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It had been a long day and Adriana was not quite ready to go home. Gage was with father, and they were having a boys day while her mother was in the hospital and he swore he would be able to handle the four year old. Addy had believed him and so she decided that she would head to the beach for a few hours Relax a little get a little sun. It had been a half day at work and there was plenty of sun left. She could read the copy for her story and edit. That was the good thing about leaving near the beach again. It wasn’t LA and she wouldn’t be as tan as she was there but she liked being near the water. <p>
Setting up at a table she pulled the papers form her bag and watched helplessly as they flew off in the wind and she leapt up chasing them. So maybe not the best idea. Bumping into someone she watched the paper fly past both bodies. “sorry!”





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Jay was just finishing a business dinner before talking a walk down the beach; he had nothing else to do tonight. Yet. He would find someone to do, he was sure. In the mean time, he was just strolling along, until a gust of wind seemed to blow a girl into his arms. Convenient; he loved nature for things like this. "Don't be sor-" He hesitated, looking at the little thing in his arms. Familiar. Very familiar. "Addy," He smirked, "Nice to run into you. Or be run into. Either way."




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She was smiling and attempting to be friendly until she saw who it was and she stiffened. Well, so much for not running into him again. She had hoped that she would be able to avoid him. She had after all run off because she had his kid. One he was not aware of, and if she played this right he would never be aware of. “Jay.” She sighed looked past him at her copy blowing into the water… at least no one would get the scoop. “Of course I would run into you here…” Well where else… this was where they well… yeah…



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"Were you looking for me?" He asked, leaning down to press a kiss against her cheek. She was beautiful as ever, but it was strange to see her none the less; it'd been years - it'd been far too long. He never did find out why she left, he'd never bothered. After all, there were plenty of other beautiful girls out there for him to sleep with. There were plenty of other beautiful girls in this damn city. But still, he missed her, she was great in bed. "I just had dinner but we can go grab drinks if you want."


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He thought she was look for him? She let out a soft laugh and looked at him shaking her head. ”You have not changed a bit now have you?” She quirked an eyebrow and thought about the offer. Drinks? With Jay? That was probably a terrible idea but maybe they should catch up… maybe she should at least figure out where he was in life, just to be sure she had done the right thing… yes… ”you are buying.” She agreed and smiled. She forgot how good looking he was… well their kid was good looking, of course James was good looking. ”The usual place?” She almost wanted to simply drink on the beach. Oh well.


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"We could just drink here," Jay suggested loosely. After all, they were already here and they could find something to drink at a bar somewhere down here, right? He didn't like the idea of having a 'usual' - they hadn't been together for years; was she still holding on to all of that? He had no intention of being in another one of those 'relationship' type of things like they had previously; it cut down on 'me' time, and Jay didn't want that anymore. He liked having the time to sit and read for hours without anyone bothering him.

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Taking a step back she shrugged. It had been the usual bar for all of them, not just her and Jay. It was just where they went. She still went there, she hadn’t tried another one… there was no need if it wasn’t broken she didn’t need to fix it. “Drink what? The ocean water? That’s cheap of you.” She wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “Maybe for the best then.” Yes, it had been a good choice… leaving… she sighed and smiled. “It was nice seeing you Jay.” She turned to go. Yes. Leave, go…. even though she had wanted to drink there moments ago... he was confusing, he always managed to confuse her.
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She was fucking crazy. Maybe that's why she was so good in bed? "I've got wine at my place, if you want," He told her as he watched her walk away. It was the last thing he was going to offer, if that didn't work he would be done trying. After all, as he had just thought; there were plenty of women he could sleep with if he wanted to.

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She stopped. Anytime they went to his place… anytime they went anywhere really was trouble. ”Wine.” She stated blankly as if attempting to wrap her mind around the idea when in reality she was looking for the strength to say no. ”Do you still have that terrible little place on Union?” She asked with a light jest. Not like she could talk she was twenty six and moving back in with her parents…
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"Better furniture, same place." Though he really liked his apartment, and he really always had. He was defensive about it, but only in his mind, not out loud. He supposed that was a yes, even if it wasn't a real answer. "Did you drive down here, or...?" He trailed off. He'd give her a ride back later, if he had to.

