INFLUENCED: A Good Girl, Bad Boy Love Story

by Keyes, Janae

  “Ugh, you know my parents would not be cool with me going to the club,” I said as I thought of my parents that had both left the hour prior, dress to the nines to attend the Atlanta Lawyer’s Gala.

  “Fuck what your parents think. You never have fun, we’re having fun tonight. Plus, I want to see my best friend and hear all about her internship.” Jaylesha wasn’t going to let up until I accepted, there was no fighting her.

  “Okay,” I reluctantly answered.

  “I’m going to catch an Uber over. We are rolling up to the club in your Benz, that’s how we are getting in the door.” I laughed out loud at her plan. The thing was, she was right.

  In no time at all, Jaylesha was at my house. She sat, all dressed and ready, on the edge of my bed. Her silver dress popped against her ebony skin as she sat watching me decide between two dresses. She popped a large bubble of bubblegum.

  “Just pick one, they both look good on you,” she advised. I sighed before grabbing one of the dresses, taking it from its hanger, and throwing it on.

  I stood in the mirror watching my reflection. I stood in a tight v-neck navy blue lace dress. The hem of the dress was only mid-thigh and I knew it would rise through the night. It was one of the dresses I kept in the back of my closet, as my mom would never approve of it.

  “You never got back to me about teaching the dance class with me,” Jaylesha mentioned.

  “I know. I’m just so busy with this internship and all.”

  “Moe, you can’t be that busy. It is only three nights a week. Seriously, I work two jobs, I teach the class, I go to school part-time, and I’m a single mom. Please, please, please. We will get to hang out more and you get to dance, I know you miss it.” She was very convincing.

  “I don’t know, Joe.”

  “Please,” she begged, her eyes pleading with me. I shook my head and laughed.

  “Okay,” I gave in, there was no arguing with Jaylesha, ever. She’d make an excellent attorney.

  “So, how’s the internship anyway?” She asked as she joined me in the mirror, applying another layer of lipstick.

  “Okay, I’m so busy and things are...strange,” I admitted to her.

  “Strange as in?” she questioned.

  “You remember Spencer?”

  “Of course I do. You were so in love with him and he’d pick you up from dance class sometimes. I remember each time you’d run in the bathroom before leaving to apply some lipgloss. Didn’t he move to Europe or something?”

  “Yeah, but he moved back and I’m working with him. It’s weird because I find myself still crushing on him and the other night, something happened, I guess.”

  “Happened as in?” Jaylesha stood, hand on hip, awaiting my answer.

  “Maybe he was being silly. I don’t know. We had ice cream after dinner with my parents, he saved me from going for a walk with Hampton. He took me back to my car and he pulled me in close and whispered something about how many licks it takes to finish off a scoop of ice cream and that he was sure it would take less licks to finish me.” I knew I was blushing hard at recounting the story.

  “Oh Girl!” squealed my best friend. “Are you going to let him pop that cherry?”

  “Seriously, Joe?” I questioned, covering my face with my hands in embarrassment. I was 23 years old and still a virgin. Something in me wanted my first time to be as special as possible and with someone I felt deserved it, nobody had ever met that description.

  “I’m serious.”

  “I think he was joking though. Making me sweat, you know? He’s eight years older than me and I don’t think I’m his type. He lived in fucking Europe, I’m sure the European girls threw themselves all over him. I’m just me.”

  “Just a smoking hot piece of ass.”

  “Ugh, whatever, let’s go,” I proclaimed as I snatched my purse from my dresser.

  Jaylesha and I entered the entrance hall of the house when I heard voices outside, I knew them without fail, it was my parents. I acted quickly and took Jaylesha by the arm before shoving her into a coat closet. The moment I shut the closet door, my parents entered the house.

  “Megan, you’re up,” my dad mentioned.

  “The gala over already?” I questioned.

  “No, your father forgot his checkbook for the fundraiser. We came to get it before heading back,” my mother answered before her eyes began to register what I was wearing and they went wide. “What in the world are you wearing?”

