by Tyla Walker
"Then, that's the problem," I can hear her drag a chair. "You can't be serious about that, Nikki. You just came from a broken relationship. How can you fall in love with him?"
This is the point, I just came from a broken relationship, and we're on the rebound. How can I possibly fall in love just like that?
"I suggest that you don't rush anything, just enjoy what you're having right now," my mom advises me. "I can't see anything wrong with enjoying, but for falling in love, you better take it slow. It's not good to go for another relationship."
"I know," I sigh, trying to think things through.
"There might also be a possibility that you're only using Johnathan to fill the void that Sam caused, and the love your saying is only an illusion! You might be thinking of this 'love,' and it's nothing at all," my mom adds, sighing at the same time.
"You might be right mom," I admit to her. "I thought that what I'm experiencing right now is the lost feeling I had for Sam before. I didn't experience it anymore with Sam, and Johnathan fills my craving for it..."
"Well, it's normal for couples to experience such a thing, what's important is you get through such a phase," she replies to me. "That's why I'm telling you, don't rush. You have to be absolutely sure so as not to regret your decisions. You also have to put Kaley into consideration."
"I agree with you, mom. You're right," I tell her as I sigh. "Thank you…"
Kaley stands up from her cot and raises her hands at me.
"Mom, Kaley's awake, and she needs her milk, talk to you later?" I ask her as I intend to hang up.
"Sure, take care, hon," my mom says her goodbyes.
"Same to you, mom," I reply to her as I turn off the call. I carry Kaley, give her mild, and place her on the floor to play with her.
She loves her building blocks.
"Come on, darling, give it to mommy," I whisper as I urge her to give me the right color. "That's the orange color, baby. Mommy needs the red one…”
"Momma…" Kaley calls me and walks towards me, carrying the orange and red square in both hands.
"Smart girl, honey! You're really mommy's daughter," I kiss her on both cheeks, Kaley giggles. Then, out of the blue, my phone rings again. When I check who it is, I got a surprise.
It's no other than Sam. What does he want this time?
I answer the phone tense. My heart's beating fast as I wait for him to speak up.
"What?" I ask him, and I can't wait for him to voice what he wants first.
"It's not what, it's me, Sam," he answers… he's nervous.
I roll my eyes, does he have to be cheeky?
"It's you, can I help you?" I ask him. I'm forcing myself to be polite.
"Can I come over and talk? I want to see Kaley as well," he says this in a small voice. I stop to think because of his suggestion. I can't help but think that it will be suitable for Kaley if her mother and father to be around, maybe we can talk about reconciliation.
But can I really stay with a man that I don't love anymore?
Thirteen
Jonathan
“Who’s the cutest girl in the world?” I ask.
“Me!” Kaley giggles. She wreaks havoc on her toy xylophone on the many essential wisdom she’ll need in her life. Wisdom such as…
“Kaley, who’s the most handsome?”
“You!” she screams as she points one of her red drumsticks to me. I tell you, kids these days, they really know how to appreciate beauty.
“Who’s the strongest?” I again ask.
“You!”
I carry Kaley into my arms and lift her up in the air, pretending that she was a superhero. “Yes, I am!” I slowly drift her down on the couch as we sing another karaoke rendition of “Let it Go” from Disney’s popular animated picture, Frozen. Yey.
But I’d do anything for this cute little girl. I can’t believe I’m going to say it, but I’ve grown attached to this little princess. Even more so with her mom, the queen…
“Hey, Kaley, who do you think mom loves the most?”
But Kaley doesn’t answer. She just sits there on the couch, her saucer, puppy eyes staring back at me. Come on, dammit. Say it. Say it!
But her mother walks in, finally finished washing the dishes, “Okay, you two, it’s time for Kaley to go to bed.”
Kaley protests at first but yawns ten seconds later. I quickly put her in bed, next to her Princess Elsa pillow doll. Man, what is it with this ‘Frozen’ craze?
