“Is she done? I can’t wait to see her in this.”
“Um, yeah. She’s done.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, you scared me. I didn’t hear you come in.”
Rydell ignored me and wrapped Bay in a towel while I wondered what the hell to do now. It wasn’t like I could walk out there and tell her she had to wear Kit’s pajamas. Then again, it was sort of Kit’s thing, not Rydell’s, but I couldn’t just go take it away from her. I should have mentioned the pajamas so she would have known. I scratched my head, pulling my hair with both hands and groaned as I stood to clean up Bay’s water mess and drain the tub. Wiping water from the floor with a towel and my foot, I stared at my reflection over the sink, wondering where the hell this became a thing. Maybe it had always been a thing. Why else would I hang on every word my sister said when she talked about Kit? Why wasn’t I up front with Kit from the start? Why was I hiding my relationship status with Rydell from her? Why did I look forward to my evenings with Kit as much as my evenings with Rydell? Why did flashes of things we’d done together cross my mind at the worst times ever? It all came to a crashing stop when I let myself reflect on it. I talked to Kit about my class and the things I’d done with them because she was interested, unlike Rydell. Not that there was anything wrong with that. Rydell had been a second grade teacher for five years, I barely had a few months under my belt. I totally got her not wanting to discuss it once we got home, but I was still new, and sometimes the excitement got the better of me. Kit always listened. Kit listened to a lot of things, as did I. I knew as much about Kit as I did Rydell, or at least I felt like I did. I had been there for her over the past few months as she had been for me and I didn’t even know it. She got scared and lonely over there, and sometimes, she just needed for someone to listen. That someone had become me, at times well after Bay had fallen asleep.
I stared at the reflection of a foolish man, sure I was in love with two women.
“Look, Daddy. How cute is Bay Berry Jandt?” Rydell said, from the floor.
I smiled down at Bay, twirling around and around in her new nightgown and then winked at Rydell.
Rydell raised her hand for me and I pulled her to her feet with a kiss, smelling her clean damp hair. Strawberry like her lips. “Let’s light the fireplace and read a story.”
“It’s not cold enough for a fire.”
“So, turn the air up. That’s what my dad always did on Christmas Eve.”
I shoved my tongue between her lips and walked away. “Let me grab a shower.”
“Bay’s not going to make it much longer. She’s ready to fall asleep standing up.”
Bay spun in a quick circle, fell to her butt, and giggled. “I not tire.”
“It’s fine. She’s not tire,” I said, with a wink.
My hot shower lasted longer than I meant it to. I thought about how I would feel if Kit was suddenly taken from my life and I hated it. Rydell did the same thing when I thought about her not being in my life. That was a horrible thought. No. I wasn’t in love with Kit. We were just friends. Other than the sex we’d had a handful of times and the one Skype thing, we were just friends. Buddies who shared the same kid.
My bantering with myself left me late for the party. Rydell was still reading, but Bay wasn’t listening. Her little body was curled into Rydell’s arms in front of the fire, sound asleep. I sat beside Rydell and she leaned into me, continuing the tale of the Christmas mouse.
“I pick you, Marlee the mouse said, picking the best reindeer for the job. Marlee knew it had to be someone very special, someone who would be loyal, and take care of not only Santa, but his reindeer and elves as well. Someone who loved them as much as Santa did. Merry Christmas. The End.”
“You bored her to sleep.”
“She heard every word I said. You smell good. Is that for me?”
“You know it, baby. Where did all these gifts come from?”
“Bay and I carried them in while you were in the shower. I can’t wait to open them in the morning.”
I kissed her head and stood for Bay. “This kid has more shit than ten kids need. Most of it is from you. She doesn’t need any more toys.”
“How about a kitten?”
“Shut your mouth and hand me Phil. Take your clothes off while I’m gone. I’ve got an early present for you.”
“Shhh, shut up, you idiot.”
My eyes glanced to Bay’s comatose body. “Trust me, this kid didn’t hear shit. Now do what you were told.”
I carried Bay to her bed and covered her with Phil. “I love you so much, Bay. Merry Christmas, baby girl.”
