Friends with Benefits

by Olivia Gaines

  Although he felt the trip could not be more perfect, on Monday, the happy couple climbed aboard The East Wind, a 62-foot catamaran, where they relaxed while enjoying complimentary piña coladas and a sumptuous lunch buffet. They lounged on beautiful white sand beaches, swam in turquoise waters and photographed extensive reefs.

  At the hotel, before taking her into his arms, he put forth the statement, “Tell me, what I need to hear in order to make this trip one of the most perfect moments of my life.”

  If she were to ever be truthful with her feelings and emotions, now would be a good time. What she felt for this man was real. Her ability to completely let go in bed with him was an indicator, yet she was still hesitant. The four-kid thing was a deal-breaker in her book, but she would pray about it and talk to her parents before making a final decision, “Grayson, I love you with everything in me.”

  It was out.

  It was in the air.

  The floor had not opened up. She had not been sucked into the dominion of Hell to be feed upon by hungry love ants. He had not run away.

  “Charlize, I am deeply, unequivocally, in love with you,” as he spent the rest of the night proving how bottomless his love extended.

  And that was when Grayson Broche knew he had to have her as his wife.

  Chapter Seventeen

  SOMEWHERE DURING THE night, Grayson had tapped something in her, and with his realization that he was speaking to her in Spanish, he picked a few more choice commands. She let go and became the aggressor, making a few demands herself and even talking dirty to him in Spanish, which sent him completely over the edge. In the morning her legs felt like gelatin as they boarded the private plane back to the mainland.

  They both had considered one more before they landed in Atlanta, but she was candid, “I can’t, I think you broke my cha-cha.”

  His face was full of concern, “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” Gentle strokes were applied to her arms, her cheeks and finally a soft kiss.

  “Yes, and I loved every inch of it, but I am really sore from our acrobatics. You have to keep in mind, it has been a while since I used it several days in a row. I think she is just in shock.”

  Grayson laughed an uncomfortable laugh, “Yeah, I’m not 21 anymore; I could probably use an ice pack, myself.”

  He draped his arm over her shoulders, leaning back to catch a nap. “Charlize, thank you for a great weekend.”

  “You are more than welcome.”

  He kissed her once more, “Thanks for loving me back,” was mumbled under his breath which was followed by soft snoring.

  It befuddled her to no end that he could lean his head back and fall to sleep, whereas she had to rearrange the pantry in her mind before she could begin to close her eyes. She looked over at him; he was so cute.

  And that was when Charlize, began to see Grayson Broche in her future as something far more inclusive than a friendship with some great benefits.

  TUESDAY AFTERNOON, the Doctor was in, seeing athletes with sprains, dispensing common sense remedies versus a prescription for a pill, and taking care of her staff. Wednesday sped by and Thursday brought a pleasant surprise, “Dr. Filleman, there is a Marquez Broche on line four for you.”

  She took the call with a broad smile, “Hey kiddo,” she said cheerfully in the phone, “how is everything?”

  She could almost hear his smile through the phone, “It’s all good, except for one thing.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Well, kinda.....”

  Charlize held the phone and waited. If he wanted something, he was going to have to ask for it. She was not going to volunteer anything. When she would not play the guessing game with him, he went right into what he needed, “School starts in two weeks and Grandma wants to take me school shopping.”

  She was still not volunteering anything; he took the cue to continue, “I love Grandma, but the Wranglers she likes to buy me from K-mart are going to get me beat up.”

  Charlize found herself laughing, but still giving up nothing.

  “I have the money to buy my own stuff, but I was hoping, that if Pop-Pop brought me to Atlanta, that maybe I could spend the weekend with you and Gray; maybe you guys could take me school shopping?”

  Charlize was puzzled, “Why didn’t you just ask Grayson?”

  “He can’t have pets in his building, and I figured you had a house with a yard that Bok Choy can run around in.”

  “So, what are you asking me Marquez?”

