Doppelbanger

by Heather M. Orgeron

  §

  “That was quick,” Tink says, sitting up and stretching her arms above her head as she releases a big yawn.

  “That was only round one,” I laugh, shaking my head. “Willow will be down at least three more times for water, kisses, and to pee, even though she just did all three.”

  “Aren’t kids awesome?” Tink laughs, toeing her shoes back on. I hate that she has to leave. But I know I can’t ask her to stay.

  I nod. “Somethin’ like that...” When she rises from the couch, I take her hand in mine, to halt her movement for the door. “Thank you for today, Tink. I know it was wrong of me to ask this of you. I had no right—”

  “Hey? We’re friends, right?” she asks, squeezing my fingers in her tiny hand.

  “Yeah.”

  “Friends are there for each other, Jeff. It means a lot that you trusted me to be here for you.” She swallows audibly. “And even more that you trusted me enough to be here for her.”

  My throat starts to swell. “Come sit with me on the porch for a minute, Tink?” I can’t bear to let her go already.

  She nods, following me through the house to the screened-in porch out back where the two of us have spent many nights together just talking and fooling around.

  We sit side by side on the white wicker swing. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, and it feels like I can truly breathe for the first time today. “This is nice.”

  Her head bobs against my chest, and she sniffs.

  “You okay, Tink?”

  “Mmhmm,” she says, wrapping her arms around my waist and holding me in a vice grip.

  “You sure?” I ask, lifting her chin, effectively forcing her to look up so I can see her face. “Why are you crying, babe?”

  “Gah.” She releases her arms, sitting up straight to swipe beneath her eyes. “Fucking horny tears,” she growls, and I let it go, because we’re friends, and this feels like dangerous territory. And because even if she’s falling for me, the way I think I’m probably already gone for her, I don’t want to acknowledge it. Ever. Because then I’ll have to end this, and I’m not ready to let go. I’m beginning to think I may never be.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  GINA

  “OKAY, YOU’VE ALREADY admitted that your anger is one of the biggest issues in your marriage, right? So, if this marriage means as much as you say it does, then what steps can you take to better control that anger, Mr. Giles?”

  I’m only half paying attention as he spouts off all the techniques we’ve been discussing during his sessions, when my phone buzzes in my lap. With a quick glance, I see that it’s Evangeline. And now it’s even harder to pay attention, but I resist the urge to check my phone and push through the last fifteen minutes of his session. He is paying for my services after all.

  “Mr. Giles,” I hold out my hand for his. “I’d like you to contact the guy on that card I gave you for anger management. I’m afraid if you can’t get this under control...Well, I don’t need to tell you what that’ll mean, or you wouldn’t be here in the first place.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m desperate. I’ll give him a call as soon as I get out of here.”

  “Very good.” I nod, ready to shove him out the door. “I’ll see you next week.”

  When my office is finally empty, I collapse into my chair and pull up my message from Evangeline.

  Evangeline: Hey, Gina. Do you have time to talk? I think something’s wrong.

  It’s Friday. Just two days since the whole period debacle and I’ve been thinking of her nonstop but didn’t want to be the first to message. Somehow, I’m scared I’ll overstep. Even if Jeff did give us his blessing. His kids are slippery territory, and I don’t want to do anything to screw this up.

  Me: I’m between clients now. Can you talk?

  Evangeline: Yeah, I just got home. Dad’s still at work.

  Reaching across my desk I buzz Lois, my receptionist.

  “Yes, Gina?”

  “Can you hold my next client up front for a few minutes? I need to make an important call. I’ll buzz you back when I’m ready.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Thanks.”

  After resting my desk phone back in its cradle, I dial Vangie on my cell.

  “Hello,” she moans, sounding like death.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” Instantly my pulse starts racing.

  It takes her a moment to stop crying enough to talk. “It just hurts so bad. My head and my—my stomach.”

  “I know, honey. Did you try the Midol we picked up the other day?”

  She whimpers. “Yeah, but I can’t take it again for another hour.”

