The morning began with a quiet grace, sunlight slanting through the blinds to illuminate the soft curves of my body next to his. We were wrapped in the comfortable intimacy of shared space, a stillness that had become the anchor of our days. Our movements were a familiar, practiced ballet, and our connection was a quiet crescendo of heat built from lingering gazes and the lightest touch.
"Morning," he murmured, his voice a low rumble
against my hair. "Don't move. Stay right here."
"Morning yourself," I whispered back, burying my
face deeper into his chest. "I could stay here forever. The world outside
is a distant, irrelevant hum."
"Good," he chuckled, his arms tightening around
me. "My only agenda is you. A hundred pizzas and the rest of the week is
just us. What do you say?"
"A great plan," I said as I looked up at him,
"but I have an urgent errand to take care of."
He smiled, a lazy, contented curve of his lips. "Mostly
a promise. The world’s demands can always wait."
“I need to go, Matteo,” I said as I got up.
I showered, got dressed and put my glasses on. I didn’t want
to deal with my contacts as my allergies were bothersome.
The drive to my doctor’s office was what I needed to clear
my head; I needed to get Matteo back to his place and put some distance between
us. Having him in my bed with me had been amazing but I knew it was leading him
on. Inside, I was quickly ushered into an exam room. Alex, the male nurse, came
in with a clipboard and a wide grin. I had grown to trust him implicitly; he
was the only male nurse I was comfortable with, and only he and my doctor knew
his secret: he was a FTM man.
“All right, let’s get this done,” he said, his voice easy.
"How have you been?"
"Better now," I smiled. "How are you doing,
Alex? I know you were having issues with your new place. If there’s any more
trouble with your landlord, please let me know. A dear friend of mine is an
attorney and can get you the right person to represent you. She has zero
tolerance for discrimination."
His grin widened. "I'm doing great, thank you. The
transition has been a journey, but I'm finally feeling like myself. My therapist
– the one that you recommended? – has been a great support to me. The apartment
is settled, too. As you know, the landlord was having a hard time with my new
name and pronouns and misgendered me – plus it was bordering on harassment. You
really saved me a headache when you stepped in and mentioned that what he was
doing was discrimination."
“It was my pleasure,” I said. "It's baffling that
people are so conditioned by what they see on the outside, they forget that
sometimes we have to have the bravery to find out who we are. You have always
been Alex; you just had to find your way home. If you come across problems with
your landlord again, text me and I will get you in touch with my friend who is
an attorney. She works on business related legal stuff but she’ll get you in
touch with a civil rights attorney. "
“I appreciate that,” he said. “I think after the last time,
it set him straight. Ready for your injection?”
“Yep! Let’s get this party started!”
Alex laughed. I pulled down my sweatpants just enough to
expose the curve my upper butt, then laid down on my stomach on the exam table.
He swabbed the area with an alcohol wipe, the familiar cold sting a brief
distraction.
“A little pinch coming,” he warned gently.
The needle slid in, and I barely flinched. The slight
pressure of the liquid entering my muscle was all I felt.
“All done,” he said, pulling the needle out and placing a
small bandage on the spot. “And you’re in luck today. Dr. Evans sent an
auto-injector to your pharmacy. Said you could take care of it yourself in the
future. Less hassle for you.”
“That's amazing,” I said, relieved as I pulled up my panties
and sweatpants. “My business has become busier – which is great – but I've been having a hard time stepping away
from the office every time as it pulls me away from the clients and staff.
Thanks, Alex. You're the best."
"Anything for a friend," he said with a wink.
"Don’t be a stranger."
"Never," I promised.
When I got back to the house, the easy calm I’d left behind
had been shattered. The air was thick with tension, a conversation that had
gone terribly wrong. As I walked into the living room, I found Dom and Matteo
on the couch, a smirk on Dom’s face, while Matteo stood a few feet away,
looking annoyed.
"Matteo, what's he doing here?" I asked, my voice
a whisper that held an edge of irritation.
"I invited him over. We're friends from back in the day.
I thought I'd introduce you two," Matteo said.
"Deppgrl and I dated for about two months, which is why
I'm familiar with her house," Dom stated. “I got a tattoo in her honor and
joked that if we ever broke up, I would cover it up. She didn't like the joke,
and she broke up with me.”
