Underestimated Too

by Jettie Woodruff

  You got that right.

  “I couldn’t believe I was saying to Skyler, ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re beautiful, some lucky guy is going to come along and sweep you clean off your feet. You watch.’ I was actually okay with that.

  ‘But it’s never going to be you, is it, Drew?’

  Looking down, I circled my water glass with my finger. ‘I don’t know, Sky.’ I didn’t know. I didn’t know what the hell was happening to me. Something was transpiring, leaving me with an uneasy feeling that I didn’t know how to deal with. I had never felt it before the last few months, and I was fighting with myself more and more to get a handle on it.

  ‘Can I stay with you tonight?’ Skyler asked, placing her and over mine.

  ‘Yes,’ I answered.”

  Dumb hussy.

  “Excusing myself, I told Skyler, ‘You can pour us a glass of wine.’ I didn’t really need to go to the bathroom. I needed to see Morgan. It was crazy. I had Skyler in my room, miles from home, miles from Callaway, and I was thinking about Morgan. I opened my laptop and instantly smiled seeing her laying on the sofa, book on her chest. I snickered when I watched her sit up, shake her hands anxiously, and bite on the end of her bright pink nail. Why she read those books was beyond me? She always seemed so on edge when reading them.

  ‘You okay in there?’ Skyler called.

  ‘Yes. Coming,’ I called back, closing the laptop.

  The entire night was somewhat of an awkward mess. Everything I did, every body part I touched, I was comparing to Morgan. Morgan’s nipples were smaller. They matched her small soft breasts. Skyler’s were firmer, bigger and the implants caused her nipples to stretch. Morgan’s hip bones stuck out more, digging into my waist when I fucked her. Skyler’s tongue danced in rhythm with mine. Morgan didn’t really kiss me back. What the hell was I doing? My dick was inside of beautiful Skyler, and I was thinking about Morgan. I moved the guilty thoughts to the back of my mind. They were absurd. I wasn’t really cheating on Morgan. I didn’t love her. I loved Skyler. Didn’t I? It wasn’t really cheating, not when you were forced to marry your wife. Was it? Why the hell did I even care? I wasn’t that type of man. I could fuck anyone I wanted. But I didn’t. It was only Morgan, she was always enough. I was surely losing my mind. Why the hell couldn’t I get Morgan out of my thoughts? She didn’t belong there. She’d never belonged there. It was always Skyler. Skyler was right for me. She came from the same walk of life, money, power, looks, not that Morgan wasn’t beautiful, Jesus, why did I keep thinking about Morgan?”

  I couldn’t help the boasting going on as my heart did a happy dance, knowing Drew was thinking about me, obsessing over me, and choosing me over Skyler.

  “Closing my eyes, I tried to focus my attention on Skyler beneath me. My beautiful Skyler was in my bed, long wavy haired Skyler, with legs of an angel, eyes soft as cotton, delicate lips, curvy, but thin. Oh, my god, I was describing Skyler with Morgan’s picture implanted on my mind. Pumping harder in and out of Skyler, I centered my thoughts on the sex, putting more effort in it than it should have been. That lasted about as long as it took me to think about Skyler’s arid pussy which led me to think about other things. Morgan was always wet for me, maybe she didn’t hate me as much as she let on.”

  “She did,” I assured him. I didn’t mean to interrupt or say it out loud. It just fell out of my mouth.

  Drew snorted with a half-smile and continued, “I left Skyler sleeping in my hotel bed around midnight. Turning my laptop right to Morgan’s bed, panic struck briefly while I switched views from room to room, finding her curled into a little ball on her bathroom floor. I observed her, wondering what the hell she was doing and then watched her jump up and heave into the toilet. She was sick. I felt like a real shit. She was home sick, and I was in LA screwing someone else. Wait. I didn’t care about that. Drew Kelley didn’t do empathy. I was so fucked up. I waited for her to finish before dialing her. She moaned, dragging herself from the floor and plopping sideways across her bed.

  ‘Hello,’ she moaned.

  ‘Are you sick?’

  She didn’t even try to hide the eye roll. ‘Yes, can I talk to you tomorrow?’

  ‘What’s wrong with you?’

  ‘I don’t know, Drew, stomach flu, I presume.’

  ‘Do you need a doctor?’

