Eric,
Help! Have you ever owned a cat? My neighbors asked me to watch their cat for the weekend while they went away. His name is Misty. Why you’d name a boy cat Misty I have no idea, but whatever. All the poor animal has done since arriving is hide under my bed and yowl. I’ve tried everything I can think of to lure him out. Biscuits, canned salmon, and calmly explaining that Greta (my neighbor) will be back for him Sunday night. I even tried tough love, telling him firmly that he was being a bad baby and demanding he come out. The little jerk scratched my hand when I reached for him, then went back to ignoring me. I don’t know what to do and Google is being no help at all. What if he chokes on a dust bunny and dies under there?? Greta will never forgive me. You know, a plant I could have probably managed, but leaving me in charge of a sentient life force isn’t a good idea. I don’t think I’m ever going to be ready for motherhood.
Message received:
Alex, calm down. The cat is not going to die. Leave him alone and he’ll come out when he’s ready. I promise.
Message sent:
I left him alone and he came out. He’s now on the couch watching an Animal Planet special on humpback whales. Apologies for freaking out slightly and thanks for the advice.
Message received:
Anytime. I’m sure one day, when you’re ready, you’ll make a great mother.
“Can I get you a cushion?”
“No, thank you.” I gave Joe a nice calm, bland smile and turned back to his mother. “This meatloaf is wonderful, Audrey. Best I’ve ever tasted.”
“You know, you strike me as the kind of girl who’d really be into meatloaf,” said Joe. “I don’t know why, you just do.”
I ignored him.
“It’s Eric’s favorite,” Audrey told me.
“I can see why.”
The birthday boy put down his fork and lifted his bottle of beer in a toast to his mother. Happily, he said nothing. With a mouth full of food, saying nothing was always best. Eric looked part squirrel with his cheeks so full of birthday lunch.
Mr. and Mrs. Collins lived in a nice bungalow a few blocks back from Sanders Beach. A nice part of town. Joe told me how it’d become popular with the moneyed up in the last ten or so years. Some of the houses on the lakefront were amazing. Outside, massive old pine trees kept the house in almost perpetual shade. Inside the Collins abode were comfy couches and pastel walls covered in pictures of the boys. It was nice, homey and relaxed.
Unlike me at that particular point in time.
Unfortunately, Joe wasn’t finished with his teasing yet. Sliding his arm over my stiff shoulders, he leaned in and not quite whispered, “Are you sure? The chairs are bare wood. I really don’t mind fetching you a cushion to sit on.”
“I’m sure.”
“But—”
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
Concern filled his mother’s hazel eyes. “Is something wrong, Alex?”
“No.”
Brows pinched, she turned to her eldest son.
“It’s fine, Mom,” said Joe. “Alex is just a little sore from—”
“Building,” I hastily interjected. “Yeah. I’m not used to all that sanding and stuff. My muscles are just a little … sore.”
“Right. Building.” The asshole who would most likely never live to see my pussy ever again grinned. “That’s what I was going to say.”
Unbelievable. It’s like he actually wanted to be attacked with utensils. If he kept this shit up, I’d do a Betty Blue and fork him good, right in the back of the hand. Give him some scars to remember me by.
“Oh,” said Audrey. “Would you like some aspirin?”
I shook my head. “I’m fine, really. But thank you.”
At one end of the table, Joe’s dad, Stan, said nothing, determinedly working away at his plate of food. His father’s dark hair was threaded with gray and his face was weathered. Smile lines were definitely lacking. Once upon a time, he would have been a handsome man. His body still looked big, strong, though he moved slowly.
Stan grunted at me when we’d been introduced. Joe frowned and drew me into the kitchen to meet his about a billion times nicer mother. You could see where Joe got his golden hair, despite his mom’s being a little faded.
At the other end of the table, Eric’s mouth hung open. Empty now, thank God. The mildly horrified look in his eyes, however, was something special. Like it’d never occurred to him that his brother and I might wind up playing naked together.
Not that we’d played, exactly.
As I preferred, I’d been next on top. Reverse cowgirl, yee haa! No way he could ruin things with unnecessary eye gazing in that position. Then he’d turned me around and pounded into me doggy-style. The man made me see stars, I’d come so hard. Three times in one night was a lot. Especially after months of nothing. Once my guard was down, due to complete and utter exhaustion, Joe had cuddled me. It was terrible, disgusting. Fingers caressing me, lips pressing soft kisses to my shoulder and the back of my neck. Normally I’d never allow it, but it felt so good. Plus, I was almost comatose. His surprise attack of intimacy slipped straight though my usual defenses. The way he tempted me, getting me all hot and bothered and twisted up inside in the best way possible. And then, when I didn’t think I could take anymore, he calmed everything down and made me feel safe. I wasn’t used to being wanted in such different ways. Like I was more than my mouth, tits, and vagina. More than even our friendship.
Holy shit, were we complicating things. We were out of control.
“Building?” asked Eric, voice heavy with disbelief.
“Yes.” Teeth gritted, I smiled.
“Banging, screwing,” said Joe. “You know.”
With a loud huff, Eric sat back in his seat, not taking his eyes off me for a minute. And the look he gave me let me know, I was not making his birthday great.
“Eric?” asked Audrey, gaze racing back and forth between the two of us, Mommy-danger senses obviously on high alert. “Why don’t I get you another beer?”
“It’s fine, Mom.”
“You got a problem?” asked Joe, brow wrinkling.
“She’s using you,” hissed Eric. “Can’t you see that?”
“So?”
I turned to Joe, startled.
“What the fuck do you mean, so?” asked Eric.
“Language,” said Stan, not looking up from his plate.
Both of the brothers ignored him.
“What I let Alex use me for is none of your business,” said Joe.
“It is if it involves me.” Cheeks sucked in, Eric glared at his brother. “This isn’t about sex, you idiot. It’s about her coming to town for me. Using you, to try and get to me.”
My blood, it boiled. “No, I—”
“That’s what I’m not okay with.” Eric raised his voice, continuing over the top of me. Jerkwad. “And if you’d start thinking with your brain instead of your dick, you’d feel the same.”