We arrived a little past five to a full parking lot. My stomach lurched at the thought of all the strangers inside. I always hated meeting new people in large groups. People would be studying me, judging me.

I held his hand as we waited to be buzzed in to the private club. I couldn’t see inside due to the privacy glass on the door.

“Here we go,” Kayden said, opening the door.

Dozens of pairs of eyes fell upon us as we walked through the door. People around the room called out his name as if seeing an old friend.

“I spent a lot of time here after I got in trouble,” he said, pulling me through the crowd.

As we approached the table, people hurried to make room and grabbed extra chairs. A woman with short blond hair approached us with her arms outstretched. She gave him a hug, squeezing him hard, and kissed his cheek.

“Mom, this is Sophia.”

I grabbed his arm, unsure if his mom would welcome me.

“I’ve heard so much about you, Sophia. I’m so happy my son has found such a wonderful person.” She wrapped her arms around me in the biggest hug.

Kayden walked around the table, hugging and kissing the older women. Their faces lit up when he neared. The men shook his hand and welcomed him back. Kayden turned to face me.

“This is Sophia, everyone…my girlfriend,” he said, smiling at me.

“We’ve heard so much about you,” said one woman. Lovely.

“Sophia, this is my dad, Joe,” Kayden said, holding on to his father’s shoulder.

His dad reached for my hand, holding it tenderly, and kissed my cheek.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Michaels.”

“The pleasure is truly mine, Sophia,” he said with a wink. A total flirt and I finally knew where Kayden learned his charm.

“I’m going to get us a drink. What do you want?”

“Whatever you’re having is fine,” I said.

His dad sat down and motioned for me to sit. Kayden and his mother walked to the bar and left me behind. The group around me began to chatter about Kayden and how well he looked. They kept saying how happy he appeared.

I watched from a distance as he spoke to his mother. It had been months since they had seen one another. The joy emanated from her body as she touched his arm and spoke to him. The bartender placed our drinks on the bar, and they both stood there and finished their conversation before returning to the table. He sat down and pulled my chair close to him.

The conversation flowed easily. He knew them well and cared for these people. I listened to the discussions and heard the concern in their voices when asking him about his life. The group cared for him like he was a member of their family.

After a couple hours, we left and followed his parents to their home. Nervousness filled me at the thought of being alone with them. Would this become an interrogation? My stress was unnecessary. They were kind, warm, and welcoming. We sat outside on the lanai and talked. I mainly listened. Finally, I excused myself from the table, wishing everyone a goodnight and kissed Kayden on the lips. He stayed outside with his parents for a few minutes before joining me in the bedroom.

“Hey, baby,” he said, entering the bedroom as I was undressing.

“Hi, love. Happy to see your mom?” I asked.

“I’ve missed her a lot, yes. It was great to see her under happy circumstances for once,” he said. “She really likes you and thinks you’re good for me.”

“I’m glad,” I replied as I watched him walking around the bed, beginning to undress.

I observed him closely. He wanted our skin to touch when we slept, and I loved it. He crawled into bed, and I adjusted myself so I could nestle into his arms. He held me as he watched television, and I drifted off to sleep.

I woke early the next morning and made my way out of the bedroom in search of coffee. I didn’t have the energy to fix my hair or put on makeup. I needed the caffeine to function. An empty cup sat on the counter, and a freshly brewed pot called my name. I poured myself a cup of coffee and opened the sliding door to the lanai.

I froze. Goddamn it.

“Good morning, Sophia,” Joe said.

Shit. Maybe I should have at least brushed my hair. “Good morning. May I sit with you?” I asked.

“You don’t have to ask. Sit down here. It’s nice to have you both here,” he said as he turned back toward the television.

We sipped our coffee and talked about sports. He was surprised by my knowledge of sports and love of football.

“I have to get ready for work. I’ll see you guys later today, though,” he said as he stood up and grabbed his empty cup.

“You will,” I said, slurping the last drop at the bottom.

He chuckled, “There’s more in the kitchen. Help yourself, kid.”

“Thank you,” I replied, needing the extra infusion.

I walked behind him, quietly closing the door. I filled my cup as strong arms wrapped around my waist.

“Morning, beautiful,” Kayden purred in my ear.

“Morning,” I said, stroking his hands.

“What do you want to do today?” Kayden asked me.

“Anything is fine with me.” I turned around, kissed his lips, and inhaled deeply.

“Um, I haven’t brushed my teeth yet. That’s kind of gross.”

“I didn’t smell your breath, silly. I always feel the need to smell you. I can’t fucking explain it. It’s the damnedest thing.” I shrugged my shoulder.

I sounded so creepy, but I loved his smell and couldn’t get enough of it.

“You’re a bigger freak than I thought,” he laughed and smacked my ass as I walked out the door.

“How about we go to the store and then come back and cook some food?” he asked me with a smirk.

Kayden and I often went back and forth about who could cook the best. He cooked for me in New Orleans, but I had a few items in my arsenal that could not be beat. My meatballs were fantastic—he claimed his were better. This was the day we would finally put the matter to rest.

“Okay, I’m going to make my meatballs. Then you tell me if yours are better,” I stated with a laugh. I knew I had this one in the bag.

“When you’re done with your coffee, we’ll go to the store and settle the matter,” he said as he kissed me on the lips.

* * *

We walked the aisles, and I threw my ingredients into the cart. I wanted not only to impress him, but his parents too. He decided to make soup for everyone.