  ‘No, I just need to sleep. Can I please talk to you tomorrow?’ she begged.

  ‘Yeah, yeah, if you need anything you have my number, right?’

  The fuck you expression didn’t go unnoticed. ‘Yes, I have your number. Bye.’

  ‘Night, Morgan,’ I quietly spoke to myself.”

  My god. Drew had a photographic memory. He described our conversation as if it was yesterday.

  “I continued to watch Morgan sleep, still dressed in black slacks and a satin blouse. She stayed on top her covers, running to the bathroom two more times within the hour. Finally settling down, coiled in a tight little ball with her arms hugging her waist, she seemed to be resting.”

  Chapter 21

  “I lay on my side of the bed, facing Skyler for a long time before drifting off to sleep. I warily watched her sleep. I shouldn’t have been so impetuous. She shouldn’t be there. I wanted to be home and hoped like hell the negotiations would wind down in the morning. I was leaving Derik to deal with it if it didn’t. I needed to get home for whatever reason. I was up before daylight, checking on Morgan. She was back on the bathroom floor still dressed in her clothes. Why the hell wasn’t Rebecca there taking care of her? It pissed me off and I walked out to the balcony to call her. What the hell did she think I paid her for?

  ‘Hello,’ Rebecca, groggily answered.

  ‘Did you no know that Morgan was sick?’ I snapped.

  ‘I knew she didn’t feel well last night. Why?’

  ‘Did you give her anything? She’s sick. Do you think maybe you could go take care of her?’

  ‘Yes, sir. I’m on my way right this second.’

  I hung up, watching the camera views as Rebecca made her way upstairs. She helped Morgan up, started a bath, and left her to soak while she went back downstairs. Rebecca made a tray with a glass of sprite, saltine crackers, and a medicine cup full of pink stuff.

  Feeling better about Rebecca being with her, I showered and dressed for what I hoped was our last meeting.

  Skyler entered the bathroom and wrapped her arms around my waist from behind. ‘Are you sneaking out on me?’

  I smiled a weak smile through the mirror. ‘I’ve got to get going.’

  ‘How long are you in town for? Should I wait here for you? Maybe we can catch a show later.’

  ‘I can’t, Sky, I’m heading home as soon as this meeting is over. I’ve been gone for nine days now. There are things I have to get back to.’

  ‘Like a wife?’

  I didn’t answer.

  ‘You’re different, Drew.’

  Turning to her, I tilted my head. ‘How so?’

  ‘I don’t know. You’re not into me like you once were.’

  ‘Skyler, you left me, remember? Besides, we haven’t been around each other for a few years now. How do you expect me to be with you?’

  ‘I guess I want you to still want me. Do you still want me, Drew?’ Skyler asked, coming to the tips of her toes with her lips close to mine.

  ‘I don’t have time to want anything right now. Callaway has pretty much passed the buck to me. I have a lot on my plate right now.’

  ‘You still need love. I know you,’ she accused, softly kissing my lips between words.”

  Ahhh, how fucking sweet.

  Drew continued, “I snickered. Love? No. I didn’t need that shit. ‘I’m good in the love department.’

  ‘Sex? Do you have sex with her, Drew?’

  ‘Yes,’ I honestly told her. She dropped her hands and took a step back.

  ‘You’re in love with her,’ she accused with a dramatic expression like it had just dawned on her.

  What? No. T
hat wasn’t it. I wasn’t in love with Morgan. No way. That was absurd. ‘No, Skyler. I’m not in love with Morgan. You left. A man has needs.’

  ‘I can name five girls that would do you in a heartbeat. I don’t think that is what it is—at all.’

  ‘It is. I told you. I’m busy. She’s convenient.’

  Taking a step back to me, Skyler wrapped her arms around my neck with a sly grin. ‘This is your lucky day. You see, the thing is, I’m sort of available now for your convenience. I will be back in Vegas in a few days. Maybe we can pick up where we left off and so you don’t have to settle for that piece of trash anymore.’ Skyler offered herself to me.”

  I’ll give you trash, you little home wrecker.

