by Lee, Marilyn
“Oh no, Anderson. Don’t even think about putting that thing in my ass.”
“Thing? Half an hour earlier, it was the best invention since fire. Now it’s a thing?”
I bit my lip and laughed. “Sorry, sweetie. When it’s in my pussy, I love it. When it comes knocking at my anal entrance, it’s a greedy thing with delusions of grandeur.”
He laughed and pulled me back against him. “I adore you.”
“Ditto.” I sighed happily.
“Just adore?”
“No. You know I love you too.”
“That’s better, honey.”
“Just like a man—always wanting more than he’s willing to give.”
“I know what you mean. That’s why I don’t date men. They’re too damned selfish.”
I laughed and settled against him and drifted to sleep.
As the weeks passed he continued to shower me with roses, candy, and fruit baskets. Still, I started to fear it might take years before he was ready to say he loved me. Even though I was almost sure he did, my need to hear him say it grew more intense.
Two months after our second weekend we were practically living together. We spent alternate weeks at each other’s place. He wanted to meet my parents and I was nearly ready to take the plunge. Then I missed my period and my world turned upside down.
I was part excited and part scared. But two pregnancies tests later, I learned I wasn’t pregnant. Surprisingly I was more disappointed than relieved. I think because part of me thought that if I were pregnant he’d take the final step and tell me he loved me.
Anderson
“You know, Andy, I’m beginning to think you’re certifiable.”
Seated on Manning’s balcony with an empty beer can in front of me I was hard pressed not to toss it at him. “Why do I even bother trying to talk to you, Manning?”
“Because you know I’ll tell you what you need to hear—even if you don’t want to hear it. You’re practically living with the woman you love and who loves you enough to regularly engage in unprotected sex with you. And yet here you sit worrying that she doesn’t really love you. Get a grip, Andy. She loves you.”
“Really? Then maybe you can explain why over four months after we committed to each other, I’m sitting here with you while she’s having yet another family day at her parents’ house without me.”
“You said she told you that wouldn’t happen until you have a formal commitment—as in a formal engagement. Maybe that has something to do with her refusal to take you home. Why don’t you help the process along by telling her you love her?”
“She knows I love her.”
“How if you won’t tell her?”
“How the fuck do I know she really loves me, Manning?”
He arched a brow. “Andy—”
“If she loves me so damned much why the hell didn’t she tell me when she thought she was pregnant?”
Manning sat forward in his seat. “If she didn’t tell you how do you know she thought she was pregnant?”
“When I was taking out the trash, I tripped and the can flew out of my hand. I found two pregnancy test kits in the trash. Yet she never said a word before or after to me about it. How can she love me if she doesn’t trust me enough to share something so important with me?”
“What a pair of idiots you two are. She’s probably thinking that if you really loved her, you’d tell her you did. And you’re thinking if she loved you, she’d introduce you to her family.”
“And friends. I’ve only met a few of them and even then the introductions were extremely casual.”
“Get a grip, Andy. You know damn well she loves you. And speaking of friends, how’s that friend of hers?”
I frowned. “Of Rena’s? I’ve only met a few of them. Which one are you referring to?”
“The tall one with that lovely brown skin and long legs and big ass.”
I arched a brow. “I have no idea who you’re referring to.”
“You don’t?”
I shook my head. “Since I’ve met Rena very few women catch my attention. And none of her friends are included in that small number.”
“So you don’t know who she is?”
“Not unless you give me something else to go on.”
“She was with some jerk who watched every piece of food she ate.”
“Oh. You must mean Candi.”
“Is that her name?”
I nodded, surprised at his interest. “Would you like to meet her?”
He shrugged but I noted the spark of interest in his gaze. “I’m sure our paths will cross again sometime—unless you screw things up with Rena.”
“Don’t count on that.”
“Good, now about this stalemate between you and Rena. Someone has to be willing to put him or herself out there and risk getting hurt.”
“I’m not overly fond of getting hurt, Manning.”
“Neither is she and you’re the man. Do the right thing. You know, Andy, I’ve been thinking lately that I’d like to be an uncle and then maybe a father. Show her why Prescott men are worth loving. Take the plunge and tell her you love her and make me an uncle.”
“I should really risk my heart because you want to be an uncle?”
“You’d do that for me? Thanks, squirt.”
“And what if I want to be an uncle too? Are you going to help me out, Manning?”
“Maybe one day—in the very distant future. You’re the one in love so let’s get you squared away first and then we’ll work on me.”
I sighed. “God I love her.”
“I’m glad to hear it, but I’m not the one you have to convince. She is. So put on your big boy briefs and convince her.”
It was probably time I made sure she knew how I felt—just in case one of her ex friends with benefits decided to try to restart a relationship with her. If I didn’t admit I loved her, she just might be tempted.
“Still with me, squirt?”
I nodded. “So you’re thinking about becoming a father? After you expand your horizons you’re going to make an honest woman of Marla?” Recalling how she and Narena clearly disliked each other, I shook my head. Family dinners were going to get even more infrequent than they were now.
