by Naomi Niles
“Um, I got it. It just wasn’t funny.” I chuckled a bit to help him save face, “But, it was good talking to you. I need to get my things so I can head home. I’ve got to study tonight for class.”
“Right, college. How is that going along?”
I began walking away from him, but he followed me to the school and quickly grabbed the door for me to walk through, “Good. Almost done.”
“Good. It is so sexy to see that you are furthering your education.”
“Yes. Um, well yeah, I’ve got to go. Thanks for walking me in.”
If it wasn’t for Principal Jones walking down the hallway, I don’t think Derrick would have left me alone. He was more annoying and bothersome than anything else. His persistence didn’t allow him to give up easily, and if he were my type, that would have turned me on a little bit. Then again, if he were my type, he wouldn’t have needed to be persistent.
I gathered my things and left the school. On my way home, my best friend April sent me a text message, asking me to come over. April was like my sister from another mother. I could always lean on her for support during my hard times, and she never hesitated to offer good, sound advice when I needed to make a decision about something. She was like my voice of reason, and I depended on her for that.
I showed up at her home at six. I had a key to her home, and when her husband was gone, I always let myself in. “Honey, I’m hoooome.”
She laughed out loud when she heard my voice, “Girl, you are so silly. I’m in the kitchen.”
I tossed my purse on the couch and saw her in the kitchen, standing over a pot on the stove. She dipped a spoon inside of it, then turned towards me. “Here, I need you to taste this. I think my pregnancy has my taste buds all out of whack.”
Her baby bump showed just beneath her shirt. She was three months pregnant, and she had just begun to show evidence of someone growing inside of her. I put my lips to the spoon. “Wow, this is really good.”
“Really?” she said, placing one hand on her waist. “Be serious, Bethany. I don’t want Alex to come home and throw up because of how nasty it is.”
“No.” I grabbed a bowl from the cabinet, then took the spoon out of her hand, “It is really good. But, maybe it is because I am starving. The only thing I ate today was a bagel. Or two.”
Just before I could dip the spoon back into the pot, she snatched it out my hand, “No! You are not going to put that spoon back in the pot after you’ve had your lips on it already.” She reached into the drawer and grabbed another spoon. “Here, use this.”
“Geez, sorry, MOM.”
She nudged me with her arm, then grabbed another bowl so she could fill it with beef stew. “So, how was your day?”
“It was good as always. I don’t think I have ever had a bad day at work, and that says a lot. I mean, I’ve only been there for a few months, but I just feel so at home there. I love everyone. The faculty. Staff. Students. Everyone makes my day.”
She fixed her bowl, then sat down next to me at the table. “Yeah, I think that is good for you, Bethany. As long as you aren’t allowing that job to curve your desire to finish school.”
I swirled my spoon around in the bowl until I found a nice, juicy chunk of meat and slid it into my mouth. “Well,” I said, speaking in a mumbled voice, “I was thinking that maybe I should take my time with school. I mean, I don’t want to rush through it. I just–”
“You just sound crazy, Bethany. You cannot be an assistant for the rest of your life. You have so much more to offer the world. You can teach. You know you can teach, and I think that is a natural position for you. The way you can connect with children is second to none, but you’re not going to be able to do that if you don’t finish school.”
I sighed. “I know, I know. It’s just that school is taking so much time away from me right now. I mean, I don’t have time to do anything else. I can’t go out and meet anyone, and the guys that show interest in me are the ones that I have no interest in. It sucks, April. It really does.”
“Aww,” she put her spoon down and scooted closer to me. She put her leg on my thigh as her big, blue eyes glared back at me. “Listen, I know you are ready for another relationship, and for that alone, I am proud of you because that last boyfriend of yours should’ve made you hate men for the rest of your life, but I am glad it didn’t.”
“It did for a while; I won’t lie about it. But I didn’t want to become that bitter old woman, old and alone, hating on every relationship because of what happened to me.”
