It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Falls in Love

by Drea Riley

  ***

  I watched in curiosity as Zeke spoke into my phone. I guessed Rob had somehow pried Rachel’s phone away from her, and he and Zeke were making plans for us to meet the next day for lunch.

  The thought of a double date brought a smile to my face. I glanced down at the huge diamond on my finger. I am getting married. I’M GETTING MARRIED. I let myself fall back on the pillows in glee. But my celebration was short lived due to what I heard next.

  “No, I don’t think I could flush it down the toilet—it’s kinda big.”

  Flush what down the toilet? Here I am all happy, and these two yahoos are talking about plumbing! Hmph!

  I was just about to ask what was going on when I sat up and noticed Zeke shrugging out of his button-down shirt. Truthfully, he’d looked damn good tonight in that light blue shirt and his dark washed jeans. DAMN GOOD. But the sight of him in nothing but those jeans was doing things to my insides.

  I licked my lips and watched as he tossed his wallet, watch, keys and some loose change on to the dresser. He needed to get off that phone and fuck me now, or I was going to do it myself.

  Just then Zeke turned to me, and I noticed his pants were undone and clinging solely to his slim hips and tight ass.

  He caught me staring, and something yummy and dangerous flashed in his eyes. I didn’t catch what he was saying to Rob on the phone. I was too busy thinking about those lips moving against my pussy earlier.

  Oh yeah, baby, enunciate those words. Look at your mouth. I could ride your face forever….

  I was so turned on that I sat up and whipped my shirt over my head. As soon as my shirt was off and my hair pushed out of my eyes, I saw…Zeke hurling my phone down the hall and Claymore giving full chase.

  ***

  “MY PHONE!” Jonica was screaming at Zeke at the top of her lungs. Something about ass kickings and vet bills if Claymore got sick.

  Whatever. He was sure the dog wouldn’t actually eat the phone, but that was the last thing on his mind. Jonica was pissed, and with her ranting and raving, her chest was heaving. OH was her chest heaving.

  Zeke knew he should make some sound of acknowledgement, maybe even remorse, but he just couldn’t muster any. The only sound in the room was the startled yelp from Jonica as he tackled her and brought her under him on the large bed.

  “Yada yada, you’ve talked long enough. I’ll get you a new one and take Claymore to the vet for some dog laxatives tomorrow.”

  Jonica giggled as Zeke nibbled on her neck.

  “Oh yeah? You think kissing me and making me all hot and stuff is gonna make me forget, but you owe me a phone. And I am not picking up regurgitated electronics in the morning.”

  “Mmm-hmmmm,” Zeke muttered, making it obvious he wasn’t listening.

  “Fuck you.” Jonica smacked him on his shoulders, attempting to push him away.

  “About time,” he grumbled as he pushed her skirt up and sank home.

  There was no more talking for a long time, unless you count the people Claymore called as he merrily gnawed away on Jonica’s phone.

  Part TWO.

  Crack the Whip

  Rachel sat at her desk and looked out the window, watching as Robert came inside the leasing office. He walked past the desks, nodding at her as he made his way to the back. That was all he did—nod. He’d been with the apartment complex for almost two months, and he had yet to say one word to her. It wasn’t for lack of trying on her part. She said hello, good morning, good evening, goodbye, and everything in between. Yet he said nothing in return. She didn’t get it. Rachel guessed she should be happy he acknowledged her existence, but she wasn’t—she wanted more. She was a friendly person whom everyone liked. She wasn’t conceited, but come on, what was not to like? She was cute, sexy, and cheerful. A real life Mary-fucking-sunshine. Hell, she wanted her damn self.

  Rachel had always been popular and surrounded by lots of friends, the same ones who’d voted her most popular girl in school. She was one of those people who made friends wherever she went. Fuck that—she was best friends with Jonica. Couldn’t anybody claim that. Jonica was the Everest of best frienddom. Oh, she was cordial. Her favorite saying was, “I can be civil to a dog.” But don’t let that fool you. Jonica didn’t have friends—well, except for Rachel—she just knew people. She was like that joke about the guy everyone knows, only backwards. Jonica knew everyone, and if she didn’t know you, she knew all about you. And Rachel got past her. She was Jonica’s BEST FRIEND. Rachel ate at her house. Top that, Jonica cooked for her. That was Rachel’s ticket into heaven—she’d befriended Jonica. She could see herself waiting at the pearly gates, talking with Saint Peter:

  “Yeah, but I’m Jonica’s best friend!”