"Dom, seriously?" Matteo said, his frustration
clear. "That's pretty rude no matter how you intended it. It's like
spending money to honor someone and then stating you don't respect them by
covering it up if it didn't work out. No wonder she broke up with you."
“I was going to ask her to marry me a few months down the
road," Dom tried to defend himself.
“Get out of my house, asshole,” I stated, my voice low and
dangerous. “Never accept any invitation from anyone to come here again. You
step foot on my property without my explicit permission, and I will have you
arrested for trespassing.”
Dom got up, walked to the door, and left. I slammed the door
behind him and turned to Matteo, who stared at me with an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know," he said.
"It was a few months ago, and it’s not important,” I
said. "It was short and messy, and I didn't want to bring it into our
friendship. You don't tell me about every woman you’re with, do you?"
"No, but that's not the point," he said. "The
point is, I just found out something personal about you from him. I feel like
I'm getting a highlight reel of your life, not the real thing. What else don't
I know?" He shook his head and pulled out his phone. "I’m ordering
pizza. I can’t even think right now."
The silence that followed after he ordered the pizza was
suffocating. We went to my room, the only place we could escape the ghost of
Dom’s visit. We stripped and got on the bed. I laid down on my back with my
legs spread, waiting for Matteo’s impressive dick. The sex was less about
passion and more about forgetting Dom. Matteo didn’t rush but took his time. We
climaxed several times, and he came inside me each time. After the last time he
came in me, he collapsed next to me.
When we caught our breath, we got up to shower and get
dressed. I put on a clean oversized shirt, and he put on clean boxers and
shorts. We headed downstairs just as the doorbell rang with our pizza. Matteo
grabbed the door, and knowing him, he not only paid but tipped the delivery
driver well. We then settled in to watch movies, the quiet company and simple
comfort a welcome change. I knew Matteo was still upset, jealous that I had a
past with Dom, and frustrated that I hadn’t shared it with him myself. I also
knew he was still in love with me, and that this moment was a test of what we
had. Like I realized earlier, I knew that I needed to put space between us.
As the last movie—an old Humphrey Bogart classic—played, I
began to stroke Matteo’s dick, hoping it would help him relax before bed. My
grip was gentle but sure. With each slow stroke, he shook, his hips
instinctively thrusting up to meet my touch. I watched his face; his eyes were
closed, and his mouth was parted, gasping in pleasure. The room filled with the
soft sound of his quiet moans rising with every movement. I could feel his
desire building under my hand, the tension coiling through his body as I
stroked him faster. When he finally let go, his climax was sudden and
overwhelming, every nerve alight beneath my touch. He came so much all over my
hand.
As he was catching his breath and I was in the kitchen wash
my hands, the front door opened, and a familiar Kiwi voice call out, “Hey.
Deppgrl? It’s your favorite mate, Bongo.”
“Hey! I am in the kitchen washing my hands!” I yelled out.
As I dried my hands, I felt Scott’s—Bongo’s—arms around me,
hugging me from behind. I then felt his lips on my neck. I turned and hugged
him fiercely. It had been too long since we last saw each other. Had it really
been two years?
Before I could properly kiss Scott, Matteo joined us in the
kitchen.
Matteo’s shock registered instantly, his posture shifting as
he gently exited the room, protective but tense. "Who is he? I've seen him
before," he whispered.
"This is Scott Robertson," I said. "He’s a
friend of mine from New Zealand."
“Oh?” Matteo asked.
“I went to a sporting event and in my travels during my tour
afterwards, I bumped into Scott,” I explained, my voice quiet. “One thing led
to another and we had an affair the few weeks that I was staying in New Zealand.
His wife, Jan, found out. It almost cost him his marriage, but she decided
against a divorce.”
“Something else you never told me about,” Matteo muttered to
himself.
“Like you and that tattoo of my name on your chest,” I
stated.
“Touche, Deppgrl,” Matteo smiled a little. “Touche.”
Scott’s tone was all business. “We need you…the boys need
you. I need you. It's a
crisis."
Matteo blinked rapidly, the pieces snapping together. “The
All Blacks,” he breathed. "You're their head coach? The most famous rugby
team in the world?”
“What kind of crisis are we talking about, Bongo?" I asked.
Scott’s jaw was set, his expression grave. “It’s worse than
the stress, extra practices, extra gym time and work for the championship and
preparation for the Rugby World Cup. It’s a complete breakdown of the team.
