I'm having a hard time… wondering if I'm dreaming or not. I must be dreaming, because there's no way that Sarah would be standing here in my house.
I have a new house now, wait. When did I get a new house? I can't afford a house, not yet.
Wait, that's right. I'm in Sarah's apartment. But that doesn't make sense either, because why would I be here?
"Come on, you guys love each other. Give each other some sugar," Sarah says, smiling.
"What are you shooting a porno?" Lincoln slurs, giggling, clearly out of it.
"I'm sure since you guys have gotten back together, you haven't taken enough pictures, and you're only going to get these once, this year isn't coming back around."
That's all the prodding that is needed for Lincoln to stretch his left arm and bring me in close.
A sudden heaviness settles over me, this thick, gnawing ache of being in the mood, I've been simmering with it all night, waiting for the moment I could finally get Lincoln alone, peel away the layers and lose myself in him without interruption. But now we're here with someone else, tangled in this bizarre setup.
All that matters in this moment, all my mind can think about, is that I'm here with Lincoln, safe in his arms.
At least I think I'm safe. I forgot how good it feels… to be next to him… to be held and safe. To be his.
-??-
Chapter 28
Sarah's POV
"Now kiss each other," I instruct, still snapping pictures I intend to delete right after.
Lincoln looks over at Gabby, smiling.
"Notice the mistletoe," I point to the ceiling, and the two ex-spouses turn their heads skyward.
Gabby smiles drunkenly at Lincoln, blushing. It's so weird seeing them like this.
I've never even seen the two intimate together at all before this point, and outside of the stuff that Lincoln probably let slide about their marriage, the details when I was pretending to help him, he never really spoke about it, and so I never really saw them or remotely envisioned them as being intimate with each other.
My heart breaks with each smile they give each other, with a softness in Lincoln's face that he gives Gabrielle. There is a difference.
Lincoln never looks at me like that, like he's in love. Lincoln always looked at me like I was desirable, like he wanted to fuck me. I can feel when I'm looking at Lincoln like that because I care about him, and he'll be warm with me and smile with me, but that smile never lit up his whole face like it is right now, even when he was drunk with me.
There was never a time I remember us drinking together or hanging out together or even after having smoked weed, him just letting loose and giving me that look, that very one he's giving Gabrielle.
He's wearing his heart all over his face. He clearly couldn't have loved her that much; he fucked me.
And the way that Gabby is smiling back at him means that there is a chance that this bitch is going to take him back.
But they both look shy, so I move in, sitting on Gabby's left while Lincoln is on Gabby's right.
"Come on, why are you guys being shy? Maybe Father Christmas will give you guys a second chance."
Lincoln stares at Gabby and leans in to kiss her. Gabby seems to fight at first, pulling away from him, but then lets him kiss her and melts into him.
I am literally right there, staring at both of them, resting on the right side of my right thigh, slightly kneeling on the couch. Smiling, I place a hand on Gabby's thigh, and when the two finally come up for air, I smile.
"You know… you guys make a really good couple. And the one thing that will make sure that a relationship lasts is to keep it spicy. That's what you guys were missing. No wonder. You're all so shy," I say.
"What are you talking about?" Lincoln chuckles drunkenly.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Lincoln," I smile as I slide down off of the couch and stand, pulling Gabby by both of her hands.