  “Listen,” I say, now pacing my office. “Plug in that heating pad and lay down with it across your abdomen for a while. This seems a bit excessive. I’m going to talk to your dad about taking you to a gynecologist. Just to check and make sure everything’s okay. Sometimes they can put you on birth control, and it helps immensely.”

  “Oh, God. There’s no way I could ask him to put me on birth control. Dad would flip his shit.”

  That makes me laugh, because she is absolutely right. “That’s why I’ll talk to him. Go get some rest, and I’ll check on you after work.”

  “Thanks, Gigi,” she groans, ending the call.

  My last two clients’ sessions fly by, and I’m off by five. It’s so nice having Spence back in the office and getting out before dark. Those long nights were really wearing on me.

  As soon as I’m in my car, I text Vangie to see how she’s feeling, getting no response. I don’t want to call and bother her if she’s sleeping, so I decide I’ll try her again later.

  When I get home, I text again. And once again there’s no response, so I call Jeffrey.

  “Hey, gorgeous, I was just about to call you,” he answers. His cheery tone brings a smile to my face.

  “Were you?” I ask, popping a frozen dinner into the microwave.

  “I miss you,” he mumbles into the phone, indicating Willow must be nearby.

  “You just saw me day before yesterday,” I tease, although I miss him so much my insides are twisted up into knots. The girls are staying home this weekend which means I won’t see him for a whole week. My plan is to spend as much time as I can with Spence and the kids to try to keep my mind off my not boyfriend. I really suck at this fuck buddy thing.

  He chuckles. “So?”

  “Hey, how’s Vangie?” I ask, changing the subject. “She wasn’t feeling well earlier, and I texted a few times to check in, but she’s not answering.”

  “I just came down from her room. She’s in bed with the heating pad, passed out.”

  “Poor baby.”

  “Come over?” he blurts out of nowhere. “Spend the night...I’ll take the couch, and you can have my bed.”

  Now my heart is racing for an entirely different reason. Lines are blurring, but I don’t have enough self-preservation to say no, so instead I ask, “Are you sure?”

  “The girls will love it, and then you can check on Vangie yourself,” he adds. “Perfect excuse.”

  “Jeffrey...What are you going to do when Evangeline eventually asks about us? She’s not a little kid. She’s going to realize something’s going on. Women don’t just drive two hours to sleep at a guy friend’s house.”

  “Sure, they do.” The man is completely deluded. “I’ll tell her we’re just friends, and you enjoy spending time with them. They don’t need to know more than that.”

  I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt to be treated like his dirty little secret, but I knew exactly what I was getting myself into and dove in head first. I have no right to feel the way I do.

  “I should say no.” With the phone resting between my chin and shoulder, I retrieve my Banquet spaghetti and meatballs from the microwave, tossing the little tray to the counter.

  “What time can you be here?”

  “See you at seven.”

  §

  “Gigi, you tame back
!”

  Jeff smiles down at me, grabbing the overnight bag from my hand so I can properly greet my little friend. Before he heads toward his bedroom with my things, he gives me a sexy wink.

  “Hey, baby girl.” I swoop her up into my arms like a little baby and fall into the plush, oversized armchair, snuggling her to my chest. “I didn’t get to spend enough time with you the other day. I had to come back and get my little girl fix.”

  “Gina?” Evangeline groans, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she steps into the room. “What are you doing here?”

  “Hey, honey.” I pat the space next to me. “I was worried, and asked your father if I could come back and check on you. How’re you feeling?”

  Vangie curls into my side, resting her head on my shoulder, “A little better, I think.”

  With my right hand, I smooth the hair from her face, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” she says, yawning.

  “So am I, sweet girl.”

  §

  “Gigi, wake up!”

  My eyes flutter open to find Willow bouncing in Jeff’s bed next to me and Evangeline carrying a tray of bacon and eggs. “Made you breakfast,” that little angel says, smiling sweetly.

