I would've updated this sooner, but I guess it wasn't in the cards. Lots of running around. Anyway, enjoy. :)
I sat at the dining room table with Dave the next morning sipping cappuccinos as the sun's rays melted the dew and shone through the windows. We'd caught up with each other, knowing everything that happened over the years in Vegas and San Francisco. In all our catching up, I realized how much I missed him.
"So..." he started after our laughter subsided. "I thought you broke up with your ex for some guy. What happened with that?"
"I didn't break up with her for some guy. I didn't break up with her! We agreed that moving to Vegas would really benefit me. We knew we didn't want to do a long distance relationship so we decided to gracefully split up."
"And the guy?"
"He was my boss...and...now he's my...husband."
I told Dave everything. We never kept secrets from each other. He made it easy to trust him. He never told anyone what I told him in confidence and he never judged me for things I've said and done.
"Wow. Normally, I wouldn't suggest this because I personally don't believe it's possible, but...did you turn straight?"
I laughed and shook my head.
"Chloe had the right idea by never classifying herself under a single orientation. I get it. I mean, I don't get her and Matt being together, but the fact that you really can't help who you fall in love with."
"Old habits die hard, Sara."
"And what do you mean by that?"
"You brought your current boss, a female, to the city because you think you need to show her off like a trophy girlfriend."
"What's your point?"
"You may have brought her here for that reason," he started after a beat. "But I doubt by the end of this trip she'll still only be the friend that helped you out when you needed someone."
My jaw dropped as Dave stood and took our cups to the sink. I couldn't believe what he had suggested.
"Morning," Catherine said as she strolled into the kitchen wearing black silk shorts and a white, cotton, spaghetti strap shirt.
"Morning," Dave and I said in unison.
"Cappuccino," Dave asked as he raised one of the cups he cleaned.
"Sure," she smiled and took the seat across form me. "So...did I sleep talk again?"
I smiled.
"No. I actually got plenty of rest last night."
She smiled back.
"Good to know I can keep my dreams under control."
I softly chuckled.
Dave cleared his throat as he placed the steaming cup in front of Catherine. He looked at me with an I-told-you-so face and I gave him and smoldering stare down.
"Thanks," Catherine said to Dave.
Dave moved on and directed his attention toward Steve as he joined us in the kitchen.
"Hi, sweetie," he said with a warm smile and gave Steve a chaste kiss.
"Good morning," Steve smiled after Dave pulled away.
"Hey," Catherine started, directing her words at me. "Today do you think we could hang out, come up with a story to tell your friends at the wedding?"
"Yeah, that'd be great. I know the perfect spot, one I've been dying to share with someone since we got here."
A few hours later, we managed to get out of the house and I drove us to the beautiful Rincon Park that overlooked the Bay Bridge.
"Wow," she said in awe as she looked around at the surrounding trees and natural beauty of the location.
"Yeah. I used to take cable cars here when my world started to fall apart. Sometimes I think I felt safer here than I did in my own home."
"Because of your mom?"
I nodded.
"But...after I was placed in foster care, I still came here from time to time. I had to escape my foster fathers."
"What happened?"
"They all used to beat me in one way or another. Eventually, I aged out and things weren't as bad, but...I was in several bad relationships after that and ended up making bad decisions in decent relationships. Once, though, I went for a run after Gil had offered me a job in Vegas and I came here to calmly think things through. This is the place I finally decided to leave for Vegas."
I took a deep breath and continued to stare out at the bay.
"All my life I've only known two things...pain and suffering. The funny thing is...Gil doesn't know half of these things. He asked me once why I was so angry and I told him about my mom, but...we've never really talked about my past."
"Is that another reason you didn't want him here?"
"I've got a list of reasons that explain why I didn't want him to come. It's one of many. Dave's the only one here that knows I'm married to him. I told him this morning. I'm sure he'll tell Steve, but that doesn't matter. None of my other friends know I'm married, especially not to Gil."
"A man."
