Finding Infinity (7 page)

“Do you think that I give a fuck if Aiden has pineapple?” He laughs, and gives me his half smile. The twinkle in his eyes is rare, but it’s been present all day today.

I roll my eyes. “I’ll add it to your list of stuff that you don’t give a fuck about.”

“Harsh, baby,” he says as he scoots off the counter, and gives my behind a nice spank.

I watch him walk out of the kitchen. The old saying, “Hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave,” keeps playing on repeat in my mind.

I go back to chopping fruit and momentarily get lost in my thoughts. The question mark hanging over my head is if my dad will acknowledge my birthday or not. He’s never missed one, but I haven’t spoken to him since I walked out of his house. Aiden has handled all the negotiations and paperwork dissolving our partnership. I’m ready for it to be over. It’s time for a fresh start.

Just as I am transferring the fruit into a bowl, there’s a knock on the back door. “They’re here!” I yell to Colin.

I race over and throw open the back door to find Aiden standing there with a perplexed look on his face. “Fucker changed the locks.”

I laugh. “I’ll explain later.” Then, I catch Rachael as she barrels toward me, pulling me into a giant hug. We scream like preteen girls. I adore her. Getting to spend the day with her, Colin, and Aiden is really the best present ever. Who needs a car?

* * * *

Colin and Aiden are discussing something in Colin’s office while Rachael and I lie by Colin’s Vegas-inspired pool, attempting to get catch some sun without burning. For me, that means carefully applied sunscreen. For Rachael, that means SPF 45 with zinc oxide, a huge floppy hat, and a Sunbrella long-sleeved shirt over her bathing suit.

This is the first time that we’ve been alone since her and Aiden arrived, and I’m just about to burst if I don’t get at least a little scoop.

“So you and Aiden flew from DC together?” I ask, very nonchalantly.

“Actually, I had business in Los Angeles, so Aiden and I flew from there.”

“What were you doing in LA?” I take a sip of my Aiden-made margarita.

“Oh a little of this, and some of that. Boring politics stuff.” She takes a sip of her cocktail. They are to die for.

“Where did you stay?”

“Oh for God’s sake, Caroline. We’ve been friends long enough. Spit it out,” she says, in her very Rachael way.

“Just curious what the status of you and Aiden are,” I fish.

“Simple. If we’re in the same city, we see each other. When we’re not? Out of sight, out of mind.” Her answer surprises me. Aiden and Rachael were crazy in love in college. Her laissez faire attitude towards him is unexpected.

“So are y’all sleeping together?” It’s a logical question.

She sits up, pulls off her sunglasses, and gives me her serious look. “That, my dear, is none of your business.” She lies back down and slides her glasses back on.

“Sorry, Rach. I didn’t mean to pry.” Oh! I so totally did. “I’m just not used to you keeping secrets from me.”

“Honestly, there’s really nothing to tell. My boss is gearing up for a run at the presidency. I’m so busy, that there are days that I think I should wear Depends because I literally don’t have time to pee. Aiden and I’ve found ourselves in the same city, and we’ve had dinner. Not everyone thinks getting back together with their college boyfriend is a good idea,” Rachael says, effectively closing the subject.

I pick up my margarita and take a sip, and then lay back on the sun lounger. This is obviously a touchy subject for her. I’m confused. We usually share everything with each other.

I still haven’t had a chance to talk to Rachael about why she and Aiden broke up. Colin said that it was because our breakup was too hard on them. It’s not that I don’t believe Colin, but I’d like to hear Rachael’s side of the story.

“So, have you set a date?” she asks, as she slurps down the last sip of her drink. She knows that we haven’t. This is her way of redirecting the conversation to a topic that she knows I don’t like.

“We got married this morning,” I reply and wait for her response.

“You did not. But, that might be the only way that the media doesn’t crash it, is to make it a surprise. I saw your photographer friends hanging around outside the gate.”

Damn!
She knows me too well. I can’t get a rise out of her anymore.

“Rach, I don’t know what I’m going to do. Colin is hounding me about setting a date. Brad keeps bringing me all of his wedding research. Yesterday, he decided that we should have a themed wedding. He suggested western or roller skating. What’s wrong with me? I’m missing the wedding gene.”

