I sighed. “Send me the email. I’ll check it out.”
I thought it was weird for Sandra to be giving me advice about intentions and the universe when she was still single. She was an amazing girl, don’t get me wrong, but I longed to see her find the right man, and I even had an idea in my head of who the right man for her might be, but I didn’t bring it up. In my experience, sometimes it’s best to say nothing when you really want two friends to hook up. Otherwise you might jinx it.
We finished up the snacks in silence and then said good night. After she left, I finished tidying up. Exhausted didn’t begin to describe how I felt. I looked at my watch and shuddered at the thought of how soon I had to be up for work.
I went into the bathroom and washed off my makeup and got into my pajamas.
Lying in bed, I scrolled through the photos I’d taken of the party on my phone. It had been a great night, but there really was something missing. Something big. Something I didn’t think I could live without.
Kane.
I opened up his Facebook profile, it was something I’d done a million times since our night together. Still no updates. No check ins. No sign at all that he was even alive. I scrolled through his photos and found the one I was looking for, my favorite. It was of him, standing on the beach. It looked like the sun was just setting beyond the horizon behind him, and he was pulling off a white tank top, revealing his perfect body. His eyes had a sultry look, like he was just waking up, and his hair was all messy as usual.
I reached down beneath the sheets and began to touch my clit, gently rubbing my finger back and forth over it, making myself horny and wet. It wasn’t long before my finger, then another, were sliding in and out of my pussy, making me wetter and wetter.
I fixed my eyes on his eyes, staring at the photo like my life depended on it, and felt the orgasm wash through me like a warm flood.
Seconds later, I was in a deep sleep, and in my dream, Kane was holding me by the ankles, my legs raised straight up into the air. I was lying on my back on the sand, completely naked, and his long, hard, perfect cock was sliding in and out of me like the piston of an engine. In and out, in and out, he kept moving, and I felt as if I was going to explode with love and desire.
When he finally orgasmed, I felt his cum pour into me and coat everything inside me with his scent. It was all his now. I was his. He’d marked me as his own, and I didn’t want it any other way. I wanted to be his, and I wanted him to come back for me and take me as his own.
CHAPTER 48
MEADOW
I woke up in the middle of the night and my panties were still soaked from the dreams I’d been having. I picked up my phone and looked again at the photo of Kane.
For the millionth time I opened my messenger app and clicked on his name.
Kane, it’s Meadow. Can we talk?
I am so sorry. Please call me.
I miss you.
I wish you would come back. I need to tell you something.
CHAPTER 49
MEADOW
I woke up with a start, ten minutes before my actual alarm was scheduled to go off. Before I could even realize where I was, I was in a mad dash to the bathroom. I dropped to my knees and threw up into the toilet. I felt awful. It had been so long since I’d been sick like that and I wondered what was wrong with me. I hadn’t even taken a sip from my wine, and I didn’t think the food was bad.
Maybe I was just tired from the party, but it hadn’t been that late of a night.
After throwing up, I felt a lot better and hoped that was all that was wrong with me.
I jumped into the shower to start getting ready for work. I hadn’t missed a day yet, and I wasn’t about to start. Especially because I just knew the teasing I would get if I couldn’t show up the day after my own party.
I walked into the café and it was obvious everyone was feeling a bit sluggish. I took it to mean they’d had a good time at my party. Everyone was doing their job getting ready to open, but keeping to themselves. They hadn’t even turned the music on yet. It was kind of nice to all be on the same low energy level.
Suddenly, Sandra burst out of the back cooler with her arms full of ketchup bottles, a skip in her step, and a smile on her face. I didn’t know how she did it. That woman could drink me under the table and never got a hangover. Ever. Some mornings after a night out, I wondered if she was superhuman. It was, without a doubt, one of her superpowers.
“Oh my, someone’s looking green,” she said as she walked by.
“Great, I guess I didn’t use enough makeup,” I joked.
“But you said you didn’t drink much last night,” Sandra said, trying to figure out how I was hungover.
“That’s just it, I didn’t drink. I’m starting to worry it was food poisoning. Maybe that spinach dip wasn’t as good as it tasted. I can tell you for certain, it didn’t taste very good when it came up this morning,” I said grabbing a glass of water. I still had an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
“Oh no, you were sick this morning?”
“I was, and usually I never puke.”
“But you always feel like you could puke when you’re upset.”
“Yeah sure, I feel like it, but it passes and I never do. Did you eat the spinach dip? Have you been sick? Has anyone else mentioned not feeling well? I’d be mortified if I gave the whole party food poisoning,” I said, looking around at the rest of the staff.
“Everyone’s a little slower than usual, but there’s no denying that alcohol is responsible,” Sandra said.
I hoped she was right.
I picked up a package of napkins and followed Sandra’s along the tables.
As soon as we opened, we were busy. For a while, the distraction of work helped me forget that I wasn’t feeling well. It didn’t last long though. A couple of hours in and I started to feel myself fading. I was forgetful and had to make several trips to my tables before finally leaving them with everything they needed. Twice I had to go back and ask a customer to repeat an order.
