Page 19 of Now and Forever

“We need to be alone.”

I want nothing more than that on this Christmas Eve.

When the car stops and we get out, Eric takes my bag in one hand and my hand in the other. He holds it forcefully, possessively, as we step inside. I’m surprised at how much the place has changed. Modern furniture. Walls full of color. A huge plasma screen. A new fireplace. Everything, absolutely everything, is new.

He puts music on. “I bought the house.”

Incredible. But, how is it possible I didn’t know?

“You bought the house?”

“Yes. For you.”

“For me?”

“Yes, love. I wanted to surprise you for Three Kings’ Day.”

Stunned, I look around.

“C’mon,” says Eric, putting down my bag, “we have to talk.”

Music floods the house, and, unable to stop looking around and admiring how lovely and elegant everything is, I sit down on the comfortable couch next to the fireplace.

“You look beautiful in that dress,” he tells me as he sits by my side.

“Thanks. Believe it or not, I bought it for you.”

His eyes are all over my body. My Iceman can’t help himself.

“And yet you were going to offer the view to others.”

I sigh. “As I told you once, I’m no saint. And when I’m single, I give what I want of myself, to whom I want and when I want.” Eric arches his brow. “No one owns me but me, and that has to be clear once and for all.”

“Exactly: when you’re single, which is no longer the case,” he insists, not taking his eyes off me.

I’m suddenly aware I really like the song that’s playing. God, I thought about Eric so much these last few days while listening to it! We look at each other like rivals while Ricardo Montaner sings.

Although I’m happy to be with the man I adore, my pride and anger haven’t gone away, and Eric knows it.

“Jude ... I’m sorry for everything that happened. I should have believed what you said without questioning it. Sometimes I’m stubborn and ...”

“What made you change your mind?”

“The fervor with which you defended your truth made me realize how wrong I was about you. I was aware of my mistake before you’d even left, love.”

“And because of that, I was fired from my job and had to return my ring?”

“You weren’t fired and ...”

“Oh, but I was. And I don’t plan to ever go back to your goddamned company in my life.”

“Why not?”

“Because. Oh, and let me say how happy I am to hear you finally kicked my ex-supervisor out on her butt.”

Eric is quiet for a moment.

“You can’t keep waiting tables. I won’t have it. I hate how other men look at you. I’m very territorial, and you ...”

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