ROCK SOLID TENANT_SINGLE DAD ROMANCE

by ASHLEY LONDON

  “I’ll go and get changed.” And … and … and … he’s disappeared. The basement door closes. But for me and Taylor still, reminisce about that rear view. I tried not to. But Taylor was watching his ass like a passionate love scene.

  “I saw you give him your number.”

  “I did.” I bite into my wrap. Cold from the fridge, but still fresh enough. I won’t speak with my mouthful, but I’m chewing and trying to get some words out that are jibberish. “Nething wron wit dast.”

  “I can’t make out what you’re saying. But there is plenty wrong with you giving another guy your number when you’re still with Marcus.”

  I’m chewing and rolling my eyes. The lettuce is a little soggy; I glare at my wrap to see what else is a little icy wet.

  “I’m not telling you what to do. Just, be smart. Marcus is known to be emotional over you. If he finds out that another guy is moving in here. He won’t like it.”

  The last chew. A swallow. And then me grabbing my car keys. “Marcus doesn’t control me.”

  “If you say so. And please, for now, leave Stanley to me.”

  I shut the door with a slam. An accidental mistake. My keys won’t lock it. After the 3rd attempt it locks. I’m annoyed. She wants Stanley. He’s not her to keep. Let me go to work to complete my 5 – hour shift at a desk handling customer query calls orders from both online and telephone. Easy enough earner. But it gets so daunting doing the same thing over and over.

  …

  I agreed to meet Marcus at his workplace which was a gym that was ironically called Gym-nasium. He told me to apply and work there, that they needed a receptionist. I told him no because the wage is too low. It was actually a little better, but I didn’t want to work with him. Sleeping with him had become enough time spent. And it was only becoming more and more draining to be in his presence. I drove there and parked in the parking lot that was free for gym members and a buddy of their choice. I was his buddy, for now.

  Marcus said that we could speak in the back office where the security camera and his packed lunch was in a container: 2 boiled eggs and a potato salad mixed with plenty of mayonnaise. He was half-way done when I got there and drinking a coke. The staff’s backpacks were there; named lockers, and the companies rota. Loads of empty water bottles were in here too.

  “We could’ve just grabbed some fast food or something.”

  “I have at least 45-minutes break. And they don’t mind you being here since they now you.”

  I put my bag down, and he pulls out a seat for me to sit next to him. We’re facing the spare computer used for when customers come in and need help when their pin code fails them. All their information is stored in files. I know this because my work is similar. “What do you have to say?”

  “No, hello Marcus, how are you doing? Was your workday good so far? Not even a damn kiss. You just come in and ask me what I have to say?”

  I mimic in his winy voice, “Hello Marcus, how was your work day? Has it been good so far?” My sarcasm stinks! “Would you like a kiss?” I take my palm; kiss it - and mail it to him through an invisible phone line. “Happy?” I end it all with my original voice box.

  “No need to be so dramatic!” –

  “And no need to tell me what to do! How about you ask me all those things? Why do I have to ask you?”

  “Because I’m not the one treating you like shit.” -

  “oh, for fuc …” I hurgh with irritation. “Can you stop crying and be honest with yourself about the state of this relationship. Which for one, is on the brink of a serious problem.”

  “I didn’t create it.”

  “Marcus!” I close in the door. His workmates don’t need to hear what I have to say. “Tonight, I’m going to have a drink with another guy.” My heart wants to beat to the drum of anxiety, how he’ll react is like a boner: I’m not scared of him, but Marcus can get under my nails and have me pick at them … so to speak.

  “No, you’re not.” He closes his food container immediately.

  “And why? Why can’t I go for a drink with another man?”

  “You’re with me.” -

  “I’m not your girlfriend. And never have played in that role. In the beginning, me being your girl was nowhere in your sights and you were happy with that. And you know what … as it stands, I’m glad we never made anything official.”

  “I don’t give a fuck about what things were back then. It’s changed. Feeling developed. And I’m asking you now to respect me and my wishes to be your boyfriend.”

  “I can’t.”

  “If you go out with that guy tonight then me and you won’t be speaking. Do you hear me? I don’t want to deal with another guy.”

  I sigh. It wasn’t the way I wanted it to go. But north can go west, and I can’t ignore where the compass blows. It’s not that I’m even upset when I get up and refuse to answer him. He tries to stop me, but to avoid embarrassment, he doesn’t yell or call me back into the office. A few of his colleagues play like they didn’t hear us argue, a girl called Sandra even waves at me awkwardly, I barely smile her way.

  I see Marcus watching me leave and enter my car. It’s a hard thing to acknowledge, but I don’t feel as guilty anymore. I do feel though, that apart of me does care for Marcus, and how even though his games, in the beginning, were what I shielded myself from and brought me to not drop it for him at all, is now no longer an issue.

