by Amy Brent
“You mean Brandon?” I asked.
“Yes, ma’am. The referral’s for Dr. Black, but I can amend the referral to put you with anyone on that floor,” she said.
I sat there for a second and considered it. Was it going to be smart of me to make an appointment with him? On the one hand, it might trigger emotions I was not ready to show him, much less deal with. On the other hand, facing him and talking him through what he did to me might help me cope and move on. Become a better person. Not be so spiteful and angry whenever I saw happy couples walking down the road.
“Miss Conway?”
“Yes. Sorry. I’m here. You caught me in the middle of some calculations,” I said.
“What do you do for work?”
“I’m an accountant for a tech company,” I said. “And Bra—Dr. Black will be just fine.”
“Wonderful. The earliest appointment he has is Monday at four in the afternoon.”
“That works perfectly. I’d be out by five?” I asked.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll put you down for that time. Now, I just need a bit of your insurance information, and we will be good to go!”
I gave her the information she was looking for before I downloaded some forms from the office’s website. I needed to fill them out and arrive fifteen minutes before my appointment to make sure everything was solid and ready to go. All through lunch, my mind was swirling. This would be the first time I’d seen my ex-boyfriend since he came home with that tall, long-legged Russian he married while I was pining for him at college. I felt anger bubble up within me as I stabbed my salad. I never could trust anyone’s promises after that one encounter. I questioned everything anyone told me. It took years for Carl to break down my defenses long enough to get me to trust him.
Then he died. In that fucking accident.
I threw my fork down onto my desk and sighed. Raking my hands through my hair, I started breathing deep through my nose. The last thing I needed was a breakdown at work, but no sooner had I collected myself than my boss came knocking on my door.
“Miss Conway.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir,” I said as I sat up.
“At ease, soldier,” he said, chuckling. “Just coming to check in on you.”
“Oh, I’m doing fine. Have I gone over on my lunch?”
“No, but you never did let me know how that doctor’s appointment went,” he said.
“Oh. I’m sorry. It, uh, went fine. He recommended I see Dr. Brandon Black.”
“Have you made an appointment?” he asked.
“I did before I took my lunch break, yes,” I said.
“For what time?” he asked.
“Four o’clock on Monday.”
“Make it a standing appointment with him. I expect you to be out of this office by 3:30 every Monday,” he said.
“Sir, that’s not—”
“Melissa, you’re the hardest working individual I have in this accounting department. You’re well on your way to running this place once I get a mind about me to retire. We can’t afford to lose you. Take care of yourself. Make it a standing date with your doctor.”
If only he knew why those words enraged me like they did.
“I will. Promise.”
“Good. Now, about those numbers you’re calculating, I need them by two.”
“Consider it done,” I said.
After work, I went to pick up Sarah and ran into Ava again. We talked a bit about work, and she looked incredibly stressed, so I invited her over to share a bottle of wine. I told her the kids could have a sleepover, and we could have time to catch up. Logan and Sarah were all for it. I piled the kids into my car to allow Ava to go change her clothes, and I took them both back to my place to feed them a snack. They were clamoring to get out in the backyard and play, so I forewent the snack and let them run. I closed the gate and went inside, opening the blinds by the kitchen table, so we could watch them while we shared a glass of wine together.
Or maybe two.
“Knock, knock,” Ava called out.
“Already got a glass of wine poured.”
“The kids outside playing?” she asked.
“Yep. Logan’s swinging, and Sarah’s going down the slide.”
“This is much needed,” she said as she picked up her glass. “Thank you so much.”
“That rough of a week?” I asked.
“We’ll need another bottle just to get through it. Yours?”
“Oh, it’s been interesting,” I said.
“Uh-oh. Why’s that? Something happen with the doctor?”
“He referred me to a shrink. Thinks I might have Major Depressive Disorder.”
“Not gonna lie, it doesn’t shock me,” she said.
“I know, I know. I’m still functioning and holding down a job, so I never considered it an option. Aren’t depressed people supposed to not get out of bed or smile at their kids?” I asked.
“It rears its head in all forms. Just because you can function doesn’t mean you’re happy.”
“I guess so. He referred me to Dr. Brandon Black.”
“Wait. The Dr. Black? The one with that book that’s always on the news?” she asked.
“That’s the one.”
“Oh, he’s a hunk. I love them tall with dark hair. Broad shoulders. Chiseled chest. I bet his thighs are—”
“You okay over there?” I asked.
“Sorry. Just daydreaming. So, when’s your appointment with him?”
“Monday at four.”
“Well, don’t sound so down about it. What’s up your butt?” she asked.
“Besides being depressed? Dr. Black is my ex.”
