by Jewel E. Ann
“Well I hope they get the punishment they deserve.”
Vivian coughs then clears her throat. “Where’s Dad?”
“Working, sweetie. He’ll be home for dinner. Looks like I’ll be setting three extra place settings instead of two.”
“Three?” Vivian leads me to the back porch where her mom lets a dog inside.
“Rosenburg!” Vivian ditches me and picks up the little white fur ball. “I missed you.” She nuzzles her face into his fluffy coat. “Oli, meet Rosenburg.” She hands it … him, to me.
“Rosenburg … interesting name.”
“She named him after the founder of Dunkin’ Donuts. Crazy girl.” Lydia shakes her head. “Have a seat.” She gestures to a padded gliding bench.
“Thank you.” I sit next to Vivian. “Didn’t know you had a dog … a dog named Rosenburg.” I smirk at her. “Your doughnut obsession is worse than I thought.”
She winks. “It’ll be fine. I’m in therapy now.”
My dick twitches, feeling ready to give her some more of that therapy.
“She gets her insane metabolism from her father. It’s not fair. I gain weight just thinking about food.” Lydia gives Vivian the stink eye.
“You could have fooled me.” I smile.
Lydia shares a familiar blush that I’ve seen on Vivian’s face a thousand times. She’s not as tall as Vivian and her curves are more prominent, but she has those green eyes and black hair with a few streaks of gray all pulled back into a bun.
“I like him, Vivvy.”
Vivian tucks her feet underneath her legs and leans into me. “Yeah, he’s okay.”
“Vivvy, what happened to your feet?”
“Uh … stepped on some broken glass … um, helping Oliver clean up after the invasion.”
“Yes, I told her I would clean it up, but she wouldn’t listen.”
“Tell me about it. She’s a stubborn girl, but we’re still real proud of her. Can’t wait to see her walk across that stage in two more years.”
Vivian clears her throat. “So, um, you didn’t say who the third person is who’s coming to dinner.”
“Oh, Kai of course.”
I’m not sure if Lydia can see the steam escaping from my nostrils, but it’s there. Vivian knows it’s there. Her body tenses against mine.
“Uh, why did you invite Kai?”
“I can’t believe you’re asking me that. He’s your best friend. He’s home for another week or so. And his sister just died. Did I mention it’s your birthday too? Oh speaking of … your cake’s in the oven. I need to go check on it.”
Lydia goes back inside and Rosenburg jumps off my lap and follows her.
Vivian straddles my lap facing me with a nervous smile. “Are you mad?”
No, I’m fucking livid!
“At whom? You, when you didn’t know. Your mom, who didn’t know about me until today? Kai, because his sister died?”
She brushes her lips against my neck and kisses my ear. “So basically you’re pissed, but you don’t know where to aim the blame,” she whispers.
“Basically.”
“Vivvy! Get off that boy. I taught you better than that. How rude of you to invade his personal space.” Lydia brings out a tray of beverages.
Vivian rolls her eyes and climbs off my lap.
“Can I offer you a drink, Oliver?” She holds the tray out in front of me.
“Yes, thank you.” I take one of the small Dixie cups filled with red liquid.
“Vivvy?” She offers a cup to her.
“Oh my God, Mom! You made Kool-Aid for us? We’re adults not seven-year-olds taking a play break.”
I take a sip to hide my grin. This is not just Kool-Aid!
“I know, sweetie. I’m just teasing you. Take a sip.”
Vivian hesitates then brings the cup to her lips like something’s going to jump out and bite her. “What is this?”
“Kool-Aid cocktail. It’s Tropical Punch Kool-Aid mixed with fresh lemon juice and dark rum.”
Vivian shrugs. “Mmm, not bad.”
Priceless. It’s the only description for this moment—the dog, the spiked Kool-Aid, the “personal space” invasion, and Vivvy. The crazy part is we’ve been here for only thirty minutes. Adding in dinner with my nemesis and Vivian’s college confessions to her parents is going to make this a memorable weekend.
