Chapter 49: Afterwards
Party ended. The last guests said goodbye. It was time to get some sleep to go back home, to go back to reality in some hours. Chris and Street had asked to some of their closest friends and family to sleep in the same motel as they did. Just next door rather than driving once again through LA. So they could all share lunch on the day after at Deac and Annie's house garden without suffering LA legendary traffic jams.
Elena, Sarzo, Diego, Thomas, Hondo, Nichelle, Luca, Nora, Buck, Tan and Bonnie had all agreed in less than a minute when they had offered them to extend the party weekend a little more.
"Kind of tired." Chris told Street as he was still talking with Tan. He nodded but kept talking. The two men were debating over basketball. Not that she didn't love this. She liked sports but at the moment she was cold, tired and willing to spend some time alone with her husband, which he didn't seem to get right now.
"Meet me in the room, then. Really need to lie down." She finally gave up. Apparently she had no chance against the Lakers, the Clippers or any other NBA team.
"Coming with you. Also need some rest!" Bonnie added. "When they talk about basketball or cars, you can wait for hours before it ends. We'll be better in our bed!"
"Amen to that." Chris answered a little disappointed that Street didn't get her underlying message. She focused on Bonnie. She was so big. Baby was coming in less than two months.
"You alright? Baby is almost there. Two months, if I'm right. Sometimes Tan talks so much, I've troubles to get all the info."
Bonnie let out a small laugh. "Oh he did. Overtalking all the time about everything. And it's even worse when it's coming to his little girl. Little less than 2 months. 5 to 6 weeks at the most. Thanks God, I'm becoming crazy. Just want to take control over my body again. Can't do anything on my own. Kind of frustrating. But you know what they say. Nine months of suffering for a life of happiness. And to be honest, I can't wait to see her tiny, cutie face!"
Chris smiled. It was nice to see Bonnie be honest about pregnancy. It was not all fluffy and pleasant as those women on TV said. "5 to 6 weeks are nothing now. You've done the worst part."
"Fortunately. I'm feeling so fat!" She laughed. "And I stop here! This is my room. Glad to have talked with you a little. Was a beautiful ceremony. And it's always nice to see you and Jim interact. You're all so natural, so spontaneous. Reminds me of the time when Victor and I took bets on you two about the day you'll finally date."
"You bet on us?"
"Of course, my dear! You were so obvious. Hard not to do! And I won, despite Victor trying to cheat by talking in private with Jim while working."
Chris laughed. Finally it was fun their friends noticed their feelings before they were even aware of them. "I recognize Tan well then."
This time, it was Bonnie who laughed. "As you say! Goodnight, Chris. And thanks again for the invitation, it was one of those magical days." She entered the room and closed the door. From now on, Chris was alone in the outside corridor overlooking the garden and the pool of the motel.
She walked till her room and enjoyed being alone to take a hot shower. She was so cold. As far as the days could be hot in LA, some nights were very cold and windy. She got out of the bathroom ten minutes later. She was still alone in the room. Jim had definitively not got the message. She opened her suitcase and put the clothes she had prepared for the night. And put her sweater over. Just in case. She was barely warmed up, no way she got cold again. She lied down in the bed and took her phone to play and answer her messages.
Thirty minutes later, she heard the handling moving. She looked up from the screen of her phone and saw Jim walked through the threshold. "Finally! I thought you got lost."
"Sorry but Tan and I got into this conversation and we've just realized you and Bonnie were gone like 5 minutes ago."
"Nice to see how you two deeply care about us." She faked to sulk. She knew she could get a lot from Jim when she did act like this. And he was the one that had started after all, she could play with him a little more.
"Sorry, C. Didn't mean too…" She loved when he was all so ill-at-ease. He was sexier than usual. "Oh come on, you're playing with me there!"
"Me? Never! I'll never do something like this. Who are you taking me for?!"
"My wife and I know very well my wife loves playing with me all the time!"
She tried to remain serious till she burst into laughter. "Ok, ok, I may be playing with you. But you started the thing talking with Tan about basketball when I told you I was kinda tired."
"And?"
"And you didn't get the hidden message there, dumbass?"
She took her sweat off. She was wearing a red lace body. Only this and nothing more. He froze for a second. To the view of his wife, alone in the bed, just waiting for him. And he didn't get the message. What a jackass he had been and still was!
He almost stumbled, trying to hurry, which made Chris laugh. "Not getting anywhere."
He ran till the bathroom to get rid of his clothes, getting nervous when the zip of his pants decided to stuck and slowed him down. He cursed before succeeding to get him free from the pants. He got out of the bathroom proudly to find Chris deeply asleep against one of the pillows.
"This is what you call a fail." He commented in silence, before laughing. He had completely messed up. He could only go after himself on this one. He dropped a kiss on her head and covered her with the blanket. She was so cold, he could see the goosebumps over her skin. As only answer, she let out a moan and gave her a smile and his heart with full.
