How to Liv

by Megan Keith

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, thanks again for knocking sense into us. We went out to dinner last night and had such a great time,” she gushed.

  “Sounds like dinner’s not all you had!”

  “Olivia Moore!” She slammed her locker shut and turned to glare at me with a red face. “It’s not like that! Eric isn’t like that!”

  “Chill Jess, I was only joking!” I laughed, loving the fact she got so easily riled up.

  “I know, it’s just,” she took a couple of steps closer and lowered her voice, “Eric and I are taking things slow, physically, I mean. We’ve kissed a couple of times but that’s all.”

  “Good for you Jess.”

  “I’m blocking my ears. I do not need to hear this stuff!” Karen waltzed in with her hands over her ears and a smile on her face.

  “So are you both coming to the pub tonight?” Jess asked, ignoring Karen’s comment.

  “Most definitely.” Karen nodded enthusiastically.

  “It depends what time Joel finishes work. Maybe for a little while.” I shrugged.

  We made our cuppas and headed into the factory to start our day. It was obvious by everyone’s moods that there would be no overtime tonight, all of us eager to start our weekends.

  “Oh, you have to see this,” Karen said, pulling me into her office. “Madi went shopping yesterday and bought this wicked stamp for me.” She pulled out a piece of paper and stamped it. “I tell you my girl is so in tune with me it’s not even funny! What do you think?”

  She turned the paper towards me and I burst out laughing. The stamp read, ‘YOU’RE AN IDIOT!’

  “I think you’re in trouble when she hits her teens!”

  “I know, right? She’s just gone twelve and already making me so proud. But wait there’s more…” She turned the knob on the side and stamped again ‘I’M A GENIUS!’ We both laughed. Then she turned the knob again ‘AMAZEBALLS’ and the fourth and final one was ‘MEH…’

  “Classic!” I laughed.

  “I’m going to have so much fun with this!”

  And boy did she ever! All day our paperwork had stamps on it. Where we would normally stamp ‘COMPLETED’ on a job sheet she would stamp ‘AMAZEBALLS’. There was a staff memo from the office reminding people to wash their own cups, which we always do, it’s the damn office people that don’t, Karen of course stamped that one with ‘YOU’RE AN IDIOT!’ On her sandwich bag after she ate her mediocre lunch from the deli she stamped it ‘MEH…’ She carried that darn thing in her lab coat pocket all day and used it wherever possible. It was hilarious and we were just about pissing ourselves with laughter all day. I was going to have to thank that daughter of hers the next time I saw her for making my day so fun.

  When we clocked off that night at five o’clock she stamped ‘I’M A GENIUS!’ next to her name on her clock card. I was having such a good time,I decided to go for drinks with them all, without waiting on Joel. I gave him a call but he didn’t answer, so I sent him a quick text instead:

  Just knocked off work. Heading to the pub for drinks. Come pick me up when you finish?

  “Hey Karen, do you think you could swing by my house and pick me up again?” I asked, catching her just before she took off in her car.

  “Sure thing, but you owe me.” She pouted unconvincingly before cracking a smile.

  I quickly rounded her car and jumped in mine and we both drove back to my place.

  “Do you mind if I get changed real quick?” I asked as I reached the driver’s side window of her car, idling behind mine in my driveway.

  “Not at all. I’ll come in, I need to use your loo anyway,” she answered, shutting off her engine.

  “Okay, but you’ll owe me.”

  “Whatever.” She laughed.

  I went into my bedroom and started taking off my work clothes, I felt sweaty and dirty. I heard the toilet flush and yelled out to Karen.

  “Are you in a hurry, Kaz? Or do you mind if I have a quick shower?” I poked my head out the door and caught her as she was exiting the bathroom.

  “Well, you do kind of stink.”

  “Har har.”

  “Go ahead, I’m in no hurry.”

  “Thanks. I won’t be long.”

