Mollify

by Xavier Neal

  “No.” Her arms fold across her chest. “I will pick up our daughter now. And I will take her to that fucking play birthday party in the morning but I will not be missing work tomorrow night. Not again.”

  “Tony will understand—”

  “It’s not about him understanding Logan! For fucks sake be present in someone’s life if not mine at least your daughters.”

  He presses his lips firmly together clearly biting back something. “Can’t someone else watch her?”

  “It’s not their job for Faith to be pawned off on them!”

  “Stop yelling at me,” he frustratingly grumbles gripping the back of his neck. “I know it’s not. But this is an emergency.”

  “This is not an emergency. This is piss poor planning on your part.”

  “Maxx,” he holds up a hand. “C.J. And Erin?”

  “Out of town. Romantic getaway. Must be nice.”

  He cringes at her added commentary.

  Pretty well played if you ask me. No. Not choosing sides. Not a mama’s boy either.

  “Luke and Stuart?”

  “Stuart’s got a shoot out in Florida. They’re taking Alex to Disney.”

  “Tony is obviously with you and I don’t trust Lex with children alone. What about —”

  “They have dinner plans with friends from out of town.”

  Dad’s eyes drift to me and I point to the sticky note. “I have a date.”

  “With Megan?” Mom’s attitude shifts sweetly.

  Happily I nod, “Yeah.”

  “I like her,” she softly remarks. “A lot.”

  “Kid, can you reschedule your date? I’ll make it up to you. I’ll—”

  “No!” Mom shrieks without letting me agree or disagree. “Do you know how many times he’s had to cancel shit to be there for his sister? He’s not her father! You are!”

  “Maxx—”

  “No!”

  “I’ll do it,” I volunteer on a sigh, not sure I can handle hearing this argument continue to run in circles.

  Swiftly Mom starts, “Kid—”

  “It’s cool. Instead of dinner out, I’ll just have her come over for a movie after Little Bit crashes or something.” Skeptical she gives me a look. “Swear we won’t do anything to wake her up.” When her face threatens to smile at my added comment I push until she does. “We’ll take the couch for a spin instead.”

  “Dean Kellar!” She squeaks hitting me in the chest.

  Dad clears his throat, “I’ll make it up to you Kid. Promise.”

  I nod and mom sighs, “I’m gonna go pick up Little Bit.”

  “Maxx—”

  “Don’t talk to me.” She points at him. “Just...don’t.”

  With her keys in her hand she storms out of the room, slamming the front door upon her exit.

  Why is it when chicks get really angry they slam shit? Is that necessary?

  “Fuck!” He yells running his hands down his lightly stubbled face.

  “Can I say something?” the words cause him to nod at me leaning against the counter once more. “With all due respect Dad, I get why mom’s pissed.”

  “So do I.”

  “No.” I shake my head. “Why she’s really pissed.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Dad, think about it. Mom’s sacrificed job opportunities for you. When you left to fight pro she stayed behind and raised me. After she had Faith she let you travel and gave up more chances to do what she loves to take care of both of us. You work ridiculous hours between the gym and the youth program. She’s always putting this family first and I think she needs you to do it for her. I kinda think she deserves that.”

  Slowly he exhales, “You’re right....when the hell did you get that smart?”

  “I like to think last summer,” the joke makes him chuckle.

  “You’re not that smart.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me? Between my aunts and uncles and you and Mom, I’m a fucking guru in the love department.”

  “Sex and love are two different things Kid,” he clarifies. “And that girl you brought to introduce us to, is the kind who deserves to know that they are. You feel me?”

  “Yeah.” I aimlessly nod. “Yeah I do.”

  And that’s part of the problem. I haven’t done anything in the love department since I let her move away with my favorite teddy bear. I hope I don’t fuck this up like I know I’ve got a huge chance to.

  Chapter 8

  Dean

  Thankfully, Megan was cool about babysitting with me for our date. I expected some resistance, but got just the opposite. Apparently she loves kids. Lucky me.

