CHAPTER 9

 

Chapter 9

“Miss Presley, like I mentioned on the phone earlier, I have some good news and some bad news." The sheriff scratched his chin thoughtfully, leaning forward with a serious expression.

They were back at Hidden Hills now, in Lisa’s living room. Michael was sitting next to her on the couch, still tense and clearly simmering with anger, looking like a storm cloud with legs and through her peripheral vision, she could see him there - rigid, with his brow furrowed so deeply she half-expected steam to start pouring out of his ears.

Lisa decided to ignore her irritated ex-husband for the moment and nodded at the sheriff, giving him the go-ahead to continue.

"Well, we caught him." The sheriff announced. "The DNA sample confirmed it was him. And when we searched his home, we found a large shrine to your father in his room, along with some photos of you."

"And that would be the... um... good news?" Lisa asked, her voice tinged with concern. Hearing that the perv was obsessed with her father made her skin crawl because the whole time she had hoped he was just some petty criminal, who had broken into her house just for the hell of it, yet the shrine suggested something far more terrifying. What if his fixation didn’t stop at her father and her? What if it extended to her children as well?

The thought scared the living daylights out of Lisa.

No, Riley and Ben were safe, and when they returned from their trip, she would take every step necessary to keep them out of harm's way. But for now, she had to push those dark scenarios out of her mind and deal with what was happening right now.

"And the bad news?" Michael jumped in, his frustration evident in his voice and the sheriff turned to him, still visibly taken aback by Michael’s presence.

Yeah, Lisa could relate….

Some things in life had always been simply beyond her understanding — like the mystery of missing socks in the laundry or how bumblebees managed to fly with such tiny wings.

And now, she could add to that list the enigma of her super grumpy ex-husband sitting next to her in her house, despite everything that had happened between them the night before.

She hadn’t asked him to come back with her, not at all.

“Well…" The sheriff began, clearing his throat, “The bad news is that the judge set bail at $5,000, and his mother paid it earlier today. We had to let him go."

Lisa suppressed a gasp, exhaling slowly instead.

Well, shit.

“How is that even possible?!" Michael quickly cut in again, his anger now boiling over, though his dramatic, exasperated look only added to Lisa’s own frustration.

He wasn't helping, really.

Lisa knew she could handle the situation herself, but asking him to leave now would likely be the final nail in the coffin of their already very, very troubled friendship, or whatever that thing between them really was.

And so for now, it seemed better to let him stay, to deal with it together, rather than enrage him any more than she already had.

“Well, his record was clean — first offense — so the judge decided on bail." The sheriff explained, his tone calm and professional before turning back to Lisa. "We'll keep an eye on him, Miss Presley. And installing a new security system is definitely a good idea."

Yes, it wasn’t just the three of them. The “happy” afternoon gathering of Lisa, the sulking ex, and the tall, mustachioed cop was rounded out by a team of workers running around her house, plugging things in left and right, tripping over wires. They were installing high-resolution cameras at every entrance as well as in some of the rooms, and setting up sensors everywhere, making her home look like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Just great.

It was all Michael’s doing, of course. He had insisted on it, sending the company to her house earlier, and even though Lisa thought it was overkill, she knew better than to object.

She still believed not getting back together was the smarter choice for both of them. No matter how tempting the idea of rekindling their relationship seemed, or how amazing their kisses had felt, she was too scared of getting hurt again.

After all, she was sure Michael didn’t really love her — not anymore, anyway.

Sure, maybe there was a time when he had, but that was ancient history, like some dusty old book collecting cobwebs on a shelf. And if fate hadn’t thrown them together in that courtroom a few months back, she knew she wouldn’t even be a blip on his radar now.

Another heartbreak like the last one?

No, thank you. It was all too much.

Earlier that day, still at Neverland, when she had told him she was going home, he had just gotten into her car with her, without a word, like it was the most natural thing to do…

He sat in the passenger seat, all huff and puff, butthurt, barely looking at her, yet clearly determined to go back to her house with her.