*
Vivian
Oliver’s family is normal, I think. They have refined social skills, yet they are far from pretentious. Even the last night we had dinner with them and acted like a couple of tattling children they handled the situation with humor and love. My family … not so refined. I was raised by two hardworking and very loving parents. We struggled to make ends meet, but I never felt like I truly wanted for anything. My parents never fought over money in front of me. In fact, they rarely fought at all. So I have to give them a free pass when it comes to being overprotective and sometimes embarrassing.
“There’s my birthday girl.”
“Hi, Dad.” I give him a big hug as he walks in the back door. He’s the only other man in my life that makes me feel short. My dad is a towering six foot six with a shiny head that he’s shaved bare for the past ten years since he started going bald in his mid-thirties.
He releases me with his gaze falling over my shoulder. “And who is your friend?”
I step back and wrap my arm around Oliver’s back. “This is Oliver.”
Oliver offers his hand and my dad shakes it. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Graham.”
My dad, the gentle beast, smiles. “Call me Rod.”
Oliver nods.
“Rodney, Oliver is Vivvy’s boyfriend,” my mom calls from the table where she’s setting the dishes for dinner.
“Boyfriend, huh? Well what does your boyfriend do?”
Oliver grins. “I work with my brother. He owns a handyman business. This time of year it’s mostly landscaping jobs. In the winter he does snow removal and home repair.”
“A man who’s not afraid to get a little dirt on his hands and apparently can take a punch.” My dad nods toward Oliver’s face. “I like you already. You’d never catch pretty boy down the street doing manual labor or getting in a fist fight.”
My dad has never been a huge Kai fan. His opinion has always been there’s something wrong with a boy whose best friend since kindergarten is a girl.
“For your information, Oliver has a law degree from Harvard.”
Oliver lifts his shoulders, giving my dad a guilty smile. “Don’t hold it against me.”
My dad chuckles as he walks past him and pats his shoulder. “I won’t. But it makes sense now. Vivvy likes guys in fancy suits.”
I shake my head and wrap both arms around Oliver’s waist. “Shows what you know, Dad. I happen to be quite attracted to guys in boots.”
Oliver wets his lips and I can see the lust in his eyes as I feel something firm against my belly.
“I should go bring in our stuff from the car.”
I grin knowing he needs to get out of the house before he embarrasses himself in front of my parents. “Need help.”
“Nope, I’ve got it.”
Oliver heads out to the car while I snag the mixer beaters from my mom. “So, what do you think of Oliver?” I swipe my tongue over the frosting.
“He’s handsome, that’s for sure.”
I giggle. “I know.”
“I wonder if he’s too old for you. How old is he?”
“He just turned thirty—not too old for me.”
“I’m only looking out for you, Vivvy. I know how important your career goals are to you and someone Oliver’s age is probably looking for a wife and children. Something a twenty-two-year-old girl in college should try to avoid.”
God, if she only knew. “Oliver’s not planning on marrying me, or having children, or ruining my career.”
“Well that’s not great either. Why are you wasting your time with a guy who’s not planning on marrying you?”
> I laugh and shake my head. “Jeez, Mom. There’s no pleasing you today.”
“Your mom just wants the world for you.” My dad bends down and kisses me on the top of my head.
“Done. Just so you both know, I’ve never been happier than I am with Oliver.”
The back door opens. Oliver has bags slung over both shoulders and in both hands as well. I may have over packed.
“Here, let me help you with those.” My dad offers, taking the bags from Oliver’s hands.
The gift bag from Alex falls on the floor. There’s a buzzing noise that gets louder as a … Oh. My. God! A vibrator rolls onto the floor.
Let me die. Right here. Right now.
As soon as I recover from my crippled state of embarrassment, I bend down and shove it back in the bag with the tissue paper while fumbling with the switch.
I’m crimson. My mom’s eyes are huge and her hand is cupped over her gasping mouth. Oliver purses his lips to hide his naughty I-can’t-believe-you-brought-a-vibrator smile. And thankfully, my dad has a confused look on his face. I’m quite certain he has never seen a vibrator.