"Right...and given my history they'd hate to believe I've changed this much."
"Are you sure about that? I mean, isn't this what the wedding is all about for you? Proving you've changed?"
When she put it that way, I could hear the selfishness in the statement. I'd managed to do it yet again, put myself before everyone else.
"No!"
She furrowed her brow.
"The wedding is about Jenn being happy and I'm not going to ruin that by making it all about me."
"So...you're going to tell them the truth?"
"Hell no! I'm still telling them you're my girlfriend, but I'm not going to worry about showing off our fake relationship. Here's our story if anyone asks. You're here to meet my friends and show your support. We started dating about six years ago like you told Chloe. If anyone asks how the relationship started...we can tell them that after you had a rough time with something, I was there for you and suddenly, there was a spark. I asked you out and we've been happy together, which is why you asked me to move in with you two years ago."
"Whoa...you came up with all that right now?"
"Yeah."
"Huh."
"I've had a lot of dreams about this."
She cocked an eyebrow.
"Not about us, about the situation, the wedding, ever since I got the invitation. I'm just really stressed."
She grinned.
"I noticed, darling."
I pursed my lips to hide my smile, but I knew she could tell I was smiling. I didn't mind. I was actually happy and I didn't want to hide that.
Even now that we had our story figured out, we didn't leave. We sat there for countless minutes and took in the refreshing freedom the area gave us.
"Thank god I brought snacks," Catherine said as she grabbed a bag full of apple slices out of her purse.
"Yum," I said as I eyed the bag.
She smirked as she opened the bag and pulled out a wedge. She offered the bag to me so I took a wedge myself and I grabbed one without hesitation.
I removed my shoes and socks and took the first bite of the slice. Catherine rid herself of her shoes and socks as well and joined me on the grass. She sat close to me, our thighs touching.
"Okay, now it's time to ask some fun questions," she smirked as she took a bite of her apple slice.
"Fun questions? Like what?"
"Well, like...what's the craziest thing you've ever done sexually?"
I nearly choked on the apple.
"Seriously?"
She continued to smirk.
"Yeah."
I took a beat to let the question sink in.
"What's the craziest thing you've done sexually?"
"Oh, no. You can ask me that once you give me an answer."
I held my breath for a few seconds then let out a sigh.
"Fine. ...The craziest thing I've ever done would have to be," I slowly stated as I attempted to recall my sexual exploits. "Okay, once I had sex in a laundry room while my girlfriend's dad was upstairs. I climaxed just as the load finished and the machine beeped."
She laughed as I smiled through my embarrassment of having to relive that particular moment.
"Okay...you're turn," I tried to get an answer out of her before I turned as red as a tomato.
"Wait, wait," she said as she tried to control her laughter. "Give a girl time to process that one."
I bit my lip and attempted to keep the level of red in my skin tone to a minimum.
"All right...woo. The craziest thing I've done...let's see...when I had sex with Eddie on every surface of his best friend's place," she grinned.
"Damn. Did the friend ever find out?"
"No, but he did come home early and since Eddie and I didn't want to stop, we kept quiet. The thrill came from the danger of getting caught in the act and at that point, he and I were finally on his friend's bed."
I chuckled.
"Unbelievable."
"Yeah, well, those crazy days are over. They have been for a long time."
"I don't want to bring up something you don't want to think about during this trip, but I've got to say...you really seem to enjoy the possibility of getting caught."
"Uh, yeah. I guess I do."
I looked at her as she stared into the glimmering water and something washed over me. I no longer had control of my body and in an instant, I leaned in at just the right moment. Catherine turned to look at me right when our lips met and suddenly, though the kiss was shallow, I felt everything else fall away. I slowly pulled away a few seconds later and realized what I'd done.
"Wait," she started after a beat. "You said your girlfriend's dad was in the other room. ...Deny it all you want, but you like to live on the edge too. He could've caught you."
I chuckled.
"Fine. I admit, those wild days are behind me, but-"
"Not really. All those years you spent with Gil behind everyone's back?"
