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Mark was full of nervous excitement, he had truly missed Michelle, when he had gone through his last divorce, she had been a good friend to him, there relationship had developed from that, he did care for her and he liked her, to him those things were more important than lust or some wild hot desire, he had married the first two times, because he was hot for them, like to fuck them, big mistake, he would base his next marriage on compatibility and friendship.
Mark saw her coming across the terminal and smiled. "Michelle!" He shouted. She seen him and smiled, running over to hug him. "Hey Mark."
Mark hugged her tight. "Hey girl, I've miss you."
She smiled and squeezed him again. "I missed you too. C'mon., I got you a hotel room."
Mark kept his arm around her as they walked through the terminal, she told him about her new story line and what was going on, before Mark knew it they were at the hotel.
Michelle left him at his room. "I'll be by in a hour and we'll go out to dinner." She said kissing him lightly on the lips. Mark nodded and tossed her the box with the vibrator in it. "Maybe we can use that after while."
Michelle seen what it was and laughed. "Mark you never change."
Mark shrugged and went in his room throwing his bag down. She seemed happy to see him, maybe a little time apart was good for them, maybe she had realized how much she missed him.
Mark sat beside Michelle in the restaurant, he had took her out for lobster, he wanted to give her nothing but the best and be romantic at the same time. "You look really beautiful."
Michelle smiled. "Thanks Mark..look we need to talk..."
Mark interrupted her. "First I want to ask you something..I really care about you Michelle and I love spending time with you, I think we're compatible, Will you marry me?"
Michelle's eyes got wide in shock. "Mark, listen to me, I tried to tell you when you retired , I care for you, you've been a good friend to me, you helped me when I was going through my divorce, you made me feel special again, but Mark I'm not in love with you, you're a dear friend, but thats it."
Mark looked flabbergasted. "Dear friend, dammit Michelle, I made these plans around you, I want kids." He snapped.
Michelle looked at Mark, he was so stubborn. "Mark you don't love me, you're not in love with me, if you really think about, you will realize that, we haven't been together for months, and you just go along making these plans for the both of us, Mark I'm in love with someone else."
Mark felt his temper rising. "Who?" He demanded.
Michelle sighed, she really did care for Mark, he had been a good friend, but she just wasn't in love with him. "John."
Mark jumped up from the chair. "John, what the hell, Michelle, how could you two go behind my back.."
Michelle interrupted him. "We didn't, we haven't slept together, I told John until I could see you and tell you face to face, we would wait and we have."
Mark grabbed the bill from the table and Michelle followed him, the ride back to the motel was silent and he dropped her off in front of the hotel. Michelle looked in the car at him. "Mark I do care for you, you've been a good friend and I don't want to lose you, please think about what I said."
Mark ignored her, his male pride was too hurt, he felt like a failure at relationships and he felt betrayed, he wasn't in a forgiving mood. He pulled the car away and found a parking space and just sat there, he wanted to go smash John in the head, but what was the point, he was the one who was a failure, he obviously was missing something, two divorces already under his belt.
Mark shook his head, he decided to go get his stuff and head down to his house in Miami for a while, drown his sorrows, lick his wounds, he didn't feel like dealing with anyone.
Josie sat down at her desk with a sigh. It had been long week and she hadn't heard a word from Mark, not that she expected too after what had happened, he was probably somewhere happy with Michelle and the thought bothered her more than she cared to admit. Her phone rang and she grabbed it quickly. "Hello?"
"Hey sis."
"Ana, how are you doing?" She asked smiling, her sister sounded so happy these days.
"Great, Guess what?" Ana asked.
"What?" Josie asked smiling at the excitement in her sisters voice. "I'm pregnant."
"Oh Ana, thats great, I'm so happy for you, I'm going to be Aunt." She said laughing.
'Yep, the baby is due in February, so I expect you take some time off then, so you can be here to hold my hand." Ana said.
Josie smiled. "Of course I will, you know that, have you told Margery?"
"Not yet, soon I guess, that means I'll have to tell her about being married too." Ana said with a sigh.
"Don't let her upset you Ana, you're a grown woman and you have to live your own life." Josie said, she didn't want Ana to be upset in her condition.
"I'll try not too, Gosh I cant wait to see you, I miss you so bad and hey, your birthday gift is in the mail, I didn't forget." Ana said smiling.
"I know, you never do, thanks sis." She said reaching for her coffee.
"So, any big plans for your birthday next week?" Ana asked.
"Hmm no, the Friday before, me, Sammy and Jenn are going out to celebrate, but no plans for the actual day, probably just stay at home and pamper myself." Josie said taking a drink of the strong brew.
"Sis, you need a man, have you been dating?"
"No, no time for that, too busy." Josie said thinking about Mark.
Ana sighed. "Sis make time, you're not getting any younger meet you a nice guy and settle down , have some kids."