I heard her choke on her wine before she set her glass down. The kids were giggling outside as I watched them, but my mind was spinning elsewhere. I still wasn’t sure how in the world I was going to do this appointment with him, but if I talked about nothing else, I needed to talk to him about what he did to me, what meeting that Russian woman did to me.
“When the hell did you two date? I thought your parents were, like, fucking Amish or something.”
“We dated behind their backs while I was in college. I gave my virginity to him.”
“Oh. Holy. Shit. You’ve seen his dick! What’s it look like?” she asked.
“Like it’s on fire with his lies,” I said.
“Ooooh, and the gossip continues. Was he a compulsive liar?”
“No.”
“Did he lie to get in your pants?”
“No.”
“Did he fake his death to get away from you?”
“Are you drinking the same wine I’m drinking?” I asked.
“Come on. Fill me in. What happened?”
“He was the first boy I ever fell in love with. He taught me so many things. About sex and … and love. At least, love for an eighteen-year-old. He promised me he’d come back for me after he graduated, especially after my parents disowned me for going to a public university instead of the community college at home.”
“Have I told you your parents are nuts?” she asked.
“Don’t I know it. Anyway, we kept in touch a bit, and I clung to that promise. I kept telling him how much I loved him and how I couldn’t wait for us to be together, and I thought he felt the same way. But, when I saw him just after graduation, he had this beautiful Russian bride on his arm.”
“Wait, what?”
“Yeah. Tall. Pale. Beautiful, straight black hair. Sexy little accent.”
“Did he mail order her?” Ava asked, grinning.
“I don’t fucking know. It shattered my world. My heart. I floundered for months before I got my feet back underneath me again.”
“Sounds like he did a number on you.”
“You think this is smart? I mean going and seeing him with the past we have? On one hand, it could trigger something, but on the other hand, I’d get to address him face to face to tell him what he did to me and get some closure. That would help, right?” I asked.
“I’m gonna be honest with you because I always am,” Ava began. “That man is a fucking rock star. He’s loaded. He’s known around the world for his revolutionary outlook on how to treat his patients. He’s probably drowning in so much pussy, he won’t even remember you.”
“You’ve got a point,” I said.
“And even if he did, he’s a professional, and he’ll keep it as such. If he can’t, he’ll refer you to someone else. That’s shit they do, right? You’ve got nothing to worry about, and by the sounds of it, you don’t have anything to lose, either.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“Now, finish that glass and catch up. I’m going to order us some pizza for dinner.”
“The kids will love that,” I said.
“Yep. And full stomachs means they fall asleep easier, which means more wine for us.”
“You’re relentless,” I said, grinning.
“Anything to see that smile once in a blue moon.”
Chapter 5
Brandon
I rolled over Sunday afternoon and hit something warm beside me. Suddenly, a soft object moved between my legs, and the night slowly started coming back to me. All tits and fake red hair. Crimson lips and a nose piercing. Thick thighs covered with juices before we stumbled into a taxi.
Fuck, I’d brought that woman home.
“Hey there, handsome,” she said sleepily.
“Hey there, gorgeous,” I said.
“Don’t worry. I don’t remember your name, either,” she said, giggling.
I rolled over and took in her blue eyes. They were red with lack of sleep, and there were marks all over those beautiful tits of hers. She rolled on top of me, and I could feel how wet she still was. My morning wood instantly slid into her soft warmth. She began riding my cock, my eyes still hazy with sleep as her hands planted on my chest. I laid back and enjoyed the attention, sighing as she bent her nipples down to my lips.
My hands rounded her ass as she swirled in my lap, her tits flooding my face as I moaned into her skin. I could feel her juices leaking onto my skin, sliding down my thighs as her scent filled the room. Her fingernails curled into my skin, leaving red crescent marks I’d surely remember her by.
Until the next woman, that was.
“Oh, fuck. Your dick is so nice. Oh, yes, baby. Just like that.”
I began thrusting my hips up into her, jolting her further and further toward my face. I peppered her skin with kisses, breathing in her morning scent as her pussy began to clamp down around my cock. It was all the same, really. A few kisses there, another nip there. A mark on her fake breast and a tug of her hair. Enough to get my cock twitching and my hips shaking just before my toes curled.
Same pattern, different woman.
I tugged her hair, pulling her neck back as she moaned out in ecstasy. Some women just enjoyed it rougher than others, so I decided to ratchet up the thrusting. I pounded into her as she fingered her clit, her juices spraying out all over my bed. I’d have to do laundry before I laid back down in it again for work tomorrow, but right now, all I could think about was how my balls were pulling back into my body.