For what reason, she didn’t know.

And Lisa actually decided to let it slide, choosing not to poke the bear and stir up any drama as she got in the car as well and watched him sulk all the way to Hidden Hills, his lips pressed tight and arms crossed over his chest, practically radiating irritation.

Who knew what was going through his mind?

Maybe he just wanted to keep an eye on the installation of the new security system…

Yeah, that must have been it.

The sheriff finished his tea and smiled at Lisa, thanking her for her time. Then he stood up, shook hands with both of them, and with a nod and a polite goodbye, buttoned up his jacket, promised to keep in touch and keep Lisa posted on any developments and left. And as the door closed behind him, Michael and Lisa found themselves alone in the room once again, the soft hum of the air conditioner only emphasizing the awkward silence settling between them.

She looked at him and watched Michael’s jaw tighten as his gaze now locked onto the intricate pattern of her carpet. Seconds dragged on, stretching into what felt like an eternity, leaving Lisa in a whirlwind of confusion as she had no clue what to say, how to act, or what Michael was even expecting from her in that moment.

The air was thick with unspoken words, and she could feel the tension wrapping around them like a heavy blanket. She took a deep breath, mentally gearing up to shatter the silence with something — anything — to lighten the mood when, just as she was getting ready to offer him another cup of tea, they were mercifully interrupted by a security company employee that stepped in.

“I’m very sorry, Miss Presley, but we won’t be able to finish installing the system today. My guys miscalculated some of the measurements, and we need to order more parts. I deeply apologize. I can assure you we’ll finish everything first thing in the morning.”

Lisa nodded, not really caring all that much and glanced at Michael, whose frustration, on the other hand, was now clearly teetering on the edge of anger as he let out a low grunt.

Yeah, he wasn’t having a good day at all…

 

After the awkward end to their night back in the library — when she had told him getting back together wasn’t a good idea — Lisa had lingered there, torn between leaving and staying, before she retreated to the guest room to save them from all the awkard silence and the emotional chaos.

And the rest of her night had been an absolute hell…

She couldn’t sleep, her mind a whirlwind of doubt and regret as she replayed their kiss over and over, chewing herself out for allowing it to happen.

Michael didn’t deserve any of that.

She knew he didn’t really love her, too much water under the bridge, but despite their long, painful, and complicated history, Lisa also knew Michael was one of the kindest people she had ever met, and hurting him now, when he was so vulnerable after the trial, felt like the shittiest move ever.

She lay there, tossing and turning, the memory of Janet’s words replaying vividly in her mind about Michael doing everything possible to stay clean of the perscription drugs – a struggle Lisa knew firsthand, and she worried that even the smallest trigger could easily make him fall off the wagon.

It hit her that maybe Michael wanted her back not because of some grand love story, but because she felt like a safe bet, a comfortable idea he could cling to while he navigated the chaos of his life.

As the night wore on, Lisa cried and cried, once again grappling with the biggest what-if of her life over and over, her brain spiraling into delusional scenarios of how perhaps they could be together, painting a picture of a perfect life.

What if she was wrong and he really loved her after all?

And what if life was about taking risks? Putting yourself on the line?

She couldn't deny the magnetic pull she still felt towards him, the way his presence stirred something deep within her. No one had ever felt like Michael, and that scared her to death.

Loving him had always been a rollercoaster — intense, exhilarating, and overwhelming. And while the highs were intoxicating, the inevitable crashes had drained her even more.

She finally drifted off into an uneasy sleep, her thoughts of Michael still swirling around and haunting her dreams.

She had planned to get up between six and seven in the morning, hoping everyone would still be asleep so she could sneak out but, as luck would have it, she crashed hard and didn’t wake up until ten.

Well, just great.

Then, when she finally woke up, Lisa got up and moved quietly, brushing her teeth and getting dressed quickly, shoes in hand as she tiptoed out of the guest room.

