by Alice Cooper
“Oh Marie you are so dumb though.” She said again.
She couldn’t stop the thoughts, they moved to him automatically. Tom Tooch, her mistake. He had been a smooth talking Italian. Tom had come to her after he had been hurt in a game. He needed to rehabilitate his knees, she laughed at the coincidence. Brock was with her for the same injury.
She had been so young, new on the job. His dark black hair had been shaved close to his head. He had a magnificent body too. Oh she had been so easily snared in his trap.
Marie had believed that he loved her, those were the words he had uttered to her many times. She had finally let down her guard enough and he had penetrated the final goal. They had slept together, he had been her first. She didn’t know how many he had at that point, and hadn’t cared.
“You are so beautiful Marie; I could fall in love with a girl like you. I think I may be falling in love as a matter of fact.” He had said to her.
That had been enough for her at that time. It was as close to saying he loved her, and she had given him the most treasured thing she could. He had been too rough; she hadn’t even enjoyed it much the first time.
Tom had sex with her a second time, a few days later. Why not, she had thought, he loved her. If it had only been sex, she hadn’t thought he would come back again.
Of course she hadn’t thought about the fact he was a patient. Of course she would see him again. This time he had made it enjoyable for her at least. She had craved it after that.
Their affair had lasted a couple of months, and she found herself pregnant. She could still remember the day she had told him.
“Tom, I’m pregnant.” Marie had said as he had been undressing her.
“You’re what?” He has stopped immediately and stood straight up.
“Pregnant, we’re going to have a baby.” She had smiled. She had been happy; she had thought he loved her.
“How do you know it’s mine?” He had asked her.
It had felt like a hard cold slap on her cheek. She had flinched at the question. “Of course it’s yours; I’ve never had sex with anyone but you.” She had told him.
“Yeah right, I don’t believe that. I think you sleep with all your patients. Hell you fell into bed with me so quickly.” He had said.
Marie had been mad at that point. “I’m not some slut; I’ve never had sex before you. After that, it’s only been you.”
He had got up and left, she hadn’t seen him again since that day. After Sara was born 8 months later, she vowed to never get help from him. She could do this all by herself. She didn’t need anyone like him in their life.
It was hard to believe she had agreed to go out with Brock after she thought about Tom. But Brock had never tried to talk her into having sex, not like Tom had done all the time.
She hoped that meant he was different. But the fact was her body was yelling out to have a man touch it. If she could get anyone in this world, it would be Brock Jonick that she wanted.
Marie also knew that if she was caught dating him, it would mean her job. She had been lucky they had allowed her to stay after Tom. They had taken pity on her; perhaps they knew Tom better than she had.
However, if she did it again, she would be fired for sure. Needless to say that couldn’t be allowed. She had herself and Sara to support.
Chapter 7
Brock took extra care getting ready today for his appointment. It was Friday and that meant that Marie had agreed to go with him to eat. He still couldn’t believe she had agreed to go out with him.
He had expected her to call and cancel. Brock knew that the center she worked out didn’t promote athlete’s dating the staff. However, he figured that no one would know, as long as they didn’t say anything.
When he got to the center though he wanted to still kiss her. It had been so hard for him to not kiss her the other day. Brock had fought the urge. He had a feeling that if he kissed her, the night wouldn’t end there.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to bed her. Oh Brock wanted to explore his body so badly he could barely contain himself. However, he didn’t want her to think that was all he wanted.
“Even with the child?” He questioned himself. Brock had still been sitting in his car, getting his emotions in control. Although he had never met little Sara, he had a feeling that he would like her.
He also knew that he didn’t know a single thing about raising a child. So what could he offer her? Did it matter, as long as he tried? These were all things he had no idea about either. But perhaps at their meal he would find out much more about her, including these things.
Brock went inside and sat down, it was about five minutes before she called him back. He smiled at her, but didn’t let on anything was going on between them. Was anything going on between them, he thought.
“Did you do your exercises yesterday at home?” She asked them when they first got into the back.
“Yes I did!” He smiled at her.
“Good job. Before long you’ll be able to cut the hours of physical therapy down.” She told him.
“Hmm, I almost wish I could stay injured so that I would get to see you at least three times a week.”
“Now come on you make your living on the field. If you’re hurt for too long, they may cut you.” She stated.
He looked at her shocked, she knew more about the sport than she had let on. “I think someone knows more about football than she’s told me.” He laughed.
“I never said I didn’t know anything about the sport, I said I didn’t like it. I don’t like it because I know too much about it.” She said flatly.
Brock moved his knee as she helped him. She watched him to see if he showed any signs of pain at the movement. He wanted to ask her what she knew about it, besides the injuries. He still recalled the last time she had told him about other players who had been so injured they couldn’t play again.
The thought of giving up the game one day was tough for him. He’d been all about football for so long now. For at least 25 years now he’d been on the field, in one uniform or another. From as young as pee wee football, Brock had been running and catching the ball.