"Thats not for me, you know me, I'm the loner type." Josie said sitting the too strong coffee down.
Ana worried about her sister, sometimes she thought her little sister worried to much about what Margery thought. "Okay, I'll talk to you soon, I love you."
"Love you too." Josie said and flipped her phone shut. Josie leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, she was glad Ana was getting what she had always wanted a real family, Ana deserved it, there was tiny part of her that was jealous, but she knew that was not the life for her, no point wanting something, she couldn't have.
Mark rolled over and fell on the floor with a loud thunk. "Fuck." He muttered, the inside of his mouth tasted like roadkill and his head was pounding like someone had set off a bomb in it. He sat up slowly and finally crawled to the bathroom and managed to get himself in the shower under a hot stream of water.
He stood there for a minute and then grabbed the soap and started to wash. He had pretty much tied on a very long drunk, he had been pissed, hurt and just plain mad, he counteracted that by drinking like a fish and staying holed up in his Miami home to sulk, he knew thats what he was doing, he was just so disappointed, he really wanted to get married and get started on a family, he wasn't getting any younger and he wanted to be able to enjoy his kids, not be too old to raise them.
Then Michelle rejecting him made him feel old and washed up, like he was somewhat less than a man, it made him feel like such a loser, he remembered a time, when he could have had any woman he wanted, now he wasn't shit, he was getting older, not such a great catch anymore. He still wasn't ready to face John or Michelle, although some of his anger at them had faded, now he just felt hollow and rejected.
Mark got out and dried off, he walked in his bedroom and pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt.
His thoughts were pulled to Josie for the first time in two weeks, he had been so wrapped up in Michelle's' rejection, he hadn't even thought about her, he wondered if she would even want to hear from him again, he wondered if at least they could remain friends.
Mark looked down at his cellphone about to call her and his eyes got wide when he saw the date. Fuck, he had been out of it two weeks. Mark jumped up and grabbed his bag throwing clothes in it, he called the airport quickly and booked a flight home. Damn him and his wallowing in his own self pity, he had something to do. He grabbed his bag and stuck his phone in his pocket.
Josie flopped back on her couch, she was just laying around today, birthday or not, last night her and Jenn, and Sammy had went out to a local bar and had a blast to celebrate, she smiled as she remembered their awful karaoke singing, but all in all she had a great time. Ana had called her earlier to wish her a happy birthday and Josie had thank her for the beautiful necklace Ana had sent her.
She had been kind of bored today, but after the busy week she had, she was almost glad to be bored.
Josie lay there and then turned over to stare at the TV, which had some animal show on, on a whim she got up and put one of the wrestling DVD's in that Mark had left here, she smiled as she watched his match again, she truly missed him, true she hadn't know him that long, but she had become used to having him around so quickly, the last two weeks had been the longest of her life.
Her phone rang and she picked it flipping it open. "hello."
"Josephine, Happy birthday dear."
"Hey Margery, thanks." She said laying back on the couch. "What is that commotion, what are you watching?" Her mother demanded.
Josie quickly scrambled for the remote and muted the TV. "Umm nothing, I was just flipping channels."
"Why in the world are you watching TV on your birthday, you should be on a date or out with friends."
"Well I went out with the girls last night, I'm just relaxing tonight." She said rolling her eyes.
"Hmm you really need to get out more, Josephine, you are becoming a recluse." he mother said.
"Margery, I'm fine, I just don't go out a lot, but thats the way I like it, really." She said hoping her mother had something to do besides lecture her.
She heard her mother sigh. "Okay, I just worry, I sent you a present , it should be there Monday, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday, I love you."
Josie smiled, she knew her mother loved her, her dad did too, they were just not the normal kind of parents. "Thanks Margery, I love you too and thanks for calling, I'll talk to you soon."
Josie got off the phone and curled up on the couch and turned the sound back up on the TV, her dad hadn't called but then again, he could be somewhere there was no phone service.
Mark shook his head, it was close to midnight, well eleven thirty to be exact, he was such a idiot, how he had let two weeks go by in a drunken stupor, he didn't know, but he was almost at her house, he just hoped she wasn't asleep, he didn't know if she had plans or not, maybe she met a man while he was boozing himself to death, the thought didn't set well with him for some reason. Mark pulled into her driveway and stopped his truck, he seen lights on downstairs so hopefully she was up.
Mark got out and shut the door and walked up to the porch, he rang the doorbell and waited. There was no answer after a minute so he banged on the door, he really wanted to see her for a few minutes.
When the door open Mark grinned, she was half asleep and had on a baggy t-shirt and shorts, he didn't realize how much he missed her till he seen her. "Mark?" She asked rubbing her eyes thinking maybe she was having one of her dreams, which if it was a dream , it would go x-rated in just a minute.