  My eyes feel wet again. And this time I can’t blame it on my vagina, because Jeff is nowhere around. Dammit. “Thank you, Vangie. That’s so sweet.”

  She shrugs her shoulders as if it’s nothing, setting the tray next to me and swooping her little sister up before she can dump the food all over the bed. “This little monkey helped.”

  “Yeah,” Willow agrees, struggling to get out of her sister’s arms. “I putted the jelly on your toast.”

  That explains the gobs of grape jam. I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face if I tried. “Thank you both so much.”

  “You’re welcome. Enjoy.”

  When the two girls exit the room, shutting the door behind them, I allow the tears to fall. I feel like I’m living someone else’s life. Then I remember that I am and that none of this is mine, and I cry some more. What the hell is happening to me?

  Time to call in reinforcements.

  “Hey, hooch.”

  “Quick,” I say sniveling into the phone. “Make me laugh.”

  “Are you—What the hell did he do to you?” Spencer shouts, jumping to the wrong conclusion.

  “It wasn’t him,” I rush out. “It was the girls.”

  Spence groans. “Oh, God. What happened?”

  “They m—made me b—breakfast,” I sob, and my best friend loses her shit laughing at me.

  “Oh, Gina.”

  “This is gonna hurt, Spence. It’s gonna hurt so fucking bad. It already does.”

  “Or,” she drawls out, “maybe you’re finally right where you belong.”

  “Nuh-uhn,” I say, blowing my nose into the napkin on my tray. “Don’t you start filling my head with more bullshit than what is already there. I need you to make me laugh. Like right now, before Jeff wakes up and comes in here and sees this ugly, blubbering mess.”

  “You’ll never guess what your godson did last night,” Spence finally starts, and I can already tell it’s gonna be good.

  “Which one?”

  “Savage.” Oh, his stories are always the best.

  “What?”

  “So, he was bathing in my tub last night, while I was watching TV in my room, and all of a sudden he’s screaming his little ass off...”

  “What happened?”

  It takes her a moment to stop laughing before she continues. “So, he shouts, ‘Mom, Mom, you have to come see this,’ and of course I’m already out of the bed rushing to see what all of the fuss is about.” Spence snorts. “I walk in, and he’s standing butt-ass naked in the tub, bent over, trying to see between his legs.”

  “Oh, God. I’m scared.”

  “H—his hand is all up under there, and he’s poking his ball sack, so I’m all, ‘What the hell are you doing, Kyle?’ and he lifts his head, serious as shit, and says, ‘Remember when I told you I losed my marbles? I musta swallowed two of ’em, cuz I found ’em. They’re in my nuts!’ ”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  JEFFREY

  “DADDY, WE MAKED you breakfast,” Willow squeals, meeting me at the door when I return from my morning run.

  I pat her little head, not wanting to pick her up and get her covered in sweat. “That was really nice of you. Thanks, pumpkin.”

  “Hey, Daddy,” Evangeline says, smiling over at me from where she’s washing dishes. “Good run?”

  “Yeah. Thanks for breakfast. I’m gonna go shower real quick before I eat.”

  When I open my bedroom door, I find Tink, with the phone pressed to her ear, in absolute hysterics. There are actual tears streaming down her face.

  I love it. I love every single thing about this moment. I love having her here in my home. I love her waking up in my bed. The sound of her laughter. The sight of her bed-tangled hair in the morning.

  She looks toward the door, and our eyes meet. “Hey, Spence, I’ll talk to you later. Jeff just walked in...Thank you. Love you too. I will. I will. Okay, bye.”

  “You didn’t have to hang up for me,” I say, stalking toward the bed. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Careful not to rub my sweat all over her, I lean over and kiss the top of her head. “I’m just going hop in the shower real quick.”

  “It’s fine,” she says, dabbing the tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry I passed out on you last night. I don’t even remember coming to bed.”

  “That’s because you didn’t,” he chuckles. “You and the girls passed out in that chair. I was tempted to leave you, but you’d have all woken up sore this morning, so I snapped a couple of pictures then carried you to bed.”

