“Okay, what changed? You went from saying no to agreeing. What’s up with that?” He asked, concerned.
“It wasn’t until he put into perspective that we may be curious about certain things that we might not ever get to experience based on the other’s comfort level. I just feel like if we don’t have an issue with the other exploring, then why hold back? I’m still dead set on not doing it often, though. That’s not changing.”
He nodded deep in thought.
“Aight, I’m with it.” He shrugged, making me laugh.
I unlocked my phone and looked at the calendar. Last year, we agreed that, going forward, we would take a vacation every quarter. Next month marked the end of the quarter, so we could schedule our encounters then.
“What do you think about scheduling them for next month. During our week vacation?”
“So, we spend the week together and have Friday-Sunday apart?” He asked for clarity.
“Or until the next Monday. I’m thinking we should do a destination. Like an actual vacation. That’ll also alleviate some of the pressure of being seen or running into each other,” I added.
“Are you going with the same person?” He asked. The question caught me a little off guard. But I had just preached about having tough conversations without a mediator. Reluctantly, I nodded.
“You?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
I didn’t expect the little pinch in my chest. I guess I was playing it safe by staying with Quentin. But “safe” doesn’t mean he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Honestly, I hoped Tim would live it up and not get stuck with someone. I tucked the feeling away as quickly as it came.
“Alright, we’re exchanging information, though, Breeze. If you’re leaving the state or country, I need to know where you are, which hotel you’ll be at, and your flight details. I know our terms, I don’t have to know who you’re with, but I need to know how to get to you if I need to,” He stated, leaving no room for me to disagree. I understood his reasoning perfectly.
“You’re right, baby. We can discuss the specifics once I finalize them; I’m going to call it a night.” I stood, grabbing my bag.
I kissed him again before I left.
I took the elevator to the building's main floor and, when it opened, I saw Natalie talking with a salesman. It was late, but there were still two customers in the building.
“Excuse me… Nat, can you update the website? Tim says the newest imports haven’t been added. Can you also send out the monthly newsletter?” I interrupted them. Normally, I would have waited, but it had been a long day.
“Shit, I forgot. I’m sorry, Mrs. T I’ll get on it now.” She apologized, rubbing her temples. I waved her off, “Girl, do it tomorrow. It’s late,” I said, easing her worry and smiling at them before I exited the building.
Behind the wheel of my car, I started the engine but did not move. I just sat there and thought about what we had just discussed. The second encounter has just been greenlighted, andI felt uneasy about it. Not uneasy about the encounter itself, but uneasy about why I anticipated it.
I didn’t move out of the parking spot. I opened my phone and typed a message.
Me: Hey, are you busy next month from the 15th to the 18th? Tim and I have decided to go ahead with the encounters. I’m thinking we can go out of the country. I don’t have the specifics, but the date is set in stone.
I pressed send to none other than Quentin Long.
Quentin: Nah, I’m not busy, B. Just let me know what you want to do so I can pay for it.
Me: Sure.
Quentin: I’ll make sure I leave respect in the States, baby.
I laughed loudly as I put the car in reverse and left the parking lot. He’s such a cocky asshole.
As soon as I connected my phone to the Apple CarPlay, the music started playing lowly from the speakers. I chuckled at the irony of the song. It was like the universe was taunting me by playing Xscape’s ‘My Little Secret’ at a time like this. But I sang along anyway.
I took a deep breath, and I watched the lines of the road, lost in my thoughts. I had just solidified that in a month’s time, I would be in the arms of Q. And this time for an entire weekend.
I groaned and clenched my thighs in anticipation as scenes from a year ago replayed in my head on loop. My body must have been operating on pure muscle memory because I didn’t even notice I had pulled up to my home.
Silencing the engine and cutting off the lights, I stepped out of the car. I was going to count down the days until I was on an island on my knees or bent over on the beach with one leg on a chair and getting my butt eaten while sipping an ice-cold margarita. When I was with Quentin, I was B, the woman withno inhibitions. But right now, I was Breeze, the innocent wife and entrepreneur.
