Playing the Field (Hot-Lanta Series)

by Meghan Quinn

  Was she jealous? She would never go for Connor that would be the ultimate betrayal but he was still a Cartwright and Molly felt like she claimed all Cartwrights. It was alright when he was not living in Atlanta but now that he was close and taking part in Winnie’s life, she didn’t like him dating anyone.

  “I’m sorry but I still can’t believe Connor is interested in Lucy. She is so frumpy.” Molly said interrupting the conversation they were having about the new bagel shop near Jane’s office.

  “I know you don’t like Lucy but she is actually a very sweet girl and very attractive.”

  “Are you kidding, Jane? She is queen of baggy shirts and messy hair.”

  “You don’t know her well enough…”

  “And like Connor does?”

  Molly could tell Jane was getting irritated. “Listen, let’s just drop it, ok?”

  But Molly couldn’t. “What does he see in her anyway? Austin clearly made the right choice in picking me over her.”

  “Molly!” Jane yelled. “Lucy is an amazing girl and deserves to have a guy like Connor. I don’t care what you think. Are you jealous or something? Do you want to be with Connor?”

  Molly could not believe Jane. Not only was Jane taking Lucy’s side but she accused Molly of being jealous of Lucy let alone wanting to be in a relationship with Connor. Molly got up and grabbed both their glasses snatching Jane’s from her hand.

  “You can leave now, Jane.”

  “Seriously Molly? You’re just going to kick me out like that?”

  “I don’t need you here making me feel like shit about my feelings. I may not know Lucy like you do but what I know is that she knew I was with Austin and she slept with him anyway. In my book that makes her a whore and Connor is not one to date such trash like that.”

  “Have you ever thought that just maybe Austin was the one being the whore?” Jane retorted. “It takes two you know.”

  “She made him. She begged him and cried he didn’t have a choice.”

  Jane threw her hands up in the air. “There is no winning here. I’m going to leave before I say something I’m going to regret. Let me know if you need help with anything. Hopefully I will see you Saturday for the bachelorette party. You still are my maid of honor you know.”

  Molly handed Jane her purse and opened the door for her. Molly didn’t say anything and Jane walked out. Molly never felt more alone. Jane was taking Lucy’s side. When did that happen? When did she start losing all control in her life? Molly grabbed her bottle of wine, her pills for depression and sat on her couch. She drank the rest of the bottle of wine that was open and then opened another, followed by taking more than the recommended amount of pills. At least she had alcohol to wash her pain away and pills to calm her nerves.

  God bless booze and prescription drugs.

  ***

  Lucy sat on her bed watching stupid you tube videos online while waiting for Connor to call. It was late and he promised he was going to call. She should have known he was too good to be true. Why would an attractive successful man fall for her in one day? The baklava most likely was a parting gift. Thanks for the sex here is some baklava to soften the blow. She had to admit though, it was amazing baklava. Damn.

  She was just about to watch another cat chasing its tail video when she heard something hit her window. What the hell was that? Maybe she was hearing things. She went back to her video when the sound came again.

  Feeling a little nervous there was a bird outside her window wanting to peck her to death she grabbed the pen she kept at her night stand to write down any weird dreams and held it like she was going to stab someone with it.

  She crept up to the window and slowly eased back the curtain. Nothing was there. Oh boy, maybe she ate too much baklava today. Wasn’t there alcohol in it? Maybe not. She started to shut the curtain when what looked like rolled up piece of fabric hit her window. What the hell? She opened the window and looked down. Connor was standing outside. He smiled up at her.

  “Can I come up?” He asked in a weird whisper yell.

  “Of course.” Weirdo, why didn’t he just ring the doorbell?

  She wrapped her robe around her and went to open her door. He was standing outside of it holding a bag, a Victoria’s Secret bag. She let him in still confused.

  “Why didn’t you just ring the doorbell?”

  “What and be normal like everyone else? No, I like to be spontaneous sometimes.” He gave her the cutest grin she had ever seen.

  She laughed. “You are one strange man Connor. What’s in the bag?” She said nodding toward it.

  “Oh look at that, I believe it’s a present for you.” He handed it to her.

  Lucy took the bag removing the tissue paper revealing five rolled up pairs of underwear.

  “Were you throwing underwear at my window?”

  “Of course not that would be weird. They’re thongs, I was throwing rolled up thongs at your window. Underwear is what moms and grandmas wear. I told you I would replace the one I ripped.”

  Lucy held them up. “A little risk-ay don’t you think?” She unrolled one that was basically just three strings attached to an itty bitty triangle. “This is not even meant for wearing.” She said with a smile. “This basically is for all show.”

  Connor grabbed her around her waist and pulled her close into him. “Is that a bad thing?”

  “No not at all. All the men down at the club will really like it. With this I will be able to pay off my student debts in one dance on stage. Big Joe will be so thrilled that he won’t have to pimp me out to meet my weekly quota. He says he always hates having to send me off to rich business men, he rather me just dance to earn my keep. Thanks to you I won’t have to go off to some strange hotel this week.” She said kissing his nose.