"Hey darlin, I'm sorry I woke ya, but I just got back to town, and I wanted to see you." He said then surprised her by reaching out and pulling her in a hug, she didn't protest, she rubbed her cheek on his shirt and closed her eyes thinking she felt just perfect in the circle of his arms. Mark pushed her back after a minute. "Why in the hell you answering the door without seeing who it is and this late at night too?" He demanded.
Josie just looked at him, trying to think of a good reason, but finding none. Mark just shook his head. "Go on and make us some coffee, I'll be there in a minute."
Josie just stared, starting to remember she didn't like bossy men. "Don't boss me around."
Mark watched her boa up at him and remembered little miss independent didn't like a man telling her what to do, not that he cared, but he didn't want to fight with her. He bent and kissed her cheek. "Please go and make us some coffee?"
Just one brush of his lips and she was mush and she would have jumped off the roof now, if he had asked. "Fine."
Mark turned her toward the kitchen, and swatted her butt lightly. "Get going."
Josie really wanted to glare at him or something, but she was just so happy to see him, she couldn't even pretend to be mad, she just sighed and walked through the house to the kitchen pulling the coffee down from the cabinet and making some coffee.
She wondered how things worked out with him and Michelle, he seemed in good spirits, she frowned, she wanted Mark to be happy, but she would rather not hear about his romantic time with Michelle. "Okay dork, admit it you're jealous." She muttered to herself.
She got the coffee going and plopped down on one of the barstools laying her head down on the counter. She heard Mark come in and was about to turn. "Nope stay right there and close your eyes."
Josie sighed but did as he asked, after all she was too happy to have him here, to be bitchy with him, well not too bitchy anyway.
"Okay open your eyes." His deep voice rumbled close to her ear. She jumped as his breath stirred the sensitive skin of her ear and opened her eyes. Josie blinked , it was a birthday cake, a beautiful one too, pink with dark pink roses with her name on it. "Mark, thank you, I didn't know you would even think about my birthday." She said deeply touched that he had remembered.
Mark put a arm around her and squeezed. "Happy birthday darlin'"
Josie reached up and kissed his cheek. "You're a sweetheart."
Mark sat down beside her. "I got one more thing for ya." He pulled his hand out from under his jacket and Josie gasped. "Oooo its a kitten." She said smiling a happily as she took it from Mark, it was yellow tiger striped and adorable. She cuddled the kitten close and it purred rubbing against her. Mark smiled. "Cats are pretty self sufficient, I figured it would be pretty easy to take care of."
Josie looked at the kitten rubbing its little head as it purred happily, she looked up at Mark and he saw her eyes were shiny with unshed tears. "I always wanted a cat when I was a kid, thank you Mark." She said and leaned forward giving him a kiss right on his lips. It was just a quick kiss but it quickened both of their heart beats. "I'm glad you like it darlin', now ya just need to think of a name..I got everything you need for him in the car,I'll be right back, then we'll have some of that cake."
Josie nodded and sat there playing with the little kitten, she knew exactly what she was going to call the kitten. "Hey Tom." She said grinning, when she was a kid, Tom and Jerry was her favorite cartoon, she had wanted a cat just like Tom. She was so happy right now she could burst, she just hope Mark would stay for a while.
They sat on the floor in her living room eating cake and sipping coffee, the kitten was asleep after his dinner in the little kitty bed, Mark had bought for him, Mark sat close to her on the floor, so close their legs touched, it was all Josie could do to keep her thoughts straight. She set her empty paper plate down and turned to look at Mark. "This is the best birthday Mark, thank you."
Mark set his plate on the small table and pulled her in his arms, he wanted to make sure she had a decent birthday, he was worried about her being alone, thats why he broke his neck to get home. "I'm glad Josie." Josie just lay there, content to be in his arms, she closed her eyes as his fingers massaged her scalp and moaned a little, it felt really good.
"Feel good?" He asked.
Josie nodded. "Hhmm yeah." She said and her eyes closed as she continued to stroke her head.
Mark Knew it was late and he should get home, but he really didn't want too. "I should go and let you get to bed."
Josie wasn't happy she didn't want him to go, she knew she should be happy he just came by for her birthday, that he was probably happy with Michelle, that he had most likely put their evening of passion out of his mind, but she wasn't ready to let go of him just yet. She hated herself for feeling the way she did, she didn't want to be dependent on any man, but heck if she could help herself.
Mark noticed she hadn't moved and was still plastered against his side."Aren't you tired?"
Josie kept her face buried in his chest. "No." She mumbled. Mark chuckled. "Yeah right, you should get some sleep."
When the girl still didn't move Mark grinned, she was so transparent, she wanted him to stay, but refused to ask him, he knew she couldn't help it, she had been programmed by her mother not to need a man for anything. "Ya know I could stay here with you, I'm kinda beat myself, I was on a plane all day."
Josie looked up at him. "Sure if you want too."
Mark grinned when she looked down again, being friends with Josie was certainly an adventure, but a interesting on none the less.