  He paused for a minute on the other line, and for an eight-year-old, he was rather sharp, “Bok Choy wanted to see you again.”

  She was smiling when she asked, “And what about you?”

  “It would be cool to hang out at your crib and stuff....and eat healthy foods, I guess.”

  She started to think about her Saturday morning and what she had planned, then she realized that tomorrow was her brother’s birthday and everyone was coming to her house. “Oh, crap!”

  “Does that mean that I can’t come?”

  “Of course you can come over, but you have to clean up behind Bok Choy.”

  “Deal,” he said and hung up the phone before she had time to change her mind.

  IT APPEARED AS IF SHE had gotten the worse end of the deal. Her family arrived earlier than expected, but she had marinated the steaks before she left for work. The hamburger patties were mixed and pressed, ready for the grill, the chicken-kebabs were done. Melanie had brought over baked beans. Melea had brought over dessert. Her brother’s wife, Colette, had made a pasta salad. Charlize’s Mom and Dad brought paper plates, plastic utensils, cups, and ice. Grayson showed up at 6:30, with sodas, lemonade, Marquez, and the ever-regal Bok Choy, who surveyed the surroundings, sniffed the air, and determined he was in a good place.

  She kneeled to greet the dog and his owner. The boy gave her a fist bump, the dog his leg to inspect. The dog also noticed all the kids and actually peered around her to see the back yard, as if he was Inspector #12. “Would you like to go outside, Bok Choy?” The dog followed her to the door, and when she opened it, he took off like a bolt, running, jumping and enjoying the yard.

  “Grammy & Pop-Pop have a small yard, nothing like this,” Marquez told her as he watched Bok Choy run from one end of the yard being chased by a niece, to the other end being chased by a nephew, stopping in between to mark each shrub, tree, and bush. Frazier III was introduced to Marquez, who had brought over his Xbox for the weekend, and of course, her nephew wanted to know if he could stay as well. The twins, Kiara and Keaundra, also wanted to stay, but Marquez stood for a minute just staring at them as they spoke their private language. He looked at her, frowning, shaking his head with a scowling look of, “aww hell no.” She could not help but be tickled; there was something about this kid that was sticking to her.

  Grayson’s sister stopped by to check and make sure Marquez did not need anything, and was surprised to see Charlize’s whole family there. Her eyes were more focused on her brother who was manning the grill, making his famous grilled chicken thighs with Ancho Tequila glaze and talking to Dr. Filleman about a fishing trip to the Caribbean. Brianna gave her brother a hug and kiss, and shook hands and hugged all of Charlize’s family. Marquez was right at home with the kids and did not raise a stink when Charlize called him from the game to give the dog water.

  Bok Choy had reached his limit of time in the sun—along with his patience with the kids—and walked up to Charlize and nudged her leg. Everyone watched in amazement as she rose and let the dog into the house. Bok Choy stood at the door, waiting for her, as she made her way down the main hall. He followed closely, inspecting every room, sniffing his way to a comfy sleeping spot. When she climbed the stairs and reached her bedroom door, he placed his paws upon the wood and pushed the door open. She made him wait to enter the room, then allowed him to follow her in. He sniffed the air, the bed, and the floor. After he had determined which side of the bed was hers, she gave him the command, “Sit.”

 
Grayson had followed them inside out of curiosity and watched as the dog obeyed. Marquez watched her closely. She pounded her chest like King Kong, “I’m the pack master!” Which was met by uproarious laughter. Grayson headed back downstairs to the grill. Charlize then took a moment to show Marquez where he and Frazier III would be staying tonight. Brianna had come inside to see if Charlize needed any help with anything and overheard the conversation between Charlize and her young cousin.

  “You have a mighty big house to not have any kids,” Marquez said as he put his suitcase in the room.

  “I am thinking about changing that pretty soon,” she told him as she helped load in little boy things in the dresser drawers, leaving his jammies lying on the foot of the bed.

