True Bliss

by BJ Harvey

  I waste time surfing the net and watching dance videos online for routine inspiration until I hear the anticipated ping of a new message.

  Fireinthesky24: Hey. Just got home. Night was horrific.

  Nightdancer23: Wanna talk about your night? I don't like the idea of anything horrific happening to you, especially if it was a date. It brings out my protective instinct.

  Fireinthesky24: Would rather not relive the humiliation, but thank you for asking, it's very sweet of you. What kind of Q&A game have you got in mind? I hope it's something fun, I'm in desperate need of some fun.

  Oh yes, my sweet Kate. I can bring the fun.

  Nightdancer23: Of course, everything in life should be fun. Well except those things that are never fun, like enemas and Monday mornings. How about we just start off with a few 'getting to know you' questions and see where the night takes us?

  I read then reread the message before sending. I don't want to push too hard, but at the same time, I don't want to sit back and leave her to meet someone else without putting my hand up and making a move.

  Fireinthesky24: *giggles* Okay, but let me down these two shots of Patron first, and I'll warn you, I'm a little loose-lipped when tipsy, so you'd better be on your best behavior, dancer boy ;)

  Hell yes! Now that is what I'm talking about. Relaxed, playful Kate is in the house. Think Zander, what can I ask first?

  Fireinthesky24: Shot one and two taken care of, shot three poured for when I get my first question wrong, haha. My roommate and her boyfriend are asleep, so it's just you and me and my friend, Patron. Are you drinking too? Because I hate to drink alone. Ok, my turn first. Favorite color?

  Nightdancer23: Favorite Color of what? ;)

  Fireinthesky24: Touché! Favorite color in general?

  Nightdancer23: Blue

  Fireinthesky24: Such a boy! Okay, favorite color on a woman?

  Now, do I get straight to the point or skirt around it? Hmm…

  Nightdancer23: Blue eyes, red hair ;)

  Fireinthesky24: Oh c'mon! Too cheesy! You'll need to try harder to impress me!

  Nightdancer23: Okay then, back at you. Favorite color?

  Fireinthesky24: Red everything ;)

  Nightdancer23: *groans* my mind is going places it shouldn't be ;)

  Fireinthesky24: Oooh, tell me!

  Shit! I walked into that one! Okay, they say honesty is the best policy, right? Fuck, I'm starting to sound like a chick!

  Nightdancer23: And onto the next question…

  Fireinthesky24: No no no, mister dancer, tell me what you were thinking about. Maybe I want you to think about that ;)

  No way! Is she playing me at my own game? Surely not. Dammit, I can't even text Mac to find out for me either.

  Nightdancer23: Okay, then. Red lingerie on a body like yours would look sexy as hell.

  Fireinthesky24: I'm too tipsy to come up with a witty comeback, but yes, I do own a lot of sexy red lingerie…

  Nightdancer23: *bangs head on keyboard repeatedly* You do know that I'm going to have that image running through my mind for the rest of the night now, right?

  Fireinthesky24: Glad to be of service ;) Just add it to the bank.

  Nightdancer23: Firebird, you're killing me! Now it's my turn. Favorite movie?

  Fireinthesky24: General consumption or pornographic?

  Fuck! I need to start drinking, or else I'm going to be pulling myself off with one hand and typing with the other. I walk out of my bedroom and grab a beer from the fridge, popping the cap and taking a long swig before returning to my room and the naughty Kate on my laptop.

  Nightdancer23: Both. Damn, you're feisty and dirty when drunk. I'm liking it, a LOT!

  Fireinthesky24: Yeah, I kind of let loose when I'm drunk. Last time I was this far gone was about six months ago at our local bar with my best friend and her stripper booty call. We started a drinking game, and because I liked him, I ended up trying to touch my elbows behind my back, pretty much thrusting my boobs in his face.

