Friends with benefits: Erotica

by Walker, Kelli

  “I know, Mom. He is a sweetheart. I just don’t know what to do,” I admitted.

  “Time will tell you, you’ll see. Think about who you can see yourself growing old with. Who will make you laugh? Who would make a better partner. It’s not something you need to decide right now. Just pay attention, they’ll show you their true colors.” She pulled me close and wrapped her arms around me. Smelling her familiar perfume helped strengthen me. I had always wanted to be like her. So self assured and confident. Maybe this was how she got that way. Making tough choices and living with them.

  “Okay,” I said, my voice cracking.

  “Let’s go find that husband of yours,” she said as she turned me around and leading me out into the living room. We searched from room to room with no luck.

  “Where could he be,” I finally said once we couldn’t search anywhere else.

  “Maybe he slipped outside,” she offered. We started heading back to the party when we heard a group of people cheer. “What in the world?”

  Chapter 12

  Lily

  Rushing to the back yard, we saw Chris and Skyler goofing off. It looked as though Skyler had intercepted the frisbee from Sean and Avery by catching it with his mouth.

  “Mommy!” Avery said running to me. “Skyler caught the frisbee like a dog. He used his mouth,” she wa giggling and pointing to hers.

  “Really?” I said pretending to be impressed.

  She turned and yelled, “You catch it that way, Daddy!”

  Chris turned and I saw the drink in his hand. I rushed over and snatched it away from him, smelling it. From the scent, it was more whiskey than soda. I dumped it out on the lawn and he yelled in objection.

  “Where did you get this?” I insisted.

  “Your dad said I could have a glass,” he said loudly.

  “How many glasses ago was that?” I pried. I shook my head. “Why can’t you just stay sober for once?”

  “Daddy, do it!” Avery cheered. She was running the frisbee back to Sean. He looked at me and shrugged.

  “I will, baby,” he said. He turned and looked at Sean, “Go ahead, man. I’m ready.”

  Sean looked at me and I just raised my hands in defeat. He took the frisbee and threw it nice and steady in Chris’ direction. Stumbling, he went after it. He opened his mouth as he approached but undershot and ended up getting hit in the nose instead. His hand flew to his nose as blood began to gush from it.

  “You did that on purpose,” he yelled at Sean. “Why did you do that?”

  “I didn’t do anything,” Sean said, his hands raised.

  “You think you can just do this and get away with it?” Chris started toward Sean but Avery’s crying stopped him dead in his tracks.

  “Why don’t we go get you cleaned up,” my dad said as he appeared. He and my grandpa ushered Chris inside while my mother picked up Avery and began to console her.

  “There, there, sweetie. It’s okay, Daddy’s just got a bloody nose is all,” she said softly.

  Sean joined us, “I really didn’t mean to…,” he began, his eyes wide.

  “It’s okay, dear. We know. He’s just drunk again. Her father should have known better than to let him get in the liquor,” she chided. “Don’t you worry about it.” She turned to me. “I’m going to take Avery in to calm down. You two just relax.” She strolled away softly cooing to her granddaughter.

  Everyone lost interest and went back to what they were doing.

  “I’m sorry, Sean,” I finally said. “That’s why I don’t let him drink hard liquor normally. He gets even more rude and loud than usual.” I shook my head and dropped my gaze to my feet. I was embarrassed. I wanted to personally walk up to each person there and apologize.

  “You don’t need to apologize for him,” he said softly. “You aren’t his keepper. He should know how to act in polite company.”

  “I know,” I admitted. “It’s just…,” but he cut me off.

  “No, don’t say it. Look, I have to tell you something,” he looked like he was warring with himself over what he was about to say. “I saw Chris driving around on the backroads one day, drinking something amber colored. He’d stopped to say ‘hi’ while I was driving a tractor. Apparently, he took off early to go drinking and driving so you wouldn’t know.”

