Bad Boy Brother by Chance Carter (68)

“Meadow,” Kane said, holding me tighter. “I know. I’m sorry for all that. Believe me. I’ve got issues.”

“Are you really sorry?”

“Totally sorry. If I could take all that back I would in a heartbeat. It’s just …”.

“Just what?”

“It’s been so long since I was taken this way by a woman. And last time it ended so badly. I was fighting my feelings for you.”

There was so much I wanted to ask him about that but he kept talking before I could say anything.

“When I saw you in the brewery last night, some emotion overpowered me.”

I looked at him, waiting to see where he was going with this.

“And then when you came in again tonight with Sandra, you had so much light in your eyes, so much joy, I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I had to do something about it.

His words made me melt. I couldn’t believe that he’d noticed me that way. That I’d had such a powerful effect on him. I was still in disbelief that any of this was real.

“When I saw you by the washroom, it was game over. My urges got the best of me. I had to have you. I had to taste you. Right then and there.”

I wanted to believe him but there was still that nagging, skeptical part of me that was terrified of being hurt again.

“I don’t know,” I said. “Are you sure you’re not the type to take every hot girl in town down here to look at the moon and take her panties off.”

“You’re not very good at taking compliments, are you Meadow?” he said with a sly grin. “Besides, I didn’t have to take you any further than that alley to get your panties off!”

I hit him playfully on the arm.

“Don’t tease me.”

“Sorry.”

“So why are we here at all? If you already got what you wanted.”

“Oh come on. I brought you here so you can tell me something about yourself. I want to do more than fuck you. I want to get to know you. Then I want to fuck you again,” he said with a sly smile. “Then get to know even more about you. And then… .”

“Fuck me again,” I laughed. “I get it.”

“In so many positions, Meadow. You won’t regret it. The things I have in mind.”

I tried not to smile but I couldn’t help it. Before I could come up with some more challenging questions for him, he silenced me with the most tender, delicious kiss.

I so wanted to believe everything he was saying, but hadn’t he just told Paul he had no intentions of getting mixed up with another woman?

I broke away from our kiss.

“So explain this to me,” I said, not done being difficult. “First you say you’re avoiding women, and now you’re saying you want to spend more time with me. Which am I supposed to believe?”

“Meadow! It’s complicated! What can I say? I swear I have no intentions of hurting you. I swear I’m not using you. But I don’t know what’s going to happen after tonight. No one does. All I know is that right now, I love sitting right here, next to you, and there’s no where on earth I’d rather be.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry I’m being so difficult. If you knew more about me, it would make sense.”

“So tell me more about you.”

“How about we just enjoy right here, right now instead?”  

Kane smiled. “Fair enough.”

I could tell he liked that I turned his own words on him.

“But will you do me one favor, Meadow?”

“Depends,”  I said, looking at the crashing waves.

He gently moved my face towards him and looked into my eyes.

“Believe me when I tell you how beautiful you are.”

His eyes never broke contact with mine as he said those words to me. He meant it. I could tell.

Men were always telling me I was perfect and beautiful, but they never actually thought about what they were saying. They never actually meant it. Kane meant it. He saw me. I felt the connection between us.

My stomach filled with butterflies and I was left speechless. His words meant so much to me and I leaned forward to kiss him so that he knew it. This time, our kiss felt different. It was more than just our lips that were connecting.

A cool breeze passed over us and I shivered slightly. Kane moved to sit behind me, his legs on either side wrapping me up tightly and keeping me warm. Despite my reluctance, deep down I knew I could trust him. I was safe with him.

“It’s just that my husband …” I started to say.

“Your husband?” he said, cutting me off mid-sentence and removing his arms from around me.

“My ex-husband,” I quickly clarified.

I only relaxed again when I felt his arms return around me.

“He was a cheater. He cheated on me for years. With so many women.”

“He sounds like a piece of shit,” Kane said.

“That’s an understatement. At first it was just random affairs with women when he was away for work. But gradually they grew more serious. The last woman he was with was a full on relationship. He was leading a double life. She didn’t even know he was married.”

“I don’t understand how people can do that. Lead double lives, I mean. It seems exhausting and like it’s just asking for trouble. I’ve always been a one woman man, Meadow. That’s something I know about myself. When I’m with a woman, she’s my entire universe. I’m not kidding.”