  Seriously, that was one of the highlights of the night, other than kissing her. The taste of her mouth was addictive, almost intoxicating. More potent than a shot of any liquor. The way she moaned into my mouth as I took control of the kiss drove me crazy. All I could think about was making her moan again. My hands grew a life of their own as they gripped her hips, holding her gorgeous body hard up against mine as we continued to release the pent up energy into that one moment. By the time I got home, I was kicking my ass for not taking the chance to see where things with Kate could go.

  This time, I'm not going to let the opportunity slip by again.

  KATE

  God, I'm so fucking drunk.

  I've had five shots of tequila since I got home an hour ago. Add that to the two glasses of wine at the restaurant before Sleazy Spencer showed himself to be a wolf in prince's clothing, not the other way around, and I'm having my own little drunk pity party. Yay me!

  Married! I mean, seriously! SERIOUSLY! Who does that? Sleazy Spencer does, that's who! Shit, that's actually funny. I'm a funny girl when I'm drunk. I crack myself up.

  Ok. Maybe I need to slow down the drinking.

  I made the awesome decision to turn on my computer when I got home since Mac and Daniel were already in bed. As much as I wanted to, I didn't want to be the needy roommate who barges in uninvited, and with those two, most likely at the most inopportune time!

  Thankfully, nightdancer23 was there to chat to. And he's actually been making me laugh and feel better. I'm still determined to get my damn tiramisu from that restaurant. Maybe I'll go with Mac. It'll probably be safer than going on another first date there. That waitress must be laughing her ass off at me. She must have known he was married, so why didn't she observe the girl code and tell me?

  I'm wondering what the punishment for violating girl code should be, when I see nightdancer reply. I wish I knew his name, but I guess that he would have told me by now if he wanted me to know. Maybe this is just one of those online friendships. I can't believe I told him about thrusting my boobs in Zander's face.

  Nightdancer23: I'm sure he enjoyed it. Any red-blooded male with a pulse and a cock would enjoy seeing that, but you would've made the show exceptional. Now I'm kind of wishing I wasn't such a gentleman.

  Fireinthesky24: Ah, why's that? You don't have a little dirty boy inside that SNAG exterior?

  Nightdancer23: Oh there is definitely a lot of dirty inside, I'm just working on letting it out in the right situations.

  Shit, maybe I've been reading his signals wrong. He must think I'm some drunken hussy trying to cock-tease him. I'm just about to type a reply when he replies.

  Nightdancer23: Is this the right situation, Firebird?

  Hearing him call me firebird again took me back to that hot as hell dream I had last weekend, the one in which Zander was the star of the show. I've never come as hard as I did in that dream. The things imaginary Zander did with his tongue were awe-inspiring.

  Fireinthesky24: I'd say yes.

  Nightdancer23: Well, this puts a whole new light on this conversation, doesn't it ;)

  Fireinthesky24: I'm hoping so…

  Nightdancer23: Favorite food?

  Fireinthesky24: Right now I'm craving dessert because I missed out at the restaurant tonight.

  Nightdancer23: I like dessert too, so many options, possibilities…

  Fireinthesky24: Tell me what you'd do if I was there with you now and we had a bowl of tiramisu in front of us with only one spoon.

  Nightdancer23: You're not going to regret this conversation in the morning, are you?

  Suddenly, I'm having flashbacks of that night at the bar with Zander. The guy coming on too strong, not taking no for an answer. Zander swooping in and punching the guy square in the jaw, knocking him out before grabbing my hand, lacing his fingers in mine and dragging me out of there. Then me, wantonly asking him to stay the night.

  “Stay with me tonight,” I said, my body still pressed tightly against
his as we both tried to catch a breath after the epic kiss.

  He stood and stared down at me, frozen on the spot. I remember loving the way I had to strain my neck to look up at him, to kiss him. He blinked a few times then shook his head, taking a step back from me and grabbing my hand again. But when the realization hit me that he was turning me down, I wanted to run and hide.

  Instead, I let him lead me down the hallway as he found my room at the end and told me to get ready for bed before he spun on his heels, stuttering out an “I'll be back” before leaving me alone.