She had still hoped to slip away unnoticed and avoid any awkward encounters, but it seemed fate had other plans, and her escape was about to go up in flames because as she maneuvered through the hall like a clumsy ninja, she bumped straight into him, of course.

Shit!

Michael didn’t look happy, and it was very obvious he hadn’t slept much either.

“You’re leaving? Without so much as a goodbye?” His voice dripped with sarcasm, and she bit the inside of her cheek, avoiding his gaze.

She was a coward, no doubt about it…

“I... um... I didn’t want to wake you." She mumbled.

Michael let out a humorless laugh, crossing his arms tightly against his chest and frowning at her.

“Yeah, right…” He said, shaking his head. “Suit yourself, Lisa.”

She pressed her lips together, scrambling for something to say, but her mind drew a blank.

After all, what was there to say?

She turned towards the door, her gaze lowered, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world as she slowly walked down the hall.

What a mess…

Talk about a real walk of shame…

"Lisa Marie!!" She heard him call after her.

Oh, he used her full name.

He was pissed, alright.

"Yes?" She responded in a low voice, still not turning to look at him but she stopped and started putting on her shoes.

"I sent someone to your house to secure it. Just so you know..." He said and she heard him walk towards her slowly as he spoke.

"Okay... thank you. I appreciate it, Michael."

"You know what…” He said a minute later, clearing his throat. “I’m just gonna go with you." His tone was cold, despite his unexpected decision, and Lisa turned to him, staring at him in shock, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

What the hell was going on?

After everything that had gone down, why in the world would he want to come with her?

But there he was, visibly annoyed yet somehow determined to tag along. His jaw was clenched tight as she watched him grab a few things and without saying another word, striding out of the house towards her car.

Lisa trailed behind him in stunned silence, still trying to wrap her head around the whole situation.

When he settled into the passenger seat of her car and closed the door behind him, she could hardly believe it and after a few hesitant seconds that felt like an eternity, she finally climbed into the driver’s seat beside him, shutting the door with a soft thud.

As she turned the ignition, another wave of confusion washed over her.

“You’re leaving the kids?” She asked, glancing at him from the corner of her eye as she eased out of the driveway.

He shrugged.

"They’re at Hayvenhurst."

"Huh?" Lisa let out while she drove slowly around the lake on the narrow path, the sun hanging high in the sky, casting a warm golden glow on the shimmering water.

She could swear the kids had gone to bed in their rooms at Neverland the night before…

"Blanket and Prince were still excited about the dinner last night and wanted to call my mother first thing in the morning…" Michael replied, his tone cold and indifferent, while his gaze fixated on the road ahead. "They don’t get to hang out with her much so they asked if they could stay with her today. Paris wasn’t too thrilled but in the end decided to tag along as well. They left with Terrence about an hour ago."

Lisa nodded slowly, processing the information. "Oh, okay..."

More silence followed as they continued on the grueling two-and-a-half-hour drive, barely exchanging any words at all and the car’s interior soon started feeling like a pressure cooker of unresolved feelings.

The landscape blurred outside the car window, a monotonous stretch of highway under a cloudless sky.

Every now and then Lisa would glance over, trying to gauge if it was safe to speak but Michael’s face remained tight-lipped, making it clear that now wasn’t the time for small talk at all.

Halfway through the journey, her phone buzzed in the cup holder and she glanced at the screen, seeing an unknown number.

With a sigh, she grabbed the phone and answered.

"Hello?"

It was the sherriff.

“Yes, I’m on my way home now, please come over when you can. I should be there in… um, in about an hour, I think."

As she ended the call, she turned her attention to the road again which was the epitome of boredom – a straight stretch of asphalt with an occasional cow standing in the field.

She watched the billboards by the roadside disappear one by one, wondering if she should actually strike up some conversation or not.

“Wanna play I spy?” Lisa asked, suggesting the most idiotic thing that crossed her mind, simply hoping to lighten the mood and make him smile.

