by S. M. Shade
Kenny flips him off.
“Okay, I’ll start,” Veronica says. “Do your balls get in the way all the time? Like, wouldn’t they stick to your leg when you sweat?”
“Yes,” all the guys answer in unison, drawing a laugh.
Trey adds to the answer. “It’s the ball sack that’s the problem. Sticks to your leg when it’s warm.”
“Ah, yeah, the batwing,” I add.
Trey asks the next question. “Do women talk about sex a lot?”
Jani and Veronica grin at each other before Jani says, “How much is a lot?”
“Like when you’re all together, swapping tampon recipes and whatnot, do you compare the guys you’ve been with?”
“That’s what you think girls do? What the hell is a tampon recipe?”
Trey shrugs, a wide smile on his face.
Becca speaks up. “Yes, we talk about sex. And to close friends, there might be some details, especially if it was really good.”
“If you end up in bed with a Greek God of a man, you have to tell someone about it,” Veronica points out.
“That’s another thing,” I add. “I don’t understand why women compare men to a Greek God. Ooh, he’s pale like chalk with a tiny penis.”
The game goes on until the girls have mostly exhausted their questions, and we get on the subject least understood by guys. Periods. It starts with this stunning question from Kenny.
“If you hug a girl too hard on her period, does blood spray out?”
“For fuck’s sake, they aren’t ketchup packets!” Trey snorts.
“Okay, then how does a girl know for sure her period is over?” Kenny asks.
“Her vagina dings,” I reply.
“Nah, it buzzes, like a dryer,” Noble laughs.
Finally, Becca shrugs. “The blood stops coming out. It’s over until the next month.”
Kenny considers her answer for a moment then asks, “Until the full moon?”
Trey’s entire body shakes with laughter which sets everyone else off as well. “Now they’re werewolves!” he chokes out. “I seriously don’t know how you manage to get laid.”
Kenny sits back in a pout. “I swear there’s a secret society of women making sure we don’t know this stuff.”
“Shh, we don’t talk about the clitterati,” Becca says in a hushed voice. Her eyes twinkle as she glances at me. Damn, she’s hot tonight.
Trey shakes his head. “The only thing that amazes me is how women stand to have something stuck to them like that, especially the ones who don’t wax. Doesn’t it hurt like hell to change a pad? Is that why most women wear tampons?”
Stunned silence falls over the group until Becca says, “Trey, what—and I can’t stress this enough—the fuck?”
Trey blinks and shrugs.
“Pads stick to underwear, not vaginas. Sticky side down, not up.”
“Dude,” Noble laughs. “You might not be the dumbest man in the world, but you better hope he doesn’t die.”
“On that note,” Jani says, after the laughter and teasing dies down. “I think I’ll head home.”
Noble joins her, and the party breaks up.
“Did you have fun?” I ask Becca, as she heads down the hall.
“I did.” Her smile is bright and genuine. “Most fun I’ve had in a long time. Thanks.”
“We like having you here, you know. We were worried what we’d end up with when we had to find another roommate. You fit right in.”
She flashes me a smile. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”
“Compliment. We’re awesome, and you know it.”
“Good night, Denton,” she giggles, closing her bedroom door.
Maybe it’s the alcohol, but lying on my bed a few minutes later, I can’t stop thinking about her. Closing my eyes, I picture her getting ready for bed. Stripping down to lacy little panties and lotioning her whole body. Slowly, because being thorough is important.
She lets her hair out of the ponytail, and it falls over her bare shoulders. My hand has found its way to my cock as the image in my head comes into focus. All the excitement tonight has her ramped up the way it does me, and she slips her hand between her legs, my name on her lips. Yeah, I’m fantasizing about her fantasizing about me. And it’s amazing. When her head falls back and her body shudders, I groan out my own release.
Opening my eyes, I can’t believe how fast I got off thinking of her. What the hell is she doing to me?
