It was a beautiful afternoon as Selene sat outside the coffee shop near her house, waiting for Peter and Lucy. She had just gotten her caramel macchiato and was waiting under the cool shade of the patio umbrella. She didn't have to wait long, as she saw them walking toward her from the end of the street. When they reached her, she got up and they all gave each other a group hug. She said, "Did you guys come together?"
"No, we just happen to see each other as we both parked around the corner," Lucy replied with a big smile.
"Yah, it was like the universe left us the only two parking spots in a 2-mile radius!" Peter said.
Selene said, "Too funny."
Lucy grabbed Peter's arm and said, "We'll just go grab our drinks and be right back." They both went into the coffee shop, while Selene sat back down.
After several minutes, they both came back, and sat down with their drinks. Selene reached over, slapped the table in front of each of them quietly with her hands, and said, "Sooo, how have you both been?"
"Oh no way sweetie," said Lucy, "we are not saying one word until you tell us why you gave us a sleepless night last night. Not that I'm trying to make you feel guilty or anything." She gave Selene a pointed glare, then a sweet smile.
Selene apologized again and started the story, "We had dinner and it was fine until I mentioned the nickname we use for the project, you know, and so he asked about it, and, of course, one thing led to another, and he mentioned my dad, and you know how I feel about that, and then, I don't know…." She took a breath and let it out.
Lucy, who was sitting next to her, reached out her hand and put it on Selene's arm. "It's ok, take your time."
Selene tilted her head and smiled at her friend. Peter said, "I promise, we're here for you." When Selene heard that, all her muscles relaxed. She hadn't realized how tense she had been.
She continued, "It was just the way he was talking, you know? The tone in his voice. He told me he loved me, that he'd never stopped loving me. He said the reason we broke up actually wasn't because he chose his parents over me and that…"
Peter cut her off and asked, "Really? What does that mean?"
Selene said, "I know right? That's what I asked. But he said he couldn't say because it wasn't safe."
Peter and Lucy looked at each other, one with both eyebrows raised, the other with a knit in his brows. Then they turned back and started talking at the same time. They stopped and Peter said to Lucy, "Go ahead" indicating with hand that she should do so.
Lucy said, "Uh, Selene, honey, that's a red flag. You said we should trust you. That everything was ok."
Selene quickly responded, "I know it sounds bad but let me just continue, okay? Let me just get through it all and then you can ask me questions, okay?"
They both nodded, hesitantly.
She continued, "He didn't go into details, I admit. But it was really the way he said it. He basically said that at the time he couldn't protect me. From what, I don't know. He said he couldn't tell me for my own safety. He asked me to trust him, which, granted, was hard to do in that moment. I remembered our breakup and that made it really hard to trust him again, you know? But he said that basically all the work he's done these past five years, all the companies he's built, all the power that comes with it, all of it was so that he could protect me. So that we could get back together. How am I supposed to just ignore that? I'm sure, he could be lying. But I could see no logical reason why he would be. I ran all the scenarios in my head. I didn't use my gut instincts because you know, and I know, they're not always right because of my history. But when it comes to Ben, I've learned to understand the tones of his voice, the movements of the muscles in his cheeks and jaw. I could tell he wasn't lying. So I'm choosing to trust him. And you guys, oh my God, when we went back to his place, you should have seen the kitchen…"
Peter leaned forward, eyes wide, and interrupted, "So you went back to his place?"
Selene blushed, but said, "Duh, why wouldn't I? We just got back together after being separated for five years. Of course, I would want to spend every second with him."
"But aren't you rushing things? I'm sorry, I just…" Peter said then stopped himself. "I know you trust him and, maybe once we see him again we will see what you see. But, all we know right now, all *I* remember right now is finding you on that couch and it just…" Tears started welling up in his eyes.
Selene got up from the chair and went to put her arms around Peter's neck, who was sitting across from her. She gave him a peck on the cheek. She said, "I'm sorry, Peter. I know how much you love me, and I love you for it. I would not have gotten through that time with out you." She turned to look at Lucy and said, "And you, too."
As she headed back to her chair, she said, "It's because you haven't seen the recent him, and I've been meeting with him several times now. So, all you have to go by is what I'm telling you. Maybe if you meet him, you'll see what I see?"
Peter nodded and said, "You know what? I *would* like to meet him."
Selene looked surprised and said, "Really?"
Lucy also nodded, but more fervently than Peter, and said, "Me too."
Selene looked at both of them in turn and said, "Alright, I think that would be great! No time like the present. How about tonight?"
Her friends looked at each other and shrugged. Lucy said, "I have no plans."
Peter was about to say something but then said, "You're not going out with Kyle?"
Lucy shrugged again and gave a lopsided smile. She sighed and said, "He's out of town on a business trip."
Peter nodded and said with a smile, "I'm sure he'll bring you back something cute like always."
