“Hey.” Phillip gave me a casual smile.
Dustin nodded at me.
Okay. They were cool. I could do cool. I could ignore the voice that wondered if acting casual meant we’d never do anything like this weekend again. It didn’t matter. It had been casual fun, right?
“Uh… one, a dildo with a suction cup base,” Dustin said.
Phillip clucked. “That you wouldn’t normally look for.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, which drew more attention in my direction.
“Let Addie do this one,” Dustin said.
My mind froze. “I’m good.”
“Come on,” Phillip coaxed. “Five things you grab from an adult toy store during a zombie apocalypse.”
I had no idea what to say. “Handcuffs.” I spat out the first thing that came to mind after dildos.
“See? That’s smart.” Phillips’s praise warmed me in a way it probably shouldn’t. “Possible one-time use, but if you’re close enough to need them, you’ll be glad you have them.”
Dustin’s sigh was exaggerated. “I think you mean boring.”
“Excuse me?” I looked at him disbelief. “I think you mean practical.”
“That’s one.” Phillip ticked off his first finger. “Four more.”
I hadn’t spent much time in adult toy stores. I’d ordered a few vibrators online, but never dared try anything beyond a bullet vibrator. I racked my brain. “Inflatable sheep.”
Dustin grinned. “Better, but you have to justify it.”
“If I get lonely and need someone to talk to, I’ll feel really awkward talking to an inflatable woman named Ingrid, who never closes her mouth.”
“That’s two, plus bonus point for the Red Dwarf reference,” Phillip said.
“What do bonus points earn me?”
Dustin seemed to consider this. “They’re like tickets at the arcade, the more you get, the better the prize.”
“How many for another night with the two of you?” Crap. No-filter Adrienne was back. “Thickest, heaviest collar they have.” I kept going before either of them could reply. I wasn’t sure what answer would be worst—not an option or one. “Plus, any leather. I’ll take a full-on gimp suit if I can find one made of heavier material than latex.”
Dustin waggled his eyebrows. “Kinky.”
“Anti-bite.”
Phillip ticked up a third finger. “Smart. Again. That’s three.”
Well, shit. What else did they have in places like that? “Flavored whip cream, because you know the world is out of sweets, and stripper heels.”
“Nope. Nixing the stripper heels.” Phillip shook his head.
Dustin pressed a finger to Phillip’s lips. “Shh. Let the lady talk.”
“The sheep and I are finally going to learn to walk in ridiculously high heels,” I said.
“I’m calling it—four and five,” Dustin said.
The laughter faded and we slid into work, but I couldn’t erase my smile from the ludicrous game.
I wasn’t quite absorbed in my work when Phillip rolled his chair up next to mine. “You ready to implement what you learned this weekend?”
There was my embarrassment.
“Don’t do that.” Phillip’s voice was kind. He leaned in to rest his forearms on his knees. “It was a learning experience. It was also a lot of fun, and just sex.” He said it so plainly. So simply.
“So... we pretend it didn’t happen?” I wasn’t sure what he was getting at specifically.
He shook his head. “We don’t pretend anything. Except to be fucking in front of a camera. Just don’t be embarrassed by it. Unless you have regrets.”
“Most-definitely-not.” The words tumbled out before I could consider if that level of enthusiasm was appropriate.
The way his soft smile twitched into place, I’d done fine.
Dustin’s phone chimed. “I need to take this. Be right back.”
“Now that we have that out of the way, take the scene you were working on last week, and redo the core positions based on what you’ve learned,” Phillip said.
He made it sound simple, but every time I thought about this weekend, heat flooded me and desire thrummed between my legs. I needed to get that under control or my career here would be a series of heated daydreams punctuated with wrecked panties and nothing getting done. “I don’t know where to start.”
“Pick—do you want to start with the easiest to fix and work your way up, or start with the hardest and get it out of the way?”
“Can I alternate between the two?”
“A little soft and a little rough? Of course.” Phillip sat close enough his leg pressed into mine. He reached past me to grab my mouse, and navigated to the files on the network.
Dustin’s loud sigh interrupted the moment, and I looked up to see him lean against a nearby table. “I’m watching my nieces while Daria is out of town, and Alana’s school just called. I need to take off for a few hours.”
How sweet was it that he had stepped into that role so easily? At least, I assumed based on how casually he talked about it.
“Is everything all right?” I asked at the same time Phillip did.
“Yeah, she’s just— I guess she got her first period.” Dustin finished the sentence quietly.
“First? At her age?” Phillip sounded surprised.
I rolled my eyes. At least they weren’t completely shying away from the topic. “Okay, first of all, don’t you dare say anything like that around her. If she needs supplies—”
“Addie.” Dustin focused on me with a grin. “You should come with me.”
Nope. “Not even for a friend.”
His smile vanished. “We’re not friends?”
“I didn’t mean— That’s not— Of course we are. She already hates that she couldn’t call her mom, I almost guarantee it. If you bring some random stranger—to her—from work because you’re embarrassed to help her yourself…” I’d let him finish the thought.
