To Be Alive And Desired

Chapter 13: The Toughest Choice

Perfect. That's how it feels right now for Elise Campbell, Holden Bennet, and Blair Cruz. All three lay on the bed together, not wanting the night to end.

Blair: I wish you'd stay the night.

Elise: Me too.

Blair: Can you say you've had too much to drink at a friend's house and that you're going to stay over?

Elise: No. Nelson knows where everyone lives and would want to pick me up. We all live about five to ten minutes away from one another.

Blair: Depressing.

Elise: It has its benefits. Right now not being one of them.

Holden holds Elise's hand.

Holden: Well, I'm happy for as long as you're here.

Elise and Holden turn their heads to look at one another.

Holden: I really love being with you.

Elise: I love being with you too.

She kisses him and then turns to Blair.

Elise: And you too.-

-Elise kisses Blair as well.

Elise: Let me check my phone. What time is it?

Elise grabs her phone and her heart stops for a moment when she sees the time.

Elise: Oh no.

Blair: What is it?

Holden: Is everything all right?

Elise: I would have gotten off work almost an hour ago, and I've missed three calls from Nelson. He also texted me.

The messages read "Where r u?", "Y arent u home??" and "WHERE R U? Im goin 2 the bar 2 drink. U need 2 get home now".

Elise: I need to go home.-

-Elise jumps up from the bed and starts to quickly put her clothes back on.

Holden: Babe, what did the messages say?

Elise: Nelson said he's going to the bar tonight. I swore he said he was gonna go on a day I had off. He messaged three times asking where I am. I have no clue what to say.

Holden: Say you got held up talking to a friend. Since you are pretty late, I'd say it was Anna.

Elise: What could we be talking about for almost an hour that I couldn't look at my phone even once?

Holden: Say she's having an affair with another married man.

Elise: I can't make her look that bad.

Blair: Better her than you. Just tell your husband not to bring it up to anyone. Or you can say she called you drunk, rambling about her old affair and you were trying to calm her down.

Elise contemplates.

Elise: . . . I'll figure something out. I need to go home though.

Holden and Blair get up from the bed. Blair, still completely nude, opens her arms for Elise to give her a hug.

Blair: We loved having you here, Elise.

Elise takes a deep breath and checks out Blair once more.

Elise: I loved being here.

They kiss on the lips as they embrace with a tight hug. Then kiss again before separating.