The door clicked behind me and I made my way back to my not so naked girlfriend.
“What? I’m sorry. I can’t just sit here naked and wait for you.”
A deep grumble gurgled from my throat as I walked to Rydell. I dropped to my knees, grabbed her legs, and jerked her toward me, her ass coming off the side of the sofa. Our eyes met when I unsnapped her jeans and slid down her zipper.
“I thought we were going to play?” she questioned, with soft words as I slid her out of her jeans.
I pulled her jeans from her ankles, assuring her with a smile that we were indeed going to play. My hands slid up her naked body, pushing her shirt over her firm breasts, but I still didn’t speak. Instead, I pinched her hardened beads between my fingers and twisted.
Rydell let out a faint whimper and closed her eyes as my fingers tightened, twisting harder right before I let them go. My hands wandered from her breasts to her bare knees and I spread her more, swearing I could see her swell. “I love your pussy,” I admitted, while sliding my fingers up to spread her even more.
“Stop saying that. You embarrass me.”
“Why? Because I like looking at your pussy or because you like it? You’re dying for me to touch your pussy, aren’t you, Rydell?”
“Brantley,” she panted in a weak tone, her stomach trembling with anticipation.
“I’m not touching you until you tell me to. Tell me what you want, Rydell.”
“No, just do it.”
I stood and eyed her from above, releasing my cock in to my hand. “You sure? Last chance. Tell me what you want me to do to your pussy, Rydell.”
Still nothing. Only dark eyes full of lust. Her lips parted as soon as I touched her lips with my head, a stream of pre-come between us and my sultry words. “Lick it off, Ry.
Her tongue peered out from between her lips and swiped it up and down my head, making sure she tasted me. “This what you want, baby? Huh? Open your mouth.”
Something about the way Rydell innocently succumbed to me, turned me on like nothing ever had. She was shy at first, but once warmed up, she was out of control. That’s the Rydell I worked to pull from her now. She not only wanted it, she loved it. Pressing my luck, I took it a little further and fucked her mouth like I had never done before. I held my hand over the back of her head and shoved her toward me while my hips thrust hard into her.
At one point I pulled completely out of her and waited for her to latch back on without me coaxing her. Her eyes shifted, watching as I jerked off over her mouth, but I ended up having to tell her to take it. “Suck it, baby. Suck that dick.” Boom, she took it like a champ, clear to the back of her throat, cupping my balls in her hand.
Her moan hummed on my dick and I probed again. “Tell me to touch it now, Rydell. Tell me to touch your pussy.”
Her hips writhed toward nothing but air, begging for attention. “Hmmm, touch it, Brantley.”
“That’s it, touch what, baby?”
“My pussy. Please touch my pussy, Brantley.”
Of course I did just that. I dropped to my knees in front of her, bringing her to two orgasms with my tongue before finally entering her. I glanced up to the sparkling lights on the tree and back to the fire burning in front of us, and then to her bare back. I did love Rydell. I loved everything about Rydell and that was that. There was absolutely no need in creating dr
ama that wasn’t even there. It had never been Kit. It was Rydell all along. I finished making love to my Florida cowgirl with her on her back in front of the fire. Sparkling emblems from the fire fell upon her face as she stared up to me, slicking my throat with guilt.
“I love you, Rydell Brinkley.”
Her lips parted and her back arched from the floor slightly as a soft whimper escaped, the onset of her breaking point. Rydell slid her red nails down my bare chest and let go with me deep inside her, relinquishing to my own pleasure.
“Oh, Jesus. I love you, too.”
Rydell and I half-dressed and sat in front of the fire while we played Christmas tunes well into the night. I think it was after one in the morning when we finally called it a night and went to bed. I think it was after two by the time we stopped talking and closed our eyes. She shared the story about playing at the mall with me again, explaining how there were no places for a group of high school kids to play around there, and after being told no a hundred times over for the mall entertainment, she arranged to do it, anyway. It was such a good turnout and the shoppers were so happy that the mall manager decided to do it year after year. Only she never got the gig. He farmed it out to more talented artists. Pfft, the guy didn’t know what he gave up.
