by Joz Maxel
Movement in the big window catches my attention. I take one more drag, throw the cigarette down on the ground and stand up. I rub my hands together and give myself a little pep talk. It's now or never, asshole.
As I approach the front steps, I hear a female voice, but she sounds way too young to be Nova. With my last step on the porch, I see a larger silhouette leaving the living room.
Shit.
I prepared myself for Nova, not Corey. I look up at the black inked sky with a few pinholes for stars. I shouldn't be here. What the fuck was I thinking? I haven't been seen yet. I could totally slip off the porch and make a run for it...
"Are you lost?" The sweet voice brings my attention to the now open door.
"I, um...Hi. Is your mom here?" I'm smiling at the young girl who's standing right out in the open, her hand poised on the handle to slam the door in my face.
"She's out with my dad."
"Oh, well..."
"Leni, popcorn's ready. Did you pick..." A man comes around the corner holding a bowl in his right hand, while stuffing his face with popcorn with the other. All the air in my lungs leaves me. He's not a man, he's a boy.
My boy.
He's looking at who I now know as Leni, and when he finally notices me, he stops chewing. His steely grey eyes are staring right at my watery ones. He's exactly like me, only eighteen years younger and a clean canvas of skin.
"Rourke." I take a step back and put my hands over my mouth. My head is spinning. He's a beautiful sight I never thought I'd be blessed enough to see again. This is not how I thought this would play out, not even fucking close.
"Len, take the popcorn and get the movie ready." He hands the bowl to Leni in hopes she'll walk away from the scene about to unfold.
"You okay, Rour?" Her look of concern isn't necessary. I look down at her and give her a wink, and Rourke gives her a tight-lipped smile. "I'll be right there, okay."
"Okay." Leni takes the bowl and slowly turns around to head to the living room. Before she's out of sight she looks over her shoulder. "You're Dane, aren't you?"
Sliding my hands in my pockets, I pull my shoulders up to my ears. "How'd you know?"
Leni looks to Rourke, then to me again, and says, "My brother looks just like you." And then she's gone.
I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding and focus on the sight before me. In a small sliver of time, I've picked out all the features that he got from me, and what his mother has blessed him with.
Rourke clears his throat and closes the gap between us. Using the door as a shield, he closes it enough, just so his frame can be seen. "They're gone for the night, so..."
"Yeah. I, um...I just wanted..." Deep breath in, deep breath out. "I'm staying at the Sheraton, downtown, room five thirteen." To my right, I look at the piece of shit car parked in the neighbour's driveway and a couple at the end of the street, walking their poodle. Looking left, I see a few vehicles passing by in each direction. I look down at my black and white chucks and scratch the back of my neck. I chuckle to myself at how idiotic I must look to him.
"I'll tell them. I have to get back to my sister." Using his thumb to gesture behind him, I take my cue and nod my head.
I turn to walk back down the stairs when Rourke very quietly gets the last word in. "Mom always said how much we look alike."
I'm fucked.
Corey
Redstone's is a trendy hot spot nestled in the belly of the downtown core. From the street, all you see is a store window displaying the intricate interaction of copper and steel metals roped together, making up an old whiskey distillery.
Sitting with us at one of the high tables, situated by the floor to ceiling, fully stocked bar are our best friends, Brenda and Grant, the owners of this trendy eatery.
Grant is giving us the highlights of when he found out his wife was blessing him with twins. "By the time I came to, Bren was already dressed and waiting for me in the car." He looks at his wife, who's shaking her head at how ridiculous he was.
"You guys have waited so long for these moments. Cherish all of them, even the crazy ones." My wife is beaming at them with her hands crossed over her chest. "I can't wait to snuggle those babies."
Grabbing Bren's hand, Grant directs his question to me. " You gonna try for that boy of yours?"
"Not so sure about that, but I sure like trying." I turn my focus to Nova, who's looking at me like I have six heads. "What?"