“Good.” She tapped me on my thigh, “So, come on. I’ve been doing some thinking.” She pulled me away from the table, but I grabbed the bowl of stew in the process. When we got to her study, we sat down in front of the computer. “Don’t spill that food on my stuff, Bethany.”
“Well, you’re the one who dragged me off! I said I was hungry.” She rolled her eyes, then pulled up a website. “The Right Click?” I said with a mouthful of stew. “I’ve heard about that dating website. I don’t want to go on there. What if my ex finds me?”
“He won’t. He has to pay to get on here and knowing him, he doesn’t have any money to pay for anything. But, this website is secure, and not only that, it is made for people like you who don’t have time to go out on their own.” She made a few clicks, and suddenly, a page with my picture came up.
I elbowed her in her arm. “April! What did you do? Why is my picture on here?”
“Shush it! I am going to find you a man if it is the last thing I do! I’ve already started your profile. The only thing left to do is to pay for it—” she reached into the drawer and pulled out her credit card, “—and that is what I am about to do right now.”
I grabbed her hand, “Wait. Wait, wait, wait. I don’t want to do this.”
She looked disappointed. Her blue eyes drooped down like a sad puppy. “Why not? Bethany, I am tired of you walking around here and complaining because you don’t have anybody to share your life with. Not only that, but I know you are at home reading those love novels, and it is making everything worse. Stop torturing yourself, Bethany. Give love a try. What do you have to lose? You’re not paying for it. I’ve set up everything for you. You literally have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Please?”
I sighed. I knew she just wanted to help. I glanced at the website. Near the bottom of the screen, pictures of various men scrolled along. A few of them caught my attention. “Wait, click on him right there,” I said with a smile.
She laughed. “So, is that a yes?”
I nodded. “Fine, April. Sign me up.”
“Yaaaaay!” She entered her card information as I waited patiently beside her. “Now, the first week is free, and if it is worth it, then it will charge my card after that. So,” she clicked the submit button, “you are now officially a member of The Right Click!” She clapped her hands with excitement.
“Okay, good. Now go back to that man I saw before.”
As she scrolled the bottom of the page, I could only hope that she was right about my ex. If he found me on here, there was no telling what he would do to try to get me back.
Chapter Five
GAVIN
I sat at the kitchen table, eating breakfast with Vinny. He glared at the back of the cereal box while he piled the frosted meal into his mouth. I hesitated to tell him about our canceled plans for this weekend. I knew he would be disappointed, but I didn’t have a choice. “Vinny?” He peeked his head from behind the cereal box. “I’ve got some bad news. We’re going to have to reschedule our little outing this weekend. Some things came up at the office that I had completely forgotten about.”
He stared at me for a few seconds, then ducked his head back behind the cereal box. “Okay.”
“I will make up for it, I promise. It’s just that–”
“It’s fine, Dad. I understand.”
He slid another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. I don’t know what bothered me more: the fact that he was nonchalant about it or th
e fact that I had to cancel the plans in the first place. I knew that was his personality though. Even when he was hurt about something, he would hold his emotions in check. I admired that about him because even at my age, I still had problems doing things like that.
After he finished his cereal, he took his bowl to the sink and washed it out, then grabbed his bookbag. “I’m ready, Dad.”
I had to be at work earlier this morning, so I was ready to leave as soon as he was. We got into my car, and I drove him down the street to his bus stop. We sat quietly in the car. He twiddled his thumbs, occasionally looking behind my car to see if the bus was coming. “Dad,” he said, still looking out the window.
“What is it, buddy?”
“I um. I overheard you and Uncle Mike talking last night. Talking about dating. I think it is a good idea for you to date. To settle down with someone, you know? Just one person.”
I wrinkled my eyebrow. “Date? Wait, what do you know about dating?”