I didn’t want to look at him for fear he’d see dreamy little hearts form in the pupils of my eyes. Prior to him saying that, I had convinced myself that there wasn’t a man on earth who thought that way anymore.

“I put up with my husband’s cheating until this last woman. Once I realized he was in love with her, I just snapped.”

“You mean, you knew about his cheating before?”

“Yup.”

“And you said nothing?”

“Nope.”

“Why not? You should have cut off his dick and mailed it to his mother so she knew what a bad job she did. You don’t deserve a man like that. No woman does.”

“I was too scared to admit it to myself. I was terrified. It was like, as long as I didn’t bring it up, it wasn’t really real. He gave me everything. Well, everything money can buy. He provided for me and I was paralyzed with fear at the thought of having to be on my own.”

“You’re on your own now, and you’re doing great,” he said, squeezing me tight.

“Haha, yeah, it’s been a real solid twenty-four hours of independent woman power.”

“Hang on. You left him yesterday?” Kane said in shock.

“Yup.”

“Jeez. Well that certainly explains why you’re feeling so fragile. So what, you called him out for cheating yesterday and left him in your dust?”

“Not technically. I called him out months ago, but to my surprise, he actually ended it with the other woman and begged me to stay. He made promises to be a better man. He promised we’d finally have the baby I’d been begging for. He gave me expensive gifts and promised I’d never have to worry again.”

“Big promises.”

“I stayed on a trial basis, but I knew in my heart it was over. It was never real to begin with. Well, I thought it was, otherwise I never would have married him. But his cheating started weeks after we got married, and it never stopped. With each affair he proved he loved me less and less. All his promises were empty and broken, just like our marriage.”

“I hate that you stayed with him through all that. Sounds like you’ve been robbed of knowing what a real man’s love should feel like.”

“Tell me about it.”

“So, why yesterday? What made you finally leave?”

“Well, speaking of fragile moods. Remember this morning when you saw me at the café?” I said, reaching into my purse for my phone.

“Yeah.”  

“I’d just been crying.”

“I could tell. I’m actually slightly relieved to know I’m not one-hundred percent responsible for all your tears in the last twenty-four hours.”

We both laughed and I opened the emails on my phone.

“Just before you arrived, I watched this video some guys sent me. I don’t know who they are, where they came from, or how they knew Matt, but yesterday these four big, bad looking guys showed up at our home in Palo Alto. They were looking for Matt. They knew he was a cheater and a liar and told me I deserved better. It was strange. For years I knew it, but it was like I needed to hear it from those guys before I believed it.”

“They’re right.”

“Anyway. Long story short, in a daze, I handed them my wedding band and let them into my home to find Matt. Then I just got in my car and drove away. I didn’t look back once.”

I held up my phone and hit play. I couldn’t believe what I was about to show him. It was so personal. I wondered if it might even scare him off, giving him a glimpse into my dramatic soap opera life. Part of me was dying to share it with someone though. It was still so surreal.

We watched as the camera followed the men down the hall to my bedroom. As soon as the door was broken open and there was a clear view of Matt, I felt my eyes fill with tears. Kane took the phone from my hands and pressed pause.

“Is that him? Is that your cheating fuck face ex?”

I wiped my tears and nodded. Kane held the phone up closer to his face and got a better look at Matt.

“Do they kill him? They look like tough guys. I hope they killed him.”

“No. They just made him strip naked,” I said, tears mixing with laughter as I realized what I was saying.

Kane started laughing with me.

“They spanked him, then they made him shove my wedding band up his ass.”

I wiped my face, and Kane forced himself to stop laughing. We really weren’t sure if it was funny or disturbed, but laughing felt good. He closed the video and put my phone back in my purse.

“Whoever those guys are, I’m glad they gave you the wake up call you needed. That asshole of an ex-husband had no business being with a beautiful, amazing woman like you. Come on. Let’s go down to the water.”

He jumped down from the lifeguard post and landed in the sand. He put his arms out for me and, after hesitating just a second, I leapt right into them.

CHAPTER 31

KANE

I’d happily catch that woman any time she wanted. She wasn’t my usual type, but she had me captivated.

