She stood next to our table for a second, as though she was waiting for me to fall at her feet. When I didn't, she just stared at the cash, huffed, and walked away.
"She did not like that," Bob observed dryly, watching her storm off. "Although I gotta admit, you were a bit shitty with her."
"I was no such thing," I laughed. "Besides, what did she think I was gonna do? Fawn all over her and cast her in my next commercial just because she flashed some flesh at me?"
"Man, the things I would do to her," Jake groaned, still ogling her from across the room.
"Jake, I think you have a problem," I joked. "You've been single too long."
But he wasn't listening because his attention had been captured by another pretty girl walking across the room, a customer wearing a long red dress.
"Fuck," he said. "Look at that."
"She's not a zoo exhibit," I told him.
"Shameless," Bob jeered. "You should be ashamed of himself. That's someone's daughter."
Becca
"I'll take it!" I beamed.
"Wow, that was a quick decision," the landlord said.
"Yeah, well I don't like to waste time. It's perfect for me."
I'd spent the last couple days looking for apartments in my budget, and I'd fired off a bunch of emails as well. I needed to get out of my dad's house and into my own place immediately.
Being back at home made me feel like a kid. Not to mention Dad point blank refused to let me watch my favorite reality TV shows or decorate for the holidays the way I wanted. Thanksgiving was just over a week away and then the Christmas season would start. I wanted to be able to deck my halls like Clark Griswold.
This one wasn't the prettiest, but it had everything I needed, was in my price range, and, as far as I could see, had nothing hugely wrong with it. With a few tasteful poster prints on the wall, some trinkets on the surfaces, a shitload of Christmas decorations scattered about, and a few plants, it could look really nice.
"I can sign the lease today," I suggested. "When can I move in?"
“It's empty now, and I suppose there's nothing holding you back from moving in right away.” He thought for a second and looked out the window. "Okay, how about you pay the deposit and first month's rent today, and you can move in tonight? How does that sound?"
"Sounds perfect. I'll send you the money now."
Within the hour, the money was in his account, the lease was signed, and I had a very happy landlord. He tossed the keys at me and I caught them with a smile.
"Good night!" He looked pleased as punch as he walked out, closing the door gently behind him.
I was left in an empty apartment, and with only me standing in it, it felt huge and cavernous. Some of the furniture had been left behind from the previous renters, but there was so much left to buy. I couldn't wait to start shopping and filling the place with my own things. Except the boy band posters. They were staying at home.
For a few minutes, I walked from room to room in a state of pure joy.
I have a job. I have my own place. I feel like a proper adult.
Now all there was to do was bring all my stuff from back home, most of which was still packed up from when I left college.
Deciding the only person who could help was my dad, I reached for my phone. When he answered, I could hear cheesy jazz playing over the line along with his dumb friend's stupid voice. Jake was a real jerk, and I never really understood why Dad hung out with him.
"Sweetheart! We were just talking about you," his voice yelled over the music.
"Where are you?"
"Out with the boys! Boys, say hello!" There was a loud cheer from his friends, and it felt like a tidal wave hitting my ear.
"Who's all there?" I asked.
"Oh, just the usual suspects. David, Jake, and Matthew."
Matthew. My stomach clenched tightly at just the thought of him. The way he’d looked at me earlier in the gym set my insides on fire. It wasn't just lust in his eyes; it was admiration too. He was looking at me, watching my every move as though he was impressed. His gaze said he found me attractive, but at the same time, he didn't regard me as just a piece of ass.
"Matthew’s been telling me all about how well you did on your first day."
"Oh?" My cheeks burned at the thought of him talking about me. "So, Dad," I began, changing the subject. "You'll never guess where I'm standing now."
"I dunno. Tell me."
"No, you have to guess."
"I hate it when you do this. I dunno. Are you on top of the Eiffel Tower? "
"I'm in my own apartment!"
There was a scuffling noise as though he'd dropped his phone followed by the sound of him swearing. When he came back on the line, he sounded breathless. "Your own apartment? Becca! How did that happen so fast?"
"It was easy. I saw a place I liked, paid the rent and deposit and bam, got the keys."
"So that's it? You don't live with me no more?"
I sighed silently. "Dad, don't be like that. I'm only a ten-minute drive away."
"Aw, honey, but still. I've loved you being at home so much."
"Well, Thanksgiving is coming up and Christmas is around the corner after that, so I’ll be around. And I'll still be home almost every day for one of your magic hot chocolates. Promise."
"You better,” he grumbled unhappily. “So, I suppose you want me to lug all your stuff over?"
"If you wouldn't mind."
"Of course not, Princess. Just say when and I'll be there."
* * *
I woke up with the sun in my eyes and the sound of birds chirping in my ears. With a big stretch, I sat up and looked around the room at all the boxes and bags Dad had brought the night before. Like the father of the freakin' century, he'd cut short his time at the bar and headed over here, bringing all my things stuffed into the back of his truck.
Of course he did all the usual dad stuff and inspected the walls for dampness, the plumbing for leaks, and the locks for weaknesses. But even he had to admit that I'd done a solid job finding a decent place.
