by Rylee Morgan
“Yeah, I…um…just lost track of time. Give me about forty minutes or so.”
“Oh, good! I’ll let Norman know. He’s been waiting for your visit. This is just going to make his day. Ever since you left he’s been so down.”
“Aw, I feel so bad. I’ve really been wanting to come out and visit. Just been so busy, you know.”
“I know it Hun. That’s how it goes…but I’ll see ya when you get here.”
“Alright. Bye.” Shayla ended her call and placed her cellphone in her purse. She couldn’t hear Jackson’s voice anymore. Making her way towards the backdoor she peered through the screened door, spotting him in a far corner of the fenced in yard, leaning against a tree. He seemed to be deep in conversation. At least he wasn’t so agitated now she thought.
Instead of interrupting him she left a note telling him she was going to the nursing home to visit an old patient, before leaving.
Ending his phone call, Jackson rubbed at his temples before running his hands down his face, half out of relief and half out of irritation. Lexi was the last person he wanted to hear from.
He had been avoiding any contact with her since leaving. She’d called and sent text messages. He wasn’t completely sure what had possessed him to take her call today. Maybe it had been his tryst with Shayla that had him thinking he could take on the world. However, all it did was take him from the awesome high from having fan-fucking-tastic sex, to putting him in the worst of moods.
Lexi tried pleading her case and begged him to come back. Told him that she’d change. He wouldn’t budge and held his ground.
When he went back into the house he’d found the note Shayla left on the table. He felt a tinge of guilt. “Damn.” He muttered to himself.
Shayla had finished her visit with Norman. He’d been so happy to see her. They shared some jokes. He shared some stories from his younger years, she’d heard most of the stories before, but always listened as if it were the first time hearing the tales.
Before she’d left his room, he had said to her “Shayla girl. Start living life, so you’ll have stories to tell.” She took what he said to heart. The words had brought a stinging sensation to her eyes, which she fought to hold back on the waterworks. Was it that obvious to everyone else?
“Shayla!” Linda was waving her down outside in the parking lot as she made her way to her car. “Shayla! Wait!” She stopped at the sound of her name once it registered, and walked towards the older woman. “So glad I caught you. I almost forgot, we’re having a little get together tomorrow for Memorial Day and mine and Jim’s thirtieth anniversary.”
“Oh…I’d love to come but I’ve got plans with mom.” Shayla could see the disappointment on her dear friends face. “Um…you know what, what time is the party?”
“One o’clock til whenever.” Linda smiled.
“Okay, I can spend some time with mom then swing by your place after?”
“Great! Oh, I have someone I’d like you to meet. I think you’ll really like him.”
“That’s really sweet of you but I don’t think I’m ready to date just yet. I barely have time for myself lately.” Shayla said quickly trying to come up with any excuse she could think of. She didn’t want to just blurt out ‘no thanks I just started banging my best friend.’
“Oh honey, I said meet him not marry him.” Linda chuckled.
The two parted ways with Shayla reluctantly agreeing to meet Linda’s mystery man. When Shayla got into her car she grabbed her cellphone out of her purse, turning it on and checking for any missed calls. There was none only a text.
Jackson: Sorry about earlier. At my parents…see you tonight ;)
Reading the message had sent instant butterflies scattering about throughout her stomach. She started to reply back, then deleted the text. She couldn’t help but think how was she going to ask about their “relationship” if she couldn’t figure out what to say in response to a simple text?
Truth be told she was a tad relieved they didn’t get to talk before she’d left. With him being preoccupied on the phone gave her extra time to think. To sort out the events of the early morning activities.
Returning home to an empty house, she took the opportunity to call Dawn. She needed some trustworthy advice. That’s one thing she loved about Dawn she could make her laugh about serious issues while at the same time giving her nonjudgmental advice. Instead of getting her friend, she was sent to voicemail. She hung up without leaving a message.
Flopping on the couch, she turned on the television. Scanning through the channels not finding anything of interest, she turned it off, laid back and closed her eyes.
Upon opening them again the daylight had gone and now moonlight was streaming in through the living room window, and the light in the kitchen. Stretching as she stood she could hear Jackson moving around.
“Hey you’re up.” Jackson smiled at her.
“Yeah…” she yawned.
“Think I woke you. Sorry.”
“No…maybe. It’s alright.”
“You hungry? I brought home a pizza.”
“Yes I’m starving.” She snickered as her stomach rumbled at the mention of food.
He got out two plates and set them on the table. “Remember that time we ordered that pizza with anchovies?”
“Yes! Please don’t remind me.” She gave a throaty laugh at the memory.
They ate and reminisced on some old times. She was tempted to ask what they were now to each other but didn’t want to break the moment.
“Shay, why didn’t you tell me you were a virgin?” he asked all of a sudden. She could feel her caramel colored skin turn the shade of crimson. She could feel him watching her waiting for an answer. “I assumed you weren’t.”
“Uh…well…I…I didn’t think it was any of your business.” She finally answered sheepishly, looking around at everything but him.
“No, you’re right it’s not. I just thought you and that tool from school had went all the way.”
“Why’d you think that?”