She glanced at him and saw him give her a side-eye, before he rolled his eyes and let out a grunt that could have been translated as “I’d rather swallow cactus.”

Okay, ‘I spy’ was clearly a one-way ticket to Nopeville and so Lisa reached for the radio instead, trying to find some distraction. She fumbled with the buttons until she smiled victoriously, settling on a ridiculously cheesy FM station playing hits from the 80s.

She noticed Michael rolling his eyes again before he turned his head, looking out the window and ignoring her even more.

A few cringe-worthy songs later, Michael's phone chimed as well and she saw him glance at the screen, a faint furrow forming between his brows.

She turned down the music a bit, giving him some space to take the call and he tapped the answer button before bringing the phone to his ear.

"Yeah? What do you need?" Michael murmured into the phone, his tone seemingly even more annoyed. “No, I'll stay in the city tonight. Why?"

He nodded occasionally, offering short responses about his vague plans for the day before ending the call with a brief "Okay, yeah, bye", and returning his focus to the road ahead and indulging in the oh-so-friendly vibe in the car some more.

The rest of the journey passed in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, the highway stretching endlessly before them.

The car was filled with songs by Wham! and Men Without Hats, adding a surreal backdrop to the tense atmosphere as Lisa pondered if ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ wasn’t actually mocking her morning escapade, until they finally reached their destination…

 

And now, after the sherriff and all the security workers had left, she was all alone with Michael again… they were standing in her living room, shuffling their feet and avoiding each other's gaze like participants of a reverse staring contest.

"Okay, I’ll call the Beverly Hills Hotel and book a room for you tonight, and when they finish it tomorrow, you can come back." He sighed and started pacing back and forth while fishing his phone out of his pocket with a frustrated groan.

“Michael… you don’t need to do that. I’ll be perfectly fine staying here. It’s really not a big deal.”

Why couldn’t he understand there was nothing to worry about?? The sherriff said that they would keep an eye on the creep and that she was safe.

Well, he hadn’t said exactly that but still…

Michael slowly turned to her and she looked at him again, noticing an expression in his face she had not seen in a very, very long time…

His face was a storm of emotions now, his brows furrowed deep in frustration as his jaw tightened, the muscles flickering like they were on the verge of breaking.

The tension radiating from him felt almost palpable as he stood there, shoulders tensed like coiled springs ready to snap and Lisa watched his gaze burn with intensity, angrily fixed on her.

It was evident he was trying to hold back the outburst that was brewing inside him but this time even his iron willpower seemed too weak to keep his emotions in check and prevent the explosion from happening.

And then, two or three seconds later, it came…

Michael slammed his hand on the table next to him, sending magazines and cups flying and the sound echoed like a gunshot in the tense silence of the room.

“For fuck’s sake!! That’s enough, Lisa, goddammit!!!” His voice erupted, his face twisted in anger as whatever that had been simmering inside him for the last fifteen or so hours had finally boiled over. “I don't want to hear it anymore so stop being so damn stubborn and just let me book the stupid hotel room for you!!!"

Lisa was caught off guard by his sudden outburst and couldn't help but flinch at the raw intensity, taking a small step back.

When Michael flew off the handle like that, it was usually a last resort and he truly was at his wit's end and couldn't hold back anymore, swearing up a storm, sometimes even breaking things around him.

“Michael… You're blowing this way out of proportion, really." She tried to reason with him, hoping to calm him down but he wasn’t having it. Not anymore.

“You’re unbelievable!! I’m so fucking tired of you acting like everything’s okay!!” His voice rose again, his eyes shooting daggers at her. “It most certainly is not okay!! That creep is back out there, and this house isn’t exactly Fort Knox!! Do you wanna get killed tonight? Do you??!! What the hell do you think you're proving by staying here? Being tough or stupid? 'Cause from where I’m standing, it looks like the latter!” His voice started trembling a little, and he clenched his hands into tight fists, his face flushed with anger.