I dozed off with Rydell in my arms and a weight on my shoulders, but I didn’t know why. I couldn’t pinpoint where the darkness came from, but I had a good hunch. No matter how many times I tried to ignore it and say it wasn’t so, something kept me from feeling grounded, something like Kit Noel Berry. The sudden thought that had turned into urgent words caused Rydell to jerk awake.
“What’s your middle name, Ry?”
“What?”
“Your middle name. What is your middle name?”
“Rydell is my middle name. Edith Rydell Brinkley. Why?”
I shrugged one shoulder and kissed her forehead. “Just curious. Come to North Carolina with me next month. I don’t want to go without you. Maybe we’ll find some place to busk or something.”
Even through the dark, I could see the puzzled expression. “I can’t. I made plans to go to Miami gambling with Wendi. I told you that, but I will be here for her birthday on Sunday. Promise.”
“But what if I said not to go with Wendi, that I really want you there with me?” I questioned.
“Where is this coming from, Brantley? I don’t know if I’m reading this wrong or not, but in case I am, I have to tell you, I won’t do it.”
I wore the puzzled expression this time. “Do what?”
“I refuse to be second best to anyone and I refuse to carry that kind of jealousy again. I love you, and I believed you when you said there is nothing between you and Kit. I have to, Brantley. I can’t carry that around like I did with Ryan. There were always girls hanging on him, and it gutted me. I’m not that girl. If I have something to worry about with you and Kit, then I need to know this right now. Dump me, don’t cheat on me.”
I leaned in on one elbow and gave her a serious expression through the dark. “Babe, you never have to worry about that. I have everything I need and want right here with you. I was merely begging for my own self-satisfaction. I hate the thought of not seeing you for two days.”
Rydell snickered and touched my face. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Even you should know that. It’s two days. You’ll survive. Go to sleep. Bay is going to be awake in about five more hours, if we’re lucky.”
I plopped to the bed and took a long deep breath of Rydell’s scented shampoo, or her lotion. Something smelled amazing.
One second I had just closed my eyes, and the next, I heard a loud ringing coming from the living room. I jumped up and darted out when I realized it was my computer and Kit calling me on Skype. I darted to the living room, cussing a plastic cow when I ran out to shut it up.
“Jesus, Kit. We’re not even awake yet. I am supposed to call you, remember?”
“You have a morning woody,” she giggled.
My eyes dropped to my shorts, and my hand covered my crotch. “Let me wake up and I’ll call you back. Bay’s not even awake yet.”
“It’s almost nine-thirty on Christmas morning there. I’ve been waiting all day for this.”
“I open a toy, Daddy.”
“See, she’s awake. Merry Christmas, my little Bay Berry.”
I looked up to Bay, holding Phil, and wearing her cute little nightgown, one sock on, one off. “I’ll call you back, Kit. Give me ten minutes.”
Of course that wasn’t good enough and I wasn’t quick enough to stop Bay. She darted in front of the computer before I had a chance to put her in the right pajamas. “Oh no, I’ll wait. It took me twenty minutes to get connected. You go take care of that and I’ll talk to my sweet baby, Bay.”
I went to the bathroom in my room, covered Rydell’s naked ass with the sheet after a quick peek, and slid on a shirt and sweats, closing the door behind me. This might go better than I had planned. Rydell drank at least a six pack, and we were up really late. If I was lucky, I’d make it through Christmas morning with my family before—Wait. Not my family. I shook off the thought and started coffee, wondering why I had just internally said that.
Two cups of coffee, and five presents from her mama later, we were done. Thank God. I relaxed, realizing I didn’t have to deal with any Rydell drama. One more present and I was out of the woods.
Bay opened her little leather bracelet with a silver diamond way too big for her wrist, and I turned my frown from her back to Kit.
“What time is it there, Brantley?”
I looked over my shoulder just as the doorbell rang. “Ten, hang on. Someone’s at my door.”
“Oh, yay! I can’t wait.”