“I walked in on you guys…remember?”
“I remember. And that’s as far as it went.”
“I’m glad I ruined the moment then.” Jackson said with a seriously sexy tone that made Shayla finally look at him. She almost thought she’d seen a hint of pride or was it a look of possessiveness in his eyes. He was looking at her the same way he’d looked at her last night before he pounced. She stood breaking the mini staring contest.
Shayla cleared the table and moved to the sink, rinsing the plates. She felt Jackson’s hands smooth their way down her sides and settling at her hips pressing his chest into her upper back. He breathed hot air at the crook of her neck, as his arms encircled her waist. Lightly kissing her neck to her earlobe. Sending prickles down her spine. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you how sexy you look in this dress.” He whispered huskily before nipping at her lobe. “I’ve pictured ripping it off you all day.”
She turned in his arms, placing her hand on his chest in hopes of suppressing what was about to occur. “Jackson, I think we should talk.”
Without missing a beat he already had his lips at play on her neck and his hands at the back of her thighs, “Later.” He said lifting her up placing her down so she was seated on the countertop.
“No…now…” she could barely speak as her breathing increased. “We. Should. Talk about. This.” She managed to get out as his lips began to manipulate hers.
Jackson stilled, standing between her legs. Running his fingers through his hair. “What’s there to talk about?”
“This!” she replied gesturing between the two of them with her hands.
“There’s nothing to talk about Shay. We are two friends having fun.”
With those words her heart sank. Wishing she could go back and had kept her mouth quiet. What he’d said was what she was dreading all day. “That’s it? Friends with new benefits?”
“Shay. I don’t want to hurt you. And I won’t as long as y
ou’re not thinking this is going to turn into more. You know I’m newly out of a relationship…I’m not looking for a replacement anytime soon.”
With every word he spoke it was like a dagger to the soul. She slid herself off the counter with him still in front of her. “I know that you’re not looking for anything like that…” she paused for a moment. “Am I rebound?”
“What?” he asked looking bewildered from the question.
“I said am I…”
“I heard you. No, you’re not. Look I had a great time and pretty sure you did too. So why not just have fun.”
“Fun? Nothing more?”
“What’s so wrong with that?”
Shayla rolled her eyes and began to walk away. “Nothing.”
Jackson stood there in the kitchen where she’d left him moments ago. He knew everything there was about Shayla, he knew she wasn’t the type of person to go along with what he was suggesting.
He couldn’t deny that having sex with her felt incredible, natural, she fit him like a glove. And it was like returning home after a long journey. And he’d enjoyed every minute of it. Still there was no feeling of regret or remorse.
Only thing he felt was worry. Worry that their intimacy was the beginning of the end...
Chapter Seven
So that’s how he wanted it.
Did he only see her as a piece of warm flesh? So this is what it felt like to be used, she thought to herself. Once envious of the women that he’d chose to be with, now feeling only sympathy for them all. This is what she wanted though, right?
Well partly.
She wanted…to be wanted by him. But hadn’t factored in that it would just be as a physical affair. She thought with their history that she would have meant more to him. What was it that Lexi had possessed that no other woman was able to capture the hold of his attention past the sexual part?
Shayla didn’t want to compare herself to Lexi, it was a contest she’d surely lose.
Lexi had it all, came from money the proverbial product of good stock and breeding. She was trim and fit, beautiful and stylish, never a moment did she not look put together, and she was successful. And obviously still the holder of Jackson’s heart. Shayla couldn’t blame him. But she did place blame on herself, for being so ignorant of putting all that they shared on the line for her own selfish wants.
The pity party needed to come to an end, she thought to herself, before he’d came to live with her she’d made a pact with herself to start living. It was time to dust off the bruised ego.
Taking a deep breath, she marched right back into the kitchen where she’d left him standing. Coming to a halt in front of him she peered up to his six foot two frame from her five foot four-self, looked him square in the eyes and said, “Your room or mine?” surprised and pleased with herself having spoken in all seriousness cocking an arched brow, arms folded at her chest.
“Huh?” it was finally her taking him by surprise!
“You heard me.”
The next morning Shayla woke as sore as the previous day. Only this time she woke up alone in the bed sans Jackson. Sliding out of the bed grabbing a sheet to wrap around herself as a makeshift toga, before heading off to shower.
After getting ready for the day she made her way down the staircase, as she reached the bottom step, she was greeted by Jackson as he was walking through the front door, carrying a case of pastries from the local bakery. “Morning.” He said with a shit-eating grin, “Donut?”
“What kind?”
“Glazed and éclairs of course, madam.” He bowed in a curtsy, one hand at his abdomen the other extending the case of goodies to her.
“Perfect, what are you having?” she teased snatching the container from him, then sauntered off towards the kitchen.
“You.” He replied. Catching her off guard, sending shockwaves throughout her core. Wasn’t it a sin or at minimum a crime for one man to be so sexually delicious?
She swallowed hard, trying not to become overawed at the mere thought of his sexual appetite, clearing her throat, she quickly changed the conversation. “Any plans today?”
“Ugh…yeah. Heading up north, left some things at the cabin the other day, the folks are there, wanna come?”