As I step out of the room, I find Nikki on her laptop, typing what might seem either the world’s longest novel or the military access codes to America’s nukes. She is entirely focused on her work.
But she finds the time to notice me as I head out the door, “Hey, Johnathan. Thanks again for tonight. Kaley’s really gotten a liking to you. I thought that maybe after Sam left, I might not have her have any male role models in her life for the moment, but you turned out to be a pretty great guy. So, thanks?”
“What the hell was that, Nikki? Are you going to fire me or something?” I joke.
I finally get to see her lovely smile as she laughs, “No, silly. It’s just that it’s been one hell of a week for us. And I’m just glad that out of the mess in my life right now, I’m glad you’re one of my friends that are keeping it together. And I wanted you to know that.”
Friends?
“Happy to do it, buddy,” I reply, “See you again tomorrow. Goodnight.” I’m literally choking on my own spit, trying hard not to react to my bruised ego.
We just fucked as if our lives depended on it, Nikki.
But I swallow my pride, or ego, or whatever the hell is trying to spew nasty vitriol out of my body. No matter what, Nikki is my friend. I’m going to respect her wishes.
“Goodnight,” she says.
I turn around and walk back inside the room, “Okay, fuck it. You win. I can’t do this anymore.”
Nikki sips on her coffee, surprised but calm, “Fuck who, win what, and what?”
“Stop pretending!” I say.
“Shh. Kaley’s sleeping,” she warns me.
“Stop pretending!” I whisper but with an indignant demeanor.
Nikki slowly closes her laptop and puts her coffee back down on the table, “Just tell me what you mean, Johnathan.”
I pace around the room for a minute, frustratingly trying to read Nikki. But her eyes really do tell me that I look like a nutjob and that she doesn’t have a clue as to what I’m talking about.
“Fine. The other night was one of the best fucking night of my entire life, Nikki. You know it, and I know it. And don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it.”
“It was…unforgettable. I’ll give you that, Johnathan,” she replies.
“Thank you. Listen, I know that falling in love with you wasn’t part of the deal. However, as implausible as it may sound, I did, and I still do, I still madly do, Nikki. I thought that if I just get over it and have sex with you, I’d be able to prove it to myself that you were just my extremely beautiful and convenient friend who mended my horny heart. But fuck, I’m in love with you, Nikki Roberts. And I know you feel something for me too.”
Her stern demeanor never fazes, even as I’m pouring my heart out to her, “I’m flattered, Johnathan. I really am. But let’s be mature adults here. We were just on a rebound. Those kinds of things happen all the time. I’m sorry it happened and made things complicated.”
“Well, I’m not sorry at all, Nikki,” I continue. “Things were emotionally over with Jessica and me a long time ago. I’ve always felt something special for you, but I pushed it down, because we were both in a relationship, with what we thought were the people we’re perfect with. But they weren’t, Nikki. We are. And we’re single now.”
I sit on the chair and sit next to her and clasp her hand gently, hoping my words can finally reach her cold heart, “And as a bonus, I’m just as in love with Kaley as I am with you. I wake up early every morning just so I’ll have a few extra hours to spend time with both of y
ou. Hell, I was there when she was born, Nikki.”
It’s either Nikki really doesn’t feel anything back or that I fell in love with a really gorgeous terminator, because she does not flinch at all. “I can see that you’re thinking about what I said. I don’t want to pressure you, so I’ll give you time to think about it while I grab a cookie in the kitchen. Because I’ve been a very good boy, who ate all of your vegetables.”
I recite a thousand curses to myself as I walk inside the kitchen. What the fuck was I thinking? Not only have I embarrassed myself, but I may have just ruined our friendship.
I take solace in the fact that Kaley’s cookies taste like sugar paradise, while I think of a plan to get out of Nikki’s apartment without her noticing and get back home to wallow in bed.
But as I turn to leave, Nikki’s standing on the door, “Really?”
She runs hard towards me and tackles me down on her floor. What the fuck is happening?
