Happy New Year Everyone! I know its been some time since I updated and I apologize. I will try to be better. Damon's in New York and Bonnie's in Mystic Falls. Now that they've declared themselves 'just friends' what happens now?
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
It was like a sledgehammer had been taken to his head as Damon slowly opened his eyes and caught an eyeful of blond hair belonging to the woman lying beside him. Blinking rapidly, he quickly sat up realizing he was naked while she turned to look at him with her trademark sensual smile, "Damon, what are you doing?" she breathed out.
He jumped out of bed and stared down at Sabine lying in his bed with the sheet barely covering her equally naked body. He was panicked. His mouth went dry. He rubbed his head looking around the room at his clothes strewn all over. He didn't remember seeing Sabine. He didn't remember coming home with her and sure as hell didn't remember getting into bed with her. He struggled to speak while staring at her in disbelief.
"Damon, what is wrong with you?" she asked reaching out for him.
He recoiled at her touch moving away and started gathering his clothes, "No…this didn't happen," he mumbled struggling to get his pants on.
"You mean the fact that we had one of our most passionate nights?" Sabine smiled, licking her lips "I knew that you would come back once you were finished playing those silly games," she purred reaching for him.
Damon moved away out of her reach and slipped his arms haphazardly into his shirt sleeves rushing towards the apartment hallway. He needed to get away from her. The last thing he remembered was drinking with Jesse and leaving Bliss. There was no way he called Sabine let alone had sex with her. Rushing to the front door, he flung it open to reveal Bonnie standing in the doorway with Sandy, "Did you forget about us?" she asked holding onto Sandy's leash.
"Bon?" he asked confused.
"Damon, don't rush out…" Sabine walked into the living room and met Bonnie's gaze, "hello Little Girl, come to drop off the dog?"
Damon turned to see Bonnie's eyes narrow before he felt the rush of her hand connecting with his cheek, sending his head jerking violently to the side before the sound of his phone ringing caused him to turn towards the window revealing a rainy day in New York City and his eyes opened to Sandy leaning over him panting. "San…" grimacing he pushed her off of him making her yelp and jump on the floor barking at him, "fine, you're hungry, I get it," he remarked tiredly dragging his body out of the bed and walking towards the kitchen. His thoughts swam as he replayed his dream (or nightmare) in his head. It was logical that he would have a dream of Sabine. He was back in New York and so much of his New York life before he left involved her. There was one thing that he was sure of. He would not seek her out, call her or ask anyone about her. That relationship needed to stay dead.
Then there was the other person in his dream. Bonnie was on the other side of the door delivering a rather hearty slap to his face, that he still felt for some reason. He wondered what she was doing with Marcel during his absence. They'd agreed to keep things platonic between them from now on and the Damon a couple of years ago would have welcomed that very idea—but now? He wasn't so sure that he could do that—but he would give it the old college try. Walking over to the window gazing down at the busy city below, "I will definitely try," he mumbled.
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"So I know that this is your town and you were in charge of finding us activities, but I wanted to know if you would be interested in attending a Richmond Renegade game with me tonight. Maybe have dinner before?" Marcel opened the conversation between he and Bonnie the next day.
"A Renegade game? Are you sure you that's the best thing for you to do, since you haven't told the Devils that you are looking for a new job?" Bonnie asked as she finished sending a couple of work emails in between looking for some restaurants for her and Marcel to go to.
"Bonnie, trust me—I know what I'm doing. The owner wants me to come to join him for dinner with his wife and then go to the game, I can't exactly say no and I thought it would be a good time."
Bonnie stared at the restaurants on Open Table and then nodded, "Ok, what time should I be ready and what should I wear?"
"For dinner, I think a nice dress or skirt and they are actually paying for me to have a hotel in Richmond tonight, so you can bring something to change into for the game."
"Uh…so did you plan to stay in Richmond as well?" Bonnie asked.
