“W-will this pay for it?” Hazel asks, holding out the cash. “It’s all I have.”
“It’s fine, I’ll cover it.” I say.
“I’m not a charity case!” Hazel hisses before more tears pour fourth. “B-besides, I-I don’t want this money around anymore.”
“Okay, I’ll take it.” I say as I accept the money from Hazel and put it in my pocket.
“A-are you sure it’s okay that I spend the night?” Hazel asks.
“Of course it is!” I say with a strong smile.
“Hazel, I don’t understand this.” Lexi says. “You had no problem accepting a free vacation from Steven, you accept when Kayla pays for our meals. Why is it such a problem to let him help you out?”
“Because!” Hazel snaps. “Because, I always help out at home. I pull my own weight! I-I don’t want to end up living off someone else. That was a vacation, you were going anyway. I mean, yeah, he paid for my flight, but, but, but it’s different!”
“We’ll talk about this later.” I say soothingly. “For now, how about you get some sleep?”
“Okay.” Hazel nods.
“The bedroom next to mine is all made up.” Kayla suggests.
“That’s perfect.” I reply.
This house is huge. There are a number of bedrooms in the hallway with the master bedroom. However, since I only have one child, only the master bedroom and Kayla’s room are occupied. The others are simple, but thankfully, they’re kept made up in case we have guests.
I reach out my hands and take Hazel’s so I can help her to her feet. Then the four of us make our way to the hallway with all the bedrooms. Only the master bedroom and Kayla’s room have a private bathroom, so Hazel will have to use the bathroom down the hall.
“Goodnight, Hazel.” I say, giving her a hug.
“Thank you for letting me stay here.” Hazel replies, hugging me back.
“You’re always welcome.” I say sincerely.
“Night, Hazel.” Lexi smiles, giving the tan girl a kiss on the cheek.
“Sweet dreams!” Kayla adds.
Hazel heads into the bedroom and shuts the door. Then Kayla goes into her room. Finally, Lexi and I enter the master bedroom and strip down to our underwear. My girlfriend and I hold each other close as we process everything.
“Ready to be a dad again?” Lexi asks, her head resting on my chest.
“I never imagined I’d have more children.” I begin. “Then I met you, and thought it might be possible.”
“It is!” Lexi chirps. “We’ll have babies someday!”
“I’m glad.” I smile as I run my fingers through Lexi’s auburn hair.
“Do you think you’re really the father?” Lexi asks.
“Biologically? I have no idea. It’s possible.” I answer carefully. “Are you sure you’re not upset?”
“I’m fine!” Lexi insists. “I’m just worried about Hazel. I mean, yeah, I wanna have your babies, but not just yet. Maybe in a couple years.”
“It’s still okay to be upset that another woman might be having my baby.” I say.
“Do you want me to be upset?” Lexi asks with a raised eyebrow.
“No! Of course not!” I quickly assure her.
“Okay, then. Stop whining!” Lexi admonishes. “She’s not just ‘another woman’, you know, Hazel is my Slut-sister. I’d be pissed if you got Stacey pregnant. Hell, I’d be pissed if you touched her at all.”
“Now, I understand.” I nod. “You still have the same fears of losing me to someone like Stacey, but not a Slut-sister. This is your dream of all of us living together as one big, happy family.”
“Exactly!” Lexi chirps. “One step closer!”
“I don’t know about that.” I say cautiously. “Hazel is very independent.”
“Well, she’s gonna have to get over that.” Lexi states. “She’s gonna need help if she wants to keep the baby.”
“You’re right about that.” I agree. “She doesn’t even have a high school diploma yet. Still, that doesn’t make a relationship.”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.” Lexi muses.
“Like always.” I say.
“Should we report that guy for rape?” Lexi wonders.
“That’s Hazel’s decision.” I remind Lexi. “And she doesn’t want to.”
“I just hate how she was treated.” she says sadly.
“I know, so do I.” I say. “Just be her friend. She needs you right now.”
“I will.” Lexi nods.
“Anyway, we should go to bed.” I reply.
“Sleep well, Baby!” Lexi says as she kisses me.
“Goodnight, Gorgeous.” I reply, kissing her back.
Stacey
“Good morning, Sir.” I say politely to Steven as he walks by my desk Friday morning.
“Good morning, Stacey.” Steven replies as he nods his head in my direction.
A moment later, he’s gone. In his office, and out of my reach. I want nothing more than to march up to his desk, bend over, and beg him to stick it in me. But, I can’t. He’s taken. His girlfriend knows I’m in love with him and is too insecure to even let Steven do me.
Still, do I even want that anymore? I want a relationship with Steven, not a fling. Continuing to have sex with him will likely just make my feelings even stronger. Feelings for a handsome man I can’t have. A perfect man.
With a sigh, I start my work day. I respond to emails and answer phone calls. I do see Steven for a few minutes when I remind him of golfing on Sunday. While organizing some financial statements, I feel my phone go off in my pocket. Taking it out, I realize the text is from my best friend and college roommate, April.