From first glance she seemed so well put together, so in control, but as I peeled back the layers, I was learning that there was much more to her than what initially met the eye.

I couldn’t believe any man would take a woman like her for granted. That gang of brothers did the right thing, putting her ex in his place. Meadow deserved the best. Any man that didn’t understand that, didn’t deserve to be within a million miles of her.

“Ahh what are you doing?” she exclaimed as I spun her around.

“I just can’t keep my hands off of you.”

Still holding her, I kissed her. She wrapped her legs around me and I held her closer. What started as a gentle kiss, quickly became more intense. This woman drove me crazy, in the best possibly way. I pressed my lips firmly against hers, causing them to part slightly so my tongue could find hers. The second our tongues met, my dick was fully erect again. Right then I made it my mission to have my tongue explore every inch of her perfect body.

I knew she realized I was hard for her when I noticed a smile grow on her face as we kissed. I let her body drop slightly and I thrust her back up so that her body pressed against my hard-on.

“I’m not sure who likes you more, me or my dick,” I said.

She giggled.

“Where did you come from, Kane?”

“I already told you, right here in Pismo Beach.”

“You dork. You know what I mean. I’m still trying to believe that you’re real. That this night is actually happening. Being in a place like this, with a man like you. I’ve never had a man make me feel the way you do. You seem too good to be true.”

It felt really nice for her to say that to me. What felt even better was that for the first time in two years, the feeling of getting close to a woman wasn’t making me hit the panic button. The old me would have gone running for the hills after a moment like this.

While I was hanging out with Steph, I figured the reason I wasn’t feeling connected to her was because I wasn’t ready to move on. Being with Meadow quickly made me realize that I was ready after all. I just hadn’t found the right woman.

“You know what I love?” I said, and her eyes widened immediately.

“No.”

“Swimming at night,” I said.

She laughed.

“Come swim with me,” I said as I put her back on her feet.

“I can’t. I don’t have a swim suit.”

“Neither do I,” I said with a smirk.

I pulled off my shirt and dropped it on the sand. Then I undid my pants and boxers and stepped out of them. I hoped she would follow my lead.

She didn’t.

I don’t think she’d even noticed I was naked yet. She was too focused on the darkness of the ocean and her excuses not to get in.

“It looks freezing,” she said. “And there could be anything out there at night.”

“You mean like sea monsters?”

She didn’t answer but the way she was looking at the ocean told me she believed that wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility.

“Trust me,” I said.

“We don’t have towels.”

“Please Meadow. We really want you to get naked and come swimming with us.”

“We?”

She looked around at me for the first time, finally noticing that I was completely naked.

“We,” I said again, indicating my raging hard on.

When she saw the size of my cock for the first time, her eyes widened. She raised her hand to cover her mouth. Seeing her reaction only made me harder.

“Holy cow! That was inside me?”

“It’s the only sea monster you need to be afraid of, babe.”

She let out a laugh.

“You’re so ridiculous, Kane.”

“You’ve been warned,” I said, taking her hand and leading her closer to the ocean.

“It’s tempting, Kane,” she said, eyeing my massive cock, “but I’m just terrified at the thought of getting into that dark water. All I can think of is whales and giant squid and all the other creatures that might grab me.”

“You sure?” I said, stepping into the water.

“Go ahead. I’ll watch.”

“All right. You’re off the hook, but only because it’s night time.”

I gave her a kiss and ran into the water, diving head first into the first wave I came to. I came up for air and looked back to her on the shore. She was rolling up the bottoms of her pants to take a few steps into the water.

I dove back under the water and swam out a bit. The beach at the pier was usually crawling with people, but at night, it was like a completely different spot. I loved being in the ocean at night, but honestly, there isn’t any time I don’t love being in the ocean.

There was a time, after the accident, when I couldn’t go near it, but that time had passed.

I turned around and let the waves take me back to shore.

“Isn’t it the most incredible thing?” I said, rising out of the frothy water.

“Pretty amazing,” she said, but I wasn’t sure if she was eyeing my cock or the water.

I let the waves crash against my legs and naked ass as I stood there, looking at her.

“Three quarters of the world is covered by ocean. We’ve barely explored any of it.”

“Incredible,” she agreed, but this time she was definitely looking at my cock.