Marcel paused, "I have an early interview in the morning. If you need to come back to Mystic Falls, I will make sure that you get back safely…I am a perfect gentleman, Bonnie."
"I'm sure," Bonnie stated, "well I guess I need to look for something to wear."
"And I have a rental, so I'm fine with driving."
"Ok," Bonnie nodded before ending the call. She held onto her cell for a few moments until Elena walked into the living room plopping down on the couch, "What's that look for?" she inquired.
"Marcel, he planned out the whole evening for us," Bonnie replied thoughtfully.
"Really, so what are you doing?" Elena sat up.
"Well we're going to dinner with the owner of Richmond Renegades and then go to a game."
"Really? Isn't he supposed to keep his whole switching teams a secret?" Elena asked.
Bonnie shrugged, "I don't know, but I was supposed to plan our time here and he did it already."
"So what do you think?"
"I don't know, it's just weird you know."
"Maybe he wants to show you that he is interested in you and trying to show you what his life would potentially be like if he moved to Richmond full time. I think he is making an effort to show that he wants to take whatever you two have going on seriously. Maybe you need to start thinking about it the same way?"
Rolling her eyes, Bonnie sighed, "Marcel is a nice guy…
"And there are plenty of nice guys out here Bon, does he spark anything within you?" Elena pressed, "he's cute and he seems into you."
"He does."
"I know that you say you're not ready for a relationship, but I think you are. Maybe you should give Marcel a real chance. I know that you and Damon have your flirtation, but you two seem intent on keeping it as friends—so give Marcel a real chance, Bon."
"Well he's bringing me to dinner with his potential boss, so I guess he's giving me a real chance."
"Exactly," Elena smiled.
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Bonnie glanced out of the window of the Range Rover that Marcel drove towards Lemaire Restaurant in Richmond. Bonnie heard of the restaurant before, but she never thought about stepping foot in it. It was one of those overpriced restaurants that people dropped hundreds at mostly on booze. "You look amazing," Marcel smiled at her as he followed the GPS directions.
"Thank you, I wasn't exactly sure what to wear to this. I didn't want to seem too business like, you know," Bonnie smoothed out her dress.
"Don't worry, what you have on is fine," Marcel reached over and placed his hand casually on her thigh. It was a light gesture, but Bonnie glanced down and took a deep breath, "Marcel, what did you tell Mr. Armstrong about me?"
"I told him your name is Bonnie."
"I mean, what did you tell him about me and you. Am I playing your girlfriend tonight?"
Marcel looked over, "If that's a role that you believe you can play?"
Bonnie smiled focusing back on the road.
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The familiar sounds of customers at Bliss filled the air as Damon sat in the office behind the bar speaking to Stefan, "How are renovations going at Revel?"
"Pretty good, on schedule and the new place is coming along too—but I gotta admit, having this time off is nice. I'm thinking about heading out to San Diego for a few days."
"San Diego huh, who's out there?"
"One of my friends from college, her name's Katia. She moved there a couple of months ago and she's wanted me to visit."
"Right," Damon drawled.
"So how's New York? How's Bliss?"
"Bliss is good, Jesse's doing a great job. The place is packed every night, but it's different than Mystic Falls you know, the energy is different."
"I bet. Does Tanner know you're there?"
"No, I don't know where Tanner is and that's for the best. If he knows I'm here…"
"Ms. Reynolds will know where you are and you don't want that."
"I don't. Whatever me and Sabine had is over, I'm not interested in seeing her again."
"Good because the last time me and my mom had to rush to New York and sign a bunch of papers that made mom nearly have a nervous breakdown."
Nodding Damon closed his eyes. He remembered his mother's eyes when he opened his own in the hospital room for the first time, they were full of terror and sadness. He never wanted to see that look from his mother again, "I remember and almost dying kind of a cured me of whatever mental disorder I had that made me start up an affair with Sabine."
