Page 64 of Beyond our Forever

???

“Wear something sexy.” I remember Bruce’s words as I walk through the kind of store I’ve never dared enter before.

Wear something sexy. I feel more lost than an earthworm at a chicken’s party.

Something sexy, what does that mean?

And most importantly, where does he plan to take me?

After wandering around aimlessly for a while, I ask the saleswoman for help and between the two of us, we pick out various outfits.

In the end, I decide on a jumpsuit, because they are so in right now—her words, not mine—royal blue, with bare shoulders and an intricate pattern on the back.

“Your husband will be drooling all over you when he sees you in this,” she says once she has completed my outfit with accessories, shoes, and the whole thing.

I look at myself in the mirror, hoping her words are true. Never mind drooling, I want his jaw to drop to his knees. It should be interesting anyway.

Bruce arrives around five o’clock, quite early, to tell the truth. It feels weird to see him come in carrying a small suitcase with his clothes, then letting him take care of the kids and dinner to give me time to prepare for our date.

“You’ve been out together several times now,” Ava begins. “Are you married again? When is daddy going to come home?”

“We never stopped being married,” Bruce replies. “But now we’re also dating.”

Our daughter seems to find this hilarious as she bursts out laughing, with Bruce adding more fuel to the fire as he tickles her belly.

“Don’t be silly,” she squeals with laughter. “You can’t be dating, that’s what you do before you get married!”

Dear God, where does she get all this information from?

“Your mother and I can do anything we want because she’s mine.” Yes, I’m his, as he is mine.

They both laugh and this time I do too, feeling real happiness as well as hope. Because everything is possible, dreams can come true.

???

Later that night, after having a quite few drinks in a bar, around ten o’clock Bruce takes my hand and leads me to the entrance of a nightclub.

This time I’m the one left with my mouth open, like an idiot.

“What are we doing here?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Of course it isn’t, not when this is the first time in what seems like centuries we’ve done something like this. Even back when we were dating, we didn’t really go clubbing, we preferred spending our nights surrounded by fewer people and wearing much less clothing.

“Since you have me on a ban, this is the closest I will get to making love with you tonight, love,” he whispers as he presses up against my back, letting me feel what is hidden beneath his clothes.

His hard and hot body, painfully separated from me by dark jeans and a black button down shirt which almost gave me a stroke when I first saw him. Well, to be honest, I think my heart did stop for a moment or two.

Is it normal for me to feel like a teenager again?

The club is bursting, but fortunately the hostess has my husband’s name on her list and leads us to a cordoned off area at the end of the room, next to the dance floor, where there are a couple of black velvet armchairs.

“I don’t even want to ask how you know this place, much less why you’re on the VIP list.”

“You don’t have to be jealous, love,” he laughs.

“I’m not jealous,” I lie. Of course I am, even at my age.

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