  “No you have to wear the big hat Bubba,” Faith giggles placing the pink hat full of feathers on my head.

  “I agree,” Megan laughs tossing her head back, her gorgeous hair dangling in a way that paints an erotic image in my head.

  I’m so fucking horny everything this chick does could be an erotic image. This is the longest I’ve gone without busting a nut. Before you suggest masturbation, I prefer to keep that to a minimum. Most of the time pussy is at my fingertips, literally. This one chick shit has its drawbacks. Yeah, yeah, I know it’ll be fucking worth it.

  “You do, do you?” My face turns to Megan. “You think this giant flamingo on my head looks good?”

  “You look perfect.” She counters with a sweet look.

  “No,” Faith speaks up clonking over to her dress up trunk in glass slippers Aunt Erin bought her. “Needs a scarf.”

  “A purple one,” Megan adds.

  “Why are you encouraging this fashion disaster?” Immediately Megan laughs once more and I lean over placing a quick kiss on her lips, the urge to do it every time she’s this close too overwhelming.

  “Like you never played dress up with me?”

  “To be fair we also played ninjas.”

  “We play ninjas,” Faith says wrapping the scarf around my neck. “And princesses. And Zoo keeper. And Duck Duck Tickle—”

  “What’s Duck Duck Tickle?” Megan asks Little Bit.

  “Bubba! Do Duck Duck Tickle!” She squeals sitting down next to Megan who is wearing a pair of clip on pearl ear rings and a crown.

  “Usually it’s with her and Alex, but it goes like this.” I stand up. Touching their heads back and forth I say, “Duck. Duck. Duck.....Duck....” When my hand lands on Faith I say, “Tickle!” And start tickling her sides until she’s kicking her feet and squirming like crazy.

  Megan laughs and joins in the tickling until Little Bit can’t take it anymore.

  The two of us stop and I say in my best serious tone, “Okay Little Bit. Bath time.”

  “With bubbles?”

  “There are other kinds of baths?” Megan scoffs.

  “Bath time!” Faith sings joyfully.

  “Get your jammies and meet us in your bathroom.”

  “Okay!” She rushes out of the playroom leaving us alone.

  “You are a total natural with her,” Megan coos tugging me by the scarf, drawing my face closer.

  “I’m a total natural at a lot of things,” I flirt.

  To my surprise her face hardens.

  Wrong line? Fuck. I’ve always said shit like that and it’s worked out for me.

  “Dean—”

  “I—”

  “Got my jammies!” Faith appears in the door way again. “Come on Pretty Megan! I wanna play mermaid with you!”

  “Coming...” She lets go of me, the hurt look still in her eyes.

  I never thought having experience in the bedroom would have such a fucking drawback. What do you mean I’m rubbing it in? No that’s—. But you don’t understand I—. You’re not gonna let me finish talking are you? Oh...Oh I see. Well shit. I don’t fucking mean to rub it in...

  The two of us shred our dress up clothes and follow Little Bit into the bathroom that is closest to our bedrooms. While there’s a bathroom that connects directly to bedroom, there’s another one not too far away for Little Bit and th
e playroom to share. Inside we fill the tub with warm water and bubbles while Faith grabs her favorite bath toy to take with her. Megan carefully places her in the water while my baby sister splashes around and sings songs at the top of her lungs.

  Not just kid songs either. And not on key. She gets that from Mom. Tone deaf.

  We play mermaids and Barbies with her until the water cools, which is when I let Megan wash her down while I wash her hair, a process that she always fights me on insisting I get bubbles in her eyes.

  I don’t know! I could! Accidents happen. She’s got a lot of hair.

  As the water drains from the tub I ask Megan, “Do you mind helping Little Bit get dressed while I start dinner?”

  “That sounds like a task I can handle.” She offers me a sweet smile free of animosity.

  Help me keep that shit gone please. I’m still learning.

  “Bubba, I want Pretty Megan to have the Batman bowl.” Faith insists at the same time a giant fluffy pink towel is wrapped around her.

  “But that’s Bubba’s bowl.”