  There is a text from Stanley on my phone. He wants me to confirm tonight. Will I? Won’t I? I wait for the cars from the left and right to let me pass from the exit of the parking space. And while I do, I think on whether I should meet Marcus tonight?

  Chapter 6

  A black and white Toyota Yaris pulls up to the curb, inside is Stanley, he’s not beaming, but I can tell he’s happy to see me in an outfit that’s no better than Taylor’s but more modest with less cleavage. My heels aren’t that thin or long, and I wear a long coat that’s very silky and more of an acting protection against bare arms when it’s cold: similar to an accessory like my wooden bangles around my wrist, and small hooped earrings.

  He signals with a slanting of his head for me to get into the front seat with him. I get in. We drive off. And nothing is said. I have no idea where he will be taking me. “When you messaged me, I thought you weren’t going to change your mind.”

  “I was feeling a little ill.”

  “But you miraculously improved in those few hours from your jungle flu?”

  I check the text that I sent him … I really did text him that I had jungle flu. “I was never good at lying.”

  “I can tell. I laughed when I read it.”

  “At the time it felt true.”

  “What was the real reason? Or am I not allowed to ask that?”

  “Personal problems.”

  “Boyfriend?” Stanley should keep his eyes on the road.

  “He’s not my boyfriend.” We come to a red light.

  “If that’s the case then I believe you. So, it’s on for me to say you look beautiful?”

  I look out the window and bite the top of my lip with a small smirk. “Maybe?”

  “You look gorgeous.”

  “Keep your eyes on the road.” I’m still focusing out there. And the neighboring car, which is filled with 4 -young men, each wink and give me a cheeky grin. They suddenly stop doing this, and I turn around to see Stanley giving them the death stare.

  “I can’t have them drooling over my date for the night.”

  “So, it’s a date?” I’m still fighting a grin.

  “We’ll see how it goes.”

  …

  I dressed right. Because when he parks the car and we get out to walk, he takes me to a Mexican cocktail bar and we take a seat outdoors. It’s a nice night. Inside is lit with neon blue and red lights; some smooth Mexican music, and plenty of conversation and good moods from those drinking and eating nachos and enchiladas.

  “I like this place. I heard they serve food?”

  “
Are you hungry? I could order a large bowl of nacho’s?”

  “Why not.”

  Stanley calls over one of the waitresses and orders the nachos with melted cheese and avocado. And when it comes to the drinks, it’s two very white horchata cocktails. “There cocktails are the bomb here. I used to come with a few of my army pals when on leave. They have a discount for veterans of all kinds. It makes us proud to be acknowledged.”

  “That’s good.” I get a text: it’s Marcus. I don’t want to destroy the etiquette of a potential date situation. It’s seen as rude. “Do you like the army?”

  “I take it over wasting time in a normal and boring job.”

  “Like mine?” –

  “What do you do?”

  “I just work in an office handling queries from florist orders and customers.”

  “That doesn’t seem like something Megan really wants to do?”

  “Stanley is observant.”

  “He is. From the first time I met you I caught on to you being a little trapped.”

  “Is that right?” Stanley looks good. All black, but his jeans are more washed out: the style, and wide enough for plenty of room for him. He’s doing well with me.

  “What with Taylor. The home. And now to confirm it, even more, your current relationship status.”

  “I wouldn’t say trapped.” –

  “But you could use a change scenery.” –

  “And would you be that change of scenery?” -

  “Early days. But there is something about you.”

  “Typical.” Our horchata cocktails are delivered on a tray and are full of ice and a small peppermint leaf. “Thank you.” The waitress smiles thankfully at me for my manners. Stanley does the same. I take mine. He takes his.

  “What’s typical?”

  “Promises of being a different scenery?”

  “I didn’t promise you anything. I could say, I would like to go back to my car, take you to a secluded spot and make love to you, good love. And that would be a promise.”

  “Make love?” I’m tempted. He got us both hot with that one. “We have food waiting.”

  “We could come back. I know the people here as I’m a regular customer.

  “A bit quick, aren’t you Stanley?”

  “I think you’re a woman who likes to get down to business? And by that, you just want it to be clear from the start.”

  Eureka! No game playing. Stanley gets me. My clit is clicking. And I sure as hell want to have some fun in his car. “Let’s drink these then. And go for a little spin.”

  …

  He took us to an alley where vans would pass only to go through the main gate of the warehouse. But it was rare, he said, at night, to see any come after 11. When he parked up near a wall and switched off the front lights … I climbed on top of him and we immediately started kissing as if the clothes were already off. My hands were caressing underneath his top, and he was giving me a nipple twister with his index and ring finger.