  I ducked back into my room and picked out a pair of jean shorts and a halter neck top that was tight over my breasts but then hung loose from the bust line down. It was black and sparkly and swung nicely. I also picked out a black lace bra and matching knickers, something special that Joel hadn’t seen me in. I wanted to make an impression on him tonight. I raced into the bathroom and had a record fast shower, I’d washed my hair the previous night so I didn’t let it get wet. I didn’t know what time Joel would finish work and I didn’t want him to get to the pub before me. I idly wondered if I should pack a bag, I guessed I would be spending the night at his place. Maybe packing a bag was a bit too presumptuous though, so I decided against it.

  I ran back into my bedroom and put on a pair of black sandals, then ran into the lounge to where Karen was seated.

  “Shit! I forgot perfume!” I swung around and raced back to the bathroom, spraying myself liberally with my favourite scent.

  “I said I wasn’t in a hurry, calm down!” Karen yelled from the lounge. I slowed down and walked back towards her. “What’s got you so stressed?” she asked.

  “Joel’s picking me up from the pub.”

  “Say no more!” She eyed my outfit. “Well you look great, he’ll be putty in your hands!”

  “Putty? That stuff’s soft, right? Not quite what I was going for!” I giggled.

  “Okay, he’ll be hard as a rock then!” Karen joked and we both laughed as we made our way out the door.

  When we got to the pub Eric and Jess were seated at a table opposite Daniel and Scott, Karen and I took seats at the end. Eric was quick to stand and ask what I would like to drink, to which I answered a Malibu and Coke. After I’d finished that one, Jess bought me another. At seven o’clock, I checked my phone for the umpteenth time and there was still no reply from Joel. I was getting hungry and everyone was talking about ordering meals, so I sent him another text:

  Are you coming to the pub? The others are about to order food if you’re interested…

  I hit send and waited, holding my phone and hoping for a response. I didn’t have to wait long:

  Sorry. Just ducked home for a quick shower. Leaving in about ten. Order me something. I’ll see you soon x

  The little ‘x’ on the end sent a thrill through me again, as did the fact that he was leaving it up to me to decide on what to get him to eat. It was so casually done, as if we were a couple that had been together for ages. It felt nice.

  I followed the others up to the counter to place our meal orders. I decided on a steak for Joel and a chicken schnitzel for me, just like our first meal together, although I didn’t order any entrees or a third main like Joel had done. I then went to the bar and ordered myself a third Malibu and Coke. It was going to be my last though, because I didn’t want to get drunk like last Friday.

  When I sat back at our table Jess scolded me for buying another drink while placing one she’d bought in front of me. Well I guess I will be drinking another then – can’t let it go to waste.

  I watched Eric’s eyes follow Jess when she walked from one end of the table to the other and then sat back down. It was obvious he was absolutely smitten. I caught his eye and he smiled bashfully before re-focusing on her. Eric had always been such a hands on guy, but I noticed he barely touched Jess. In fact he looked like he was having difficulty, he looked awkward, like he was restraining himself. Jess sure had done a number on him, or maybe I had with my comments. I felt bad that he looked so uncomfortable. I was about to lean over to tell him as much when Joel walked in the door, catching my eye immediately.

  He was wearing dark grey cargo shorts and a white polo shirt. I loved him in white. His hair was still damp. He hadn’t shaved, he looked ruggedly handsome with the extra hair on his fa
ce. When he reached me his cologne hit me like a tidal wave of desire.

  “Hi.”

  “Hey.”

  He gave me a sweet peck on the cheek, his stubble grazing me just nicely, then sat down next to me. His arm came around the back of my chair. He leaned in close and took a deep breath.

  “You smell so good,” he breathed out. I’m glad I ran back for that perfume.

  “Mmm, so do you.”

  He leant in for another kiss, this one not so sweet. His tongue lashed my mouth and his facial hair gave me goose bumps. His hand cupped my cheek and I moaned when he pulled away.

  “Sorry I’m so late.”

  “Not a problem, I’m just glad you made it before the food arrived.”

  “Mmm food, I’m starved. Thirsty too. Can I get you a drink?”

  I motioned to the two drinks in front of me and he raised his eyebrows.

  “No, you’ve got that covered, I see,” he said with a smirk.

  “Yep, my friend’s here are feeling rather generous.”