  My heart fell into my stomach. “What?” I said dumbly. “Are you serious?”

  He nodded. “I didn’t want to say anything because, well, I was trying to stay out of it. But I can’t be party to his lie. I don’t even really like the guy,” he chuckled.

  We turned away from the crowd. I took a few steps into the growing dim of the edge of the yard. I hadn’t realized how late it was getting. The area of the barbecue was lit up with yard torches and stringed lights. But the rest of the large yard was beginning to be bathed in shadows.

  I could feel a lump forming in my throat. I had so many emotions bubbling inside me, I didn’t know what to do. On one hand, I wanted to scream and yell at Chris for being so ignorant. Another wanted to ignore him completely and spend the rest of my evening with Sean, completely forgetting my husband and priorities. Somewhere else, deep inside, I wanted to just crawl into a hole and never climb out.

  “Well, this night’s been ruined,” I sighed.

  “Hey, no it hasn’t. Don’t let it get to you.” I saw him lift his hand as though to touch me before looking over his shoulder and dropping his hand. “It’s fine. Everyone’s gone on about their business.”

  “I know,” I said frustrated. “But I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep thinking about you while being married to him and cleaning up his messes. I’m tired of dealing with his bullshit.” The word came tumbling out into a heap. I regretted them almost the instant they came out.

  “You think about me?” he asked, shocked.

  I turned to him in the growing dark. “Of course I do. Almost every minute of every day since I’ve seen you. Even before, sometimes I would think about you in passing and hope you were doing well out there.”

  He stood there, stock still. “I used to think of you. All the time it seemed,” he whispered.

  “Hey you two,” my mom said as she approached. We both turned toward her. “Avery is curled up in the spare room watching cartoons. Your father’s got Chris. He’s passed out in the den.” When I opened my mouth to warn her she put her finger up. “The alcohol has all been locked up tight. He won’t get another drop. Your father says he should sleep it off here tonight. Why don’t you let me keep Avery. I bet she’s out already, anyway.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked. “I don’t want to put you out.”

  “Nonsense,” she said waving me away. “But it seems your car’s blocked in. I can give you a ride home if you need?”

  I looked over her shoulder and saw there were still plenty of guests. I didn’t want her to leave if Dad was dealing with Chris.

  “I’d kind of like to go home but I can wait,” I said finally.

  “I can drive you,” Sean offered. “I should probably get out of here, anyway. I can run you home.”

  My mother grinned so brilliantly, I could see her teeth in the dark. “That would be fabulous, Sean. Thank you so much. You take good care of her, you hear?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Of course,” he said in his cocky, self-assured way.

  “Wonderful. Can you give us a minute so she can say ‘bye’ to Avery before you go?” she asked him.

  “Sure,” he said. “I’ll be out front in the big red truck when you’re ready.”

  I nodded and followed my mom inside. We began heading down the hall before she stopped in her tracks and turned around. “I lied. Avery’s already asleep, but I wanted to talk to you privately.”

  “What? Mom,” I began.

  “Now you listen,” she said. “I know you’re a smart woman. You see what your future with your husband will be like. He was going after Sean. Is this what you want your daughter to grow up around?” She put her hand on her hip, looking frustrated. />
  “No,” I admitted.

  “Then you go with Sean. Explore how you feel about him and don’t hold back. It’s not wrong when you’re discovering how you feel. Don’t hold yourself back. Life is waiting for you to be happy for once.” She lovingly touched my cheek. “I want you to be happy.”

  I nodded. “Okay, Mom.”

  “Now go. He’s waiting for you,” she smiled. “I like him. He seems like a good one.”

  Leaving out the front door of my parents house, I saw his big red truck parked against the curb. As I approached, he climbed out and came around to open my door.

  “Man, it’s so nice out tonight,” I said as I gazed up at the stars.