"You want another one, do you? Have you forgotten how much fun Lo was as a newborn?" I'm not sure how to proceed, be cause the look she's giving me is uncharted territory.
Putting my arm on the back of her chair, I lean in to whisper in her ear. "How could I ever deny making something that's a part of me and a part of you?" She leans her head to me so I can taste the sweet spot just behind her ear.
"Okay, you guys are getting me horny and I have to go to the bathroom. Girl code, Nova." Grant stands up to help Bren pull her chair away from the table. Before Nova pulls away I nestle my nose in her hair, knowing I got her mind going on the possibility.
"Right, sorry." Nova places her napkin on the table and moves her chair away from the table. Before she's too far for me to notice, Nova looks over her left shoulder and gives me a wink. There's going to be some baby making tonight.
A small slip of a woman walks up to our table holding on to some papers. She whispers something to Grant and he starts to nod his head. "Tell him I'll be right there, Denise. Sorry, my friend, but duty calls." He stands from the table and grabs his phone. "This shouldn't take long."
"No worries, man, take your time." As he walks away, I pull my phone out of my front pocket when it starts to vibrate. The display shows HOME is calling. I check my watch to see it's after eleven.
"Hey, Rour."
"Hey. Is mom with you?"
I glance toward the bathrooms to make sure. "Not right by me, no. What's up?"
"I have a message to give her when you get home."
"Rourke, just spit it out."
"My father was here."
I push the phone closer to my ear and cover my other ear with my hand to drown out the noises. There's no way I could have heard him right.
No fucking way!
"What did you just say? It's loud in here. I must not have heard you rig—" I stand up to scan the crowd, making sure Nova doesn't sneak up on this conversation.
"My father!"
I stop scanning at the same time I see Nova and Brenda emerge from the ladies' room. Taking a deep breath, I sit back down in my chair and rest my free arm on the table. "He was at the house?"
"He was, but I told him to leave."
"You okay?" I close my eyes and squeeze the bridge of my nose.
"I guess."
"We'll be home soon."
"Okay. Corey, I didn't mean—"
I know exactly what he's going to say, so I cut him off before the girls reach the table. "Don't worry about it." I end the call and put the phone back in my pocket before Nova notices.
"Babe!" Nova steps in-between my legs and throws her arms around my neck. "I'm ready for you to take me home and fuck me until I can't see straight." Her hooded gaze usually gets me going, but not after that call. Right now, my mind is on Dane and what the fuck he's playing at, but I'll play along for my girl's sake. "You ready to take my fine ass home?" And now she's chortling. Playing my part, I run my hands over her ass and push her into me.
"Why go home? We can use Grant's office in the back. Wouldn't be the first time." I start kissing along her jaw from her chin to her ear.
"Oh my God, just go! You guys are making me sick. I'm gonna find my husband and tell him to take his whale of a wife home. My feet hurt." Brenda sees Grant behind the bar, serving drinks to a group of women.
Nova gasps at her and puts her hands on her hips. "Bren, you're beautiful , glowing and blossoming, and my best friend. I love you the way you are."
"Uh-huh, sure." She makes her way over to our side of the table and gi
ves us each a kiss on the cheek. "Love you, too. Drive safe, and Corey, do your woman right. I hear she's just hurting for an orgasm these days."
My slightly intoxicated wife is trying to stifle her laughter with her hand over her mouth, but it's of no use. I give her a quick smile and a swat on the ass to get her moving. "Hurting for an orgasm my ass! Get your shit together, woman, and let's go so I can do you right."
My thoughts wouldn't stop racing on the way home. Every so often, I would look over at Nova and she would be staring at me, her perfectly shaped eyebrows pulled together, eyes narrowed. I would give her a wink or a rub on her thigh to soften her features, but knowing her as well as I do, she knew something was up. When we got home, I made sure all the windows and doors were locked while she checked on the kids.