“Uh … here.” I take the bags from my dad. “We’ll just … um … take these upstairs.”
Ducking my head, I bolt from the kitchen.
I toss the bags on the daybed in my old bedroom that my mom’s converted to her sewing room. Oliver presses his body against my back, brushing my hair off to one side. Soft lips caress my neck.
“Am I failing to meet your needs?”
I close my eyes and giggle. “I can’t believe Alex got me a vibrator for my birthday.”
“So it’s your first?”
“Yes … well … no.” I feel the red heat surface on my skin again.
He turns me toward him. “No?”
I shake my head, staring at my feet.
“Well we’ll have to check it out later.”
My head jerks up. “What? We?”
Oliver grins. “Sure, why not?”
“Well—I-I … ugh! Don’t do this to me at my parents’ house.” I brush past him and grab my purse. “I’m going to be a pathetic horny mess by the time we get back home.”
“What?” He chuckles. “Did you just say horny?”
“Yes, as in … you’re going to tease me all weekend with your dirty talk and sexy…” I wave my hand in the air “…ways.”
“Vivvy? Don’t forget the rules. No boys in your bedroom.”
“The door is open for heaven’s sake!” I yell down to her.
I send off a quick WTF-thank-you text to Alex as Oliver slides his hands around me squeezing my ass. “I’m going to feel like a teenager this weekend, sneaking around trying to avoid getting caught,” he whispers in my ear.
“Whoa, no. There will be no sneaking around—not now. After the vibrator incident, my mom will be on high-security alert. I wouldn’t be surprised if she decides to install hidden cameras around the house.”
Oliver laughs. “What is she going to do? Ground you?”
“She might.” I mock bite my nails with a frightened look on my face.
Oliver grabs me and gives me a dizzying kiss. My fingers claw into his back as all sense of control obliterates under his tempting touch.
“Vivvy? Kai is here.”
Splash!
There’s the cold water being dumped on us.
I rest my hand on Oliver’s chest. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being amicable with Kai tonight.”
He laughs. “Have you been talking to my mom?”
“Why?” I look up at him.
“Because you’re messing with my mind. Thanking me in advance so I subconsciously feel the need to live up to your expectations of me.”
A wink from me, a shake of his head. I love this man.
*
As much as I want Oliver here with me this weekend, I’m not looking forward to my birthday dinner with both of them. Of course my parents have no idea what’s gone on over the past few weeks, and I hope it stays that way.
“Can you get the door, Vivvy?” my mom calls from the kitchen as the doorbell rings.
“Sure.” I hand Rosenburg to Oliver. They’ve been bonding over the past few hours, but I haven’t worked up the nerve to ask him if he’d consider letting me bring him back to Cambridge. I wanted to take him with me when I originally left home, but a dog would be a red flag to Alex’s parents that I live there.
“Hey, Kai.”
“Please tell me you borrowed his car and he’s not actually—”
“Here? I am.” Oliver’s voice startles me. I turn. He’s standing behind me, holding Rosenburg.
“Oliver,” Kai says with a smug voice as he walks past us both toward the porch.
I take Rosenberg from Oliver. “You know how much I love you, right, babe?”
He gives me the stop-buttering-me-up smirk. “Yeah, I know.” He kisses me and I fist his shirt to make it last a little longer.
“Uh hum …”
I let go of Oliver.
“Your mom wants to see you in the kitchen,” Kai says.
I rub my lips together and nod. “Be nice,” I whisper while passing Kai.
“Watcha need, Mom?”
She leans against the counter with her hands planted on her hips. “You and Oliver are living together?” I can tell from the tension in her neck that she’s struggling to keep her volume under control.
“No. Why are you asking me this?”
“Because Kai said he hasn’t seen you much lately since you moved in with Oliver.”
Thanks, Kai … asshole!
I look up at the ceiling and exhale an exasperated breath. “We were for a little while, but we’re not now.”
“So you’ve had sex with him?” she whispers, glaring at me.
