He walks to the door and locks it.Oh,nowhe locks it.
“No, she isn’t, she’s talking on the phone.And she wouldn’t come in here without knocking first.”
“Your mother can’t see me like this.I need to go to the bathroom.Lord, I’m one of your girls now.”
“No, you’re not; none of those girls would be going home with me and none of them made me this happy and horny in this room.”
“Is that so?”
“That is so.”He puts his arm around me from behind, rubbing his face against me, scraping my skin.He unlocks the door and we stumble out in the hallway, laughing, and almost walk into his mother passing by.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, yourself,” she says, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
God, I could die right here.I bite my lip and try to pull away from Nick.He holds me in place, smiling sweetly and kissing me on the neck.Why doesn’t he make this more uncomfortable and say, “We had raunchy sex in your house.”I can’t look her in the face.Why did I let him talk me into having sex in his mother’s house?The flesh is weak!
“You look very happy, dear.”
“This lucky lady here does it to me.She’s better than an afternoon delight.”
I elbow him in the stomach, and his smile falters when he winces.
His mother tries to hide a smile.“Cat, can I speak to you before you leave?”
“Sure, I’ll be there in a minute.I need to go to the bathroom first,” I tell her, avoiding eye contact.
“Take your time.I’ll be downstairs when you’re finished.”
I leave Nick in the hallway rubbing his stomach and go to the bathroom.He deserved that.Afternoon delight, indeed.I shake my head and keep walking.“You won’t be getting any more afternoon delights from me.”
Cat
“My son has had countlessgirls come through here, and for lack of a better word, I would say they were spirited.I’ve heard a lot of things come out of that room, some I didn’t want to hear.When you have a son like mine, who is headstrong and has his looks, and an ex-husband like mine as his father, it’s hard to set boundaries and limits.He was a teenage girl’s dream and their mother’s nightmare.I’m not the judgmental type, Cat.You can look at me.”
I’m sitting at the table next to her with a stiff smile.His mother is very pretty.They look alike; she also closely resembles Ava, with her long black hair.That shouldn’t surprise me, Ava’s mother is Ms.Alexander’s sister and she’s married to Nick’s father’s brother.I’m not the only one who likes to keep it in the family.I’m still completely embarrassed.“I’m sorry,” I say, trying to maintain eye contact with her.
“For what?The way he was all over you tonight with love and affection I’ve never seen?I knew he was capable of it, and I’m happy as his mother to finally see it.You make my son happy.You came by a few times when you were a little girl, and then I met you again when you were in high school.I wondered what my son was doing with you.I knew you weren’t dating him—you were too young.You’re the only female friend he had.I watched him with you.You made him laugh and act silly.I didn’t see that with him and any other girl.You bring out the side of him he doesn’t show often—the best part of him.”
“I don’t know about all of that, but he makes me happy.We are best friends, and I care about him deeply.”She puts her hand over mine on the table with a warm expression.
“Nick’s told me about what’s going on with your family.I believe you and my son will go far if you stick together through the hard times ahead.Don’t listen to anyone but yourself; you’ve known each other since you were children.If anyone knows what’s best for you and my grandchild, it’s you.”
“If only my mother could see things the way you see them, my life would be almost perfect.”
“As a mother, I know where she’s coming from.If I were her I would have fervent dislike for my son.As his mother, I’m telling you he’s not perfect.But I know he loves you a great deal.He’s going to love his child and he will take care of you the best he can.I can vouch for that.”
“I know he will.I’m worried my family will never accept us or the baby.”
“If you can look past his sharper edges and the things he’s done wrong, your family will see he’s a good man.I don’t know if your family will ever accept Nick because of all the hurt and pain, but you’re their daughter, you’re family.I haven’t spent much time with your mother but from what I know she’ll come around, she’s going to be there when you need her the most.”
“What if she doesn’t?”
“Then you have us; we’re your family.You’re an Alexander now.Whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with us.”
She smiles, and I can’t help but give her a genuine smile back.
Nick strolls in the room coming toward me, his hair still messy repeating what his mother said.“Yes, you are stuck with us.”