"It's not like we were having sex in an evidence room!"
"That's not the point."
"It isn't?"
"No, there's other ways of getting caught and you pushed those boundaries plenty of times."
"What do you mean?"
"I saw the way you looked at him and him at you. Besides, you could've slipped up and called him Gil instead of Grissom while he was handing out assignments."
"But I didn't, did I?"
She shook her head after a beat.
There was an awkward silence that held our tongues hostage for several moments. I wondered about the kiss and why she hadn't thought to talk about it, but the moment passed as our conversation resumed.
"Maybe we should go," she finally said.
"And do what?"
"I don't know. ...You could show me the rest of the city."
"The only reason I know so much about this city is because I moved around a lot. I can't guarantee I know the best places to hang out other than a few bars here and there...but I know my way around the streets."
"Then we can have an adventure," she said as she took my hand and stood up.
I smiled as she pulled me along with her to the Mazda. We ran through the grass barefoot and, by the way she moved, Catherine didn't seem to have a single care in the world.
We ran around the entire city for hours trying to make it through excruciating traffic and eventually found a spot to grab a drink. From the outside, I didn't recognize the place, but once I was inside, I quickly realized I didn't want to be there with Catherine.
"Uh, this place sucks. We should go," I tried to yank her out of the bar as I glanced around to ensure we wouldn't run into anyone I didn't want to run into ever again.
"What? Just a few minutes ago you said you didn't know anything about this place and now you say it sucks?"
"I've, uh, heard plenty of negative things about it."
"From who?"
I grabbed her wrist again and pulled her toward the door with me.
"Uh, Dave and Steve."
"What," she questioned my source as she fought to free herself from my grasp.
"Yeah, yeah, they warned me about this place not too long ago."
"When?"
"I think you were asleep. Come on," I tried to pull her away once more.
She shook her head and looked at me like I was a lunatic. I noticed a familiar silhouette behind her, one that rapidly approached us.
"Oh, fuck," I squeezed my eyes shut and smacked my hand against my forehead.
"Sara," her seductive voice greeted with a sadistic grin I remembered well enough to know I didn't want to remember it at all.
"Vanessa," I couldn't help but sound like I was chewing broken glass.
Catherine turned to see the woman that had said my name and did a quick head-hunt between her and me.
"What dragged you back to my bar?"
"Uh, nothing in particular."
"Really? Word around town is you took off years ago. Why are you back?"
"Whatever reason I have for being back in San Francisco is none of your business."
"It is when you have the balls to walk your cheating ass into my bar after all these years and bring some skanky older woman along for the ride."
"Excuse me," I instantly started to defend Catherine.
"C'mon, Sidle. Who are you kidding? She's probably the only woman desperate enough to fuck you and put up with your bullshit. You've got issues and you're not welcome here."
I invaded her personal space and clenched my jaw before I spoke again.
"I'm glad I'm not welcome here. More people should be unwelcome. This dump hasn't changed a bit since I fucked your best friend on every surface of your office upstairs and your little sister on every piece of furniture in this place."
"My sister? You fucked my sister too?"
I grinned.
"She didn't want to tell you because she was worried you'd hate her and I was more than compliant to keep it a secret. I liked keeping secrets from you."
"You bitch!"
"Yeah, it doesn't make any difference. I still fucked them...multiple times. And every time was more pleasurable than being with you."
"Get out!"
I chuckled like the devil himself as I made sure to push a button that would reward me with the victory of our small but widely public battle.
I took Catherine's hand, laced our fingers, and escorted her out of the bar. Once we were outside, I started to laugh. Catherine didn't seem to find the comedy in the situation though as she tore herself away from me.
"What the hell? Who was that?"
"Another one of my exes."
"I got that. ...Did you really sleep with the two people she knew she could trust?"
"Sleeping with them would imply I stayed the night, in a bed. I did no such thing. I had sex with both of them."
"Oh, my god! And you're laughing about it?"
