Any news about your best friend?” Carolyn asked Dawson as they prepared for bed. If anyone knew Darryl well, it would be Dawson. Those two grew up together, like brothers.
“Why do I feel like you are more interested in Darryl these days,” Dawson told her as he lay down in bed, flipping the bed cover over his body.
“You know why I’m asking, I’m only concerned about Vanessa.” Carolyn said as she mirrored his action. She moved closer to him, using her hands to trace the features of his face.
“Are you doing this to get me to talk?” Dawson teased her. He placed one of his hands on her waist, moving her closer to him.
Carolyn giggled, “why would I do that? It is quite funny that you think so of me.”
“Maybe you have to do more than that to get me to spill my best friend’s plans to you.” A smile plastered on Dawson’s face as his gaze moved from Carolyn’s hands to her face.
Carolyn, who understood her husband, moved her lips to his head as she placed a kiss on his forehead. “Was that enough?” She whispered.
“You are not even close to it.” he said, causing her to giggle.
She moved to his nose and placed a kiss on it. “Close enough?” with a smile on her face, her eyes flickered up and down his face.
“You are almost there.” He said as his eyes lightened up in amusement.
Without warning, Carolyn’s lips crashed into his as she kissed him passionately. Dawson, who was anticipating the moment, pulled her on top of him as he deepened into the kiss. Carolyn swayed closer, sliding her hands on his chest. She gripped the shirt as she pulled him closer.
Dawson wrapped one of his arms around her waist, the other one went to her face. Cupping her chin, he deepened into a kiss. After enjoying the soul-shattering kiss, Carolyn pulled away from it. “Was that enough?” She asked again, but this time, she was lost of breath, her chest rising and falling in a rhythmic way.
“Ask me whatever you want, your husband is ready for the interrogation.” He said as he gently untangled himself from her, meticulously placing her on the other side of the bed.
“Did he tell you anything about someone named Phoebe?” Carolyn inquired.
Mentioning Phoebe’s name raised a flicker of emotion in Dawson. Her name does nothing more than ruin his mood. Quickly, he masked the irritation he felt not to raise other questions from Carolyn.
“Phoebe is one of his staff. Vanessa should have met Phoebe already because they work in the same office,” Dawson explained.
“Truly, she mentioned Phoebe, and she said she was nice and caring, but Darryl warned her against her friendship with Phoebe.” Carolyn told Dawson as confusion etched on her face.
Nice and caring? Dawson scoffed. Phoebe and nice should not be in the same sentence. Phoebe is someone who does things because of what she could get in return. Maybe manipulative was the best adjective to describe Phoebe.
However, Dawson could not tell Carolyn about all this because he wasn’t ready to explain that Phoebe was his ex-girlfriend who was not even dating him when he thought they were dating. How would he explain that he accepted Carolyn because Phoebe had rejected and betrayed him? No, he wasn’t ready for that.
“Well, it is better she stays away from Phoebe then,” Dawson answered firmly, masking all his worries.
“He should give her a good reason to stay away from her,” Carolyn told him. She really wanted to understand why Darryl would randomly tell Vanessa something like that. It was weird and suspicious at the same time.
“Babe, you should not be worked up over this. Vanessa is not a kid, she can handle her issues with Darryl.” Dawson told Carolyn.
“I know, but …” she tried to explain, but Dawson interrupted her.
“No buts.” He pulled her closer and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Stop overthinking it and leave Vanessa to make her own decisions.”
“Fine.” She said, giving in to Dawson’s advice. Honestly, it was not her battle to fight, but she could not just sit and do nothing about it.
Carolyn was not sure if she was sincerely concerned, or it was just a guilty conscience judging her. She felt guilty that she hadn’t told Vanessa that Darryl was her husband’s best friend. As each day went by, revealing the truth to Vanessa got harder for Carolyn.
Dawson noticed the worried look on his wife’s face and that prompted him to inquire about it.
“What are you thinking about this time?”
“I don’t know how to tell Vanessa that I knew Darryl even before she had met him.” Carolyn’s voice laced with worry.
“She didn’t know until now?” Dawson was surprised to hear Carolyn’s revelation.
“I can’t get myself to tell her since I had missed the first opportunity to tell her the first day they had met.” Carolyn explained.
“Wow, that’s complicated,” Dawson said. “Don’t worry too much, you will figure it out.”
“Finding the right time to tell her is harder than I thought it would be.” Carolyn confessed.
“No time is right until you make it the right time. You have to seize every opportunity you get and utilize it for your purpose. That’s how you get the right time.” Dawson advised her.
“What if she doesn’t take it well?” Carolyn asked.
“Your part is to tell her the truth, how she reacts to the truth is her own part.” Dawson said as he took her hands in his, trying to ease her worry.
“Thanks babe.” Carolyn said before pulling him into a hug.
“I would have preferred a kiss.” Dawson returned to his teasing self.
“Maybe another time.” Carolyn told him as she pulled out of the hug. “Sweet dreams.”
“A kiss would help me,” Dawson continued. This time he initiated the kiss but, unlike the previous one, this one was slow and dreamy. Carolyn closed her eyes, giving in to the kiss.
Unfortunately, their romantic moment was interrupted by the loud ringtone of Carolyn’s phone. She was jolted by the sound, which caused both of them to burst out in laughter.
She fumbled for her phone, which was placed on the lamp stool beside their bed. Vanessa’s name boldly flashed on Carolyn’s phone. A curious look was on her face as she answered Vanessa’s call.
“Darryl wants me to meet him now.” Vanessa’s voice booms over the phone. Dawson and Carolyn exchanged a knowing look as they heard what Vanessa had said.