He could understand how it would be depressing to be out of the game before your time too, all because of an injury. This had been his first injury since playing, he’d been lucky about that. Sure there had been some bad hits, and some concussions. But this time his ligaments had been injured.
Thankfully, he hadn’t needed surgery, but just luckily. Instead he’d been going through a vigorous recovery and therapy time. He was dying to get back on the field too.
“You’re thinking about the game right now.” She said to him.
“Yeah I was, you know this was my first injury the whole time I’ve played.” He commented.
“Then you are one of the lucky ones.”
“I know, I was just thinking that too.” He stated. “But let’s not talk about football. So today is the big sleep over day, right?” He asked.
“Yes it is, and she is so excited. I wish I could be as happy for her, as she is for herself.” Sara said sadly.
“You know I bet all parents feel that way as their kids grow older. I know my parents hated it when I left for college.” He stated.
“Oh college, I don’t know if I’ll be able to let her go.” Sara felt like she might cry at the thought.
Brock laughed, “Its okay, it’s not like you will never see her again. I went in the same state, to University of Nebraska. But I still didn’t get to see my parents as much as they wanted too. During football season they would come to the games, and I’d see them a bit then. However, at other times I had tests to study for and projects to do, plus working out to stay in shape. I simply didn’t have the time, but it wasn’t because I didn’t want to see them. I got busy, and they accepted that.” He explained.
“I hope I’m able to be so understanding when Sara is older. I just don’t know, the thought of it right now is just too much to think about.”
&nb
sp; “Hey she’s still young. Enjoy it while she’s little, and spend the time with her when you can.” Brock touched her shoulder as he said the words.
She looked at him, and he almost bent to kiss her. She looked so alone and lost, like a little girl herself at that moment.
“I know she’s got a while before college. I’m trying, really I am.” She smiled slightly.
Brock sat up so he wasn’t as close to her. He didn’t trust his own body to not betray him. He could see his arms grabbing her, even though he didn’t want to do it. No, that’s not right, he thought. I want to grab her and kiss her, but I can’t. Not here, but later, I may not be able to hold back, he admitted to himself.
Chapter 8
Marie had felt smothered when he was so close to her. No, that’s not the word or feeling, she thought. She had wanted to lean into him and place her lips on his. He had seemed so caring as he talked to her about Sara.
It could be a game he’s playing, she thought. But he hadn’t been like Tom, he hadn’t been making sexual comments, or even touching her. So why was she comparing him to Tom? It wasn’t fair, she tried to look at him and only see Brock.
“So I’m your last appointment today right?” He asked her.
“Yes you are.”
“Great so you just want to leave here and go to eat?”
“I will have to meet you there, we aren’t allowed to go out with clients of the clinic.” She told him.
“Oh, I was wondering about that, will you get into trouble going out with me.” He questioned.
“If they found out, I would probably be fired on the spot.” She admitted.
“But why?” He asked. “That seems a bit extreme.”
“I’d rather not talk about it here, maybe at dinner.” She told him.
“Alright. So we can meet there, right after work, do you have to go anywhere else?” He asked.
“No Sara is going with her friend to stay over straight from daycare.” She looked down. “You know it will be so odd for me to not see her until tomorrow.”
“You’ll be fine!” He smiled at her. “Okay so I’ll meet you at Johnny’s.” He leaned over and said before he walked out the door.
Marie smiled at him, she was looking forward to going out. She hadn’t really wanted to have to talk about Tom, but she knew that would be one topic of dinner already. “Oh well, just jump in and go.” She laughed to herself.
She made it to Johnny’s and found him waiting at a table for her. He stood when she walked up and pulled her chair out. After she sat down he pushed it in. Marie looked at him shocked, “I thought chivalry was long dead.”
“My mom and dad raised a man who believes in treating a woman the right way.” He stated seriously. “Okay so tell me why you would get fired if they knew you went out to eat with me? It’s not like we are having an affair or something sorted like that, it’s just a meal.” He asked.
Marie sighed, and thought, why did he have to ask already? “When I had first started with them some 8 years ago, I made a mistake. I slept with one of the clients and well, I was told if it ever happened again, they would let me go.” She admitted. She had given him a very shortened version of the story, but he didn’t need to know a lot of it.
“So you slept with a client when you first started, but how did they catch you. I mean there are ways to hide those types of things.” He asked.
“I got pregnant, and they all knew that I was very close with this one client. There was a big blow up at work when I told him. I guess that was my own mistake. Had I told him somewhere else, I could have passed off my pregnancy as someone I was dating, that no one knew about. So when the blow up happened, they almost fired me right then and there. I mean not only had I slept with a client, but here I was telling him I was pregnant. He swore the baby wasn’t his, and the only reason I didn’t get fired, was they felt sorry for me. I often wonder if Dr. Katz had an affair with him a long time ago, and knew what the guy was like. But it doesn’t matter, she told me that day, do it again, and you will not stay.” Marie explained.