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She would hope anyway… they had broken the futon. “Yeah uh, just over there” The black SUV glittered in the sun and she shrugged. “I guess I can catch a cab or something later, unless the parking over there has improved.” Parking on Union was hell.
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He nodded, "There's usually parking on the street at this hour," he informed, "But I'll drive you back later if you want." Because Jay was, at least, that decent. He wouldn't leave her stranded. He wouldn't drink and drive, either, but he'd find a way to get her back here to pick up her car if she chose to leave it.

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“Um…” she thought about it and decided she would leave the SUV, she didn’t want to risk the drunk ride home, or having to go back and get it in the morning at least this was walking distance form her parents’ home. “Yeah okay.” She stepped towards him while stepping towards the parking lot. “I just need to get my phone.” She bent to pick up her things and clicked the button on her keys and fished the cell phone from the center console. “Well… shall we?”
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James nodded, leading her towards his car from her SUV. It was a new car, energy efficient and all that garbage - and sleek. He'd just gotten new rims installed a few days prior and the whole car was still shiny. with a little beep, the doors unlocked and he opened her door for her before climbing in himself, the push button start the next move. He tried not to watch as she had bent to gather her things, but her body was slim and lithe and he remembered what she looked like when she was under him, so not looking was difficult. Even still, he tried to be polite. "How've you been?"


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Slipping into the little car she looked over. He had done well for himself, they both had really. She probably wouldn’t be where she was today had she stayed. She didn’t regret leaving, how she left maybe. Not why she left though, she didn’t regret a single moment she had with Gage. “Good, I’ve been good, working… and all.” She might not tell him right away she had a kid now. “what about you?”
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"About the same. Nothing interesting here, either." Jay answered, shifting into drive and pulling out, drive to his apartment with more speed than was legal. He didn't talk much while they drove, letting the silence sink in. It was a small town and they didn't have to go far. He pulled behind his building and parked, unlocking the doors and turning the car off. Do you want to order food?"


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It was quiet and she almost blurted out everything and then stopped looking over at him as they came to a stop. “No I am not hungry” She didn’t eat much these days, a little of this here and there… she was always on the run and rarely had time to eat she figured her body had simply adapted. "I ate with my producer earlier." He always ordered too much and she got out of the car making the familiar trek to his door. "Unless you are hungry?"
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"No, I'm alright" Jay answered, suddenly realizing how awkward it was to be standing there with her. She was being weird. In any case, he lead the way up to his apartment, not seeing a better way of handling this. "How's he doing?" Her producer, of course. Being as they worked in a similar industry James knew him as well.

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“He’s a douchebag.” She answered before looking at him with a sly smile. “But he is brilliant, he wants me to interview the coach in the sex abuse case. Something about a mo- woman’s perspective.” She shrugged. “It will be a good story.” She was sort of excited about it, it was a great story one that may earn some national recognition and that would be amazing… “But the wine…”
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I'm getting there" He answered, opening the door and welcoming her inside, before grabbing a bottle of red from the wine rack in the kitchen, grabbing two glasses. "Feel free to get comfortable." He offered.

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Stepping inside she smiled. “You were right this is very nice.” She walked around the room before sitting on the couch and looking over at him. “I like the improvements… “ it was like his apartment has grown up. She crossed her legs and let her heel dangled off her toe.
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He did his best not to look at her legs as he poured her a glass of wine and handed it off. "Me too. It took a while but I got it all together." he shrugged, sitting down on the arm chair adjacent to the couch she was on. "So, tell me what you've been up to - you left really abruptly."

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“Gracias” she took the wine from him and took a sip. She almost choked when he asked about her leaving. Almost being the key word. “Well, I was offered the position with ESPN in LA and so I took it, a chance of lifetime.” That and she would be able to have the kid without everyone talking about who the father was… Or where he was. It was better for all involved that she left.
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"I thought you got that after you left"James murmured, though he didn't know if that was true. In fact, he'd never considered it much his business. "You were gone a long time" He added after a minute, "You didn't work there that long, only a few months, no?"

