28 - Samantha
I’m humming to myself as I press the elevator button and head down to the ground floor. My body is still pulsing from my orgasm and I can taste Dean’s kiss on my lips. I can’t help but smile to myself as the doors ding open and I take a step out.
“Oops! Sorry,” I say to an older woman as she tries to step in at the same time. My smile fades as she frowns at me. She doesn’t move, so I have to side-step and walk around her to get out of the elevator. I look over my shoulder to see her pressing a button just as the elevator doors close. I turn back towards the front door and frown. Something about her seemed familiar, but I don’t know what.
She was impeccably dressed in a matching pantsuit, with her hair pulled back in a low bun. She had expensive-looking jewellery that was simple yet elegant.
In a word, she looked rich.
I shake my head and start walking towards the front door. I still think I’m in Lexington, where I know everyone and their dog. I’m in New York City now, and I know no one. Of course I didn’t know that woman. And if she lives in the building, of course she would be rich. I can’t imagine anybody in the middle class living in this place.
Still, the way her face soured when we almost stepped into each other made me uneasy. I take a deep breath and walk out the automatic sliding doors and find Jess’s car. By the time I slide into the driver’s seat, the woman is out of my mind.
I take my time going back to Jess’s place, noticing all the shops and people and houses along the way. It really is the city that never sleeps. Every day I see things I’ve never seen before. I pull up outside Jess’s house and sigh.
I wish I didn’t have to leave. I’ve only just met Dean and I want to spend more time with him. I can’t make any sense of him - he’s like a bunch of opposites stuck together. An investment banker who moonlights as a clown for children’s parties, a billionaire’s son who is completely down to earth, a man who’s been through heartbreak who seems to wear his heart on his sleeve.
I smile as I think of the way he tucked my hair behind my ear earlier. His touch was so tender and it sent a shiver through my body. I get out of the car and head up towards the front door. There’s a small package on the front step and I bend over to pick it up. I frown as I see my name scrawled across the top of it.
I give the package a light shake and turn it over. It’s a small box, about the size of a pencil case. It’s wrapped in brown paper with ‘SAM’ scrawled across the top in black sharpie. It feels light. I read my name a few times and give it a shake, but I can’t feel anything. The unease I felt earlier when I ran into that woman returns to the pit of my stomach. I tuck the package under my arm and find my keys to go inside.
As soon as I step inside, I hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet running towards me. I kneel down and spread my arms as two toddlers collide with me. I laugh and wrap them both into a hug. Jess isn’t far behind, chasing after them as usual. I lift them up and they giggle as I carry them towards the living room.
“You look happy!” Jess exclaims. She picks up the package that I dropped when the twins ran towards me and follows me to the living room. “You were gone a while, I was starting to get worried.”
“You were not,” I say as I shoot a glance her way. She laughs and shakes her head.
“No, I wasn’t. I thought you might be enjoying yourself,” she says as she wiggles her eyebrows. I roll my eyes and turn to Michelle, tickling her until she’s giggling and writhing on the floor. Matt runs to protect his sister and starts scrunching his hands under my armpits to try to tickle me too. I pretend to laugh and fall over and pretty soon both kids are on top of me attacking me with tickles. I laugh and finally peel them off me to stand up.
“He’s a nice guy,” I finally answer.
“Mm-hmm,” Jess replies, lifting an eyebrow slightly. My cheeks flush as she holds out the package. “What’s this?”
“I’m not sure, it was by the front door.” I turn it over again and look up at Jess. “Ronnie showed up earlier.”
“What?”
“Yeah, just as I was leaving. He made a scene and then left. I wonder…”. My voice trails off as I stare at the package in my hands. Jess’s hand appears on my forearm.
“Sam,” she says. Her voice is soft and her eyes are full of concern. “You don’t have to open it. It doesn’t matter what it is. If he keeps showing up you could charge him with harassment. You don’t have to put up with this.” She stands up a bit straighter and shakes his head. “I can’t believe he showed up here! How did he get my address?!”
“He must have asked my mom,” I reply as I shake my head. I put the package on a shelf and take a deep breath. “I won’t open it tonight. I feel too good.”
“Exactly,” Jess says. “Enjoy this feeling. Enjoy your freedom and enjoy your glorious post-orgasmic glow.”
“Jess!” I exclaim, my cheeks flushing even more. She just laughs and waves a hand in front of her face.
“Did you think I couldn’t tell?”
I bite my lip and start laughing. Just then, the twins appear beside me and latch on to each of my legs. I laugh and start walking across the living room as they hold on, giggling the whole way. Jess shakes her head.
“They love you,” she says with a smile. “You’re great with kids.”
I sigh and ruffle Matt’s hair. “I was hoping to have one of my own by now,” I admit. My lips purse together and I lift my eyes up to Jess. “Looks like that’ll have to wait.”
“You never know,” she says with a grin. “You’re moving pretty fast with this clown of yours.”
I blush again and shake my head. “Not that fast.”
Jess laughs. “Come on,” she says. “I need to put those two in the bath. There’s some spaghetti on the stove if you’re hungry.”
“Thanks,” I say, handing off the twins to her waiting arms. I watch her walk down the halls and talk to her children and I feel something in the pit of my stomach. Owen appears and gives me a wave before following her to the bathroom. They have such a nice life together. Two beautiful kids, a supportive, loving husband - could I be jealous of Jess? I thought I had what she has, but it turns out all I had was betrayal and heartbreak.
My eyes flick to the brown paper package on the shelf and I shake my head. I walk to the kitchen and grab a bowl. My stomach growls in appreciation as I start spooning spaghetti into my dish.
My phone buzzes and I glance at the screen. A smile forms on my lips and the jealousy I felt a few minutes ago disappears. Dean’s name flashes on the screen.
I had a good time tonight.
I grin and type out my answer, holding my phone to my chest for a second as I remember the evening I just had. Life isn’t so bad, and Jess is right. Maybe my happily-ever-after isn’t so far away after all.