“Sorry, have plans. Spending some time with mom, then promised to go over to a friends for a cookout…slash anniversary party.”
“Sounds good, when do we leave?”
“We?”
“That’s what I said.”
“It’s not what I said, pretty sure I said I had plans not ‘we’.”
“Things change. You’re not wearing that are you?” he inquired gesturing towards the outfit she wore, a pair of blue jean shorts and a tank top.
“What’s wrong with what I have on?”
Quirking a sly devilish crooked smirk he moved towards her, taking the éclair that she held, he slid his index finger across the chocolate icing, then ran his appendage along her lower lip, and proceeded to lick off the sweetness in a deliberate singular motion with his tongue. “It’s not accessible.” He whispered slowly drawing out each syllable of each word, as he teasingly brushed his lips against hers. Stepping back, he watched her face turn the shade of burgundy like it had been spontaneously licked by fire. “Thirty minutes, Shayla. Change. I’ll make arrangements with your mom, we’ll do an early brunch, shop, go to your friends then head up to the cabin.” He instructed as he began walking away. Leaving her standing on legs that felt like they had lost all bone density and were liable to give way at any moment.
They’d met her mother at a local diner, her mother was thrilled to have her “two kids” back together, she’d always referred to Jackson as the son she never had. “About time you’ve come back for a visit Jack.” Tina Greene said while sliding into the booth opposite Jackson and Shayla.
“Shay, didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what, dear?” Tina looked from Jackson to her daughter puzzled.
“I moved back. About a month ago now.”
“No, I didn’t know. Where are you and Lexi staying?”
Jackson grunted a sound of displeasure at the question. “I’m staying with Shay, she’s been generous enough to take me in for the moment. Lexi and I broke up.”
“Oh, sweetheart I’m so sorry to hear that, hopefully it’s only temporary. She’s a beauty, you two look just great together.” Tina said making her daughter cringe.
At times she just wished she could prove she’d been adopted while growing up, but to no avail with her pleas, she’d asked members of her family to confirm her suspicions, only to be told no, and how silly a child she was. She looked nothing like her mother. Tina Greene was of fair complexion, slim and lengthy in stature, with smooth blonde hair, she carried her beauty well, whereas Shayla took after her father, who was a mixture of cultures, making Shayla even more of a cross between her parents. Only thing she inherited from her mother was her interchangeable eye coloring. Gray-blue with flecks of green, that changed in just the right light, or with her moods.
“Ah, nothing to be sorry about, things happen.” Jackson replied.
“Should we order now?” Shayla cut in trying to steer the topic to the purpose of the meeting at to diner in the first place. The less she heard about Lexi the better.
“You know, Jackson, sometimes, every relationship just needs a break. I’m sure you two will be back together in no time.”
As Jackson went to correct Tina, their young waiter approached with their drinks, asking if they were ready to place orders. Shayla wasn’t sure if the waiter was looking at Jackson appreciatively because of his good looks or because of the admiration he was receiving by turning heads upon walking into the establishment. But…then…she saw it! And she chuckled to herself as the waiter fluttered his eyes, licked his lips, and then turned on one heel, swishing his hips as he walked away.
Jackson looked at her with an inquisitive expression, wondering what had caught her interest. She’d always found the simplest things am
using. It was that simplicity that had drawn him to her when they were kids.
“What?” he asked curiously wanting to know what had been the subject of her amusement.
Grinning ear to ear, she just shook her head and told him it was nothing. Savoring her own inside joke. Then thought to herself just like the waiter, she’d never have a real chance with him…well besides the sex. That’s one thing she’d have that the waiter didn’t.
“Shayla, how’s work? Are you liking the hospital?” Tina asked breaking into her thoughts.
“It’s going great, mom.” She answered shifting in her seat as she felt Jackson’s hand on the top of her thigh. Moving her leg away, only for him to bring it back to him.
“Any eligible Doctors? If you make yourself a little more presentable, I’m sure you could snag one.”
“Yes, mother I’m sure there are many.” She began to say in a grumble only to finish the sentence with a squeal as Jackson slide his hand under the skirt of her summer dress and looped a finger into her panty line. She shot him a look of “really”, only for him to look back at her with a straight-face as if he wasn’t trying to rev her up right at that moment, in public, a family diner at that, as they sat in front of her own mother!
As her mother began asking her more questions, his hand began making its way back down, settling on top of her knee. “You remember Barb’s son, Allen? He’s single, I told her I’d give you his number, make sure you call him.”
“Yes, mother.” Shayla said sarcastically, only to have Jackson squeeze her knee, making her yelp in pain. Jerking her knee up hitting the underside of the booths table. “Argh! Fuck!”
“What is wrong with you?” her mother scolded her.
“Yeah, Shayla…what is the matter with you?” he smirked knowing full-well what he’d just done.
“Excuse me.” she said quickly scooting herself out from the seat of the booth, and made a beeline directly to the restroom. Embarrassed she locked herself in after slamming the door shut behind her, not caring whether or not she disturbed other patrons. Reaching into the in-seam pocket of her dress, grabbing her cellphone, she punched in a text message and hit send.