“So he didn’t accept that the baby was his? Does he even see her ever?” Brock asked.
“No he’s never once talked to me after that day. I didn’t sleep with anyone else, and he was the first man I had ever slept with. I knew it was his, no doubt. I don’t care though, we don’t need him. I’ve taken care of Sara just fine on my own.” She stated.
“You may have, but he should have taken responsibility. It doesn’t matter, give you some money, and visit her once in a while. I mean some guys never have a child, and then you have someone who doesn’t want to be a dad get a gift. You know that’s messed up in my book.”
“Well I didn’t ever want money from him. I wish sometimes it never would have happened. But then I think of Sara and know I wouldn’t change a thing. Well except maybe where I told him the news about being pregnant.”
“Yeah that might have been a good idea.” Brock shook his head and admitted.
Chapter 9
Marie ate her food slowly, she was really enjoying his company. He was so down to earth, and normal. She laughed at the thought. Of course he was normal, what had she honestly thought he was?
She felt ashamed for even thinking that Brock was anything like Tom. It was clear he was an all different type of man. “I have to apologize to you. For so many sessions I was rude to you. I’m ashamed to admit that I put every good looking guy who comes in to see me, in the same category as he was.” She looked down as she finished talking.
Brock put his fingers under her chin and lifted her face so that he was looking directly in her eyes. He looked like he was about ready to say something, but slowly he covered her mouth with his.
It was a short kiss, but electric. He pulled away far too quickly for her liking. Marie realized she wanted him to kiss her again.
“I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t overstep.” He blushed red as he apologized to her.
“No, I liked it.” She whispered. “Would you like to come to my house for some coffee?” She asked so low that he had to lean in to hear her question.
Brock smiled at her and said, “I would love to come for coffee.”
“Okay, you can follow me I guess.” She stuttered. She wasn’t used to this, wasn’t sure how to act. Marie knew that she wanted to have sex with him, but there was still part of her mind that was holding out. She knew that she could possibly develop more feelings for him if they slept together. It scared her a lot.
As she drove her fears grew even larger. “What if I’ve forgotten how to have sex? Oh my god, I may be so bad that he’ll laugh at me and leave. Or maybe it just won’t feel good?” She said her fears out loud, talking to herself as she drove.
Chapter 10
Brock was so nervous as he followed Marie to her place. He knew where this would lead, and he wanted it. But he also knew that he wanted more, would she be willing to let him into their lives?
He had since come to the decision that any part of Marie, her child, would be someone he could love. Brock was willing to step up and be her father, he would learn along the way, just like Marie was. He liked the idea of them sharing this journey together.
Perhaps one day they would have a child of their own as well. But that wouldn’t mean he would stop caring about Sara. Though he hadn’t met her yet, he had decided he liked her a lot.
Marie had shared many stories about Sara during their meal. With each story, Brock had wanted to meet her more and more. “She sounds like a little spitfire!” Brock had said at one point.
“Oh she is, and she has so much energy. She amazes me.” Marie had responded.
She stopped and pulled into a driveway. It was a small house, but seemed in decent repair. If they got together he would find them a place together that they both liked. He smiled at the thought.
“Alright Brock, how are you going to sell her on this? She won’t believe that you want more from her, she still thinks I’m a bit like him.” Brock said to himself.
He knew that she didn’t mean to compare them, but it was natural in her mind. Just be honest with her, he thought.
He got out of his car and met her at the front door. “It’s a nice little place.”
“It’s okay, small, but all I can afford right now. We have enough room for the two of us, so it works!” Marie explained.
They walked in and she showed him around the small place quickly. “So would you like some coffee?” She asked him as they stopped in the kitchen.
“Yeah that would be nice.” Brock wanted to use this time to talk to her more about them.
He looked down and shuffled his feet, he was nervous. Taking a deep breath he said, “You know I’m really.” He stopped. His tongue felt tied, he didn’t know how to say what he wanted her to hear.
“It’s okay, I know where we will end up. I don’t expect more than one night from you. We will use protection to make sure no mistakes happen.” She said to him.
Brock stared at her, his mouth open. “Oh my goodness, is that what you really think I want? Just one night with you? Just sex?” He asked her incredulously.
She sputtered, “Well I just figured that would be it.”
“You sell yourself short Marie. I don’t want just that from you, I want more. I’ve thought about you every day since our first appointment. I can’t get you off my mind, and now that we’ve kissed, I’m lost.” He admitted to her.
He watched her closely look at him, trying to figure out if he was lying to her. “I know it sounds like a lie. But it isn’t.” He heaved deeply. “If you want to wait to have sex until we are married I understand.” He finally said, letting her know of his full intentions.
“Married?” She looked at him confused.
“I want more from you. I am not a man who has one night stands. I’ve never been the type to just have sex with a woman. No, that’s not how I was brought up.” He explained.
