by Shaw, Robin
Beth’s head turned and was now facing me. She combed her hair back from her face. Exhaling a heavy breath, she sat up. “How late is it?” She sounded like she wanted to stay put.
“Two fifty.”
“Ugh.” She touched Mariska’s arm, but she groaned low in her throat and shrugged off Beth’s hand. “I guess she’s not awake yet,” she said with her cheeks quirked up.
“She’s not chipper in the morning like you?” I feigned disbelief and pointed my finger on the floor. Riley jumped to the ground.
Beth shook her head, and a frown crept between her eyebrows. “Why’d you make Riley get off?”
“Mariska can sleep on my bed and you can stay on the couch. I know Chase is cool with you being here, but he wouldn’t want you on my bed. He’s not that understanding,” I said with a laugh.
“Where will you sleep?”
“On the floor. I’ll just put down two of my comforters.”
A hesitant expression grew over her face. “Um…have you washed or changed your sheets this week?”
“Yes,” I answered. She’d jumped off of this couch if she knew that I didn’t have sex in my room. I always cleaned my sofa anyway, even though most of the action tended to happen on the floor.
“I’d carry her, but she’s 5’11 and—”
“It’s cool. I’ll bring her inside my room. Besides a pillow and some sheets, what else do you need?”
“You have extra tooth brushes, right?”
“Yep. You’ll find it in the bathroom when you wake up again. Get some sleep.”
I brought one hand behind Mariska’s head and another underneath her soft, cool legs. She smelled great, like she had on some fancy perfume or something. I paused for a second and with her eyes already shut, Beth pulled in a deep breath and shifted to her side. Riley came back onto the sofa and saddled next to her.
I went straight into my room and put Mariska on my bed. I quickly put a pillowcase over one of my pillows and took sheets from my laundry bag that I hadn’t put into one of my drawers yet. After I lifted Beth’s head, I placed the pillow behind her and covered her and Riley. Then, I ran back into my room and watched Mariska. Mouth moving, her arms and legs were spread out on my bed. I took one of my old shirts and shorts from my laundry bag and placed it next to her. As I pulled down her skirt, she kicked them off with her foot, sending it directly across the room. Her top was halfway up to her chest and I took it off of her easily. Just like before, she had no bra on and her little dark pink nipples tightened, as if she was waiting to see what else I would do to her, but I just dressed her fast. Her nipples weren’t pierced and it hadn’t been pierced recently. As I peered at her again, I saw two gold studs in her ears. That could be the only explanation for what she’d had done at Lasting Impressions. I could work with Vince now, without feeling like putting him into a headlock until he stopped smiling from ear to ear.
After I was showered, dressed, and relaxed, I put my extra set of comforters on the floor and switched off the light. I left my bedroom door open so I wouldn’t sleep on the bed with Mariska like I’d thought about while I’d been showering. And just when I was really beginning to dose off, I heard Riley jump on my bed. Unconsciously or not, Mariska shifted in the bed after she heard Riley whimper. The best thing for my sanity, and perhaps my sobriety, was not to like Mariska. How could I have anything against her, when my number one girl liked her too?
***
AT FIVE-THRITY IN the morning, I woke up to Riley standing on all fours on my bed. Mariska was still sprawled out, but I could see her outstretched arm where she’d made room for Riley not too long ago. My back felt stiff and my eyes were gritty. I’d tossed and turned constantly, until Mariska and Riley’s peaceful sleep had lulled me back to sleep.
“Come on, Riley,” Beth murmured. “You don’t wanna wake up her grumpy ass.”
Riley obeyed Beth’s command as I chuckled into my pillow. Forty minutes later, I realized that I wasn’t going to get any sleep, so I brushed my teeth, took another quick shower, and dressed into one of my clean shirts and old jeans. I took out the milk and the pancake mix. When I’d fried the first five pancakes, Mariska frowned as she peered around the empty living room. When she gazed at me, she looked anxious.
