Jordan has already left for class and I find that I need to distract myself from the hell that is my life. Soap making is my go-to form of relaxation so I head to the kitchen and pull out all the ingredients I’m going to need to make Bulgarian lavender soap. I love the fresh scent and soothing qualities of lavender. I connect my phone to the Bluetooth speakers that Jordan keeps in the kitchen. I’m in the mood for some 80’s music so I select that playlist. Billy Idol’s “Eyes Without a Face” fills the room. I pop some chamomile tea in the Keurig, since I really would be an alcoholic if I grab that glass of wine I really want at eleven in the morning. I put a splash of lavender in my tea and continue on with my soap making. When my batch is complete, I look for something else to keep my mind busy.
I plop in front of the television and scroll through the DVR for some senseless reality show. After coming up empty, I finally decide on Real World on Netflix. The irony is not lost on me. I skip forward to season twenty-one since it looks to be the most interesting. When Jordan comes back from class at two, that’s where she finds me half asleep.
“Well somebody had a productive day,” she laughs.
“Hey, I made soap,” I defend.
“That’s what I was speaking of. I can smell the lavender before I opened the door,” she laughs harder. “I sure wasn’t talking about your Real World vegetation you had going on when I came in.”
I can’t help but join her in laughter. “Yeah, I kind of needed a distraction,” I admit.
“What time is Grayson supposed to get here?” she inquires.
“About seven or eight tonight. Why?” She has that up-to-something look going on.
“You and I are going back to the spa at The Landing for a little rest and relaxation,” she smiles
“Jordan…”
“Don’t Jordan me. It’s done. Go get dressed.” I hate to admit it, but a massage may be just what I need. I change quickly into jeans, ankle boots, and a cute top since I know where we’re going. I won’t get caught looking a hot mess this time. I grab my purse on the way out and we’re off. The car ride over to the hotel is filled with various tunes that we sing off key to. I love that Jordan knows just what I need. Once we arrive and change into our robes, she hits me with the idea of getting a Brazilian wax again.
“What the hell is in your infusion water?” I point to the drink the ladies gave us to begin our relaxation. “Miss, miss,” I pretend to call out. “I think you put too much crack in hers.” Jordan laughs so loud it would be embarrassing if I actually gave a shit. I finish off my drink because let’s face it, I need some of what’s in her glass.
“Come on. You’ll thank me later and I know Grayson will,” she winks. That wink is so Grayson and I laugh at the thought.
“Fine.” I know that will definitely act as a distraction. Jordan is grinning from ear to ear at her ability to convince me with little persuasion.
“Let’s get you buffed and primed for your man. Trevor better hurry up and get his ass out here for a visit or I’m going to replace him,” she kids. I know that she is only joking. He just started a new job in Santa Monica so he doesn’t have seniority to take many days off yet. She’s just missing him.
“That’s right. Get me all ready for him and then you’ll be complaining about the fuckfest that will be going down in my room,” I say for pure shock factor. Mission accomplished. Jordan’s mouth is hanging open like a fish. I walk up to her and close her mouth with my finger. “That’ll teach you for trying one too many times to hint at our sex life.” Score one for me. I don’t know how many points she has, but who cares. I’m not counting hers. I laugh to myself.
“Rrrrr, Grayson is making you naughtier. Go Grayson.” She gives me the thumbs up and we laugh. These people are going to think that we are so silly. Our masseuses come to get us and take us to separate rooms. I’m given some mist to inhale before I lay face down with my face resting in a hole cut-out. The little Asian lady kneads her knuckles into my back and it feels so heavenly. That is the only thing I remember as slumber takes me under.
Before I know it, the little lady is waking me and telling me that my massage is over. Next stop is the Brazilian wax. This is where it would be nice to have some wine. This lady looks just as sweet as the last one. She smiles and nods at me. She’s probably secretly a sadist that is smiling at the pain she is getting ready to inflict on me. And what does that make me you ask? The freaking masochist that is crazy enough to have this done a second time. I dig my nails into my skin and gnaw at my lip like crazy, only to be told that the pain is mental. Okay lady, whatever you say.
