𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐫 | 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐢

Rest Stop

I sat on the bench outside waiting for a taxi, when I heard someone exit the clubhouse behind me.

"Toni, wait."

I turned around and it was Cheryl. "Look, I stand by what I said. I know he's your father-in-law, but damn."

She laughed. "Oh, believe me, I stand by what you said too. I only wish I'd been the one to say it. The Lodges have been family friends for so long that we've gotten used to Hiram's.. worldview. You're a good reminder that we've gotten complacent. "

I nodded but couldn't bring myself to return her smile. "Glad I could help."

The taxi arrived and I stood to leave when Cheryl reached out to touch my arm causing me to pause. "Toni, let me take you home. It's the least I can do after the afternoon you were just forced to have."

"What about everyone else?" I asked.

"The twins are with my parents, who haven't seen them in months and won't let them go without a fight. And Veronica was gonna head back to the city with her brother, anyway. Please? I think we could both use a break from all this and there's something I want to show you." She offered.

The taxi driver honked making me jump. I looked between them and Cheryl, who looked at me with pleading eyes, considering. With a sigh, I accepted her proposal. "Okay."

"Great. I'll let my parents know and be right back." She paid the taxi driver for their trouble then practically ran inside. When she returned, we strolled to the car together.

Once settled I started. "Thank god we're out of there. I feel like I can breathe again."

Cheryl nodded. "It is nice to leave the city behind for a little bit."

"Oh, I meant the country club. Between trying to impress your parents, watch the kids, and not strangle Veronica's dad, I felt like a juggling clown in a circus." I laughed.

"Welcome to my world." Cheryl patted my thigh and my cheeks warmed.

"As far as crazy family gatherings go though, today didn't even crack the top three." She said, shaking her head.

"Well now you have to tell me." I grinned.

"Let's see, there was the time Jason's ex crashed our New Year's party, the pony that got loose at Veronica's cotillion.. Oh! And the Halloween when Mateo smoked peyote. Have a go."

All three sounded interesting but then I remembered Veronica mentioning Jason's ex earlier, and so I asked her to tell me more about that.

"We were counting down to midnight and when we reached 'one', she grabbed the mic and called Jason an 'emotionally threadbare man-child'."

"Ouch. What did Jason do?"

Cheryl shrugged. "He was there with another woman, so he did what every ex does and called her crazy."

"I know that's a loaded term.. but the ex does sound a little crazy." I giggled.

"You're not wrong. Though I think pretty much everyone involved was a little..." Cheryl chuckled as she pulled the car through a side road and parked.

We exited and she led me to the edge of a vista. I looked down over the cityscape before me in awe. "You can see the entire city from here! How did you know about this place?"

"I had to make an emergency landing nearby back in my piloting days." She said casually.

"I thought you just jumped out of planes. I didn't know you could fly them too."

She smiled. "I used to. I don't anymore, not with my children depending on me. But there was a time when I didn't have a care in the world."

I looked out at the view, trying to picture it. "So what happened that day? Did you just make a dangerous cliff landing for the fun of it?"

"Not quite. It was the day before my last final in college and I wanted to blow off some steam after studying."

"Most people would've just partied with their friends." I teased.

"For better or worse, I've never been like most people." She said softly.

"Definitely for better." I nudged Cheryl playfully with my shoulder and she smiled. "Thanks. Anyway, one of my engines blew and I made my first and only emergency landing, right here. It was terrifying."

"I bet. But what a place to be stranded."

"Mhm. Sometimes I come back here to put things in perspective. Whenever life is overwhelming or confusing. It's a good reminder of what's important." Cheryl's voice changed and I turned to find her staring deeply at me.

"Are you overwhelmed?" I questioned.

"A little bit, yeah. I thought I could handle it but.. I'm only getting more confused."

I could sense she was about to pull away from me emotionally, if not physically. I leaned against her, relishing her closeness. "Let's talk about something else."

Cheryl hesitated.. but nodded. She put her arm around my shoulders. The warmth of her touch like fire against my skin.

"What did you have in mind?" She asked.

Gazing out at the scenic view together, I couldn't help but fantasize about a life with her. "Can you imagine if we'd met first? What if you'd placed that ad a couple years ago, and I'd graduated early?"

She shook her head. "There still would've been.. complications. I wouldn't have known what to do with you then, just like I don't know what to do with you now."

"I think you know exactly what to do with me." The fingers of Cheryl's free hand drifted up and down my side, and I twisted my head to look at her.

"You're right. I'm haunted by what I want to do with you, Toni. No matter what I do I can't stop thinking about it." She moved slowly, giving me time to react as she tangled her fingers in my hair and drew my mouth to hers.

The kiss ignited instantly and Cheryl pulled me against her body, our tongues tangling together.

"Is this okay?"

"Mhm."

She cupped my cheek and I twisted in her arms, kissing her deeply as my arms wrapped around her neck.

For several minutes we stayed locked in a passionate embrace, losing track of all the little things.

When she finally pulled away, I blinked up at her.

"As much as I hate to say it, we should probably get going."

I nodded, looking back out over the city, taking in the view for one last moment. When I turned to Cheryl, she smiled and offered me her hand. "Ready to face reality again?"

"Not even remotely."

She chuckled as she twined our fingers together and led me back to her car.

. . .

The next morning.

A commotion in the kitchen jolted me awake. I sneaked out of bed to check on the noise, hiding just around the corner when I heard Cheryl and Veronica talking.

"Come on, V. Don't you think you're being a little irrational here?" Cheryl said, exasperated.

"She completely humiliated my father in front of everyone! Some of the club staff heard her." Veronica argued.

"She was defending you."

"I don't care. There's a way to handle that sort of situation and that wasn't it. I want her fired immediately!"

Hold up, fired!?

- we're no.10 in choni!! TYGSM for 3k+ reads and 200+ votes!! i hope you all like the new cover. mwah