"After All" is a sequel to "Love For Sale". Both stories are purely works of fiction and no disrespect is intended to the actual persons or their families.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Ch 86 ~ Cannibals in Paradise


The man People Magazine had named Sexiest Rock Star was used to getting his own way, in his own time,  and certainly on his own terms.   The fact that he’d been left sitting alone in some local Hawaiian bar after his stellar buzz had been brutally assassinated by the ringing of Rachel’s phone did not thrill Jon.  The fact that the lady in his life continued to assert her independence by working – on the other side of the country, to boot – thrilled him even less.  Then she told him it was James calling and proceeded to step away from the table in order to take the call… 

Jon was almost grateful for the ice that ran through his veins and numbed both him and his emotions.  If not for that numbness, he would be heavily inclined to raise all kinds of hell.  Loudly.  Without regard to the effect it might have on his public image.

He wasn’t the least bit concerned about the fact that she’d slipped away to have her phone conversation, because he knew without a doubt that she’d been escaping the loud house band instead of scurrying off to have some secret rendezvous with her former lover.  There wasn’t any question in Jon’s mind that Rachel was completely in love and totally committed to spending her life with him. 

When she could manage to fit him in, that is.

Yeah.  The reason he found himself as agitated as a flea infested camel was because her work – and douchebag boss, James – was intruding upon his vacation.  His very short, very much needed vacation, which was just about the only time he ever got to be with Rachel, since they were still living in different time zones.

It was his first instinct to say that it wasn’t his fault there was three hours’ difference between the time on his nightstand clock and hers, but he wondered if maybe it was.  Sure, he had proposed forty-eleven times and ways, but she always dismissed the matter with a flirty little laugh and a quick change of the subject – and he let her.  In fact, beyond her initial insistence that she knew Jon didn’t need marriage and it didn’t mean the same things to him as it did to her, they’d really had very little further conversation on the matter. 

That was unlike him.  He was normally the one who got something in his head and refused to let go of it until it came to fruition, but, quite honestly, he’d gotten tired of slamming his head against the brick wall that was Rachel.  He had as healthy an ego as the next guy, but he’d quickly gotten tired of offering Cinderella her ‘happily ever after’ and being rejected time and time again – just like he was tired of this work bullshit of hers. 

Particularly that manipulative sonofabitch, James. 

Most people probably wouldn’t believe it, but Jon’s biggest problem with James had nothing to do with jealousy or insecurity.  Rachel had made her choice, and Jon knew she’d never leave him to rekindle her relationship with James.  No, Jon’s biggest problem with the manipulative douchebag was never knowing whether the guy’s constant work demands were legitimate or mere fabrications designed to create a wedge between Rachel and Jon by constantly pulling her away. 

Rachel refused to join in Jon’s belief that her boss’s intentions were anything but honorable and Jon typically didn’t consider the difference of opinion worth squabbling over.  Lately, though, Jon was starting to think that maybe he needed to stop being so pussy whipped and make her see what was really going on here.

He’d no more had that thought when two things happened simultaneously; one, the restaurant went blissfully quiet as the house band removed their instruments to take a break and, two, Rachel re-entered the dining room with a wide smile. 

Oddly enough, Jon was envious of that smile.  Right now, the only thing that could make him smile that wide would be her proclamation that the FDIC had just shut down her bank, and she was now out of a job.  

Jon grumbled under his breath.  Then again, she probably wouldn’t be smiling if that were the case.  

You’re on vacation.  Don’t ruin it.  Smile, have another drink, go back to the boat and have hot monkey sex until you pass out.

With that self-lecture, Jon forcefully shoved all the negative bullshit out of his universe and signaled the server for another round of lethal cocktails.  He determinedly sought to find his happy place as Rachel gracefully settled back into the chair beside him.