“See you look pretty, so smooth,” she says. My skin looks like an angry shade of pissed off. I thank her and head into the lounge area to find Jordan. She is laying in one of the chaise lounges sipping on another one of those concoctions.
“All done?” Jordan asks
“If you’re talking about my wooha, then yes it’s done.”
“And, we’ve regressed. You were doing so well with the dirty talk. A work in progress,” she chides.
“Oh shut the hell up,” I say slapping her shoulder.
“A little better, but I’m going to have to tell Grayson he has his work cut out for him.” She has been Mrs. Giggles all afternoon and it’s infectious because she has me laughing like a looney tune with her.
Arriving back at the condo, we are met by Grayson’s limo idling near Jordan’s assigned parking spot. Shit, I must have missed his call. I retrieve my phone that I had silenced from my purse and sure enough I have five missed calls from him. His driver lets him out as we park. I run up to him, desperate to offer my apologies.
“I’m so sorry Grayson. We were at the spa and I forgot to turn my ringer back on.”
“It’s quite okay love. I’m glad you were able to relax.” He mouths a thank you to Jordan and walks us back toward the limo. “I’m taking her home with me,” he tells her in way of explanation.
“I don’t have any clothes.”
“We’ll get you new clothes,” he offers.
“Don’t start. Just let me run up real quick and I’ll be back down before you know it,” I argue.
“Fine. Please make it quick love.” True to my word, I’m back within ten minutes. During my time packing, Jordan told me that she was having the girls over so I don’t feel bad about leaving her. When I get back to the limo, Grayson is standing right where I left him. He kisses the top of my head before helping me inside. He hands my overnight bag to Stanley, the driver before scooting in next to me. Silence permeates the car, neither of us wanting to step outside our bubble of love for the shit that is in store for us. Grayson just holds me and I allow myself to be engulfed by his scent.
We arrive at his place and he grabs my hand. That small gesture is enough to settle my heart. God, I love this man. We walk into his kitchen and he seats me at the counter. “Do you want to eat first or talk?” I shake my head.
“I want to stay in our bubble a little longer baby.”
“Bubble?” His sexy brow lifts in confusion.
“Yes. The Siobhan and Grayson bubble where it is just us. Bullshit chaos can’t penetrate our bubble.”
“Hmmm, I see. Can fucking penetrate this bubble?” That’s it. I laugh so hard, I swear I’m going to pee myself.
“Yes you perv. Sex is in our bubble.”
“I didn’t say sex. I was very specific when I said fucking,” he teases.
“What is the difference, almighty sexpert?” I’m struggling to maintain my giggles—knowing that he’s explained this before.
“Well,” he says adopting a proper English accent. “Sex is boring. Fucking is primal, raw, anything goes, messy, gritty, nasty, and the list goes on. Should I continue?” He smirks at me and I want to kiss it off of his freaky face.
“Freak,” I accuse.
“You love this freak. Especially when I make you scream the house down.”
“I love you even when you’re not.” He kisses me briefly before slapping my ass.
“Let’s get you fed so I can have my way with you,” he says. I love that he can put the ugliness of what we’re facing aside and just be here with me in this moment. He’s giving me time to mentally prepare for the shit storm. Literally, the calm before the storm.
“So a little birdie once told me that your favorite food was Italian—chicken parmesan to be exact,” he says as he gathers ingredients from his pantry and fridge.
“Yes, that birdie has a big mouth sometimes, but in this instance, it’s okay,” I reply in reference to Jordan. I watch as he opens a package of boneless chicken halves while finding a skillet to brown it. We talk nonchalantly about some of our favorite past times and places we would like travel. Paris is at the top of my list. He promises to take me after I graduate and I grin like a Cheshire cat. We sip on some expensive white wine and I swear two glasses has me three sheets to the wind. We eat dinner and then Grayson is carrying me to the bed. He removes my clothes down to my bra and panties. That is the end of my recollection of the night’s events.