There’s been both verbal and physical arguments during practice as well as some
bullying. Some of the physical fighting is so bad that it takes all of us coaches
to break it up. And it’s not just that, Deppgrl. The coaches and authorities
have caught some players for excessive non-medical use of weed, and they're not
even trying to hide it. Us coaches look away if it’s half a joint here or there
for the players smoking but the players just keep lighting up. They're falling
apart and you're the only one who can fix this. You know their minds. You know
how to get them back on track." He looked from Matteo to me, a silent plea
in his eyes. "They're counting on you. I'll run to your lock box for your
paperwork—give you two some privacy first."
“Is she the only one that can help the team?” Matteo asked. “I
just got this incredible woman back in my life and she’s got to just like that?
“Yes,” Scott replied. He immediately headed toward room
holding the lock box. “I need you there in less than twenty-four hours. This
isn't just about a game - this is the championship and the World Cup. They need
you to get their heads back in the game. It's a team of seventeen men, and
they're falling apart."
“Do you have the team’s private plane?” I asked slyly before
he completely left the room.
“Yes,” he said, knowing the full reason why.
“Good because I need the privacy to focus and figure out to
get these lug heads back together as a team of seventeen instead of a team of
one,” I replied
Soon as the door closed, I turned to Matteo. “Call Kay. Get
her here with my paperwork as soon as possible—I need to sign what’s needed.
She knows what it is. Ask her to bring the other paperwork that gives her
temporary ownership of my company while I am out of the country and the power
of attorney paperwork for the house, bills and other shit.”
He nodded without hesitation and reached for his phone. “On
it.” He stared at me, a new, respectful awe in his eyes. "I had no idea.
You're... incredible. First Dom, now this. You lead a completely different life
when I'm not around, don't you?"
"I know. It's a lot," I said softly. "But
it's my life. It's a part of who I am. I keep a lot of it separate, but it's
me."
“I’ll shower and pack while Kay’s on her way,” I said,
trying to anchor myself in action instead of nerves.
Matteo rose with me, worry and pride all tangled in his
eyes. “I’ll help any way I can,” he promised softly, dialing Kay’s number.
"Kay? It's Matteo. Look, I know this is out of nowhere, but Deppgrl needs
you to get over here with her paperwork. All of it. The All Blacks need her.
Right. She'll explain everything. Just... hurry. Please"
As I disappeared down the hall to shower, the steady hum of
activity and anticipation replaced the quiet intimacy, and my heart thudded
with the certainty of leaving for whatever awaited next.
I showered quickly. When I got out and dried off, I could
hear Scott and Matteo having words. I immediately called Mark, Matteo’s primary
doctor, to see if Matteo could fly super long distance. The answer was no, that
he needed more time to heal. I thanked him and then called Maddie. She wasn’t
thrilled but said that she already sent out to ALL airlines that I was
temporarily on a do not fly list however, she was going to do her best to lift
that and also said she’d knew something like this would happen so she’s going
to send me an email attaching a letter clearing me in case the airlines
wouldn’t lift me being unable to fly. I thanked her.
I texted my pharmacist to see if they could get me an
override from my insurance company to provide me at least a six month supply on
all my medications as there was a family emergency outside of the country. My
pharmacist, Tom, said that he’d get it done for me as soon as possible.
From there, I grabbed my largest suitcases and called out to
Scott to see how many bags I could take and what clothes I needed. He told me
that I could take up to six large bags, three medium bags and two smallish
carry-on bags then told me to bring a variety as it’s their spring and the
weather is all over the place. I thanked him. As I was raiding my bathroom for
beach towels, bath towels and shampoo and conditioner, Scott came to join me in
the bathroom.
“You know, you don’t have to bring a bathing suit if you
don’t want to,” he murmured as I spun around. “New Zealand has unofficial
beaches for nudists and naturalists. We can go for a nice, long walk by
ourselves.”
“I remember,” I said slyly as I kissed him. “I need to wear
something in front of the boys when we go to the beach. I don’t want to
traumatize them before the championship. Besides, I'm sure you have something
for me, anyway."
“Touche,” he said, a slow, knowing smile spreading across
his face. “Don’t bother to pack sunscreen as the crap here isn’t allowed there.
Save some space with contact solution, all kinds of towels and your shampoo and
conditioner. I have all that stuff back at my house. Just focus on packing
clothes you feel good in.”