  “A dress,” I answered plainly. That was going to cost me and I was already on thin ice with her due to the Hampton situation days prior.

  “I can see that, why are you dressed like some street walking slut?” she growled her question at me as she approached me. “Where exactly do you think you’re going?”

  “I’m meeting some friends at a club,” I answered truthfully.

  “My daughter isn’t going to some club, especially dressed like that,” she spat.

  “Now Marian, Honey,” my dad began. “She just wants to have some fun. She had a productive first week in the office.”

  “Who are these friends?” My mother asked. “One of them better not be that hoodrat friend of yours, Jamaquesha or something terrible like that.”

  “Her name is Jaylesha,” I stated. “And no,” I lied. “I’m meeting a couple other interns, Kris and Jeannie Mae.”

  “See, Honey, she is having fun with others from the office,” my dad reasoned. He was my lifeline with her sometimes and tonight, I appreciated him more than usual. Though there were times he could be just as bad as her. My parents were strict, there was no way around that and even at 23 years old, they had command over my life.

  “I don’t think she should be going alone,” my mom countered. At least it seemed as if she might possibly let me go.

  “Well…” my dad was thinking. “Maybe, we can call Spencer to go with her.”

  “Spencer?” my mom questioned, her face filled with obvious disgust.

  “Yes, Heather keeps talking about giving him responsibility. He can be responsible for Megan tonight. We will give him some rules to follow and I think it will be good for both Megan and Spencer.” My dad was a great lawyer and it showed, he could reason the pants off of anyone to get a deal.

  “I suppose,” my mother answered, giving in.

  “I will call Spencer while I get my checkbook.” My father gave me a smile, I smiled back in thanks. Though now, I had a new conundrum, I would be going to the club with Spencer.

  * * *

  In no time at all, Spencer had arrived. It hadn’t hurt that his family’s house was just up the road from ours. My dad gave him the instructions for the evening. The moment my parents walked out of the door, Jaylesha removed herself from the closet.

  “If that bitch calls me a hoodrat again, I’m gonna show her hoodrat,” she snapped right away as she approached Spencer and I. I shook my head at my friend.

  “I’d love to see that. I like your friend, Peaches,” Spencer commented as he came closer to me. “But I like you more,” he whispered just loud enough for me to hear. Heat flooded my face as I turned away for a moment.

  Spencer made his way to the front door and opened it. He stood in a tight navy blue shirt that left nothing to the imagination. I couldn’t help but gawk at the clear defined lines of his chest and abs that were visible through his t-shirt. I would give anything to be pressed against his rock hard body once again.

  “Alright Peaches, ready for some fun?” Spencer questioned as I approached the door.

  “Just not too much fun, you heard my dad,” I said with a playful wink as I sashayed outside, Jaylesha right behind me. My dad was trying to help, but his rules weren’t helping anyone or anything. I could only have one drink, I could only dance respectfully, and if Spencer found my moves too provocative, he had discretion to end the evening. There were other rules, but I simply didn’t care, I wanted to dance and drink.

  “Fuck what your dad says, we’re having fun tonight,” Spencer dec
lared.

  Spencer drove my car to the club, and Jaylesha had been right, pulling up in my car was the ticket to getting us in the club.

  The lights were dim and the music was pumping. As soon as we got inside, Spencer offered to get Jaylesha and I both drinks. It took no time for me to drown my Vodka Cranberry. I knew I was going to need more.

  An already drunk Jeannie Mae joined us at one point, before finding herself back on the dance floor with Kris. I laughed as Jaylesha twerked against some guy I was pretty sure played for the Atlanta Falcons. Drowning down my third, fourth, or fifth drink, I’d lost count, I spotted Spencer coming my way with another for me and a beer for him, I was grateful he wasn’t keen on following my dad’s rules.

  I watched Spencer sip on his beer, his lips smacking at finishing his drink. Heat flew through my body. He was one of a kind and I was drawn to him the more I spent time with him. His eyes came in contact with mine, catching me watching him. I averted my eyes and finished off my drink.

