Home > My Second Chance : An Age Gap Romance(2)

My Second Chance : An Age Gap Romance(2)
Author: Matilda Martel

I play it cool as my pulse jumps and my heart leaps into my throat. “You said yourself he works too much. Why aren’t you happy he’s taking time off?”

“I’m just worried he’ll be alone forever. That’s why I’m taking matters into my own hands and fixing him up with one of Daniel’s aunts. She was a runner-up for Miss New York back in the day. Here. Tell me if this is a good photo of him. I’m sending it to his Aunt Jenny tonight.” She scrolls through her phone and hands it over.

“What do you...” I lift the phone and cast my weary eyes on the man of my dreams. I haven’t seen him in years. The photo she keeps in her apartment is over a decade old and taken long before we met.

I stare briefly, mesmerized by the sight of his steel-blue eyes and the new flecks of gray dusting his temples. He’s a little older, but the years have been nothing but kind. Too kind. How can any man be this beautiful? How can any boy compare to him?

They don’t. That’s the problem.

“It’s a great photo, but I’m sure he can find someone on his own.” The quiver in my voice is almost undetectable as I grab my keys and head to the foyer.

“What about you? Do you think you’ll take a date? To my wedding, I mean.” Her eyes grow wide with curiosity. She’s an eternal busy body and my non-existent love life is never far from her thoughts.

I have nothing to say. No updates. No realistic dreams to put into motion. She won’t want to hear that there’s a 99% chance I’m going stag. Instead of answering with a snide comment, I avoid her gaze, pull down my hat and slide on my sunglasses. “How do I look? Does this outfit work?”

She frowns and tilts her head. “Fantastic. You always look fantastic, but why are you wearing a hat in the car?”

“I’ve got my Dad’s convertible. My summer is starting right now, missy!” I tap my watch and lock up my apartment.

Side by side, we race down the steps and head out into the street. As expected, she gasps at the sight of the car. “Oh, my God! You’ve got the Porsche! Your dad loves this car. Why is he suddenly so generous?”

I shrug and throw my bags in the trunk. “I asked for the beamer, but he insisted and shoved the keys in my hand. His new girlfriend, Hope, is only two years older than me. I couldn’t care less, but he feels so guilty he’s showering me with gifts.”

She gives me a side hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Take care. Don’t spend all your time reading. Take a long stroll on the beach in that bikini and I’m positive you’ll come back with a man of your own.” She winks and waves me off.

I laugh to myself and roll down the window. “Let me know how they take the news, but don’t you dare bug me 24/7! And for your information, I’m there to relax. The last thing I want to do is fall in love.”

As I drive away, I touch the St. Christopher medal on my keys and whisper a faint apology. “I didn’t mean that.”

 

 

Three

 

 

Calvin

 

 

Enough feeling sorry for myself. This vacation is way overdue and as long as I’m here, I’ll take full advantage of the sun, the sea and this golden opportunity to relax. Who knows when I’ll have time to come out here again? But right now, I’ve gotta get out of bed and start my day.

Just five more minutes. That’s all I need. In five minutes, I’ll drag my ass into the shower, dress, and hit the coffeehouse down the street. I can plug in for an hour, catch up on some emails and watch happier people pass on the street. Maybe some of their joy will rub off on me. You never know. Strange things happen every day and I have a good feeling.

Something’s coming. Something good.

I reach for the remote on my nightstand and tap a button to open the drapes.

Jesus H. Christ, that’s bright.

Why did I drink so much? I swore it off, then strolled back into the house and had two more. If I hadn’t stumbled on my way to the bathroom, I might have had a third. My tolerance is not what it used to be. It’s been two years since I stopped medicating myself nightly, and I didn’t realize I’d become such a lightweight.

I’ll chalk it up to a lapse in judgment.

The bottle was in my field of vision and my soul felt too empty not to fill it with the nearest libation. And now I suffer. I’ve been forty for twenty-four hours and I already feel like shit. This isn’t the way I want to start my week.

This is such bullshit. I need to stop complaining. A small hangover isn’t a problem. I’m a doctor. I can make this better. I just need to get out of bed and start my day. Once I start my day, things will get better.

In ten more minutes.

 

 

I won’t let this bug me. Not for long, anyway. It’s my vacation. It’s perfectly acceptable to fall behind schedule. On the bright side, the two extra hours of sleep did wonders for my headache. But I won’t lie. If I don’t get a potent dose of caffeine into my system in the next ten minutes, I might die.

“What can I get you?” The server surprises me out of a daydream.

“Sorry, man. I’ll have a latte.” I mumble as I power up my computer and continue to take random glances out the bay window.

“What kind of milk?” His tone is unnecessarily curt. The place isn‘t busy enough to warrant the attitude.

“What do you have?” I know what they have. I just want to annoy him for annoying me.

He sighs. “Everything.”

“What’s everything?” I snap.

He clenches the pen in his hand and exhales with frustration. “Whole, 2%, Skim, Coconut, Almond and Flax”

“Fine. I’ll take 2%.” I answer without looking up.

“Dude, you did that on purpose. Everyone has 2%.” He marches off and murmurs something about me being an angry old man. Little shit.

Maybe I am just an angry old man who likes to piss off teenage waiters who’d rather be on the beach trolling for tail. So be it. I’d rather be his age and have my entire life ahead of me.

If I could do things over again, I would have trolled for ass on this beach instead of worrying so much about getting into a good medical school. If I’d hooked up at least once, I wouldn’t have been a horny, nineteen-year-old virgin who let his best friend fix him up with his girlfriend’s friend. I certainly wouldn’t have slept with a girl I hardly liked who swore she was on the pill. Of course, I’m the idiot for trusting someone I didn’t know.

I can’t regret having Olivia. She’s the best thing in my life and for her sake alone, I’d do it all over again. I just wish I’d left earlier.

For fuck’s sake, I’m such a broken record.

“Who are you talking to?” The jackass reappears with impeccable timing.

“Myself. Obviously.” I curl my lip in a defiant sneer, take my coffee and hand him my card.

“Whatever, dude.” He snarks and then leaves me in peace.

Two sips, and my headache slowly floats away. The pounding decreases. The pressure departs. I lean against the wall and turn my attention back to the street.

A pair of toddlers fly by, followed closely by a young father yelling for them to slow down. The sight of their fudge-smeared cherub cheeks makes me wish I’d had more children.

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