  “Would you consider keeping a kid that was not yours?” he asked as he looked at her sideways.

  “Why, is someone giving one away?”

  He laughed a bit, “Nah, I was just wondering.....”

  She sat on the edge of the bed. She had always been raised that if you wanted something, you had to ask, she would not do anything different with him than she would not do with her own nieces and nephews. If he wanted something, he was going to have to ask. He noticed her staring. “You know, I was just thinking, by the time I start driving, Pop-Pop will be like 100 or something.....”

  “Ah, I see.”

  “I am just thinking you know....you and Gray ain’t too old, plus you haven’t made any babies of your own yet, so when you do, I could help by babysitting and stuff. But I ain’t changing no diapers!”

  Charlize was touched and she watched his little face, as he worked through the details. “Pop-Pop said Gray knows all about the law, and Bok Choy really likes your yard....”

  She stood and gave him a gigantic hug. “So you’re here this weekend, I assume, to try us out as potential parents?”

  “I guess....” He said with a downturned face.

  “Don’t put any pressure on yourself. This weekend, let’s just hang out, get your school shopping done and we go from there.” A few fist bumps later and it was resolved, but downstairs a new argument was brewing.

  Chapter Eighteen

  UNCLE CHARLES AND UNCLE Eddie had never missed Frazier’s birthday and this one was not going to be any different. Frazier turned 34 today and Charlize was uncertain why they still made such a big deal about the oldest child. There was plenty of food and Brianna had decided she would stay and invited her husband to come over and bring the kids. The Uncles were excited to meet a major league player, but Charlize made them swear to be on their best behavior.

  Frazier noticed the pookah shell bracelet on Grayson’s wrist, “Hey, did Charlize bring you one of those back from Puerto Rico?”

  Grayson looked down at his wrist, “No, I bought this one Monday, while we were there.”

  The look on Frazier’s face was one of astonishment. “You went to Puerto Rico with my sister?”

  Grayson smiled a big sheepish grin, “Actually she surprised me, showed up at my office, picked me up, cleared my calendar and whisked me away for the weekend. It was fantastic.” He looked over at Charlize who smiled at him.

  Frazier killed the tender moment, “Get the frick out of here man, are you serious?”

  “Yes, we had a great time.”

  “Yeah, right. Next you are going to tell me you talked about getting married and starting a family.”

  Grayson frowned, “As a matter of fact we did discuss it.”

  Frazier sat down his beer, “Now, you are just lying to impress me.”

  “And why would I need to do that?”

  “The last guy my sister dated who mentioned having kids with her, she pushed him out of the car with her feet!” Frazier picked the beer up, swallowed, and eyed Grayson head on, “and he was driving!”

  Grayson was not believing anything Frazier was saying, “Funny, but we had a discussion, nothing definitive, too many variables to work out; she said something about little shoes that smell like pee....”

  Frazier watched the confused look on his potential brother in law’s face, and thought he would help him understand his sister’s position a bit more. He explained why being pregnant didn’t really sit well with his sister. Frazier commented on the extensive travel with the team, “If she were to conceive, the timing would have to be perfect. She would have to conceive in August or September, so she could deliver before the Spring training camps, and recruitment. I just can’t see her on the 50-yard line in Green Bay waddling down the field.”

  Now, it made perfect sense to Grayson; this was something more for him to think about.

  “I do have a question, since you evidently, are my soon-to-be brother-in-law.”

  Grayson stood quiet and almost felt a sense of dread from Frazier’s line of inquiry, “Okay, shoot?”

  Frazier leaned in close and lowered his voice, “Can you tell me your secret?” He leaned closer as if Grayson were E.F. Hutton.

  Grayson was more confused than before, “My secret for what?”

  “I want to learn whatever technique you used at the Lake. I want to use that on my wife. Maybe she will take me on a weekend getaway.”