  A few minutes later, I was under the covers and covering my face, mortified that I had thrown myself at him like that. He probably only kissed me because he didn't want to hurt my feelings. He probably thought that I'd been through enough and didn't want to humiliate me again.

  When he walked back into the room with a glass of water and two Advil I could've kissed him again. Scratch that, I would've gotten down on my knees and begged to do anything to him.

  “Are you gonna be alright Kate?” he said, sitting down on the bed beside me as I took the pills.

  “Yeah,” I answered dejectedly.

  “I'm going to go,” he said hoarsely as he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, making a soft sigh escape my lips.

  He rested his forehead against mine, our breath intermingling for what seemed like an eternity.

  “It is killing me to say no to you Kate. I just don't want to be another thing you regret in the morning. You're more than a quick lay, you're a lifetime of making love. Don't you ever think otherwise.”

  Fireinthesky24: Sorry. I have to go. Talk soon.

  I log off before he can reply, too shaken up by what I had remembered.

  Why do I have a feeling that night dancer could be just as dangerous to my heart as Zander would be. In that moment, I realize two things:

  1) I have to-no, scratch that-I need to put Zander out of my head so that I can move on. Maybe with nightdancer, you never know.

  2) I really need to stop drinking!

  KATE

  All morning Mac agonized over what to wear. I've had to redo her hair three times because first she thought it was trying too hard, and then she thought it was too casual. After I'd finally calmed her and her wayward, product-filled hair down, Daniel stepped in and reassured her that she looks beautiful and that she was worrying about nothing.

  “How was your date last night?” she asks, mid wardrobe freak-out.

  “Great,” I answer cheerfully. “But today is about you. Meeting the future grandparents and possibly in-laws, so we'll talk about it later.” In all honesty, I have no intention of talking about sleazy Spencer ever again.

  “What? What makes you say that? Oh my god, do you think he's going to propose? I mean, we've only just got back together, and yes, we love each other, and I don't want any other penis, or man, like ever, but seriously, Kate. Me married? White picket fence and barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen?” She was breathless and panicking more than ever.

  Will I ever stop putting my foot in it?

  “Mac, breathe! We don't know what the future holds. You've just got to take it day by day and go with the flow. Haven't you learned anything from the past six months?”

  “Okay. Yes, you're right. Okay, I can do this. I can meet the parents of the superhero love of my life, right?”

  “Yes. Now get dressed and we'll get going.”

  “Thank you for coming with us today, Kate. I know it's beyond the call of duty and all that.” She sniffs, and I know that this is the pregnancy hormones running amok again.

  “Anything for you, Mac. Always.”

  “I can't do this, I really can't. Turn the car around, Danny boy. We can go back home, and I'll give you the world's best blow job. I promise. I'll show your penis how much I love you if you turn back now.” Mac's fisting her hands in the gorgeous and totally adorable maternity dress she bought just for meeting the parents. But as you can tell, she's a bit nervous. It must be bad if she's pleading.

  “Gorgeous, they already adore you,” Daniel replies, looking back at me and winking before reaching over to the passenger seat and rubbing her thigh. “Breathe, Mac, it's gonna be fine. I love you, that is all that matters to them.” Stopping at an intersection, he leans over and lifts his hand to cup her cheek, softly brushing his lips against hers. It's one of those show-stopping moments in the rom coms where all the women swoon.

  “Thank you, Superman,” she whispers.

  I want that kind of devotion. He is so damn good for her...hell, they're good for each other. They're like the perfect pieces to each other's puzzle. Mac has her little freak-out's and Daniel doesn't even flinch. He manages them, listens and calms her down. Between the two of us, there isn't a Mac freak-out that we can't handle. Although she's never offered me oral sex to get out of something.

  We kissed once, but that was on a dare at a bar late one night when a LOT of alcohol had been consumed. It was nice, a bit sloppy given how drunk we were, but even then, girls are so not my thing.

