Between the Sheets

by Bella Emy

  “What the fuck!” I scream.

  A plate shatters as it hits the floor, whipped cream covered strawberries land at his feet. Suddenly, Full Moon spins around with his large hands covering his crotch.

  “Darling, is everything alright? I thought you were bringing the strawberries to the bedroom so you could devour them on me,” my mother’s distinctive voice sounds.

  Oh. My. God. I think I’m going to hurl.

  My mouth drops momentarily before I snap out of it. “Who the hell are you?!” I demand from Full Moon who was just invading my mother’s refrigerator. Obviously, he was about to invade something more than just Mom’s fridge.

  Eww. Gross.

  Suddenly realizing this man could be old enough to be my father, I put my hand up to shield my eyes. God forbid I see any more unwanted things.

  “I’m…”

  The light switch flips on, and before Full Moon has a chance to tell me his name, Mom walks in wrapped in a white sheet. She’s obviously naked underneath it, and I’m mortified at this very moment. I want to fucking die. Anything but being here at this very second.

  The man is in his fifties with salt and pepper hair, and a scruffy unkempt beard gracing his face. He’s quite handsome for his age, but fuck, how am I going to get that image of his ass and hairy balls out of my mind now? I’m freaking scarred.

  And Mom? What the fuck is going on? And who the hell is this guy, walking around her house butt ass naked?!

  “Sweetheart! What are you doing here?” she questions, holding up the sheet underneath her armpits tighter.

  I flash my mother a horrified expression. “I came by to see you.”

  I suddenly realize I caught my mother in the middle of a booty call. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

  She gives me a disapproving look like I’m the one who was caught in bed with a naked man. “At this time of night? Everything okay, Eloise?”

  Ha, yeah. I should know better than to think Mom doesn’t know something is up. Why else would I make the trip over this late at night and without telling her? She’s not stupid. Still, I can’t do this right now while she’s standing in front of me, covered only in a silk sheet. Not to mention Full Moon.

  “Mom, can we not do this right now?”

  She chuckles and then says, “Alright. Well, this is Harold… not the way I wanted to introduce the two of you to one another, but… oh well.” She laughs again.

  I steal a peek over, careful not to see any more unwanted body parts. Before I can say anything more, Harold, with a hand covering his crotch, kisses my mother on the forehead and says, “I’ll let you two talk… obviously you both have a lot of catching up to do. It was nice to meet you, Ellie…” Then he chuckles and continues with, “Sorry it had to be this way.” He walks out of the kitchen, and thankfully, I had just enough time to turn my head away so that I wouldn’t be greeted by his rear end yet again.

  I can’t help but let out a giggle myself. This had turned out to be a rather amusing night. Never in my life would I imagine coming home to Mom’s house to find her in the middle of a booty call. Wow. I had managed to ruin how many people’s night tonight? Damn, I’m on a roll.

  “Honey, why don’t you go to your room, slip into some PJ’s, I’ll go get… dressed. Then we can talk for a little,” Mom says.

  “I think that’s a good idea.”

  “So, Harold, huh?”

  Mom and I are sitting on her sofa twenty minutes later, drinking a cup of coffee together. Harold Silverner had gotten dressed and then headed back home. I feel bad I ruined her evening, but she said we needed the time together more than they did. Still, I couldn’t help feeling lousy about it. He had obviously gone into the kitchen to get some supplies for whatever sex kink they were into.

  I shake my head vigorously. No more thoughts of Mom and Harold and whatever that was before I toss my cookies.

  Mom smiles at me. “Harold. We’ve been dating for the last couple of months.”

  My eyes widen. “Couple of months? Mom, why didn’t you tell me you had a boyfriend? I felt so bad thinking you were always alone…”

  “He’s truly an amazing man, but I didn’t want to bring it up too soon. I was afraid it wouldn’t last… and after your father… well, I never thought I’d find love again.”

  Daddy’s been gone for so long now. I know Mom must be lonely. “Aww, Mom.”

