by M Dauphin
“Oh my God, finally!” She claps her hands and smiles, turning all giddy and wide awake, even though she sounded like death a few minutes ago. “How was it? Was it as amazing as you remember? Was it long? Did it lead to anything else?” She nudges me and I groan.
“Amazing, yes, yes, and no. It did not lead to anything else.” I giggle. “Ish.”
“Ish? What the hell does ‘ish’ mean, Nora?”
“We sexted?” My face squishes up and I close my eyes.
“You sexted?”
“Kind of?” I answer, shrugging. “I mean, he kissed me and it was hot and amazing and everything I remember and then some. It was months of sexual frustration built on an entire month of working so close to him and not being able to touch him. Then he just stopped and said he’s leaving the country and that I’d see him Tuesday.” I shrug. “So after he left, I got out big pink,” I chuckle and she squeals with laughter. “And I had some fun with him.”
I can feel my cheeks burning red.
“Wait, wait, back up.” She scoots sideways and faces me. “He’s out of the country?”
“Yes. Family in Canada I guess.” I shrug.
“And you decided after he left you high and dry you were going to sext him up?”
“Yep.” I smile, proud of myself.
“And how’d he take it?”
“Not sure. I only sent him the tease,” I say, grinning. “He didn’t get the full show.”
“Oh my God, this is classic, Nora. Of fucking course you two would play games after all this time.”
“He started it,” I grumble, throwing my feet over the side of the bed. “Come on, we need to get ready for work.”
I stand and march across the room, going straight for my sweats.
“It’s cold as hell in here, Ava.”
“I know. I love the air conditioning!” She curls back into bed and sighs from under the massive pile of blankets. Immediately, she peeks her head out and yells for me.
“Yes?” I come around the corner to see her head poking out from under the blankets.
“You two would be good together. I just know it.”
“Stop it, Ave.”
“No, seriously. You deserve someone who’s going to be afraid to lose you. I know that’s him.”
I roll my eyes at her and walk away, her words ringing in my head as I make my coffee. We have a few hours still until we need to be at the shop so I take my time getting ready. Music blaring, I walk in on Ava picking out an outfit and plop on her bed.
“Which one looks better?” She turns with two of the exact same shirt in her hand, just different colors.
“Uh… black?”
“Really? With the blonde hair? It doesn’t look too… smutty?”
“Honestly they both look amazing on you. Why are you so worried?”
“I have lunch with Marcus today.” She huffs and tosses both shirts back in the closet and I smile.
“So that’s going well, I take it?”
“Something,” she mumbles, searching for another outfit to wear.
It’s hot outside so I choose a summer dress and flip flops, tossing my hair up into a messy bun so the humidity doesn’t turn me into a poodle, and head out the door. Typically for work I’d layer on the makeup, but today I’ll just end up sweating it off.
After an hour of helping her get ready, we rush out the door and grab iced teas from the local bakery on the way to work.
I feel like this past month has been nothing short of go, go, go, and no time to relax. Ever since I brought in Smudge, I’ve been inundated with decision making and changes and marketing-strategy talk and it’s all amazing, but today will be nice just to get back to what I do best.
Fashion.
The store opens with a line waiting outside to grab up the new line of flip-flops I’m launching today. Locally made, they’re the most comfortable sandals I’ve ever worn. Plus they are crazy cute. First ten people in the store get them for 40% off, hence the line.
We’re so exhausted by the end of the day that neither of us hears the front door ding at five minutes until closing time.
“Nora?” I hear my dad’s voice call from the front of the store.
“Dad?”
What the hell is he doing here? He’s supposed to be in Chicago!
I round the corner, barreling out of my office to see him standing in the middle of my store with a proud smile on his face.
“This place looks amazing!” he boasts, turning and checking it out. I can’t help but smile at him.
“Thank you. What… what are you doing here?” He’s not in uniform, not that he would be, but I don’t typically see my dad outside of his uniform. Even when I lived in Chicago, he lived for the job, always working. He hasn’t been down here since before Mom died… there was never a reason to come back.
“I thought it was about time I visited my baby girl,” he says, smiling. “I’m so proud of you, Nora. This… this is amazing.” He smiles at me and I go in for a hug.
“I’ve missed you, Dad.”
“Chicago isn’t the same without you, Nora. But it looks like you’re really making a name for yourself here.”
“I think I am. Business is doing great.”
“That’s awesome,” he says, nodding. I know he’s here for something, but what, I can’t pinpoint yet. I’m sure it’ll come out soon.
“So what are you all the way down here for?”
“Can I not just come see my baby girl?”
“I mean yea… but...” I shrug. “Are you sure that’s all?”
“Well there is one more reason, I guess,” he says, a smile breaking.
“Did she say yes?” I ask, grinning. He chuckles and shoves his hands in his pockets.
“She did,” he nods.
“Oh that’s so exciting, Dad!” A genuine smile brightens my face. I’m so happy he’s found someone that he loves. I was so sure after Mom died he was never going to try again.
“Is she here?”
“She is. She’s waiting out in the car,” he says.