Nova finds me sitting at the foot of our bed, elbows resting on my knees, with my hands covering my face in thought.
"Corey?" I hear the hesitation in her voice. I look up and see her leaning against the closed door. I raise my left hand and motion for her to come to me.
"Come here, baby. I need to feel you."
I toe my shoes off and kick them to the side. She makes her way to stand in front of me, placing her hands on my shoulders. My hands make their way up the back of her legs, around her perfect ass, and rest on her hips. She takes her right hand and places it on my cheek, using her thumb to caress over my eyebrow. I turn my head slightly to kiss the pad of her thumb, and in turn she rubs along the seam of my lips.
"Take off your shirt." As she unbuttons her red, long sleeved blouse, I unbutton my black shirt and they both end up on the floor together. I lay kisses over her breasts, which are barely contained in her black lace bra. She reaches behind to unclasp the bra and throws it to the growing pile of clothing. My tongue makes contact first with her hardened nipple, and then my mouth. She arches her back and lets out a soft moan while she runs her fingers through my hair. Hooking my fingers in the waistband of her pants, I slide them down her toned legs.
My wife is standing in front of me in nothing but a smile.
I would love to taste every inch of her, but tonight, my head's not in the game. I need to be inside her and feel her tremble in my arms. I unbuckle my belt and start to undo the zipper when my beautiful girl kneels before me, licking her lips to get a taste. I stand long enough to slide my pants down my legs and kick them to the opposite side of the room. I sit back down as I pull Nova up by her arms from her kneeling position. "Straddle me."
She gets up and places her knees on either side of me on the bed. "Is this what you want?" Her forehead is resting on the top of my head as I guide her onto my hard cock.
I notice the flush of her skin starting between her breasts, working its way up to her neck and cheeks as she grinds onto me. I palm her left breast, bringing her rose coloured bud into my mouth, while playing with the other sensitive tip. Throwing her head back, she increases her speed and rides me harder. "Oh God, Corey, you feel so good."
My right hand follows the path of her flushed skin, up her neck and cheek then rests on the side of her face. I tilt her head toward me, and our lips melt together in a frenzied kiss.
I need more.
I circle my arm around her back, holding her close, and turn us so she's now lying underneath me. I quicken the tempo of my thrusts as I feel the sting of her nails graze my sides. She wraps her legs around my hips, drawing me deeper into her. I know I've hit her sweet spot when she starts biting my neck.
"Oh my God! I'm gonna come!" A few more thrusts and we're both lost in the moment, moaning each other's names on whispered breaths.
Resting on my elbows, I brush the hair from her face and kiss the tip of her nose. "You're my world, you know that?" Her beautiful brown eyes search mine.
"I do."
Rolling onto my back, I pull her close to my side. She rests her head on my chest, right over my heart. I absently trace the cluster of deep red roses I tattooed on the top of her left arm. Over the years, I've added more roses, all the way down to her wrist, with different size skulls peeking through.
"Corey?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you," she tells me as her hand grazes over my abs to rest on my other side. I kiss her on the top of her head and hold her closer before saying, "Love you, too."
Hours later, I look over and see Nova lying on her stomach, arm tucked under her pillow, facing away from me. I pull the covers far enough off of me so I don't disturb her, swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand. Walking over to the closet, I put on a pair of black track pants, black hoodie, and my high top, grey and white chucks. Reaching the bedroom door, I look over my shoulder to see Nova hasn't even stirred.
Dane's the reason I can't sleep, so I might as well go right to the source.
Corey
I need a fucking cigarette. The slow pull of the chemicals going down into my lungs always had a very calming effect on me. The growing red glow eating up the white paper was hypnotizing. Once the cigarette had finished its purpose, flicking it to the ground and stepping on the bud was the final release.
I quit when Rourke became my priority, but when shit happens, I crave one. Right now, I'm craving a pack.