I laugh. No, Mom, we just sleep in the same bed, holding hands. “Yes, I’ve had sex with him. Good grief, I’m an adult.”
“So he knows about your back?”
“Yes, he knows about my back!”
She startles. “Keep your voice down, Vivvy.”
“He loves me, Mom. He thinks I’m beautiful and more than that … he makes me feel beautiful in a way I never have before. When I’m with him I don’t think about school, or my past, or marriage and children.” I bite my lips together and blink back the deep emotions that can only come from thinking about Oliver. “He’s my simple perfection. I like me with him.”
“Dinner ready?” My dad furrows his brow while peeking his head around the corner.
My mom nods, still staring at me. “Yes, tell the guys to come eat.”
“You know I just want what’s best for you, Vivvy.”
“Oliver … Oliver is what’s best for me.” I speak the truth. I know in a part of my heart that wasn’t alive until I met Oliver that he was meant to be with me. I just wish I knew what to do with the pain of his past. A past that’s still part of his present, our present.
“Okay, Vivvy.” She sighs and hands me a dish of steamed veggies. “But you’re still not sleeping with him under this roof.”
No problem. Oliver and I don’t do much sleeping when we’re together anyway. I smirk. “That’s fine.” I’ve never considered myself a rebel, but the more she treats me like a child, the more I want to take Oliver upstairs and do very adult things with him in my boy-banned room under my parents’ roof.
We make it through dinner without any bloodshed. My parents ask me about school under the scrutinizing looks of both Oliver and Kai. I think if it were just Oliver here I would tell them. Sometimes it feels like Kai is waiting for me to fall on my face so he can come to my rescue, so he can keep me needing him. Not anymore.
“Oh my gosh, Mom! You didn’t need to put candles on my cake.”
“Yes, I did. You deserve a wish, Vivvy.”
Mom sets the chocolate cake with vanilla frosting in front of me. I look around the table at the people who mean the most to me, even tattletale-half-the-time-I-want-to-kill-yo
u Kai. Taking a deep breath, I give Oliver a sideways glance and a wink before blowing out all my candles and wishing for … nothing. I already have everything I could ever want.
I blow them all out with one breath. Oliver rests his hand on my leg and leans over. “Happy birthday, my love,” he whispers in my ear and kisses my cheek.
“Our little girl is twenty-two. Where did the time go?” My dad smiles while shaking his head.
“Twenty-two … how old is your wife, Oliver?” Kai silences the room.
Oliver’s grip on my leg becomes painful.
“Wife?” My dad clenches his jaw.
“Get out, Kai.” The anger inside me builds to an explosive level. I should have never taken him home after his sister died. Cracking the door for Kai is like cracking the door to a bull’s pen. If given the chance he will trample me every time.
“Kai’s not the one with the wife, Vivvy. Why are you kicking him out?”
“You’re right, Mom.” I glare at Kai. “He’s not the one with a wife. Kai’s just the one who got drunk and wouldn’t take no for an answer the night I tried to escape his advances and fell into the hot coals.”
My parents look at Kai and the smugness evaporates from his face. “Viv, you swore you’d never say—”
“Say what, Kai? The truth?”
I could have predicted it—he’s tearing up. Unbelievable. He should have majored in theater, not pre-med.
“Vivvy? Kai? What’s going on?” my mom asks with a wrinkled brow.
“The truth?” Kai shakes his head. “That’s real rich coming from you.”
The legs of Oliver’s chair screech against the tile floor. “I think you’ve said enough.” He stands and clenches his fists.
“What are you going to do? Hit me again? Is that what put your wife in the looney bin?”
Smack!
“Oh my gosh! What are you doing?” my mom yells, scrambling to get to Kai, who looks close to unconscious on the floor with his chair tipped over and blood oozing from his nose.
I didn’t even flinch because I expected Oliver to knock him out the first time he made the wife comment. Once is risky. Twice is just stupid. My dad hasn’t moved and his eyes are on me. The anger is obvious, his anger with me—my lying, my “disappointing” choice in men.
