by Jessa York
Less than a minute later, I heard, “Okay, okay, I’m coming. Don’t drag me.” In walked Roza pulling a scowling Riley. “Geez, where’s the fire?” She stopped, teetering on her gorgeous beige heels, and frowned at the growing mound on my bed. “Spring cleaning, honey?”
“Apparently, my clothes are unhappy.” I shrugged and nodded in Roza’s direction.
“Funeral clothes. All of them.” Then Roza chucked a few more items onto my bed. “She can’t catch a man wearing funeral clothes. You,” she poked Riley on the shoulder, “lend her something or go shopping,” she said with a wave toward the door. “Find sexy clothes. So big, strong man will look at our little Harper,” she bellowed and whirled around. Instinctively, I ducked, scared her arm might inadvertently hit me in her frenzy.
Riley sighed and walked toward the burgeoning pile where she picked a few items up, checked them over with a critical eye, and dropped them. Next, she swayed to my closet and scrutinized what remained.
By this point sweat trickled down my back as my anxiety took hold. Riley’s clothes were so high-class, I was mortified she was anywhere near mine.
Finally, after riffling through every dismal hanger, she turned, arms crossed, and said, “How about a trip to the mall after supper? I’d lend you something, but honey, let’s face it, you’re never gonna stuff your girls into any of my shirts.” We both gazed down at my chest. The woman spoke the truth.
“Yes, great idea. I already brought soup. Riley, eat.” Roza clapped her hands together, making us jump.
“Umm, I sort of ate it.” I smiled sheepishly. “Like all of it. It was fantastic—”
Roza stared at me, her chin gaping open in surprise. “I go get more soup. Nobody move.” She recovered quickly, shuffling out in a blur.
“I don’t think I’m ready to jump back into the dating world quite yet.” I peered up, afraid I offended Riley. The mall was near dead, which suited me just fine.
Strong but kind arms wrapped around me. “How about you try?” Riley’s voice was low and soothing. “Just this once, for Roza and me, and all the big-handed men you are so cruelly denying of your company. One time. See how it goes before you make up your mind.” She looked right in my eyes. “Give yourself a chance to have fun. Nobody said you have to get married tomorrow. But I’d love to have you as my wingman.”
All that sweetness got to me, and the last thing I wanted was to disappoint her, so I nodded my agreement. This earned me another squeeze, and we walked again.
“First stop.” She slammed to a halt in front of the lingerie store. Confused, I thought for a moment she was speaking a different language. A few patrons dodged us, giving us dirty looks.
“I’ve got plenty of under things. We can skip this.” I glanced at the fancy pink sign and kept walking.
Riley grabbed my arm. “Honey, we need to start from the ground up.” Her eyes moved from my feet upward. “It’s okay to remember you’re a woman. We live all day in a man’s world. Nothing wrong with wearing something feminine while we do it.” Gentle fingers brushed the hair away from my face. “You’re a gorgeous young woman. I think you just forgot for a while.” She tilted her head and smiled, but it was a resigned smile, not a happy one. “Well, I think a certain person helped you forget.” A single eyebrow raised as she put her hand on my shoulder and leaned in. “A man should make you feel more like a woman, not less. Never less,” she said with a quick shake of her head. “He’s not a real man if he makes you feel less like you. A man who loves you? He wants to hand you the world, not take it away.” Her eyes wandered wistfully off to the side for a moment. “He makes you appreciate yourself, makes you feel safe to be yourself.” I teared up. “That man did a real number on you, sweetie.” She sighed. “But you need to realize that you let him. Not all men are like that. Never settle for one who dims your light or tries to hide it. Find someone who lifts you up to shine brighter.” Tears shone in her eyes and I was close to losing it, too. Instead, I straightened up, wiped under my eyes to catch the escaping tears, and turned toward the lingerie store.
Then I decided to walk forward because no way was I ever going back.
3
Harper
Tuesday morning at work, I still soared from my retail therapy high from the night before. Not only did Riley make shopping fun, she had a real knack for knowing what styles I liked and what flattered me. She pushed my limits a few times, but I agreed to try something I wouldn’t normally choose, and each and every time, she was right.
