Page 36 of OneTime Lovers
Quickly, I gather up the first bundle of light-colored clothes and the offending bikini and go dump them in the washing machine, removing the visual reminder of my vacation. Then having dealt with that, I return to my bedroom and flop onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling, unsure of what next.
I need to give myself a good shake, it’s time to stop thinking about some guy. With all my big talk of Scott being just a vacation fling, the reality is I missed him when he left the island. Memories of Scott are adding to the air of melancholy surrounding me. Here back in Manhattan, those memories don’t belong.
Lily comes to lean on my bedroom doorframe with a loud heavy sigh, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Are you as depressed as me about being home,” she complains, coming over to sit on the edge of my bed.
“Totally, it sucks to be back. I miss our sunset cocktails already.” It’s reassuring that she’s feeling the same, so maybe my mood has nothing to do with Scott.
Lily jumps up with an idea. “Hey, we can still do cocktails. Let’s leave our unpacking and instead go get one of Benny’s special cocktails. We can ask him to make us a post-vacation blues cocktail.”
“Now that sounds like a great idea. Give me a few minutes to change.”
“Me too,” she throws over her shoulder as she bounces out of the room, much happier.
Benny’s Bar is only a short walk around the corner from my apartment in the Village. This is the place where the girls and I usually meet on a Friday night for a cocktail and a weekly catchup. Many disastrous dates, boyfriend breakups, and sexy hookups have been discussed at Benny’s. Lately, it’s been where we gathered to help Cassie plan her wedding.
Tonight, as we step through the door, Benny the bar owner greets us, wrapping us up in one of his bear hugs. He calls out to Maria in his booming voice, telling his adored wife that his girls are back from the wedding. Maria comes bustling out to give us an equally warm hug, firing questions at us about Cassie and the wedding, begging to see our photos.
Benny, with his booming voice, redirects us away from the wooden stools at the bar to a nearby table. “Maria, you settle down with the girls and catch up on all wedding things while I make you all a special cocktail.” There is nothing subtle about Benny and Maria, but it’s part of the charm of coming here, they embrace us as part of their family.
“Hey, Benny, we need a back from vacation blues cocktail please.” I shout to be heard above the TV on the wall in the corner, which is replaying last night’s Knicks game, probably more for Benny’s benefit than the other patrons who are in tonight.
Benny grins broadly back at me. “Coming right up.”
Maria oohs and aahs over the wedding pictures as Lily and I scroll through the photos on our phones. We tell her about the island, the food, and the wedding ceremony.
A stab of sadness hits me as a photo of Scott and me laughing by the pool pops up. It’s probably too soon for me to look at photos of us without the memories of the nights I spent in his arms coming flooding back. My face flushes as heat spreads up from my chest, sex with Scott was too good to forget.
A little later, when we’re onto our secondisland bluescocktail of the night, and Maria has returned to the kitchen to get us a plate of hot wings to share, Lily asks tentatively, “Are you okay? You looked sad scrolling through the photos with Maria. Do you miss him?”
“Scott? I’m not sure but sex with him, absolutely. I guess I’m realizing that it might take a little time to get over my vacation fling. But I’ll be fine, once I’m back at work and in the routine.”
I’m glad I don’t have to pretend with Lily, and I can tell her truthfully how much I’m struggling to push the memories to the back of my mind.
I try to explain, “I think it’s being home, which is making me fully realize my time with Scott is done. He’s gone back to his life and I’m back in mine now too.”
Lily reaches out to pat my hand. “Sweetie, it will take time. Scott was as unexpected as being hit by a tsunami.”
“And as devastating, I suspect. But I’m home now and back to living my real life rather than a fantasy.”
Lily continues to look at me with worry etched into her brow, so it’s a relief when Maria interrupts with a large plate piled high with hot wings dripping in her special spicy sauce, on the side celery, and a dish of blue cheese dressing. The smell makes my taste buds water and sets my stomach rumbling. We thank Maria, and neither of us wastes any time in diving into the home-cooked goodness.
Smiling up at Lily after my initial hunger has been satiated, I say, “This is certainly one of the things that makes it good to be home.” She grins broadly back at me, a smear of sauce on her cheek.
We don’t stay long at Benny’s, just long enough to return home with a full stomach and a slight alcohol buzz from the two cocktails. I feel much better. My head has been eased back into the reality of city life.
A bundle of dirty washing at the doorway to my bedroom trips me up, reminding me that I need to deal with that first, then finish my unpacking. Finally, when all vestiges of my vacation have been dealt with, I decide a long soak in my tub will further relax me before bed.
The bathroom adjoining my bedroom was renovated a few years ago to include a freestanding, luxuriously deep bathtub, which wouldn’t look amiss in an expensive day spa. I pour a generous amount of my special bubble bath into the warm water, swishing it about with my hand before stepping in and sinking up to my chin in the foaming bliss. The last traces of sun lotion washing away from my skin and hair.
I wish it was as easy to wash away memories of Scott.
Chapter 18
Scott
One Month Later