"Yeah."
"Sara!"
"What," I couldn't stop laughing, but I soon noticed the hurt expression on her face and remembered how many times she'd been cheated on. "Oh, look, she was a pest and I was messed up back then. I didn't know how to end it."
"So you cheated on her so you wouldn't have to use your big girl words to break up with her?"
I hesitated.
"Yeah," I slowly admitted. "I guess you could say that."
"Wow. And here I thought you were different. Turns out you're exactly like every asshole I've ever been with except for the pluming."
She stormed off.
"No, Catherine. Wait!"
My laughter dissipated in an instant and I chased after her. I grabbed her by her wrist and spun her around to look her straight in the eyes when I told her the next thing I had to say.
"Hey, it's not an excuse, but it's not like I knew anything else. I was young and reckless and learned from the best at being an asshole...every father figure I was forced to have in foster care."
"You're right. That isn't an excuse," she slipped out of my grip.
"Wait," I spun her around again. "I wasn't always such a douche bag. She was one of my earliest relationships, it didn't last long, and it was never serious. Now what is this really about, because it feels like a personal attack on my character."
"Of course it is! How can I be friends with someone like you, the epitome of everything I stand against?"
"Like I said...I wasn't always like that. I changed. You know the Sara Sidle that hasn't ever cheated on her husband, the Sara Sidle that promised to keep the angst level at a minimum. That woman in there knows the Sara Sidle that never did anything for anyone unless it benefited her, the Sara Sidle that never made a promise she didn't break the second a person's back was turned. Trust me when I say this...I hated myself for a long time back then."
She sighed and avoided eye contact for a few moments.
"So...can you still be friends with me?"
She took a deep breath as she lifted her head and looked at me again.
"Yeah. Just don't pull any of that shit on Gil or I'll kick your ass."
"Understood...and I have no intention of cheating on him."
I inwardly gulped down a lump of lies. I couldn't confess I'd already had plenty of thoughts about cheating on Gil, not even to myself. I knew he and I needed to have a conversation, but how could we if he never listened to me?
Catherine and I got into the SUV and aimlessly drove off. After running into an ex like Vanessa, I thought about how much I didn't really miss the city after all. Looking at it from a new perspective, I came up with the real reason why I got the hell out of Dodge. I needed to escape the remnants of my past exploits. I was on the path of self-destruction and Elise could see that. So I packed up and took a job with a man I knew could keep my head above water, at least for as long as miracles lasted.
"Some adventure today turned out to be," I said as we continued to drive.
Catherine formed a small smile.
"It could've been worse."
"How?"
"You could have tricked your ex back into the sack," she smiled.
"So now it's okay to make jokes?"
Her smile widened.
"Yeah," she started to laugh.
"Thanks. Thanks for the support."
"It's your fault," she laughed harder.
"Whatever. She needs to get over it. I mean, who holds a grudge for twenty some years?"
"I think I could."
My jaw dropped a few inches.
"Well, I'll try not to cheat on you then," I self-righteously said.
She laughed again.
"You'd be lucky to score a woman like me."
"I'd be lucky to score you," I mumbled.
"What?"
"Huh? Nothing."
"Didn't sound like nothing. What did you say?"
"Oh, just that anyone would be lucky to 'score' a woman like you."
"Thanks," she slowly said as though she wasn't entirely sure she should believe what I said in every sense of the insecurity.
"What do you say we call it a day," I rushed to change the subject. "We should head up to Napa tomorrow so we need some rest before we leave. Besides, Dave and Steve want to spend a little more time with me, and ostensibly you, before we go so we can use whatever time we have left for tonight."
"Okay. ...Anything to keep me from running into any more of your exes."
"You know me so well."
We smiled and headed back toward Dave and Steve's house. Yet another crisis averted. I hoped there wouldn't be anymore crisis' once we were at the vineyard, but with my luck, it didn't seem likely I'd get my wish.
...
More to come. :) Please don't forget to review.