I Remember The Day She Told Me It's Over

"Keep your head up."

I smiled up at Corey, my trainer, and straightened my spine; twisting my upperbody from side to side properly punching the hard red targets he held in each of his large hands.

"So you're officially together now?" Trish asked.

I glanced down quickly at my sister who was currently on the floor doing crunchies while holding a ball out in front of her.

I nodded my head lightly. "Yeah I guess. I mean it wasn't like, 'the talk' but I guess we've decided to try it out again."

"This is the guy who slept with your best friend?"

I turned back to Corey and nodded slightly. As my trainer and the one I usually vent to, I was sure he knew about me and my life better than anyone. Even so, it was almost embarassing to admit that I'd chosen to just forget about the past, even the recent past concerning Zack so easily.

He looked concerned. "Do you think that's a good idea? I mean, what if you're just setting yourself up for disappointment?"

Again I shrugged. "I dunno. I might be I guess. But, the truth is, I don't think I was very trustable to him at first either. Basically, we just need to forgive each other and build a relationship from scratch."

"That's hard to do though." Corey dropped his hands, and the targets to his side as I grabbed onto my water bottle. "In the back of your mind you'll always remember."

"But, learning to forgive is part of growing up." Trish squeezed in one more crunchie before laying back on her mat. "Forgive, and try to forget. That's all you can do."

I took a few sips of my water, letting the cold liquid slide down my throat, helping to begin my body's cooling process as I thought about it. The truth was, I was just ready to forgive him. Ready to move on and see if being 'us' would lead to better things.

"Regardless, I still need to do things for me. Can't live in fear, right?"

"Right." he nodded and glanced at his watch. "Alright ladies, I have another appointment. Bailey, I'll see you again in the morning."

"You bet, and thank you."

He nodded again and half waved as be began weaving his way through the gym equipment towards the main entrance.

"I don't know how you do this every morning," Trish groaned and slowly pulled herself up off the mat she was laying on.

"I fuckin' hate it." I admitted as I began to stretch my arms. "I'd love to be able to just do and eat what I want."

"Oh, I remember what that's all about," Trish muttered as she leaned over slowly, placing her hands on the floor for a moment before standing up slowly, straightening her back one disc at a time. "I think we need a treat."

I eyed her, and watched her smile back.

"Lemonade?"

I couldn't help but laugh as I nodded in agreement. "Alright, quick shower, then we'll head to the cafe."

***

"So any other plans for today?" Trish asked as she pulled the black metal chair away from the small round table situated on the sidewalk in front of cafe Lemonade.

I did the same, pulling my chair away from the table, dragging just the front two legs on the cement as I pulled it away just enough for me to sit down. I set my lemonade and purse on the top of the table and crossed one leg over the other. "I'm not sure." I unzipped my bag and dug for my blackberry, producing it a moment later. "I don't think I have too much of anything to do."

Trish rolled her eyes and laughed. "I wished I had to check my PDA every day to see what I was up to," she grinned and brought the straw in her lemonade to her lips.

I scanned through my email then glanced up at her, "I'll buy you one."

"Yeah, right," she retorted with a smirk, "so I can fill in the planner with the same things every day? Wake up, get Xander off to school, Ava to preschool and Craig and I to work. Then pick up kids, go home make dinner, chase kids to bed and then Craig and I to bed then repeat."

"Oh come on," I smiled. "We need to work a few dates in there where Auntie babysits and parents go out."

"Well you're totally welcome to babysit whenever you want." She set her lemonade on the table, "but your job comes first, and now you have to learn to work Zack in as well. You're gonna have your hands full."

I just nodded in agreement. Everything I've done up to this point in my life had been about Bailey Jenson. Now, I had to worry about Zack's feelings and opinions.

"Speaking of which, you should introduce him to the family," she winked.

I wasn't sure what she was getting at. Zack already knew my family, quite well. It wasn't like we'd just met and started dating.

"A barbecue at my house," Trish interjected her own thought into my own. "With adult drinks."

"Oooh," I laughed and wrapped my fingers around my own lemonade and lifting it up to my lips, "even adult drinks. I think I'm sold."

"Good. I haven't seen Zack in years. It'll be nice to catch up."

I grinned and swallowed the sour yet sweet liquid in my mouth. "Nothing like breaking him in gently huh?"

"I've never known you to do anything the easy way."

