“Uh, I’ll say. That house was unreal.”
“Told you. I’ll let you know when Dillon has another one. Did you…?” He circled his finger in the air.
“Did I what?”
“You know. Hook up with anyone there?”
“None of your business. And I can’t believe you didn’t tell me it was a sex party,” I said, maybe a little too loud. I looked around to see if I’d been overheard.
He laughed. “Oh, that. Tiny detail.”
“That was not a tiny detail, Joe.”
“So? Where’d you go? I lost track of you.”
“I sort of met someone.”
“Ah. I see.” He straightened up and walked away, chuckling some more.
He didn’t see it at all. If he only knew.
The rest of the day my head was still in the baby cloud. Around five, my phone dinged with a text. When I looked at it, I almost dropped the thing like it was a thousand degrees. It was from Hugh.
Any chance you’re free around 7? I’d like an opportunity to persuade you to accept my offer if you’re willing.
Holy shit!
I must’ve been sex-drunk because I didn’t even remember giving the man my phone number. What the heck was I going to tell him? One thing was for sure. I had to give him the down-low on my parents. The worst thing that could happen was he would find out about them after I got knocked up and then where would that leave me? In a complete disaster, that was where. I would be up to my eyeballs in debt with a baby on the way. There was no way I could ever do that to a kid.
I shot him a text back.
I’m free around 7 and I’ll be home. See you then.
At six-thirty, I started pacing. By six forty-five, I had to restrain myself from jogging around my tiny apartment. By the time the knock came on my door, my heart was jumping out of my chest.
I opened the door and grabbed his arm, practically yanking him inside. “Sit down.”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. But you need to sit down.” I clasped my hands together just so I wouldn’t rub them up and down my legs. They were dripping with sweat.
“You don’t look okay. Maybe you need a drink.”
“Uh, yeah. A drink.” I went into the kitchen and poured us both large glasses of Jack. My hand trembled as I handed him his.
“What is this?” he asked.
“Jack.” I took a huge gulp of mine and then coughed as I choked on the burn. I ran my hand across my mouth afterward. It was obvious whiskey wasn’t my beverage of choice.
“I was thinking more about water. You should take it easy on this stuff.”
“Yeah, sure. So lay it on me,” I said.
“Excuse me?”
“You know. Your offer.”
He squinted at me for a moment. Then took another sip of his drink. He was much smarter with the beverage than me. “As I mentioned, I am in need of an heir and…” He stopped and scratched his temple. “You know, maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”
“Why not?” I took another slug of my drink and sputtered.
“Do you have a drinking problem?” he asked.
“Who, me? Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. Look at that glass of yours. It’s almost empty. And you’re sweating. Are you going through withdrawals?”
I fish-mouthed, and then bent over at the waist in laughter. When I was finally able to get a lungful of air, I said, “I hate this stuff. That’s why I’m coughing with every swallow.”
“Why are you guzzling it then?”
“Because I’m nervous!” I shouted.
“Why?”
“Jesus. We’re talking about me being a sperm receptacle, that’s why! And add to that, a baby comes along with it, which happens to be quite a long commitment. Have you even given any thought to that?” Men are such idiots.
I hadn’t meant to say the last part aloud, but I guess I did, because his response told me so.
“Yes, I have given a great deal of thought to that, and for your information, not all men are idiots. I have a very decent plan outlined here, if you will only stop gulping the damn liquor long enough for me to explain it to you.”
“I can do that, but how will we go about getting pregnant? Will it be the natural way?”
He didn’t give me any time to ponder my questions because he stood up in front of me and, before I could say another word, his mouth crashed down on mine and stole the remainder of my thoughts away.
Four
Hugh
The zipper was a problem, and I tore at the one on her dress, needing to get to her skin, leaving the garment in rags. I lowered it past her breasts and had to stop. “Fuck, your tits are perfect.”
My mouth watered as I flicked the snap at the front of her bra. They spilled out into my hands as she worked the bra off her arms. I dipped my head, unable to resist the rosy buds, and sucked them one at a time.