The Suprise

Chapter 40

Joe's POV

I scribbled absentmindedly on the notepad, my mind elsewhere. It had been days since Veronica texted that she had delivered my package to Tina. But why hadn't Tina replied? Was she upset with me? Did she not want to talk to me anymore? The questions swarmed in my head, each one more unsettling than the last.

Christmas and New Year's had passed in a blur, leaving behind an avalanche of work. I was supposed to finish everything tonight because tomorrow, Alex and I were flying to Mexico for a business conference. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind kept drifting back to Tina.

I forced myself to turn my attention to the laptop and began working on the tasks I should have started an hour ago. I was already behind. Glancing at the time, I realized it was almost one o'clock, and I hadn't even taken a lunch break. The morning had disappeared in a whirlwind of emails and paperwork. Sighing, I opened my inbox and started replying to clients. There were so many unread messages, but I only clicked on the important ones.

In the middle of typing a response, a soft knock interrupted me. "Come in," I said without looking up, my fingers still moving across the keyboard.

I heard footsteps, but whoever entered remained silent. Impatient, I muttered, "What is it? I'm busy, so just tell me what you need."

No response.

Frustrated, I finally looked up and froze.

There she was.

Tina stood in front of me, wearing a tight comfy red top and black jeans that hugged her frame, the silver necklace I had given her resting just above her collarbone. Her wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled with something I hadn't seen in months happiness.

For a second, I thought I was imagining her. I had done it so many times before, dreaming of her standing here, smiling at me. I closed my eyes and opened them again. She was still there.

I stood slowly, my heart pounding. My hand trembled as I reached out to touch her face. Her skin was cold, like she had just stepped in from the winter chill. She placed her warm hand over mine and held it against her cheek.

"It's me, Joe," she whispered.

I pulled her into my arms, inhaling the familiar scent of lavender and vanilla.

"I missed you," I murmured against her hair, my throat tightening. "I missed you so damn much."

She clung to me, her arms wrapping around my waist as if she never wanted to let go. "I missed you too."

I cupped her face, brushing my thumb over her cheek. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would've picked you up from the airport."

She smiled. "Everything was taken care of. Edam arranged my ticket, found out where you were, and here I am."

Before she could say another word, I captured her lips with mine. She tasted like winter and something sweet, something I had longed for every day since we last saw each other. Her lips were cold, but her mouth was warm, inviting. I deepened the kiss, pouring all my emotions into it. She responded with equal passion, her fingers gripping my jacket.

When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against hers, breathing heavily. "Let's go. I'm on my lunch break," I whispered.

I grabbed my jacket and took her hand, leading her out of the office. The moment we stepped into the hallway, heads turned. Colleagues exchanged glances, some smiling, some curious. But I didn't care. All that mattered was that she was here.

I took her to the nearest restaurant, not wanting to waste time driving around. After placing an order, we sat at a corner table. She moved to sit across from me, but I wasn't having it. I pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her waist and settling her thighs on my lap.

She giggled. "Did you like my surprise?"

I tangled my fingers in her hair and kissed her deeply. "I loved it."

My eyes drifted to the necklace resting against her skin. I traced the silver heart-shaped pendant with my finger. "It looks more beautiful around your neck."

She smiled, touching the engraved initials 'T' and 'J.' "I love it. I always wear it to keep you close to my heart."

Our food arrived, but I barely paid attention to it. I was too busy admiring her, memorizing every detail of her face.

As we ate, I prepared myself to tell her about my trip to Mexico. But first, I asked, "How was your holiday?"

Her expression softened. "Amazing. I loved every moment with my family. But I missed you. I felt lonely, so I decided to surprise you."

I reached for her hand. "Thank you for this."

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Calvin was here but left after Christmas."

Her brows lifted. "How is he?"

I sighed, setting my fork down. "Not good. His dad arranged his marriage, and he's losing it."

Tina's eyes widened. "Seriously? Marriage?"