I try to wrestle away from her, but I end up getting pinned.
And then she kisses me.
Fourteen
Nikki
I pull away from the kiss, feeling a bit dazed. Johnathan always has that effect on me as he's a crazy good kisser.
"Okay, um," I start, sounding breathless which makes the man chuckle. My cheeks go hot, and I try to get my thoughts in order. "I do feel something for you, too."
"Something what?" Johnathan prompts.
"Something...special," I reply, averting my eyes from his expectant ones.
I do feel something for Johnathan, something strong. Whether it's the L-word or not, I'm still yet to decide. I don't want to throw myself headfirst into something I haven't really pondered extensively. The fact that I'm questioning this is alarming enough. I mean, I should be sure of my feelings because they're mine after all. But maybe I'm just afraid to get myself hurt again. The last man who said he loved me suddenly left so I'm justified for being cautious.
"Why don't we take it easy? I don't want to rush into things," I tell him, deciding to go for honesty and tell him what I want.
"Is this about us perhaps just feeling rebound love for each other? Are you still wary about that?"
"I am," I admit, and I know Johnathan will understand so I proceed on. "Look, we're already living together. We can just continue on, go with the flow and see where everything goes. If we only see each other as friends, then it's ok, right? We can just be roommates. And if we happen to see each other as more than just friends, well..."
"Okay," Johnathan answers simply.
"Okay? Just okay?"
"Yeah?"
"I was hoping for a more elaborate answer."
"I think it's a great idea. I don't wanna rush you, Nikki, and I want you to be really sure of what you feel for me. I'm willing to go into this in your pace. I'm willing to wait."
I smile at him, relieved and giddy at the same time. Things are tentative, but we're heading somewhere. The future suddenly looks bright.
Johnathan reaches for my hand, and I let him take it. He rubs circles on the back of my palm. For a few seconds, I'm drawn to our merging hands, thinking how they fit perfectly, before I look up and realize he's been staring at me. My heart races even more quickly.
"You may not fully believe me when I say this to you," he says gently, placing a hand on the junction of my face and neck. "But I stand by what I said earlier. You don't have to say it back to me."
Johnathan pulls me flush against him, and he's so warm. "I love you, Nikki."
Then he catches my lips in a kiss.
It's soft at first, but it quickly turns dirty. He nips at my lower lip, and I grant him entrance to my mouth. He eagerly pushes his tongue inside, sliding against mine for dominance.
As Johnathan tastes every crevice of my mouth, his hands explore my body. From my neck, his hand slides to my shoulder, to my arm, and then both hands caress my sides and back. My hands too get busy as one hand palms his chest while the other caresses his nape.
The man cups my ass, and brings our groins together. We grind against each other for a few moments as we make out. Through our clothes, I can feel that he's getting hard, and the discovery gets me hot.
A moan escapes my mouth, and the sound seems to have an effect on Johnathan because he curses and pushes me back before hoisting me up on the kitchen counter.
I tug on his shirt, wanting him to take it off, and he complies. He also helps me get out of my sweater before he expertly unhooks my bra. When my perky breasts are exposed, my nipples already hard from arousal, he cups and massages them.
"You're so fucking sexy, Nikki," Johnathan says, and before I can give a response, I gasp as he latches on a nipple. My back arches from the pleasure, and he alternates on mouthing and sucking both nipples.
Johnathan finds my pussy, rubbing me through my jeans. He unbuttons my pants, sliding the zipper down, and I lift my hips so he can pull the whole garment off.
I whimper as the man pulls the base of my panties to one side and rubs the wetness on my entrance. He slowly plunges one finger inside, slides it in and out. Soon, another finger joins the first, and they scissor me open. My hips are jerking slightly in pleasure when finally three fingers are pumping into me.
"Fuck, I'm ready, Johnathan," I tell him between gasps. "I need your cock now."
"Very impatient, aren't you?" Johnathan chuckles, but he moves to comply. He unzips his own pants, and his large, already hard, cock springs free.