“So, I’m staying with you then?” I asked as his hands slid
up my shirt and stopped at my breasts. “Hope we’ll have some privacy. Will Jane
be around?”
“We definitely will. The boys know how special you are to
me,” he said. He leaned in, his voice a low rumble. "In fact, I've already
set up a surprise for you. A little welcome back gift... a private retreat just
for us for a few days. We'll have a few hours to ourselves before the madness
begins. And no, Jane will not be around – she is on a retreat with her tennis
coach."
“I’m sure you’ll be showing me how special on your plane,
right?” I asked. "Is it an overnight flight?"
"The best ones always are," he replied with a
grin. "Just a few hours of pure, uninterrupted us. I've been looking
forward to this for a long time."
Before he could kiss me, Kay comes running upstairs with all
the paperwork. Matteo served as the witness and since Kay is also a notary, she
said everything is official. "This is a Power of Attorney, too," Kay
explained, her voice breathless. "It gives me temporary ownership of your
assets so I can handle things while you're away. I'm honored you trust me with
this. Just... promise to call me when you can." I told Kay that there’s
more than enough money in our joint account to cover my monthly mortgage, water
bill, cell phone, heating or cooling or whatever is needed. "Just let me
know if there are any unexpected bills that pop up, and I’ll add more funds to
our joint account. You know where the card and checks are. Use it if you need
to. I'm counting on you, Kay." She and I hugged then she left. As she was
leaving, Tom came inside hollering my name. I ran downstairs.
“Hey, Tom. What’s the good news?” I asked.
“Good news? It’s amazing news!” he said, holding up a rather
large box of medication. “Well, it was a bit of a struggle but I let your
insurance company know that you have a parent in the hospital in New Zealand
and the prognosis isn’t great and let them know that you don’t know when you’ll
be back,” he said. “I also looked into what medications you’re on to see if New
Zealand has them and not every med of yours is in New Zealand. So I had to work
some magic.”
“Long story short, Tom?”
“You have nine months of medications, no co-pays,” he said,
a proud smile on his face. “The insurance said that if you run out, you’ll have
to come back to get refills and since this is considered an emergency, they
doubt that they’ll do another emergency refill in the same calendar year.
You're set for a while. Just don't lose it. Oh and your specialty pharmacy? I
am getting it shipped to the hospital closest to where the All Blacks practice
and play out of."
“Thanks so much, Tom! I appreciate it,” I said. “You’re a
lifesaver. I owe you one. Better let you go before they find out you’re missing
from the pharmacy.”
“Scott, do you have room for one more?” Matteo asked
sheepishly.
“Matteo, I already called Mark and he said that you’re not
cleared to fly yet,” I said. “Take it up with him. He was pretty clear about
it. You can't just ignore doctor's orders."
“Did you tell him that you didn’t want me to go?” Matteo
asked as his face became red.
“No,” I said, pulling out my phone and putting Mark on
speaker. “Mark, Deppgrl. Sorry to bother you again. Matteo doesn’t seem to
understand the severity of his injuries and flying.”
“Matteo,” Mark’s voice came through the phone, firm and
direct. “It’s over a seventeen hour flight from where we are to New Zealand.
Within an hour into the flight, you will be in severe pain. I do not suggest
you fly over two hours at any point in the next few weeks. You're still
recovering from the accident. A flight that long could cause a serious setback,
or even worse, a medical emergency. You need to stay put until I clear you."
“Thanks, Doc,” Matteo said, his voice defeated. I hung up
after thanking Mark for the second time in three minutes.
I pulled him aside. "Matteo, look at me," I said,
holding his hands. "I know this is confusing. First Dom, now Scott, and
I'm about to leave. This isn't what I wanted to happen, not right now."
"Then why are you going?" he asked, his voice raw.
"Why don't you just stay?"
"Because I have to," I explained gently.
"This is a part of my life – a very big part. The part I keep separate.
I'm asking you to live your life. Go on dates. Move on from the pain of seeing
Savannah with Paul. See people. Just don't put your life on hold waiting for
me. That part of our lives is over."
"I don't want to see anyone else. I want to see
you," he said, the hurt clear in his eyes. "How am I supposed to
just... forget about you?"
"You won't forget about me but you need to move on from
your current pain as do I. We'll talk. I promise. This isn't a goodbye, just...
a see you later." He nodded, a little defeated, but accepting, and kissed
me softly on the lips. “When I come back, you’ll be welcomed back into my bed
but we’re completely different people. At any point, Bongo – sorry, Scott –
will come get me. Or some politician.”