Dustin scrubbed his face, distorting his sigh. “You’re right. Because you’re brilliant. If she needs supplies?”
“She probably already knows what she wants. Take her to the store, let her decide if she wants you there or waiting in the car. If she needs help, don’t get the store brand. Regardless of how that goes, make sure she gets a milkshake after.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Does that help?”
“For most of the rest of most women’s lives,” Phillip chimed in with a kind laugh.
God, I liked him.
“All right.” Dustin stood straighter, his voice firm. “I’ve got this. I’m calling you if I don’t.” He looked at me again.
I conceded, and he was on his way. I turned back to Phillip’s instruction, repeating the mantra stop thinking about trying this with them.
It didn’t work.
Seventeen
Dustin
I could win over the most stubborn manufacturer in contract negotiations, but I couldn’t get my niece to say more than a syllable at a time to me as we drove away from her school. I’d talked to Daria on the way here. She assured me Alana had everything she needed at home, and that she’d be fine alone for a few hours at either her place or mine, while I went back to work.
“If you don’t tell me what you want, I’ll pick,” I said.
She sank lower in her seat, arms crossed. “Fine.”
“Milkshakes.” That had to be a winner. Phillip and Addie both said so.
“No.”
Uh, what? “Then I’ll drop you at your house and the babysitter will pick you up when she gets Harmony.”
“No.” Alana’s scowl was etched so deeply it was almost humorous.
Except it was so frustrating. I wasn’t used to this from a girl who was usually level-headed and disciplined. “Do you want to change your clothes and go back to school?” I was back to asking. So much for taking a firm stance.
“No.”
Daria and Addie both said to give Alana the final say. I was wi
lling to do that, as long as she suggested anything. Hopefully it wouldn’t be illegal, but I’d consider it at this point. “What do you want to do?” I kept my frustration from my voice.
“It doesn’t matter. You won’t let me.”
“You won’t know unless you ask.”
“I’m keeping you from work.” Her tone shifted in an instant, the anger vanishing, replaced with... guilt?
Was this a hormone mood swing thing? A teenager thing? I had no idea. “What do you need in order to make today better?”
The instant her pout appeared, I’d lost. It didn’t matter what came next. I was such a sucker.
“I just don’t want to be alone,” she said.
That was easy enough. Unless it was followed by let’s go hold up a jewelry store. “What do you propose?”
“I want to change my clothes, get a brownie and coffee from Loading Java, and stay at your office the rest of the day. I promise I’ll be good.” Like that, her tone was clear.
I’d totally been manipulated. At least it was a simple request. I believed her that she’d behave, but letting her walk around the office... Sure, our game was 90% like any other game, but that 10% of pure adult content came largely out of my department. I wasn’t accidentally exposing my twelve-year-old niece to a gangbang.
We could make it work. I’d claim the empty office for the day—the one that should be mine anyway—and make sure Phillip and Adrienne were cautious. They were doing training, and it could involve the no-nudity variety. “No coffee.”
“Mom would let me.”
I could see Daria doing that, but I wasn’t sitting up all night with a strung-out kid. “Caffeine makes the cramps worse.”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Google it.” I pulled into Daria’s driveway. “And while you’re doing that, grab what you need and get changed. We’ll get brownies and you can stay with me at work.”
She clapped and hopped from the car. “Thank you. You’re the best uncle ever.”
I absolutely was. I followed her inside at a more sedate pace, dialing Phillip as I walked.
“Are you surviving?” He answered.
I chuckled. “I’m managing. I have already caved to her demands, though.”
“Sucker. Did you give her your credit card and drop her in front of the mall?”
“Pretty sure kids her age don’t hang out at the mall, especially not alone.”
Phillip clucked. “Fair. What did you agree to?”
I laid out Alana’s request.
“Sucker,” Phillip said again. “But no worries. Adrienne and I will start concept art for the Christmas event. See you in thirty?”
“Yeah.” I nodded as I agreed, even though he couldn’t see me.
Alana was the same pleasant, uptight kid I expected when she got back in my car. We stopped for treats and I made sure to get drinks and pastries for Phillip and Adrienne too, as a thank you for changing their work plans for the day.
At the office, we stepped onto the elevator at the same time as Judith. The way she glanced at Alana with a raised eyebrow rankled me. I was glad Alana was focused on her phone and didn’t see.
“I know.” I kept my response vague on purpose. “I’ve got it under control.”
“If this comes back on us, it’s on you.” Judith’s tone was hard.
Which I was used to. “It won’t.”
“I promise not to peek at any cartoon tits. Gross.” Alana never looked up from her phone.
Judith rolled her eyes.
I laughed. “See? All good.”
We reached our floor, and Judith turned to Alana. “Come back in ten years, and you can have a job.”
“If I come back in ten years, it’ll be for your job,” Alana said.
Judith almost smiled. “I’ll be waiting.” She turned toward her office.
Alana and I headed down a different hallway. I entered the Art room a few feet ahead of her, to make sure everything was clear, but wasn’t surprised to see the beginnings of Christmas outfits on screens.