“So vast, so deep, so mysterious.”

“I’ll say,” she said, and let the most adorable, naughty smirk cross her face. 

“You’re a naughty girl,” I teased.

“What do you expect, mister naked?”

I laughed and let myself fall backwards into a wave that was coming up behind me.

“Aren’t you afraid of sharks?” she said when I came back up.

“I don’t allow myself to be afraid. There are too many wondrous things in the ocean to let fear get the best of you. Think of all the creatures they haven’t even discovered yet!”

“That’s what scares me.”

“What about blue whales? Do you know how big they are?”

“More or less.”

I looked at her, so pretty in the moonlight.

“I’m not boring you, am I?”

“Not at all.”

“Just tell me to shut up if I go on too long. I can get totally carried away talking about the ocean.”

“I like listening to you, Kane. I like that you’re passionate about things.”

“I’m very passionate about blue whales. Did you know their arteries are big enough for a person to swim in?”

“I did not,” she said.

“Or that a car could park in their heart?”

“I had no idea they were that big.”

I stood up and strode toward her.

“They’re massive,” I said, giving my cock a little shake.

Her smile killed me. I had to kiss it. I loved that she was in the ocean, even if just barely. I stood up and reached for her face to kiss her. She let me kiss her, but she backed her body away from mine to avoid getting wet. I laughed and turned to dive back in the water.

Before I swam out too far for her to hear me, I paused and turned around.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come in? It feels so good.”

“Yup. Quite sure,” she said, without hesitation.

“You should come in and let the waves wash away your ex-husband. The tide can pull all his negativity into the water and you’ll be free from it.”

She looked at me like that was exactly what she needed. She bent over and held out her hands to touch the water washing over her feet. She looked back up at me and shook her head. I thought I’d convinced her but she was clearly a stubborn woman.

“There’s so much symbolism in waves,” I said.

“You really are quite the surfer, aren’t you?”

“I guess so. Should I stop?”

“No. Keep going. Please. It’s been a long time since I spent any time with a man who was passionate about anything.”

I smiled and carried on.

“So waves. Dude, they’re like not only totally gnarly to shred on, but they’re like a wickedly symbolic metaphor for life, bro,” I said in my most exaggerated surfer voice.

She burst out laughing. Her laugh was one of my favorite things about her. I felt like I wanted to spend my whole life making her laugh.

“But seriously. Life is change, and there’s always something new coming your way, just like the waves approaching the shore. Some are bigger than others, some are better than others, some we want, some we don’t. But whether you like it or not, they’re always coming.”

“You’re right, Kane.”

“You can’t stop a wave, but you can learn to surf it.”

Meadow was really listening, really appreciating my take on things, and it made me feel proud of what I had to say.

“Sometimes we don’t want the wave yet, maybe we don’t feel ready for it, but no matter what, it’s coming, and that’s okay. If we allow ourselves to relax and float in the water, we’ll simply rise as it passes by. There’s no need to worry about missing it, because there’s always another one coming.”

I demonstrated by letting an approaching wave lift me up and then down. Then I swam to where the waves were cresting. I stood with my back to the ocean, my legs spread wide, my arms crossed tightly in front of my chest, and I faced her.

“If we resist, no matter how hard we try, they’ll knock us over.”

I let the big wave crash against my back before taking me under the water. I let it keep me under longer than I had to. When I finally came back up for air I continued.

“The harder we struggle against it, the longer it will keep us under and drag us against the ocean floor.”

“You had me worried there,” she said. “I thought you’d never come back up.”

I smiled at her.

“Then there’s the perfect wave. The wave with our name on it. A wanted change. A needed change. The change we’re ready for. We see it coming and it’s exciting. We get on top of that wave, leap to our feet on the board, and ride it all the way to shore.”

I dove on top of a wave and used my body like a surfboard. I rode it all the way back to Meadow.

It was bigger than I anticipated. I could feel the power build as it carried me. Meadow got closer and closer and I could see she wasn’t aware of what was happening. I tried to get her attention, but just as I called out for her to move, I was too late. The wave broke right in front of her, giving her only enough time to turn her back on it. The force pushed her over and she fell with a splash into the water.

I couldn’t believe the irony. I laughed as I ran to lift her back up to her feet. Another wave beat me to her, covering her with more water. When I reached her, she was fine, but she wasn’t laughing.