  I looked over to Eric and Jess and smiled. Then I looked back at Joel who was frowning at Eric, I put a reassuring arm on Joel’s thigh. A smile replaced his frown but he wasn’t looking at me. I followed his line of sight and saw that he was still watching Eric. Only now Eric had his arm around Jess. That is what Joel had seen, that is what had turned his frown upside down. Not me.

  “How’s it goin?” Joel asked Eric.

  “Fantastic!” Eric replied, looking at me and then to Jess who smiled back at him. They officially, finally, looked like a couple.

  “I take it that’s what you have been helping your friend out with,” Joel whispered in my ear and I nodded, still watching the happy couple. “And that’s why they’re shouting you drinks?”

  “Yes.” I turned to look at Joel. His eyes burned bright and intense. I couldn’t look away.

  “You are amazing, you know that?”

  Then he kissed me again, hot and intense, and if it hadn’t been for the conversation that we’d just had I would say that his kiss almost felt like he was staking his claim. Maybe he was. That thought, of me being his, as well as the intensity of his kiss had me worked up in no time. I was ready to beg him to take me home, I wanted him so bad, but instead he pulled away and abruptly stood to leave the table.

  “I’m going to get that drink now.” I swallowed and watched as he walked casually to the bar.

  “You know, at first I thought he was just being rude,” Karen said from the chair beside me. When did she sit there? “But now I know it’s just that he can’t see past you.”

  “Huh?”

  “Yeah, I’d be unable to form proper sentences too, if I’d just been kissed like that,” she said with an eye roll. “Joel, he didn’t even say hello to anyone at the table, just bee lined his way to you.” I looked at her quizzically, trying, and failing, to get her meaning. “That guy wants you bad. You, my friend, are all that he sees.” She nodded in the direction of the bar to where Joel was standing watching me. “See what I mean?”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat at the passion I could see, he was practically dripping with it. There was no mistaking it. He wanted me. I wanted him. Bad. But was that all there was to it? I know on my side it wasn’t, I was falling for him, I just hoped he was falling for me, too.

  “On the hard stuff I see?” Karen said to Joel, when he sat back down beside me with a lemonade.

  “Oh, hey, Karen. Yeah, someone’s gotta stay sober,” he said in jest.

  “Yeah, Olivia is a pisshead,” Karen countered and my jaw dropped.

  “Really?” Joel asked her.

  “No, not really,” Karen replied when she saw the murderous look on my face.

  “Hey, this is my last one, I swear.” I cut in.

  “Last two,” Joel corrected.

  “Okay, last two then.” I smiled back at him. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

  “She may not really be a pisshead but she is a genius,” Karen said to Joel. I felt her push something hard against the back of my hand under the table.

  “Ow.” I looked down and started laughing hysterically.

  “See?” Karen lifted my hand to show Joel. “It says so right here.”

  Joel laughed loudly when he saw the stamp on the back of my hand that read, ‘I’M A GENIUS!’

  We were all still laughing when our meals arrived a minute later.

  “I hope you like your steak well done,” I said to Joel, looking at the plate in front of him.

  “Perfect babe. Spank you.” That set us off laughing again.

  We ate and laughed and chatted away. Joel was getting on so well with my friends. Long after the plates were cleared he was still happy to sit and chat with them and it felt great, like he belonged. I drank my two drinks and was grateful for the food in my belly, it was stopping me from getting too tipsy. I did feel a little lightheaded, though that was partly to do with the company. Having Joel by my side with his hand touching my thigh, his laughter in my ear, his cologne in my senses, made me drunker than alcohol ever would. It was a different kind of intoxication though, and it was far more potent.

  “I want to take you home now,” Joel whispered in my ear, his voice thick with promise, his hand squeezing my thigh like an exclamation point to his words. I couldn’t speak. Instead I nodded and made a move to stand.

  “We’re gonna head off.” He abruptly interrupted the flowing conversations at our table. “Thanks for a great night guys.”