  “Oh really, you’re that Rachel? Well, come right on in.”

  Yet Mr. Tall-and-Silent couldn’t be bothered to say one damn word to her. All he did was nod or grunt. Who the hell grunted? But Rachel was going to get him to speak to her. Even if all he did was grunt her name as she rode him the way she did Ribeye, the mechanical bull at the bar where she and Jonica hung out.

  Getting up from her desk, she followed him to the back. He was alone in the employees’ break room. Perfect. Looking around to make sure no one else was around, Rachel pulled her scooped blouse a little lower, showing off an amazing view of her cleavage. The sight usually rendered men speechless, but maybe it would have the opposite effect on him and actually motivate him to speak. They were a great asset to have, and she was very blessed indeed.

  “Morning, sugar,” she purred. Rachel called him everything but his real name, which she only knew because she’d read it in his employee file, to try to get a rise from him. If he couldn’t be bothered to tell her his real name, she wasn’t going to use it. Childish? Hell yes, but it was the principal of the thing.

  “Bitch, cover that shit up. This isn’t your damn house.”

  Glaring at Jonica as she made her way into the lounge, interrupting her seduction, Rachel

  flipped her the bird. Then Rachel shimmied her pencil skirt a little higher and posed in her red stilettos. She was curvy, not tall, so she always needed the extra height. Unlike Jolly Green Jonica, Rachel missed her chance in the vertical line.

  Speaking of which, why the hell was Jonica talking to her man, eh, mark anyway? Squinting her eyes, Rachel stared at them in amazement. They were communicating—no words, but communicating nonetheless. Jonica was growling and Robert was grunting, both seeming to understand each other. He moved over so Jonica could reach the coffeepot. What the fuck was that all about? He doesn’t respond to plain English, but Jonica can bumrush her way to the coffee and he acknowledges that? Oh, hell naw. Rachel was not trying to compete with her girl Jonica, but she was not chopped liver.

  Clearing her throat, Rachel made sure tall, dark, and surly noticed her. When they both turned from their worshiping of the coffeepot,

  Rachel pasted on a megawatt smile and made her way over to the counter.

  “Did y’all leave any for the rest of us?” Rachel asked in his direction. The man didn’t even blink. As she poured herself a cup, Rachel stood as close to him as possible, so that he had a clear line of sight down her shirt. “I had those beans ground at that new coffee bar down the block. Do you like them?” Rachel was so not talking about the damn coffee beans. Taking a deep breath, she held it, forcing her glorious rack even further up. What did she get for her little experiment in self-asphyxiation?

  NADA. ZILCH. NOT A GHAT DAMN THING.

  That hard hunk of hotness blinked at her with no reaction; his dark blue eyes were so blank, Rachel wondered if the boy was special. As in on the short bus. He nodded his head at Jonica and tipped his paper cup at Rachel in a small salute before sucking his breath in and skittering around her. His arm grazed across her nipples, almost sending her off like a bottle rocket. Rachel held her breath until he was out the door. She watched him walk away, her brow furrowed. Damn, that

  tool belt was sexy as hell slung l
ow on his hips.

  “Bitch, you’re pathetic. Why are you tormenting that poor man? Better yet, why are you tormenting me, tiptoeing around like Peg Bundy?” Jonica’s gruff laughter brought her out of her daze.

  “I don’t get it, Nica. Why won’t he talk to me?” Rachel pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Hey, hey, don’t be pushing them things up at me. I’m not Rob.”

  Wait a min. Did she just call him Rob?

  “Did you just call him Rob? How do you get to call him Rob?”