The house is quiet when I wake. Trey and Kenny had to be at work early, and I was supposed to go in this afternoon as well, but Veronica calls about an hour before my shift to tell me to take the day off. I’m not surprised. It’s pouring rain and supposed to continue all day. No reason to open the car wash.
Before she hangs up, she asks, “Would you be willing to babysit tonight? Neal and I haven’t had a night out in a while.”
Babysitting is not exactly my thing, but I’ll be able to make up some of the money I’m missing from not working today. “What time do you need me?”
“How about six?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Actually, we’re looking for someone to babysit a couple nights per week if you know anyone you trust. Just for the next few weeks.”
I agree to ask around and promise to be there to watch their rug rats at six o’clock. Neal and Veronica’s kids are great. Bailey is twelve and a pretty responsible kid, but Aiden is a ball of reckless energy like most five year olds, so they don’t want to leave them without an adult just yet.
Once I get off the phone with her, I check my email and I’m thrilled to find an offer to interview for an upcoming internship. I’ve been waiting to hear back about my application all summer. It’s a highly coveted position at an advertising agency in Paducah and the competition is fierce. They only accept two students a year, so the chances are slim, but it’s a paid position that usually turns into a job offer right out of school, which is rare.
The interview process is hell from what I’ve heard and includes multiple meetings and a project to display what the candidate can do. Whatever it is, I plan to work my ass off to get it. The last thing I want is to graduate and keep working at a car wash. I make a note on my calendar to attend the first interview and head out to the kitchen to grab some breakfast.
Becca sits at the table, practically cuddling a cup of coffee. Her brows are drawn and the corner of her mouth tucks in as she types on her phone.
“Good morning, is everything okay?” I ask, pouring myself a cup of coffee and throwing a cup of water in the microwave for oatmeal.
“Yeah,” she says, and turns her attention back to her phone.
Okay then. It isn’t until I sit across from her to eat that she lays it down and looks at me. “I hate to ask, but could you do me a favor and run me to my dad’s shop to pick up my car? I’ll give you some gas money.”
“Sure, did he get it fixed?”
Her lips purse, and she shakes her head. “No, the transmission has had it. It’d cost more than the damn thing is worth to repair.”
“Oh shit, that sucks. You have to get a new one?”
“As soon as I hit that lottery,” she replies, and I hate the sound of defeat in her voice. “I’ll just drive it until I can’t. Until I figure out something. I need to work more, but I don’t have that many sessions scheduled right now. Business is unusually slow.”
“Veronica is looking for someone to babysit a couple times a week. They pay well. It might not be enough to make a difference, but…” I shrug.
“Every little bit helps. I’ll call her.”
“I have to watch the kids tonight. You should just come with me and meet them. See what you’re getting yourself into first.”
Her eyebrow lifts. “Are they hellions?”
“Nah, they’re good kids.”
Nodding, she finishes her coffee. “That’d be great. Thanks.”
She sits at the table with me as I eat. “So, your dad is a mechani
c?”
“Yeah, he only works part time now. He’s been talking about closing the shop next year when he gets old enough for social security.”
“What about your mom?”
“She’s a homemaker and spends most of her time volunteering for her church.” She moves to the sink and washes her cup. “Where are your parents?”
“They live in the next county.” That’s all the information I’m willing to share right now, and she doesn’t pursue it.
She’s quiet on the drive to retrieve her car. Worry lines her face. I don’t know why I’m so affected by her, but seeing her struggle makes me want to help, not that I’m in much of a position to do so. That’s probably why it bothers me. I know what it’s like to keep trying and have a lack of money hold you back.
Her dad’s shop isn’t much more than a garage surrounded by a small gravel lot. “Looks like no one’s here,” I point out, after spotting the closed sign on the door.
“He left the keys under the visor.”
“Good way to get it stolen.”
She scoffs. “They wouldn’t get far. Thanks for the ride.”