I nodded. We finished eating, and I finally dropped the news. "Tomorrow, I'm flying to Mexico with Alex for a conference."

She went silent for a moment before nodding. "It's okay. Then I'll book a flight back home tomorrow."

Guilt weighed heavily on me. She had traveled all this way to see me, and now I was leaving her. "I'm sorry," I murmured.

She cupped my face. "Don't be. I'm the one who came unannounced."

She was so understanding, so supportive. That's what I loved about her.

"Let's go," I said, squeezing her hand. "We have time until tomorrow."

I spent the rest of the day taking her around the city, showing her the places she would like. We went shopping, laughed, and held hands like we had never been apart.

As night fell, I drove her to the Airbnb Edam had booked. It was a beautiful blue cottage, small but cozy.

"Do you want to come in?" she asked softly.

I hesitated. I needed to pack, but I also wanted to be with her. "Yeah, sure."

Inside, the cottage felt like a dream. The vintage decor, the fireplace, the soft lighting it was perfect.

Tina picked up a framed photo from the table. "I think this place belongs to an elderly couple. They probably rented it out while on vacation."

She disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of red wine. Pouring two glasses, she settled on the mat near the fireplace and gestured for me to join her.

We toasted. "To us."

She rested her head on my shoulder, gazing at the flames. "I missed this. I missed us."

I pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Me too."

She lifted her eyes to mine, her expression turning serious. "I want to tell you something."

I tensed. "What is it?"

She took a deep breath. "I'm staying. After graduation, I'll be here for another year. Dad finally agreed. Edam found me a job. We can be together."

My heart clenched. She was staying for me. But what about my plans?

I forced a smile. "That's amazing."

But inside, a storm raged. Should I tell her now? Or wait? She had just surprised me with her visit. I didn't want to ruin the moment.

So I kept my secret, knowing that one day soon, we would have to face the reality of our different dreams.

Tina's POV

The fire crackled softly, casting a warm glow across the room. I straddled Joe's lap, facing him, feeling the heat of the flames seep into my skin. The comforter slipped down as his hands roamed over me. He lifted my top, exposing my breasts, and took one into his mouth. A shiver ran down my spine as my nipples hardened at his touch.

I reached down, unzipping my jeans, and guided his hand inside. His fingers found me, moving in slow, deliberate circles that sent waves of pleasure coursing through me. I moaned, a mix of pain and desire intertwining. He removed my top entirely, lavishing attention on my other breast while I pulled off his sweater, revealing his sculpted chest. My fingers traced over his warm skin, feeling the strength beneath.

With a playful push, I guided him down onto the plush rug. I began planting soft kisses across his body as he slipped his hand under my jeans, kneading me gently. Our lips met again, tongues entwining, tasting the lingering sweetness of wine.

Joe shifted, laying me down near the fireplace's warmth. His hands moved expertly, removing my jeans and then his own. He pulled the comforter over us, shielding our bodies from the chill in the air.

"Are you warm enough?" he asked softly, his eyes sparkling with desire.

I nodded, heart pounding as his hardness pressed between my thighs, teasing me.

"I want you, Joe. I need you," I whispered, pulling him closer.

"Are you still on the pill?" he asked, always mindful.

I nodded again. With a tender kiss, he gently parted my thighs and slid into me, his tongue slipping into my mouth at the same time. My body arched beneath him, and within moments, pleasure consumed me.

"Ahhh," I gasped, overwhelmed. "I'm sorry, I came too quickly."

Joe smiled, brushing my hair back. "It's okay. It's been a while. I'll make sure you feel it again."

Grabbing a tissue from the coffee table, he wiped me gently. I felt a brief moment of shyness, but it faded as he kissed me again.

We shifted positions, and I climbed on top of him, guiding him inside me. My movements were slow at first, savoring the feeling. His hands gripped my hips, helping me move, his moans deep and raw. I leaned back, resting my hands on his thighs, taking him deeper. The intensity built between us, my fingers slipping between my own folds, adding to the pleasure.