  She shrugs. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I should have told you. No more secrets, I promise.”

  “Hey, it’s okay. I just want you to be happy. Does he make you happy?”

  Mom smiles again, resembling a schoolgirl with her first crush. “He really does.”

  “Then that’s all that matters,” I reassure her.

  “How did I get so lucky to have such an amazing daughter?”

  This time I shrug and take a sip of my coffee. Mom instead places her cup on the coffee table in front of us.

  “So where did you meet him?” I finally ask.

  “You remember my co-worker, Rachel?”

  I nod. “Yeah, I thought it was her car that was in the driveway when I got here.”

  She smiles. “No. Harold is her husband’s best friend. We met one night when she had invited me over for dinner. When I arrived at her house, there he was. The instant our eyes locked, I knew I was done for.”

  “Wow,” I add.

  She smiles again. “He told me he couldn’t look away because he was so taken by my beauty. Can you believe it? Me, at the age that I am, beautiful?”

  Well, it was about time someone else saw it, or at least she’d let them tell her and accept it. My mom was so beautiful, and she didn’t look a day over forty.

  “Of course, Mom. You’re stunning. I’m glad you finally let someone in.”

  Shrugging, she adds, “I couldn’t stop it if I wanted to. Things moved quickly, and we started seeing each other every night.”

  “Wow, so it must be going really well. I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart,” she responds.

  “Of course,” I answer, taking another sip of my coffee. After I swallow, I ask, “Everything else going okay?”

  “Sure is. I just met up with Aunt Cece again two nights ago, and we spent the day doing some shopping. It was nice to get out for a bit. Plus, I haven’t seen much of her lately,” she answers, picking up her cup.

  Aunt Cecile. Now would be the perfect time to ask her the one thing I had always wondered about her since we were on the topic.

  “Hey, Mom?”

  “Yes, sweetheart?”

  “How come Aunt Cece and Grams had a falling out? What was it about Uncle Ted that Grams didn’t approve of? He seemed like a nice enough guy.”

  Mom offered me a small smile. Oh shit. There was something. I knew it.

  “Your grandmother wasn’t really fond of Ted because he liked to drink so much… he’d get drunk most nights, and there was a time when he and your aunt were dating that he lost his temper and hit her right across the face. Of course, Grams found out by the red mark she had on her face, and that was it. That was why Cece took off, and they didn’t talk for a long time. Grams wanted to kill him, but your aunt was so head over heels in love with him, still… even after all that.”

  Fuck, I never took Uncle Ted for an abusive man, let alone one who hit my aunt. Even if they weren’t married at the time.

  “What do you think he passed away from?” Mom asks, her eyebrows lifting.

  “Let me guess, it has something to do with his love for alcohol and Aunt Cece tried to cover up the truth by saying it was a heart attack?”

  Mom smiles widely at me. “You’re such a smart cookie.”

  I shake my head. I can’t believe my aunt made him out to be such a good guy when he clearly wasn’t. I wonder if he’s the reason why she didn’t come around as much while he was still alive. I just hope he didn’t hit her again after that one time.

  I take a sip from my cup again, and then Mom gives me a
n all-knowing look. Great… something else is coming up, and I have a feeling it’s not about Aunt Cece this time.

  “So, what’s going on, Eloise?”

  I almost spit out my drink. How is it that she can always turn the tables on me at the most inopportune of times?

  “What do you mean?” I ask innocently.

  She gives me a smirk. Yeah, I already knew that wasn’t going to fly.

  “You know what I mean, Ellie. Don’t try to hide it from your mother. I know you better than you know yourself. Now, tell me what’s going on. Why did you come over so late without saying a word? What happened with Derek?”

  Derek? How the hell does she even know this has something to do with D?

  “But how did you–”

  “Oh, honey. C’mon. I know you love him. And I know he loves you. Didn’t I tell you this last time you were here?”

  Yeah, she had. Mom was sure D had fallen in love with me as well.

  Sorry to burst your bubble, Mom, but Derek does not love me.