  “Yes, it is. Makes me want to go camping,” he said as I climbed inside and he shut the door for me. I felt the butterflies in my belly flutter to life as I looked around. The whole truck smelled like him. I couldn’t believe what I was doing. My heart began to beat faster as he climbed back in.

  “I haven’t been camping since I was a kid,” I admitted.

  “You mean, you haven’t ever just slept in the back of a truck with nothing but the stars above?” he asked as he started it up. The truck growled to life and he pulled away.

  “Nope, but that sounds amazing. It’s been so long since I just laid out and looked at them all,” I said.

  “Why don’t we?” he asked.

  “Why don’t we, what?” I asked confused.

  “I know a great spot to see them all. So many more than you can see here in town. Unless you’re tired,” he let his sentence trail off.

  “No, that sounds amazing. But my dress.” I wanted to go but couldn’t imagine trying to be comfortable in what I was wearing.

  “You can change first. Then we can stop by my place and I’ll grab some blankets. It can be a little uncomfortable without them.” His grin was lit up by the dash lights of the truck.

  “Let’s do it,” I said, excited.

  Chapter 13

  Sean

  I couldn’t believe it. This was the closest thing to a date I could imagine I’d get with Lily, so I had to make it good. I could feel myself shaking slightly from nerves as I pulled up outside her house.

  “You can come in if you want,” she said as we pulled up.

  “No, I should probably wait here,” I said. I couldn’t imagine anything good would come from me following her in. “Wear whatever’s comfortable,” I reminded her. She nodded as she climbed out of the truck.

  Did I want to follow her in? Hell yes. But I didn’t know what I would do with myself in her house while she changed. Instead, staying put seemed liked the smartest option. I wanted to treat her right after what her husband did. I shook my head. That guy had to be an idiot. He has absolutely no respect for her feelings, obviously. Just another jerk that thinks it’s okay to treat people like crap. That’s fine, let him keep it up. All he did was provide the perfect opportunity to show Lily what I’m all about.

  I wasn’t worried when he acted like he wanted to fight me. I wouldn’t have raised a hand first, but if he would have hit me I would have laid him out. Nothing too violent, though. Last thing I would want is for the cops to show up.

  After a few minutes, she came dashing back out of the house. Her arms were loaded with a couple blankets and a bag.

  “I grabbed a couple blankets, too and some snacks. I probably don’t need them,” she said as she patted her belly. She had pulled her hair back and had put on what looked like yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. Apparently, she noticed me looking because she froze. “Is this too comfortable?”

  “No, no,” I said shaking myself. “You look amazing. Snack all you want, I think you’re perfect the way you are.”

  She smiled and tucked the blankets and bag away as I started the truck. She was quiet on the way to my place. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but she seemed lost in her thoughts. I hoped she wasn’t changing her mind. I’d never looked forward to laying in the back of my truck so much in my entire life.

  When I pulled up in front of the store that was below my place, she looked shocked.

  I laughed. “I live above. You don’t mind dogs do you?”

  “No, I love them. Chris wouldn’t let me get one,” she said.

  “Well, why don’t you come up and you can meet Cash. He’ll probably want to go with us, if that’s okay? He’ll ride in the back.” I knew how he was about getting to run. I tried to give him every opportunity I could.

  “Okay,” she said brightly. We climbed out of the truck and headed upstairs. Cash came running when he heard me unlock the door and started jumping with excitement.

  “Calm down, boy,” I said. He stopped jumping and began sniffing both of us.

  “Hey, Cash,” Lily said as she squatted down to meet him. He gave her a quick sniff before licking her cheek.

  “He likes you,” I said easily. “I’m going to go grab the blankets and change, too. I’ll just be a minute. Make yourself comfortable.” I felt oddly aware of just how plain the place was. It wasn’t nearly as homey and relaxed as her place. I walked into my bedroom, shutting the door behind me. Not that I cared if she watched, but I thought that may have been a bit presumptuous.