"Good, so what are you doing in New York other than tending to your bar?"
"Just decompressing."
"From Bonnie?"
"Bonnie and I came to an understanding before I left and I'm sure she's otherwise occupied."
Stefan chuckled on the other end as Damon's eyes drifted over to the door and he came face to face with a familiar strawberry blond smiling back at him, "Stefan, I gotta go. Let me know when you get to San Diego," Damon ended the call before standing up and grinning, "Corrine."
"Damon," the woman smiled walking over to with three long strides. Damon shook his head, she was still all legs and her smile with the dimples still managed to temporarily send his heart into palpitations. He wrapped his arms around her bringing her into a hug. He inhaled her scent, she still smelled the same…like vanilla.
"So what brings you here?" he asked letting her go and leaning back on her desk.
Corrine gave him a crooked smile, "Well I heard you were back in town and I thought I would stop by to see you and see how you're doing after you left New York so suddenly."
Damon laughed, "Well I didn't think you cared after you told me eat shit and die the last time we saw each other."
Corrine threw back her head and laughed, "Well I meant it when I said it, but I don't think you remember but I did stop by the hospital when you were in your very dramatic coma."
Damon gasped, "I was on death's door!"
"Right, right…but I have to admit, you did scare me when I walked into that room," Corrine turned serious, "I thought that beautiful face would always be marred with the scars of that accident."
"Well it was nothing what some minor surgery and ointment couldn't take care of. So have a seat, I will get us some drinks from the bar and we can talk," Damon gestured to one of the chairs in the office.
Corrine took a seat and looked around as Damon left the office quickly.
Within moments, Damon walked in with two glasses of brown liquid handing one to Corrine. "So still modeling?" Damon raised an eyebrow.
"You know I am, I know you never miss the Victoria Secret Fashion Show," she winked.
"Oh right, that…"
"And you, so your bar is going well…in what is it? Mystic Falls? I think that's where Jesse told me you were."
"It's going good, me and Stefan haven't killed each other yet. We're actually remodeling one bar and opening up another, you should come some time."
"To Mystic Falls?" wrinkling her nose and taking a sip of her drink, "I don't know about that…"
"It's not that bad…come on, if it were—do you think I could handle being there?"
"Point taken," Corrine nodded, "so what about your girlfriend? Have you found another woman to make fall completely in love with you for you stomp to on her heart?" she fluttered her eyelashes at him.
Damon stared back at Corrine. Their relationship was one that just started out as a casual hook up. Somewhere along the line, they became serious, Sabine entered the picture, things got messy and it ended with Corrine delivering a well-earned slap to Damon's left cheek. He could still taste the blood in his mouth. Somewhere along the line, they actually were able to mend fences and at best, they were social media friends, "I have no girlfriend."
Corrine licked her lip, "Friend with benefits?"
Damon smiled sipping his drink, "I have a friend, but we are just that…friends. It got a little complicated for awhile…"
"Ahh, your favorite type of relationship…"
"No, it's not like that. Look, I don't have a girlfriend and I'm not attached to anyone…what about you?" Damon asked.
Corrine shrugged, "You know me, it takes a special guy to make me settle down."
Damon smiled before swallowing the rest of his drink.
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"Bonnie, I understand that you live in Mystic Falls?" William Montuck, the owner of the Richmond Renegades asked in between a sip of his martini.
"Yes, I went to college there and stayed afterwards. I like it. It's not the biggest city, but its big enough," Bonnie smiled. She'd sat for at least an hour listening to Marcel and William talk about basketball and business. William's wife, Iris spent most of her time looking down at her phone or around the room and Bonnie sat with her a frozen smile on her face.
"And what do you do there?" William focused on Bonnie.
"Well I work at an advertising firm…"
"Bonnie is being very modest. She's one of the best associates at Martin and Perry," Marcel gushed, "she's actually heading up an account handling a rebrand for one of the hottest lounge/bars in Mystic Falls."