I cleared my throat to announce my presence, then handed out the coffee and such. “Alana, this is Adrienne, she started last week.”
“It’s lovely to meet you.” Adrienne’s smile was warm and sincere.
“And you know Phillip,” I said.
Pink rushed to Alana’s cheeks and she ducked her head. “Hi.” Her voice was instantly meek.
That was bad. No more visits to my work for her.
I hid my reaction and pointed her toward the office. “We’ll be in there.”
It was easy enough to give Alana a corner of my desk to set up on, while I put my laptop on another. The next couple of hours went smoothly as I vetted review sites for content and ensured our press kits were in order for the next stage of our beta.
Alana’s phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. “It’s my swim coach, can I answer?”
“Sure.”
“This is Alana.” She was more professional than half the people I’d worked with in the past. “Yes... Of course... That’s fine, I understand.”
Sweet as sugar.
I turned back to my work. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alana set her phone on the desk next to her tablet.
And then she let out a high-pitched, ear-splitting scream.
The fuck? “What happened?”
Phillip and Adrienne were in the doorway within seconds. “What’s wrong?” Phillip asked.
Alana scowled, crossed her arms over her chest, and sank in her chair. Pink splotches dotted her cheeks. “It’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair? We’ll deal with it.” I was calm on the surface, despite the mixture of confusion and frustration boiling inside. My phone chimed with a new text.
“Shut up.” She glared at me. “You’re a stupid boy and you’re pretending you understand me and you’re a big faking liar and I want Mom.”
That deteriorated quickly. I glanced at my phone and the message from Daria.
Alana’s swim meet was moved up. I’ll be home for it. Don’t let her freak out.
I read the message to Alana even as I texted back Too late. “See? She knows and it’ll be fine.”
“It’s not fine. This sucks. You suck. It’s not fair.”
I was already dialing Daria. No answer.
Alana stomped to her feet, and stormed from the room.
“Wait.” I rose to go after her. I had no idea what I’d say, but I wasn’t leaving her alone.
“Sit.” Adrienne stepped in my path, surprising me. “I’ll be right back.”
Kind of her, but not reassuring. “I’ve got it.”
“Obviously.” Her tone was flat. “But let me help.”
I dropped into my seat and pinched the bridge of my nose. “At least I didn’t let her get the coffee.” My weak joke landed flat.
My messenger chimed, I looked at the message from Judith. Screaming? Glad you have this under control.
I do, I replied, not sure at all if it was true.
Eighteen
Adrienne
I stepped into the hallway just as the door to the women’s bathroom at the end swung shut. That had to be where Alana was.
I’d always wanted kids. Not a big family. One or two. Sean was firmly set against them, and I was grateful now I’d never pushed that issue, but I was also aware my chances for having my own children got slimmer every year.
“Alana?” I asked softly as I stepped into the restroom. The door to the stall against the far wall was closed.
She sniffled. “What?”
“What can I do to help?” I’d been a millisecond from telling Dustin yes earlier when he asked me to go with him. It wasn’t my place. This probably wasn’t either, but no one else was here to do it, and I felt for her.
“No one understands.” Her threatening tears were evident in her voice.
Poor kid. “I do. I’ve never been a competition swimmer, but I used to do dance.”
“Really?” She managed flat and sa
d in the same breath.
“Yes. My first time was right before we were supposed to be in a state competition. In all white outfits.”
“Oh my God, I would die. Is this some sappy story about how things all turned out okay?”
“Besides the fact that I was terrified the whole time of something going wrong, and the cramps were the absolute worst? Yes.” Of course, it was easy to say that almost twenty-five years later, but directly saying one day this won’t matter at all didn’t seem like the best approach.
Alana sighed. “I can’t wear pads with a swimsuit.”
“When’s your meet?”
“Thursday.”
“You might not even have to worry about it by then, and if you do, you’ll wear tampons.” God, I hoped her mother had already talked to her about that. “You have to get used to them if you’re swimming.” Was I overstepping? Maybe. Did I see another option? Not really.
“Did you win? At state?” Alana asked.
I swallowed my laugh, but didn’t have a good response.
“You got your asses kicked, didn’t you? Was it your fault?”
I’d be offended by the question, but she was probably projecting her own fear. “No. No. And no,” I said. “We were the good sportsmen entry, there because we’d tried so hard during the season. But it was one of our best performances ever.”
The stall door creaked and Alana stepped out, eyes red and cheeks puffy. “You shouldn’t have been there if you weren’t good enough.”
Maybe. Maybe not. “We showed up and did our best. You have the chance to do the same. You can’t lock yourself away for three to five days a month for the next thirty-ish years.”
“I guess not.” She trudged to the sink and washed her face.
We walked back to the Art room in silence, to find Dustin and Phillip still waiting in the office. Dustin visibly relaxed when he saw us. “What can I do?” he asked.
Alana shook her head. “I’m better.”
“I’m glad.”
“But Adrienne and Phillip are coming over tonight, right?” Alana asked.
Excuse me what?
“They probably have other plans.” Dustin’s reply lacked resolve.
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