He was crazy if he thought I would pick her up. There was no way I could do that. I wasn't ready to see her.
"I hate to ask, but would you be able to pick her up for me and bring her to this address? I'll be done with work at four but won't be able to get there for two."
He scratched out an address on a napkin and passed it over to me.
"I don't want her to have to take a cab from the airport."
I frowned as I looked down at the address he had written. It was about a block from my place. What the hell! It had taken me the last eight years to even think about dating seriously again. The past few years had been nothing but one-night stands, and I was growing tired of it now. I wanted more—I needed more—and now the girl I had never gotten over would be living less than a five-minute drive from my place. I took in a deep breath. I must have lost my mind.
"What time?"
"Her flight lands at two. Gate B4," Elliott informed.
I placed the napkin in my pocket and ordered us some food. "I'll be back. Gonna hit the bathroom."
Standing outside the washroom, I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. Opening my contacts, I pulled Tatum's information up on my screen. I wanted to text her. Hell, I had wanted to text her every time I got drunk. Every time I was lonely and horny, and pretty much every day for the last eight fucking years. My finger hovered over the text icon for what seemed like hours, but I decided against it. I slid my phone back into my pocket and went back out to drown my sorrows in more beer.