“Kane! I’m soaked. I’m so embarrassed. Quit laughing at me,” she said, trying to fix her hair.

“You’re just ocean kissed. That wave really got you good,” I said, helping her out of the water.

I could tell she’d had enough beach time. I shook myself off as much as I could before putting my pants and shirt back on.

“I’m soaked. How will I get back to the motel?”

I looked at her, her sexy curves hugging the wet fabric of her clothing, her breasts and ass as clearly visible as if she was naked, and knew my answer.

“Come to my place. I’ve got dry clothes you can change into.”

CHAPTER 32

MEADOW

My pants were heavy and clinging to my legs. I didn’t even want to know how flat and frizzy my hair was. I was so mad at that stupid wave for getting me wet, but I was thankful for where it was taking me now. Before I had the chance to die of humiliation, Kane swooped me up in his arms and carried me out of the water.

“You can put me down,” I said when we reached solid ground.

“No way. You’re mine now. I’m carrying you all the way to my place before you change your mind.”

“You can’t carry me all the way.”

“Yes I can, and my body heat will keep you warm.”

“I’m too heavy,” I said.

“You hardly weight a thing, plus I want your sexy body pressed against mine!” he said, pulling me closer against him.

I felt warmer already. I couldn’t stay upset at the ocean for putting me in his arms.

He was like no other guy I’d ever met. I was right when I suspected there was more to him. Already he had shown me that there is far more to him than I could have ever imagined.

I looked up at him in admiration. My admiration turned to less-than-impressed when I spotted a smirk on his face. It was a smirk that was quite obviously still trying to suppress laughter. He knew I wasn’t very happy about getting soaked and I could tell he felt bad, but clearly he got a kick out of it. He was lucky he had the sexiest smirk ever.

I knew I should have gone swimming with him. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Swimming naked on a romantic night like this, with a hunk like him, but of course I was too timid.

I thought about his boner too. How had I said no to that massive boner, begging me to get naked and dive in?

I just couldn’t do it. I’d lived near the ocean my entire life, but swimming was never something I got into. I was more a fan of the great indoors. I loved hot tubs, those were always nice. As long as I didn’t have to go under, and there was zero risk of getting splashed, I was all for it. The ocean? Not so much!

The last thing I wanted was get in the ocean with a pro-surfer and have him witness me doggy paddling around like a spaz, trying to keep my head above water. No way.

My mind kept wandering back to his delicious, gorgeous, perfect, cock.

I didn’t even realize a penis could be that big!

I know I was being greedy, but I wanted some more of it! I wondered excitedly if the evening would take us back in that direction. I hoped it would.

It was bizarre to think that the same surfer, the God of the waves I’d watched in awe earlier that morning, was now carrying me in his arms back to his place. Thinking about it reminded me of the wildflowers I saw him carrying. This time I knew better than to ask about them.

Sandra said Kane was a private guy, and she was right.

He talked my ear off while he swam around in the waves. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it. It was all interesting and I couldn’t believe his passion and knowledge of the ocean and all it’s creatures.

But I still knew almost nothing about him. As far as I could tell, he was born and raised in Pismo Beach, and blue whales had hearts the size of cars. Good stuff to know, but I wanted to know more. I wanted to know his story. I wanted to know what happened in his life to make him so cold and harsh at the brewery, but then have this completely different side to him. A really sweet side, that was funny and bursting with sexual magnetism.

The chemistry between us was unreal and like nothing I’d ever experienced.

It was primal.

I thought about the moment his cock had exploded in my pussy, filling me with the most intimate thing possible. Or the moment I’d orgasmed, practically squirting all over his face as I pressed his mouth tighter and tighter against my pussy! I couldn’t believe that had all happened to me.

Sure, at the start, Matt and I had a healthy sex life, but that was after years of getting to know each other and building trust and comfort. Kane and I were going about things the exact opposite way. Matt was the only man I’d ever been with up until that night, but being with him never felt anything close to to what I’d experienced with Kane.

With Kane it was otherworldly.

I couldn’t believe it. After years of staying with Matt out of fear, I’d finally taken the leap and left him. And I’d literally run into my dream man!