My entire body is wound up tight. I grind my jaw, trying to figure out what the fuck Dane was thinking coming to my house unannounced. I know I made it sound like I would support whatever Nova and Rourke wanted, but standing here, seconds away from seeing Dane again, I'm not so sure anymore.
I brace myself against the door frame and try to take a few deep breaths before I knock. A slamming door at the end of the hall has me turning my attention toward the sound. A man struggling with his small child and three bags of luggage has me shaking my head. Sucker.
I turn my focus back to the task at hand but instead of a beige door with the number five thirteen in black in front of me, I'm looking into the grey eyes of my best friend. Correction, ex-best friend. Everything about him is the same as the last time I saw him, only he's aged.
I don't even process my reaction to him until it's too late. A right hook to his eye sends him stumbling back into his room. I put my hand on the door so it doesn't close on me. "Fuck, Corey! Right off the hop?" He's covering his left eye and trying to focus on me through the pain.
Shaking out my hand, I gain entry into the room and close the door behind me. The only illumination in the room comes from a bedside lamp in the far corner of the room. There's a blue ribbon of smoke coming from a makeshift ashtray perched by the open window. There's a small suitcase to my right on the floor by the television stand. The only bed in the room doesn't look slept in; maybe just laid on for a few hours.
Dane's standing in front of the mirror that hangs above the small computer desk, checking out the damage I caused. "Jesus, man, nice shot." It's already turning a deep red and swelling, giving me sweet satisfaction.
Both hands curl into fists, ready for the second strike. "This funny to you?"
He takes a deep breath in, looks down at his bare feet, and lets his breath out in a slow and steady stream. "No." He raises his head and looks everywhere else but me. "I needed to talk to you and Nova."
I give him a quick nod before making my way around the room. "So, you thought showing up at my house uninvited was a good idea?"
"What would you have done if you were me, Corey?"
"Telephones were invented before you went to jail. How about using one of those first?" I stop at the bedside table and see a very worn out and faded picture of Rourke when he was about four or five, riding the skateboard we got him for his birthday. "Where did you get this?"
"Does it matter? I'm allowed to keep up with my son's life, Corey."
I turn around to face Dane. "Is that so?"
Running his hands through his hair, he tilts his head to the side, eyeing me up and down. "Corey, I have every right to know about Rourke. Yes, I screwed up. I missed out on so much with him. I just want the chance to get to know him."
In two strides, I stand t
oe-to-toe with him. "What makes you think he'd want anything to do with you? You destroyed his mother. You left him. You lost all rights to him when you couldn't keep your shit together!"
The corner of his lips start to curl into a smirk. "Well, we can't all be as perfect as the almighty Corey now, can we?"
I grab his shirt in both of my fists and hurl him against the wall by the window. I lean in close enough that our noses touch, both of us breathing heavily. My voice drops an octave and in a very calm manner, I deliver the warning he had to know was coming. "Stay the fuck away from Rourke. He doesn't need your shit." I let go of his shirt and take a few steps back.
Dane straightens out his shirt before replying. "And what if I can't?"
"You come to my house again, Dane, and there won't be words to say when I'm done with you. Go back to wherever the fuck you came from."
Nova
When I open my eyes, I turn in bed to snuggle into Corey, but his side is cold. His running shoes are still in the same place he left them yesterday, and his running hoodie is still hanging on the back of the door on the hook. The clock on the nightstand reads 6:24 a.m. I hear no voices, so I decide to get up and start my day, maybe even have a cup of coffee, uninterrupted.
Making my way downstairs, I notice the television in the living room is muted, and a head is resting on the arm of the couch. Leaning over the couch, I grab the remote still gripped in Rourke's hand and turn it off. Placing it on the coffee table, I take a seat in front of him and watch as he stirs awake.
Turns out Rourke couldn't sleep, so he thought watching some late-night television would cure his insomnia. The problem with his story is that he sleeps like the dead, so I ask what's up, and that's how I find out he told Corey about Dane's visit to the house last night.