“Denton!” Aiden tackles my legs when I step into Neal and Veronica’s living room. “Mom says we can play my new racing game! I’ve got it all ready. You just have to pick a car. But not the black car, that one is mine and if you also pick black, I’ll get mixed up, so don’t choose black, okay?”
Becca’s chuckle from behind me draws his attention. A smile bursts across his face. “Hi, I’m Aiden. Are you Denton’s girlfriend?”
Becca grins and bends down to his level. “No, just a friend. He said you were fun to hang out with, so I tagged along. Is that okay?”
“Uh-huh.” Aiden nods, and drops his voice into what he must think is a whisper. “Why aren’t you his girlfriend? Because he don’t have big muscles?”
For fuck’s sake, kid.
Becca shrugs. “He can be kind of smelly too.”
Aiden giggles and flexes his bicep. “I have big muscles, see?”
Becca feels his arm. “You must be strong. Do you have a girlfriend?”
His eyes light up with pride. God help this kid’s parents when he’s a teenager. “Yep, her name is Deedee. She goes to my daycare and she’s going to be in my Kindergarten class!”
“A, let them get through the door,” Neal says, scooping him up.
Veronica shouts from the next room. “Aiden, get your behind in here and finish eating!”
“Bee-hind,” Aiden giggles, as Neal puts him back on his feet and he darts off.
“Hi Becca, it’s nice to meet you,” Neal says, shaking her hand.
“You too. Quite the little heartbreaker you have there.”
Neal chuckles. “Once he gets wound up, it’s like I fed him a Red Bull. He’s excited to see Denton. Come in and make yourself at home. My daughter, Bailey, was supposed to be here but she got an invitation to stay over at a friend’s house, so it’s just Aiden tonight.”
We spend a few minutes chatting with Neal and Veronica before they leave. “Bedtime is still nine o’clock,” Veronica reminds Aiden as they’re heading out the door. “And let Denton wash your hair when you take a bath.”
Aiden’s head bobs in agreement. He’d agree to anything to get them to leave so we can play the game. I sit on the floor with Aiden, and Becca sits on the couch behind us. “So, I’m the black car, right?” I tease.
“No!”
Laughing, we start the first race. Becca cheers Aiden on when he beats me, and he beams at her. She’s definitely made a new friend. The kid is as enamored as I am. “Want to play?” he offers.
She scoots down to the floor, her knee bumping mine, and I surrender my controller. Aiden patiently explains which button does what, then proceeds to wipe the track with her as well.
“Wow, you’re really good at this,” she tells him.
“The trick is not to hit the wall so much,” he replies wisely, and Becca restrains a laugh.
The night goes smoothly. The video game gives way to Legos, and we play with him until I notice the time.
“Okay, dude, it’s time for a bath. Do you know where your pajamas are?”
“Yeah, and I can run my own bath water now.” He looks up at me and shrugs his little shoulders. “I just can’t get all the soap out of my hair.”
“No problem. How about you play for a while, then I’ll come wash your hair?”
“Kay.”
I give him a few minutes to run the water, get undressed, and get in the tub. It’s dead quiet which isn’t usually a good sign. “Aiden? What’s going on in there?” I call out as Becca passes me in the hall.
“Nothing. It’s just me and my penis,” he says matter-of-factly, and Becca covers her mouth, her body shaking.
“That could be the title of your autobiography.” I swear, every time she insults me, I just want her more. Therapy may be in order.
Leaning against the wall outside the bathroom, I grab her arm. “I’ll give you ten dollars to go see what that means instead of me.”
“Sorry, penis talk is all you. I’m going to go straighten the kitchen up for Veronica.”
I tap on the open door as I walk in. “Let’s get your hair washed.” Maybe I can steer him away from whatever he was talking about. My hopes aren’t too high for that since his gaze is focused between his legs as he swipes at the water, making waves.
Grinning up at me, he looks like he’s discovered some amazing secret. “The water turns it into a big seahorse sometimes.”
Somehow, I manage not to laugh at that announcement, and make quick work of washing and rinsing his hair. “Get dried off and dressed, then we can watch some cartoons.”