"I'm close," he groaned, gripping me tighter.

I quickened my pace, meeting his rhythm until we both shattered into bliss. Spent and satisfied, we collapsed into each other's arms, drifting into sleep beneath the glow of the fire.

I awoke with a lazy smile, my body still humming from the night before. The scent of Joe lingered on my skin, his cologne embedded in the sheets. Stretching, I reached for my phone and found it under the sofa. A message from Edam flashed on the screen.

"You have a flight at 2 PM."

Right. I had asked him to book it last night. Checking the time 10 AM. I realized Joe was already gone. He had mentioned an early flight at 6 AM.

I wrapped the comforter around me and made my way to the bathroom. As I washed my face, something caught my eye. A faint red mark on my breast. Leaning closer to the mirror, I found more love bites trailing down my skin. A slow smile spread across my lips as memories of the night resurfaced.

With a deep breath, I changed, packed my bags, and headed to the airport. The flight was short, and soon I was back home. As I unpacked, a knock at the door made my heart race. For a fleeting second, I thought it was Joe, but then I remembered Mexico.

I opened the door, and there stood Trisha, beaming.

"Surprise!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me.

I hugged her tightly. "When did you get back?"

She grinned, pulling me inside. "Last night. I told Edam not to tell you. I wanted to surprise you."

We settled onto the couch, and I studied her face. Something was off. Her eyes, usually full of light, seemed dimmed.

"How was your trip?" I asked.

She sighed. "It was okay. Spent time with family, met up with old friends. Christmas and New Year were a drag, though Dad invited everyone, and the house felt suffocating."

"But you're back now," I said, nudging her.

"Exactly! I missed you guys." She leaned back. "How was Joe? You okay with him being away?"

I hesitated but nodded. "We got to spend some time together before he left. He promised to visit next month."

Trisha grabbed her phone and dialed a number. "Hey, Vero. We'll pick you up in twenty. See you soon."

I raised a brow. "What are you two up to?"

She grinned mischievously. "Not just us two. You're coming too. We're heading to Pub Heaven because we missed our Christmas and New Year's party, and tonight, we're making up for it."

I laughed, grabbing my coat. As we reached the parking lot, she pulled out car keys.

"Wait! you're driving? Since when?"

She rolled her eyes. "Relax. I got my license back home. I borrowed Edam's car. His driver will pick us up later."

Satisfied, we set off, picking up Veronica before heading to the pub.

The place was packed, music thumping, bodies moving in sync. We managed to snag a high table in the corner while Trisha went to grab drinks. As I scanned the room, familiar faces caught my eye.

Justin.

He noticed me looking and waved. Beside him, Tamara turned around, her expression unreadable. I waved back, not wanting to make things awkward.

Trisha returned with our drinks, and we toasted. The DJ switched tracks, playing our favorite song, and before I knew it, we were on the dance floor, lost in the rhythm.

After a while, I needed a break and slipped into the restroom. As I freshened up, Tamara appeared beside me.

She looked... happy. Different.

"Hey," I greeted.

"Hey," she replied.

An awkward silence stretched between us before she took a deep breath.

"Tina, can we talk?"

Curious, I nodded, stepping to the side with her.

"I just... I wanted to apologize," she said. "For everything. I know I crossed a line with Joe. I shouldn't have. But I've moved on. I'm with Justin now, and we're serious. I just want to clear the air."

I studied her, unsure if she was sincere. But something in her eyes told me she was.

I knew Joe wouldn't betray me. And if she was moving on, why hold onto old grudges?

I extended my hand. "Friends?"

A slow smile spread across her face as she shook my hand. "Friends."

We returned to the dance floor, where Trisha and Veronica were laughing, and I joined them.

For the first time in a long while, everything felt right again.

_____________________________

"The best surprises are the ones that remind us life still holds a little magic."