Thank you to all those who have read and enjoyed the story thus far!
My idea for this story was to take a broken man and create a narrative detailing his search for happiness, in whatever form that takes. There will be pitfalls and hardships along the way but at its core, I think the story is a happy, easy romance.
Remember, it's only a story people!
Chapter 4
My life seemed to be rising and falling in peaks and valleys. One minute, my wife is leaving me to spend a night with another man, the next I am kissing perhaps the most incredible woman I've ever met. One minute, I'm homeless, the next, I'm living in a beautiful house lost to time.
One thing that was a constant, however, was Sam's enthusiasm for my blossoming - dare I say it - relationship with May. I hadn't given too much consideration to what would happen at the end of her time in the city but there was no doubt that something existed between us that transcended simple friendship (of course, the earth-shattering orgasms helped).
There was a spring in my step as I entered work following my third date with May. Sam picked up on it instantly and virtually attacked me in my office the moment I set foot through the door. She wanted all of the juicy details, so I told her, along with the minor bump we had in the morning. It was nice that she was as invested in the more serious parts of the night as she was the sexual parts.
"Am I crazy for this?" I asked her. "I mean, is this going to blow up in my face? I really, really want to believe that she cares about me and feels the same way I do but... I don't know, there's another side to her life that I'm just not compatible with." I ran my hands through my hair and leaned back in my chair. "Or at least it feels that way. Her managers certainly think so."
Sam was perched on the edge of my desk, her toned legs flexed as she adjusted her position into a more comfortable one. She twirled the end of her dark hair around her finger for a moment and then said, "Firstly, fuck the managers. They sound like a bunch of self-serving cunts. I wouldn't believe anything they said even if they told me the sun would rise in the morning."
I laughed. Sam had fantastic control of the English language. "You're right, but the things they say still go in." I tapped the side of my head. "Even if they aren't true, they're still in there, floating around and affecting my other worries."
"Maybe, so you need to drown them out with something far more important... May." She smiled. "It feels so weird calling Maeve Whyte
May
- it's like I'm her friend or something!"
"It's the opposite way around for me. Maeve Whyte is some famous singer I don't know, May is the person I think about morning and night."
"Aw, you cutie!" She pinched my cheek. "The way I see it, the conversation needs to be had at some point. It's clear that you're falling for her and it sounds like she is too. The question is whether you do it now or in just under four weeks."
"What would you do?"
"I'd probably wait. You haven't known each other that long and you're both high off orgasms and getting to know each other. Maybe after a few more weeks things will have settled and you'll be able to see the situation with clearer heads."
"If I haven't said it before, you're a wise woman, Sam. Between you and Marie, I feel like I've got the ultimate support team."
"Yes, you have, so you better appreciate it!" she chirped.
"Thank you, I really do appreciate it. And you know that you can talk to me if you ever need to, I'm not a relationship guru like you but I'd always try my best."
Sam's smile faded slightly, making me worried that I had said something wrong. "I don't think I'll be needing that." Something was off in her tone.
"Why not? Is something wrong?
She appeared on the verge of saying something but sighed and shook her head. "No, it's nothing. I should get back to the floor." She hopped off my desk and was out of my office before I could reply.
Sam's reaction was worrying but I had no idea what I could do to help. I decided I'd keep an eye on her and maybe broach the subject again sometime.
I finished work, had a quick visit with my kids, and then dropped Marie at work. I hadn't heard from May all day but I assumed it was because of her interviews and whatever else famous people did during the day.
I was sitting down to enjoy some of Marie's homemade lasagne when my phone rang and May's number popped up on the screen. My heart suddenly beating a great deal faster, I picked up and tried to keep the excitement from my voice as I greeted her.
"Jim!" May's musical voice sag through the phone. "Sorry I haven't messaged, today's been... stressful, to say the least."
"Don't be silly, I figured you were busy. Is everything OK? Is there anything I can do?"
"Well actually, there is. Do you think that I could use the gym tonight? I'm performing until ten, but I can come straight after that?"
I tried not to let the memories from our spa visit take over my commonsense. "Yeah, that's no problem, do you want me to pick you up?"
"That would be amazing! Can I meet you at the entrance to the park?" She paused and added coyly, "I don't have anything planned tomorrow either, so..."
"So I won't wake up to you in a mad panic?"
She giggled down the line. "Yes, that. Do you have anything on tomorrow?"
"No, I've got the weekend off. I figured I'd get a start on the house but-"
"YES!" May exclaimed. "Oh, please can I help?"
"I don't know why you would subject yourself to labour, but sure! I'll make sure we have food for the day."
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find a way to repay me for my hard work," she said in a sultry voice that did things to me.
I swallowed heavily and said, "It's a date. I'll see you at the park after the performance."
*
I parked in my trusty car at the entrance of the park to what looked like the scene of a horror movie. Thousands of people were pouring out of the stadium and walking through the park like a herd of zombies. I couldn't see one person without their head glued to a phone. Everyone's heads were bowed over the dim light from the screens and they moved in a shuffling slouch.
It made me laugh. All the beauty of a park around them and all they cared about was the latest post on their social media pages.
It occurred to me that May had told me she would meet me here and yet it would be in full view of thousands of fans who had just watched her perform. Confused, I picked up my phone to call her when a woman in a jacket with the collar pulled up and a cap jerked open my door and jumped into the passenger seat.
"Wh-"
May looked up at me beneath the cap. "Quick, drive!" she said urgently.
Confusion growing, I started the car and edged my way through the dense crowd. May kept her head down and collar up. If anyone looked into the car, all they'd see was a strange woman slumped over in the passenger seat.
"Are you OK?" I asked as I drove, trying not to hit the zombie horde.