“You’re not yourself today,” Sandra said. “Usually you’re so on top of things.”
“Yeah. I’m not feeling so great. I feel nauseous, like I could puke again.”
“Sounds like you’re pregnant,” a voice said from the booth next to us.
I turned to see it was Mr. Mathers, adding his unwelcome two cents.
“Hey, Matt, over here,” someone shouted from a table at the back of the café.
Immediately, I dropped the entire tray of clean cutlery I’d been holding. It scattered all over the floor. I looked to the person who’d called Matt’s name and saw them waving their hand in the air. I braced myself and looked to the front door. Some guy I didn’t recognize was walking toward them. Some guy that wasn’t my Matt.
Thank God.
Hearing his name spooked me. I wasn’t feeling myself at all.
Sandra came over to help me clean up the cutlery. She insisted that I go home. She had never seen me sick and just wanted me to rest and feel better. I felt lucky to be such close friends with her, but I knew she’d have to work doubly hard to cover for me.
“Really, I can stay,” I said.
“Go,” she insisted. “What kind of friend would I be if I made you work through this?”
I thanked her, finished a few things with my tables, and left through the back door to my bike.
Getting away from the smells and noises of the restaurant helped immediately. I took a deep breath of the fresh ocean air while I unlocked my bike. I hopped on and made for home. As I rode along the coast, all I could hear was Mr. Mathers’ voice replaying over and over in my head.
Sounds like you’re pregnant.
I took a slight detour past the pharmacy. I didn’t think he was right, but I decided to buy a pregnancy test anyway. I knew if I didn’t, I’d just be wondering if it were true. It was better to just take the dumb test so I could rule it out. The twenty dollars was worth it for instant peace of mind.
The girl
at the checkout gave me a curious look when I was paying.
I shrugged back at her.
“Fingers crossed,” I joked.
“You hoping for positive or negative?” she said.
I looked at her then down at the test. For some reason I didn’t know what to say.
“It’s okay,” she said, rescuing me from my own indecision. “I shouldn’t be so nosy.”
I thanked her and hurried out.
The first thing I did when I got home was run myself a hot bath. I was going to soak and relax for a bit and then crawl into bed for a nice afternoon nap. As the tub filled, I heard my phone ringing back in the kitchen. I hurried past the living room window, totally naked, to go grab it.
It was Sandra.
“Oh no. What did I forget to do before I left?” I asked when I answered.
“Nothing. Relax. I just had to call to tell you something because it’s quicker than texting.”
“That’s a relief. Just so you know, I’m totally naked and about to take you in the bath with me,” I said and we both laughed.
“So, some guy just came into the café asking for you,” Sandra said.
“What? Really? Who?” I said, my mind racing.
“I don’t know. Greg was the one he talked to. I noticed him standing outside looking in, but I didn’t think much of it. Next thing I knew, he was at the counter talking to Greg. Then he was gone.”
“Did Greg say why he was looking for me?”
“He never asked. Apparently the guy just came in, asked if you were working, and when Greg said you weren’t, he left.”
“Totally weird. What did he look like?”
“He was a handsome man. Very handsome. Not from town. He was looking pretty classy in his navy blazer,” she said.
The image of the married guy from the bar jumped into my mind.
“Ugh, that idiot?” I said.
“You know who it was?”
“Yeah, remember I told you about that little pub I went into, the night my car was taken?”
“Oh, that asshole? The one with the tan line where his wedding band should have been?”
“Yeah, exactly. I guess he didn’t take no for an answer.”
“If I remember correctly, you gave him a lot more than a no. You gave him a knee in the nuts!”
I laughed. “Guess he didn’t get the message.”
“Poor guy. I guess he’s just under the Meadow spell. Well, I’m glad we solved the mystery. You never mentioned how hot he was, by the way.”
“He’s all yours,” I said.
Sandra laughed. “No thanks, but I better run. My order is up. Hope you’re feeling better.”
“Bye,” I said, not sure if she heard me before hanging up.
I turned the ringer off and put my phone on the bathroom floor. I rested back against the tub, plugged my nose, and slid all the way under.
CHAPTER 50
SANDRA
I got to the brewery after closing up the café and grabbed a seat at the counter. I was happy to see Paul was bartending, not just because he’s good company, but because he always pours me my beer before I even ask. He came over and put a pint down in front of me.
“Where’s your partner in crime?” he asked.
“She wasn’t feeling well,” I said, taking a sip. “I sent her home early.”
“Too hungover to work? I’m pretty hungover myself.”
“No, she wasn’t hungover. She hardly drank at all, but she did throw up this morning. She’s worried she gave everyone food poisoning. Have you been sick?”
“Nope, but my head is killing me.”
I could tell he was trying to gage if I liked the beer or not. It was good, but I gave it a few more sips before giving him my review. It was heavy but really nice. I was able to correctly name a few flavors, which impressed him. He then listed off the ones I missed and explained the process he and Jason used to make it.