My frown continued while I went to the door, wondering what the hell she had bought that she couldn’t wrap. I opened the front door to a truck parked in my driveway and a boy about ten or so at my door, fluffy white kitten in hand.
“My titty, I titty, Daddy.”
I was speechless. The little boy handed it to Bay wearing a big smile. I had to pick her up and help her to keep her from breaking his neck. “The lady in the email said you’d pay me when I got here. It was only twenty-five, but she said I could get fifty since it was Christmas.”
“For a cat?” I exclaimed, uncaring of his young age.
“That’s what she said. Want me to show you. My mom has it on her phone.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. Here you go, Merry Christmas,” Rydell said from behind me, her fingers inside my wallet.
“My titty, Dale.”
“I see, baby. Merry Christmas. I’m going to shower while you finish up with Kit. Merry Christmas to you, too, cowboy.”
I watched her walk away amazed. That’s why I was so in love with her. Rydell didn’t do drama. Ever. She could have been pissed about the whole kitten thing, but she wasn’t. She was happy, ready for our own Christmas. What a relief.
I walked back to Kit with the stupid little cat. “Are you kidding me? You bought her a cat?”
Kit beamed from ear to ear. “I’m hoping it will replace Phil, and you sort of bought it. Sorry about that. I didn’t have time to get it sent. I have been searching for a kitten close to you for two weeks now. Ahhh, look. She loves it.”
I shook my head, catching a glimpse of Rydell, standing in the hall with a cup of coffee to her lips. She winked at me while standing there listening.
“Okay, tell Mommy goodbye, Bay.”
“I pway a titty.”
Kit laughed, pulling my attention back to her. “You better name the titty, and one more thing.”
“What?”
“Those are not the pajamas I bought for her. You’re lucky they’re adorable. Did your mom buy those?”
“What the hell am I supposed to do with this rat ball?”
“I would name it if I were you.”
“Yeah, right. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye, Bay Berry Jandt. I love you so much. Merry Christmas, baby.”
“I titty.”
“You can call later and I’ll let you know whether it’s still alive or not.”
“Bye, make sure she has the best day ever.”
“I will, starting with some breakfast. Merry Christmas, Kit.”
“Merry Christmas, Brantley.”
I closed my laptop and looked to Rydell, waiting for the storm.
“You’re a d-i-c-k.”
I rubbed my face while sputtering a frustrated breath through my lips. “What did you want me to say, Ry? I couldn’t say, ‘Oh, no. Rydell bought her that nightgown.’”
“I expected you to tell me the truth last night, idiot. That was something special from her mom. You could have just been up front with me. She could have worn mine later. Don’t do that, Brantley. I love her to death, but I’m not her mom, and I will never try to be.”
Again, Rydell surprised me. I thought I was about to get an ass chewing for not telling Kit that Rydell bought it for her, and here she was mad because I didn’t tell her about Kit’s. Women were way more complicated than I could have ever guessed. Exactly the reason I didn’t get involved with them. “You’re right and I’m sorry, but you were so excited about it, I didn’t want to take that away from you.”
At least that softened her scowl. Rydell smiled at me, her head tilting to the side. “Thank you for thinking of me like that, but next time just tell me.”
“Pinky promise, now can we get on with Christmas?”
“For sure. I’m going to jump in the shower. You go start bacon.”
I talked to my mother and Bridgett on Facetime while Bay played with her favorite toy, a white little fur ball, accusing them of being in on it. Even though they denied it, I could tell by the way they talked to Bay they knew. Bridgett asked her what she named it before I told her she got it. Guilty.
Despite the fact that I thought about my little man Simon more than once throughout the day, I had the best Christmas I’d ever had in my life. Rydell and I exchanged gifts, and Bay opened a little pink guitar from me. She loved it almost as much as her new titty. I recorded her singing, Let It Go, at the top of her lungs and sent it right to Kit’s email. She would piss her pants laughing. Rydell and I could barely contain ourselves. She was no doubt a performer. Her little foot tapped on the floor just like mine, and her face showed more emotion than Adele’s. My little county singer. Bay Berry Jandt.
I Pick You Page 26
