I’m being ushered out by some guy in white scrubs, but I’m not resisting. In fact, by the time we reach the main floor I’m sprinting out of the building. The automatic doors open as I approach and the cool fall breeze greets me. My lungs draw in air with marathon exhaustion as I hunch over with my hands on my knees.

I hate her so much.

* * *

This was a mistake of epic proportions. I should be in Boston sitting around the dinner table with my family … with Vivian. Instead, I’m weaving through traffic in a race to Doug and Lily’s in a fucking rental car. Why didn’t I drive my car out here? Oh that’s right, because I wasn’t supposed to be here this long!

Staying with them is no longer an option. I have to get the hell out of here. I pack my bags and drive to an extended-stay hotel. What I really want is to purchase a one-way ticket back to Boston and say goodbye to Portland forever. I need nothing more than to crawl in bed with Vivian and let the rest of the world fall into oblivion. However, what I’m going to do is stay just long enough to make sure Brice and Mitchell can handle the clients I’ve taken over for Valerie that will require longer services.

“Hey, happy Thanksgiving!” Just the sound of her voice alone takes the edge off.

“Happy Thanksgiving to you too. I really needed to hear your voice.”

“Is everything okay?”

I fall back on the hotel bed and close my eyes. “It is now.”

“I figured you’d still be at the hospital.”

“She wasn’t having a good day, so I left early.” I’m a cowardly ass for lying. I don’t know how I’m going to go back home and tell Vivian that all this time away from her has been for nothing.

“That’s too bad. I was hoping for your sake she’d have a better day.”

“Are your parents there?”

“Yes, our moms are in the kitchen making magic. I just stuck the pies in the oven.”

“You made the pies?”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, babe. Yes, I made pumpkin and pecan.”

“Are they baking or reheating?”

“Baking, you idiot. Your mom helped me make the perfect crusts and my mom supervised the filling stage. So as long as the timer on the oven doesn’t fail, I will have bragging pictures to send to both you and Alex.”

“I’m impressed and so bummed that I’m not there.”

“Me too. We all miss you and can’t wait to see you.”

It hurts to breathe. God, I miss her. Our first Thanksgiving together is our first Thanksgiving apart.

“Miss you too. Is Chance behaving? Is he fully dressed?”

She laughs. “He’s on his very best behavior because he brought a guest.”

“What? On Thanksgiving?”

“Ronnie.”

“No way!”

“Yes, way. You know he hired her via email. Well, that’s because her family lives in Ohio. She’s going back home for Christmas but decided to stay in Boston for Thanksgiving so Chance invited her.”

“How’s that going?”

“Let me just say it would take more than an electric carving knife to cut through the sexual tension.”

“What?”

“I’m serious. I’m kind of horny just from being around them.”

“Fuck! Vivian! Is anyone listening to you?”

I have to adjust myself because the idea of her being horny makes me hard as steel.

She giggles. “No, I snuck off to the guest bedroom for some privacy and because the TV was too loud.”

“Sooo … you’re alone?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“And horny?”

“Mmm hmm.”

I’m a fucking disaster. My mind is all over the place. I just lied to the one person I swore I’d never lie to again, but in spite of it all, I’m still a guy and I need this.

“Lock the door.”

“Already did.”

“God, I love you.”

“I’m wearing a light pink lace push up bra and matching thong.”

Sweet, sweet Jesus. I didn’t even have to ask what she’s wearing. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her this anxious, and the crap part is I’m not actually seeing her. Dammit!

“What are you wearing over that?”

“Nothing, babe. I removed my sweater and jeans while we were talking about the pies.”

Oh fuck me, this is not happening. I unfasten my jeans and slide them down enough to free myself.

“Oli … I’m so wet for you.”

I pump myself several times. She’s not even giving me a chance to say anything. All I can do is close my eyes and imagine her naked body astride mine, slamming down onto me with relentless need, taking control just like she’s already doing.

“Lick your lips, Oli. Can you taste me? Oh God. I can see you, babe. I can see your head buried between my legs. How do I taste?”

“Sweet, you always taste so sweet. Where are your hands?”

Her breath is slow and heavy in my ear. “My breasts. I’m squeezing and oh … oh God … pinching my nipple. I love it when you pinch and drag your teeth over my nipples.” I hear her moan. “It’s like … it’s like a bullet of pleasure to my sex.”

I pump my dick harder and a little faster, circling my thumb over the head several times. “You make me so hard, I want to bury myself in your warm, wet pussy.”

“Oli … oh God!”

“Can you feel me?”