  He grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her over his shoulder tossing her on the couch and pouncing on top of her.

  “Listen little lady, your hoe days are over. I called Big Joe and bought you for ten dollars and a beef jerky. He gave me quite the deal I talked him down from three jerky’s to one. I do have to let him have you for one night a month, though. We chose the third Friday of every month, it works best for his schedule.”

  “Ten dollars and a jerky huh? I would have thought I’m more than that.” Lucy said tracing his jaw with her finger.

  “No, hookers come cheap these days ever since the economy has been bad, whores are no longer facing extinction. You can actually find a bitch-a-whore-us on every corner.”

  Lucy laughed. “Oh you think you’re so funny. I thought you were supposed to call, what are you doing here?”

  Connor had his hand on the side of her stomach slowly finding its way past the hem of her robe, making contact with her bare skin. She tried to act like his touch wasn’t affecting her but that was a fat chance. His strong hands gently stoked her stomach giving her chills with every movement.

  “You don’t want me here? I can go.” He sat up faking his departure.

  Lucy grabbed him by the waist and pulled him back down to his previous position.

  “Oh no, I want you here it’s just a pleasant surprise. I was expecting a phone call. I was just wondering how I got lucky enough to get the real thing in person.”

  He continued to stroke her stomach slowly moving his hand up her body until he got to the point where he was gently stroking the underside of her breast. She felt herself easily being turned on. A slight pulse took place in the center of her body and she tried to control her urge to thrust her hips up at him.

  “I thought about it and didn’t think a phone conversation was going to suffice my craving for you. I thought about you all day. I’m sorry I’m so late. The mall was crazy, picking out the right thongs for you was difficult because there were so many that I knew would look good on you and then there was a huge accident on the highway. Needless to say I’m happy I’m here now. The wait was worth it.”

  “Well I wish you said something. I was just about to go to bed, I look like crap r
ight now.”

  Lucy was wearing her glasses, her hair up in a high ponytail and a scarf wrapped around her head to hold back any stray strands of hair. She had not an ounce of make up on and was wearing raggedy clothes. As she thought about her appearance she started to get extremely red and embarrassed. She tried to get up but he pinned her down.

  “Don’t even say that. Do you know how real you look right now? You’re gorgeous love, just you.” He stoked her face with the other hand that was not currently up her shirt. “Did I tell you how much I like it when you wear your glasses? Don’t get me wrong, last night you were smoking hot but I also love your glasses, they’re so you.”

  Ok, this guy was not for real. Here he was wearing designer jeans a buttoned up shirt tucked in and a tie. He looked like he just walked out of GQ. He must have knocked his head on something on his way over here.

  She was just about to try to get up when his stroking hand reached up and grabbed her breast. She couldn’t help but gasp in pleasure. Where did that come from? As if a guy had never grabbed her boob before.

  He was trying to distract her, she was not going to fall for it. “Why are you interested in me Connor? You can get any girl you want but you’re choosing to hang around with the likes of me. I don’t get it.”

  Connor stopped stroking her breast and sat up, leaving his imprint in her body. He got up off the couch and stood in front of her making her sit up.

  He sat on the coffee table across from her, took her hands in his and said, “I’m going to say this once to you Lucy. Don’t you ever sell yourself short again, not when I’m around. I’m interested in you because you’re beautiful, fun, interesting and not like anyone I’ve ever met. There are not many girls I know who would take a carrot to the old kisser and not put up a stink about it. You intrigue me, you make me think and you make me laugh. I’ve never met someone like you before. I want to get to know you better and I want to date you. I won’t take no for an answer and I won’t be having this pity party conversation with you again.”

  Wow, he was straight forward. There were so many compliments in that statement she didn’t even know where to begin. She still felt like he was out of her league but he put up such a good argument, how could she even fight with him. Instead she decided to give herself some credit and take in what he said. He liked her, that was that.

  No one liked to be invited to a pity party and to hell if she was going to waste her time with Connor having one. No, instead she would spend her time doing other things with Connor…naughty things.

  She stood up untied her robe, revealing her practically see through tank top and sat on his lap circling his waist with her legs.

  “Now that is more like it.” He said. “That’s the confident girl my niece nailed a carrot with. You know…” He said touching the middle of her forehead with his thumb. “I do believe there is a carrot shaped bruise on your head.”

  Lucy flung her hand up to her head, clasping where he was touching, denied his statement and was about to run to the bathroom to take a look when he started laughing. Oh, he was going to get it.

  “Think you’re funny huh, well I can be funny too. I might just lose my mind in the middle of the night and snip all the new string panties you gave me today.”

  “Don’t you dare! That is just cruel. Why are you bringing them in to this? They are just innocent pieces of fabric. Don’t punish them because I was a jerk.” He said pleading.

  Lucy laughed grabbing his tie and loosening it some more so she could lift it over his head. She played with the buttons on his shirt as she stared into his eyes.

  “Alright, I will let you make it up to me on one condition.”

  “Anything.” He said with a glint to his eye.

  “You have to wear the thong tonight.”

