It's All a Matter of Choice

by Liberty Allure

  She laughed and took his hand, giving him a quick kiss on the mouth.

  “Come on, Emmet. Let’s go get my things,” she said, leading him to the door.

  They exited the apartment, Anita locking the door and the couple walking down the hallway. Loretta’s office door was closed…she was probably gone. The landlady didn’t live on the premises but stopped in at least three times a week just to make sure everything was fine and to make herself available to the tenants. She also left Emmet and Anita with her home and cell phone number in case they needed to contact her.

  The couple walked down the stairs, Emmet glancing at Anita from time to time. Living with her was going to be something else, even if it were just for a little while. Maybe he would be able to make up for all the sexless nerd years. Anita seemed to have a very good sex drive. Emmet was more than willing to help her get into gear.

  Emmet opened the door to the Honda for Anita, made sure she was settled in, then walked around the car and got in himself, taking one more glance at the house. Yes, it really was a nice place.

  Emmet was silent as he pulled off, heading for the hotel. After about five minutes of heavy silence, Anita looked at him.

  “Are you all right, Emmet?” she asked.

  “Yes…er…no…not really Anita,” he replied, his eyes shifting toward her for a moment before focusing back on the road. “I…I probably won’t be able to stay with you tonight.”

  Anita frowned slightly.

  “Why?” she asked him.

  “Because, I have to tell my mother I’m moving out, and I just don’t want to tell her that and leave the same night,” Emmet said.

  Anita stared at him for a moment. She wasn’t wild about his mother, but she could understand why he wouldn’t want to leave her like that. The fact that he was moving out so shortly after meeting her would already hurt his mom. She was sure June was going to pull out all the stops to try and make him change his mind.

  “I understand Emmet,” Anita said, “though I was hoping you would stay with me the first night.”

  Emmet cut his eyes toward her again, this time letting them sweep down her body before looking back at the road rather guiltily. God knew he would like to spend the night with Anita.

  Anita knew it too. This was the first time Emmet ever looked at her body with obvious lust. She smirked a bit. He was learning fast.

  “I’d like to, Anita…but my mother…” he said, regret in his voice, “I can’t just leave that way.”

  “I know,” Anita said wistfully.

  She’d cope. After all, Emmet was going to live with her for a while…if things worked out…if they could keep her father away. She fell silent as she thought about John Bowen. She knew he was looking for her. He was always looking for her.

  As they approached town, Anita asked Emmet to stop at a department store.

  “I need to get some bedding and cookware,” Anita said.

  So Emmet spent the next two hours pushing around a shopping cart as Anita picked out bedding. He watched with a little scowl as she checked the prices of blankets and quilts he could tell she liked, but put back.

  “Why did you put that back?” he asked Anita as she pushed a full set of king-sized silk sheets with pillowcases back and moved to the cheaper ones.

  ”They’re silk sheets, Emmet. I was just looking at them. They’re too expensive,” she responded.

  Emmet had never slept on silk sheets. He thought they might feel nice against his skin…and Anita’s skin.

  “Let’s get them…get two sets,” he said to Anita.

  “Emmet, they’re too expensive. It doesn’t make sense to spend money on silk sheets when cotton sheets will do,” she argued with him.

  Emmet stared at her a moment. He wanted those silk sheets under him when he next slept with Anita.

  “I’ve never slept on silk sheets,” he said, pulling down the sheets Anita had put back and dropping them into the cart.

  Anita put her hands on her hips, scowling at him.

  “Emmet, I said they’re too expensive,” she said.

  “Maybe for you, but not for me. Remember, I’m going to be staying there too, and when I sleep with you Anita…I’d like to do it on silk sheets. You can still get cotton ones,” he said.

  Anita launched into a monologue about wasting money as Emmet selected another package of silk sheets, then three more packages of high count linen sheets as if she weren’t saying a word, Anita following after him as he chose four goose down pillows. When he got to bedspreads, he looked at Anita, who was still chattering on about spending too much.