He exhaled. “I just think it would be a good idea. That’s all.” He pulled the handle on the door, “But, the bus is coming now. I just wanted you to think about that. I feel like it would be good. Good for both of us.”
“Um. Okay?”
He smiled and closed the door behind him. I watched him walk to the corner as the bus pulled in front of me and came to a stop to let Vinny on. What does he know about dating? Why is a 7-year-old giving his father advice about that anyway? I pondered the thought as the bus pulled away. Vinny was too smart for his own age.
I put my car in drive, then made my way to the office. When I got upstairs to the top floor, Amber was standing in the lobby near her desk. “Hey, Gavin,” she said, smiling.
“Good morning, Amber. Good to see you this morning.”
“Likewise. But, I need to see you for a minute.”
I knew what she wanted to do. “Of course. Follow me.” I led the way to my office with her trailing right behind me. After I unlocked the door, she walked in behind me. I closed it behind her and started unbuckling my pants.
“Wait,” she said as her put her hand up. “Wait. I mean, you know I want to, but that’s not why I called you in here.”
My eyebrows furrowed. “Oh? Well, what’s up?”
She sighed, then scratched the top of her head. “Um, unfortunately, today is going to be my last day.”
“Huh? Last day?”
“Yes.” She placed her coffee mug on my desk. “I’ve gotten an opportunity to move to England, and I have to take it. This is a once in a lifetime thing. I have the chance to work with a very established company, I’ve always wanted to go there, and with what they are paying, there is no way I can miss it. I’m sorry.”
I tightened my belt around my waist, “I see. I see. Well, um, I don’t know what to say.”
“Are you mad?”
“Mad? No, not mad at all. I mean, from what you are telling me, this is a great opportunity for you. I would hate to stand in your way, and I won’t. Congratulations.”
I held my arms out to embrace her. She slowly walked into my outstretched arms and held me close. Her voice tickled my ears as she spoke, “But I am going to miss our little sessions each morning. I’ve never had so much fun sucking someone’s dick than I had sucking yours. I,” she grabbed a handful of my penis, “will miss THAT the most.”
“So will I, Amber. So will I.”
She leaned up and kissed me on the lips. Her hand lingered in mine for as long as it could before she walked away from me. “I have to wrap up some last-minute things this morning. But, if you have time, I would love to give you a proper goodbye.” She winked at me.
“Yeah, of course. Just let me know when you are finished. I am sure I could make some time for you.”
“Excellent. Until then.” She blew a kiss at me, then closed the door behind her.
I exhaled deeply, then took a seat at my desk. I couldn’t believe that she was leaving me behind. It wasn’t just that she was an excellent secretary and a good fuck from time to time, but if I was to settle down with anyone, it would’ve been her. She was the only woman that I would’ve considered taking the next step with, but now with her out of the picture, I literally had no one else to turn to.
I touched the mouse to wake up my computer. Before long, I found myself typing something into the search bar. I figured I’d at least check out the website that I saw on the commercial yesterday. The Right Click. As soon as I landed on the page, pictures gorgeous women and handsome men together, smiling, popped up. Well, they sure know how to tug at people’s emotions.
I couldn’t believe that I had found myself on this website. I used to laugh at the idea, but now, I found myself searching the site to see if it was right for me. A free one-week trial, huh? I guess that will work. Nothing to lose. After I scrolled through some of the profiles, I pulled out my black card and entered my information onto the site. I figured that I would give it a try for a week and maybe I would get lucky and find someone in a few days before they had to charge my card.
After I entered my information, I set up my profile. I felt out of place because I hadn’t done it in ages, but after I started, things became second nature for me. Before long, I set my picture up, along with what I was looking for in a woman. My picture showed a flattering smile. My shirt fit tightly around my chest, and the watch on my wrist sparkled because of the diamonds that encircled the face.