[…]
For the night not to be complete failure, he decided to get dressed again and got some ice to give his feet the attention they deserved. They had been confined a whole day in black leather loafers, they had lived a nightmare. He got out of the room, checking one last time on Chris, who was probably dreaming of the day, judging by the smile she had on her face.
He closed the door and ran till the ice machine. He was only wearing a tee-shirt and shorts and the night was cold. The place was so quiet. It was good to enjoy some silence. He hurried a little. He was starting to be very cold.
"Hey Casanova, what are you doing here?" He recognized Tan's voice in the blink of an eye. He turned quickly.
"Hey Tan! And Bonnie! What are you doing here? It's late!"
"Needed a little walk before sleeping. And Victor didn't want to let me alone."
"This is all Victor." Jim answered, smiling at Tan. He loved teasing his best friend. "You ok, Bonnie?" He finally questioned Bonnie, afraid the day she had just passed had tired her too much.
"Easy boy, I'm 7 ½ month pregnant. I'm not ill. Tired, yes. And swollen and fat. But I'm fine. Just needed to get some fresh air because I'm very hot with the hormones. And our girl loves to kick all the time against my bladder. Doing sports all the time like his dad. So I can't sleep. So better take a walk!"
"You hear the woman, man. And you, what are doing here? You didn't answer my question earlier!"
"Just getting some ice…" Tan started to snicker. Bonnie gave him a tap on the chest with a disapproving look.
"It's for my feet, you dirty mind. They had been living a nightmare all day in loafers. They need some good times."
"Oh" Tan let out, a little disappointed by the answer.
"Is Chris ok? We walked together earlier to our rooms…"
"Oh she's ok. Right at this moment she's sleeping like a baby. Guess the day had tired her a lot. Not gonna blame her. I'm taking care of my feet and I'll join her as soon as I can!"
"It was a busy day indeed! And party ended up late! For the best, it was an awesome day. And you seem so happy, really great to watch you. We are very happy for you. Right, Victor?" She tapped him once again in the chest. Jim let out a smile. Her hormones were really on fire and Tan didn't dare to say a word.
"Oh yes, we are. Who would not be when two of his best friends finally got together. And offered us food and fun."
"It's always the food with you." Bonnie rolled her eyes.
"Always, Bonnie but we forgive him. He has other qualities." They laughed, making fun of Tan who didn't get how things could have turned against him so quickly.
"Ah ah ah, very funny, you two." He finally reacted. A little offended but not too much either.
"Like you, bro." Street taped at his turn on his shoulder.
"But no kidding this time. We are really happy for you two. Living the dream, man!"
"Oh yes, living a dream, a lively, turbulent, animated dream and I enjoy every second of it!"
"You can, you chased your girl for more than four years! It commands respect."
Bonnie and Tan retrained from laughing till they couldn't anymore. They were quickly joined by Street.
"You've got a point here, I really struggled to get Chris. She was not an easy prey. But I guess it was why I wanted her and no one else. She makes the things pretty interesting at any level." He winked at Tan, it was one of the first thing he told him about Chris.
"And our girl is back again!" Bonnie was not talking about Chris this time.
"Daughter of his father" Tan told proudly as he stroke Bonnie's belly.
"SWAT potential!" Jim added, enthusiastically.
"Easy, boy. One thing at the time!"
They kept talking for a little while before they got apart. Street kept his way till the ice machine, fulfilled two large cups and walked quickly to his room. When he opened the door, Chris was still deeply asleep. Cuddled in the blanket. Snoring a little. He smiled at the view. Domestic life was not so bad after all. He remembered his young self telling he would never get one because it was boring. His young self had not understood that once you met the right person, you just enjoyed every moment, as boring as they were.
He kissed Chris on the cheek. She moved a little, her little nose frowned. He stroke it with his fingers before letting his skin go away from hers. He poured himself a last glass of champagne, watching her sleep. She was sighing from time to time, peaceful as a baby. And always so sexy. Even more when she rubbed her nose with her hand, making a little face. He kept looking at his wife for the next minutes and then grabbed the cups of ice he had put on the little table and went to the bathroom. His feet were aching like hell.
He removed his shoes and socks and sat on the edge of the bathtub. He poured the ice on his red and aching feet and grimaced when the cold took over. Not really pleasurable but really needed. He felt the benefit of the ice within the next minutes. He got on his feet and took off his clothes. All he wanted now was to have some sleep. He was tired. Day had been really busy and emotionally charged, for the best.
He came back in the room. Chris was still sleeping, rolled in the blanket. On her left side. He smiled at the view. She seemed so defenseless there when she was a real lion in real life. He laid under the blanket - or what was left of it – cuddled against her warm, thin body and put his arm around her waist, pressing her more and more against him. He needed this, enjoying his chance, thanking the odds to have put such a wonderful woman on his way.