I had girlfriends back in the city, single girlfriends, who were all wonderful women, beautiful women, but they all struggled to meet nice men. And it wasn’t for a lack of trying. They were all out there, going to bars and putting their pictures on the dating websites. They’d tell me their dating horror stories and even though my marriage wasn’t perfect, I was thankful I didn’t have to figure out the dating world.

And now, look where I was!

I wondered if this could be it. If Kane was it for me. Was he the guy I was meant to be with this whole time?

He was nothing like the men I was used to being around. Our worlds were so different, but on some other level, we were the most perfect match imaginable. I held my arms tighter around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder.

“You promise I’m not getting too heavy?”

“Please, I could carry you like this all day. You’re tiny.”

I’d never thought of myself as tiny but in Kane’s massive, muscular arms, I sure felt that way.

“Besides, here we are,” he said, taking me up the driveway of his house.

I lifted my head to see where we were. His house was beautiful. So beautiful. Like nothing I would have ever imagined him in. A part of me had wondered if he was taking me to some old broken down van, with the top popped up and a picnic table set up in front of it. This was totally different.

“I can walk from here, Kane,” I said.

“Nope. I insist,” he said, walking around the side of his house.

It was a huge, three story home, traditional Californian, but with modern additions that gave it an upscale feel. It looked great. I noticed a workshop in the garage and wondered if he had done the renovations himself.

It was an amazing home, clearly his Beach Body repair shop was doing all right. Sweet, funny, gorgeous, a sexual beast, and successful in business. I wanted to toss my hands in the air and yell, “Thank you, Jesus.”

He carried me up the stairs at the back of his house to a large, beautiful deck. He set me down and reached in his pocket to get his keys. I appreciated him keeping me warm by carrying me, but I was anxious to get inside and really warm up.

And then, in the classic way that only men can pull off, he ruined the perfect moment by opening his big mouth!

“Take your clothes off out here.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah.”

“Right here?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong?”

“We’re outside. I don’t have anything to change into. Your neighbors will see me.”

What I really wanted to say is, you’ll see me, but I left that part out.

“Oh, well you see, I changed my mind about giving you dry clothes.”

“You what?”

“Meadow, as soon as you get out of those wet clothes, you’re staying naked. I’ve got my own ideas on how to warm you up!”

He reached for my top and pulled it up over my head. It was off before I even knew what was happening.

This man made me feel so desired, so wanted. It drove me crazy. The way he looked at me made me feel like the sexiest woman in the world. He helped peel my pants and underwear off and he flung them over his clothes line. Then, completely naked, I shivered and looked at him.

“What now?”

He smiled and picked me up, this time tossing me over his shoulder. As he carried me through the back door of his house, he gave my bare butt a hard, loud smack!

CHAPTER 33

KANE

We were both quiet on the walk to my place from the pier. What wasn’t quiet, however, was my mind. As if I didn’t already have it bad enough for this woman, but the way her soaking wet clothing clung to her body made my imagination run wild. While I carried her in my arms, she looked out at the scenery and I looked down at her perky breasts with her hard nipples poking their way through her top.

Everything about her was perfect. Everything about her made me want to devour her. It took all my willpower not to put her on the ground and have my way with her in the middle of the street.

My cock was hard the entire way. It was desperate to get back inside her.

My mind raced with images of the things I wanted to do to her body. Not only did I want to do them, but I was going to do them. There was nothing that could stop me from doing everything I wanted to her, but I knew I had to wait until we got to my place.

I wasn’t willing to let anything or anyone interrupt us this time. There were moments I considered hurrying back, so I could explore every inch of her body as soon as possible, but the masochist in me took my time. The challenge of refraining made my dick throb with anticipation and desire. I knew the wait would only increase the intensity of the explosion once I was ready to drench her tits with my cum.

I carried her over my shoulder and through my house to the master bedroom. My mouth watered as I pictured the moment I’d taste her nipples.

That moment was finally here.

I threw her down on my bed. She bounced up slightly before landing on her back. Her eyes were wide and her smile let me know she was ready. That smile. That sweet, beautiful smile. I suddenly felt torn. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to cum on her tits or if I wanted to shoot my cum into her mouth first. The good news was that I had all night to put my jizz anywhere I wanted on her.