“Yes.”

“Are your legs spread wide for me?”

“Yes.”

“Are your fingers wet?”

“S-so wet.” She pants.

“Slide a finger in for me.”

“Oh … yes.”

“Now pull it out and circle your clit.”

“Ung … yeesss …”

I clench the sheet with my other hand.

“Make yourself come. Do it now.”

“I-I … I’m c-coming! Oh dear God!”

I thrust up into my hand and stroke myself letting my release squirt onto my shirt. “Oh, shit … holy hell …” I pant as my heart catapults from my chest. My head falls back as my breathing slows.

“Vivian? Are you in there, sweetie?”

Fuck, nothing like my mother’s voice to yank me back into reality.

“Uh … yes. I’m in here.”

“Are you alright, sweetie? I thought I heard you yell something.”

“Um … no. I was uh … laughing. I’m talking to Oliver.”

“Oh, well open the door. I want to talk to him.”

If this woman loves me she will not open that door—

“Oh my, are you feeling okay? You look like you’re burning up. You even have perspiration on your brow.”

Kill me now. My parents are both Harvard-trained doctors. It’s not going to take my mom long to diagnose Vivian with an acute case of phone sex fever.

“Oli, your mom wants to talk to you.”

“Am I on speaker?”

“No.”

“Good. Have a wonderful dinner, send me pictures of your pies, and know that I have not come this hard in months. Love you.”

She giggles. “Love you too, Oli.”

“Oliver?”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Are you coming home for Christmas, honey?”

“I’m not sure yet. I’m trying to wrap things up here, and I don’t want to miss Alex and Sean’s wedding so I can’t make any promises yet.”

“What do you mean ‘wrap things up?’”

“I mean making sure Brice and Mitchell can finish up anything that I can’t before I leave to come home.”

“And Caroline?”

“She’s fine.” Another lie and to my mother. I’d say I’m fast-tracking my way to Hell today, but since I’m already there what does it really matter?

“Fine? Really?”

“You should know better than anyone that she’ll never be the same again, but her doctors think she’s improving so my job here is done.”

“And you?”

I sigh. “What does it matter what I think? The doctors are the experts.”

“Oliver, I’m not asking what you think. I’m asking how you’re doing. Have you made any progress?”

“I’m not the one in the mental hospital.”

“Oliver …”

“Yes, I’m fine, great, fabulous. I’ll be home by the wedding so life couldn’t be better.”

“Have you gone to Melanie’s grave?”

“Yes.” Lie.

“And?”

“And she’s still dead.”

“Oliver!”

I fist my hair. “I’m sorry. I just don’t need this from you.”

“I love you, Oliver. I want my son back. He’s found an amazing girl and I’d like to see him get his happily-ever-after. So don’t waste your time out there. Do what you need to do so you can come home.”

Do what I need to do? Stupid psychobabble bullshit.

“Yep.” I cringe after the word falls out. Please let her react better to my “yep” than Vivian.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Oliver. I love you.”

“You too. Tell everyone hi for me.”

“I will.”

I toss my phone aside. Yeah, sure Happy Thanksgiving. It’s been a real peachy day. The best part of it is evidenced on my shirt. The rest … Caroline—I still hate her.

* * *

Vivian

It’s heartbreaking that Oliver feels the need to lie to me, and equally so that he has to do the same with Jackie. What Oliver doesn’t know is that Lily called Jackie after he was escorted out of the hospital. It must be a motherly thing; she was worried about him and wanted us to know what had happened. She called a second time when she got home and discovered he and all his stuff was gone. That was about ten minutes before he called me. Funny how he never mentioned any of it. So now we know he’s had a breakdown and he’s no longer staying with Doug and Lily. What we don’t know is where he is staying or what frame of mind he’s in.

The phone sex wasn’t planned, and honestly I didn’t think he’d be interested after what had happened earlier. But I’ve been studying like a crazy woman, and Oliver’s been so busy, my body needed a release. Then Chance showed up with Ronnie and I caught them in the hallway making out. Not like, we’ve-been-having-sex-but-are-just-messing-around making out, it was, you’ve-been-frustrating-the-hell-out-of-me-for-months-I’m-dying-to-fuck-you-for-the-first-time making out. He had her shoved up against the wall, you’re-under-arrest style, and he was grinding his crotch against her ass while massaging her sex through her jeans. They didn’t see me and it’s embarrassing to admit that I hid behind the Ficus tree and watched him give her an orgasm, but it’s true. So when Oli called I was hot and bothered and already on the verge of having my own orgasm.