  “Want to dance?” he yelled over the music. I nodded eagerly, ready to feel the music. He took my cup from my hand and placed it and his empty beer on the table we were occupying.

  In no time, he’d laced his fingers with mine and pulled me with him onto the dance floor. We were pressed together as the hip hop beat pounded through the room. I moved my body against his; I fought to feel every bit of him that I could with my own body. The alcohol was clouding my judgement and I didn’t care. This is what freedom felt like and I wanted more of it.

  He pulled me in closer, his hand resting on my ass. I gasped at how powerful his grip on me was as I worked to grind into him more. The music was my heartbeat and filled my spirit. I’d never danced like this with any guy, my sexual frustration pouring out in my every move.

  His sapphire eyes met mine, I bit down on my lip. I was absolutely delirious and I loved every moment of it. Spencer looked slightly concerned for a moment, I burned to read his mind.

  “What do you need?” he asked. His voice yelling above the music into my ear.

  “You,” I spewed truthfully. Heat flew through my face, maybe I’d made some terrible mistake admitting that to him out loud. I closed my eyes, maybe this was all some sort of dream, an illusion. Upon opening my eyes, I was still there in the middle of the crowded dance floor, my body pushed against Spencer Grant, his arousal pressing against my stomach. Fuck, this couldn’t be real life.

  That is when I felt it rise in my throat, bile. I was going to vomit.

  Chapter Six

  Spencer

  You. The one syllable word vibrated in my brain, keeping time with the beat on the dance floor. You. I asked her what she wanted, and that had been her response. Between the beer, her declaration, and the music colliding through my eardrums, I was starting to feel a little light headed. Not to mention all of the blood in my brain had travelled south, to warmer climates. After all this time, she still wanted me, but it wasn’t some silly teenage crush anymore, no no. It was something more. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes filled with lusty want, mirroring my own. Although public displays of affection weren’t my thing, if I could have, I would have stripped her right here on the dance floor and ravaged her.

  Without a second thought, I wrapped my arms around her, to steady us both, and leaned my head in. I was going for her lips, I needed to taste them. I needed to know what flavor her tongue was, and I needed to feel her arms wrapped around my neck.

  I didn’t know what I had expected from her, but when the back of her hand flew up to cover her mouth and she all but bolted from my arms, the disappointment in my gut was heavy. Had I read her intentions wrong? Was she not really into me? The flirting? The lust? Had I misinterpreted everything all wrong?

  I watched as she sped a long to the front of the club, leaving her clutch at our communal table. Rushing over, I grabbed her things and sprinted after her. She couldn’t go outside on her own. Not to say she wasn’t a grown woman, but I had promised her father to care for her, and frankly, in her state, I didn’t want her roaming the streets of Atlanta by herself wearing a dress that was six inches too short.

  With my detour to her purse out of the way, I headed towards the door, frantically looking around for her. She was nowhere to be found, and I felt my heart rate pick up. I fucking lost her. How in the hell had that happened?

  “Spencer? You looking for Moe?” her best friend screamed from my side.

  “Yeah, Have you seen her?” I yelled back into her ear.

  “She’s puking her guts up in the ladies room.” she laughed. “Girl never could hold her liquor.”

  My eyebrows shot together as I scowled at her. What kind of best friend was she that she couldn’t be bothered to help out her friend when she was clearly sick?

  “Don’t you look at me like that. She asked me to get her purse,” she spit back at me, grabbing the bundle from under my arm before she took off back towards the ladies room.

  Damn, Jaylesha was a spitfire, that was for sure. For outsiders, it would almost seem like Megan and Joe were complete opposites in every way, but I didn’t think that was the case. Megan had it locked in her, buried deep inside, hidden under a mountain of work, rules, and strict guidelines put in place by her parents. I wanted to help shovel it out for her. I wanted her to open up and spread her wings and I wanted to be there to help her through it. I still wasn’t sure where this need came from, but it was there nonetheless.