Bonnie listened to Marcel bragging about her to the Renegades owner and she was actually impressed. He did listen about her career more than she guessed he had. By the time that Marcel finished running down her resume, William turned to look at her with a smile along with his wife who looked to be interested for the first time since they sat down, "Bonnie, would you happen to have a business card. We may be able to have some conversations with your firm about some of my other business ventures."
Bonnie looked over at Marcel with a smile before removing one of her business cards from her wallet, "Please don't hesitate to give me a call. I'm sure we can help you."
William took the card and then began to speak with Marcel about some of his other business venture—but Bonnie couldn't shake the warm feeling that came over her just thinking about how Marcel spoke about her to a virtual stranger. It was touching, but also made her feel like she hadn't seen him through the proper eyes before.
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"This was truly a successful night," Marcel closed the door to his hotel room trailing in behind Bonnie.
"The Renegades won, so I can imagine it was for you or at the very least, William," she added, removing her jacket and laying it on one of the couches. Marcel moved over to stand in front of her, wrapping his arms around her petite body and looking down into her eyes, "Maybe you're the good luck charm that I needed," he whispered looking into her eyes before seizing her lips into a kiss. Bonnie allowed her body to melt into Marcel's for a few moments as the kiss continued; their lips doing a dance that was not completely unfamiliar but one that was different than what Bonnie was used to.
She broke the kiss with a chuckle, "A good luck charm? For you or for the Renegades."
He cocked his eyebrow up, "Maybe tonight, you were both."
She couldn't hide the fact that she felt her face instantly get warm as a blush more than likely spread across her cheeks. Marcel was turning on all the charm during this visit and it was as if, someone was upstairs was pulling out all of the stops to show her where her attention should actually lie and it wasn't with a blue eyed someone who was currently in another city, "Be careful, you keep saying things like that and a girl could start to think that she's pretty important."
"Well Bonnie…" Marcel took her hand leading her over to the couch, "I know that the distance that we have is one reason why it's been hard for us to truly get to know each other, with this new job—I think it will be easier for us to get to know each other. Maybe I can wine and dine you a little more," he gave her a million-watt smile, "and maybe convince you that I could be a really good boyfriend and maybe…" he leaned forward kissing her softly on the neck, "something more."
Bonnie closed her eyes inhaling his scent as Bianca's words echoed in her ears, 'Both feet on the floor', "Marcel, you seem really sure of yourself and this job," she stated moving away slightly.
"Like I said, you're a lucky charm and believe it or not, I can see something more happening between us. I believe it and I can see it, I just need to convince you to see it too."
She couldn't help it, a smile spread across her face. She wasn't sure if it was Marcel's words and the sincerity of them or the fact that she had some wine earlier that night, but she was flattered, "So you can see the future?" Bonnie asked staring into his almond shaped brown eyes that always seemed to have stars in them.
"Yes, I can," he answered almost staring right through her.
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"I could barely get out of that hotel room with my clothes on," Bonnie opened the door to the townhouse after somehow convincing Marcel just to drive her home. She was a 20 something year old woman with no boyfriend, but she wasn't crazy about sleeping with Marcel two days after her interlude with Damon in his office.
"You should have just gave him some…got it out of your system," Bianca scoffed.
Bonnie bit her lip kicking off her sneakers at the door and heading up the stairs towards her bedroom, "Yeah no, remember you were the one that told me to keep both of my feet on the floor and after what happened with Damon the other night, I couldn't go there with Marcel tonight."
Bianca gave her a disappointed 'tuh' before going on, "Look, Marcel wants to date you…seriously."
"I know, I get it."
"And he's moving closer, so there goes that excuse."
Bonnie frowned, "I know and its not like I don't think he's fine. He's fine as hell actually and he has a good personality…I just…I don't know."
"You do know, you're just scared to take the leap or you actually have feelings for someone else and you don't want to admit it."