  I don’t even think he likes me anymore. He’s moved on to the next piece of ass… and it just so happens to be Natasha Hussey. Fuck, man. Why did it have to be her?

  “Yeah, but–”

  “Yeah but nothing,” Mom abruptly cuts me off. “I already know it has to do with that boy. Tell me. What’s going on?”

  “Oh, Mom. I don’t know. One minute, things are going great between us, and the next minute, he’s bringing home some skank to his surprise birthday party.”

  “What?” Mom’s eyes widen.

  Yup, see. She didn’t know all that. Now she sees she was way wrong thinking he’s in love with me.

  “Yeah. He’s seeing other women, I guess.” I shrug away a tear, trying to hold in the waterworks that the cruel reality of tonight is setting in.

  “Derek has always been the big player,” she adds.

  “Yeah, and I was the stupid one who fell for him.”

  She scoffs. “Oh, honey, you’re not stupid.”

  “Yes, I am. I was stupid for falling in love with him, thinking there was a chance for me in his world. But there isn’t. He wants to stay single so he can date and screw whoever he wants. And I’ve also gone ahead and screwed everything up with Lauren. I know she hates me right now ‘cause I got with her brother. I was the one girl she was sure would never fall for her brother. Instead, I was the worst one of all because I fell for him, and now, she hates my guts…”

  “Honey, no. Lauren does not hate you. I can guarantee you that much. As for Derek, he may be messing around with other women, but I know that boy loves you. He loves you and only you.” She sits back against the couch, waiting for me to say something.

  I’m quiet for a few moments, trying to gather my thoughts. I wish she were right, but I know what she’s saying is the furthest thing from the truth. Derek does not have a care in the world for me.

  “Mom, how can you say that? D doesn’t fall in love, and he certainly doesn’t love me.”

  “Of course, he does,” she continues pushing.

  “How the hell are you so certain saying that? If he loved me, he would have told me. He wouldn’t have been messing around with other women. He would have been with me.”

  She chuckles, but I’m not finding any of this funny at all. I’m actually growing quite irritated.

  “Sweetheart, I’m afraid you haven’t understood the type of man Derek Mykels is.”

  I furrow my brows and look at her like she’s got three heads. “What are you talking about? I know exactly the type of man Derek Mykels is. He’s a playing, womanizing ass, who only cares about getting ass. He only wants to get laid, as much and as often as possible. And because he’s so fucking gorgeous, he has no problem getting whoever the hell he wants, whenever the hell he wants. He’s an asshole. That’s all he’s ever been, and that’s all that he’ll ever be. And I was the dumbass who let my guard down and let him shatter me completely.”

  She shakes her head, sitting back up. “Derek Mykels may have been the guy who jumped from bed to bed just to have fun. But that was all until his feelings for you finally came to light. Why do you think things fell apart between the two of you? You said one minute things were great and then they weren’t…”

  I shrug. My mom is nuts. Completely off her chain. Maybe?

  She chuckles. “Do you know why?”

  I don’t say anything, but she doesn’t wait for an answer, either.

  “Because he realized just how much he loves you, and it scared the shit out of him.”

  “What? Yeah, okay, Mom. You lost it.”

  “Oh, no. I most certainly have not. I’m telling you, Ellie… Derek isn’t the type to fall in love and just give his heart away. He, too, has been hurt in the past.”

  “How do you know that?”

  Mom smiles. “Honey, I’ve been around a lot longer than you have. I’ve seen this all play out before. Now that he’s finally realized his heart desperately wants you, he’s afraid of what can happen. And guess what? He’s afraid of hurting you. He doesn’t think he’s capable of giving you exactly what you need, a man who will treat you like the queen you are. He’s afraid he’s going to mess up. But sweetheart, you’ve gotta trust me. He loves you, and now, he’s going to realize that all he wants is you, and no other woman will be able to compare.”

  Tears fall from my eyes at an unsteady pace. I can’t help it. I hate crying in front of my mother, but the things she’s saying to me right now, I just can’t deal with. It’s just too real.