April: Ready to talk about it?
April doesn’t know what’s wrong. She just knows that something is bothering me. She also knows I have a thing for Steven, but doesn’t know about us sleeping together. I feel bad; best friends are supposed to talk about everything! April and I just aren’t as close now as we used to be. We only talk occasionally these days. I don’t even know what’s going on in her life! I text her back, which leads to a conversation that continues throughout the workday.
Stacey: Not really, no.
April: Is it about a guy? Did you meet a guy?
Stacey: I didn’t meet a guy.
April: Then it’s about your boss.
Stacey: April…
April: It is about your boss! I knew it!
Stacey: I said I don’t want to talk about it.
April: C’mon! We’ve been best friends since Freshman year! We never talk anymore.
Stacey: I know, and I feel bad that we’ve started to grow apart.
April: Then let’s fix it! Come out for drinks with me tonight.
Stacey: That does sound like fun…
April: Okay, see you at 7:00PM?
Stacey: Done!
April: Great! And you and I are gonna have a serious talk. Whether you like it or not! 😉
Stacey: Fine, fine.
April: 😀
The rest of my work day goes by normally. I have lunch with Steven, which is awkward and uncomfortable. I try to smile and be friendly, but I just want to cry. I want him to hold me and make everything better. He won’t. He can’t.
Steven and I end up leaving work at the same time. He smiles as he waves goodbye to me. I smile back and wave cutely. Please, just hug me. Fuck! He’s gone. I leave the building and get into my car, then pull out onto the street.
I don’t have a lot of time before I have to meet April, so I head straight back to my apartment for dinner. I heat up and eat my prepared meal. After eating, I change into comfortable clothes to go out in. Then I order a ride and head outside to wait for it. It isn’t long before I’m entering the bar April and I agree on.
“Hey! Stacey!” a familiar bubbly voice calls out as I walk into the bar.
I turn to see a tiny blonde waving at me from a nearby stool while holding a cocktail. April is an incredibly petite woman. She’s just under five feet tall, and weighs less than ninety pounds. April has wavy blonde hair, light skin, and small breasts. On her face she has a pair of nice glasses. She’s currently wearing a cute white top and a green skirt.
“April! Hi!” I reply after walking over and sitting down on the bar stool beside her.
“It’s been too long!” April says as she leans forward and wraps her arms around me.
“It has!” I agree as I hug her back.
“What can I get for you?” the bartender asks, walking over to us after our hug breaks.
“I’ll have a vodka tonic.” I order.
“Coming right up.” the bartender smiles.
“So?” April asks in her adorable, little voice.
“So, what?” I reply with a giggle as my drink arrives.
“You know what!” April rolls her eyes. “What’s been going on with you?”
“Nothing much.” I answer before taking a sip. “Just working.”
“Right.” April states evenly. “Your amazing job that led to you abandoning me.”
“I didn’t abandon you!” I laugh. “I just didn’t need a roommate anymore!”
“Yeah, yeah.” she sighs. “I liked living with you, you know?”
“I liked living with you, too!” I respond. “It was just time for me to go out on my own.”
“I’m okay with that, just promise me we’ll be close again. Like before?” April asks.
“I promise!” I raise my glass.
“Good.” she clinks her glass against mine, then we both take a sip.
“What have you been up to?” I ask my friend. “Still seeing that guy?”
“Some best friend!” April snorts. “Don’t even know that I’m single.”
“You guys broke up?” I wonder.
“Yeah, I dumped his lying, cheating ass.” April snarls.
“He was cheating on you?!” I gasp.
“I came home early from work after finishing a project earlier than expected.” April explains. “He was balls-deep in some whore.”
“Ouch.” I wince.
“Yup.” April nods. “I started screaming and throwing things at them while they tried to dress.”
“Then what?” I wonder.
“My name is on the lease, so I kicked him out.” April says. “I live alone now, too. Fuck him!”
“Do you like it?” I ask. I can’t help but smile; it’s so cute when April swears.
“Sometimes.” she shrugs. “Other times it’s kinda lonely. My lease is up at the end of the month, and I don’t know if I’m even gonna renew it. The rent is going up again, and it was already hard to afford without a second income.”
“I understand.” I nod. “I would have helped you through everything if you’d told me.”
“I know.” she sighs. “It isn’t just your fault that we grew apart.”
“Apology accepted!” I tease.
“Whatever.” April smiles.
“What about work?” I ask. “How’s being a computer scientist?”
“Well, I’m not the only girl in the department anymore, so that’s nice.” April laughs.
“Really? Another female geek?” I giggle. My best friend is so nerdy. I love it!
“Yup! She’s great!” she tells me. “We kind of stick together.”
“That’s good to hear!” I say.
“How’s work for you?” April wonders.
“Oh, you know…” I sigh. “Work itself is fine. Steven’s a great boss, great work-life balance, even better pay and benefits.”
Leave a Reply