Long Nails and a Tan

I miss her. It's been months, since she left the boat, so suddenly. Only a day after I found she had been cheating on me. That hurt, does not come close to describing what I felt. One minute, my world was amazing, and one, completely crashed and destroyed. Bliss? gone. Love, gone. Trust? gone.

She simply would get off the boat at times, go to "run some errands" and come back, freshly satisfied and distant. She'd hurry to the head and shower, then be distant for a day or two and things seem to return. I put up with the weirdness for a almost a week, completely clueless and confused as to what was happening.

It all came out, in a massive, loud, and really ugly argument, late one night. She screamed at me, telling me, no one can be this nice. Stop putting her on a pedestal. Stop being so nice to her. She was so cruel... she spent the last half hour of our argument, detailing every affair, every bit of what she did with her nameless faceless men. And she swore, she never knew their names... Like that was a good thing?

Fast forward, to months later, and there she is. Dockside, working the pier, at this new marina, helping to tie up boats. My boat, as I pull in. I could barely speak.. only stare... she was beautiful... perhaps lost 25 pounds and that didn't look great. Her hair was a little limp and lifeless? She had no makeup on... looked a bit gaunt if you asked me. tanned, though. Dark tanned skin on those toned legs sliding out from the deck shorts she was wearing. Her hands, she had long nails? What kind of a deck hand has long nails. My God! She was the most beautiful person, on the planet. I missed her..

Why? How could you? I thought back, flashing on my hurt and anger...?
I was staring at her, as she watched the boat, and the lines. She was into her job, for sure, and then, I saw her notice me... looking at her. For a split second, she lit up with joy... and then she started crying.

After boat was tied up, I found her in the Marina office. I settled my fee, and then, straight away, to her, I marched, determined... we had unfinished business.

"Care to chat for a bit?" I asked her... clearly that was not what she was expecting... she launched into a 20 minute crying spree, and in between sobs, she simply kept saying "I am so sorry," over and over.

I am positive, 99% of the men in the world look at me as a doormat, with what she did to me... but I couldn't help it. I can't stand to see her hurting and in pain... so, when she started crying, I pulled her into a hug, and held her, while she wimpered and sobbed.

Later, after talking, she asked why would I want to speak to her? She said, "You were the best thing I ever had... simply the kindest, most gentle man. I stomped all over your heart. why would you even want to talk to me after what I did?"

I smiled, and she did too. Then, she asked, "Would you like to have dinner tonight? With me. Together." Clearly nervous, and putting herself out there.

I stood straighter, and looked at her. "Sure, But there are going to be some changes. Three things actually. One: I don't know this town... so, you pick the place. Two, wear that favorite short blue dress you know I like. Three, no panties underneath. Four, pack your sea bags, we're leaving in the morning. And lastly, you are in trouble, so you will be making things up to me tonight. Those long nails, and a wonderfully sensual massage are first on the agenda."