Lucy smiled back and said, "He better. This one's for almost four days!" Then she turned to Selene, who was looking at her with eyes that conveyed love, and said, "So, are you going to call hubby or what?"
"Ugh! Not you too! Oh my God, we literally just got back together you guys," Selene said, rolling her eyes, but smiling.
She pulled out her phone from her purse and text Ben. He texted back that it was okay, but he said he would be bringing Johnny. He reminded her about the other bodyguards too. Selene texted that it was fine and that he could pick them all up from her place at the same time. He texted Okay and then a heart emoji. Her shoulders rose and she put her thumbnail in her mouth as she smiled.
Lucy teased, "Awww, did he say something cuuuuute?"
Selene texted a kissing heart emoji back and put her phone away quickly. She resumed a straight back posture and then crumbled smiling. She said, "That obvious, huh?"
Peter said, "It's nice to see you happy, Selene." He was genuinely smiling at her, and Selene reached her hand across to him. He took her hand.
She squeezed it and said, "Thank you for giving him a chance."
Peter said, "This doesn't mean I'm going to make it easy on him. He still needs to get by me first." He gave an evil laugh and then they all laughed.
When they were done, Lucy said, "Ok, so what happened when you got to his place?" She raised her eyebrows up a few times with a mischievous grin on her face.
Selene said, "You guys will not believe this. You know how we used to talk about our dream houses?"
Lucy said, "Don't tell me it was yours?"
"Well not exactly all of it, just the kitchen mainly. But seriously, it was like right down to the T," Selene continued. "Every little detail. I just wanted to stay there. It felt so comfortable to be in it. Like it was my home. Ben said he had it built like that so he could feel a part of me there. Isn't that so sweet?"
Lucy cried, "Aiiiii, that is *so* sweet. And then what happened."
Selene mumbled, "Well, umm, you know." She looked up and to the side, away from them.
Peter sighed. Lucy's eyebrows went up. Peter just said, "As long as you're sure, you know we support you."
Selene said, "I am sure. And it felt right. Especially when I saw pictures of me in his bedroom. And he had that stupid mug I made him sitting on a table in there like it was some precious treasure to show off, like the other objects there that I'm sure cost a fortune. He even had the wallet I gave him for his birthday displayed on his nightstand, right near my picture. I mean, if that doesn't say something…right?"
Lucy was gushing at this point, "I can't believe he did all that. Hun, I really see what you're saying. I think I would be the same way."
Peter slowly nodded and said, "It does seem like he is being genuine."
Selene looked at her friends and said, "He really is. I believe him."
Lucy winked and asked, "Ok, now get to the good stuff. Did he just take you right there all at once or was it like a slow and sensual thing?"
Selene slapped Lucy's arm and exclaimed, "Lucy!"
But Peter let out a little laugh and said, "Oh come on. You know we share all the juicy details. Well not the detail details but you know what I mean. So go on."
Selene laughed and said, "Okay, Okay. It was pretty heated from the beginning." She blushed and then continued, "I'm going to leave the rest to your imagination, but it did happen a few times let's just say."
Both Peter and Lucy were making their own versions of faces that indicated, "Dammmn!," but it was Lucy who spoke first and said it.
Selene said, "And I will add though, just to let you know, without going into the detail details, that I decided to, umm, be the first to start, if you know what I mean, and I'll tell you why." Both Peter and Lucy tilted their heads, with eyebrows raised at that last part. She continued, "I wanted to show him that I really did trust him, but also that this was really my decision. And for me, I wanted to show myself that I had power in this relationship, you know? I don't know. It wasn't like a conscious decision. It was just more like an emotional or visceral feeling. I don't know if that makes sense."
"No, I get it. I think I understand. It's like, he was the one who broke up and he is the one who wants to get back together. But now, you want to show that this is actually your choice, not his," said Peter.
"That's exactly it!," Selene exclaimed.
Lucy nodded and said, "Wow, you guys are being really deep right now."
Peter and Selene looked at Lucy. It was quiet for a second and then they all burst out laughing. When they were done, Selene said, "Anyway that's about it. Then we had breakfast and then that's when I realized I had left my phone in my bag, which had been by the outside door all night. Sorry again." She looked at them both with puppy eyes and kissy lips.
Peter said, "Ah stop it! We already said it's ok." Selene nodded, smiling. Peter then turned to Lucy and said, "Okay, now it's your turn." He reached over and gave Lucy a hug.
After he pulled away, Lucy looked confused, and said, "What was that for?"
Peter replied, "It's preemptive for what I'm about to say." Lucy leaned back and gave him a look that indicated she was a little scared. He said, "I haven't said anything for the last couple of weeks, but I can't stay quiet because as your friend, it's my job to care about your well-being. I'm not trying to stick my nose in where it doesn't belong, you know I wouldn't do that. But I've noticed you haven't been your usually spunky self lately and I have to ask if you're okay and if it has anything to do with Kyle?"
