Plan B

by Hayley Oakes

  I shook my head, “there was nothing there anyway, you know that.”

  He moved one of his hands from my bum up my back to touch a strand of my hair, “he might not have figured that out so I think we just need him to get the message.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him again, my tongue finding his and urging him to pull me even closer to his growing hardness.

  “I don’t see anyone else when I’m with you,” I uttered onto his lips.

  He groaned and kissed me again, “you are all I ever see.”

  He pulled me off the dance floor and back to our chairs where he yanked me onto his lap, the place was going crazy for the band and people were stood on chairs and dancing all over the place. Serena was making out with Jake between dancing and spilling her drink on the floor.

  The night had turned wild, Matt kept me on his lap and he ran his hands up and down my thighs, “I want to get you home,” he whispered into my ear and his voice made my skin prickle and my sex tingle.

  “Yeah?” I said breathlessly, “then what are you waiting for?” I teased. Matt grabbed my hand and pulled me to standing, I laughed as we passed by Serena.

  “You going?” she whined, “it’s early.”

  “We’re going,” I told her, a little unsteady on my feet as I leaned in to hug her. Matt held me steady from behind, his strong arm around my waist.

  “You two are so beautiful together,” she slurred. “Look after her Matt!” she barked.

  “Will do,” he nodded and winked at her, she hugged us both then we broke away and Matt took his phone from his pocket to call a cab. It was almost midnight as we pushed outside into the warm, July evening, there was a slight nip in the air but it felt wonderful on my skin compared to the mugginess of the pub. Matt dialled and I walked through some smokers to the outdoor seating area and took a seat.

  “All good?” he asked, sitting down next to me.

  “Yeah,” I grinned, “I feel a bit woozy.”

  He grinned at me, “you look a little drunk.”

  “I hope you don’t plan to take advantage of me Mr Larson,” I teased and his face straightened.

  “Keep calling me that and there will be a lot of advantage taken,” he reached out and touched my cheek, I turned and kissed his hand.

  “No one has ever taken care of me like you do,” I uttered and he stroked my cheek with his thumb.

  “I’m sorry about that,” he swallowed hard, “you deserve better than what you’ve had,” he ground out.

  I shook my head, “I don’t think I ever realised I missed it until I met you.”

  “That’s sad,” he said quietly, “you’re special you know that, Pen?”

  I shook my head and moved my eyes away from his stare, he turned my chin gently with his hand so he was looking into my eyes again, “you are selfless and passionate and humble and I’ve never met someone who makes me want to be a better person like you before.”

  I laughed, “you’re already a great guy, Matt.”

  “I think you’re the only one who thinks that,” just then his phone buzzed on the table to say our taxi arrived. He took my hand and led me to the taxi, opening the door for me and as we drove through London to his house I rested my head on his shoulder and he kissed it.

  “Pen?” he asked and I mumbled an answer as I drifted off to sleep. “Thanks for bringing me back to life.” I heard him say as my eyes refused to open.

  Chapter 29 – Matthew

  “SO,” PENNY SAT AT the breakfast bar in my kitchen wearing one of my t-shirts as she ate bacon and eggs that I’d made. She was severely hungover and luckily had managed not to be sick. I placed a cup of coffee in front of her and sat on the high chair next to her.

  “You’re speaking too loud,” she groaned.

  “So,” I whispered, “Ivy’s birthday is in three weeks and I thought we could have a barbeque here and a bouncy castle and we can invite your work friends and my family and maybe my friends ...” I floated the last part and watched as she looked up at me with a worried expression.

  “I can’t bear the thought of anything right now,” she sighed.

  “It’ll be great, I’ll get loads of those pre-marinated things and loads of burgers and shit and dad will do all the barbequeing, we can relax.” I smiled at her as she rubbed her temples with her eyes closed.

  “I’m sure Ivy would love a bouncy castle,” she smiled at me weakly, “her mummy on the other hand will hate having to meet new people and making polite conversation with people she barely knows.” She rolled her eyes towards the ceiling.

  “I met your friends,” I crossed my arms and pretended to be stern.