Mike is going to fucking rip me apart once he sees that I created a profile on here. I laughed to myself as I continued scanning through profiles. Wow. Who is this? I clicked on a woman named Bethany’s profile and examined her picture. Her light brown hair flowed down the sides of her face, gathering at the top of her shoulders. Her baby blue eyes meshed perfectly with her complexion, and her smile looked as though it was painted on.
I scrolled down to read about her profession. It said that she was in school, studying to be an English teacher. Thirty years old. Thirty? That is kind of old to try for a bachelor’s degree. There was something about her, though. Maybe it was that she reminded me of Amber. She looked much younger than her age, and at the same time, she seemed to have a bit of an edge to her. Something that separated her from the rest of the women.
Well, what are you waiting for, Gavin? It is free for a week. Shoot your shot. I clicked on her page and sent her a message. Nothing deep, just something to show that I was interested in her and wanted to know more about her. After I pressed send, I stood up and walked to the window that overlooked downtown. Well, I guess we will see what happens.
I could have been wasting my time with this website, but for now, it was better than nothing. With Amber leaving and Karen not wanting anything to do with me, this was my next best option. Just then, I got a phone call from Amber. “Hey. I’m just about finished. It didn’t take as long as I expected. Can I come and tell you goodbye?”
“You sure can. Come on in.”
She came into my office and wrestled with my belt buckle until it loosened up. As she slid her mouth around my dick, a message from the dating site popped up on my computer. She responded.
Chapter Six
BETHANY
I got a message in my inbox while I was at April’s house. “Bethany! Come here! Somebody is interesteeeeeeed.” I walked into the study with another bowl of stew as she peered at the computer. “Look at him. Gavin Wallace. Thirty-two years old. Handsome. CEO of High Time. I think we have a winner.”
I sat down in front of the computer. His picture was alluring. A muscular body with gray hair peppered in on the top of his head. It was cute, but I thought he was kind of young to have that many gray hairs at his age. “Um, thirty-two? Are you sure he is thirty-two?”
“Well, that’s what his profile says. What is it? The gray hair?”
“Yeah. I’ve never seen that much on a guy so young. What if this is a fake profile?” My eyes bucked wide open. “April, I don’t want to get cat-fished. What if this is a catfish account? What if this is really my ex-boyfri
end setting me up?”
She laughed, “No, we are not going there. Like I said, that man is not going to pay for anything, especially if he doesn’t know if you are on the site. Come on. Click on your message, and let’s see what he said.”
I reluctantly grabbed the mouse, then opened my inbox. I read the message out loud. “Hello. My name is Gavin, and I just wanted to drop you a line. I think you are beautiful, and we may have a lot in common. If you don’t mind, I would love to see if we could connect, maybe over the phone or something. I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
I looked at April just as the words left her mouth, “Well, it is short and simple. I say go for it. Hell, if you two hit it off soon, I may be able to remove my card before it gets charged.”
“I don’t know, April.”
“Bethany,” she grabbed my phone off the desk, “I did not sign you up on this website just for you to turn down guys that contact you. Put your number in the message and send it back to him, or else I will do it for you. He looks good. He is successful. What more do you want?”
“I, um…”
She bypassed me and inserted a response for me. “Hi, Gavin. Thank you for contacting me. You are very handsome, and I hope we can hit it off. My number is 540-555-1876. I look forward to hearing from you.” She pressed send while I slid another spoonful of food into my mouth. I didn’t expect anything to happen after that. Maybe he would call me, maybe he would send another message and ask for more information. Either way, my expectations were low.
But he responded and told me that he would call when he got home. I didn’t hear from him until around 8:30. “Hi. May I speak to Bethany?”
“Speaking.”
“Hi. This is Gavin. I contacted you through the Right Click.”
I leaned back in my bed with my book in hand. “Yes, I remember. I didn’t think you would call me.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Well, I’ve never done anything like this before. Using a dating website. It all seems a little fishy to me, you know? So I was a bit apprehensive about signing up, but once my friend convinced me, I figured I would give it a shot.”
