Lovers and Lawbreakers

Parting Ways

A week had passed after Sabrina had confronted him, and David still hadn't made a decision.

Mari or Sabrina?

He had avoided talking to her unless it was work related, and Mari started to grow anxious at the lack of attention.

There was a light knocking on his office door.

"David?" Mari said, opening the door.

He didn't look up. "What do you need?"

Mari sighed. "Nothing."

He looked up and furrowed his brow. "Then why are you here?"

She shook her head. "What's been with you lately?"

"What do you mean?"

"You talk to me like I'm just someone you work with, like I don't matter to you. What's with that?"

David shook his head. "I-"

"Look, if you're having second thoughts about us, just tell me, don't do this. It hurts too much. If you want to end things, do it."

"Mari, I-" David made a quick decision and stood up, walking toward her. "I don't want to end things."

He opened his arms to hug her, but she pushed him away.

"Don't start now that I've brought it up. What's really going on?"

There was a heavy silence that clouded the air between them. "What do you-"

"God damn it David, just answer the fucking question!"

He gulped. "Sabrina came in a week ago."

"And?"

"She said if I spend more time than necessary around you, then she would call the wedding off."

Mari looked down. She knew what she had been doing was wrong, but she hadn't stopped to wonder if maybe David cared more about the woman he was going to marry.

"And?" She said again, quieter.

"I haven't decided."

Her head shot up.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know who to be with."

Mari rushed up to him and met his lips with hers, caressing his face with her hands.

He gave in and wrapped his arms around her waist tightly, like he'd been dying to all week.

"Mari," he said against her lips, pulling away. "I don't-"

"Don't say anything," she whispered, running her hand over his chest. "Don't say a word."

She loosed his tie and let it fall to the ground and played with the buttons on his shirt.

"Just do what you feel you need to."

David looked down at her, hesitation in his eyes, as he ran his hands up the back of her shirt.

"I need you," he said.

"And I need you," she replied breathlessly, attaching their lips together again passionately.

He lifted her shirt, and she pushed his off of his shoulders.

Mari's hand reached the button of his jeans, but felt his apprehension as she popped it open.

She pulled away and studied his face.

"David?"

"Yes?"

Mari sighed and felt her eyes begin to water.

"Do you love her?"

David pushed her hair behind her ear and whispered, "yes."

Mari looked down and felt her heart drop.

"Then I think you need her."