  “I moved her arms from around my neck and tightened my tie. Morgan was far from being trash. She could give Skyler a run for her money any day of the week, all day long. Maybe not when she first came, but now, wow. The dance lessons served her well, she could turn every head in a room, and she often did. She didn’t have the fake mundane laugh that Skyler had. Morgan’s laugh was genuine and made my days brighter. I turned my laptop on to see her doing trivial things so many times when I was away, hoping to catch her laughing at something silly, which she did often. Skyler didn’t know her. She had no right.”

  “You felt that way then, Drew?” I had to ask. I was shocked. I still hated Drew then, well, most of the time anyway. I guess there were moments, but not many.

  “I did, Morgan,” Drew admitted, getting back to his story. “Skyler asked me with a frown, ‘What? You don’t like that idea?’

  ‘I’ve got to go, Sky. Call me,’ I cowardly said, kissing her on the cheek.

  I answered a call from Callaway in the cab. He wanted to know if I had this deal in the bag or if he needed to come and take care of it, like he could do any more than I was already doing.

  ‘When will you be back? The Martinez’s are having a party for their daughter tonight. I want you and Morgan there.’

  ‘I am hoping to be out of here by noon, but I’m not going to any party. Morgan’s sick.’

  ‘What do you mean she’s sick? Does she need a doctor?’

  ‘She says she doesn’t. She insists that it’s just a bug. I will give her until tomorrow. If she’s still sick, I’ll take her to the doctor.’

  ‘Maybe I should go over there.’

  ‘No, you shouldn’t. She’s got Rebecca there. She’s taking good care of her.’

  ‘You call me if she gets any worse. You hear me?’

  ‘Yes, sir. I’ll give you a call after this meeting.’

  I arrived home around four in the evening. Sprinting upstairs, taking two at a time. I saw Rebecca reading in a nearby chair while Morgan slept, and I nodded for her to leave. I sat on the edge of the bed and brushed Morgan’s hair from her face.

  ‘She’s burning up,’ I alleged, looking at Rebecca before she had a chance to get out of the room.

  ‘She’s not as hot as she was, and she hasn’t gotten sick at all today.’

  I looked back to Morgan’s heated face. She never stirred. Normally when I came to her room, I instantly got the death glare, even if she was sound asleep.

  ‘You can go,’ I dictated.

  ‘I’ll bring you both some supper. Maybe you can get her to eat. I haven’t had any luck.’

  I didn’t reply. Walking to the bathroom, I remembered my mother, placing a cold cloth over my forehead when I had run a fever as a boy.

  Morgan jumped from the cold. For a split second I felt like the biggest ass on the face of the earth. She hid her face with her arm. Startled from her sleep, she thought I was going to strike her.”

  I did do that. I remember.

  “I said, ‘Lay down,’ trying to sound calm and soothing. I didn’t know how to be that way with Morgan. It wasn’t in my nature to be loving towards her. That is how I was feeling though. I wanted to be there and take care of her. I didn’t know how. She looked at me cautiously, not trusting me. Placing her head back to the pillow, I covered her head with the cloth.

  ‘Did your mother do this when you were sick?’ I asked.

  ‘No, not really, maybe. I don’t remember,’ she replied, still carrying the careful look.

  She had every reason to be cautious. She knew me, knew I’d been gone for nine days and knew I’d need to be taken care of. She was right. After sitting up, eating a little and admitting that she did feel better, I fucked her. I didn’t make her do anything other than lay there for me, nonetheless, it was pretty heartless of me. I could feel the heat radiate from her skin as my hand held her hips. I hadn’t planned on doing that at all. I’d just had sex with Skyler, I didn’t really need the sex. It wasn’t the sex at all. I don’t know what it was, a way to keep my feelings and emotions intact? I’m not sure, but once I tenaciously used her for my pleasure, I left her.”

  That part left me feeling a little sad. I was appalled that Drew hated me enough to make me do that being sick. I remember, repeating in my head over and over, don’t get sick, Morgan, don’t get sick.

  “Watching her from my office, she did as she always did, walked to the bathroom to shower, trying to wash me away, I was sure. She didn’t feel better at all. She held her herself up, placing her hands in front of her on the shower walls. She didn’t even wash, just let the water run over her for a little bit, securing her stance with the shower tile. She dried herself, wrapped the towel around her midsection, and dragged her feet back to her bed. Dropping the towel to the floor she crawled back into bed, naked. She didn’t even have the energy to get dressed and I made her fuck me.”

  Hmmm, he did feel bad about that.

