Her phone rang for the third time that night, and as she did the first two times, Faith allowed it to go to voicemail. She was not in the mood to deal with Selby right then. This was her last night away, and she planned to enjoy it without worrying about anyone's consequences. Tonight was not about Selby or Edwin or Cherish or Rutherford Construction or her family. Tonight was about Faith. Fuck the rest of them; at least for tonight.Morgan took her to a sports bar close to the hotel, and she did not waste time ordering drinks. She had two Rum Runners before their meal arrived with no intention of slowing down. Televisions blared as well as music, and Faith teased and joked with Kent and the two laborers who caught up with them. Patricia finally showed up, her eyes glued to Kent, and it was a proper sendoff. They finished working and would return home in the morning. However, tonight, Faith planned on having fun.By the time dinner was finished, so was her third drink, and Faith wanted
The morning came early. Faith hit the snooze button three times before she forced her eyes to creek open and tried to focus on the popcorn ceiling. Each time she silenced the screeching wail, she negotiated with herself in order to remain in bed. She didn't need to wash her hair. She could wear her Polo pullover, instead of her beige top, so she didn't need to iron anything. She would risk sandals and forget socks and shoes. Finally, there was nothing else to cross off her morning routine. She had to get up.Her head throbbed as if one of those silly wind-up monkeys clanged its cymbals behind her eyeballs. She slammed the alarm off as she squeezed the bridge of her nose between two fingers. Groaning, she pulled herself into a sitting position, the blankets bunched around her waist. Oh god, what did I do to myself?Faith left the warmth of her bed and trudged her way to the bathroom, holding her head with her right hand. With her left hand, she turned on the shower, avoiding the mirror.
Selby stared at the clock on the wall. Faith had been on the road for two hours with another hour to go. He gave up stocking shelves and just sat behind the counter staring at the rotating hands of the clock. They didn't move. Time wasn't just dragging; it had stopped altogether.There had been no morning call, just a text saying she was leaving and she loved him. He wanted to keep texting her on her ride home but didn't. She had ignored his calls last night and hadn't called that morning. She was making a statement, a loud one, and Selby had gotten the message. She needed some space, and he forced himself to give it to her.His fear, however, was what might happen on the other end of that space. Would Faith continue to see Edwin just for spite, even after Selby had asked her to stop? Then, the next question was how much Selby would continue to allow. This went beyond their sexual exploration. Faith's relationship with Edwin had the potential to explode in her face and rain down into h
Faith was quiet for most of the trip, her thoughts sinking in the quicksand that became her life. Morgan remained stuck on his phone conducting business, making Neal money as he liked to say. Their conversation, when they had it, was light, him telling her what a great job she had done and how he appreciated all her hard work. He intended to head back to Orlando when they returned, and it'd be at least a month before he was in Brevard again."To be honest, Neal's thinking of taking me to Mississippi with him," Morgan said as they finally entered Brevard County. "Seems, he's ready to branch out more, and there's still quite a bit to rebuild after Katrina.""Where in Mississippi?""Right around Biloxi. I was thinking you did such a great job this week, I'd take you with me to train a brand-new office."She couldn't help but smile at the thought, and she hoped some of it was true. Of course, knowing Morgan as she did, he was also probably hoping to finish their little tryst. She had to ad
Selby's arms wrapped around her like a familiar blanket, keeping her warm against the coldness of her thoughts. She told him everything about her trip, including how Morgan had went down on her a couple of nights ago. Selby hadn't been mad she did it, only that she waited to share it with him. "I'll ask for the kinky details later when we're naked in bed," he said while he smiled at her. He kissed her on the forehead and tightened his grip on her. She just dropped her head on his chest and breathed in the scent of him."Tracey says I'm not to hog you all weekend. She needs some Faith time, too."Faith gave him a tiny smile. "Tomorrow. Tonight, I want it to be just us."He kissed the top of her head. "I like that."So did she. It seemed like forever since it was just the two of them. If someone wasn't visiting, then someone was texting. Faith knew she allowed her fascination with Edwin and the chase to consume her. Selby hadn't complained; at least, not until he discovered Cherish's aff
Selby groaned as someone persistently pushed the doorbell, sending its ding-dong chime throughout the house. Through blurry eyes, he tried to focus on the time. Eight twenty-seven. He dropped his head back on the warm pillow. He wanted to kill someone.He glanced over at his wife who was totally unaffected by the constant chime. They had talked way into the night and made love in front of the fire and once more when they finally slid under the covers. They had not decided the future of their game, but at least, she wasn't still angry with him. And she was home. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face as he smiled at the pillow marks on her cheek. He had needed her back home. The doorbell screamed again. Selby slid from his side of the bed and grabbed his robe. As he covered his naked body, he stumbled to the front door, forcing himself awake and out of a murderous rage for the intrusion. As he peered through the peephole at the perky face on the other side, all he could think
They spent the entire day dragging poor Selby in and out of every store that came into their minds. Faith could tell that, although he wasn't complaining, her poor husband was foot-sore and tired. Finally, the girls surrendered, picking up Chinese for dinner, and allowed him to take them home. He deserved a drink and his back deck. She had to admit; she was ready for another quiet evening with those closest to her heart, as well. However, when she saw her mother's Buick in the driveway, she knew quiet just flew out the window."Were you expecting your mother?" Selby gave her a puzzled look as he pulled in behind Tracey's vehicle. "I never expect my mother.""I'm sure she just missed you and wanted to see how your trip went," the redhead said from the backseat. Faith and Selby just turned and stared at her. "You don't know my mother.""Oh," Tracey said. "Oops. This will be an experience then."Selby popped his door open, and the ladies followed suit. "Well, it was a nice day," he said
Sunday dawned with the temperature already pushing toward eighty. Winter in Florida was always short. Tracey spent the night, nuzzled on Faith's right while Selby had draped her left. After Valerie Driscoll left, Faith had remained quiet in a numb aftershock. The others hadn't forced her to communicate, and when she did speak, it was to vent about her mother's audacity at blaming her for Cherish sleeping with Edwin. Faith never had to do anything for her mother to paint her out as the bad guy. What she ever did to earn her mother's scorn, she would never understand. And now....Now, Faith didn't care. She was through being pushed around and made to feel inferior by her family. She didn't feel bad about standing up to her mother. However, Faith didn't feel good, either.She felt lost. Separated. The gulf that had been there between her mother and her was now a chasm, and Faith doubted it would ever be different. Cherish was the one who had screwed up her life, and yet, it was Faith who