He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair and Lisa saw his Adam's apple bob nervously in his throat.

Michael’s body was still wound up like a tight spring, each movement sharp and purposeful as he paced a few steps away from her before spinning back to face her.

“Unless you can’t wait to call the other guy and invite him over, in which case just say the word and I’m fucking out of here!” He added angrily.

Michael was dropping the F-bombs left and right, another clear sign of how pissed, desperate and upset he really was …

He started pacing back and forth again, likely to release some of the tension.

“No. I.. I wasn’t going to call him…” Lisa said, suddenly feeling defensive. “This is not about him. I’m just saying the house is just fine.”

It had nothing to do with Matt and of course, she could go and stay in a hotel, but if there was one thing she always hated, it was being told what to do.

And Michael should have remembered that when she felt cornered, more often than not, she would resist and be defiant just for the hell of it. And last but not least, in all fairness, he was now starting to get on her nerves as much as she seemed to be getting on his because she really hated when people treated her like some kind of a loser unable to take care of herself at all.

Lisa stood there with her hands on her hips, frowning at him, but boy, oh boy, he wasn’t done…

“Goddammit, Lisa!! Do you even understand what's at stake here? What these freaks are capable of doing?! Why the fuck are we even arguing about this?!” He stopped abruptly, his eyes now drilling into hers with fierce intensity.

Then, without warning, he crossed the room in three long strides and grabbed her arms, his grip firm as he bit his lower lip.

She felt his fingers tremble.

"Don't you... don't you understand?” His voice broke, a raw edge of panic seeping through. “If something happened to you tonight... if you got hurt or worse, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself!” He tightened his grip and his voice trailed off, his breath ragged.

Lisa saw a flicker of indecision crossing his face.

Michael took a deep breath and cautiously removed his hands from her shoulders, taking a small step back, though his eyes never left hers.

“I love you too much to risk that, Lisa.” He said, his voice suddenly quieter, calmer. “I know you don’t want me around and I respect that, but please, let me book that goddamn room for you, and then I promise I’ll leave you alone… I just need to know you’re safe and no one can hurt you, is all.”

Lisa stood frozen, her throat dry, completely caught off guard by his unexpected revelation as his words hung heavy in the air, single-handedly shattering everything she had in her back pocket to use against him in their heated argument.

His words reverberated in her mind, echoing against the walls of her heart and she drew in a sharp breath, blinking rapidly in a vain attempt to hold back the tears that now threatened to spill over.

“What did you just say?” Lisa asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, the weight of his confession crashing down on her like a tidal wave.

Okay, that was the last thing she had expected to hear, a bombshell that flipped everything she thought she knew about them on its head.

She studied him closely, searching his eyes for any sign of insincerity, but instead found a vulnerability that pierced right through her defenses.

As Michael lowered his gaze, his face softened, and he shrugged.

“Yeah, I still love you, Lisa. Very much. That never really changed. And now I’m losing my fucking mind here because I can’t do anything to protect you.”

Each word wrapped around her heart like a vine, both thrilling and terrifying at the same time and Lisa’s breath caught in her throat, and she felt a rush of emotions flood through her — hope, confusion, fear, and a deep, aching desire to believe him.

She had no idea how to react…

“What do you expect me to do here, Michael?” She asked a good minute later, her voice low and shaking as her eyes searched his again.

He looked at her and gave her a sad smile.

“The truth?”

She nodded.

“The truth is, Lisa, that I want you to call the other guy and tell him you’re done with him. I want you to tell me not to move to Bahrain. And then… then I want you to go to the Hideout with me, so that I can take care of you and make sure you’re safe tonight…” He smiled sadly again. “That’s what I want. But since I can’t get any of those things, I’ll just settle for you promising me that you won’t stay here.”