  After a few restless minutes, I saw Jaylesha and Megan come out of the bathroom, no worse for the wear, it seemed.

  “Alright ladies?” I asked, sizing Megan up.

  “I’m great, but I think this one should probably make her way home,” Jaylesha said.

  “Pffft, I’m fine,” Megan slurred. “I’m so f-fine, I’m bettttr than ffine.”

  “Yeah Peaches, you look and sound real fine,” I said, my arms crossing over my chest and glaring at her.

  “Oh mmmy God, Joe. Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe. That’s Spencer! Mamaybe he could pop my cherrrry for me! Give it the ol’ Poparoo. Poppity Pop Pop!” She slurred again, her eyes going wide at the mention of my name.

  If I hadn’t been a mixture of mortified for her and surprised to learn of her virginal state, I might have laughed at her drunken declaration. As it was, the thought of being the first man to touch her, in any capacity, had my dick twitching to life inside of my jeans. This was not the time for that. When I finally took her, she would be sober and begging for me, not drunk and incoherent.

  Fuck. Why in the hell was I talking about taking Megan’s virginity? She hadn’t offered, and had made absolutely no advances on me. If anything, I had been the one to come on to her. The only time she didn’t seem irritated with my presence was right in this moment, drunk as fuck.

  “Alright drunky, I think it’s time to get you home,” I said, taking Megan’s other arm and placing it around my neck to steady her, and to let Jaylesha crawl out from under her.

  “You sure you got her, Grant?” Jaylesha asked with a raised eyebrow at me, her tone both worried, and parental.

  “Yeah. I got her Joe. Her parents are already gonna have a shit fit when they see her like this, we don’t wanna add on to it with your presence. No offense,” I added, grimacing.

  “None taken!” She waved me off. “Her parents need to get a fucking life, I swear to God. Take her home, I’ll catch a ride or take an uber home.”

  “I fucking like you, Joe. You’re good for our girl here,” I said, surprising myself.

  “Yeah, You’re all-fucking-right yourself, Grant. You just be fucking good to her. I will fucking hurt you if you’re not,” she warned.

  Deciding that answering was probably a mistake, I rolled my eyes at Joe’s retreating back before shoving Megan’s clutch under my arm and hoisting her up a little bit more.

  “You alright, Peaches?” I said to her drooping eyelids.

  “Ha! Peaches! What does that make you? The cream?” she stuttered out.

  Shaking my head,
I walked us out into the warm brisk air and handed the valet our parking ticket. I couldn’t take her home like this. I didn’t know who would be killed first, me or Megan. We still had a little over an hour until her “curfew.”

  When the car pulled up in front of us, I opened the passenger seat and sat her inside, buckling her in and shutting the door before I jogged around to my side to get us out of there. I didn’t have much of a plan. Just to get us away from the club and hopefully, get some water down her throat before I attempted to take her home, and pray to God her parents were still at the gala.

  Pulling away from the curb, and digging in my pocket for my phone, I called my best friend.

  “Spence! What’s up dude!” Kyle said once he answered.

  “Dude? What are you, twelve?” I dead panned.

  “Whatever, bro. What’s up?”

  “You remember me talking about Megan, the daughter of my parent’s business partners?” I asked.

  “The one who left the notebook with your name scribbled all over it. The same notebook you still have. Yeah, I remember her, why?” he asked mockingly.

  “Well, she’s currently drunk in the front seat of the car I’m driving, and I can’t take her home yet. Can we come to you until I can get her sober?”

  “What the fuck did you do, man?” he yelled into the phone, causing me to pull it away from my ear and look to see if Megan heard at the same time. Nope, she was currently out for the count.

  “Nothing Kyle, you fucking idiot. We were at a club with her best friend and her work friends and she got shit faced. But I told you about her parents.”

  “Yeah, come on over.” he said before hanging up.

  Putting my phone in the center console, I took the next left to take us to Kyle’s apartment. Thankfully he didn’t live too far, and I pulled into his parking spot less than ten minutes later.