Grayson sits on the edge of the bed with a tray in his hand. “Wake up love. You need to eat and we need to talk.” I groan before sitting up and he laughs. He runs his hands through his damp hair and I see that he is dressed in business attire. He passes the tray to me and I see that he has made me an omelet, toast, and coffee. I go straight for the coffee so I can fully wake up. I don’t get morning people. “It’s ten in the morning sweetheart.” Oops, I guess I said that out loud.
“So our bubble is over?” I sip on my coffee. I know we need to talk.
“I’m afraid so,” he says as he runs his hands through his hair again.
“Sorry sex didn’t make its way into our bubble last night.”
“Fucking, not sex baby and yeah you were pretty tired. You had a stressful day and needed to rest.”
“And tipsy,” I remind him.
“That too,” he chuckles. “So what do you know already?” His demeanor is serious now.
“Nothing really.” I tell him about the gossip I overheard.
“I’m supposed to be meeting with the dean and department heads in an hour so I’ll know more then. From the message that was left for me, they have photos of us out together. We didn’t really ‘go out’ together here in the city so I’m not sure how incriminating the photos are. Depending on the photos they have, maybe they can be explained as a mere coincidence, but that is why I didn’t want them to have a crack at you first.”
“Don’t you think it will look suspicious that I suddenly get sick at a time they’re looking for me in regarding a potential scandal?” I truly wasn’t thinking about this earlier.
“Maybe so, but I rather that, than have them catch you off guard before we know what evidence they have. You have a lot at stake here.” He gets up and begins to pace. “I’ll find a way to fix this somehow baby. I promise.”
“Grayson, what about you? You have a lot at stake here too. I wasn’t an innocent bystander in this you know. We both knew the risks.” It upsets me that he is harboring this guilt. He didn’t act alone.
“I’m more concerned about your future. I may lose my job, but I’m the senior vice president at a company that I’m the heir to. It would kill me, if I have any hand in fucking up your future.” He walks over to the window and parts the drapes to let the sunlight in. I can see the anger radiating off him in waves. I get up and walk over to him, hugging him around the waist from behind.
“It would hurt me just as much to know I had a hand in causing you to lose your job, regardless of its necessity to your livelihood. Teaching is your passion and your way of giving back.” A tear escapes and the overwhelming fear threatens to suffocate me. He turns and wipes the tear away before pulling me into a hug. He kisses the top of my head and tells me not to worry.
“I will make this right. Please don’t worry. My connections run deep baby. I just need to see what evidence they have first and how circumstantial it is.” He lifts my face and plants a kiss to my lips. “I need to go in for this meeting, but finish eating and get some rest. I’ll be back shortly with more information.”
The bedroom door closes behind him and the inkling of bravery I had leaves with him. I push the tray of food aside and cuddle with the sheets that hold his scent. The tears fall harder now until I’m an outright blubbering mess. Why must life be so fickle? Grayson and I have already been through enough crap just to find our way back to each other again. By God, if there is a scale balancing good and bad—life’s idiosyncrasies, I’m long overdue for a little good to come my way. I deserve to be happy damn it. I love Grayson and I want us to have a chance to work. This whole situation is just so effed up. Whose business is it that we’re seeing each other anyway? I didn’t get any special privileges, if anything he was harder on me.
To make things worse, I don’t know whom to trust. My main suspicion is Vanessa, but still, I can’t discount the others. I can’t afford to let my guard down. I wanted to share my suspicion with Grayson this morning or discuss Vanessa answering his phone, but somehow it didn’t seem like the appropriate time. He just looked distracted and despondent. He’s very intelligent, so I’m sure that he’s already deduced some of the same theories that I have. I’ll wait to see what he learns in this meeting. Hopefully this will blow over. Not likely, but I can still hope. I consider calling my mother now, but again I decide to hold off just a little longer.