Chapter 77

We leave the restaurant just as local news shows up outside the building. Ducking inside Eric’s car, my heel breaks and I nearly fall.

Eric catches me by my arm. I look up at him and he grins. “You need better shoes,” he says referring to the time my heel broke when I modeled by design outfit. That feels like forever ago.

A flash from a camera jolts us back to the present. Eric helps me inside the car and as we skirt out of the parking spot, I seethe.

“They ruined our date!” I yell, referring to whoever called the media on us. Eric side eyes me.

“Who said it was ruined?” He asks, causing me to shut up. “I have a date with the most beautiful girl in the world, you think I’m going to let a couple of reporters get in the way of that?” He says

and I don’t answer. I don’t need to.

Eric picks up speed and drives us out of the city.

The scenic view from outside the car changes from one landscape of tall buildings to grassy plains. “Are we heading towards the ocean?” I ask over the loud radio.

Eric and I have been jamming out to some throwback radio station, I have to admit I had no idea Eric had any music taste at all.

“You’ll see,” Eric yells back. An hour later my guess proves to be correct. Pockets of bay water come into view. The full moon reflects in the small in the car lapping waves.

The smell of salt water hits me as Eric roll cracks the window and turns down the radio. I take a deep breath in.

Eric drives past the main entrance of the public parking and takes a back road to an alcove.

“We’re here,” Eric says parking in a make-shift lot. I look at our dim surroundings. It looks like this part of the beach has been neglected for years.

Tall stands of grass seat in the breeze and the unkempt sand covers what used to be a stone walk way.

I get out of the car and instantly wish I brought a jacket. The breeze by the ocean is chilly, and with no more sun the temperature has dropped.

Eric notices my shiver and wraps his jacket around me. I’m sure I look ridiculous in an oversized plaid men’s coat, but at least it’s warm.

“This way,” Eric says and gives me his elbow to take. I follow as he leads me down the same stones to the beach area.

“One second,” I tell him and ditch my broken heels.

The sand is grainy and cold against my feet. It squishes between my toes and suddenly the vibe of the night has changed to more relaxed.

A few more paces and we come up to the ocean. The waves roar in the silence of the night. The high tide rushes into land and I have to take several steps back to avoid getting wet.

“It should be here any second,” Eric says looking out into the water.

“What is?” I ask but then I see it. A large silhouette coming clearer and clearer as it comes closer.

A large ship heading towards us.

“That,” Eric says proudly as I stand in shock.

“You did that?” I ask in disbelief though I really shouldn’t be questioning what Eric is capable of. “How?” I change my question.

Eric shrugs. “I slyly texted Andrew to organize something when you were distracted at that random person asking for our autograph. I knew right then we were going to have to leave,”

I gain my composure. “Quick thinking,” I comment. Then I remember something else. “What about Margaux though? We’re already late,”

Eric eases my worries my looping his hand in mine as the boat comes to a smooth stop. “I texted her and let her know we would be very late,” Eric laughs. “She replied saying that based on how we were looking at one another she figured as much,”

I guess that’s what I get for having Margaux be around in our lives for so long, she can pick up on these things.

The boat, which really is more like a mini yacht await our boarding.

It’s white with black linings and a wooden deck is being lowered for us to walk up on.

It’s remains sturdy in place while the waves continue to ignore its massive presence and crash around it.

I’ve never been on a boat before, but as I look at Eric and notice his thick hair blowing in the wind and his strong jaw be illuminated by the stars above, I have a feeling this won’t be my last time either.

The week goes on, but it’s not business as usual. The media released photos of Eric and I at dinner together which has sent the public into somewhat of a frenzy. Both Eric and my company have been trending with strong opinions on both sides.

Aside from booming business, I’d be remised if I didn’t acknowledge that my love life has also been flourishing since Eric and I went out on that yacht.

Though we only had that one date, Eric has been acting like it was a night that never ended.

Everyday he’s been sending me flowers from the office, leaving me sweet notes laying around the house, and even texting me and calling me throughout the day just to check-in. Something

the old Eric never did.

I come home after a day of meeting with clients to do some damage to control because all the publicity means my clients are also getting hit with customers who are either pro Eric and I

together; as well as the ones that aren’t.

“Hey babe,” Eric greets me at the front door with a friendly peck on the cheek. “How was work?” He asks.

He’s still in his work clothes but has his sleeves rolled up and his collar loose. He’s sporting a five o’clock shadow and he looks sexy as hell.

That’s the other thing, he’s been coming home from work at a reasonable time, something else completely different than what the old Eric did.

“Kind of a mess,” I admit. Eric nods in understanding and I know he gets it. “My clients say that some of their customers are boycotting them because we’re ’dating,’” I put the last word in air quotes because really we only had one date, but technically we were married, but also we never confirmed anything one way or the other about our relationship.

I notice that Eric is looking out the large rectangular windows that overlook our front yard. He’s not even listening. And just like that, poof, the old Eric is back.

“What’s she doing here?” Eric asks. I cast aside my feelings as curiosity gets the best of me.

Eric opens the door before I can even see who’s approaching our house.

Just then Mia appears on our front porch. She’s gotten highlights since I’ve seen her last. She’s in tight skinny jeans that show off her petite athletic figure with a black cashmere sweater.

Clearly spending Eric’s money well.

In her French manicured hand is a stack of papers. “Eric,” she greets indifferently and ignores me all together. Eric just stares at her, almost with a lack of disgust.

Mia doesn’t want for him to say anything as she shoves the papers at his chest. “I’m suing you for emotional distress and damages,” she says and title her nose to the air. “I will see you in court,” she says and walks away without giving us a chance to answer, to even have time to process what she just said.

Mia is suing Eric?