Selene sighed and nodded ever so slightly.
Lucy reached out to touch Peter's arm. She squeezed it and then brought her hand back to her lap.
Selene was looking down as Peter was talking but looked up when Lucy touched Peter's arm. She put one hand on Lucy's knee and patted it. Lucy put her hand on Selene's hand, and said, "You guys are the best. I'm ok, really." She sighed and continued, "I guess I've been feeling a little down because he's been canceling more dates and now this long business trip. So, I guess I feel like we are more distanced than usual."
"That makes sense," Selene said, validating Lucy's feelings.
"Thanks," Lucy said and nodded, patting Selene's hand. She continued, "And when we are together, he is still affectionate and so I don't feel like there is anything necessarily wrong. He's just really busy with work right now so it's putting a strain on the relationship, you know?" Both Peter and Selene nodded, with Peter saying "Yah" and Selene saying "Absolutely," while Lucy was talking. "So, I figure we just have to get through this period where his work is intense and then we'll be fine. It's just hard sometimes." Lucy looked down. When she did, Peter and Selene exchanged knowing looks but didn't say what they were thinking.
Selene put her other hand over the one Lucy had on hers, so now Lucy's hand was sandwiched between her hands. She said, "Of course it is. That's when you should talk to us. That's what we're here for."
Peter interjected, "Exactly. Don't keep it bottled up inside. You're usually a good talker. Why didn't you come to us?"
Lucy thought for a moment and replied, "I don't know actually. Now that I'm thinking about it, I guess we did talk that one time…." She turned to look at Selene and continued, "…When we had the sleep over."
Peter put his hand on the table in the middle between the two women and said in a mocking tone, "You mean you had a sleep over without me? How dare you?"
The women laughed and Lucy said, "Yes, and we'd do it again! You don't like K-dramas anyway."
"True, true," said Peter, waving his hand as if in disgust. "Go on."
Lucy continued, "After that, I guess I just didn't realize how it was affecting me. Thanks guys." She looked at both of them adoringly.
Selene said, "Of course! But, you know what this means, don't you?
Lucy looked at her, chin pressed to her chest, and said, "What?" as if she was about to be told bad news.
Selene gave her a big smile and said, "Whenever you feel sad or if he cancels and you want to do something, you call one of us and we'll talk or hang out. Ok? I'm down for a sleepover, you know that!"
"Even now? With hubby around?," teased Lucy.
Selene gave her a mock punch on the arm. "Yes, even now with *Ben* around," she said, emphasizing his name and shaking her head as they all laughed. Then she said, "Speaking of which, do you guys want to just head back to my place and hang out until dinner?" Both Peter and Lucy agreed. Then Selene remembered something, and her stomach fell. She started, "And by the way, I forgot to mention…," but then she started squirming in her seat. "Umm, there will be bodyguards with us at dinner," she finished.
"Huh?," asked Lucy as Peter looked at her like she was crazy.
"Well, he is who is, you know? A big CEO and they have bodyguards and stuff. And I guess I have bodyguards now too. So, yah, they'll be there when we go to dinner," Selene said as she shrugged her shoulders.
Peter scratched his forehead as Lucy looked at him for guidance on what to say. He looked at Lucy first and then said to Selene, "That's a little scary Selene. I mean, that raises the level of red flagness up to here." He put his hand up above his head, palm down like a shelf.
"It's not as bad as it sounds. You don't even notice them after a while," Selene said, trying to reassure her friends.
"I don't know, Selene. This is just all too double oh seven, you know?," asked Peter.
Lucy said, "Sweetie, we're just saying it's a lot to take in. But we can handle it? Right Peter?" She said the last part in a tone that didn't offer a no option.
Selene said, "Thank you Lucy." She sighed, "I *do* know it's a lot to ask. But they won't be right near us…well, except for Johnny. He's Ben's personal bodyguard. He'll be having dinner with us though, as a friend. So you really don't notice them like I said. And it does make me feel safe in a way."
Her friends nodded and she said thank you again.
Then Selene turned to Peter and said, "Sooooo, what about you lover boy. Is the drought over?"
Peter sighed and said, "Nope. Forecast says it's still dry as a desert.
"Sorry," Selene said, one head tilted toward her right shoulder.
"Eh, it's ok. Like I always say, I'd rather find the right one, than date a bunch of losers," Peter said.
Lucy nodded and said, "Exactly. You'll find the right one, Peter. I just know it. You're such a good person and I just know that there is someone just as great as you out there. And he's just waiting to find you too."
"You're such a romantic," Peter said.
Lucy laughed and said, "Ha! Like you're not."
Peter chuckled and said, "I know. I still have faith. I mean look at Selene and Ben. Who would have thought right? I mean, the jury's still out until I meet him, but still. So, who knows? Maybe my Mr. Right is out there as we speak too?"
Selene smiled and said, "I'm sure he is. Probably just around the corner too!"