She took a deep breath and looked at her feet again. Lisa knew perfectly well that she still loved him too. The connection they once shared hadn't faded at all, but the wounds from their breakup were still raw as well, even after so many years.

What if they were doomed to repeat the past? What if the pain of losing him again was more than she could bear?

But… but what if the pain of letting him go and move to the other side of the world would be even more unbearable?

She struggled to maintain her composure, though a single tear rolled down her cheek and for a brief moment Michael seemed as if he wanted to lean in and wipe it away with his hand, but in the end he didn’t.

After their last break-up she had built walls around her heart, convinced that it was better to feel nothing at all than to risk the agony of such intense heartbreak again but as she stood there, looking into his eyes, she felt those walls slowly begin to crumble.

Michael seemed different. There was a new kind of maturity about him, like he was more grounded and in tune with what really mattered and his crazy workaholic vibe seemed to have mellowed out a little as well. Even the kiss they had shared in the garden the previous night felt different — still filled with all the passion they had always felt for each other, but also more mature, more calm, more deliberate, like it was meant to last.

So… what if he really had changed? What if they both had? What if he really still loved her?

The flashbacks of the past two days flooded her mind, one after the other, like scenes from a movie she just couldn’t turn off. The way Michael had hummed that song at Janet’s party, looking all serious and endearingly focused, like he was lost in his own little world.

She had caught herself smiling at him, feeling that familiar warmth in her chest, the one she had tried so hard to ignore.

And then there was that moment outside her house, when he had pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing her skin so gently it made her shiver. She had seen the tears in his eyes when he said goodbye to her, and it had taken everything in her not to pull him back and tell him not to leave. But she didn’t. Not then, anyway.

Then the image of how she had pulled up in front of his house appeared, and before she could even think about it, she was out of the car, running into his arms.

The second he wrapped her up in that familiar embrace, she felt that wonderful sense of safety, of warmth, the one she only felt when Michael was holding her.

And then there was the way his eyes had looked at her, so deep and full of concern when she was telling him about what had happened at her house.

Lisa thought about how he watched his kids play in the pool the next day, his eyes soft with pride and love, and how it made her heart swell.

And then… then there was the kiss in the garden. That kiss that had knocked the wind out of her, the one she hadn’t really seen coming but couldn’t resist.

His lips on hers, slow and deliberate, like he was savoring every second, like he didn’t want it to end.

Lisa could still smell his cologne mixed with that cinnamon and mint scent that was so him and it had made her dizzy… lightheaded…

Now, standing in her living room, staring at him with probably the dumbest expression on her face, being dead silent for minutes, she also felt the strong pull of her love for him, urging her to take a leap of faith.

Goddammit!

Lisa had spent way too many years in the make-believe safety of the embraces of all the wrong men. Maybe it was time to put herself on the line once more, and trust that true love really was worth the risk.

She closed the gap between them, leaping into his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist and he stumbled back slightly, nearly losing his balance as he instinctively caught her, a mix of surprise and relief flashing across his face.

The move clearly threw him for a loop, but before he could even react, she kissed him — hard. It was a kiss that unleashed everything she had bottled up for the last three years, a passionate release that was even more intense than the kiss they shared the night before.

The world around them blurred and disappeared as she clung to him, feeling him holding her tight in his arms, kissing her back frantically, their moans quickly filling the room.

Michael staggered back, taking a few unsteady steps towards the couch and collapsed on it, still holding Lisa in his arms while kissing her like a maniac. His hand came up to her face as if he needed to assure himself that she was indeed right there and would not leave.

Which was just about the last thing she wanted to do now… leave him.

He pulled her even closer to him and Lisa felt herself melting into his touch as he gently explored the slope of her lips with his tongue.

The kiss seemed to go on and on, making her feel dizzy, and when Michael’s hand moved into her hair, she pulled back to take a deep breath and started placing butterfly kisses on his cheek instead.