"It's in a good neighborhood too," he'd commented, eventually relaxing. "And you're not far away at all."
"Exactly. I'll be fine here. So you can stop worrying. I'm not a kid anymore."
"I know you're not," he'd agreed a little sullenly. "But once a dad always a dad." He smiled, albeit sadly, giving me a tight hug before leaving me to spend my first night alone. "No big parties!" he said with a wag of his finger as he closed the door.
But a party was the last thing on my mind. After my first day working at Matthew's, I was both exhausted and overcome with the excitement of all the changes in my life.
This time last week I was getting ready to leave New York, and now I was in my own apartment with a new job. And a pretty lucrative one at that. I may have been joining Matthew's team as a total noob, but he had offered a competitive salary that would allow me to comfortably afford this apartment.
With a yawn, I walked into the bathroom and marveled at the idea of having my own shower.
Ah, my own bathroom. No other student waiting outside or Dad knocking on the door moaning for me to hurry up. It's just me and me alone.
Switching on the taps, I watched the steam drift up from the hot water and fill the room. Stepping into the water, I luxuriated in the heat before soaping myself up. As a treat when I’d left work yesterday, I'd bought myself the fanciest shower gel I could find filled with sumptuous scents of essential oils and flowers.
It was heaven. As I rubbed my naked body, I found my hand drifting down my stomach and lower until it was between my legs.
Whoa, rein yourself in. You've got to hurry and get ready for work. You don't have time for this.
But as much as I tried to control myself, I couldn't stop the urge to indulge that delicious creaminess inside me. It had been building since that tense moment with Matthew in my office. I knew he’d wanted to kiss me as much as I’d wanted to kiss him. I could see it in his eyes, in the w
ay his breath quickened, and how his skin flushed pink. Then there was the way he’d looked at me in the gym, his eyes not missing a single part of my body.
I couldn't stop myself tumbling into a daydream where we were alone in the gym. He'd walk in on me practicing my squats, his eyes scanning my curves.
"That's pretty good form," he'd say as he walked up behind me, placing his hands on my hips and watching me dip down in front of him. "Of course, I could help you improve it. If you just move a little like this, keep your shoulders like this, and suck in your stomach." His hand would linger on my abs, holding me in the correct position.
I grew wetter at the thought of him telling me what to do and analyzing each move of my body beneath my tight clothing.
"It's time for you to stretch," he'd say, and I'd put down my weights to touch my toes. Then I'd sink onto the mat, pulling my thighs apart to perform my favorite move, the side splits.
"Fuck, that's hot," he'd murmur, lowering himself beside me. "You have a perfect body."
He'd run his hands down my leg, admiring my strength before slowly tracing his fingers back up the insides of my thigh, this time teasing me with the promise of going further.
I'd soak right through my yoga pants, showing him how much I wanted him. Only then would he let his fingers drift over my mound, lightly at first, then harder.
Touching myself, I pretended it was his fingers pushing themselves between my lips before slipping inside me.
In my dream he was tore my pants from my body to reveal my wet pussy. Unable to control himself, he'd kneel behind me and lower his face between my legs to suck hungrily. I'd push myself onto his mouth, grinding against his tongue as a hard, fast climax threatened to burst out of me.
“I need to fuck you,” he'd grunt, removing his cock from his pants.
“Wait,” I'd pant. “You can't yet. I'm a virgin.”
But that would only make him hungrier for me.
“I'll be gentle,” he'd promise. “At first.”
Slowly, he'd push the tip of his cock against me, opening me. His hands would slide around my body, cupping my breasts as he kissed my neck. Then he'd thrust deep inside me, slowly at first then harder as he lost the ability to control himself.
I imagined the noises he'd make as he came, the grunts, the groans, the roar that escaped his mouth as he reached a head-spinning climax.
I imagined his fingers gripping my breasts so hard they'd leave red prints on my skin and the twitch of his cock as he emptied himself deep inside me.
With my fingers rubbing furiously at my clit, I came hard, screaming as I grabbed the shower curtain, my legs trembling and my eyes rolling back in my head. My voice bounced off the tiles as I almost lost my balance, falling against the wall as my entire body shuddered.
Then I was panting as the steam swirled around me, the hot water battering off my still quivering body. Good Lord…
Matthew
My brand consultant, Coby, was staring at my latest plans and shaking his head.
"You don't like it?" It wasn't much of a question but rather a subtle observation.
"I wouldn't go as far as to say I don't like it exactly, but..." He swept a hand through his green hair and shuffled his oversized sneakers against the carpet. "I can't help but notice your plans are a little too...I dunno, traditional."
"What's wrong with traditional?"
He glanced up from his iPad screen with pure horror on his face. "Okay. In the world of marketing, unless you're selling wallpaper to old ladies, traditional is a bad word."
"It is?"
"Who the hell wants to be traditional in this hyper-capitalist, extra-individualist society where we're all fighting for attention?” he asked rhetorically. “Traditional is about as exciting as roast dinner at your least favorite aunt's. What we want is funky, now, edgy, totally extra, and over the moon."
"Seriously?" I was skeptical.