  “Which of these do you like?” he asked her, gesturing toward the bedspreads.

  Anita blinked at him, then said, “Emmet, didn’t you hear a word I said?”

  He nodded.

  “Yes, I did. Now pick out a couple of bedspreads Anita,” he said calmly.

  Emmet was used to his mother talking on and on and knew how to tune chatter out quite well. Anita frowned down into the shopping cart, then looked at Emmet, who gave her a crooked grin. She sighed.

  “All right,” she said, picking out three very nice bedspreads, Emmet nodding with approval.

  “Those are nice,” he said shortly, “Now let’s get some pots, pans and dishes.”

  Anita looked at the overloaded shopping cart.

  “We’re going to need another cart,” she said.

  After picking out kitchenware, household items and personal items, the couple had another short spat at the check-out counter. Emmet insisted on paying for everything and Anita kept trying to put money into his pocket to cover at least a part of the cost. The cashier watched them with raised eyebrows, and the people in the line behind them started complaining.

  Finally Emmet slid his credit card, Anita glowering at him, her bills still in her hands. Emmet turned to look at her soberly, his eyes dropping to the fistful of money she clutched.

  “You’d better put that up before you lose it, Anita,” he said.

  She let out an exasperated noise and shoved the money back into her pocketbook, then took off with a shopping cart, walking very quickly. Emmet grabbed his cart and followed her.

  In the parking lot, Emmet and Anita put the items in the car, not speaking to each other, but Emmet looking at Anita’s petulant face from time to time as she angrily loaded up the trunk. He thought it was good she wasn’t handling anything breakable as she hurriedly tossed things in. She finished before he did and got into the car, not waiting for Emmet to open the door for her. Emmet pushed the carts back up to the store, then walked back, got into the Honda and pulled out.

  Anita was very quiet, Emmet looking at her from time to time. He could feel how mad she was.

  Finally he asked, “Anita…did we just have our first fight?”

  “Yes,” Anita snapped.

  Emmet absorbed this.

  “So…how did I do?” he asked her.

  Anita looked at him in disbelief.

  “How did you do? What do you mean ‘how did you do?’” she asked him.

  “I guess I want to know if I won or not,” he replied.

  Anita looked at Emmet as they stopped at a stoplight. He looked back at her, his eyebrows raised, waiting for an answer.

  Anita couldn’t help but grin at him.

  “I can’t say you won,” she said to him, “But for now…you’re ahead.”

  Emmet smiled at her.

  “It’s the first time I’ve even come close to winning an argument,” he said, “most of the time when I argue with my mother it just ends up unresolved.”

  He hit the gas again and they continued driving, Anita looking at him.

  “Emmet, you’re very generous to me, but you make me feel as if…as if I’m using you,” she said softly, “I don’t like feeling like that. What Loretta said today about you paying the bills and me making the decisions really made me feel uncomfortable,” Anita said softly.

  “You’re not using me, Anita,” he said, “I want to
do the things I’m doing. I never had anyone outside of my mother to take care of…and I want to take care of you. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”

  Anita sighed.

  “Emmet, this is the twenty-first century. Men don’t ‘take care’ of women anymore,” she said to him, “The sexes are treated equally.”

  ”My father took care of my mother,” Emmet replied, “Whatever she wanted, he provided it for her. I guess I’m a lot like my father was, Anita. I care about you, your welfare and think you deserve to have what you want. You’re…you’re special to me, you’ve shown me what it’s like to… I just want to see you happy. Keep you happy.”

  “Aw, Emmet,” Anita said, just melting.

  “I don’t want to hear you say you’re using me again, Anita. It’s not true. All right? Please?” Emmet said to her as they pulled up in front of the hotel.

  Anita gave him a look that made Emmet’s belly tighten. It reminded him of the over-the-shoulder look she gave him last night, when he was behind her holding her hair in his hands and pulling her head back.

  “All right, Emmet. I won’t say anything else about it…but you will let me buy some things, won’t you? I’m used to doing for myself,” Anita said, her eyes dark.