  “Friend,” she held up a finger, “one friend and guess what? You are like the goddamned pied piper, people flock to you and you are great with them. Strangers either think I’m a bitch or don’t notice me at all,” she laid her head on folded arms on the breakfast bar, pushing her breakfast away.

  “Everyone notices you Penny,” I rubbed her back, “you just don’t see them.”

  She moaned.

  “Sip the coffee,” I told her, “go back to bed and I’ll go get Ivy.”

  “No,” she mumbled, “I can’t do that, it’ll look bad.”

  “So you think showing up having been sexed by their son looking like pure shit will look better?” I smirked and she gave me a wry smile.

  “You are too good to me,” she said softly, dropping her head forward and finding my chest. I hugged her to me and rubbed her back.

  “So the party, yes?” I asked, talking into her hair.

  “Do I have to come?” she joked.

  “Yes,” I smiled, “the moma has to be there.”

  She sighed, “they’ll all judge me, it’ll be hell.”

  “These are my friends and family, they just want me to be happy and they’ll love you.” I inhaled her scent and she wrapped her legs with mine where they sat on the bar stool.

  “I’ll try not to embarrass myself,” she said, rubbing her legs up and down mine making my dick harden.

  “Stop over thinking everything,” I said, my voice becoming a little hoarse as her hands roamed over my thighs and grazed my hardening cock. “Are you trying to change the subject?” I asked and she smiled up at me.

  “Am I that obvious?” Her smile was infectious and beautiful and distracting. When I first met Penny I didn’t notice her smile too much, now that was what I lived for. I saw a woman who struggled because she made a decision to keep a baby that she hadn’t planned. I had no idea how it happened but since then I’d made it my mission in life to ease that struggle, to see her live, to see her relax and get that damned smile.

  I gasped as her hands reached inside my pants and I sat back against the chair as she wrapped her fingers around my hard length and stroked gently up and down. “Maybe I will go back to bed,” she said looking up at me from under her eyelashes and my dick twitched even harder.

  “I think you should and maybe I should escort you,” I gasped as she tightened her grip on my cock and moved up and down faster. She stood from her chair and placed her spare hand on the waist band of my pants, pushing them and my boxers down to expose my rock hard dick. She widened her eyes when she saw it and gave me a dirty, little smile, bending to take the tip of my hardness in her mouth.

  “Oh my God,” I said, taking in a deep inhale as her lips wrapped around my hardness and her tongue explored my tip. “Shit”

  She moved her hand up and down my shaft as she sucked me harder, taking my length deeper into her mouth. I grabbed her loose hair in my hands and threw my head back as every suck, tug and graze set all my nerve endings on fire. I thrust my cock into her mouth unable to help the need I had for her to go deeper and harder, she groaned and the vibration made me close to falling apart.

  I yanked her hair and she pulled her head backwards to look up at me, the sight of her on her knees on the floor looking up at me made me want her more than my next breath. I pulled her up and she looked at me with intensity as I yanked
my t-shirt off her, exposing her nakedness. I lifted her up to the breakfast bar, pushing the plates and cups out of the way and hearing something shatter that I didn’t give a shit about.

  I pushed her legs apart and bent to kiss and lick her sweet spot, “Matt,” she uttered as I slid my tongue inside of her, tasting her sweetness and feeling addicted to every sound this girl made. She fisted my hair and laid back on the mess of the table, pushing her legs wider to give me better access. “Oh god,” she panted and I used my fingers to plunge deeper as I teased with my tongue.

  I was losing my self control as her whimpers filled my ears, I stood up, pulled my t-shirt off and she moved to a sitting position, leaning on her hands. I stepped against her nakedness, placed my hands on her bum and lifted her from the breakfast bar, carrying her to the nearby sofa. I sat back and placed her on my lap, she settled on her knees over my hard length. I pulled her head in to kiss me roughly and she tugged my hair in her hands as her tongue massaged mine. I lined myself up with her entrance and rubbed her gently there with my thumb to make sure she was ready for me, I sighed hoarsely at her wetness and she eased herself down my cock that was begging for access.