  I pulled the sleeping bags and thick blankets from my closet and tossed them on my unmade bed. They might not look like much, but they were pretty comfortable. I pulled off my nice shirt and tie before slipping out of my nice jeans. I didn’t want to ruin them in case I ended up building a fire.

  I had just pulled on a pair of jeans when I heard a small scream coming from the front room. I rushed to the bedroom door, worried. When I pulled it open, Cash jumped down from the couch and Lily looked up, shocked. Her eyes wide and staring.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, worried.

  “I’m fine. Cash and I were just playing,” she said, her cheeks growing red as she looked down at my chest. I realized my shirt was still clutched in my hand. Quickly I tugged it over my head.

  “Okay, good,” I said. “You startled me,” I admitted.

  “Sorry,” she said looking down.

  I laughed, “No, it’s fine. I just didn’t want him to hurt you.” I walked over to her and pulled her to her feet.

  “”Thank you,” she said softly. I was suddenly aware of just how close we were. I could smell her perfume. It was slightly floral with something a bit sweeter mixed in. I wanted to kiss her. I could feel myself leaning forward, but I forced myself to take a step back.

  “Let me grab the blankets and we can get going,” I said. She looked disappointed for a moment before she nodded.

  Once we had everything loaded and Cash in the bed of the truck, we were ready to go. As we drove through town she began to talk about her jewelry business.

  “Chris never expected me to even make one sale,” she finally said.

  “What? Why?” I asked.

  “He just thought it was all a big waste of time. The only reason why he humored me was because it was cheaper to let me stay home and try this than pay for daycare.” I could hear the disappointment in her voice.

  “So what you’re saying is, you proved him wrong,” I said.

  “Yeah, I guess I did. I don’t make tons of money right now. Just a couple hundred bucks a month. But that’s not bad considering everything is online and I haven’t really done any advertising or anything.” I could hear the pride coming back in her voice.

  “That’s amazing. Is that your next step? To start advertising?” We had made it out of town by then and I had turned down the old country road that would take us to the spot.

  “I’m not sure. I’ve thought about getting some pieces together and seeing if I could put them in some local stores. I’ve heard that’s supposed to be a good way to get the word out.” She sighed. “But I’m not sure my stuff’s good enough.”

  “I bet you do amazing work,” I said. “I’d love to see it sometime.”

  “I have a few pictures on my phone,” she said. “If you want to see.”
/>   “Of course,” I said. “Actually, just send them to me. That way I can look at them better, later. I probably shouldn’t try to look while I’m driving.”

  “Good point,” she said chuckling. She was preoccupied with her phone for a minute before she put it down. “There, sent.”

  “I can’t wait. I bet they’re amazing,” I said as I looked over and smiled. “Just like the woman who made them.”

  Even in the darkness, I could tell she was blushing.

  Chapter 14

  Lily

  We finally pulled off the gravel road into a clearing. With the headlights, I could see there was a small area where a fire had been built before. The grass was mowed down and was snuggled into an area of trees.

  “What is this place?” I asked as he turned off the truck.

  “This is my little slice of heaven,” he said wistfully. “I bought it a while back. Now I’m just trying to get the money to build out here.” He was leaning forward on the steering wheel, looking out, a slight smile on his lips.

  “It’s amazing,” I said. “At least from what I can see.”

  “I’ll have to show you sometimes when it’s daylight. There’s hardly any moon tonight so it would be too hard to see.” He opened the door and made his way to the back of the truck. Once he lowered the tailgate, Cash jumped down and took off.

  “Is he going to be okay?” I asked.

  “Oh, yeah. He won’t go far,” he said. He started laying out the sleeping bags and blankets in the truck bed. I retrieved the blankets I brought, as well as the snacks. Once he was done, we both climbed up in the bed and laid back.

  I was struck by just how many stars there were. I’d seen the night sky a million times, but I had never really paid attention to it.

  “Wow,” was all I could manage to say.