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There was a sense of restlessness in Jessica Perez that Mike felt he could conquer, to feel that she was his. So, it seemed unreal yet satisfying to Mike how he and Jessica ended up together. Jessica had the physique of an Olympic tennis player – sleek and muscular. Their heartbeats synchronized as she felt his hot breath on her light brown neck.
"Thanks," she said in a soft whisper.
"Thanks?" Mike sounded confused.
"Yeah, I really had a nice time, but it’s time to go. I gotta get dressed."
"Really? You’re gonna leave like that? I thought you had the morning off, why do you have to go this early?"
"Come on now, you know I gotta go. I told you that I’m covering for my co-worker today to get extra money for my girls’ weekend trip, remember?"
"Well, it’s just that, I want to spend time with you. Besides, we’re not seeing anyone else." Mike held his breath, waiting for a response. He stared at her round youthful face and her pink glossy soft lips – his favorite feature. He was waiting for her to say, “I want to be with you, too.”
Mike wanted Jessica to know that he was ready to make a commitment. He knew she had been hurt before, and he wanted to let her know that this time would be different. He wanted to make this different for her and for himself.
"You’re such a gentleman, just like a Boy Scout, I think that’s what I’ll call you 'my little boy scout,'" Jessica said with a soft laugh as she planted a kiss on his forehead.
Mike watched her walk toward the master bathroom to shower. He liked the way she moved with precision and grace. Her shoulder-length brown ringlets hung like Christmas tree ornaments, framing her face beautifully. Her dark brown hair with honey highlights provided a stark contrast against her lightly tanned skin tone. Mike took a deep, slow sigh, the sigh of defeat. Okay, maybe you are moving too fast. Take it slow, or you will push her away, Mike thought to himself.
She turned on the shower and the bathroom radio to her favorite station. She brushed her teeth as steam filled the bathroom. Mike wrapped himself in a white terry cloth robe, then picked up the tray with leftover strawberries and two empty wine glasses. He was planning to exchange the half-empty tray for a plate of pancakes, a glass of orange juice, and a bowl of sliced cantaloupe, a surprise breakfast for his girl.
On his way out of the bedroom, he heard a familiar yet unfamiliar sound. It wasn’t his cell phone ringer. Mike looked under the covers, between the covers, and under the pillows. The unfamiliar sound was growing louder.
He found it. It was Jessica’s cellphone on the floor under her jeans. "Hey, Jessica, your phone is—" He stopped when he saw the text message: "Are we still on for Saturday? – Edwin."
"Who is this Edwin guy?" Mike thought to himself, "And how long has this been going on?" Mike went through her contact list and saw the only name with “Edwin” and a last name “Lewis.”
Mike straightened the sheets and the dark green comforter on the California bed. He picked up her clothes and gently laid them on the arm of the coffee-colored love seat opposite the bathroom. He laid out a robe for Jessica on the bed, placed the phone on top of the robe, and headed downstairs to the kitchen to wait.
While Jessica was upstairs washing her hair in the shower, Mike methodically shoved the black silk coffee grinds into the filter and flicked on the coffee maker. As the rich aroma filled the kitchen, options dripped into Mike’s mind, much like the coffee steadily dripping into the pot.
"The shower’s off, so let me go upstairs and get this over with," Mike mumbled. He walked up the carpeted stairs of his two-story townhouse and headed towards the bedroom. He stood by the half-open door and watched Jessica leave the shower. Her figure was overshadowed by the warm mist that enveloped the room. Everything seemed to move in slow motion for Mike. As Jessica walked slowly towards the bed to pick up the robe, the mist gave way, and Mike could see Jessica’s full-body, from her wet, curly, shoulder length hair, to the peaceful looking face and even those soft pink lips, to the curviness of her figure, and her flawless light brown skin tone – he saw everything he wanted to see.
When Jessica approached the bed, she picked up the phone and read the missed message with a soft smile. Mike opened the door all the way, and she turned to face him. Right there at that moment, Mike saw something he had never seen before. He was looking at Jessica as if for the first time. He saw her full nakedness; there was no hiding. This is who she was and is. He saw for the first time her flaws and wondered why he hadn’t seen them before. She mouthed the words “I’m sorry”. He did not have to wonder anymore; she said it all. He saw who she really was.
"Leave the spare keys on the bed," Mike commanded and turned away. Mike went downstairs while Jessica got dressed. He went to the kitchen, sat on the stool at the kitchen island, and drank the rest of his coffee. All he could think about was how this could happen, when did this happen, and did he, at some point, meet this guy.
Jessica walked down the stairs, heading straight to the entryway to get her jacket. Mike came behind her.
"Why? Can you tell me why? Did I do anything to cause you to..." Mike trailed off.
"No, Mike, you didn’t do anything," Jessica responded.
"How long?" Mike wanted to know, but he didn’t want to know.
"Mike, I didn’t mean to hurt you," Jessica said.
"Didn’t mean to hurt me? Well, what did you mean to do?" Mike asked, his voice tinted with both sarcasm and anger.
"I don’t know what you want me to say, Mike."
"I don’t know what I want you to say either."
Jessica turned and left. Mike stood there in the hallway waiting, anticipating the moment when something would happen; yet nothing did. Mike headed towards the living room to the gray leather couch. Out of emotional exhaustion, Mike plopped onto the couch, pulled at the handle to recline, leaned back, took a deep sigh, and closed his eyes.
Mike didn’t remember when he woke up, took a shower, and got dressed. All he knew was he was heading out the door for his jog at Veteran’s Memorial Park. He drove his black Lexus SUV and parked it at the main entrance. After he finished his warmup stretches, he inhaled a deep breath and exhaled a long, slow breath before listening to his playlist, tuning out the noise of his inner thoughts.