  “Oh my fuckin’ God!” she cried as I filled her entirely and she steadied herself on my shoulders, squeezing the muscles of my shoulder blades, “so good.” she moaned.

  “Ride me baby,” I grunted out, pushing up gently as she found her rhythm. She dug her nails into my skin as she bounced and rocked, using my cock to find the release she needed. She threw her head back in ecstasy as my dick hit the spot she needed over and over again, “Matt, Matt, Matt,” she shouted as she came rocking manically on my hardness.

  “That’s right baby take it,” I whispered in her ear as her forehead rested on my shoulder, I pulled her naked body to mine and held her in place as I dove upwards. I held her sagged body in place as I bounced her on my lap and the muscles of her orgasm clenched my cock to release. I exploded with intensity as her knees tightened around my thighs, she held onto me tightly as I gave her the ride of her life and when I’d taken what I needed she smiled down to me.

  “Still feel rough?” I asked with a grin as my breathing evened out.

  She bent to kiss me and rubbed my shoulders with the palms of hands, “that helped,” she smirked. She moved to stand up and I held her hand as she did, “come on,” I led her to the stairs and she followed.

  “Oh god,” she glanced at the coffee spilled on the floor and a broken mug.

  “I’ll get it,” I tugged her behind me and took her to the bathroom. “Shower and back to bed,” I said kissing her head.

  “Thank you Mr Perfect,” she grinned.

  “Don’t thank me, I’m getting in the shower with you,” I growled and she giggled as I loomed over her and chased her into the stall.

  “I spoke to Penny about the party and we’re on,” I said to Mum as I sat with my parents having a coffee before taking Ivy home.

  “Right,” mum nodded, “and what shall I tell people you are?” she asked, nodding slowly and narrowing her eyes as she asked the question.

  “The father?” I teased, pursing my lips and nodding my head dramatically slowly also to match hers.

  “I mean you two,” she sighed impatiently.

  “The parents?” I tried again.

  “You are impossible,” she looked to Dad for help, “shall I say you’re a couple if say, Susan Fletcher asks.”

  “Can’t you just say nothing to Susan bloody Fletcher.” I said exasperated, also looking to Dad to help but his eyes were roaming the room, far away from the car crash that was this conversation.

  “Are you two an item?” she finally blurted out.

  “Oh Jesus,” Dad said and stood up, taking the empty mugs and walking to the kitchen. Ivy was pulling herself up on the side of the sofa and side stepping around the room.

  “We are seeing each other,” I said through gritted teeth, “not that anyone needs to know anything until I feel I want to share.”

  “Right,” Mum nodded and clasped her hands in front of her. “I see.”

  I blew out a breath, “I suppose you have an opinion but I don’t actually care for it, I’m happy and I’m moving on and that’s all that should matter to you.”

  “Yes,” she swallowed hard and reached out for Ivy as she side stepped towards Mum and took her hand. “Just remember Matthew that not everything is about you,” she responded cryptically.

  “Just remember Mum,” I eyed her menacingly, “that not everything needs to be repeated to Susan fuckin’ Fletcher and people make decisions that you may not agree with and they don’t actually give a flying fuck.”

  “Another coffee?” Dad asked poking his head into the room as my mum looked ready to explode and her stiffened stance chilled the atmosphere to freezing.

  Chapter 30 - Twelve Months Old

  Penny

  “SO YOU’RE HAVING A party at his house?” Gary asked, he was smoking, I could tell by the way he was blowing out between words whilst we spoke on the phone. He was supposed to have quit, so I thought I’d better not mention it. He would assume I didn’t notice and must be trying to dramatically mask it somehow. The thought made me laugh.

  “Yes,” I added, I had the phone placed between my ear and shoulder as I folded washing while Ivy took a nap in her cot.

  “Is that weird?” he asked, “are you co-parenting?” Did I mention that I’m not a sharer? I had told Gary that Matt was in the picture but not that we were shagging each other’s brains out or that Matt had said we were together. It felt too private and too personal considering the queries it invoked. Gary always used counselling buzz words to quiz me on my life and his idiosyncrasies made me smile.