In the end, after trying on about a million dresses—give or take—she found the perfect little white dress for me. White scared me, and I informed her of that. All she replied was, “Try it, honey. Let the light in.” Holy cow, was she right. The material fit me like a glove. It was a mid-length cocktail style with a flirty flare on the hem. The waist was high, tight under the girls for extra support. At the straight neckline, my cleavage fought for attention. But the pièce de résistance was the open back. It said chic yet naughty all at the same time. I was over-freakin’-joyed at not needing a bra underneath. After buying the dress, I found a cute outfit for work—on a huge sale—then we went out for a quick bite and back home again.
Roza knocked on my apartment door as soon as we collapsed on the couch. After hours of rummaging and traipsing, we just dropped our bags onto the floor. “Come in, Roza. I can’t move.” In she waddled, zeroing in on the bags like prey. “Ah, I see you were successful. Good job. Tomorrow I will do your special hair and makeup.” She turned and shuffled out.
Dammit. Riley slapped her hand over her mouth and giggled. Shit.
I beat Vivienne to work the next day. She walked in while I was busy fighting with the copier and blew a high-exaggerated whistle at me. “Look at you, gorgeous. Love the new duds. Where’d ya get ’em?” she inquired as I removed the paper from the machine and sat down.
“Riley was in charge of retail therapy last night. Well, actually, Roza forced her to after dissing my entire wardrobe,” I said, arms crossed over my chest, adding a pouty face for effect. Then I filled her in on my evening.
“So, basically, in a nutshell,” she sat back and observed, “Roza thinks it’s time for you to get a little somethin’ somethin’. Let me amend that. A big handed somethin’ somethin’.” Eyebrow lifting ensued with rather obscene hand gestures. I couldn’t hide my giggle this time.
“Don’t be so crude.” I chucked an eraser at her and sat down. “She thinks I need to get back in the game. So does Riley.”
She leaned back and sighed loudly, tapping her nails on the arms of the cushy black leather chair. “She’s right, you know.” Her eyes found mine and wouldn’t let them go. “They are right. It’s long past time you got your booty back out there.” She nodded her head like she was imparting some extremely important info. “And I know why. It’s because of what that bonehead did to you. I get that, I do.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Been there, got the T-shirt.” She stared off into space, frowning like she remembered something unpleasant. Her expensive fake eyelashes—nice ones, not the kind that resembled a spider taking up residence—fluttered, and she took another deep breath and crossed her arms.
Eyes still closed, she continued, “What I’m trying to say is that we all make shitty choices sometimes. We don’t necessarily marry,” she snapped her green, kohl-lined eyes open, “our shitty choices, but you’ve learned, Harper. The hard way for sure, but you learned.” Her head tilted to the side, questioning me with her statement.
"Yeah, learned how to continually pick cheating assholes. Gabe wasn’t the first, you know. Before him was Randy. Granted I was young…well, we were teenagers, but it still killed.” My stomach twisted in loyal remembrance. “Let’s face it. Men suck.”
“Here’s what we’re gonna do. Tonight, I have a supper meeting at Vine. Why don’t I meet you and Riley at Venue right after? We’ll all hang out. No pressure. Just a few hot babes having a good time, enjoying the nightlife.”
“Nightlife? Wh
o’s enjoying the nightlife?” I startled and turned around to see Audrey, Murray’s wife, with the twins in tow. “I can’t even remember what the heck the nightlife is anymore. I’m in bed by nine p.m. Well, I wish I could be in bed by seven, but these monsters won’t go to sleep.”
“Hi, Auntie Harper,” the boys said in unison as they raced and fought each other for who hugged me first. They settled in a jumbled, yet effective version of tangled arms, legs, and heads.
“Hi, guys,” I said, laughing at their sweet, sincere faces. “I missed you both so much.”
“Yeah, we know. That’s why we colored pictures for you.” Nick stepped back and held out a picture of something that resembled a page from of a Rorschach test.
“That is beautiful, my picki Nicki. I love it. Thanks, baby,” I said as he shoved his paper into my hand.
