by DL Gallie
We pull up at Mom’s house and before Preston has even stopped the car, I’m opening the door and climbing out. Racing up the path, I swing open the front door, and step into the living room. My eyes land on Lexi and her head resting on Mom’s lap. My Little Pony is playing on the TV. Racing over to her, I drop to my knees and press my palm to her forehead, she feels warm. “Hey, Munchkin, you not feeling well?”
She shakes her head. “Mommy, I don’t feel good.” She starts to cry but the mom in me knows this is a performance cry, not an Oscar winning one, but she is playing it up, that much I can tell.
“Ohh, baby,” I coo, lifting her into my arms, I hug her to me. She wraps her arms around my shoulders and I rock us. Kissing her head and rubbing my hand up and down her back, she snuggles into me and I smile.
“Who are you?” I hear Lexi ask, any hint of sickness in her voice gone; the little faker.
Looking over my shoulder, I see Preston standing there. Man that man is fine, I think to myself and then it clicks, there’s a man in my mom’s house and that man isn’t Dickwad Dawson.
“I’m Dr. Knight, your mom tells me you don’t feel well?” I feel Lex nod her head. “Can I have a look at you?”
“You already are looking at me.”
“I’m a doctor, so I can have a look at you as if you are a patient of mine?”
“But you don’t have a white coat or a stesascope.”
“I see you’re sassy just like your mommy.”
Glaring at him, I see that he’s focused on Lexi. “You don’t have to do that, I’m sure she’s fine,” I say, throwing his words from earlier back at him. My leg begins to cramp, so I stand up. Lexi gripping onto me like a monkey.
“Yes he does, Mom,” Lexi says. “He’s a doctor, he’ll make me all better.” She wriggles down and out of my arms. Walking over to Preston, she takes his hand in hers and pulls him farther into the living room. She dramatically lies down on the sofa, resting her feet on Mom’s lap and stares up at Preston. And the Oscar for fake sick daughter goes to Alexis Avery Bayliss. I shake my head and watch Preston with Lexi.
He steps toward her. “Okay, let's have a look,” Preston says, placing his medical bag down on the coffee table. He opens it up and pulls out a stethoscope. He pops it around his neck and then grabs a digital thermometer. He places it on Lexi’s forehead, when it beeps I peer over this shoulder and sigh in relief when I see 99.9º reflecting back at me. “A little high but I’d say it's fine,” he confirms, looking at me over his shoulder. The look on his face is calm, cool, and collected, the complete opposite to how I’m feeling. Turning his attention back to Lex, he checks her pulse and nods.
“Can I have a quick listen to your chest?”
“How will you do that?” she asks, I’m sure more questions will follow.
“With this,” he says, lifting the stethoscope from his neck.
“I thought a stesascope listens to your heart?”
Preston nods. “It does. Your heart is in your chest.” He pops the earbuds in Lexi's ears and places the bell on her chest.
Her little eyes light up. “It sounds like a drum,” she excitedly says.
“It sure does. Can I listen to your heart now?”
Again my compliant daughter nods her head, if she really was sick, she’d be squirming and refusing to do as she’s told. “Thank you.” He pops the earpiece in his ears and looks down at her. “Okay, Lexi, I’m going to pop this on your chest and when I do, I want you to take big deep breaths for me.”
“Okay.” She does as asked, breathing in and out deeply.
“A few more and then we’re done.” She keeps breathing and he moves it around her chest and when he’s finished, he removes the earpiece and asks her to stick her tongue out. She sticks it out and he nods at her.
Looking up at me, he puts me at ease. “Everything sounds clear. Her temperature is a little high but not worrisome. Her throat is a little red but with rest and fluids, she’ll be okay.”
“Preston, are you sure?” I question. Seeing him all doctor like makes me reconsider that she wasn’t faking after all. Dropping next to her, I press my hand to her forehead and check her temperature again.
He nods and smiles. “Positive. Bed rest and My Little Pony is what I’d prescribe.”
“My Little Pony, really?” I say, rolling my eyes at him.