  “Small things,” he said, turning off the car, “You’re not by yourself anymore.”

  Emmet got out of the car, walked around it and opened the door for Anita, who got out and planted a wet, juicy kiss on his lips.

  “Emmet Barrows, you’re something else,” she said, turning and walking into the hotel.

  Emmet licked his lips, smiled crookedly, then followed her.

  Anita didn’t have much to take and they were out of the hotel within twenty minutes. It was starting to get dark.

  They drove back to the apartment and they carried in Anita’s luggage and the items they purchased, Emmet piling them on the couch and coffee table. He looked at all the products.

  “Anita, if you wait until tomorrow I can help you put all this stuff away,” he said to the young woman, who shook her head.

  “No, I can do it. It will give me something to do with my night,” she said, smiling at him. Then she added in a low, sexy voice, “Especially since I can’t do what I wanted.”

  Emmet blinked at her, his face conflicted.

  “Oh, go on home to mommy, Emmet,” she said, smiling and giving him a little kiss before turning him toward the door and pushing him forward. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked her.

  “In this neighborhood? Of course I’ll be fine,” she replied as Emmet reluctantly opened the door and walked through. He turned to look at her.

  “Um…Anita, can I have one more kiss to tide me over?” he asked her softly.

  ”Of course you can,” Anita replied, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a full-blown kiss, their tongues entwining, Emmet’s arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her against him. He couldn’t help getting hard. Anita felt it and pulled away from him.

  Emmet stared at her hungrily. Anita knew she would just have to say the word and Emmet would be back in the apartment. Most likely he would stay the night as well. But no, he did need to face his mother. She didn’t want to interfere with his plans.

  “Good night, Emmet,” Anita said softly, stepping back into the apartment and slowly closing the door as he stood there, still staring.

  Emmet blinked at the closed door, and for a moment rested his hand on the knob, tempted to go back in and tell Anita he wanted to stay…the hell with his mom. But that wasn’t Emmet. He needed to go face his mother and break the news to her. He dropped his hand from the door, then turned and walked away.

  On the other side of the door, Anita stood listening. She sighed when she heard Emmet walk away. For a minute, she thought he might come back in. If he had she would have made him leave. Emmet was still too new at this to think properly. She was going to have to help him adjust to having a girlfriend…

  ”Oh my God,” Anita breathed as she locked the door, “Am I really his girlfriend or just a friend with privileges?”

  Anita had plenty to ponder as she put her things away.

  Chapter 32 ~ Confronting Mrs. Barrows

  On his way home, Emmet stopped by the deli and picked up a Reuben sandwich and Cherry Coke for his mother. Since she got the Escalade, he’d been released from his daily stop at the deli, but he thought the sandwich might put his mother in a better mood.

  When he pulled up behind his mother’s car, he saw a shadow leave the living room window. That meant June had been watching for him and most likely was on the couch in a dramatic pose, waiting for him.

  Emmet sat in the car for a moment, trying to collect himself before going inside. He wasn’t very confrontational, especially when it came to his mother. They had arguments before, but usually he just let her go on and on, never really settling them. He didn’t intend for this to become an argument however. Emmet had already made his decision. If he didn’t stay with Anita, then most likely she would be leaving town in a few weeks, and he was determined that the only woman who liked him enough to be intimate with him was going to stay put, even if that meant he had to guard her front door like a sentry at Buckingham palace.

  He loved his mother, but he had his own life to live as well. He had been a good son to her and would remain one, but he wanted to be happy.

  Anita made him happy.

  Emmet got out of his car, sandwich and coke in hand, and walked up to the front door and let himself in. The moment the door closed, he heard his mother calling him. Emmet walked into the kitchen and got a plate for the sandwich, then walked into the living room. As he thought, June was lying on the couch as if she’d been there all evening.