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She looked at him and took a longer sip of wine. He was pestering… why did he care? “Not the on camera… I started out an assistant.. eye candy really.” Which was a slight lie she was pregnant at the time but after that… “Then I just moved up… my audition tape is well impressive” And horrible and embarrassing. “I was local at first covering the stories no one else wanted… then I covered a Lakers game and the rest… history.” She shrugged taking another sip “Why did you miss me?” she joked.
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"Of course I missed you." A lie. He'd not cared much. At the moment, he was trying to make conversation; they had little in common other than their jobs and even then they never worked together or even close. He was branching more into journalism than continuing to stay on screen.
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“Right” She questioned his sincerity, but then she always had. Not that it mattered too much, she stronger than that now. Before he just had to look at her for the panties to drop but she was successful and in people living rooms every night. “She finished her glass of wine and cradled the glass in her hand. “What’s next for you?”
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"Freelance," James shrugged, holding out the bottle as he continued to slowly sip his first glass. It was good wine; not too strong, not watery. He wasn't drinking to get drunk, but casually, so there was no hurry. 'You?"
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“where ever this takes me.” She had been on the mommy track from the start… so who knew really. It was rough starting out at 22 with a career and a kid. She had somehow managed and she didn’t know if there was longevity, she met too many athletes who just wanted well… one thing and then there was Gage… “I don’t like to plan to far ahead… it was always my problem” Like getting drunk and having unprotected sex with the man sitting beside her.
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"Where are you living now?" He asked, curious. It was his way of asking if she was attached; a boyfriend wouldn't let her live at home with her parents, so it was a good gauge. He wouldn't sleep with an attached woman, it was too messy in such a small town.
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With a small smile she looked over at him. “With my parents for now, I sublet my place in LA.” She confessed. She hated having to stay with her parents but she was not really in a place to have her own place. But mom was in the hospital and dad was usually busy it was like living alone. She sipped her wine. “this is really good. What is it?”
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With her parents. Single. Interesting. She had been rather eager to come back here for wine though, he shouldn't have been surprised. "I'm not sure, I got it as a gift," He assured. He hadn't even read the bottle before opening it, he cared so little. "How long are you staying in town?"
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She leaned over to look at the label of the bottle and shrugged she hadn’t heard of it… that was alright though…she hadn’t heard of many wines. “However long it takes.” Whatever it was. It was good to be back though, or so she would keep telling herself anyway.
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"However long what takes?" He asked, feeling that her answer was a little too vague and foreboding. What the hell did that even mean? He sipped his wine, though he suddenly realized that he found her cryptic answers annoying; he couldn't remember her being like that before.
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“Mom is sick” she said a bit plainly. “Cancer.” She really hated talking about it, it made her uneasy and she stood up and walked over to the window to look out. “I forgot how nice the view was” she changed the subject. She liked changing the subject. Looking back over at him she sighed. Part of the reason she was here was so gage would have as much time with her mom as possible… the guilt of leaving was starting to settle, maybe she should have told him and then she would know one way or the other. “Does the old guy who used to complain every time I was over still live next door?
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Her mom had cancer? Well, James was all for changing the subject, because he didn't like talking about parents and death and any of that. His own had died years ago and he was still working through it. "Nope, his kids moved him into a home," he answered, without an ounce of sympathy. He now had a hot neighbour, which suited him just fine - especially when she was fighting with her boyfriend and needed a good fuck.
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“Ah.” She looked back out the window before she walked around the apartment, it was familiar and then again it wasn’t. With a shrug she wondered how the old man was doing. “That’s a shame.” Though really she had grown tired of his little banging on the wall, he had once told her she was going to hell, she probably was but that was fine, at least she had a little fun while alive. She almost finished her second glass and she leaned against the arm of the couch.

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"I'd tend to disagree - I don't mind not being judged for my indiscretions." James countered, getting up as well and walking towards her, laying his glass down, he left less than a foot between them. "Why didn't you come find me when you got back?"
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He crossed the room and she looked up at him, a familiar feeling in the pit of her stomach, the sort she hadn’t felt since she left home. He just made her… crazy. It was that intense infatuation that always managed to resurface…. She watched the curve of his cupids bow before she mentally slapped herself. “I just figured I would bump into you eventually.” Or because she didn’t want him to know he was a dad. “I found you now.” She pointed out with smirk
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"No, you saw me and thought about running," James shot back. He was smart enough to know the difference. "Did you miss me, Addy?" he asked as he closed the space between them. Was he going to seduce her? If necessary. He wasn't sure what her reaction would be yet.
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