“Yep,” he says, tapping Lexi on the tip of her nose in a loving way that has my ovaries clenching. My hoo-ha sings, “Touch me. Feel me.”
Hearing Lexi giggle eases my worries and I watch as Preston fusses over her, seeing him with her makes me all giddy. “…and don’t forget, My Little Pony and lots of drinks.”
“Okay, Doc,” Lexi coos.
“You could have prescribed Outlander or something.”
He looks over to me. “Well, for Mommy, I’d prescribe a date…with me.”
“That line ever work before?” I tease.
“Depending on your answer, I'll let you know.”
“Ohh, I like him,” Mom says from the sofa. “Cress, I’ll take Lexi to bed, leave you two alone.” Mom winks at me, stands up and holds out her hand to Lexi. Lexi hops up, gives me a kiss, and walks over to Mom.
“It was lovely to meet you, Dr. Knight,” Mom says, her voice all dreamy.
“Just Preston is fine.”
Lexi turns back to Preston with a quizzical look on her face. “Why are you called Dr. Knight if you is also nameded Preston?”
“My full name is Preston Knight, so people can call me Dr. Knight or Preston.”
She's nods in agreement. “Mine is Alexis Avery Bayliss but people just call me Lexi, or Lex. And Mommy sometimes calls me Munchkin. I call Mommy, Mommy but Nanna and Ave called her Cress, or Cressida when she’s in trouble.”
“Lexi,” Mom says with a laugh, “let’s get you into bed so you can rest and be better for school on Monday.”
“Okay, Nanna.”
Lexi takes Mom’s hand. “Good night, Preston,” Mom says on her way out of the living room.
“Good night, Momma Cress, it was lovely to meet you.”
“Momma Cress, I like that,” Mom croons. I roll my eyes, this guy is smooth but it’s not in a creepy over-the-top way. It’s endearing and sweet. He has both Mom and Lex wrapped around his finger. Mom and Lexi walk out of the room and it’s now, just Preston, me, and my thumping libido.
We stare at one another, from down the hallway we hear Lexi tell Mom, “I wish he was a real knight and not a doctor knight. A real knight would have a horse and a sword.”
At the mention of sword, my eyes drop to his crotch and I imagine what his sword would look like. Breaking the silence, Preston says, “So,” my eyes lift back to his, “what do you say?”
“To what?” I play coy.
“A date?”
Staring at him, I make him sweat a little. “I guess I could lower my standards and date a doctor who moonlights as an Uber driver.”
He chuckles at my reply. “There is one condition to this date.”
“Ohh, yeah and what’s that?”
He steps toward me and whispers, “You need to teach me how to horizontal tango at some point during the evening.”
“I’m sure if you play your cards right, that can be arranged.” Pursing my lips, I try to hold back the smile that’s threatening to break free. “When will this date slash teaching lesson happen?”
“I’m free Wednesday night?”
Not wanting to seem too eager, even though given the choice, I’d leave again right now with him. “I’ll have to see if Mom ca—”
“Mom’s available,” Mom yells from down the hallway.
We both laugh.
“Seems we have a date on Wednesday,” he says, pulling a card out of the side of his medical bag. Picking up a pen from the coffee table, he scribbles on the back of it. “Here’s my card, my cell is on the back. I'll pick you up here at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.” He kisses my cheek and picks up his bag. Before he walks out, he gazes at m
e, my body temperature rising with the intensity of his stare and that déjà vu feeling envelops me again. “Goodnight, Cress.”
“Goodnight Preston.”
With those parting words, he leaves.
Staring at the living room entrance, I’m all smiles. I love hearing my name pass through his lips…I can’t wait to feel those lips on mine and hopefully on Wednesday, I will.
Flopping back onto the sofa, I lean back and grin, I have a date with Dr. Knight.
4
Cress
The next morning, we have breakfast with Mom and then we head home. All signs of a fever and sickness gone. Once home, I put in a load of laundry and Lexi plays in her room while I continue to tidy up. As I’m putting the vacuum cleaner away, I realize I’m still smiling. Last night with Preston was pretty amazing. Nothing physical has happened between us—yet—but the connection and spark is there. I haven’t felt that in a long time, not since Creed. My thoughts are interrupted when from the living room I hear the theme song to My Little Pony. “Fuck me,” I mumble to myself.