“Lisa…” He moaned again, and she smiled against his soft skin. “Are you… are you sure about it? You’re not gonna…”

Michael didn’t finish the sentence and groaned instead, his voice thick with longing as his hand caressed her back and drifted down to her jeans, grabbing her ass and pulling her tight against his body.

Lisa nodded.

“I’m sure…”

“You’re not going to change your mind, are you?”

“Nah, no more running…”

“I wouldn’t be able to handle it, Lise… not again…”

“Michael…” She let out breathlessly as he kissed her softly again, biting her lips ever so gently before tracing her mouth with his tongue. “I fucking love you, too. I’m yours…” She said and his lips quickly found hers in another crazy, all-consuming and hungry kiss as his hands palmed her butt, pulling her closer to him, and making her groan when she felt him against her.

“Mike?” Lisa whispered as she broke the the kiss minutes, or perhaps hours later... time blurred when she was in his arms.

“Yes?” 

“Um, were you serious about wanting me at the Hideout with you tonight?”

Michael’s eyes widened and he grabbed her head and kissed her deeply again, sucking in her bottom lip and letting out a low moan, his kiss possessive and almost desperate.  

“Trust me…” He panted. “There’s nothing I want more right now.”

 

An hour later, they were tearing through the city streets, laughing like teenagers as Lisa zipped past a slow-moving truck and the sound of their laughter filled the air, drowning out everything else.

She had insisted on driving, claiming it was safer, but now she couldn’t stop sneaking glances at him, loving the wide grin on his face and his burning gaze on her.

It was a far cry from the Michael who had almost lost it earlier that day.

He leaned over again, his hand finding hers on the gear shift, intertwining their fingers before placing a soft kiss on her cheek.

The simple gesture sent a shiver down her spine.

“Hey, stop distracting me, or we’ll end up as roadkill!” Lisa laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement while Michael just grinned back, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it lightly.

“Well, we definitely don’t want that.” He said, his voice dripping with mock seriousness.

They kept driving and Lisa couldn’t stop teasing Michael about his choice of radio station, laughing even harder when he started humming along to the cheesy beat of “I Want Candy.”

Every time they stopped at a red light, she stole quick, playful kisses, unable to resist the magnetic pull between them and after what felt like an eternity of dodging traffic, they finally pulled up to his condo.

The drill was still ingrained in her memory: where to park, how to sneak inside without drawing attention, where to hide in case the paparazzi were lurking nearby.

Michael and Lisa made it to the safety of the darkened hallway quickly, hiding in the building and as they finally stood in front of the door leading into his condo, they were already breathless from laughter, once again tangled in each other’s arms.

Michael fumbled through his pockets for the keys, leaning against the door as she kissed his neck, tracing little circles with her tongue that made him growl with desire.

“God, you’re killing me here.” He groaned, still rummaging through his pockets but clearly struggling to focus on anything other than her. “Let me unlock the damn door first, baby.”

She loved that she could still do that to him. Loved seeing him so undone by her touch.

Just as he seemed about to abandon the search in favor of another searing kiss, he finally fished out the keys — only to drop them on the ground right away.

“Goddammit!” He cursed, while Lisa burst into another fit of giggles.

She couldn’t wait to get inside, eager to immediately pull him into the bedroom and finally feel him against her.

She had held back from his touch for way too long, and now nothing could stop her.

Once the door was finally unlocked, they stumbled inside, still wrapped up in each other, their lips locked in a deep kiss, tasting each other as they made their way through the hall, laughing and bumping into furniture like a couple of teenagers lost in the moment.

But just as they reached the living room, a sudden, unexpected gasp cut through their laughter, stopping them cold.

Lisa froze in Michael’s arms, blinking in shock as she turned to see another woman standing in the middle of the room — practically naked, wearing nothing but a tiny red lace thong and a bra that looked more like a piece of string.

What the actual fuck?

Lisa’s mouth hung open as she slowly turned to Michael, who looked just as stunned.

“Avery, what the hell are you doing here?!” He gasped.