Page 49 of Festive Flings

~ Tim ~

My fist connects with Jason’s jaw before I even decide I am going to kill him. How fucking dare he? He is obviously shocked by my reaction because he doesn’t defend himself and he now looks around in confusion as to how and why he is sprawled out on the pavement outside my apartment.

“What the fuck happened then?” he shouts indignantly.

“I fucking punched you, and I will punch you again, you slimy, no-good piece of shit if you ever, EVER speak about my girl like that again.”

I can barely contain my rage right now; I am so fucking angry. But once I have told Jason exactly what I think of him, my thoughts immediately go to Lauren. She stands open-mouthed, looking like a shocked goldfish.

“Apologise to her right now, Jason, or I swear to God I will total you.” Tears fall silently from her beautiful, emerald-green eyes, and I want to hurt Jason even more now.

“I don’t want his apology. I want to go home, Tim. I want to go home. Alone. This isn’t going to work. I don’t belong in your world; you don’t belong in mine. This was amazing, better than amazing, but can’t you see the gulf between us is just too big? Thank you for the time of my life, Tim. I know you’ll find the right woman who’ll fit in with your world.” She turns on her heel and walks away from me.

“Lauren, please, wait. I love you, and I want to be with you. You say I don’t belong in your world and you don’t belong in mine so let’s build our own world. A world for you and me where we can be happy together. I don’t give a fuck what the Jasons of the world think. You are the woman I love, the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

I get down on one knee and slip the ring box that my sister gave me earlier out of my pocket.

“I have never met anyone as incredible as you. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and being loved by you. I want us to be a family and grow old together. There is no one else in this world I would want to face my triumphs and failures with. I will cherish you from today until my last day. Please, Lauren, my love. Will you marry me?”

This wasn’t the proposal I had in mind. In fact, until my sister called me upstairs and gave me this ring, I was still trying to calculate how long it would take me to save for the ring Lauren deserves. Fliss told me my mother had made her promise on her deathbed that she would look after me and ensure I didn’t settle for anyone but the woman who owned my heart. She left her ring for me to propose with. Both me and Fliss sobbed, remembering our mother and her dry humour and wise words. Fliss gave me the nod of approval. Lauren owns my heart; she is the one.

The tears continue to flow down Lauren’s face. “If there was anyone I would have said yes to, it would have been you, Tim. But eventually, we have to come out of our own little world. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do because I love you too. But I’m not the one. Everyone will tell you that we aren’t meant to be, and I don’t think I could ever survive you realising it, too.” She wipes her tears as she backs away from me.

“Lauren, don't go. We can work this out,” I shout after her.

“I don’t want to, Tim. I’ll see you around.” She runs to a waiting taxi that sits waiting for a fare in a nearby rank, and I stand watching her leave with a hole where my heart once was.

“Fucking hell! That was intense. So, can I crash at yours now you don’t have plans?”

I’d almost forgotten Jason was there, and I look at him in disgust.

“Go and fuck yourself, Jason.” I open my door and slam it behind me, howling like a wounded animal. She’s gone; my wonderful Flower is gone, and I am dead inside without her.

~ Jamie ~

As soon as I get into my apartment, I puke up. I honestly feel as sick as a dog when I relive what Owen just told me. New York. It’s not just down the road; it's a whole continent away. Just the idea of the flight makes me break out in a cold sweat. I don’t think I can do that flight on my own. I wish I could. I want to tell him, ‘don’t worry, I’ll come and see you every weekend,’ but the mere thought of the flight has me quivering.

On the other hand, the thought of Owen being so far away, of not seeing him every day and of not being in his arms and feeling his passionate stare drinking in my body completely crushes me.

I want to get drunk and fall asleep for a week, but that is a potential week I could spend with Owen before he leaves. My next instinct is to go to Billie for advice, but she isn’t at home.

What am I going to do? I am really falling for him and now he is going to move to the other side of the world. He has been right there, right under my nose this whole time, and when I finally realise how right we are together, he's snatched away.

“Why is everything so complicated, Smokey? Why can’t I be a dirty bitch like you and stick my ass up in the air for every Tom cat that comes along, no feeling and no strings. Life would be so much simpler.” Smokey, my cat, meows and purrs at me, obviously in agreement.

I draw myself a bath and as I soak, I think of how happy I have been since Owen and I started seeing each other. He has been so loving and caring and attentive. He is an animal between the sheets… and outside of them, too. I smile to myself; I am having the best time and I am so sad that it might have to end.

I sit up abruptly, forcing water to slosh over the side of the bath as the realisation hits me: we still have time. Owen won’t be leaving for at least another couple of weeks, so what the fuck am I doing in my flat wallowing and pining for him when I could be in his bed, in his arms and wrapped around him?

I quickly get out of the tub, get dried and dress before calling a cab. It’s going to cost me a fortune but I don’t care. I miss Owen, and I am going to miss him when he has to leave. But right now I want him, and if he wants me too, I am willing to enjoy what time we have left.

I feel less confident and sure of my decision the closer I get to his apartment, but I’ve come this far. Owen has put himself out there for me many times. Now, it is my turn to put myself out there for him.

I ring his buzzer and wait but there is no answer. I ring again, begging him to be home when the door swings open. Owen stands in front of me with a towel wrapped low on his hips, his hair slicked back and water droplets glistening his skin.

“Jamie?” he says in shock when he realises it's me.

“I’m so sorry I acted like such a dick. I was shell shocked. I don’t want to miss a second I could have with you.” Now that I'm here, I'm not as confident as I felt. I still mean what I am saying but the gumption I had before seems to desert me, leaving me vulnerable and exposed.

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