A few minutes later, he comes padding across the living room in his pajamas and climbs onto the couch.
Becca returns from the kitchen and sits on his other side. “I almost forgot. I brought you a sucker,” she says, and hands him a Ring Pop. He tears off the wrapper and happily pops it into his mouth. After a few minutes, he moves down onto the floor to play with his toy cars, and Becca pulls a sketch pad out of her bag and starts drawing.
“What are you working on?” I scoot closer to her.
“Just some new stuff for the shop wall. It’s been a while since I put up any new designs.”
“Do people actually walk in not knowing what tattoo they want and just pick something from the wall?”
“Way more often than you’d think.”
The silver tip of her tongue piercing peeks out between her lips as she concentrates, rolling it back and forth mindlessly. Every move she makes tonight is killing me. I must really need to get laid.
She doesn’t seem to mind when I peek at the drawing and holy shit, this girl is talented. It’s a simple pencil drawing of a shark just about to break the surface of the water. I’m amazed at how fluid she’s able to make the water appear and she’s captured the dead malevolence in the shark’s eyes. It’s magnificently creepy.
“With skills like that, you should be drowning in clients, assuming they transfer to your tat work.”
She gives me a sideways look. “I’m better with ink.”
Pulling out my phone, I ask, “What’s your website? I want to see your work.”
“I don’t have it on our website. There are some examples on my Facebook page, though.”
“There’s your problem. You can’t expect people to find you on a Facebook page. You need a professional website. That’s basic marketing.”
“I have a website!” She glances down at the floor, then nudges me. “I think Aiden is having trouble.”
Aiden sits cross legged, grunting and doing something to his foot.
“Hey buddy, what are you doing?”
“It’s stuck,” he grumbles, sticking out his leg.
Becca can’t prevent her snort of laughter this time. Looped around Aiden’s big toe is what remains of the Ring Pop.
“How did you do that?” I move down to sit beside him and pull his
foot into my lap. All I get is a shrug. The plastic ring is so tight around his toe I don’t know how he got it on there in the first place. A slight tug shows me I can’t pull it off without dislocating something. Leave it to Aiden.
There’s not enough room between his skin and the thick plastic ring to use anything to cut it off, and I can’t break it without the risk of hurting him. When I can’t instantly solve the problem, worry clouds his face. “I want it off,” he whines.
“We’ll get it off. Don’t worry.” I look toward Becca. “Do you want to see if you can find something, baby oil or butter or something? Maybe we can slide it off.”
I scoop Aiden up onto the couch while she goes to hunt down the supplies. “Why would you put it on your toe?” I have to ask, but I don’t expect much of an answer. I remember being young and a lot of the time I had no idea why I did something. The urge just strikes.
“I thought I could hold it with my foot and have both hands free for the cars.” Makes perfect sense in child logic. His lip starts to poke out.
“It’s okay. We’ll take care of it.” I grin up at him. “Maybe you could just eat it off?”
I’m rewarded with a giggle, and he doesn’t look as upset when Becca returns. A sheepish smile is planted on her face when she hands me a small clear tube.
“Lube? This is all you could find?”
She sits beside Aiden. “Yeah, it was in the medicine cabinet.”
This is not how I expected to spend my night. Rubbing lube on a five year old’s toe.
“It’s cold!” Aiden exclaims as I squirt it on his skin.
“They didn’t have any of the warming kind,” Becca murmurs to me, and we both chuckle.
“What? What’s so funny?”
“Just you, buddy. Okay, let’s try again. Ready?”
Gritting his teeth, he nods and squeezes his eyes shut. It takes a few seconds of twisting and manipulating, but finally the ring pops off and shoots out of my fingers, landing on the carpet across the room.
Aiden laughs and scampers after it. “Wow! It shot almost to the kitchen!” He slides the ring on his finger and makes a move toward his mouth until Becca and I both cry out in unison. He shrugs. “I’ll go rinse it off.”