“Did you change me into your clothes?” she asked me directly.
“Yeah, I did. I’ve seen you naked before,” I told her and placed the plate on my round table. She’d cleaned herself up and was back in her top, jean skirt, and ballet flats. “There’s pure maple syrup, butter, jam, and peanut butter if you want. You can get your drink yourself.”
She made her way into the kitchen and took out the instant coffee. “What if I don’t eat anything with gluten in it?” she asked in a serious tone.
“To you, I’d say tough shit. Have coffee for breakfast. If you had celiac, I’d run out and get you some fruits and a mix of gluten free pancakes if I could find it.”
Mariska stood beside me and poured some water into my teakettle. “You should know that I am not on a g-free diet.”
I motioned with my head and placed two more pancakes onto my pan. She put the teakettle on the stove, and then sat down by the table and drowned her pancakes in maple syrup and butter. “When did Beth take Riley for a walk?”
“At five something this morning,” I answered. “Are you going to want more?”
“No, thanks.”
“What time is your first class, and Beth’s?”
I heard her swallow her first bite and get up as the teakettle whistled. “You don’t know Beth’s schedule by heart?” She opened up my cabinet and took out a mug when I stalked over to her, leaned into her and placed both my hands on the counter. She still wasn’t used to having to look up at me, but I relished that tidbit more and more every time.
I trailed my fingers up her arm, until my thumb was on the middle of her neck. Shivering, Mariska ran her straight upper teeth over her bottom lip. Her eyes looked as black as coal. She was impossibly infuriating and a challenge to everything I should want or could have. Pressing my chin down to her forehead, I dropped my head until my mouth touched her waiting lips. As her fingers threaded into my hair, she hopped on the counter and the mug crashed onto the ground. I ignored the sound, as long and strong legs enveloped me. The balls of her feet pressed into my ass and my cock stirred against her. Our kiss became scorching and rough. Mariska started to pull on my hair and I hiked up her top, needing to taste more of her flesh again when the door unlocked. Riley trotted inside and I raced to the stove. Mariska had found the mop in the hallway closet across the kitchen.
“I couldn’t find the bucket,” Mariska said with her breathing coming out shallow, her knuckles white as she held onto the mop for dear life.
“I told you Mariska doesn’t function in the morning,” Beth said with the side of her face quirked up, as Riley was eating the food I’d put in her bowl after Beth had taken her for a walk.
“Now I know you weren’t kidding,” I said as I put the stove back on—and I saw Mariska mopping, when I casted a brief glance.
Beth shook her head and went into the closet in the hallway that led between the bathroom, washroom, and the other room that I used for storage. When she returned to the kitchen, she gave Mariska the bucket and took a seat at the table.
“It smells great in here,” Beth said. “I was just going to have an orange and make Mariska some coffee on our way out.”
As if understanding that her time with Beth and Mariska would be cut short, Riley made a sound and went underneath the kitchen table and positioned herself on top of Beth’s feet. I could hear Mariska collecting the broken pieces of the mug.
“Nah, you guys have a long day ahead of you,” I said, changing the subject. “I was asking Mariska when you have your first classes, but”—I cocked my head in the direction of the mess she was cleaning up, and I was almost certain that she’d sent me a glare.
“I have my first class at ten, so I am okay, but Mariska, you have your first
at nine.” She looked at the floor that Mariska was still mopping. “The floor’s clear.”
Mariska sat back down at the table and devoured her pancakes without a word. I boiled more water in the teakettle and made Mariska another cup of her instant coffee, and I heard her murmur thank you. Shortly afterward, I grabbed my textbooks and notebooks, leaving with them to go to campus.
***
CHASE WAS IN THE café with his best friend, Pierce, when I went inside for a strong cup of brewed black coffee and some cream, after my Contemporary Moral Issues class. I sat down with them.
“What’s up, guys?” I said to them and gulped some coffee.