  “Aww, come here, sweetheart,” Mom says, bringing me into her embrace.

  I easily give in and cry into her arms.

  “Mom, what am I going to do?” I ask, finally resigning my fight. Maybe she knows what she is talking about after all.

  “Everything will work itself out soon. You’ll see. And Lauren? Sweetheart, she can never be mad at you for any of this. She’s your best friend, and trust me when I tell you that all she wants is for you to be happy.”

  I pull away slowly and look into my mother’s eyes. “I hope you’re right, Mom. I don’t know what I’ll do without Lauren in my life… and Derek.”

  She smiles sweetly at me. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”

  29

  Derek

  It’s been two weeks since I’ve last seen Ellie, two weeks since my surprise party. To say that it’s been sucking is an understatement. It fucking blows big donkey nuts. I’ve called her and sent her numerous text messages, but all of them go unanswered. She fucking hates me right now and has every right to do so.

  At first, I thought maybe Lauren was right. Maybe Ellie didn’t hate me. But after two or three days of screening my calls and ignoring my messages to her, I knew my sister was wrong. Maybe I should give up. Maybe I should just stop.

  But I feel like I can’t. I need to see her or at least talk to her. I’ve even tried sending flowers, chocolates… teddy bears–yeah, me. Derek Mykels, sending teddy bears to a woman who won’t even acknowledge me anymore–to her apartment and her job. But not a single word from her. That shit doesn’t happen. At least it had never happened to me before. I was the one who got chased. But look at what Ellie’s doing to me. She’s got me weak, down on my knees, begging her to forgive me. Forgive me for being an ass.

  Forgive me for being a fucking screw-up.

  “Dude, you think you’ll be back to doing tats any time soon? I’ve got chicks calling left and right, wanting to book appointments with you,” Danny whispers the last part to me as he finishes ringing up a customer whose belly button he had just pierced. The girl who had just turned eighteen not needing consent from her parents smiles at him as he hands her the receipt.

  “Thanks, doll. Make sure you follow the instructions and take care of that piercing the way you’re supposed to, or it’ll get infected… and we wouldn’t want that,” he says, winking at her. Knowing Danny, she’s just his type. Long silky hair. Beautiful face. Perfect body, curvy in all the right places.

&
nbsp; Once upon a time, that would have been my type, too. But now, I can’t seem to get pretty brown eyes and long dark hair out of my mind. Fuck.

  “Thank you, Danny! I will,” she replies and turns to walk away.

  Once she’s reached the door, Danny confirms my suspicions. “Fuck, what I’d do to hit that…” he’s staring at her ass with a smirk on his face.

  I shake my head and chuckle. “She’s barely legal… didn’t she just turn eighteen?”

  “Yeah… three days ago. Your point?” he asks, still watching her walk away.

  As she rounds the corner and goes out of sight, I say, “C’mon, dude. You’re too old for her.”

  Danny turns to face me and nudges me on the arm. “Fuck you, man. Did you not see the way she was flirting with me? I bet if you weren’t here, she’d ask me to take her round back so I could show her around.” He chuckles like the asshole that he is.

  “She was probably hoping you’d give her a discount.”

  “Whatever, man. How ‘bout you get off my back and get your own shit together first?” He closes the computer and begins counting the money we’ve made from the day. I haven’t contributed a single dime.

  I shrug. I know what he’s getting at. I’ve been a complete loser since Ellie walked away and haven’t tatted a single customer. I can’t fucking concentrate. I’m only here because I don’t know what else to fucking do with myself. I miss her. Danny also thinks I need to keep trying harder to get her back. But what more can I do?

  “She’s obviously better off without me. She hasn’t answered a single one of my calls or texts. I think we’re totally done.”

  We grab our things, close up, and walk out of the shop together, and he reaches to grab my arm, pulling me in the opposite direction of the way I was going. “Come with me, man,” he says.

  “Where the fuck are we going?” I ask.

  “Somewhere to clear your mind.”