"Bianca, if you're talking about Damon—he has made it clear that he is not looking for any type of relationship. He's messed up every single one he's been in, complete with an old lady stalker. He has baggage and he just wants to be friends and that is what we agreed on."
"Fine, so you like Marcel…give him a try…a real try Sissy."
Bonnie played with a loose thread on her comforter, "You're right. Hey, you haven't mentioned to anyone that he's here interviewing right?"
"Of course not. This place is a gossip factory, but I think people realize that he may be moving on. Marcel's a good coach and he needs to move on," Bianca replied, "and maybe you should too."
"Maybe," Bonnie mumbled.
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After a week and a half, Damon was starting to get back into the swing of things at Bliss Bar. With daily briefings from Stefan about the progress on Revel and the new place, he was starting to feel as if everything was falling into place. He and Bonnie played phone tag over the last couple of days and he was starting to miss their talks. He described her as his best friend and she was every bit of that. A best friend that he loved to kiss and be inside of, but nevertheless his best friend.
Opening his door after his morning run along Central Park West, Sandy was panting away as she collapsed on the floor looking up at him, "Not used to running like this are you Girl?" he bent down rubbing behind her ears before heading over to the kitchen sink and filling her bowl with water, placing it in front of her for her to lap up.
Washing his hands, he turned to the refrigerator to start his breakfast. Most of his days had been spent during the day sleeping and exercising and occasionally meeting Corrine for lunch (and that was it). Then he would spend his nights at the bar, appearing available but not actually being available. The most important victory was that he managed to leave Sabine right where she belonged—in the past.
Turning on the stove, he heated up the frying pan as his cell phone buzzed on the counter behind him. Gently touching his AirPods, he immediately heard the sound of John Legend in the background, "Are you trying to seduce me?" he asked with a smirk.
"Funny, sorry I'm on the way to the office and it took you so long to answer…" Bonnie fumbled over her words suddenly feeling butterflies in her stomach. She was being silly. Damon was her friend, for almost an entire year and a week before they had seeing each other in all types of positions annndd most importantly, they decided long ago that they were only friends and that's what they would stay.
"It's fine Bon. It's good to hear your voice loud and clear instead of the hurried voicemails. How are things going?" Damon rested against the counter as Sandy waited at his feet for any morsels of food that she could get.
"They are going well. Stefan updated me that we are on schedule for the reopening in a month and the grand opening for your other place in two months."
"Yes, I know that. My question was moreso geared to you and what's happening with you."
"I've been busy at work, you know," she trailed off.
Damon nodded, "And how was Marcel's visit?"
She paused for a few moments, "Umm…it was good. He's actually…uh…thinking about taking a job with the Richmond Renegades."
Damon stopped mixing the eggs in the bowl, "Well Richmond is definitely closer than Detroit," he managed to squeeze out.
"It is."
"So he's taking one important step to be closer to you…nice."
"Well the job has something to do with it, I'm sure. It will be a huge move for him. A much better coaching job than what he has with the Renegades."
"I see, so you don't think being closer to you is a reason for this move?" Damon prodded.
"We don't have a relationship, we're just dating and I doubt that's enough for such a huge move."
"Well it definitely doesn't hurt. Marcel from what I can tell is a good guy," Damon stated through almost gritted teeth. He meant the words, he just didn't like saying them.
Bonnie nodded despite the fact that he couldn't see her, "Soo what about you, any women hiding in the bushes since you arrived in New York?"
Damon let out a hearty laugh, "You're funny, but no. There's been no sign of Sabine and actually things have been pretty calm."
"Ahh, so no women throwing themselves at the owner of one of the hottest bars in New York City?" she teased.
Damon chuckled. He missed her teasing him, "I didn't say that, you know I still look the same and I am the owner. What I said was that I haven't seen Sabine. I've been connecting with old friends, it's been nice."