  The look on his face was priceless. He scooped her up and brought her to her bedroom saying fat chance as he ripped her clothes off. Well it was worth a shot she thought.

  ***

  Marc approached Patty’s door and thought he might puke. Why was he so nervous? Maybe because he was in love with a girl who wanted nothing to do with him and he could only take rejection so much. He could do this, though. He was not going to take no for an answer. He knocked on her door, feeling incredibly ill.

  When she opened the door all the nauseous feelings he was having went away and he was swept up in her beauty. She was ready for bed but still looked so amazing. He always wondered why women wore so much make-up when they were gorgeous without it.

  His thoughts were disturbed when Patty asked, “Why are you here?”

  He told himself not to be offended by her tone. She asked him today to leave her alone and to not be in her life anymore so he could understand why her voice had a bit of a harsh tone to it.

  “Can I come in?”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Patty said.

  Marc didn’t care she shoved his body through the little opening and worked his way to her couch.

  “Excuse me…”

  Marc stopped her. “Patty did you really think you could send an e-mail and that would be it? You were wrong. You are going to act like a grown up and face your problems head on and I’m going to help you.”

  She sighed and closed her door.

  “First of all, I don’t want you feeling weird at all for what happened last night. Nothing happened between us, we were just two friends who needed a little human contact. There is nothing wrong with that, we both behaved so no reason to freak out.”

  He continued not letting her speak up. “Secondly, I don’t like this business of you cutting people out of your life who are trying to help you. I know your past and I know what you’re going through. I’m not going to walk away from you. You need help and I’m going to be there for you whether you like it or not.”

  Patty just sat there staring at her hands. “Marc, I can’t give you what you want.”

  “And what do I want Patty?”

  She was quiet for a couple of minutes. Marc thought she was never going to answer. “You want a relationship, a girlfriend. I can’t give you that.”

  Marc grabbed Patty and sat her right next to him. He was going to have to lie a little just to get close to her again but it wasn’t a bad lie, he was just not going to fully tell her the truth about his feelings because lord knows that would scare her away.

  “Patty, I would rather have you as a friend then nothing at all. I’m not going to let you push me away. You are stuck with me so you better find a way to deal with it.”

  He pulled her in for a hug and she started crying.

  “I want to get better Marc, I really do. I’ve been seeing a therapist and I know I’ve gotten better and you’ve helped but I just don’t know if I can fully trust anyone yet.”

  “It takes time.” Marc said trying not to bask in the glory of Patty not denying him the friendship card again. He knew she was not going to shut him out which was one small victory for him.

  “Sometimes you’re just going to have to take that leap of faith again but you have to make sure it’s with the right person. It will happen for you. In the meantime, you just work on yourself.”

  “How do I do that?”

  “I’m glad you asked.” Marc said. “I’ve compiled a list of things you need to do in order to find yourself again; to forget your past and leave it behind forever. I‘ve made a deadline for you, you must complete all these tasks before Jane and Brady’s wedding. If you set a deadline then you are forced to complete the tasks and not just push them aside like you have pushed aside everything else. You must tell me about each task after you complete them, whether it’s a text, e-mail or call. Clearly I prefer a call but it’s up to you. I’ll be out on the road soon and won’t be around to help you out with them and make sure you are completing your tasks but I trust you to do them as I hope you trust me to make sure I gave you complete-able tasks. Are you up for the challenge Patty? Are you ready to put your past behind you?”

  Patty was l
eaning on his chest when she nodded her head.

  “Good. You will get the list sometime tomorrow. Until then, enjoy the last night as your old self because after tomorrow you won’t see that girl anymore. You’re moving on Patty and I’m helping you.”

  Patty hugged him tight and said, “Thank you Marc. You’re one incredible friend.”

  There was that stupid word again; friend. Marc soon hoped to get rid of that title and make that boyfriend instead and hopefully one day husband. He knew Patty was the woman for him. There was no doubt in his mind and come hell or high water he was going to make sure that happened.

  ***

  Molly woke to banging on her door and Winnie crying in her crib. She had the worst headache she had ever experienced in her life. She could barely move. She lifted her head and looked at the clock on the DVR, it was ten. Good Lord, how long had Winnie been crying? The pounding on the door continued. Who the hell was that?

  She lifted herself off the couch and instantly regretted the move. Her stomach turned upside down and she lost all the contents in her stomach right on her carpet. Great!

  She finished dry heaving and went to the door. Right before she opened it to end the God awful pounding, she looked in the mirror hanging in the entry way.

  Good God she was on hell of a hot mess. Her hair was plastered to her face, mascara smeared across her eyes and cheeks. Her eyes were blood shot and what seemed like drool was crusted to her chin. She tried to wipe it off but there was no use. She flung the door open and came face to face with Marcia and Jim.

  Fuck!

  The looks on their faces was not good.

  “Molly! We have been banging on your door for ten minutes, we were about to call the cops. Where is Winnie?”

  They barged through the door knocking her into the wall and went straight for Winnie’s crib stopping short of stepping in her puke.