“Yanno…”  His eyes were drawn to the ultra-feminine cleavage created by two of the most perfect breasts he’d ever seen, and his fingertips couldn’t resist snaking up to take their own look.  His happy place had now been located.  “That big ole smile makes you so irresistible that I might have to do you after all.  Especially if it means that you didn’t let James convince you to cut our trip short.”  

If anything her grin got bigger, and she leaned into his touch when she said, “Then you’re definitely doing me.  I’m not about to miss hiking Diamond Head with you tomorrow. But…” 

In Jon’s half-buzzed state, his overactive mind equated that simple three-letter word to an imminent invasion by a tribe of boob eating cannibals.  His happy place was about to be devoured.

“But?”

She reclined in her chair, taking her breasts with her while looking like the cat that ate the canary.  “James had some exciting news to share with me.”

The cannibals tied bibs around their necks, preparing for the feast, and Jon wondered where the hell that server was with their drinks.

“Really?” He tried to share in her obvious excitement by giving her an encouraging smile.  She was happy, so he should be happy.  “Tell me more.”

“Well.”  She leaned back in, resting her forearms on the table and propping up her chest.  “Back when you suggested the bank donate that vacant parcel to Habitat for Humanity, I started looking into other assets the bank was holding.  I won’t bore you with all the details, but I will tell you that the bank was so excited by the idea that they have a brand new division created solely to partner with Habitat.  We’ll be going through our inventory on a national level and utilizing bank assets to benefit homeless and low-income families!”” 

“Hey, that’s great!”  The cannibals took a step back, looking disappointed that Jon was going to be keeping his happy place.  “That’s going to make a huge difference to some very deserving people.  You did good, Rach!”

“Yeah, well I’m not finished doing good, because they made me the PRESIDENT of the division!” 

Her grin was nothing short of euphoric, and it matched those of the imaginary cannibals who prepared to renew their attack efforts. 

Jon had a fine line to walk on this one.  On the one hand, Rachel was excited about her accomplishment and promotion, as she should be.  Hell, he was proud of her, too.   She had many business traits he admired and occasionally mirrored, not to mention that their workaholic selves could be twins.

That was why, on the other hand, Jon couldn’t help but wonder how this was going to impact their relationship. 

The physical distance between their primary addresses was already a pain in his ass, and she was already borderline obsessed with her work.  Okay, maybe that was a slight exaggeration, but now that she was president of a division…  He did his best not to be a total dick about the fact that her life was almost completely separate from the man she’d committed herself to, but this part-time lover shit was a ticking time bomb if you asked him. 

No good could come of this, as far as Jon was concerned, and he would swear that one of those cannibals was now snacking on Rachel’s left nipple. 

A show of divine intervention had the server arriving at that precise moment, setting their drinks on the table with a clueless smile.  It was probably the only thing that kept Jon from shooting off at the mouth and showing his ass, and he was actually grateful for her timing.  That gratitude would be reflected in her tip. 

The cool drink slid down easily, chilling not only his throat, but his Italian hot-headedness.

Yes, there was a possibility he wasn’t going to like what this promotion entailed – at all – but for the time being, that was pure supposition.  It was a hard, cold fact that no good would come of trumping Rachel’s achievements with his own selfish agenda.  At least for now, it would be in everyone’s best interest if he respected her success and pretended to be happy about this thing. 

“Congratulations, Madame President.”  He lifted his glass to hers with a ‘clink’.  “I’m very proud of you.”

“Thanks, baby.  I knew you’d be excited about my becoming more involved with Habitat since it’s such a soft spot for you.  It kinda makes me feel like we’re working on something in common, and I like that.”

Jon had never been a great actor, even when he was inclined to try.  He was no longer inclined. 

“We shouldn’t need work to feel like we’re working on something in common, Rach.  That should be a given.”

“Honey, I just meant Habitat is one of your pet projects and, well….I thought you’d be exited that we were ‘playing for the same team’, so to speak.”