  “Dialing Rebecca, she spoke, ‘Can you bring me something for a headache?’ before dropping her head back to her pillow, still holding the phone, too weak to hang it up.

  Morgan slept the entire night. She tried to wake up enough to drink the fluids that Rebecca was forcing down her, but refused to eat. She slept, and slept, and slept, until eleven the next day.

  ‘Drew, come on, dude. We’ve got to get this shit done,’ Derik whined, protesting my need to go to Morgan. She may need a doctor. She shouldn’t still be this sick. I couldn’t concentrate on the numbers from the last quarter. My eyes and attention kept going to my computer screen to my sleeping wife. Derik and the accountant were getting pissed, wanting to get through the complex figures.

  ‘You two keep at it. I’ll be right back,’ I said, leaving them alone. Derik knew what the hell was going on. He could handle it without me. Shaking my head, I realized that I was putting Morgan before my business. What the hell? I didn’t do that.”

  Silent squeal.

  “Sitting on the side of her bed, she opened her eyes, cautiously, shifting her eyes around the room and landing them on me with a smile. She actually smiled at me, well, maybe it wasn’t at me, but it felt like it for a brief moment.”

  It wasn’t.

  “She exclaimed, ‘I feel better,’ pulling herself up. She held the covers over her breasts which made me smile. I never understood why she hid herself from me. I saw her naked all the time, whether I was with her or not.

  ‘That’s good. I was going to call a doctor.’

  ‘You don’t need to do that. I’m fine. I’m just going to get up and take a bath. I think I’m kind of hungry,’ she said weakly.

  ‘You get a bath and I’ll have Rebecca bring you something to eat,’ I thoughtfully offered, pulling the covers hiding her breasts. She looked past me while my thumb brushed over her nipple. Her skin felt soft and had lost the heat from the fever.

  ‘I’m really glad you feel better, I’ll see you later,’ I promised, pinching her nipple between my fingers with a little bit of a twist. She didn’t reply. She’d learned that it was best that she didn’t. She seemed to have a hard time replying without saying something smart. I almost wished she would sometimes. She was very quick witted when she wanted to be. Knowing it usually ended in her bent over my lap, she typically refrained.

>   Trying to listen and go over the last quarter with Derik and Pete, I loosened my tie and unbuttoned the first two buttons of my shirt. It was suddenly hot in the office. I turned the cuff up on my sleeves a couple times and tried to keep up. Sweat beaded off my head, and I suddenly felt a little queasy. Fuck. I couldn’t be sick. I didn’t have time to be sick.

  ‘You alright, man? You look a little pale,’ Derik asked.

  ‘Yeah, we’re done here. I think we’ve gone over enough. You can finish it, right, Pete?’

  ‘Sure, no problem. I’ll report back to you once I’m finished,’ he offered, standing and gathering his things. Derik followed, answering his phone.

  I removed my tie walked out to the empty house. I heard Rebecca and Morgan talking in the kitchen but didn’t really care what they were saying at the time. I was on a mission. I hurried to my room, made it to the bathroom and released nasty bile to the toilet. Holy shit. I felt horrible. I wasn’t sick. No. I wasn’t sick, there was no time to be sick. I had a meeting with a client, coming to the house tomorrow. It was big, the owner of Sheffield’s Casino. This would be his third wife. He’d always purchased his rings from Callaway Jewels, and like the Callaways, you didn’t put him off for anything. He’d go buy a half million dollar ring from someone else. I was sure of it.

  I didn’t wait until I was down like Morgan. I sat on the edge of my bed and dialed Dr. Reynolds. Of course he was busy and had to call me back. I lay across the bed with my shirt open, trying to cool down. It was so hot in my room; I could feel the sweat run down the back of my neck.

  Dr. Reynolds returned my call twenty minutes later, informing there was nothing he could do. It was stomach flu that was being passed around, and the only thing I could do was let it run its course. It should only last forty eight hours or so, I was informed. I didn’t have five hours to be sick, let alone forty eight. Fluids and rest, that was the prescription.

  Okay, if I was going to do this, I was getting rid of it as quickly as I could. Walking to the kitchen, Morgan and Rebecca halted their conversation. It was stupid. I listened to all of their conversations, and they knew it. Why they always stopped when I entered the room was beyond me.