I slid my hands along her body, grabbed her breasts in my hands and squeezed hard. I felt like a teenage kid grabbing his first set of tits. A rush of excitement came over me now that I was face to face with them. Without a moment’s hesitation, I took her left nipple in my mouth.

I could taste a subtle hint of salt water on her. I loved it. I circled around her nipple with my tongue a few times before sucking hard and pulling on it gently with my teeth. While my tongue went to town, I thumbed the nipple on her right breast, getting it ready for its turn.

Her moans were soft and seductive. As I devoured her breasts, I could feel my raging hard cock throbbing and longing for it’s turn to get in on the action. With both hands I pressed her breasts together and my tongue danced back and forth between each nipple. God, I could have died sucking on those breasts. While my mouth enjoyed her tits, my mind and cock debated which hole I would enter first.

“Are you getting warmer yet?” I said, looking up at her.

“A little,” she said in a cheeky tone.

She was challenging me to turn up the heat. It was a challenge I gladly accepted. Not only was I about to warm her up, I was going to make her sweat.

I moved my way up to her face and pressed my lips against hers, hard. Our tongues wrestled with an intense passion and I thrust my dick against her slowly, but firmly. My dick pressed ruthlessly against the inside of my jeans, fighting to be released.

I sat up and straddled her body on my knees. Before I could, she reached for the button and undid my pants. With no more help from either of us, my raging hard on leapt out of my pants and greeted her, inches from her face.

“Oh my God,” she blurted out.

Her eyes practically bulged from her face. I was so big, so desperate for her touch, and the sight of it shocked her.

She slowly licked her bottom lip before biting on it. She was hungry for my dick and I felt a surge pulse through it. I don’t think I’d ever wanted to cum on a girl this desperately in all my life. Every naughty, forbidden thought I’d ever had rushed through my mind, dying to be unleashed on this girl.

Almost as if it had a mind of its own, the head of my cock stretched toward her delicious, wet mouth. She lifted her head slightly and the head of my dick grazed her lips. I moved my pelvis slowly in a small circle and let my dick trace along her wet lips. She lifted herself a little more, opened her mouth, and took me deep into her throat.

I let out a moan as I felt her lips slide along my shaft. I felt the head of my dick press against the back of her mouth. She backed off slightly, and slid her mouth down again. She was trying to get my whole cock in her mouth, before eventually accepting that I was just too big. I could tell she was shocked by my size. While her mouth continued to suck up and down my shaft, she used her left hand to cup my balls and squeeze them, ever so gently.

I watched as her head bobbed back and forth on my dick. The pleasure was excruciating. She had the mouth of a goddess and I was completely under her spell.

I caught her glance up at me. Fuck. Her eyes.

I didn’t want her to stop sucking my cock, but I need to see her face. I wanted to look deep into her eyes while I pressed myself inside her pussy. It was impossible for me to deny the connection I was feeling with her. It was beyond just physical. We had a cosmic connection.

I pulled my dick out of her mouth. She sat up and pulled my shirt up over my head, revealing my tense, tight chest to her gaze.

“Kane. I had no idea that men like you existed.”

Slowly, she dragged her fingertips down my chest. It felt so good. There was something in the way she looked at me. While she was busy with my body, I pulled my jeans all the way off and dropped them to the floor.

“I’m just glad a woman like you exists,” I said as I pushed her back down.

I took her breasts in my mouth again. There was still a slight hint of delicious salt water on them. I remembered that her bottom half had gone completely under water. Instantly, my face was down between her legs. Before I dove in to taste the salt water on her pussy, I paused. Her smell was intoxicating. That alone was enough to send a rush of pleasure from the base of my cock to the tip. I licked my lips, moved closer, and ran my tongue from the bottom of her pussy to the top.

She let out a deep but soft breath of air.

She tasted better than I imagined. I took her whole pussy in my mouth and pressed my tongue deep inside her. The combination of her natural taste and the ocean’s water made me feel like I’d found my true soulmate. I gave her clit a wet kiss, like I was making out with it, and then kissed my way up her body. Moving slowly from side to side, along her waist, above her belly button, beside each breast, along her collarbone, up her neck, and finally back to her mouth.