“Go get her! Jesus, Dad, don’t make her hide!”
He chuckles and heads outside, returning shortly with Peggy in tow.
“I’m so happy you’re okay with this,” she says after hugging me. “I told him only if it’s okay with you. It is okay with you, right? I don’t want you upset over any of this.” She’s speed talking and all I can do is smile.
“Stop!” I laugh. “It’s perfect, I’m so happy for you guys. Really. My dad needs someone to keep him in line now that I’m not there.” I wink at her and she smiles.
“Great. That’s awesome.” She looks around the place. “This is pretty impressive.”
“Thank you.” I smile and start showing them around the store. It’s not that big, but it’s mine and I’m proud of it.
My dad seems to be more worried about the security of the building than the objects on the shelf, but Peggy is total opposite. She ends up buying a few things that I try to tell her she can just have, family discount and all, but Ava takes her card before I can protest any more.
“Are you guys in town for a while?” I ask, walking out to the car with them.
“We head back on Wednesday. We’re hoping for dinner at your grandma’s tomorrow night? Are you free?”
Tuesday.
Tuesday night.
Of fucking course.
“Yep, totally free.” I smile hesitantly. Shit.
“Great, see you at six? Six good?” he asks. I glance back at Ava who’s waiting at the door and she smiles and nods.
“I’ll close this place up,” she says, and then looks at my dad. “She’ll see you at six.”
After they leave I turn and look at Ava and she raises an eyebrow at me.
“Looks like tomorrow’s going to be a pretty exciting day,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
“Yea,” I huff. “Come on, let’s head home. I have to make sure I have clean clothes. And panties, and matching
bras… and an outfit for my grandma’s house,” I grumble, locking the door behind me.
All this time I’ve waited to finally allow myself to be with Max and the first chance we’ve got has been squashed by dinner at my grandma’s house.
Not that I’m not looking forward to it, but it’s been a long time since I’ve had sex. Almost seven months actually…
Tomorrow should be fun.
I shoot a text to Max, the first since Friday night’s extravaganzas.
Me: May need to cancel tomorrow :/
I don’t want to cancel, but I haven’t seen my dad in months. I should be there with him. Family first. My phone dings just a few minutes after I hit send.
Max: Not possible. Text when you’re free. I’ll be waiting.
I read the message over and over and grin.
He’ll be waiting.
Maybe I should just leave him waiting.
Right. Like she’ll cancel on me. I had a fucking chub all goddamned weekend from that vixen. The little stunt she pulled isn’t going to fly. I need her.
Now.
“Good to see you made it out alive,” Deig says from the driver’s seat.
“Yea, yea. Laugh it up. You’re not the one that was cavity searched.”
“Whatever, man. Just be happy they didn’t take the drugs.”
“Can we not talk about it right here? Or ever?” I toss my bag in the back of his car and slide into the passenger seat.
I’ve never been stopped at an airport. Not until today. Today they thought I looked the part of a criminal, so they pulled me to the back room for the full search. I guess the tattoos made me a target for inspection. I’m just thankful at the time I had already checked the majority of the supply and only had two bottles on me. With the labels on the bottles they didn’t raise any eyebrows. What did raise eyebrows, though, was the anger they received from me for threatening to turn them in for profiling. They don’t take too nicely to threats. Not at an international airport.
“I’m not making that fucking run again. You’re going next time,” I grumble, shifting in my seat.
“Or we just drop that part of the gig. We don’t need it now. You know it as well as I do. We get what we need from close to town anyway. No need to have to go out of country for that shit.”
“Yea,” I mumble. I don’t feel like making that call right now. I need to get home, nap, shower, and make sure Nora’s not ditching me tomorrow. I worked too fucking hard this last month getting her to trust me just for her to blow me off.
Deig leaves me at the apartment to grab lunch with Ava. He’s really taken to her, and she to him. I just hope neither of them fuck it up. Deig’s like a lovesick puppy, and when he’s crushed he takes it hard. The last break up hangover lasted him at least a year and it was the most annoying year with him yet.
I lock the door behind me and get to organizing all these pills. I left the phone here that the addicts use—no reason to give them my personal number. Grabbing it and turning it on, the dings of messages start and I roll my eyes.
Three days. Three fucking days and their worlds are ending without having me here.
I need a fix, man. Sold all mine. Need more. Where are you?
Hey, when can we meet? Party tonight at the Frat and I need shit.
Hey Max. I had fun last time we partied. You should call me.
The last is from some bitch I fucked last year. A year and she’s still scrambling after me for another taste.
I delete all the messages and grab my case, starting to place the bottles neatly inside before locking them all away and hiding it in my closet again.
It’s time for a shower and bed. Tuesday will be here in about three hours and I’m not waiting any longer to taste her again.
***
My alarm wakes me from a very nice dream of Nora, blaring into my ears like a fucking trumpet.
Jesus.
I huff and sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. It’s still dark outside but that’s fine. I told her Tuesday.
It’s motherfucking Tuesday.
I smile and grunt, standing up and stretching. My entire body is sore. Lately I haven’t been working out as much, but I think a run is in store this morning.