  “He told me to.” Jonica shrugged her shoulders before taking a long sip of her coffee. The laughter in her eyes gleamed evilly behind the rim of her mug. Da hell?! How did she get to be the one who heard his voice? Rachel wanted to grill her. Was it melodic and smooth, or was it deep and gruff? Did he have a mysterious accent? Did he speak so softly it was like a whisper on a breeze? She had questions, damn it, and Jonica was casually strolling back to her office with a donut clamped between her lips and a cup of coffee in hand.

  “Hey Rachel, maybe if you learned to walk he’d talk to you. Watch the master,” she tossed over her shoulder before stuffing the donut back in her mouth. Squaring her shoulders and lifting her head, she took off in a stroll that made Rachel’s mouth drop open. The bounce and sway of her trunk made Rachel almost question her sexuality. There was a rhythm to it. A swagger. Rachel was very impressed.

  “Bitch,” Rachel called at her.

  “Yo daddy,” she sing-songed back.

  Going back to her desk, she answered her phone. “This is Rachel, how may I help you?”

  “Well, don’t you sound so professional,” a teasing voice answered her.

  “Mami, how are you doing?”

  “Going to be better as soon I get back home. Jonica busy?”

  “You know she is always available to you. Hold on, let me transfer you.”

  Rachel transferred her after a quick byplay with Jonica. Something wasn’t right. Mami had said ‘when she got back home,’ and that set off alarm bells for Rachel. Making her way to Jonica’s office, she stopped outside the door, hearing Jonica’s raised voice. Shit, this wasn’t good. Opening the door, she made her way inside to see an agitated Jonica trying to gather her stuff. This was definitely not good. Something was wrong. Rachel waited patiently for Jonica to finish and almost lost her eardrums when Jonica screamed for her at the top of her lungs. And then almost got trampled as Jonica flew by her. Rachel barely

  made out that Mami was in the hospital across the street and that Jonica was planning on walking. Even so, it was lunch, not to mention hot as hell. Rachel went to her desk, grabbed her purse and started up her car. It would be faster, not to mention she could find out why Mami was in the hospital.

  ***

  Fuming, Rachel drove back to the office. That ungrateful little bitch. All she got for her troubles was getting the passenger door kicked. If Jonica scratched up her paint job, Rachel was going to kill her! No jury would convict her of murder once they saw what her poor little baby had suffered. Parking the car, Rachel quickly ran around to inspect the damage to the door. Kneeling on the floor, she carefully checked to make sure that Jonica didn’t damage it. There was a scratch and a small dent! Oh, Jonica was going to pay to have it taken care of! Rachel was very particular about her baby. She could still remember when she brought her home and Jonica first saw it.

  “What the hell is this, Rachel? Did you pass the circus and see a for sale sign on the clown car?”

  “No chinges, Jonica. I think it’s perfect, suits me just fine. I can’t get a truck like yours. I would need damn seat cushions to see over the freaking steering wheel.”

  “For real, Rach. How the hell am I supposed to get in here?”

  “That sounds like a personal problem, Jonnie.”

  Yeah, Jonica never did like her car. She was forever threatening to run it over with her big-ass truck. And Rachel always threatened her with bodily harm. She was short but deadly. She was also the coordinator of the leasing office. As the lead leasing agent, it was her job to know what apartments were available and fill them with residents. She also planned all the social activities and parties for the community, while Jonica did all the paperwork. They’d both be out of a job if Jonica had to deal with people all the time. Jonica was loveable—it was just that she didn’t have time for people who didn’t pay their rent on time, complaining of this that or the other, little kids flushing things down the toilet now their bathroom is overflowing. She didn’t play around. Hell, she was fluent in four languages and could say “additional charges” in fifteen! Rachel was the diplomat of the duo. Everyone liked her. Wait, scratch that—everyone except Rob. But she was wearing him down. Yes she was.

  Walking into the office, Rachel quickly picked up where she’d left off before she dropped Jonica off at the hospital, and she was kept busy for the rest of the afternoon. Rachel knew how important some of the files Jonica had been working on were. Like Jonica, she also knew those files didn’t matter a damn when it came to Mami being sick. She was quick to delegate some of the work to the agents working under her, clocking both herself and Jonica out and returning to the hospital to wait with her best friend.