She laughs. “I’d pay big bucks to see Aiden roller skate. Choose roller skating,” she all but begs. “Although I’m sure that there’s some clause in Colin’s contract that keeps him off all wheels except car tires.”

“Girl, you should hear Brad’s ideas. If he ever gets married, I’ll be scared to attend,” I say, conspiratorially as I lean in closer toward Rachael.

“Look, Caroline, you’ve never cared about any of the normal girl stuff. Just pick a date and let Brad do everything else, as long as it isn’t themed. I mean, seriously, it’s like four hours of your life which you have to play along. Just do it, and move on.” This is why Rachael is incredible at her job. I can see her sitting in a room with a group of politicians that can’t seem to find like ground on anything, and she’d makes them compromise. She’s got the unique ability to minimize anything and everything.

I actually think about her words for a little while. Rachael’s right. It’s four hours of my life. Brad will do all the planning. Why am I dragging my feet? Colin has done so much for me. He relocated Brad to Dallas. He moved the football players out of our house without complaining. He agreed to work out of actual office space instead of our house, which is an inconvenience for him. I can do it. I can wear the white dress and walk the down the aisle if it makes him happy.

“You’re right, Rach. I can have a wedding. Even though I don’t want one, Colin does. Will you be my maid of honor?”

“As long as I get to pick out my own dress. I’m not letting Brad stick me in some Pepto Bismol pink number,” she says, as she smiles at me.

That launches us into a fit of giggles. I keep suggesting more and more horrible things that I’m going to make her wear, which causes Rachael to have to top it with something more awful.

Colin and Aiden come sauntering out of the house. I yell at Colin, “Go grab your calendar. We’re picking a date.”

I watch him stop walking, and his mouth falls open in shock. Then he gets the twinkle in his eye and half smile that I love, and shakes his head. “You never cease to amaze me.”

The four of us pull out our calendars and then begin the difficult task of picking a wedding date that works for all of our schedules. Once we’re a year out, Colin says, “Okay, so let’s start over and see what we can move around on our calendars.”

That negotiating takes another pitcher of margaritas. What it boils down to is that Rachael is so busy with her job that she tells us to pick a date, and she’ll just make it work. We decide to get married next March. It’s after football season, before the draft, and Colin and I will actually get to take a honeymoon.

I make a big deal about saying that I’ll send out save the dates, knowing that everyone that we will be inviting to the wedding will be at my “surprise” party tonight.

At about six o’clock, Colin casually suggests that we start getting ready for dinner. I decide to have a little fun with him. “Why don’t we stay home and get some take out? I don’t really feel like getting dressed,” I whine.

I enjoy watching Colin get momentarily thrown off kilter. “But I’ve had these reservations for a month,” he reasons.

I start feeling bad for teasing him, so I let him off the hook and agree.

Rachael and Aiden are staying at our house. I ask Colin which rooms he told them to take. He looks at me says, “No clue. I just told them to put their stuff wherever.”

Damn! I may have to go upstairs and borrow something from Rachael. I want to know if they’re sharing a room.

Colin obviously reads my mind. “Leave them alone, Charlie. Your snooping does no good.”

I hate being admonished. “Can’t you ask Aiden?” I pout.

Colin throws his hands up and shrugs. “None of my business.”

“Men,” I exclaim, as I stomp into our bedroom to take a shower.

* * * *

It’s times like this that I covet. The two of us are getting dressed together, while Pandora is playing a great selection of old country songs. We’re teasing each other, maybe sneaking a behind pinch here or there. We’re both in great moods, and being silly. Colin grabs me and spins me for a deep dip while I’m putting on my deodorant. We’re normal. Just a boy and girl who adore each other, getting dressed for a night out on the town.

I love the trips and privileges that Colin’s career brings us, but this is what matters. These are the times that I try to remember in minute detail. When we have them, they’re perfection.

As I blow-dry my hair, I watch Colin shaving via the reflection in the mirror. He’s softly singing along to an old Tim McGraw song. There’s something terribly erotic about watching the man that I’m in love with cover his face with shaving cream and use a blade to smoothly remove the white foam from his face. His eyes are focused on the task at hand.