“No, me first, Auntie Harper.” Levi bulldozed past Nick and slapped his creation on my chest, trying to outdo his brother as usual.
The twins were a handful. Correction—they were like twenty handfuls thrown at your face all at once. The love I had for them was huge, but man, were they challenging. How Audrey was still standing remained a mystery. That woman spent every hour of every day with those monkeys.
“You two, run into Daddy’s office and see if he has any candy. Leave no stone left unturned,” she coached the boys, then herded them into Murray’s office.
“Yay!” was all we heard. They knew as well as we did that Murray was a sugar-aholic, so undoubtedly there would be hoards of sweets in there.
“Now what’s this about someone enjoying the nightlife?” Audrey eyed us suspiciously as only a mother could. “Are y’all going out on the town without me?” Her eyes narrowed to slits. “I do nothing all day.” She put her hand on her heart. “Except watch bad cartoons and step on Legos.” Her strong, golden-brown arm reached in front of me and she put her hand on mine.
Vivienne spoke up, “We’re going out tonight.” Next, she whispered with her hand cupped over the side of her mouth, “First time since the big D for Harper.”
Nodding, Audrey took her hand back and raised her eyebrow at me. “Ah, gotcha. Girlfriend needs to get an itch scratched.” She tapped her index finger on her lips. “I’ll wear my hot red number. Murray will have a fit.” Laughter erupted from her mouth while she likely imagined her husband having said fit. Audrey’s hilarity was contagious, and soon we were all giggling when Murray walked through the front doors.
“I’m afraid I don’t want the answer, but I’ll ask anyway. What’s so funny?” He frowned and waited for the bomb to drop.
As she wiped under her eyes, Audrey sobered and said, “It’s girls’ night out.”
Terror and confusion washed over Murray’s face. “But who’s going to watch the boys?” My guess? He instantly regretted saying it. If it failed to be obvious before who the boys’ main evening caretaker was, it certainly was now. Realization dawned on him too late that he’d screwed the pooch. His previous expression of terror changed to an oh shit look.
Poor Murray.
Audrey’s hands moved to her hips. “Murray Edwin Jones, you did not just say that. Those little rats are yours just as much as mine.” Her nostrils flared. “You can watch them for a few hours by yourself. Honestly, I have them all day long, every day,” she said, exasperated.
“They’re in school for half the day now, Audrey,” he said in a know-it-all tone. And that confirmed it to me—Murray was born without a filter. Or a brain.
“Are you insane?” she shrieked. “Half the day? Half the day? I don’t think so. By the time I get them ready, which takes ninety God-awful minutes,” she pointed to her watch, “walk them to school, and come home, it’s time to go pick them up again.”
Yes, time flew when you were having fun.
Murray’s jaw opened and closed, a tiny bead of sweat was visible, high on his forehead. There was no way to dig himself out of this one.
“That’s it.' Audrey pitched both fists up in unison. “I was only going to go out for a couple of hours. But now?” Her eyes widened. “No way.” She shook her head and her straightened hair moved reluctantly from side to side. “Who knows what time I’ll come back now.”
A phone was hurled in my direction, and luckily I caught it. “Program in your number. I’ll text you and we can arrange girls’ night details.” With nimble fingers, I did as ordered. Vivienne looked at me, wide-eyed, with a don’t say anything look.
“Boys!” Audrey yelled, and my eardrums burst. “Say bye to Daddy. The mall is waiting, and Mommy needs a new pair of shoes. It’s another day off from school today, so you two have to come with me.” Satisfied, chocolate smeared smiles emerged from Murray’s office.
“Aw, do we have to? I hate the mall,” Levi stated and stomped his foot. Nick nodded his agreement in a rare show of solidarity.
“Can we stay here with Daddy? Please, please, please?” Nick asked, the expression of hope so sincere in both of their eyes.
“Say goodbye to your father. We need to go.” Audrey walked over to Murray, but the twins beat her, hugging their dad just long enough to wipe their sticky mouths and fingers all over him.
“Murray, the Visa,” she requested, holding one hand out, while the other sat defiantly on her hip. He inhaled loudly and grabbed his wallet out of his pocket but didn’t say a word. Perhaps he was finally learning?