  As she parked the large SUV in the visitor lot, she thought about Jonica kicking her car door shut. She made sure the driver’s seat was as far forward as it would go, the mirrors at odd angles and the stereo turned all the way up on some bluegrass country satellite station before locking the doors and setting the alarm. “Kicking my poor car, just cuz she ain’t getting laid on the regular. HMMMPH, bet she’ll think about that when she gets her tits stuck in the wheel.”

  Rachel merrily made her way into the hospital, thoughts of Rob lingering with her joy at pulling a prank on her best friend and her nervousness for the woman who’d become her second mom.

  After visiting with Mami and making sure she was well taken care of, Rachel went home to start her weekend. Saturday was spent shopping and running errands. As well as talking to Jonica several times, getting regular updates on Mami’s health.

  Sunday was Rachel’s favorite day. It was the only day she got to sleep in and laze around the house. Sundays were all for her to do whatever she wanted. That usually meant staying in her pajamas all day long and parking herself in front of the TV, watching all her shows on the DVR or reading the tons of books on her to-read pile. Today was no different. After eating some cereal she started watching her shows when the phone rang, interrupting a serious scene.

  “I’m still mad at you,” Rachel said into the phone, automatically knowing it was Jonica.

  “Come on, Rachel, it was a teeny-tiny scratch. There was no real big damage. Plus, I’m the one who needs Beltones now. I should sue you for the damage you caused to my eardrums.”

  “Nope, I don’t care. Besides, you started it.” Rachel knew she was being sensitive, but she was anal about her car. She always kept it polished, shiny, and detailed. Just like her house. Rachel’s little intricacies drove Jonica crazy, especially at the office, which was why they lived in separate houses. They were best friends, but they couldn’t live under the same roof.

  Rachel and Jonica carried on their normal banter for a while before the sound of nurses entering the hospital room alerted them to the time. “Listen, girl, they’re back to talk to Mom again. I’ll call you later tonight when I get home again, okay?”

  “Okay, sweetie. Keep me posted and hey, I love you—you know that, right?”

  “Aww, shit, Rach. Mami ain’t dead, and I am not going without you, ho. Cut all that mushy shit out.”

  Rachel and Jonica shared another laugh. “Hey Rach, I love you too.”

  Rachel sat staring at the phone. A slight sheen of tears glistened on her lashes. Jonica didn’t always say it, but she knew her girl loved her. Now if she could just find a man to love her too. Rachel took a moment to herself and said a quick prayer of thanks before going back to her shows.

  Monday morning sneaked up on her. Adjusting
her makeup, she walked back to her desk just in time to see the object of her lust in the break room and her favorite flirt buddy walking through the door. An idea was born in that moment. Much like a light bulb, a smile lit Rachel’s face.

  Ben Wakefield had been delivering packages for the past three years and was a big flirt. Rachel loved their banter. Ben was funny as hell and a great sport.

  “Hey baby, missed you last week. My day isn’t the same unless I get my daily dose of sexy,” Rachel teased as she walked over to him to sign for the packages.

  “Oh, so I’m sexy again? I’ve been here three times last week, and you’ve been so busy batting them doe eyes at tall and ugly over there, you couldn’t even sign your own name,” Ben whispered conspiratorially to her. “Why, Ben Wakefield! You know you’re my numero uno. My first, my last, my…and he is not ugly. Don’t be jealous, baby; there is room enough for the both of you.”

  “Girl, where is Jonica? You’re laying it on real thick, and I do not hear her shouting out for you to hush yet.”

  “In the break room. Mami is still in the hospital, so if you want to talk to her you’d better hurry. Hey, you know you should go by and see her later. She could use a hunky man like you to speed her recovery.”

  “Speed her recovery? No thank you! Jonica’s mom is always pinching my ass when she’s here. I’ll send her some flowers, but I am not about to be locked in a little room with that woman. She would take serious advantage of my delicate nature.”

  “You do have such a nice ass, Ben—you should be honored. You don’t even want to know what she did to the guy before you. Well, since you’re here, how about you say something real sweet and make me feel better?”

  “Make you feel better? You’re the one who’s been ignoring me!” Ben pouted but sent her a sly wink.