  “It’s not weird,” I sighed, “I’m just nervous I suppose because he has a big family and so many friends and I ...” I trailed off as Gary knew the rest.

  “I wish you’d get out here,” he added with concern, “I told you I’d send the money for Ivy’s passport and to buy the tickets.”

  “I told you that was no deal,” I laughed.

  “I want to do this Penny, I would like to see my first granddaughter again before she is old enough to fly alone,” the sentiment hit my heart and made it thud. Gary had never forgotten me after all these years and they were both so amazing.

  “Fine, I’ll think about it, okay? I’ll get the passport.” I added quickly.

  “I’ll get the flights,” he said with cheer in his voice. Gary and Leon had bought a cafe in Estepona, Costa Del Sol, it was a cafe in the day and a bar at night. They were in their element and the kids now helped out to run the place, they’d all settled so well out there. I chose not to go because I couldn’t imagine my life in Spain and I wanted to study eventually but sometimes I wondered if it would have actually been better. “So send me pictures of the party,” he tittered, “I’ve sent you some money to get Ivy a big gift, no boring shit this time Penny, real presents that she can play with.”

  “Yes, sir!” I smiled into the phone.

  “Leon says hi and he’ll talk to you next time, he’s waiting for a delivery at the bar,” I nodded, that’s how he was managing to cram a sneaky cigarette into his day.

  “Say hi to everyone and I’ll send loads of pictures from the weekend.”

  “Happy birthday to my sweet angel,” he cooed.

  “Thank you Granddad Gary,” I felt my body flood with happiness at his voice and the call, it always made me feel less alone when I remembered I had them.

  Ivy didn’t realise it was her actual birthday on that day. It was a Wednesday and the August sun was beating down on the London streets. We took a walk to the park and visited a nearby baby group where I had got to know a couple of the women and their babies, it was nice and we shared tips and stories. Matt rang me at four because he was leaving work early and taking us out for dinner, I dressed in a blue sundress that I’d had for a while and chose a pretty pink flowered dress for Ivy.

  We ate burgers, ordered desser
t and sang to Ivy as her ice cream arrived with a sparkler. It felt nice and normal and people who looked on would have no idea what we were. Matt held my hand and smiled at me over the table as we ate. We took it in turns to walk holding Ivy’s hands near the table when she got restless. Although we seemed like a family, a planned, ordinary family of two people who had made a baby, we weren’t.

  It played on my mind and I imagined people could tell. It ate away at me that I could never just have anything normal. I really liked Matt and everything he’d brought to my life and I felt like if I believed it would last that I could admit to myself that I loved him. I loved Ivy more than anything I’d ever known and I wondered if that was the feeling most kids had for their parents, the feelings I’d never had.

  I just imagined that I’d meet a guy, we’d fall in love, travel, buy a house and get married and have a baby. We’d have a past not just a future, with Matt I wasn’t sure I had either one. I’d been short changed out of a family by the goddamned world and now I was wondering if I’d ever get a happy ever after.

  “You’re thinking too hard,” Matt said, pulling me out of my trance as he spooned ice cream into his mouth and Ivy squeezed it between her fingers in her high chair, “what about?”

  “Nothing,” I smiled and changed my intense, thoughtful face to be more impassive.

  “I want to know,” he narrowed his eyes, “I know when you’re over thinking something, you worried about the party this weekend?”

  “No,” I shook my head, “but now I am.” I stuck my tongue out at him cutely and he sat back in his chair, assessing my face.

  “You’ll tell me, eventually!” he grinned and I wondered if I ever would. I was too scared to admit anything that worried me as the term tempting fate seemed to have been invented just for me.

  “We all done?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “Yes,” he nodded, I grabbed wipes from the nappy bag and started to clean Ivy up. She whined as I cleaned her face and hands and started to cry. She was tired, it was getting late and by that point she was usually in her pyjamas. “Someone’s tired,” I said to her in a soft voice and she wailed even more.