  Little Bit gives me a stern look that’s too adorable to deny. “Fine. Fine. Can I at least eat out of the My Little Pony bowl?”

  “But not mine,” she declares before giggling at Megan who is ruffling her hair with a separate towel.

  With a smile of my own, I jog out of the bathroom and down the stairs to start a romantic gesture that just might undo the damage I caused earlier.

  You know sex isn’t as hard as dating? I don’t have to say much to get sex right. Pretty much a swivel of the tongue does all the hard work. A good suck helps. Are you whimpering already? See. I’m. That. Good.

  A short while later, Faith comes running in the kitchen with Megan behind her, fingers stretched out yelling, “The Tickle Monster is gonna get you!”

  “Ahhh!!!” Little Bit giggles latching her body onto my lower leg at the same time I go to pour the contents of the pot I’m holding. “Bubba save me!”

  Placing the pot back down, I pick her up and wrap her tightly in my arms. “Bubba will always save you.”

  “I know.”

  “Tell me why?”

  “Family first!” She raises a hand in the air victoriously.

  “Exactly.”

  Faith giggles again and curls up in my arms. “I’m hungry Bubba.”

  “I know.” I return to pouring the contents into bowls.

  “Applesauce?”

  “Apple slices,” the correction makes her start to pout. “With peanut butter.”

  “Yay!”

  Megan appears beside us. “What’s for dinner?”

  I look her in the eyes, “Spaghettios.”

  Her jaw drops and her eyes widen. In an airy voice she asks, “Y-Y-You remember?”

  “How could I forget?” I counter. “I only ate them at your house....with you.” My head tilts towards the open living room area that’s connected to the kitchen. “Look.” Megan’s face turns to see blankets and pillows laid out across the hardwood floor in front of the T.V.

  Just like when we were kids and her mom would let me spend the night because she had suspicions about my dad beating me. I don’t know if she ever tried to call CPS or anything official, but she never turned me away from spending the night when Megan asked. After a while she just began to assume. She never let me stay away too long either.

  “Cheese,” Little Bit whines on a yawn, warning me there won’t be a fight for an early bed time. “Cheese Bubba.”

  “Okay, I’ll get cheese and everything else. Can you go sit on the blankets with Pretty Megan and pick a movie?”

  Her bottom lip slides out and I get a glimpse of how tired she actually is. “I want my Bubba...”

  “Little Bit—”

  “It’s okay,” Megan steps in. “You can take her to the blanket and I’ll finish dinner. Just cheese on top right?” I nod. “And veggies? What are we doing?”

  “You want carrot sticks or celery sticks.”

  Faith gripes. “Bleh.”

  I demand, “Pick one.”

  “Carrots with ranch.”

  “Of course,” Megan says to her kindly. “Pick a good movie okay?”

  She nods and rubs at her eyes digging her body closer to mine. With Little Bit in my arms I sit on the blanket and start clicking through her favorite movies until she decides on one. The three of us snuggle together eating dinner and watching a movie I’ve seen for the hundredth time. Midway through the movie, no more than 10 minutes after Faith is done eating, she’s passed out with her head in my lap.

  “She’s out,” Megan whispers pointing to her.

  “Yeah. She had a long day. Birthday parties tend to wear her out.” Pushing the hair out of Faith’s face, I smile down at my baby sister thankful she crashed earlier than I expected.

  I can move up the other aspect of this date quickly.

  “I’m gonna go tuck her in. Why don’t you pick us a movie that doesn’t involve singing along?” the comment makes her laugh as she takes the remote from me.

  Carefully, I lift Little Bit up and carry her off to her bedroom where I tuck her in, not waking her up once. I leave a gentle kiss on her forehead, a whispered I love you, and shut her in her room.

  By the time I get back down stairs, Megan’s putting the dishes in the kitchen after having cleared the space for us to stretch out. The pillows are now propped up against the couch making it easier for the two of us to lay down while watching whatever she picked.

  “Did you pick something good?”

  “Does that mean not a chick flick?” She jokes sauntering back into the living room as I kill the lights.