For as much as she understood him, he could not fathom how Rachel was completely clueless when it came to them.  Maybe he’d had too many drinks.  Maybe he was fed up with living life with her as a glorified mistress.  Maybe he was simply a prick.  At that point, he couldn’t tell you.  All he knew was that a switch had just been flipped, transforming him from his typical happy-go-lucky drunk self into Asshole Man.

“NO, Rachel,” he informed her tersely, keeping his voice low only by sheer willpower.  “Having Habitat for Humanity in common most definitely does not mean we’re playing for the same fuckin’ team!  What it means is that our relationship has disintegrated to the point that you think we need a project in common.  What we NEED in common is a goddamn ADDRESS.  Enough is enough.  When are you gonna quit being so motherfuckin’ stubborn and just come home?”

Green eyes blinked at him with utter confusion, making him realize he should’ve dealt with this months ago.  She really had no idea, and her next words only cemented that.

“Where is this coming from, Jon?”

“It’s coming from the same fucking place I am – always half a world away from you – and I’m over it.”

“Really?   You’re always half a world away from me?”  She lifted her brow with derisive surprise.  “Because I’ve sure seen an awful lot of airports to always be half a world away.  I’ve sure spent a lot of time juggling priorities, obligations and commitments so that I can jet off and be with you.  I’m the one who’s always working to make that happen.  Even when you’re home, all you do wait for me to show up or bitch that I’m not there.”

“If I’m home, I need to spend some time with my kids.  I can’t do that from California.”

“I understand that, Jon,” she sighed.  “And I’m not complaining about having to do most of the traveling.  Just give me credit for the effort once in a while, instead of criticizing.  That’s all.”

Jon took a slow swallow of his drink before setting the empty glass down and pushing it away so that he could hunker down in his chair.  “Gimme the bottom line here, Rach.  Do you ever intend to move back to Jersey with me?  I mean, I understood in the beginning you were a little gun shy, but are you planning to just live apart the rest of our lives?”

Bingo. 

The shit had just gotten real for her.  He could read it in her eyes as clearly as New York Times headline, and Jon couldn’t say he was unhappy to finally cut to the chase.

“I…I… well….I guess I haven’t really thought about it,” Rachel stammered, and he would swear that the cannibals were licking their fingers.  His happy place was now nothing but a memory. 

Ha.  A mammary memory. 

Jon shook his head, realizing that last drink might not have been the best idea.  It was making him stupid and just a little bit sad.

“Maybe you should, Rach,” he suggested quietly.  “Because I gotta tell ya…  I’m done playing house.”


9 comments:

  1. WHOA Jon you just did a long walk off a short pier. Bad move Jonny, bad move

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  2. All I can say is that I hope Rachel wises up.If a relationship is important enough to you, you will put it first. Plain and simple. I don't blame Jon for being pissed and sad.

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  3. I agree with the comment above. It needed to be said & while Jon can't expect her to give up her entire life, he does deserve to know if their relationship is ever going anywhere.

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  4. Yeah Rachel just blew it. Make up your mind. He wants a relationship and you need to figure out what you want. He's grounded with kids Honey and you can always work from the east coast. You've done and Jon's right James is playing you wake up! And it's time to take another chance.

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  5. Oh boy... Uh.. Rachel better make up her mind fast. Or there goes a relationship. That's a little harsh for Jon.. but it had to be said. James really needs to get OUT of this relationship, or we will have some serious trouble...


    Good chapter!

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  6. Hey there! Just wondering if you might update sòon. Missing ghis kne!

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  7. Yes, there's a new chapter in the works. I think we're only a few chapters away from finishing the story. Other life responsibilities have just kept us from spending as much time on this little project, but hopefully things will lighten up and we can concentrate on finishing it. Thanks for letting us know you've missed it :)

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  8. Going to really miss this story. Wish it could go on forever! It's the best I've read. Thanks for all the hard work! (Can you reconsider??! Lol)

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