  CHARLIZE HAD RUN UP the stairs to check on the dog only to return downstairs to not only find Brianna’s husband, but Grayson’s parents standing in her living room, “Well, hello there, this is a surprise. Grayson is manning the grill.” She was truly concerned if he had taken their conversation in Puerto Rico to the next level, and decided to introduce their parents.

  “Can I get you something to drink or eat?” She was trying to remain calm.

  Mr. Broche was the first to speak, “Actually, we aren’t staying. We just came to bring something to Marquez.”

  Before she had an opportunity to say anything, the doorbell rang and Antonio, Grayson’s younger brother was at the door. How did all these people know where she lived? Grayson peered around the sliding door, the look of surprise all over his face as he greeted his parents with a big hug, and he too offered them food. Well, that answered that question; Grayson had not invited his family.

  It did not take him or Charlize long to put together what Marquez had done. He had called his great Uncle and cousins to ask each to stop by to contribute to his school shopping. What amazed them all was the young man gave each of them a different dollar amount. Benjamin Broche wanted to get to the bottom of it, but Charlize thought she had it figured out.

  “Mr. Broche, Marquez is auditioning Grayson and me as potential parents,” she said quietly.

  “He’s what?” said all the Broche family as well as her parents who had just walked in the family room.

  The little culprit himself was coming down the stairs as every set of adult eyes were focused on him. The twins said in unison, “Ooooh, you in trouble!”

  Benjamin Broche stepped forward but Grayson placed his hand on his arm, “Pops, can you give me and Charlie a minute to get an understanding of what it is he is trying to accomplish first?”

  Frazier took over the grill and Melanie administrated the introductions, making everyone comfortable, passing out refreshments, while Melea got all of the kids involved in a game of badminton in the back yard. Bok Choy, sensing tension, was now standing at Marquez’s side. Charlize and Grayson both greeted the boy with a smile as they maneuvered him into her home office. When asked his reasoning, it was so logical, it was almost brilliant—for an eight-year-old’s thinking.

  Marquez clearly explained that family constantly told him if he needed something to ask, so he asked. He needed things and he did not want to put a strain on his grandparents, so he asked his great uncle and cousins. He figured, since Grayson was taking him shopping, he would ask Grayson’s family. When the math was completed, if you added the $200 he asked from his Great Uncle Benjamin, the $100 he asked from Brianna, who had a famous husband, the $50 he asked from Antonio and Jorge, plus the $200 he had and the $150, his grandparent’s sent, the boy had almost a thousand dollars.

  Grayson needed to know,
“Marquez, why do you need a $1,000 for school shopping?”

  As he went through his explanation, he said he had grown a great deal in the last six months and nothing fit right anymore. Charlize noticed the jeans were a bit snug and short. “My socks got holes in them, Grandma keeps buying me underwear with action figures on them and I am too old for Spiderman drawers, besides, I like Batman.”

  He told them his shoes were too little, his tee shirts were worn out, he needed a winter coat, a play coat, a jacket, church clothes, gloves, a book bag, hats, sweaters, school supplies and he smiled, “I was hoping to get a fresh pair of Jordan’s, and maybe a Polo shirt or two....” His voice trailed off, “but I really want a laptop with a self-contained hot spot, Pop-Pop has dial-up.” When the boy finished his list, Grayson had taken out his wallet and chipped in a hundred himself.

  By the end of dinner, Marquez had $2,000 and a great number of people who were impressed with his problem-solving abilities. He asked Grayson to hold the money for him since it was so much; and leaned in a little towards Charlize to simulate a hug without actually giving one.

  Grayson asked his father, “He is something, isn’t he? A great deal like his dad.” Benjamin looked at his son with only a mild bit of curiosity when Grayson asked, “ Do you think we are passing his audition?”

  “The question is, do you want to, and moreover, does your best friend?” Both father and son gazed toward the good doctor who was sitting in a corner with a glass of wine, holding the bottle it came from, and taking turns drinking from each.

  “Out of curiosity, Pops, how would that work, if I were to adopt him,” he asked with more than mere interest.