"Yeah, we really need to get some crunch into your next advertising campaign. You know, more pow for your buck."
"I literally have no idea what you're talking about."
Thankfully Sandra appeared in the doorway to cut our conversation short. "You've got a visitor," she announced, and by the look on her face, it wasn't someone she welcomed.
"Is it Eddie?" I mouthed, trying to be discreet.
"It's worse," she mouthed back.
How the hell could it be worse?
"Coby, is it okay if I leave the designs for the new ad campaign with you? You seem to know what you're talking about."
"Yeah, that's totes rad, man. I'll get some plans drawn up."
"Awesome. "
Outside the board room, I followed Sandra and looked down toward the waiting room. "Where are they?"
"She just blustered right into your office and made herself comfortable."
"She? Aw, shit is it Gigi?"
"No it's—"
"Matthew! I thought I heard that sexy voice of yours."
A figure stepped into my office doorway clad in a tight, white dress with pearls draped around her neck. Her hair, though still in her signature shade of blonde, was cut shorter with a Jackie O flip at the ends.
"Olivia? What the hell are you doing here?"
"That's no way to greet your wife."
"Ex-wife," I corrected her.
"Not yet," she retorted, holding up one finger.
I looked at Sandra, but she was desperately trying to stay out the conversation, busying herself in her notebook. Hurrying Olivia back inside my office, I closed the door behind me as my blood pressure increased.
"You've got some fucking nerve coming here," I spat.
"I've got nerve? You're the one who had the nerve to try and give me fuck all in the divorce settlement."
"Ah, that's why you're here. Of course,” I snarked, sarcasm and disdain dripping from my tongue. “How could I have been so stupid to assume you might have wanted to, I dunno, apologize!"
She let out a dramatic cackle like a witch and took a seat on the couch. Crossing her legs daintily, she put on all the airs and graces she had no doubt obtained from living with Simon.
You look ridiculous, I thought. You could never be a lady.
"Why are you here?" I asked, still standing.
"I came to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about," I said. "All I need is for you to sign the papers."
She clasped her hands on her lap, and I noticed her previously sharp as shit red acrylic nails had been replaced with a more tasteful and short style painted a pearly white.
"We broke up," she said, looking into her hands. "Simon and me. I just thought you might want to know."
I paused for a second and eyed the look on her face. She was trying her best to look demure and fragile, but there was no hiding the hawkish fierceness behind her features, or the coldness in her eyes.
"What a coincidence," I commented dryly. "You split up with Simon and here you are."
"It's not like that," she insisted, her head still bowed. She sniffed as though she was trying to force herself to cry, but her eyes remained dry. "What I did with Simon was wrong. I know that now."
"You know that now? Wow, it sure as shit took you a while to figure it out."
"Please don’t mock me," she said, finally raising her head and tucking her hair behind her ears, which were adorned with small pearls to match her necklace, no doubt gifts from Simon or some other shmuck who fell for her lines.
"You probably think I'm a real stupid bitch, but..."
"That's an understatement," I laughed.
"Will you just listen?" she cried. "Please!"
Her voice was getting on my nerves, and her amateur dramatics were making me cringe.
“I'll admit I made a mistake,” she sniffed, her eyes still dry. “But what marriage doesn't go through difficulties now and again?”
"You riding someone else's cock is a little more than a difficulty," I stated, feeling the anger well up inside me.
"Do you have t
o be so crude?" she feigned embarrassment. "I mean, really..."
I moved toward the door and opened it. Looking out, I saw Sandra sitting at her desk trying her hardest to ignore the unfolding drama.
"What do you want?" I asked Olivia. "Are you here to discuss the settlement? Or to put on the waterworks and pretend you're heartbroken."
She stood up and shimmied over to me without a hint of sadness on her face. Not a single tear had been shed. Her face was perfectly powdered in thick foundation as it had been the second she walked in the door.
"I was thinking maybe you could forgive me?"
I stared at her for a second, confused. She couldn't be serious.
Raising a hand, she rested it gently on my shoulder and squeezed, as though her magic touch was all I needed to fall for her again. When that didn't seem to work, she narrowed her eyes and put on her best sexy face, smiling and cocking her head to the side like a flirtatious nymph.
"Come on, Matthew, it’s almost Christmas. What better time for forgiveness? We could try again, couldn't we?” She stepped closer. “I know I did wrong. And I know things weren't perfect between us.” She gasped as if an idea had just occurred to her. “We could try for a baby. It's what you always wanted, right? A child to spoil."
I didn't want to react to that, but I couldn't help it. Something twinged at the back of my mind that made me almost consider the idea. I always had wanted a child, and when we'd married, I'd assumed a whole troop of children would soon follow. But they never came. Olivia, despite previously telling me she would love to be a mother, became cold and detached from the idea not long after we wed.
"I'm too young to be a mother," she'd say. "I want to keep my figure and freedom a little while longer."
But soon that little while turned to years, then a decade passed and I'd resigned myself to thinking children weren’t in my future.
"We could always adopt," I'd tried to reason, but she didn't like that idea either.
Knocked Up by Daddy’s Best Friend Page 6