A Friendly Game of Chess

Boden's Mate

I look left and right, making sure the hotel's hallways are empty before I knock twice on the door. A tall, handsome man opens, with black hair and blue eyes. He is wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. He grabs my hand and forcefully pulls me into the hotel room.

"Where you followed?" He asks.

"Good evening to you too, Boden," I say. "I must say, I expected a slightly nicer welcome."

He sighs and looks apologetic. "I am sorry, Eliza, but you do understand what happens if anyone sees us together?"

I sigh. He is right. Meeting up is very risky. "I made sure I wasn't followed," I say. "Used all the techniques you taught me."

"Great." He smiles. He reveals a large bouquet of flowers from behind his back. "I am so happy to see you, Eliza."

As I receive the bouquet, the pleasant smell of the flowers enters my nostrils. "Aww, you put Dandelions in the bouquet. You remembered they are my favourite."

Boden nods. "The girl at the flower shop kept trying to convince me not to put them in. She kept saying 'No woman in their right mind wants a bouquet with dandelions in it.' "

I laugh. "Did you tell her the girl it is for is not in her right mind at all?"

He shakes his head, "No. I should have." He embraces me and passionately kisses me on the lips. Then he lets go, and looks me in the eyes, his face close. I could stare into those deep blue eyes for hours. "It has been way too long." He whispers. "I missed you so much."

I laugh again. "Don't be dramatic. It has been two days."

"Two days is a really long time if I have to spend them without you."

I kiss him again. "They are. And time always goes by fast if we are together. As if clocks are conspiring again us."

He sits down on the side of the bed. "Do you want to drink something?" he asks, gesturing at the minibar.

I shake my head. "Maybe later."

He shrugs and picks a beer from the minibar. "Suit yourself."

I sit next to him and hold his hand. "So, Boden. How are you? How are the kids? Did Susan finally learn that grade she was afraid for?"

"She did," Boden answers. "She got a nine out of ten. Her mother was angry it wasn't a ten."

I shake my head. "Does that woman ever think something someone does is good enough?"

He shrugs. "The only time in my life I have ever seen her be supportive of someone is when I signed the divorce papers. She even told me, it was the first time I made the right decision in my life."

I roll my eyes. "Your ex-wife sucks, what is new."

He laughs. "Can't say I disagree with her. Divorcing her was the best decision I ever made. By far."

I shrug again. "If I were you, I would have just had her killed, you know. You are a Mob boss after all. Leader of the Storm Runners, the infamous Chicago crime syndicate. You kill so many people, why not kill your ex-wife?"

He hangs his head. "Cause Susan and Taylor would be heartbroken if their Mom dies. I would never do anything to hurt them."

I slightly squeeze his hand, using my cybernetic fingers. "You are a great father." I put my other hand on my stomach. "At least our child will have one great parent."

Boden caresses my face with his hand. "Don't say that. I am sure you will be an amazing Mom."

"I am not so sure," I say.