I smiled and nodded, pretending to be interested. The truth is, what was really catching my attention about him wasn’t the beer, but the way he always took the time to explain things to me and make sure I knew what I was drinking.
He was thoughtful.
He was also handsome. I had to laugh to myself as I thought that. Why had I never noticed before? I mean, I’d noticed he was a good looking guy, but I’d never really considered him more than a friend. I imagined what it might be like to be more than friends.
Would I be able to do it?
Had we already passed the point of no return, where anything romantic would be too awkward to consider?
I began to picture him naked, what his cock would look like, what it would feel like if I were to allow it to slip into my mouth and suck on it!
“Hey,” I heard someone say from behind me, pulling me out of my naughty imaginings.
I turned around and then almost fell off my seat.
It was Kane!
I had been worried sick about him but never let on to Meadow because I knew it would only make her a million times more worried.
“What the hell?” I said.
“Kane!” Paul said, hopping right over the bar to give him a hug, and maybe to double check that he was really there.
“Is that really you?”
Kane lifted Paul right off his feet.
“It’s me, brother. Who else am I going to be?”
“Well!” I blurted, almost bursting into tears from the shock of his sudden reappearance. “Where the hell have you been, mister?”
Kane looked at me and then at Paul, but it was clear he had no explanation. He just stood there silently.
“Get the man a beer,” I said to Paul, pulling out a stool for Kane.
Kane sat next to me and I looked at him, actually I stared at him. He’d changed. His skin was ten shades darker than it had been, like he’d been out in the sun nonstop, and his usual five o’clock shadow had become a full on beard. His once white t-shirt was now a sandy off white color and smelled of salt water.
I was just glad he was okay.
As soon as the initial shock wore off, I went from being amazed that he was back, to being completely upset with him for the way he’d disappeared out of the blue. Especially Meadow! I mean, I knew she’d messed up too with her complete psycho rampage when she saw Carolyn’s picture, but just disappearing like that, and ghosting all of us, that wasn’t fair!
“We were worried sick about you, buddy,” I said while Paul was off pouring someone a drink.
“I know, Sandra. I’m sorry, but I had to get away.”
“Where were you?”
“Mexico. I found a nice place and just stayed there.”
“Surfing?”
He nodded.
“Enjoying the beach?”
“I know, I should have called.”
“Yes, you should have. I must have left you a million messages. I know Paul and Meadow did too.”
He said nothing and I just looked at him.
“Well, you just decided to let us worry?”
“I didn’t have my phone with me, Sandra. It wasn’t on purpose. I left town unexpectedly when I realized that I … that I needed to process a few things. I forgot the phone. And then once I realized no one could contact me, I just sort of liked it like that. I needed the space.”
“That’s pretty selfish of you. There are lots of people here who care about you and who have been worried sick,” I said.
“I know, Sandra. All I can say is, I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have been more considerate.”
I looked at Paul and he shook his head.
“Well,” I said, “at least you’re still alive.”
Paul left to serve some customers who’d just arrived and I took Kane’s arm.
“It wasn’t just old friends who were worried about you, you know? Some people who only knew you for twenty-four hours were pretty devastated when you went off the grid like that.”
“She told you what happened?”
“Damn r
ight she did. We’re girls, Kane. She told me everything.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she was afraid she made you run out.”
“Oh, no,” Kane said. “I didn’t think of that.”
“You didn’t think of that? What did you think?”
“I thought she’d hate me and never want to see me again for not telling her about Carolyn.”
I shook my head. Guys can be so unbelievably, ridiculously, outrageously stupid sometimes.
“No, she doesn’t hate you. She’s sorry she overreacted.”
“Is she still in town?” he asked.
“She is, and she’s doing amazing without you. You really hurt her. She soldiered through. She’s been working hard at the café and has her own place now. She decorated it and it looks stunning and she’s even starting her own interior design company. She’s done it all on her own. She refused any help from anyone. She’s a completely different woman,” I said.
I was purposely laying it on thick. I wanted to be sure he knew how far she’d come and how ridiculous he was for leaving her hanging like that.
“Oh, and she got her divorce too,” I added for good measure.
Paul came back and put a pint down in front of Kane.
“No thanks, man,” Kane said, and Paul and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
“It’s the new brew,” Paul said. “Come on. It’s some of our finest work.”
“I haven’t touched the stuff since the night before I left,” Kane said.
“Really?” I said.
“Wow, Kane, that’s actually pretty cool to hear,” Paul said. Then, looking at me, he added, “Leaves more for us.”
Paul took a big sip of Kane’s beer and Kane laughed.
I hit Paul’s shoulder. “It’s not a joke. It’s really great, Kane. You look a million times better than you did when you left.”
I couldn’t deny I was proud of him. I don’t think there’d been one day since the accident he hadn’t drunk heavily. Going over a whole month without one, cold turkey, was a big deal. Something had certainly changed in him. Despite my resistance, I got up and hugged him. He deserved it.
Fire & Ice: A Ménage Fantasy Page 43