  “Well, thank you. I didn’t realize how tired I was.”

  “It’s fine...” It was more than fine actually. I can still see the three of them cuddled up in that chair when I close my eyes. “The girls brought you breakfast in bed?”

  “They did,” she says with a smile as she looks to the half-eaten tray beside her. “They’re amazing.”

  “You’re amazing.”

  Tink blushes, smoothing down her unruly curls as she looks up at me through heavy lidded eyes. “You’re not too bad yourself.”

  I run a frustrated hand through my hair. “The things I wish I could do to you right now.”

  “How ’bout I join you?” she asks, looking to the locked door, then back to me, hopeful.

  The thought of having sex while my girls are at home gives me anxiety, but it’s not like they can walk in. My dick swells, helping to sway my decision. “I’d like that, Tink. Very much.”

  Beaming, she stands in the center of my bed, taking me completely by surprise when she jumps right into my arms, and smashes her lips to mine. Ignoring the mess of eggs and milk that have just splattered across the room, I kiss her back, sliding my hands under her ass, and head for the master bathroom.

  “Jeffrey,” she moans as I set her on the edge of the counter, still standing between her legs. My hands grip her hair, and our tongues duel for control. It’s been over a week, and we’re both crazy with want. I suck her tongue into my mouth, and she nips my lower lip. “You’re salty,” she giggles, licking her own lips before pressing them back to mine.

  “I’m disgusting,” I counter, unable to believe she’s not put off by my current state.

  “No,” she groans. “You’re delicious.” Her tongue sneaks back in, licking the roof of my mouth. “You’re perfect.”

  “Far from it,” I argue, pulling my mouth away long enough to yank my shirt over my head. “I’m the worst possible man for you, Tink,” I say, panic rising in my chest, because I hear what I’m saying, and I know it’s the right thing to say. But I can’t bear the thought of her actually leaving me. “You shouldn’t settle for this.”

  Her teeth clamp down on her lower lip seductively as she reaches for the drawstring on my pants. “I want you so bad, Jeff.
No matter how many warning signs my brain fires off. You’re all I want anymore.”

  My hands grip her hips, which are now writhing against my waist. Ghosting my fingers up her sides, I bring her top along with them and pull it over her head. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Her lip quivers, letting me know it’s a fear we both share. “How ’bout you let me be the one to worry about that, huh?” Gina hooks her toes into the waistband of my underwear, sliding them down my legs. “Now, less talking,” she growls, while running her hands up my sides. “More fucking.”

  Just as her teeth clamp down on the lobe of my ear, sending a chill shooting down my spine, I slide her off the counter, carrying her into the large walk-in shower. With her legs wrapped around my hips and her back pressed into the tile wall, I reach over to turn the water on, not anticipating the ear-piercing scream that comes from her mouth.

  “Shhh,” I dip my head, covering her lips with mine—kissing her into silence. Tink’s hands grapple at my shoulders and chest, her nails digging into my skin while her tongue stabs at mine in lust and anger.

  Once the water has warmed and the shower is steaming, she pulls back narrowing her eyes. “That was fucking cold,” she hisses. “Don’t do that shit.”

  “I’m sorry, babe...wasn’t thinking. I’m used to it.” There is nothing more refreshing after a couple-mile run than feeling that first burst of cool water hit my back. Apparently Tink doesn’t share that opinion.

  Little rivulets of water trickle down her face, and her breathing becomes labored, coming out in heavy pants as she licks the condensation from above her lips. She’s so fucking beautiful like this that it makes it hard to breathe. She’s in my arms, wrapped around my body, and still I can’t seem to get close enough.

  Tink shakes her head as she reaches over to the soap dispenser, filling her hand with body wash. Her eyes stare deep into mine as she works it into a lather and begins smoothing it over my shoulders and chest. Then she reaches lower, for my dick, and fists it into her palm, jerking it, her eyes flaming with desire.