Page 11 of Twenty-Three Years of Longing

Had I been that overconfident? Based on how the day spiraled out of my control, I’d have to say yes. I didn’t call Orion, but I had a feeling he knew everything already. Some things had been honestly out of my control like five students coming down with stomach aches and needing to be sent home. But how was I going to explain a fight breaking out during the lunch break? I was positive that wasn’t something that would’ve happened on Orion’s watch. I’m sure he was going to have plenty to say about it when we met for dinner later.

Don’t make yourself sick over it before it happens.

The water was beginning to cool, so I pulled the drain plug and turned the hot water back on because I wasn’t ready to get out just yet. Once it was back to the way I liked it, I put the plug back in and filled the tub with as much water as it would hold. Leaning back, this time, I forced myself to relax. There were so many good things that I needed to focus on. Like the fact that Joey would be around family for the first time ever.

My parents knew of him and had spoken to him a few times on the phone, but they didn’t have any real connection beyond that. That blame lay on me. My parents had been angry with me for getting married without informing them, and then again, divorcing shortly after. They had insisted that I return to Tabiq and raise Joey here. But there was nothing for me here at that time. And when I refused it was a major insult to them. They just didn’t understand me. I wasn’t ever going to go back to who I was before. I had wanted to prove that just because I made a huge mistake, not everything was bad. I had my son Joey. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me and I was going to spend my life making sure he knew it.

He is no mistake. He’s a precious gift.

Closing my eyes, I smiled thinking of how cute he was as a baby, and how much energy he had as a toddler. The first couple of years I was lucky if I got four hours of sleep. I worked, continued my schooling, and parented. My parents thought I was taking the easy way out by not returning to Tabiq, but that was the furthest from the truth. I took the hard way. The independent way.

My way.

It worked for me. Through it all, I found security and happiness. Not bad for someone who easily could’ve said, ‘oh pity me’. But I was never one who came up with excuses, instead I came up with resolutions. That’s exactly how I was going to handle my job here.

I sank deeper into the hot water and closed my eyes.

Tomorrow. I’ll start tomorrow.

Right now, I just wanted to get a few minutes of rest before I called Joey before he goes to school.

Just closing my eyes. That’s all. Just for one minute.

“Raya!” A man’s panicked voice called out.

I blinked, forcing my eyes to open only to find Orion dropping onto his knees beside the tub, reaching out towards me.

“What the hell!” I asked, pulling away, wide awake now. “What are you doing in here?” I snapped.

His eyes were wide, and I felt them scanning the length of the tub. The look of fear vanished, but as his eyes roamed slowly back up and locked on mine, I felt a knot in the pit of my stomach. “You’re okay,” he said in a deep voice.

For a split second, I almost forgot that he was an uninvited guest. Damn you, libido. Why mess with me now? Forcing myself to focus on the current situation, I glared at him, and replied, “Of course, I am.” Raising my hands to my breast, I sank down as deep as I could, hoping that what little bubbles were left would cover everything that I didn’t want him to see. Since I was naked, that pretty much was most of me. “Sorry for the intrusion, Ms. Davison. We thought you might need assistance. I see that is not the case. It appears you don’t need anything,” another man’s voice said. We? If it was not bad enough that Orion got a look at me naked, he brought company. I looked beyond Orion and even with his back turned towards me, I knew it was Bennett Stone, head of security at the resort. He’d made it a point to introduce himself before I left for work yesterday morning. Nice man, but still had no clue as to why he was in my bathroom either. Did I look like I needed help? I mean, I’ve been bathing myself since age five.

“The only thing I need right now is privacy!” I said firmly, glad at least one of the men had the decency to turn away.

Bennett said, “Of course. We’ll lock the door behind us.”

Orion didn’t follow. “I’ll catch up with you later,” he said as Bennett left the bathroom. His eyes, still meeting mine.

At least I knew they weren’t staring at my boobs or anything else. “Please, feel free to go with him,” I suggested.

“I’m glad you are okay.”

“Yeah. Thanks.” Not the time for small talk. "Umm, not sure if you realize this, but this is a little awkward,” I admitted, not sure why he hadn’t figured that out on his own, but he didn’t seem bothered at all. Then again, he had his clothes on.

“I’ll wait in the other room for you so we can talk,” he replied.

Finally!

The other room was my bedroom and all I had with me was my bathrobe. My gut said that if I protested and tried to send him to the lobby, he would stay and argue. And the way he was looking at me said he wouldn’t mind prolonging this either. Wanting this to end, I gave in with a simple nod, and he finally left.

As soon as the door was closed behind him, I quickly got out of the tub, toweled off and put on my robe. I didn’t want to keep him waiting in fear that he might think there was something wrong, and barge back in again.

I opened the door, silently praying that he would change his mind and that my room would be vacant. Unfortunately, Orion was sitting at the table reading something on his cell phone. Maybe the proper edict for walking in on your direct report while she soaks in the tub. I never thought there should be such a thing, but obviously, I was wrong.

Great. Guess we’re still going to have our talk now.

I made sure the sash of my robe was tight and I was completely covered before I joined him. When I sat down, I decided to be straightforward. This wasn’t on me. I didn’t invade his privacy. As far as I was concerned, he owed me not just an apology, but an explanation too. And if it wasn’t satisfactory, then I was going to Reesa, packing my bags, and going home. I didn’t care how good a job was going to be on my resume, I needed to feel respected and safe.

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