"Well that's a good thing, but you are still coming back to Mystic Falls aren't you?"
"Of course," Damon replied, "New York is nice for awhile, but I've become used to the whole smaller city thing."
"Of course, of course. So how much longer will you be in New York?"
"Maybe another week or two. Are you missing me already?" he teased.
"Not really, I think Barry is though."
Damon shook his head, "You shouldn't tell lies Bonnie."
"Right, well I have to go into a meeting, so we'll talk soon?" there was a hopefulness to her voice that she almost wished she could hide.
"Soon," Damon ended the call and stood looking down at his bowl of eggs. Marcel was moving closer to Bonnie and it was pretty clear that he was making an effort to show Bonnie why he should be the man in her life. From what Damon could see, Marcel is a good guy and that was exactly what Bonnie needed. He could play his role as the best friend, a confidant, but anything more than that—he needed to stay away from. He was committed to that. He had to be.
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"I guess the word is out that the Lothario of Bliss Bar is back in New York City," Logan commented as she tallied out the rest of the night's receipts.
"Yeah, doubt it," Damon took a seat on one of the stools slowing drinking a glass of whiskey.
"Look, I make my way around the room. I listen to a lot of conversations and they are definitely talking about you," she placed the receipts in an envelope and handed it to Damon, "so are you leaving now or are you staying around for awhile."
"I want to do some paperwork, I will lock up."
Logan grinned, "Good, Molly planned a night for us—so I am happy to get home before 3."
"Yeah, well…that's good to know, thanks for putting the visuals in my head—I will also have a good night," Damon wiggled his eyebrow.
"Something is seriously wrong with you," Logan picked up her purse and headed towards the door, "night boss!" she called before departing.
Damon finished up his glass of whiskey and took the envelope that Logan had given him, placing it in his suit jacket. Looking down at his phone, he heard the familiar swish of the front door, "Hey Logan, you forgot something?" he turned around and his eyes met her. Sabine. She had cut her hair into a short bob and it was blonder than he remembered. She looked as stunning and alluring as the first day he laid eyes on her.
"Damon," she stated in a slight whisper.
He stood up from the stool as if her voice compelled him to like a Siren song, "Sabine," he stated evenly.
"You didn't tell me that you were coming to New York…and you also didn't mention it to Tanner," she stated with a knowing smirk.
"Tanner's out of the country and I think we said our proper goodbyes weeks ago," he answered.
"Yes, but we're friends…I know you're closed, but how about a drink?" she raised an eyebrow gesturing towards the bar.
Damon sighed walking behind the bar as Sabine took a seat and looked around, "The place hasn't changed much," she commented.
"Nope," Damon poured her a glass of Chardonnay and himself a glass of water.
"So not interested in drinking?" she asked after he slid her glass over.
"I already had my fill for the night," he leaned up against the wall, "so what brings you here Sabine. I didn't tell you I was in town, so who did? My mother?"
"No, she didn't mention you being in town…I wonder why…"
He shrugged. His mother had been slightly distant lately. He wasn't sure why, but her limiting her conversations with Sabine were all for the best.
"So how's business?"
"Booming."
"And you look well..." her eyes trailed from her face down the length of his body.
"I'm getting better every day."
"Damon, it really doesn't have to be like this…" she sighed.
Shaking his head, he chuckled without a trace of humor, "You see, it does have to be like this. Over the last couple of months, I've had a lot of time to think and besides all of that, the last time you showed up in Mystic Falls unannounced we said that we would have one more night and that would be it."
"Damon, I just want to be friends…that's all."
"Friends?" Damon scoffed, "let's talk about friendship for a moment. That's all we were supposed to be before…friends with a side of sex occasionally, but things didn't stay that way. You got clingy and selfish and flat out crazy!" Damon gestured widely.