4
Jack
“Thanks, Vivienne. You’ve been most helpful,” I said, hoping to conclude our meeting. She was a sales rep from Brentford Organics. Nothing but the best for my restaurant. I rolled my head from side to side in an effort to release some tension. That’s all I did lately—meetings, meetings, and more meetings. My hands instinctively opened and closed, restless. I wanted to be doing shit, not sitting around talking about it.
At least Vivienne was quick and to the point, not to mention fucking hilarious. The woman’s a bit old for me and she looked to be a tad high-maintenance by the looks of her fashionable clothes and chic makeup. I wasn’t going there again…but if I were a different kind of man…
“This is going to work out great, Jack.” She flashed her bright white smile at me. “I’m excited about you opening this new restaurant, and I have no doubt Brentford can supply you with the best possible produce for your masterpieces,” Vivienne said as she pulled out her phone. “Say, a thought.” She looked up at me and squinted with a hint of devilishness in her eyes. “A bunch of us are meeting over at Venue. Are you interested?” Her head tilted in flirty question.
Fuck no. I had absolutely no interest in going anywhere else tonight. I’d been up since five a.m., and all I wanted to do was sit zoned-out with a good rom-com while I fell into a trance on my couch. “Uh, I think I’ll pass, but maybe next time?” I told her. It was a lie, but a nicety all the same. I never mixed business with pleasure. Not again anyway. Once bitten, twice shy and all that.
Venue was the nightclub attached to my restaurant, The Vine. We shared a common hallway at the back entrance, but that was about all we shared. Venue was a pick up joint, but my restaurant? Fine dining at its best. Not to say I hadn’t enjoyed walking over after work on occasion or two...hundred. In my work, crazy hours were a given, and a guy needed to blow off some steam every so often. Right?
She stood and offered her hand. All class, that one. I watched her ass as she walked away, because that was one fine, voluptuous ass and it deserved to be admired. Vivienne would make some lucky son-of-a-bitch very happy one day.
Vivienne and her noteworthy ass turned the corner to Venue and I sighed. In days gone past, I would have been all over that ass. What was wrong with me?
Completely exhausted, I sat at my table for a while, contemplating the meeting and trying to find the energy to stand. I looked up and my heart stopped when I spotted the most gorgeous creature standing at the hostess station, looking helplessly lost.
Silently, I begged the universe to make her walk over to me and sit down. Perhaps right on my l
ap? Fuck, but she was the whole glorious package—great tits and ass, plus legs that went on for fucking miles. Damn, but I would love to run my hands and my tongue up those beauties and...yeah. Down, boy. Control yourself before you and your pants make a scene.
I adjusted myself as covertly as possible. How long had it been since I’d freed the beast? Too long, apparently.
Damn. I guess the universe still didn’t give a shit because she and her hot friend turned to walk down the hall. They were obviously going to the nightclub.
Harper
Riley and I walked into the bar, and the more I looked around, the more certain I was that this was not where we were supposed to be. Elegant white tablecloths lined the tables and a single candle sat atop each one, the flames dancing and illuminating the faces of the diners. Bold, colorful art filled the dark maroon walls. This was not a bar.
The hostess walked up and pointed us in the right direction, and off we went. I was careful not to catch my heels in between the tiles as we walked down a rather narrow hall. The farther down we got, the louder the thumping bass of the music became.
Riley took the lead and opened the door. Whoosh. We were bathed in dim light and an explosion of sound. The kind of sound that throbbed deep in your chest. I squinted a few times, and after my eyes adjusted, I noted the bar straight ahead. The room was decorated in stark, classy black and silver. To my left, the entire wall was covered in what looked like silver glitter. The wall to the right had some kind of cool water effect. Small silver tables surrounded us—some with comfy leather-looking chairs and others with a simple metal design.
I followed Riley, casually peering around to see if Audrey and Vivienne were there yet. Riley ordered something and paid. I took in a deep, calming breath and let the music soothe me and calm my nerves. It had been so long since I’d been to a place like this. Everything seemed so strange and alien to me now.