She had that right. It wasn't like I meant to do everything the hard way though, that's just the way it usually turned out. "So when would you like to do said barbecue?"

"Tonight."

***

I was almost in the house when I thought I'd better phone Zack and make sure he was even available to go to Trish and Craig's with me tonight. I was gonna have to get use to this, meshing of two lives thing. "Hey, whatcha up to?" I asked when he answered after the first ring. That had to be a good sign right?

There was a pause before he answered, "I'm just headed to the studio, why?"

"I was just wondering what you were up to tonight for dinner?" I unlocked my front door and stepped into the entry way, closing the door behind me and locking it.

"I was gonna come pick you up because we're supposed to go to Johnny's Bar again tonight," he stated.

I listened to what sounded like faint music. It took me a moment to realise he was driving and talking. "Oh," I headed across my living room, my flip flops snapping against the cement floor. "Well, do you think you'll still be in the studio around six?"

"Ummm, we probably will be. Wanna eat a bit later tonight?"

I sighed, but lightly enough to keep him from hearing my dissappointment. "I guess. Well, how about I call you around six then and we'll see what's up?"

He seemed to sense my shift in mood despite me trying to keep my emotions in check. "What did you have planned?"

"Trish invited us over for a barbecue. But seriously, dont' worry about it. We can do it another night."

"Well, I'll see what's happening. Maybe I can get my stuff done and slip outta here by six."

"Don't rush anything, Zack. You guys do what you need to do and I'll phone you later." I continued on down the hall to my room and slipped inside, closing the big wood doors behind me.

"Alright, have a good day Bail."

"You too." I hung up my phone and tossed it on my bed as I headed to the closet. I slipped outta my flip flops and put them on one of my shoe racks before beginning to undress. Once down to my bra and panties I headed to the bathroom and plugged in my hair dryer. I stood in front of the mirror above the sink and ran my fingers through my damp hair before picking up the blow dryer and drying it as quickly as I could. When I was done I could hear my phone ringing. I hurried to the bed, picked it up and pressed the button before even having it against my ear. "Yeah?"

"Bailey, darling. It's Kate."

I was already smiling, her accent evident and full of cheer. "What are you up to missy?"

"I've decided that we're gonna spend the day at the beach."

"The day huh?" I asked, curious as to what we were gonna do exactly as I headed into my closet and began sifting through my bathing suits.

"Yeah, so be ready to go in like...twenty minutes. We're coming to get you."

"Who's we? And how are you gonna come get me if you don't know where I live?" I was growing concerned with her paused response to my first question. I wouldn't put it past Terra to befriend Kate just to piss me off.

"Oh, I know where you live." she giggled, "and I'm with Kendra. She said she didn't want a bachelorette party, but Bridget says she has to have one, and I agree. So it's gonna be an all day thing, today. Oh, and Hef is sending his favorite photographer for a picture or two. But we both know what that means. Anyway, hopefully we can keep the paparazzi away."

"Yes. What's happening tonight?" I selected a white string bikini top with matching boy cut bikini bottom shorts.

"I wanted us all to go for supper and then out to a club, but Kendra's insisting only lunch and a drink or two. Apparently she and Hank have dinner plans tonight that they just can't break."

My heart skipped a beat then slipped back into it's normal rhythm when it realized I wouldn't have to break my plans with Zack and Trish either.

"Anyway," she laughed softly, "you now have fifteen minutes to get ready so I will talk to you when we get there."

I smiled despite her not being able to see me. "Alright, I'll see you in a few."

We hung up and I scrambled to get ready. She and Kendra were true to their word. I'd managed to slip into my bikini and a pink sundress before they girls were buzzing to get in.

"I knew you wouldn't be ready to go." Kendra laughed as I let she and Kate in the front door.

"I'm almost ready," I promised as I left them in the kitchen and hurried back to my bedroom. I slipped on a pair roxy flip flops, grabbed my purse and phone, and sunglasses then met them back in the kitchen. "So who's all coming with us?"

"Oh god, I don't even know how many people are coming. Bridget and Holly have been on the phone all morning." Kendra opened up my fridge and grabbed a bottle of water out of the door. "My only requests were, no Terra. She's lucky you got to her before I did the other night."

"You guys are gonna have to tell me the whole story," Kate laughed. "I need in the loop."

"Oh, we'll share it." Kendra promised and I nodded in agreement. One more for team Bailey was fine with me.