Sabine shifted in her seat, "Damon…" she avoided his gaze, "I know that I was a little dramatic, but it was a rough time for me. I was dealing with the divorce and…"
"And I got that, but you played dirty. You knew that I was ready to move on and you convinced me that you were trying to kill yourself. What kind of person does that, especially knowing how I felt after my father died. Then I rushed over here, got hit by a car and almost died. That knocked some sense into me and yes, I made a mistake by even falling into your trap when you were in Mystic Falls a couple of weeks ago, but that's not happening again."
Sabine looked at him with eyes as frigid as glaciers, "There's someone else, isn't there?"
Damon rolled his eyes. He was tired of her. There was nothing he could say apparently for her to back off, "Sabine, there have been plenty of someones," he watched her eyes widen and her lips purse as he went on, "we were never exclusive, there were women while we were together and you always found a way to insert your way into any relationship that I tried to build because I was eager to make sure that you were ok. There were women while I was with you and there most certainly were women after you."
"You're just trying to hurt me," she declared defiantly.
Rubbing his eyes, Damon placed both hands on the bar counter, "That's the thing—I'm not. You were a fantasy. A teenage fantasy that I indulged for far too long. There was never any future for us and I am pretty sure you know that. Sabine, I'm sorry that your husband left you—but I can't be the man that you want me to be in your life. I'm sorry."
Sabine stared at him for what seemed like eternity without a word. Damon matched her gaze until she spoke, "You know Damon, you are absolutely correct. You can't be the man that I want you to be. You never could," she stood up from the bar, sliding her unfinished glass of Chardonnay to him and placing a 100 dollar bill down on the counter, "thank you Damon for this enlightening conversation and the moments that we had together in the past. They will not be forgotten, they are actually ingrained in my memory forever. Be well Damon," she stated before turning and heading towards the door. He stood there watching her walk out of the bar with a slight switch of her hips and shook his head, "Goodbye Sabine," he whispered as the door closed softly behind her.
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"So the papers are signed?" Bonnie grinned at Marcel from across the table at the Italian restaurant he selected. Two weeks had gone by since their last dinner and Marcel had signed his contract with the Richmond Renegades that morning. Ever since he left, he and Bonnie had spoken on the phone every night and FaceTimed at night. The more time she spent talking to him, the more she recognized the possibilities with him.
"Signed and now I am officially the Senior Assistant Coach to the Richmond Renegades," he beamed.
"Congratulations!" Bonnie gave him a handclap.
"Thank you, thank you. I just have to tie up some loose ends in Detroit and then I will be moving outside of Richmond permanently."
"Permanently, so that means we can actually see each other in person more than once every month?"
"That's if you want to," Marcel remarked hopefully.
Bonnie smiled, "I do."
"You know a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't sure that you would—especially when I was sure I had some competition with the bar owner."
"Damon and I are just friends and that's all we will ever be."
"Is that how you describe me?" Marcel asked reaching across the table and taking her hand, rubbing her fingers gently with his thumb.
Bonnie gave him a smile, "Not exactly…not anymore."
"Not anymore…I like it," Marcel bit his lip giving her a grin.
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She followed him into the hotel room with more nervousness than she would have preferred. He took her hand leading her into the room and divested her of her jacket quickly. Moving her slowly towards the bed. Bonnie giggled as Marcel removed one of her shoes than the other, "You are beautiful," he whispered before covering her body with his. Bonnie moved her head giving him access to her neck as she moaned in pleasure.
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Damon gazed out at the city of New York and the lights after calling it an early night at the bar. His bags were packed by the door and Sandy was sleeping outside in the living room. "You know, some things never change," she wrapped her arms around his body before placing a kiss on his back.
"And what is that?" he turned around to face her, before sliding his arms under her thighs and lifting her carrying her to the bed.
"We click in the bedroom and that's about it," she replied moving up in the bed, "but I have to admit, this was a very nice way to say goodbye."
Damon laughed, "I have to agree with you there."
