When It Begins Again (Extended Version)

Jewel shook her head.

"Not the best and it's no fault of his. We started therapy and we had to find our crutch. What has been holding us together all these years and I think I've figured out that it's sex."

Ryan's eyebrows arched.

"You need to expand on that one."

"We use sex as a means to avoid the serious issues of our life, it's how we communicate and I just know next week, our therapist is going to say to take sex out of the equation. And what if that makes us worse? What if we are nothing without sex? What if my marriage has no substance? Or we realize that the affair was my fault, I'm inadequate. I can't stimulate my husband outside of the bedroom."

Jewel's eyes were like a waterfall as Ryan pulled her to him.

"Jewel are you insane? You have so much more to offer than your body. Carlos knows that or I believe he does. I think this would be a good thing."

Jewel wiped at her eyes as she stared at the man.

"A good thing?"

Ryan nodded as he used his thumbs to wipe away her tears.

"Yeah, you're going to be forced to find another way to communicate without using sex as your crutch. And who knows what that might reveal about the both of you."

Jewel stared at the man in front of her.

Maybe he was right, maybe this would be a good thing for the both of them. It would be a chance for them to connect on a level that has nothing to do with physical intimacy.

"How is the business?"

"On hold."

Jewel confessed as Ryan's eyes widened.

"I don't believe that. You've worked so hard..."

"I know but Mya has night terrors every night. We literally have to take turns sleeping in her bed with her."

She explained.

"Where the hell do you both find the time to have sex then?"

"In the car."

Ryan opened the door.

"Alright let me head out."

Jewel grabbed onto his arm as they both laughed.

"I miss this."

Ryan confessed, his eyes on her as he brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"I miss you Jewel and our friendship. We had so many days like this in the past."

Jewel nodded.

In all honesty, she missed their friendship as well.

"Ry..."

"Shhh..."

He placed his finger on her lips.

"Can we just pretend in this moment that you don't have a husband and kids depending on you. You don't have to keep your distance from me and we're just two long time friends that need a moment to lean on each other. Can you just give me that?"

Jewel nodded as Ryan placed her head on his shoulder.

"Just two friends, who need this moment with each other."

He entwined their fingers as Jewel's eyelids felt heavy.

The exhaustion that she'd been fighting for the past few weeks taking over as Ryan wrapped his arm around her shoulder.