  It was getting me more worked up, and I started to dry hump his crotch area which was already getting hard. But he himself, wanted to gain control of his horny-demeanour and lowered the seat; grabbing me slightly and placing me underneath; pulling my dress upwards and then taking off my velvet red knickers.

  Stanley worked with the cunnilingus, but I was moist, so it didn’t take him or me long to get off his jeans and boxers. He urged his junk inside me and I greeted it with an eruption of my involuntary body that had been wanting this. I moaned and closed my eyes as his head was buried at the side of me to penetrate deeply. He had used a condom.

  I had dreamt about Stanley’s technique in bed from the moment I had laid eyes upon him. Those few nights that I slept, and that one time when me and Marcus were having sex, was enamoured with Stanley’s face which pleased me more than Marcus.

  Stanley pumped away, I moaned each time. So, did he. I ran my palms down his muscular back and stopped when I felt the bumps of his buttocks that I slapped and then left there. I could feel all of what he was doing to me. His stroke game was consistent, and he kept at it for a good 3 – minutes which filled the car with mine and his groans of pleasure. I thought he would stop, but no, he kept on going, and I kept on pushing down on his ass … the car was rocking and squeaking.

  I moved up to his waist. He elevated himself up, pulled out gently, and then moved his long john all the way into my mouth and started the face-crusher. My name for it as I clasped onto his bum-cheeks whilst he edged into my mouth with his special tool of a delivery. I kept the time of each thrust inside my gob. I had to take one had away and attend to my lady parts because this was very much turned me on. Rubbing … rubbing … rubbing away and being unable to exhale as it was feeling so good.

  My mouth was full, I gave him a chew, he exclaimed with pleasure. When satisfied, he took his Johnnie back, and saw that I needed a hand down below, and placed his tongue there which was enough to have my spine skyrocket up and grab onto his head as he ate away. I was nearing my satisfaction, even if I wasn’t coming. He was going for it. And after a few more moments. I tapped his bald head. He stopped, peered up at me, and said, “I needed that Megan. I was dreaming about tasting you from the time I met you.”

  “And how did I taste?”

  “Better than I expected.”

  I smiled flirtatiously. “It was good.”

  “I told you.” He winks and stares. “Shall I take you home?”

  “Yeah. I got some thinking to do.”

  Chapter 7

  The next morning, I called Marcus and told him the truth. “It’s just not going to work anymore. I think it’s best if we leave it there. I think we want different things.”

  “If that’s what you want, Megan. But I don’t want to see you here again. And I’ll mail you those letters.”

  “I was hoping that we could be friends?”

  “I can’t be your friend Megan. I love you.” And he cut the call short. And in all honesty, to not deal with Marcus and his declarations of love, however, mean that might sound, made me see the sun when there was none on this day. It was cloudy out, but I felt relieved.

  I was preparing a salad sandwich with sweetcorn for work in a few hours. Taylor had come into the kitchen, “I heard that.”

  “You hear all my phone calls. There’s a word for that.”

  “You know I’m nosey.” -

  “I sure do.”

  “Hmm” Taylor had a smile on her face. “Was you and Stanley having sex last night. I heard some moans from the basement, and you weren’t in your room. So …”

  “Jesus. Was it that loud?”

  “Yes.”

  “And … how do you feel about that? Me and Stanley … having sex?”

  “He’s more your type than Carl. More direct than Carl. And I’m not into Stanley like that. He’s just sexy to me. At his daughter’s party, he mentioned that he finds you attractive and that he wondered if you were a straight-talking woman?”

  “What did you say?”

  “I said that I think he had a chance. And that’s exactly how you are. When I walked into the room and caught you both, I felt something. I don’t know if it was a spark? Or chemistry? But it was strong.”

  “It’s definitely strong.”

  “Are you going to go with it?”

  “I’ll see how it goes.”

  “Ok. Well, I’m off to work. I’ll see you tonight.” Taylor leaves me with my thoughts on Stanley. The front door closes. But re-opens again with Stanley coming in with a bunch of flowers in his hands: red roses, my favorite. He’s cheeky because I never mentioned that I truly do love working with flowers. He also had a card to.

  Stanley comes towards me; hands me the card first. “Open it.”

  I unseal it, pull out a plain white card that has nothing on the front, but there’s writing in the middle. “I’d like to have another date with you. And uh … make it a regular thing. If you agree, would you take these flowers from me?”

  I
smile warmly at the message and try not to blush. Nobody’s ever caused me to blush before. I timidly look at him, something that never happens to me, and reach out to take those beautiful roses from his grasp.