"Shut up," I moan as I eye his cock hungrily. He brings my hips towards him, by the edge of the counter, and he positions his tip against my entrance. My moan is loud in the kitchen as Johnathan enters me. He moves deeper and deeper until he is fully sheathed. I feel like I’ve never been this filled this much down there before. Sam’s is nothing to scoff at, but this guy right here is just a whole other level.
Johnathan starts to move, and the sensations his cock is causing in me are incredible. I’m an absolute moaning mess, but I don’t care as long as Johnathan keeps thrusting into me, and he does, with his pace getting faster by the minute. His hard dick is reaching places I didn’t know existed before. They’re plunging into me so deep.
“Fuck,” I moan. “You feel so fucking good, Johnathan.”
“You too,” he answers back with a pleasured groan. “Your pussy is so greedy that it’s sucking me in.”
“God, babe, I’m already about to cum!” I gasp, clutching onto him with my nails digging into his skin.
“Then, cum for me, Nikki,” he tell me huskily while looking into my eyes.
For a second, I’m lost in an ocean of blue before my ears register his command. I will to follow his command, and my body obeys. My pulse goes even faster as the inside of my pussy swell and contract, then, beautiful release.
After a few more thrusts, Johnathan too clums, and he spills his seed into me, moaning my name as he does.
We spend a few minutes catching our breaths, and Johnathan leans into me heavily. Tired but sated, I tell him my intention of moving ourselves to the bedroom.
“That was amazing,” Johnathan mumbles, giving my forehead a kiss, as we sluggishly make our way to the bedroom.
The redhead immediately flops on the bed, and he pulls me against his side to cuddle. I giggle at his actions, and I’m about to tease him about it when I see he has already fallen asleep.
“So it’s going to be like this, huh?” I ask him softly against his chest. “You sleeping before me.”
I don’t mind at all, and the soft breathing coming from the man calms me, allowing me think.
What I feel for Johnathan now is totally different from what I felt for Sam. Somehow, it’s deeper, safer. Maybe because Johnathan is my best friend and we’ve known each other for a long time while Sam has been a…whirlwind romance?
‘I’ll think about this later,’ I decide.
For now, I let myself be contented and settle quietly, snuggling deeper in his arms before I fell asleep.
Fifteen
Jonathan
You can do this, Johnathan. You are the fucking man.
I take a sip of my triple espresso and enjoy the sunny morning outside. The coffee shop smells of heavenly pastries and berries, an ironic misnomer on what I had plans for the day.
Remember, you hate Jessica for leaving you. Ladies would have literally died for a taste of you, Johnathan. And Jessica decides to throw it away. Do this for Nikki. Do this for Kaley. And most of all, do this for you, man.
I see two old couples a few empty tables away from me, lovingly feeding each other their breakfast, smiling. They looked as if they had gone through life’s worst, but nothing could have broken them apart. I wish I could have said the same thing for Jessica and me.
But it’s not hard for me to imagine Nikki and me growing old like that. Crap, now I feel guilty for not telling Nikki that I’d be meeting up with Jessica today. But I need to do this, I need to deal with Jessica, so I can finally tell Nikki that it’s over between Jessica and I. I need to do this so that I can tell Nikkie that I love her and propose to her.
But she did this. She left me. And in it broke me, to the point that I wanted to get her back by making her feel jealous when I kissed Nikki. Only to realize that Nikki really was my true love.
And now, Jessica wants to meet me and talk it over? Well, I can’t wait to say this to you in your face, Jessica.
“Karma is a bitch.”
I try to take a deep breath and calm down. I shouldn’t be this petty at Jessica. After all, we did have some great times together. In spite of everything, she’s the right person. And the least that I could do to her is appropriately break up with her and have closure.
Speaking of the devil, the doorbell chimes as Jessica walks in the coffee shop, smiling. I’ve never seen her look as gorgeous as she did now; her wavy hair falls beautifully over her shoulders and her chest.