The Oklahoma heat and humidity is already sweltering and the sun is just starting to peek over the horizon. I’ve lived here my whole life, but I’ll never enjoy the heat of summer. It’s beautiful here almost year round, but there’s a few weeks of the year that makes me want to move cross country.
After I’ve started some music and stretched out my sore muscles, I start my run. Typically I’ll only do a mile or two in the morning, but today I’m ending my run on Nora’s street. Grinning, I wipe the sweat from my brow and walk up the steps to her apartment.
Knocking on the door, I peek in the windows and wait for a light to flip on. The sun’s just starting to peek over the horizon now so I know they’ll be getting up soon.
What’s better than an early wakeup call from a hot, sweaty man?
Not much.
Well… sex with her would be better.
“What?” Ava grumbles before she realizes it’s me standing here. Her eyes come into focus and she smiles. “And to what might we owe this pleasure, Mr. Holzer?” She leans against the door, letting it swing open the rest of the way. I peek behind her and see the apartment quiet and empty.
“Just out for a jog. Thought I’d come by and say hi.” I flash a smile at her and she rolls her eyes at me.
“I’m certain. You live clear across town. This isn’t a typical jog route, I’m sure.” I watch her look behind her then she leans in closer to me. “She’s sleeping in that first room on the left. I’m not telling you to go wake her up, but I’m going to take a shower. You look thirsty. And Nora likes coffee in the morning. I definitely wouldn’t ever think about waking her up without coffee.” She winks and turns, heading back to the bathroom. I smile and walk inside their apartment, locking the door behind me and heading to the kitchen. I’ve only been inside this place once before and I was too focused on the woman in front of me to really notice anything else here.
It’s cute. They’ve definitely decorated to their tastes. Girly. Feminine.
I don’t do decorations. Too much clutter in the way doesn’t make sense to me.
I find the coffee pot easy enough and start brewing some for her before I go on the hunt to find a glass for water. I hear the shower water turn on and smile to myself.
I like that the roommate is on my side. It’s making this way easier on me.
The coffee finally finishes brewing and I find a tray on the counter to put together all the possible ingredients she’ll need to make it just the way she likes. Balancing the tray, I open the door and manage not to spill anything on her floor as I walk into the room.
She’s sprawled out in bed, the bright white sheets tangled around her body. Luscious curves peek out from under her blanket, her hair fanned out on the pillow, a stark contrast between the black of her hair and the white of the pillowcase.
I set the tray on the desk next to her bed then sit gently on the bedside next to her.
“Morning, princess,” I whisper. She starts to stir in her sleep, burying herself in the blankets.
“Not ‘till my alarm goes off,” she mumbles, wrapping herself up like a burrito.
I let out a chuckle and pull the covers back from her beautiful face just enough so the light hits her eyes. “Shit,” she groans, then opens her eyes and locks gazes with me.
“Hey,” I say, smirking.
“Max?” Her eyes go wide.
“It’s Tuesday.” I flash a wide smile at her then reach down and let my fingertips brush against her lips. She’s speechless, frozen in place under her pile of warmth. “I waited all weekend to touch these again,” I whisper, then lean in and press my lips to hers softly before pulling back to see the shock on her face.
“What are you doing in my house?” She sits up straight, pulling the blankets around he
r. I grin at her, then wink and stand from the bed.
“Just reminding you it’s Tuesday. There’s coffee on your desk to help you wake up. I’ll see you later, Nora.” Heading towards the door, she stops me before I make it out to the hallway.
“I told you I may have to cancel,” she groans.
“You did,” I say, nodding. Turning, I pin her with my gaze and watch her eyes fill with lust.
“I did,” she whispers. “My dad’s in town. It’s dinner at my grandma’s tonight.”
“Great. What time?” I raise my eyebrows and smile at her.
“Uh… after work.”
“I’ll be there. Can you text me the address? Or should I pick you up? I can pick you up.” I nod, turning to leave.
“You’re not invited, Max!” I hear her yell behind me.
“See you tonight, princess!”
She growls from the bedroom but doesn’t retaliate anymore. I smile and head outside, making sure the handle’s locked behind me, then start my jog home.
By the time lunch comes around I’ve gotten more work done at home than I did all week last week.
On the way to the boutique I make a pit stop, albeit a little out of the way, to the college. I’m meeting Bryce to make an exchange of items I’d rather not have on me at a family dinner tonight.
“Hey man, long time no see,” he says, walking up to our usual meeting place by the fountain. It’s hot as fucking balls and I just want to get this exchange over with.
“Yep. Been busy.” I say, slowly scanning the students on campus. It’s not as busy here during the summer than the other two semesters which makes me a little less nervous that someone’s going to realize what’s going on.
“Yea. All there?”
I nod and grab hold of the bag a bit tighter before moving it off my shoulder.
“Get rid of it, and not one fucking mention of my name,” I growl, eyeing him carefully. This is the first chance I’m giving him to sell this and bring us back a massive profit. With the graphics business speeding up I don’t have time to make all the deliveries. Having someone on campus will help tremendously.