***

"You look like you got a little too much sun today."

"Nandie, I'm sooo hungry."

I looked up at Trish and nodded as I stretched out my arms to my niece who was standing in front of me dressed in pink shorts and a white tshirt. She eagerly stepped forward and I slipped my hands under her armpits, lifting her up onto my lap as I sat sideways at the picnic table. "Should we get you some supper?"

Ava nodded earerly and Xander looked up from his perch across the yard in his sandbox. "We can eat?"

I nodded. "Yeah, let's fix your guys' plates."

Trish smiled softly. I knew she appreciated being able to get them to bed on time.

"Who were we waiting for?" Xander asked as he climbed up onto the bench of the picnic table, sitting on his knees watching his dad begin to fix him a hamburger.

"Zacky." I replied plainly as I ruffled the fingers on my free hand through his short sandy brown hair.

"Ava, sweetie. What do you want? Hamburger or hot dog?"

"Hod dog," Ava replied eagerly, her arms outstretched over the table; her small chubby fingers wiggling in anticipation.

I couldn't help but laugh as I held onto her. Her inability to pronounce 't's was cute. Trish passed her an empty buttered hot dog bun then passed me a plate with a cut up hot dog on it. I set it in front of Ava and watched her munch easily on the soft bun.

"Is Zacky the guy we saw at Halloween?" Xander asked as he picked up a grilled asparagus spear with his fingers and brought it to his mouth.

"Yes he is, and he's late."

"Oh, well he better hurry up then huh Auntie. Or you'll make him sleep on the couch?" He then reached for a handful of potato chips and dropped them onto his plate before rubbing his greasy fingertips on his shorts.

Craig, Trish and I all broke out laughing and Xander looked up curiously. "What? That's what mom always tells dad when he doesn't hurry."

"You're exactly right little man. You remember that when you get a girlfriend."

"Yeah right." he muttered before biting into his hamburger. I reached for my purse and picked it up off the ground, the faint song of Closer by Kings Of Leon could be heard from within.

"Is it him?" Trish asked as I nodded and opened up the text message.

"He's here."

"Yeah?" Craig asked and stood up. "I'll throw the steaks on now." He reached for the cooler on the ground by the barbecue, flipping over the lid and reached for a zip lock bag full of marinated steaks.

"I'm gonna go meet him out front." I dropped my phone back into my purse then stood up carefully and passed Ava over the table to Trish. "I'll be right. back."

She nodded as I headed into the house, and out through the front door. There he was, his car parked against the curb, and him leaning against the front fender of the car, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Hey," he smiled sheepishly and stood up straight, dropping his arms and slipping his hands into the front pockets of his tight black jeans before taking a step towards me. "Sorry I'm so late."

I smiled softly and closed the distance between us. "Oh, I'm sure you'll be forgiven...one day."

He smirked and reached out his hand for my own, his warm fingers encircling my wrist before linking our fingers together. "That dress looks very good on you."

I glanced down at the pink sundress and bikini I'd put on earlier. "Thank you. But I think the pink is making me look burnt."

"Looks like you were outside all day." his eyes swept my body again, "much longer and you probably would have."

I nodded in agreement. From the modeling world, we don't really get to see too much sun. We see the inside of tanning beds and spray tans and sets. Our bodies weren't really equipped to handle the harsh rays of the sun for hours and hours on end. "Thank god they can fix things like that with the computer."

"You'll just look super tanned. Do you have another shoot soon?"

I nodded. "Day after tomorrow unfortunately. Modeling shoot for some guitar company. They really aren't gonna like my tan lines."

Zack laughed and released my hands before slipping his arms around my waist, the closest we've ever been, as a couple. "How about, you spend all day tomorrow sunbathing naked. I'll spritz you with water every once and a while and we'll even out that tan."

The look he was giving me was turning my knees to jello and if we weren't standing nearly on the street in front of my sisters house, I'd have pushed him into his own car and demanded he take me home now. But thankfully yet again, he seemed to read my mind.

"Well we should go eat huh? Before Trish gets more upset with me. We'll talk about your suntanning tomorrow." He dipped his head and his lips brushed my own in a soft kiss before he released me from his embrace and held my hand, tugging me up the walk way.

I sighed and gave in, following him closely up the steps.

I was gonna have a hard time concentrating on conversation over dinner.