“No. I’m not.” He shrugged. “I might be ready after I expand my horizons but I have a feeling that once I do that Marla will no longer be interested.”
“But you’re going to do it anyway?”
He nodded. “So I think it’s safe to say that I’m not in love with her. But you are in love with Narena. So do the right thing and let’s get this father/uncle thing going. Becoming an uncle while I’m still young enough to enjoy the experience would be pretty damn awesome.”
“What would be even more pretty damn awesome was if you expanded your horizons and became a father. You’re not getting any younger you know.” I crushed my beer can and tossed it at him.
He caught it and tossed it back.
I sent it flying at him again and within seconds we were laughing like hell and tossing it at each other like a tennis ball.
* * *
I was waiting when Narena arrived home just after seven that night. Home that week was my place. As usual, she had a plate for me.
“I was beginning to think you were spending the night with your parents,” I said.
“Hi sweetie,” she said leaning down to kiss me. “I’m sorry I was so long but it’s Dad’s birthday and he and mom wanted us all to stay at the house until they left for a romantic dinner for two.”
“Did you have a good time?”
“Oh yes. What about you?”
“Me? I had a blast.”
“Why are you sitting in the dark? Feeling romantic?” she asked.
I pulled her down onto my lap and sat back against the sofa “I have something I want to say to you.”
She turned in his arms, licking the side of my neck. “I’m all ears, sweetie.”
I inhaled slowly and felt my throat lock.
> “Whenever you’re ready,” she said.
Do it. Say it.
“What’s wrong, Andy?” She bit her lip. “Please don’t tell me it’s bad news.”
I shook my head. “No. I just wanted to tell you that…I love you.” I experienced such a sense of relief after I’d said the words I wondered why I’d obsessed over saying it for so long.
She made a gasping sound before she jerked away from me and bolted to her feet and rushed across the room to the French windows.
Damn. That wasn’t exactly the reaction I’d expected. I followed her, placing my hands on her shoulders. “Narena?”
She sucked in a breath and turned to burrow in my arms, sobs shaking her body.
I clutched her close—suddenly fearful that I’d taken so long to tell her I loved her she no longer cared. “Narena?”
She lifted her head from my shoulder. “Oh Andy. Do you mean it? Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure I mean it.” I cupped my palm over her cheek. “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to say but I do love you. I have from the moment we met.”
“As long as that?”
I nodded. “I’ve told you countless times that I fell for you with just one look.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I was beginning to think it would take years for you to say it—if you ever did.”
“I have loved you from the moment we met, honey. And I love you more all the time. I love you and I’m tired of staying home while you go visit your parents without me.”
“I’d love to take you home.”
“But?”
“But after I graduated from college, my parents expected every man I brought home to be serious. Telling them differently soon became more trouble than it was worth.”
Fuck. That stung. If you called me a fuck buddy again, we were going to have a blowout argument. “Are you telling me you’re not serious about me?”
“You fuck me raw! That alone should tell you how serious I am about you. I haven’t had unprotected sex in years! Years. You’re the first man I’ve lowered my guard down with enough for that level of intimacy since college.”
She bit her lip. “Just because I haven’t introduced you to my parents doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I’ve never been so in love with anyone in my life. I love you so much I feel as if the emotion is consuming me.
“You can’t misunderstand about my parents.”
“Why can’t I? You’ve met my brother and my friends. You’ve talked to my mother. Do your parents even know my name or that we’ve living together?”
“That’s not something an only daughter is eager to tell her parents.”
“I’ll take that as a no. Yes?”
She bit her lip. “Yes, but you have to understand. You are the love of my life, Andy.”
“And you are mine.”
“I am? The love of your life?”
“Yes, honey. The love of my life.” I reached in my pocket and pulled out the jeweler’s box I’d placed there after my conversation with Manning. I stepped back and opened the box to reveal a full carat white gold diamond solitaire. “I hope you like this.”
She stared at it and then stared at me with tears streaming down her cheeks. “It looks like an engagement ring.”
“That’s probably because it is.” I removed the commitment ring she’d worn for month and replaced it with the engagement ring.
“Oh God, Andy.”
“Is that an Oh God Andy I’ll marry you?”
She pressed a hand to her mouth and nodded, tears still rolling down her cheeks.
“If you keep crying like this I’m going to think you’ve changed your mind. Have you?”
She shook her head.
I wiped her face dry than drew her into my arms to hold her close. “I love you so much,” I told her.
“And I love you, Andy.”
Thank God. “Manning’s eager to be an uncle.”
“Is he? What are we going to do about it?”
“First we’re going to get married. Then in a few months you’ll stop your birth control and we’ll work on getting you pregnant. What do you think? Are you interested?”
She stared up at him, taking deep breaths. “Yes and yes! I want to be your wife, have your babies, and grow old with you.”