“Damn, Hunter. You look like shit. Rough night?” Chase asked.
“Yeah. Beth and Mariska fell asleep with Riley, and when I got back home from work I slept on the floor. And, of course, Dr. Hager wouldn’t give me a pass this morning. I am forever speaking up in her class and I was just waiting for this coffee.” I lifted the cup and took a sip of the scalding goodness. “I’ve got Mastrangelo next.”
Pierce inclined his head to me. “You’ll need a second cup of coffee, then.”
“Are you alright? I’ve barely seen you this semester. Are you going to be working on the hotel today? I asked Pierce.
“Nah. I am going to my classes and then getting some sleep. Dad should be at the site of The Paloma 2 as we speak.”
“When did you and he decide on the name?” Chase asked and dipped his fries in ketchup. This summer, Chase had stayed with Pierce’s family and had worked at The Paloma Hotel. He had to move out when Pierce’s older sister, Cassidy had made it look like she and Chase had been fooling around, when, in actuality, she’d been making unwanted advances toward him. Pierce’s Dad, Mr. Pruitt, found out that Chase hadn’t disrespected his rules by pursuing his daughter. However, Mr. Pruitt has not apologized to my brother for kicking him out of his house and basically firing him.
“We had a meeting this weekend when I was in Paloma’s Edge and Dad made that announcement.”
I downed the rest of my coffee and flicked my eyes at Chase. “Were there any other important announcements?” I asked.
“It’s not official yet, but Claude will moving back to Bermuda with his family come Christmas time.”
Chase didn’t try to hide the shock from his face. “Why? Hasn’t he been with your Dad from the beginning?”
“He didn’t become a part of The Paloma until…like fifteen years ago. Claude has told me over the years that he wanted to go back home, and he’s got another job as a Hotel Manager there.”
Chase pushed his chair back a little and crossed his arms. “Who will be the manager for The Paloma, and the Paloma 2?”
“Dad and Mom are going to do it. I’ll also take on some shifts when I can, but I want to buckle down for my last semester.”
“Are you going to work at the Paloma when you graduate?”
“Yeah,” Pierce lifted his chin. “My Dad and I haven’t gotten into it, but whichever hotel I work in, we can’t be around each other all the time, or we’ll argue about the stupidest things.”
Chase tapped him on the shoulder and I saw Scott raise his head to us as he came inside.
“Hey guys,” Scott said as he placed his tray of food on the table and took a seat next to Pierce.
“Are you packed to leave first thing tomorrow morning?” Chase asked with a laugh.
“No. Coach really laid into all of us this morning.” He sighed. “I don’t think I am going to be taking Mariska out tonight.”
They were going on a third date so soon?
“Ah, snap,” Piece said. “I didn’t know you’d asked her out.”
“It’ll be their third date,” Chase added, and I inwardly groaned at the reminder that Scott had the chance to take her out on dates, when I’d likely never be able to have a girl like Mariska. I knew she wanted to fuck me, but that didn’t make me feel great. I knew that this was how it was supposed to be, but the fact that Scott had touched her, or been in her dorm room with her alone, sucked for me. I was in no shape or form to be with her, but Scott wasn’t either.
“Maybe I’ll just go to her room, instead,” Scott said with a smug grin and I remembered why I disliked him; he thought he could get whatever he wanted. “I mean she let you stay in her room. Why wouldn’t she let me? She can give me a kiss for good look in the morning before I go to the bus.”
And that’s when I knew that he was fucking with me.
“I knew you were a snake when I first met you,” I glared at him and ground my teeth. “Who bet you to pop Mariska’s cherry? Or, did you make the bet?” I asked him deadpan. Chase and Pierce exchanged a look, like they couldn’t believe I’d asked that question, but I had to know.
Scott bristled. “What are you talking about Hunter? Are you high right now?” I shot up from the chair, and his eyes told me that meant everything he’d said to me. He’d been waiting to accuse me of being under the influence. Chase stood between Scott and I.