He has no idea that I’m staring at him. I take a mental snapshot, and file it away for one of the many times that I’m furious over something that he’s done. I need to remember him like this.

The more I watch him, the more flushed I feel. I’m not sure what time our dinner reservations are, but we might have to be late. I slip my robe off and let it fall to the tiled floor. I walk over to Colin and remove the razor from his hand. “Let me do that.”

He looks at me and drinks in my state of undress, and then flashes me his half smile. “That’s my favorite outfit,” he says, as he places me on his vanity that was custom-built to his height. We’re staring at each other, green eyes to lavender.

I start on the other side of his face, next to his ear, and begin to run the razor down his cheek, following the direction of the stubble. When I’ve cleared one strip of shaving cream, I dip the razor in the water-filled sink, and rinse the cream off. I watch Colin’s erection grow as I shave the next row of shaving cream.

“How come it’s your birthday, and I’m the one who’s having the best day ever?” Colin says, so softly that I barely hear him.

I smile and kiss the tip of his nose. “I love you, and I hope that I can make every day the best day ever.”

When I get to his chin, he removes the razor from my hand, flashing me his smoldering green eyes. “This is too dangerous a weapon for you to use so near my throat.”

I watch him expertly run the razor along his jaw line, and then contort his face in an odd expression to get his chin cleanly without any nicks.

When he’s done, he uses a warm towel to wipe the remaining bits of cream off of his face. I grab his aftershave moisturizer and squeeze a dollop in my hands. I rub them together to warm up the lotion, and then begin to spread it on his face and neck. His skin is smooth to the touch, and feels like silk. I love his stubble. It makes him look all kinds of sexy, but I love to feel his skin right after he’s shaven. It reminds me of him: hard, rough exterior for the world—soft and tender, just for me.

I can’t let the left over lotion go to waste, so I reach down and grab his erection and begin to stroke it back and forth in my hands. “Baby, you’re going to make us late if you keep this up.” He breathes.

“Shall I add late to dinner reservations to your list of stuff that you don’t give a fuck about?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.

“Normally, yes. But, Aiden and Rachael are waiting for us.”

I know that I’m going to win. As I pump him up and down, and listen to the small moans that escape his lips, I know he’s not going to stop me. Sliding my hands over him makes me wet, and I know that he can see my desire for him in my hooded eyes. I have him when he reaches in between my legs and whispers, “We can’t let that wet pussy go to waste, can we?”

He pulls me to him, and I wrap my legs around his waist. He slides into me and fills me so deliciously that I throw my head back and moan his name. He begins to slide deeper inside of me. “This is going to be quick, baby,” Colin says as he moves me backwards and forwards on his erection. “We’ll do this properly tonight.”

I couldn’t care less at that moment. I’m filled with Colin. This is the only place that I want to be. He reaches in between my legs and uses his thumb to massage my clit as he pounds deep inside of me. I feel myself building closer and closer to release. I throw my head back and Colin leans in and gently bites my neck. Dear God, I think fireworks go off in our master bathroom. My face tingles, as I come down from a mind-blowing release.

Colin has a smirk on his face. “Is it your birthday or mine?”

“It can be yours if you want,” I say as I climb off of his vanity, giving him a peck on the lips.

Then I head into the closet to put on the new dress that Brad insisted I buy. At the time, I was highly annoyed that I was dragged all over the Galleria to try on party couture. Now, I’m so glad that I listened to Brad. I look at myself in the mirror. Not bad for thirty. My post-orgasm glow has added a beautiful shade of crimson that mixes well with the hint of bronze that I got today when I laid out in the sun with Rachael. The dress is strapless and a pretty shade of green. The color actually reminds me of Colin’s gorgeous eyes. I would have never chosen it for myself, but I’ll give Brad credit. He’s got a good eye. “Not bad, Caroline. Not bad at all,” I tell myself.

Colin looks debonair in a black jacket, dark jeans and white button-up shirt. His first two buttons are undone, so just a hint of chest hair peeks out. I don’t know how it’s possible to look that effortlessly handsome. I watch as he puts on his Rolex watch.

I’m fluffing my hair in the mirror when he walks up behind me. “So,” he says as he plants a soft kiss on my naked shoulder. “I thought you should wear your birthday presents to dinner.”