Closing the linen cupboard door, I head out to see my munchkin. Leaning over the back of the sofa, I kiss her forehead and am happy to still feel no temperature. “Hey, Munchkin, it's a bit early for Pony isn’t it?”
She shakes her head and looks up at me. “Dr. Knight said it was my medicine.”
“I don’t think he said that.”
She nods again. “Yes, he did. He said prescribe My Little Pony and Nanna said prescribe means medicine when she tucked me in.”
“Did she now?”
“Yep,” she replies as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. Shaking my head, I head into the kitchen and turn on my coffee machine. I need caffeine if I’m going to deal with Twilight Sparkle and her pals…for the fifty-millionth time.
With my coffee in hand and a juice box for Lexi, I head back into the living room. Taking a seat next to Lex, I pass her her juice box and grab my phone and Preston’s card.
CRESS: Thank you for last night. Sorry to end it how we did
Placing my phone next to me, I grab my iPad and scan Facebook and Instagram before I start playing a game. I’m just about to win this level when my phone beeps with a text, startling me and I lose. “Duck me,” I mumble to myself, as I swipe into messages and smile when I see it’s from Preston.
PRESTON: Morning, love. It’s fine. How’s the patient this morning?
CRESS: She’s good. Currently taking her medicine of My Little Pony and washing it down with an apple juice box.
PRESTON: That’s great. How’s Mommy this morning?”
Missing you is my first thought but I can’t tell him that.
CRESS: Great, I have coffee and a healthy daughter
CRESS: Thank you again for checking her over last night
CRESS: I really appreciate it
PRESTON: It was my pleasure.
PRESTON: You can pay be back on Wednesday night **wink wink**
CRESS: I didn’t realize there was a house call fee, how will I ever repay you?
PRESTON: I can think of a few ways **wink wink**
CRESS: Are you proposing sexual favors for your work?
PRESTON: If you’re offering, I’m not going to say no…what sane man would say no to that? I was just proposing dinner…and maybe a horizontal tango lesson
CRESS: Maybe we can compromise
PRESTON: I’m open to suggestions
CRESS: We can discuss this Wednesday in great detail
PRESTON: Is it Wednesday yet?
CRESS: Someone’s anxious
PRESTON: I have a hot date with a sexy as fuck woman who may, or may not, teach me how to horizontal tango...you’d be anxious too
CRESS: Meh, but I am looking forward to Wednesday
PRESTON: You and me both, love
CRESS: Bye, Preston :)
PRESTON: Later, gator
CRESS: Later, gator? Really?
PRESTON: Does later, mater work better?
PRESTON: Or see ya later, alligator
PRESTON: Or take care, teddy bear
PRESTON: Or bye bye, butterfly
CRESS: Please stop…I get it, you’re a big kid at heart
PRESTON: That’s not the only thing that’s big **wink wink**
My eyes go wide at his response but at the same time, it doesn’t surprise me at all. This man is an enigma and for some reason, he wants me. Well, I think he wants me, and I think I want him too.
CRESS: No one likes a bragger
PRESTON: It’s not bragging if it’s true
CRESS: Who says it's true?
PRESTON: I do
CRESS: You don’t count
PRESTON: I do too….1, 2… skip a few… 99, 100
PRESTON: See, I can count
CRESS: I’m going now.
CRESS: Bye, Preston :)
PRESTON: Goodbye, love
God, I love it when he calls me love, I think to myself as I read back over our text messages. He really is a big kid, but he’s a big kid with a heart of gold. The way be stepped up last night with Lexi was beautiful, and he was great with her.
Throwing my phone onto the coffee table, I sit back and lose myself in My Little Pony but my thoughts keep drifting to Preston and our upcoming date. Needing a distraction, I tell Lexi to go get dressed.
We head to the park and I push Lexi on the swings, she’s always loved the swings. Out of all the equipment in the park, she always makes a beeline for the swing. We are finishing up an ice cream when my phone rings. I look at the screen and smile when I see it’s Ave. “Afternoon, hussy,” I tease when I answer.