“Scott, you’re out of line,” Chase said. Some other students and faculty looked at us, but when Scott and I didn’t push past Chase, they saw that he had it under control. Scott probably couldn’t believe that I’d had the gall to pointedly ask him about his intentions with Mariska.
“Don’t act like I am beneath you because I am an addict. I never denied what I am. You’re the only who couldn’t go two damn hours without any alcohol. You need to check yourself.”
I threw my book bag over my shoulder, took my empty cup, and threw it in the trash can as I walked out of the café.
I didn’t want to see anyone right now and since most people took the elevator, I jogged up the steps. When I reached the sixth floor, Chase was behind me and he waited with me the hallway. Classes would be out in ten minutes and then I’d be in Professor Mastrangelo’s class, where I’d be involved in a lively discussion.
“You did start with Scott first,” Chase started. I knew he’d see it that way. Too bad he didn’t see what I think Pierce saw, too, in Scott’s tone; Mariska was just another chick for him to say he’d conquered.
“Whatever, Chase. He didn’t deny it. He tried to turn it on me. He’s not taking her out anywhere or going into her room, if I have anything to say about it.”
“Whoa! Hunter, get a grip. Since when do you go all cave man for Mariska? You two don’t even talk.”
I tried a more important route. I couldn’t tell Chase about my feelings for his girl’s best friend, because I knew I’d get a lecture. Was I wrong for believing that Mariska’s first relationship should mean something? I didn’t want to point out how fucked up in the head he was after he lost his virginity because he’d just wanted to get it over with. I really hoped that wasn’t why Mariska let me go further when I’d been in her room.
“Did you ask him yourself if he bet with his friends that he’d be the guy she gave it up to?”
Chase shook his head. “Scott isn’t that kind of person.”
“Have a good game.” I left him and went into my class.
Mariska
SCOTT SEEMED LIKE HE’D been listening intently to the instructor and our group mates during Bio lecture and Lab. On Tuesday, he’d decided to be in my group and was flirting with me, but now I’d think that he didn’t like me anymore or want to take me out on a date tonight. I hadn’t shown I’d been aware of his distant behavior, because I’d been reliving my kiss with Hunter.
As I took some change out of my tote to get a bag of chips, Scott was next to me. I didn’t see his friends or anyone else near him, like I usually had right after our Bio classes on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons.
“Hey, Mariska,” he said with his head down. I reached down to get my bag of chips and I waited to see if he’d look at me.
“Hey, Scott. Don’t tell me you’re cancelling on me,” I said in a teasing tone. Slowly, his eyes drifted up to mine and he nodded. “Can you tell me why?” I wondered, not feeling the disappointment or sadness I’d thought I would.
“I didn’t tell you the real reason I asked you out in the first place.” His voice deepened as he went on, “My boys and I thought you were stuck up. Like you haven’t talked to any of the guys here and we’ve all been in school for three months. I figured, seeing how your parents were with you during move-in day that you didn’t get to…you know…or that you hadn’t had enough…”
“Sex, Scott,” I heard the hard edge to my voice, anger spiking through me. “You just wanted to sleep with me. You didn’t like me at all, did you? The shy act? The only thing that was true about our second date was that you’d taken every girl who required a little extra work, in your mind, to the restaurant, right?”
He nodded again.
“Were Chase and Pierce some of the boys who thought I needed to be thoroughly fucked?”
“Stop talking like that. It doesn’t sound right coming from you.”
I pointed my finger into his chest. “Don’t tell me how to talk. You can talk and laugh about my personal life with a bunch of dudes who can only get it if they pay for it. So, you answer me now.”
“Nah, Mariska. Chase and Pierce didn’t know. That’s why I didn’t talk about you like that when they were near me; we wouldn’t have gone out anywhere.” He shot me a meaningful look. “But they do now, because of Hunter.”