“Yes. Yes. Yes. So close. So close. Oh, fuck that pussy. Let me suck you down.”
I pumped a few more times as I felt her pussy vibrate around me. She moaned out her orgasm, her jaw unhinged as her tits flexed with delight. I watched her implants bounce as my cock finally twitched before I pulled out and sprayed my come all along the crack of her ass. She panted, her hands cupping her tits as I slowly released her hair. Strands of it tangled around my fingertips as she fell to my body, pressing my face in her tits one last time before she rolled off.
“Well, I better get going,” she said. “You know, stuff and all.”
“I’m sure you can find your way out,” I said.
“What? No goodbye kiss?” she asked.
“Nope.”
She left with a huff as I laid there. My dick was shriveling up, and my bed was soaked with her smell. I couldn’t stand it. I never did smell quite right. Quite like her.
Melissa.
I got up out of bed and cleaned myself up before I went for a workout. I had to pick Max up at my mother’s soon, and I didn’t want to be late. I’d promised him we would go to Michael’s and have pizza with them, and the last thing I wanted to do was disappoint my own son. I decided to take some aggression out on the treadmill for a few miles before I hopped in the shower, and I was relieved when that woman’s scent slowly fell from my body. I took my time in the hot shower, allowing the steam to cleanse me of my disgusting nature. Then I stepped out and dried myself off. I’d need to grab a shake or something on the way to pick up Max, so I decided I’d grab him one, too.
He was a sucker for strawberry anything.
Soon, I was in the car with two fruit smoothies in hand. I pulled up to my mother’s house just as the nanny texted me to see if I needed anything. I gave her the entire weekend off and told her she wasn’t to report anywhere until tomorrow morning. That woman worked like a dog for me so I could build my practice and help people the way I wanted. The least she deserved was a fucking weekend off.
“Daddy!”
“Maxy-boy!”
My son ran from the porch and jumped into my arms. These were the moments I enjoyed. The moments where he was happy and delighted to see me. The divorce from his mother had been hard, but her signing over her parental rights did a number on both of us. I knew we married just so she could gain her citizenship, but I never thought she’d be the kind of woman who would abandon her son in the process. He was a beautiful boy. Looked just like me, save for his smile. Every time he smiled, I saw her, and my heart ached all over again at the life I’d brought him into.
The subpar life he had been given because of my idiotic mistakes.
“Is that for me?” he asked.
“It is. Strawberry with extra ones, just how you like it.”
“Thanks, Daddy. Michael and pizza?”
“Yep. We’re still going to Michael’s for pizza.”
“Sounds like a fun day,” my mom said.
She came off the porch, and I wrapped her in a massive hug. This woman had been my life support through every decision I’d made. She supported me even when she didn’t agree with me, and she was always there when I needed help with Max. She walked me through my anger when his mother abandoned him. She took my phone calls late at night when Max was crying and I didn’t know why. She even came over a few times to help when we were both sick.
That woman was my fortress, and I was so glad I had her in my life.
“You look like hell,” she said.
“Love you, too, Mom,” I said, grinning.
“You got time to come in and sit down?” she asked.
“Not really, but I promise I’ll make it over this week. Listen, I want you to know how much I love you and appreciate you.”
“Honey. You bought me a house and a car. I know,” she said, giggling.
“No, I mean it. With Max and all you’ve done for us. For taking him this weekend so the nanny could have some time off. So I could have some genuine time off. With what you do for the two of us, the hole you fill in Max’s life, I couldn’t buy you enough things to show you how thankful I am for you.”
“I love you, son. You’re my boy. And that’s my grandson. I never thought I could love someone the way I love you until that little boy came along. He can come stay with me any weekend he wants.”
“Next weekend?” Max asked.
“We’ll see, buddy,” I said, grinning.
“Pizza and Michael!” he exclaimed.
“I better get this kid in the car and off to Michael’s before he explodes,” I said.
“The two of you have fun. Tell Michael I said hello.”
“I will, Mom. I promise.”
I hugged her neck and kissed her cheek as Max scrambled into the car. He was sucking down his smoothie faster than I’d ever seen him, and the brain freeze he got made me chuckle. No matt
er how many times it happened, he always ate ice cream and drank smoothies way too fast. He was stubborn, always wanting things the way he wanted it right then and there.
Sounded a bit familiar, to be honest.
We headed on to Michael’s, and when I pulled up, I ordered the pizza. Michael came up and got Max out of his seat, throwing him up in the air before he put him down onto the ground. I prided myself in the workout schedule I kept, but I’d never understood how Michael could hoist that four-year-old into the air the way he could. Max would always giggle with delight before he rushed off to play with Michael’s children.