“Sounds like a plan, honey. Let’s not wait. Stop your birth control now.”
“First things first, Andy. We’ll get married and then I’ll stop the birth control.”
“What’s the difference?”
“The difference is I’m not going to risk ending up pregnant before we’re married, Andy.”
“You once told me that wouldn’t be such a tragedy.”
“It wouldn’t be—for me, but I’m my parents’ only daughter. They’re old fashioned. It would break their hearts if they thought we got married because we had to instead of because we wanted to.”
“So it’s like that, huh?”
She sighed. “Is it so wrong to want to make my parents happy and proud?”
I personally thought she was giving her parents’ feeling a little more preference than she needed to, but over the last few months, she’d shown me the benefit of patience. Besides, I knew the first time we had totally unprotected sex would be a once in a lifetime experience that would be all the sweeter for our having had to wait awhile.
“Andy? Is it too much to ask?”
“No. It’s not.”
“You’re sure?”
I nodded. “I’m very sure, honey. Because I am, I’m in this for the long haul and I’m prepared to wait for as long as possible.”
She wrapped her arms around me and offered her parted lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too…so much.” I kissed her slowly.
“We’re going to be all right together, Andy. Aren’t we?”
“We’re going to be better than all right, honey. We’re going to be even happier once we’re married.”
“Oh Andy. You mean that?”
“Yes. I do. Now that I’ve taken the plunge, I’m looking forward to being more than your fuck buddy.”
“It’s always been more than just sex for me.”
“For me too,” I said. And I meant it.
We went to bed to have a quick fuck before we sat up in bed and set a wedding date.
The next morning, she called her parents and I called Manning. Before I left for work, we decided to invite a few friends over for an informal celebration that night after work.
“Make sure you invite Candi,” I said as I finished my coffee.
“I will, but why?”
I shrugged. “She’s your best friend and Manning is mine. Our best friends should get to know and like each other.”
She nodded. “Agreed. She’s coming.”
“So is he.”
Manning came alone that night. Unfortunately Candi didn’t. Several times during the evening, I noticed Manning watching her. I couldn’t see that she had any time for any man other than the guy she arrived with.
“Are you all right?” I asked Manning when he came to say goodnight.
“I’m fine,” he said. “Why do you ask?”
“Still seeing Marla?”
He nodded.
“Are you interested in Candi?”
“No.” He gave me a don’t-go-there stare and walked out.
Great. I had a sinking feeling that Manning had fallen for a woman desperately trying to hold onto a crumbling relationship with a man who clearly didn’t deserve her.
That put somewhat of a damper on the rest of the evening for me.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Rena asked as she slipped into bed beside me.
I shook my head. “I’m just a little worried about Manning.”
“He did seem a little quiet tonight,” she said. “I hope he wasn’t pissed because he thought he couldn’t bring Marla.”
“I don’t think he planned to bring her so that’s not a problem.”
“Then what was wro
ng with him?” she asked.
I wasn’t ready to share my suspicions with her—especially since Manning had out right denied he had any interest in her friend. Just like you denied you were in love with Rena for far longer than any sane man should have. “I’m not sure.”
“He looked almost as handsome as you did tonight,” she said, rubbing her cheek against my shoulder. “If I wasn’t already taken, I’d have set my sights firmly on him.”
“How are things with Candi and her dumbass boyfriend?”
She sighed. “I don’t know. He still watches every bite she puts in her mouth but she seems to be happy with him.”
“Do you think she’s open to dating someone else?”
“Not at the moment no.”
Damn!
After a few days of avoiding me, Manning and I had dinner alone one night and he seemed fine. He flirted with two blondes seated at the table behind us and left with both of their numbers in his phone.
With Manning apparently over Candi, I turned my attention to my own problems—namely the upcoming dinner with the Devons. Although I was eager to marry Rena, I was not looking forward to meeting her parents.
We arrived two hours before our scheduled dinnertime. Like her daughter, Julia Devon was a plus-sized, pretty woman. Although she didn’t seem particularly happy to meet me, I found it reassuring to know that Rena would be just as enchanting in twenty-five or thirty years as she was now.
Her father’s greeting was decidedly chillier than her mother’s. Looking into his eyes, I knew he thought she was settling with me. Oh well.
“Join me in the family home,” he said.
Rena gave me a weary look before looking at her father.“ Surely that’s not necessary, Dad.”
“You’re my only daughter, Rena. It’s necessary.”
“But he hasn’t even had a drink yet.”
“He’s driving. He doesn’t need one.”
Damn. This was going to be a fun evening.
He looked at me. “Coming?”
“Of course,” I flashed Rena a smile and followed her father from the living room.
The moment we were seated in chair facing each other, he started shooting questions at me. Although I’d made well over two hundred thousand dollars last year and would make even more that year, he behaved as if I had a minimum wage job that would require Rena to spend our entire married life slaving away. After he grilled and filleted me for nearly half an hour, we returned to the living room where her two brothers were waiting to vet me.