“Hey, baby cakes,” Scott said out of breath. “Here’s all of
your paperwork, visas, passports, phone converter, the Kiwi phone and a certified
copy of your birth certificate – just in case!”
The three of us headed upstairs. "Alright, let's get
this done," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "How many bags did
you say I could take again, Bongo? Because it feels like I'm packing for a
small army."
"Six large, three medium, two small carry-ons,"
Scott recited with a grin. "Seriously," he laughed, zipping a
suitcase. "Are you packing for a trip or an entire new life? I don't know
where we'll fit all this. My SUV isn't a moving truck, you know."
"I'm a woman who's prepared for anything. You've taught
me that much," I said, playfully elbowing him. "Besides, you said I
could bring a lot!"
Matteo, holding up a pair of boots, looked confused.
"Do you really need these? I thought you said the weather was warm."
"It's spring in New Zealand," I explained.
"The weather is all over the place. You'll pack all the shoes you can for
spring in a place where the weather is unpredictable. One minute, I could use
rain boots and the next, I could use snow boots."
"You think about everything, don't you?" Matteo
said, looking impressed.
"I have to. Now hand me that other suitcase, will you?
And Bongo, did you remember the phone converter? I'll also be needing my New
Zealand phone as it's an international phone that only works in New
Zealand."
"Of course. It's on the counter with your paperwork and
your Kiwi phone, remember? I've got a
bag packed with essentials, too. You won't need to lift a finger once we're on
the plane."
"Always one step ahead. It's why I need you." It
took about an hour for the three of us to fill up my bags. I did call my
current carrier to let them know that I was traveling out of the country for
some time. "Okay," I said, holding it up, "got it. Last piece of
the puzzle."
Between the three of us, we were able to load Scott’s SUV
quickly. As we loaded the last bag, I called Vince to come get Matteo as I had
to fly out of the country. No questions asked and Vince was on his way….he said
that he’d help Matteo find a replacement vehicle. I thanked him. I shared the
conversation with Matteo. "Vince will be here soon. He said he'll help you
with the car and get you sorted. Just promise me one thing."
"Anything," Matteo said.
"Please make sure you and Vince lock up. Don't forget
the back door."
"I'll double-check everything. And I'll water the
plants. Please let me know when you land. I'm going to be worried about you
until I know you're safe."
We kissed again before I took my work visa, the passport of
the country that I was born in and my New Zealand passport from Scott. Matteo
looked at me oddly. "Wait, you have two passports?" he asked.
"And a work visa? What do you do? I thought you were just a who worked on
stocks and portfolios?"
"I have a work visa because I spend most of my time
living outside of New Zealand, even though I'm a citizen. I also have a New
Zealand passport by grant because I had spent over a thousand days in New
Zealand over five years and I had to commit to live in New Zealand every so
often….this trip will help me keep my passport and my citizenship. As for what
I do... that's a story for another time," I said with a teasing smile.
"Two passports and you're the head coach of the All
Blacks. You're a woman of many secrets," he said, a genuine smile
returning to his face. "I can't wait to hear the rest of the story when
you have time. Be careful out there….you’re far tinier than the players!”
“I’m three times as feisty and seven times as mean,” I said.
“When they see me, they know that their asses are mine! Proverbially of course!
Matteo kissed me again, a sense of awe in his eyes. "Be
safe," he murmured. "I'll see you when you get back."
“You got, Matteo,” I said. “Go find the love of your life.”
I turned and followed Bongo to his car. Like me, he has dual
citizenship and has a driver's license in both countries. Halfway to the
private airport, I asked Bongo if we would really have privacy and asked if
Jane was in rehab again.
“Yeah, sweetie,” he sighed. “We’ll have privacy and yes, she’s
in rehab again. Still alcohol and sex.”
“Tennis coach?”
“All three of them.”
We were silent for the rest of the trip to the airport. Once
we arrived, Bongo drove on the tarmac up to the plane. Airport staff unloaded
the SUV and asked which bags I needed and Bongo said that there’s enough storage
in the passenger area and it was fine – just to make sure that is balance out
for safety purposes. They nodded and loaded the plan with my bags and Bongo’s overnight
bag.
In an hour, we were cleared for takeoff.