Ren

My eyes open reluctantly to the beautiful dimness of our Hawaiian bedroom. I yawn and stretch. What time is it?  I turn over to put my arm over his body, but I'm just reaching into empty blankets—he's not in bed with me?

"Gio?" My stomach feels slightly ill, or maybe it's a mild hangover from last night.  Suddenly, the door swings open.

"Oh good, you're up," Gio grins, practically bursting into the room shirtless and just in his underwear. "Morning, Bella," he says, laying a soft kiss on my cheek.

He crosses over to the window and pulls back the curtain, and the brilliant light of morning blinds my eyes. I recoil like some kind of vampire... or at least a harshly awakened hamster.

"Errm," I groan, shielding my eyes with my arm as they slowly adjust to the sudden brightness. "What time is it?"

"Nine."

"I thought you wanted to go surfing this morning?"

He jumps back into bed with me and lays on his side to face me, smelling like soap. "Already did." 

 He what?

"You're joking."

"Nope. I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep, so I got up at like five and decided to go out. Glad I didn't wake you."

"But we didn't even get back till like midnight last night!" 

"I know," he shrugs. "But I usually get up at five back home."

"Yeah, but you don't usually stay up till midnight. That's like staying up till... three our time." I narrow my eyes at him.

"Hmm.. didn't think of that. Anyway. I was wide awake and excited to get out there," he beams.

He just can't stop smiling. He's so boyish and cute right now. Damn, his smile is contagious.

"Well, how was it?" a grin slowly creeping over my face, feeding off his delightful energy.

"Fucking amazing," his eyes sparkling. "It's like the best surf I've ever ridden. It's so nice to do it without a wetsuit, too. I can't get over the water temperature here. There are quite a few rocks, so you have to watch out, but plenty of sick, clean breaks. Just a few other guys out there this morning, and they were super chill. They told me to come again tomorrow! I want you to come... well, if you can pry yourself out of bed in the morning," he says, pulling a finger down my chest and peaking under the blankets at my still naked body.

"Damn, Baby, you're so tempting laying naked in this bed."

Oh yeah. We had sex when we got home, too. We've been having sex several times a day recently. Hawaii has gotten Gio all relaxed and even more amorous than before. I hope I can keep up with him. He leans in to kiss my neck, scooping my breast up with one hand.

Suddenly a very delicious savory sweet smell hits my nostrils. "What smells good? Are you making bacon?" I say to distract him from thoughts of more sex.

"Oh, yes! I almost forgot," he says, pulling back.  "I stopped at a local market and got fresh eggs and fruit, too! But I didn't want to start the eggs till I knew you were awake."

"Wow, aren't you industrious this morning?" I say, smiling quizzically at him.

"Yeah, I feel great. I made a few work calls, checking in on the jobs, and everything seems to be running smoothly. This trip was such a good idea, Bella!" He leans over and presses a heartfelt kiss on my lips.

Then, bouncing out of bed, "I'll start the eggs now, scrambled or sunnyside up?"

"Sunnyside," I reply.

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"Babe, I'd like to go on a hike today. Does that sound good?" I say, wiping my hands on a towel wet from washing up the dishes from breakfast. Gio is sitting on the sofa, engrossed with the New York Times newspaper he picked up at the market.

"Sure! That sounds great." 

I pad back into the bedroom to get ready, and one of our phones buzzes loudly on the coffee table, but I deliberately ignore it. Gio might be checking in with work and life back home, but not me! I grab my new grey hiking shorts I bought for the trip and rifle through another drawer, trying to find my favorite tank top. Gio pokes his head in the door.

"Hey, Bella, I'm, um... I'm gonna run down to the village for a minute to grab us some sandwiches for the hike. You need anything?" His voice sounds off-key, and his eyes look a bit troubled.

"Nope, I'm good. Anything wrong? Did someone from work text you?"

"Oh, no... um, that was your phone." He drops his eyes, then he turns and slips out the front door.

What the hell was that all about?

I go to the kitchen to pour myself another cup of coffee, grab my phone, and return to the bedroom to finish getting ready. I press the center button, and my eyes nearly bug out of my head as I see three texts from—Alex! 

What the fuck is this about. My first communication from him in almost a year.

Alex: Hi Lauren, I gather you are in Hawaii from Facebook.

Alex: Gio, huh? Why am I not surprised? You always denied it, too.

Alex: Call me as soon as you can. We need to talk.

My feet falter unconsciously until the backs of my thighs smack into the bed, spilling half of my coffee onto the tile floor. I re-read the texts three times. On jelly legs, I sit down, my stomach quickly souring and my pulse beating in my throat.

NOW he wants to talk?  Any thoughts of him usually make me panicky, but this cryptic message sends my anxiety into overdrive. I screenshot the message and send it to Sydney. She replies immediately.

Syd: !!!

Me: OMG! He's still following me on FB.

Syd: He is! Can you believe that comment about Gio?

Me: Yeah! What the hell was that all about?

Syd: He's jealous—obviously! He always was. 

Me: What do you think he wants to talk about?

Syd: I think he wants to try to get you back!  

Me: You think!

Syd: YES!

Me: I don't want to call him. What do I text him back?

Syd: I'll call him for you. I'll tell him to fuck alllll the way off.

Me: That's ok, Syd. I'll tell him myself.

Somehow.

My phone buzzes suddenly in my hand... another text—from Alex. The jolt nearly makes me spill more coffee on the floor.

Alex: Nevermind, texting now will be faster. 

Alex: I don't know if you saw the NY news headlines two days ago, but the new divorce law was passed. Megan and I are ready to move on with our lives as soon as possible, so I'll be sending someone to you in California shortly to serve you the divorce papers.

I immediately exit the text, open Safari, and search New York divorce law. There, sure enough, are articles from every top newspaper dated last week. I click into one and quickly read the short article:

"Gov. David A. Paterson signed into law a package of bills, including one making New York one of the last states to allow couples to dissolve marriages by mutual consent."

Oh my god. This is for real. I read on.

"The no-fault divorce bill allows a couple to dissolve the marriage unilaterally and without requiring one spouse to accuse the other of adultery, cruelty, imprisonment or abandonment."

Before I can even form a single thought about that info dump, another text comes in.

Alex: I'm sure this will be a big relief for both of us, so please text me the date you're back and your current home address. Today, if you can, I want to beat the rush.

What?! An icy chill whips over my heart, and it freezes toward Alex a little more. What a fucker. The law just passed, and Alex is already preparing to serve me? Just like him too. Impatient and, on top of it. 

But... then it will be over.

I absently set down my phone on the bed and just stare at the mess of coffee spilled on the cold floor blankly, not really able to process what I should feel like, what my text back to Alex should be, or if I'm ready to discuss it yet with Gio or not.

The sound of Gio's key in the lock jolts me back into the moment. I shut the bedroom door, quickly grab some tissues from the side of the bed, wipe up the spilled coffee, and then wrangle myself into my shorts, bra, and tank top just before he finds me.

"Bella, hey. Are you ready to go? I asked the guy at the market, and he told me about a local's secret hike to a waterfall. We have to try it!"

I open my mouth to tell him about the texts but then think maybe after the hike when I've had a moment to process it myself.

"That sounds amazing," I say in my best nonchalant voice as I slide my phone into my back pocket. 

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