“I’m sorry.” I mean it. We’ve really messed things up by having sex.
“It’s both our faults,” she says. “But we’re adults, and we can move on from this. Besides, we don’t have to see each other again. Medically, I mean?”
A hole forms in my chest. An emptiness that I know only too well. I clear my throat. “Yes, my work with you is done. Medically, that is.”
“In that case then, let’s forget this ever happened.” She stops short of asking me to leave.
I get up and reach for my boxer briefs. This feels too familiar too. The only difference is that this time I’m not eager to leave. I wish she would say something that would let me stay. I finish dressing and stand over the bed.
Cora refuses to meet my gaze.
“All the best,” she says.
“You too. Call me if you need me.”
“I won’t,” she says.
I can tell from the tone in her voice that she regrets meeting me again, and that saddens me, even if I deserve it. I look back one more time. Her gaze is still averted.
“Bye, Cora.”
Chapter 5
Cora
“Okay, everyone, let’s get ready to do a basic routine. This is a beginner’s class, so we’ll take it easy.” I love my beginner’s basic class.
I love seeing new faces of people who’ve decided to take charge of their health and start exercising. I introduce myself as more people walk in. It’s a mixture of men and women and a range of ages from people in their twenties to middle-aged.
A familiar figure bounces in, and when I turn to her, my jaw drops. My mom flashes me a quick smile and a wave and strolls to the back of the class. I follow her with my gaze, taking in the totally inappropriate hot pink crop top she’s wearing and matching joggers.
I want to die. I tear my gaze away and force myself to begin the class. Every time our gazes meet, she smiles and winks. I can’t help being drawn to her exposed midriff. What was she thinking wearing an outfit designed for a teenager?
We start with basic matches. Thank God that I’ve done this countless times, and I don’t have to think about the words that leave my mouth. As the class goes on, I notice that my mom is struggling. Not a surprise. She’s almost seventy years old. I start my older clients off with easy walks and slowly build up until they can manage a beginner aerobics class.
I call for a water break, and I can tell that my seasoned students are surprised as we never take a break as the class is only for twenty-five minutes.
My concentration is messed up. I can’t peel my eyes off my mom, afraid that she might hurt herself. The water break must have perked her up because now, her movements are energetic.
After the class, I’m too pissed off to talk to her, and besides, Riley and I are meeting upstairs at my apartment to go over donor profiles. My stomach clenches as I leave the gym and take the side door to my building.
As I ride the elevator up, my thoughts wander to T. I remember the last time we rode up together after an afternoon spent imbibing. Two weeks later, I’m still finding it hard to believe that I was stupid enough to sleep with him. Again. After how he dumped me three years ago. I’m shameless; that’s what I am. And the worst of it is that in unguarded moments, I find myself missing him and looking at my phone to check if he’s called.
Thomas is a cold bastard. His interest in me has always been one thing: my body. That has not changed. My nipples suddenly harden, and my panties dampen. By the time I get off the elevator, my breathing comes out fast, as if I’ve been running.
I’m horny as hell as I walk through the front door. It’s happening more and more often. Just thinking about Thomas, and it’s as if someone has lit a fire to my body. An uncontrollable hunger for sex consumes me. Like now.
I need a shower. Desperately. I leave the front door unlocked for Riley to let herself in and head to my bedroom bathroom.
I strip off and enter the bathroom. I don’t even pretend that a shower is a priority. I grab the shower gel, squeeze some into my hand, and lather it all over my body. I moan as my hands graze over my ultra-sensitive nipples.
I reach between my legs, and my hand comes into contact with my clit; I let out a sigh of relief. Something has happened to me in the last week. All I can think about is Thomas and sex. I want him so badly that if he walked in at this moment, I’d welcome him with open arms, no questions asked.