  “I didn’t say that.” I surrender my hands. “You did.”

  “Shut up,” she chuckles snuggling against the pillows until I’m beside her where she instantly shifts those snuggles to me.

  Perfect.

  Pressing a button to start the movie, I sigh, “Thanks again for being so understanding about this date. I swear, this was not what I wanted to do.”

  “But it was so much fun,” she replies.

  “I wanted grown up fun.”

  “So sex?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Megan mumbles, “You didn’t have to.”

  “Is there something wrong with sex?”

  Her lips press together but she doesn’t say anything.

  I open my mouth to argue but stop.

  Wait. What did you say? Don’t push? But I don’t understand. But I...fine. Have it your way. We will try it your way. This time.

  “We didn’t get to talk much about you last time Megan. I mean we did a little today. I know you wanna be a Kindergarten teacher. That you and Liv have been best friends since your senior year. But what about your parents? How are they?”

  “Dead.” The cold reply has me sitting up straight.

  “What? What do you mean dead?”

  “How many things could dead possibly mean, Dean?”

  Realizing how dumb that sounded I try to force my body back down to relaxing before I say something to close her up permanently. “I meant...what happened?”

  “Boating accident on the lake. Drunk driving on a boat is just as stupid as it is in a car.”

  “Were they driving?”

  “Dad was.” She nods slightly, sliding herself back into my arms. Taking the invitation I wrap both of mine around, embracing her tightly. “I was 17. After that I was moved back here to live with my aunt and uncle, which was a nightmare.”

  “Why?”

  Megan hesitates to respond but when she does her voice is barely audible, “My aunt hated me because I was a constant reminder she never got to have children. And the drunken loser she calls a husband tried to sneak into my room at night to touch me.”

  My body flexes around her protectively.

  Nothing will hurt this girl if I have anything to fucking do about it.

  Softly I plant a kiss on the side of her forehead. “I’ll keep you safe too. Just like Little Bit
.”

  She smiles and lifts her gaze up to me, thankful I assume for chance to change the subject. “From the Tickle Monster?”

  “Nah...” my fingers tickle her sides until she’s withering in my grip.

  Breathless and spread underneath me, Megan cries out, “Mercy! Mercy!”

  “You give up?” I roll over onto my side, my hand still stroking her stomach.

  “Yes,” her laughter finally starts to simmer. “You are way too good at the tickle game.”

  “I’ve had some years to practice,” I comment at the same time I drag my fingertip down, lightly grazing her hip, earning me an instant shiver. Before she can freeze up or have a comeback that puts a wedge between us I lower my mouth to hers sucking the breath she just gained back out of her.

  Fuck. Kissing this girl is enough to make me wanna blow my load on it’s own. Or is that lack of having come in so many days?

  My hand continues gentle strokes up and down her stomach, across her hips and down her thighs, avoiding the sweet spot between her legs on purpose.

  I want her to really want it before I take it to that level. Anticipation is a huge key. Write that down.

  Megan’s tongue submits to mine while her hips beg for my hand to slide into that one place it’s refusing. Her whimpers are choking my self-control, forcing my free hand to grip the pillow aggressively. Carefully I undo the button on her jeans, the motion alone enough to falter her breath.

  Fuck. If she’s this easy to please from just being undressed, the orgasms are going to kill her.

  Taking my time in fear of going too fast and meeting resistance, I slide off her jeans successfully. However when I go to remove her black thong her hand lands on top of mine, stopping me. “Dean wait.”

  In a painful groan I do.

  “Can we just...like..” the sentence struggles to come out of her mouth. “It’s just...it’s not...you’re not gonna like it.”

  Is she fucking crazy?

  “Baby.” My hands move from underneath hers, gently stroking the outside of her soaking wet panties. My cock knocks against my jeans knowing what typically comes next. “If it’s a piece of you, I’m gonna love it.”

  “But Dean, I don’t...” her voice drops down to a plea. “Can you just...” the confusion and desperation is tearing me in different directions.