  Everyone said their farewells and we quickly left, hand in hand. In the car park, Joel pushed me against the tray of his ute, his hands either side of my hips, caging me in. He leant down and gave me a kiss that I felt all the way to my toes, before briskly pulling away to open the passenger door for me. I slid myself past him, closer than necessary so that my breasts brushed his chest, then into my seat. Joel slammed the door behind me and quickly rounded the front of the car. When he got in, he started it straight away but then turned to me instead of putting it in gear. I was one step ahead of him and already had my face over his side of the car so he didn’t have to lean too far to press his lips to mine once more. His hands came up to cup my cheeks and mine found their place on his chest. The desire behind his kiss was undeniable, he was just as turned on as I was. Before long we were both panting, this time I pulled back first. I couldn’t wait for him to get me home to his bed.

  Joel put the car in gear and reversed out of the car park, catching my eye briefly as he did. I could see the need behind his eyes and when he swallowed I was sure that he could see that same emotion reflected in mine. After a couple of minutes of driving I realised we were headed in the wrong direction.

  “I thought we were going to your place.”

  “Yours is closer,” he stated matter-of-factly. He did have a point. But his house didn’t have my sister. I sighed. “Is that a problem?”

  “No, I guess not.”

  Ally would still be at work for a couple more hours and I didn’t know if she was going to come home straight from there either. We had plenty of time, I suppose.

  When we got to my front door I had trouble unlocking it, my mind was turned into mush due to Joel’s hands groping me. I couldn’t function as his hand squeezed my hip in that way that he seemed to like so much and his teeth grazed my neck. I was on fire, burning for him and unable to get the key to turn. Eventually I got it and practically fell into the entry way. Joel stumbled after me, pulling me into his arms. I kicked the door shut and he pushed me back against it briefly to kiss me again. I pushed him away and he momentarily looked surprised before I grabbed his hand and practically dragged him to my bedroom.

  Once there, I shut the door and threw my belongings on top of my chest of drawers. Joel emptied his pockets of his wallet, keys and phone. Then something else - a couple of condoms.

  “You came prepared,” I muttered with my lips against his neck. I had to stand on tippy toes to reach it. His arms engulfed me in a hug and he tipped his he
ad back. Then it was my turn - he kissed my cheek, jaw, neck and I moaned.

  “I missed you,” he murmured against my neck, his hot breath and his words sending shivers through me. His hands slid down and he groped my butt, then started walking me backwards to the bed. He lowered me gently, laying down on top of me, placing the pressure of his hips right where I needed it most. He gently sucked on my lower lip and then bit it, licked it better and then bit it again. I loved when he did that, it drove me wild. My hands came up to run through his hair. His mouth moved from mine and down my neck onto my chest. He swiped the material of my halter top and bra sideways, tugging my breast toward his mouth, he sucked on my now bare nipple.

  I realised by doing this he’d bypassed seeing my bra. I’d picked out my underwear set specifically for him and I wanted him to see so I pushed him up by the shoulder. He looked at me quizzically but moved anyway. He rolled onto his side and I stood from the bed.

  Being summer, it was still light out and this time I hadn’t closed my blinds. My bedroom window faced the small neglected courtyard so no one could see in but I was suddenly nervous about the one set of eyes that were trained on me. I’d never done a strip tease before but the look on Joel’s face made me want to try it.

  I lifted my top slightly so I could access the button of my shorts. I undid it and my fly slowly, looking up at him as I did. The heat in his stare that was focused on my hands moved up to my face. I bit my lip and he groaned. The sound empowered me to continue. I moved my hands into the sides of my shorts and slowly pushed them downwards. Keeping my legs fairly straight I bent at the hip to remove them and then I flung them at him. He caught them and held them in his lap, his eyes still on me. Next to go was my top. I criss-crossed my arms in front of me and grabbing the hem on both sides. I slowly teased the material up my body. Joel’s eyes continually flicked from my thighs to my eyes, to my mouth, to my eyes and back down again. He licked his lips hungrily and the brief sight of his tongue had my inner muscles aching with need.

  When the hem of my top reached the base of my breasts I pulled it free and clear over my head and tossed it at him. I felt the static attacking my short hair. Knowing that it was now probably sticking up in all places, I quickly ran my hands over my hair to smooth it down.