“You have strange ingredients for your meatballs,” Kayden said as he stared down.

“You’ll see,” I said coyly.

We checked out and headed back to his parents. I was ready to work my magic. We had the house to ourselves. We both began chopping our vegetables, garlic, and onion. I mixed all of my ingredients for my meatballs. A quick sauce simmered to cook them in, the aroma filling the air. I took my time forming each ball perfectly and placing them in the sauce.

The moment of truth had arrived. I selected a meatball and put it on a plate for Kayden to taste. I watched as he cut into it and smelled it before placing it in his mouth. He chewed slowly and kept his eyes locked on mine.

“They’re great, but mine are still better,” he said as he licked his lips. He wasn’t going to answer truthfully. He couldn’t be the judge of this competition.

His mother walked in the door and greeted us with a smile.

“What are you two up to?” she asked as she sat on a barstool at the counter.

“We decided to cook. Sophia made meatballs, which she claims are the best, and I made soup. Would you like some?” he asked.

“Sure, I’d love to try both,” she replied.

She sipped the soup and complimented him on how good it tasted. She was right. It was delicious. She cut the meatball and placed a piece in her mouth. She chewed, and Kayden and I glanced at each other and then at her. We waited for her response.

“These may be better than my meatballs,” she said as she popped another sliver in her mouth.

I beamed with pride, turning to him with a grin.

“When do I get to taste yours, Kayden?” I asked.

“I’ll never make mine for you. No way in hell,” he said to me with a small pout.

“Aw, come on. You have to make them for me,” I pleaded.

“No, Sophia. You win. Yours are great. Mine are bland in comparison,” he said, wrapping his arms around me.

We were unsure of what to do while visiting his parents. He lived in this town for years with his ex-girlfriend, Lisa. The ex who had him arrested and the reason he was on probation. I didn’t want to run into her during our visit.

That evening we returned to his parents’ social club to spend time with them since we would be leaving the next morning, and he would be flying back to New Orleans. A band was playing music from decades ago, and the people moved around the dance floor with grace.

An older woman approached the table. She reached out and ran her fingers across his head. “Hey, Kayden, want to dance with this old woman?”

Kayden smiled and laughed, “Thanks, Edy, but I don’t think my girlfriend would like that much.”

“I would…” Something hard hit my leg under the table.

“That’s all right, hot stuff. Maybe next time,” she said, looking me over before turning around and leaving.

“Why’d you hit me?” I asked.

“I don’t want to dance with her.”

“I would’ve loved to see it. You would’ve made her night,” I said.

“If I’m going to dance with anyone, it will be you.”

“Not tonight and to this music. Someday, maybe,” I said.

“Why? I want to dance and grind on you.”

I began to fidget. “I’ve never been a good dancer.”

“I’ll teach you,” he said.

Fuck. I hated dancing. I was the awkward person unsure of how to move my arms and legs. They always seemed to go in opposite directions.

We shared a pitcher of beer, and my eyes grew heavy. We said our good-byes and headed back to the house to go to sleep.

The next morning, his mother took us to breakfast. Afterward, a woman I didn’t know stopped us outside and said, “Honey, you don’t know how lucky you are. When my husband was alive, he looked at me exactly how he looks at you. He adores you.”

Her words struck me in a profound way. I never analyzed how Kayden looked at me. His friends and family said he looked happier than he had in a long time. I guess I brought joy into his life, but he’d done the same for me. A breath of fresh hair, the fun I’d missed, Kayden represented everything I’d searched for in my life but hadn’t found until now.

There were so many variables, so many things that could go wrong in this long-distance relationship. I worried he would meet another woman who lived close by and wouldn’t want me anymore. If that happened, though, the whore would have to see my name running down his leg and be reminded of me if he strayed.

It was a long drive back to the airport. We planned to see each other in a few weeks, when he returned to Florida. He said it would be best if I dropped him at Departures instead of walking him in. Tears formed in my eyes at the thought of saying good-bye. I would probably turn into a crying mess if I went inside and dragged the good-bye out any longer.

The moment had arrived—he turned to me and kissed me with one hand on my cheek and the other on the back of my neck. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks and onto his fingers.

“Don’t cry,” he whispered on my lips.

“I’m trying not to. I can’t help it. I’m going to miss you terribly,” I said through my tears.

“I love you,” he said as he placed his forehead against mine.

We sat there for a minute, neither of us wanting to move.

“I love you, too,” I whispered against his lips.

He pulled away and reached for the door handle. I couldn’t let that be last time I touched him or smelled him. I jumped out of the car, walking to the trunk. He grabbed his bags, placing them on the ground lightly, and turned to me. I instantly hugged him—clutched him like a lifeline. Maybe I should hold him hostage. He would have to be the one to walk away. I couldn’t do it. He kissed me again with promises of a future, and I returned it with longing. A kiss could convey so many words without a sound.

I hated saying good-bye. Even more, I hated not knowing how long it would be before I’d see him again. Driving home, I felt lonely.

Kayden: I miss you already.

The tears were still streaming down my cheeks as I realized I would arrive home to an empty bedroom, and even sadder, an empty bed.

He boarded the plane before I pulled into the driveway. I went inside and tried to make myself busy until he called me. That evening ended just like the others had when we were apart. It made my room a little less lonely to see his face and hear his voice.