“Morning,” she replies, her voice rough with sleep.
“Sooo…” I prompt my tight-lipped friend, “how was your night?”
“Good,” she offers in reply.
“Good, that’s all I get…good?”
“Yep. I’m in a taxi on my way home right now.” She sighs and then whines, “Cress—”
“I’ll be there when you get home,” I say without a second thought, Ave has always been there for me, now it’s my turn to be there for her. Grabbing Lexi's hand, we head back to my Toyota. Once she’s strapped in, we stop at Walmart and I grab the essentials: wine, ice cream, and chocolate.
Forty minutes later, Lexi and I pull up at Ave’s apartment, which she shares with her twin, Baylor. I hope she’s not home because at the moment, that woman is a selfish bitch and she’s horrible to her sister.
Knocking on the door, I don’t wait for an answer, I waltz in and notice Ave is still in last night’s dress and she looks well-fucked, and on edge. She needs wine and a debrief.
“Lexi, how you doing?” she says, as she hugs my daughter.
“I’m good, Aunty A. I got to sleep at Nanna’s last night and Mommy took me to the park and I got an ice cream.”
“So I can see. What flavor did you get?”
“Mint chocolate chip.”
“Yummo, my fav,” Ave says, she licks her fingers and wipes a smudge off Lexi’s face. She looks to me and smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She’s in Ave-freak-out mode right now. “You wanna watch some Pony while Mom and I chat in the kitchen?”
“Yessssss,” Lexi squeals in delight. She races into the living room, pulls out her beanbag, and settles in while Ave switches it on. I head into the kitchen and before I do anything, I pour two glasses of wine. The theme song starts to play and then Ave walks into the kitchen, she smiles when she sees her wine waiting. It’s the first genuine smile from her since I arrived.
“Okay, spill,” I say, as I hand her her glass of wine.
Taking the wine from me, she takes a huge gulp, followed by another. Wow, she’s in mega-freak-out mode. “Okay, Chuggy McChuggerson, slow down there,” I tease, taking the glass from her and since I’m a good friend, I top it up.
Looking over to her, I see the tears in her eyes. “Cress, I’m a big fat whore,” she cries. Stepping to her I envelop her in a hug. Rubbing her back, I let her cry a
nd get it all out. “I slept with him so many times and it was ducking amazing.” I smile that at a time like this, she still doesn’t swear. We don’t, well we try not to, swear when Lexi is around but she’s so engrossed in My Little Pony I doubt she’d notice. “It was the best ducking sex of my life. I’m surprised I’m not waddling today. When he was asleep, I snuck out, and now I feel guilty for leaving him like that. I can’t even apologize for being such a ducking whore. At least I folded his clothes before I left.”
That last line stumps me, so I pull back and look quizzically at her. “You folded his clothes?”
She nods her head. “Yeah, when I slipped my dress back on, I picked his clothes up, folded them, and placed them neatly on the coffee table.”
I laugh because only my friend would have a one-night stand and then clean before leaving. And that, right there, is one of the many many reasons I love her.
“Cress,” she whines, “I’m a big fat whore.”
“NO!,” I shout. Stepping back over to her, I wipe under her eyes with my thumb and glare at her with my mom stare. “You are a sexy single gal, who had a fantabulous night ducking a hot guy.”
“But—”
“NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! Avery Evans, look at me.” She lifts her gaze to meet mine. “One night of amazing sex does not make you a whore. Did he pay you?”
“No.”
“Then by definition you are not a whore, maybe a skank, but definitely not a whore.”
“Takes a skank to know a skank.”
Just like that, everything is right with the world again. “Stop with the guilt for sneaking out.”
“How did you know?” she questions.
“I know all your tics, Ave.” I hand her her wine back, and she takes a sip, a small one this time. “Now, listen to me, I’m only going to say this once. You will not call yourself a whore for having fantabulous sex. You will not feel guilty for sneaking out like the harlot, which I’m finally able to say my best friend is. I’m proud, wee skankhopper. We, well you, are going to put last night with the sexy Scottish—”