  It's been so long since I've been kissed. And oh, how I love to kiss. I could make out like a teenager for hours. There is something honest about it. You can't fake a kiss. You can't imitate passion and hunger. With one heartfelt kiss, you can feel everything the other person feels for you. My three date rule is for sex, definitely not for kissing, but I'm so glad I didn't kiss Roger or Sleazy Spencer. Can you imagine how much worse I would feel had I kissed them?

  “We're here,” Daniel says, pulling into a long sweeping driveway stopping outside a freaking mansion. Holy crap, this has Mac freak-out level ten potential. I can see that my presence was definitely needed today.

  “So, I need you to turn around now and take me back home. Kate can pretend to be me. It'll all work out.”

  I lean forward in the seat, wrapping my hands around the car seat and hugging Mac. “Mac Attack, two problems with that. Daniel isn't in love with me, and I don't have a cute, little baby belly poking out. They're going to love you. You've got this. And if you don't, Superman and I are here for you.”

  “Okay. As long as you know that I may look fine on the outside, but inside I'm like that scream painting with sound. Loud, wild, flail your hands in the air, sound.”

  “I think we get the picture, gorgeous,” Daniel murmurs.

  She turns her head to glare at him. “Are you sure? There are so many more descriptions to go along with this freak-out. The word 'epic' comes to mind.”

  Daniel spins in his seat and leans over, taking both of Mac's fisted hands in his. “Gorgeous, you're the mother of my child and the love of my life. If they don't love you, then my parents have been abducted by aliens. Last night, when I spoke to Mom, she was beside herself with excitement over meeting the woman who has driven her son crazy for the past ten months.”

  “Oh…”

  “Yeah, oh…”

  “I love you,” she replies instantly. There is no mistaking the genuine emotion in her voice.

  I need to get out of this car before they start sucking face. I love them to death, but there is only so much making out that I can handle.

  “I'll give you two a minute,” I say before getting the fuck out of that car. Last night's chat with nightdancer comes back to me as the sun hits my eyes and an imaginary ice poker stabs me in the head as my hangover hits me with a vengeance.

  He was totally flirting with me. And I totally flirted back. I was drunk, but that doesn't excuse me disappearing like that last night. No warning. I just cut him off. Oh shit! He must think I'm a total lush, or a flake, or a cock tease. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't want to talk to me again.

  I'm just about to pull out my phone to type out a quick apology to him when Daniel gets out of the car, walks around the hood and opens Mac's door like the perfect gentleman he always is. Swoon! Who would have thought my commitment-phobe best friend would find her perfect guy?

  I smile at Mac and wipe around my mouth, hoping she'll get
the subtle hint that her lipstick is smeared all over her face from Daniel's obviously successful calming down method. Sucking her face off to take her mind off meeting the parents. Nicely played, Superman!

  I hear a door crack open behind us, and I turn around to see what I can only explain as a scene out of The Stepford Wives. A gorgeous couple in their late 50s, early 60s, walking down the wide stone stairs in unison. Daniel's mom is wearing a peach-colored twin set and tailored pants that look perfectly pressed, her rich brown hair pristine in its blown out goodness, and his dad is wearing a tailored matching shirt and slacks with spit-polished black, shiny shoes and perfectly coiffed salt and pepper hair.

  All in all, it looks like Daniel comes from good quality, country club stock. Not at all what Mac and I are used to.

  “Daniel, you made it,” his mom exclaims before taking the steps two at a time and running toward him with arms widespread.

  “Mom, take it down a notch. You'll scare her away,” he says teasingly.

  “Oh, stop.” She pulls apart and rubs his arms lovingly before looking over at Mac and I who are still planted next to the car, staring at the encounter in shock. “Mac?”

  I put my hand behind Mac's back and push her forward toward Daniel. “Ah, yeah, that's me. The knocked up one,” she says nervously, gesturing her hand in the air around her stomach. I shake my head, biting my lip to stifle a laugh knowing that Mac can be a real smartass when she's nervous. This is going to be interesting if not a little bit fun to watch.