"But even when you put on a very Damonesque performance, I can tell that you are still distracted by something or someone," she sat up resting her head on her hand.
"Does that mean I didn't live up to your expectations?" he cocked an eyebrow. Dinner with Corrine had been a welcomed event after dealing with Sabine a couple of days before. They laughed, they talked and they flirted (as they always did). The sex wasn't planned, but it was welcomed.
Corrine laughed at his last comment, "You know that can never be an option when you are in the mix. But things were definitely different. Not bad, just different."
"I guess I will take it."
Corrine slid out of bed and reached for the dress that had been thrown casually on the couch in the bedroom, "You know Damon, from what you tell me—your life in Mystic Falls is drastically different than your life in New York. Despite falling into old habits," she winked, "I think you're a different person and I believe you are moving out of this bar owner, unattached phase and it's good. You say you have a friend in Mystic Falls and you don't want to ruin your friendship with her, but Damon—if she is everything that you believe she is…you won't."
"I ruined things with you," Damon stated.
Corrine laughed, "I was far from the love of your life Damon. I'm not that girl, but someone else may be…take the chance," she slid her dress over her head.
"This is not the pillow talk that I imagined," Damon mumbled.
"Yeah, well…this is the pillow talk you will get," she stated picking up her purse before leaning and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Damon held onto her arm, "Maybe one more for the road?"
Corrine laughed as Damon pulled her back down on the bed.
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Marcel planted a kiss on Bonnie's slightly damp forehead before moving beside her and wrapping his arm around her bringing her into an embrace. He kissed her shoulder softly, "Today was a GOOD DAY," he declared as he and Bonnie both burst into laughs.
"Was it?" she turned over on her back with his eyes shining down at her.
"Definitely, I got the dream job and the dream girl…what else could a man want?" he caressed her cheek.
Bonnie laughed, "I'm the dream girl?"
Marcel placed his hand on her face, gently coaxing her to look back at him, "You're beautiful, intelligent, witty…why wouldn't you be?"
Bonnie grinned raising her hand, leaning up and kissing Marcel. Maybe she needed to stop putting up roadblocks and just allow herself to be in the moment and in a relationship. Marcel was definitely different than Enzo and it was nice being with him, she couldn't deny it. He made her feel good and sometimes that's all a girl needed.
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The next afternoon after sleeping in, Bonnie pushed the door open to A Cup of Life and went to the counter, "What do you have for me today. I know I'm a little late, but I had a late night and an early morning?" she met Barry's eyeroll.
"Only you?" Barry raised an eyebrow.
Suddenly, her stomach flip flopped, "Yes, I think Damon's still out of town."
"I see, well I will give you something not too crazy, a Libbylou."
Bonnie wrinkled her nose, "Sounds weird."
Barry shrugged his shoulders before turning around to make the drink. Bonnie stood looking at the pastries in the case. Marcel had left early in the morning for Detroit to finish packing up things before his big move. Bonnie smiled just thinking about their previous night. While she had some reservations about moving to the next level with Marcel, she was a twenty something woman who deserved to have fun in whatever form she saw fit. As she readied herself to choose a chocolate croissant, she felt something or someone touch her leg. She glanced over to see a beagle staring back at her with wide 'pet me please' eyes. She glanced up and saw Damon standing in the doorway and her heart literally did a triple beat staring back at him—his eyes looked bluer, he was clean shaven and his hair had been cut down a little more. He stared back at her and gave her a tiny grin, "Hey Bon," he greeted her, "everything over there looks good enough to eat."
Bonnie heard Barry give a quiet whistle behind the counter and she decided she hated both him and Damon.
Well Bonnie decided to take a step further with Marcel, we'll see how that turns out. Damon managed to wave goodbye to Sabine again and maybe even a part of his New York past. So what happens now that he's back in Mystic Falls.
Bamon do pretty well when they are apart, but what happens when they lay eyes on each other and spend time together?
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