  June looked at her son closely, and there did seem to be something different about him. Something more mature now. It could have been her own perception of him, now that he had actually gone to bed with a woman…but it could be something inherent in Emmet. He gave her a smile, set the plate down and the bag and coke on the table.

  “Hi mom. I brought you a Reuben sandwich,” he said, walking around, bending and kissing her on the cheek.

  “Hmmph,” June said, sitting up, “It’ll take more than a Reuben sandwich to make up for what you did to me last night, Emmet.”

  Still, she was unwrapping the sandwich as she spoke.

  Emmet sat down in the armchair.

  “Mom, I’m sorry you were worried about me,” he said sincerely, “But I was fine.”

  June scowled at him.

  “I just bet you were. Did you remember to wear a condom like I told you?” she asked Emmet, who frowned.

  “Mom, I’m not going to tell you that. What happened between Anita and I is personal and private,” he replied evenly.

  June took a bite of her sandwich, chewed, then took a swig of coke to wash it down. She leveled her blue eyes on Emmet.

  “I don’t like her, Emmet. She only knew you for a month and she slept with you. It doesn’t show much character. As far as you know, she could be sleeping with someone else who catches her eye,” June said, “You don’t know how women are today.”

  Emmet’s eyes darkened. He didn’t like June talking about Anita in such a way. He knew she wasn’t seeing anyone else. And as far as the relatively short time she knew him…

  “Mom, this isn’t the Victorian age. People have casual sex all the time. A woman can meet a man at a bar for just two hours and have sex with them, and it’s perfectly acceptable,” he said evenly.

  “Acceptable to who? Not me,” June replied, “I admit things are different now, but I still think there should be some courtship before a woman flips her heels up.”

  ”Mom, I did go out on a couple of dates with her,” Emmet said, “And I ate lunch with her every day…”

  ”Still, it’s only been a month Emmet. She shouldn’t have seduced you in such a short period of time. She took advantage of you,” June said firmly.

  Emmet thoug
ht about Anita on her knees giving him his first blowjob.

  “Mom, even if that was the case, which it isn’t, believe me…I was more than willing to be taken advantage of,” he said with a small smile. He didn’t mean to smile, but he couldn’t help it. Anita had made him the happiest man in the world.

  June gave him a dark look and his smile faded.

  Emmet swallowed. It was time to come clean.

  “Mom, I really like Anita…very much. She’s special to me,” Emmet began.

  June snorted.

  “Mentally, you’re still in her bed, Emmet. When your head clears, you’ll see she nothing special. She’s just a…a hoe who can’t keep her panties on,” June said with a very ugly look on her face. “You can buy what she gave you for about ten dollars on the other side of town.”

  Emmet stared at his mother, his brows furrowing at her statement. How could she say that about Anita? She didn’t even know her. For the first time in his life, Emmet wanted to hurt his mother.

  “Mom, I’m moving out,” he said coldly, his brown eyes full of anger.

  June stopped eating.

  “What?” she asked him, her eyes wide.

  “I’m moving in with Anita. We got the apartment today,” Emmet said.

  He didn’t tell her that he planned for it to be temporary. He was too angry at her to offer her any comfort.

  “Moving in with her…Emmet, you don’t even know this girl,” June said, “Why would you want to do something like this?”

  “I have my reasons, Mom,” he said, “Besides, I’m too old to live with my mother any longer. I need a place of my own.”

  “That woman put all those ideas in your head. Before she came along, you were perfectly happy to stay here,” June said, her eyes starting to fill with tears, “Perfectly happy to stay here and look after me, your poor widowed mother.”

  “Mom, let’s be honest for once,” Emmet said, “You are and always have been able to take care of yourself. I always knew that mom, but I love you and wanted you to be happy. But now, I want to be happy. I’m working more now, earning more money, I have a girl and it’s time for me to take responsibility for my own life. I mean, you have a child, you raise a child, and then you let the child go. Mom, I’m just this side of thirty and only now met a woman that would have me. When I went looking for apartments today, one of the landlords said I was too old for this to be my first apartment. And she was right.”