I backed my head away from hers so I could see her beautiful face. I could tell it made her shy. When our eyes made contact she bashfully turned away. I gently moved her head back and she looked up at me again.

“I have to tell you something,” I said, looking into her heavenly eyes.

She looked back at me and said nothing. She seemed nervous to hear what I was about to say. I hoped it wouldn’t scare her off, but I had to say it. I didn’t break eye contact with her for a single second. I needed her to understand how serious I was about what I was about to say.

“You make me feel things I haven’t felt in years. Tonight you’ve brought parts of me, parts that I swore were dead, back to life. Being with you makes me feel alive again. I can see that you’re beautiful, but it was when you made me laugh out loud, more than once tonight that I knew that I want to do whatever it takes to keep you in my life.”

It was hard to get through my words, especially when I noticed her eyes fill with tears. I pushed through and finished what I had to say. I needed her to understand the feelings I was experiencing. She challenged me so much at the beach that I wanted to assure her that I had the best intentions with her. I would never do anything to hurt her. I hated that asshole ex-husband for leaving her so fragile, but I knew I could be the man to handle her with care. She was special and I wanted to make sure she knew it.

After a few seconds of looking up at me, and shaking her head in what seemed to be disbelief, she reached up with both hands and held my face, rising to kiss me. The second our lips touched, I pressed my dick slowly into her soaking wet pussy and slid all the way, deep inside her. She moaned, and as each inch of my cock entered her, her moan grew a little louder.

I’d never been so deep inside a woman before in my life. It felt as if my cock was reaching right into the very core of her body, to a place neither of us had ever experienced before.

She reached the back of my head and grabbed my hair between her fingers, just as I finished sliding deep inside her.

I kept my dick still inside her as we continued to kiss passionately. The feeling was unreal. I could tell she was feeling it too. I didn’t need the sensation of thrusting. I was inside her, and being so close to her was a life-changing sensation. We continued to kiss, and as we kissed, my cock throbbed and spasmed in pleasure, getting closer and closer to cumming.

Suddenly she stopped and looked at me.

“I want you to fuck me, Kane,” she said, looking me right in the eye.

With that, the sentimental side of me was gone and the side of me that was ready to fuck this woman with dominating force came rushing back at full speed. I smirked at her as I slid my cock out of her pussy. I took it right out and hovered it inches above her.

“What was that?” I said, knowing full what she said, but wanting her to say it again.

“I want you to fuck me, Kane. Hard.”

The second she said my name, I forced my dick back inside her, then pulled it back out just as quickly, leaving the tip in.

“Come on, Kane. Fuck me. You make me feel like the sexiest woman in the world. Now I want you to fuck me like I am.”

She asked for it.

I leaned forward and rested my hands on either side of her head as I thrust my dick in and out of her. She arched her back and grabbed onto my ass, digging her sharp fingernails into my flesh. The pain mixed with the pleasure in my cock drove me wild.

“Yes, yes, like that,” she screamed before taking my earlobe in her mouth and biting down hard.

It drove me wild. I lifted myself up slightly, and grabbed her, pulling her body more tightly onto my dick.

She reached up and dragged her nails down my back. Her body arched and pressed against mine as I continued to fuck her hard and fast. The rush was enough to make me cum, but I held off, delaying the climax, drawing out the intense pleasure for as long as possible.

“Kane, you’re going to make me cum, baby,” she cried, almost like she was surprised.

Her hands moved from my back and grabbed on to the sheets. Seeing how close she was made me fuck her even harder.

I thrust into her, forcing my body against hers like I was a wave trying to crash her to the ground.

“Cum, Meadow. I want to feel it on my dick. I want to feel you pulsing all around me,” I cried.

I fucked her faster and faster, harder and harder. I’d broken a sweat, I could no longer think straight, I was gasping for air, but I wouldn’t stop until I got to feel her cum for me.

“Yes, yes, don’t stop,” she begged, thrusting her pelvis in perfect sync with mine.

She let go of the sheets and reached for my ass. Then, she pulled me even deeper inside. I loved the way this woman took my cock. I felt her vagina tightening around my dick. She was close. I kept going, harder and harder, faster and faster.

“Kane,” she screamed as her back arched.

The way she said my name, with such pleasure, such passion and force, combined with the feeling of her pussy gripping my dick, made me explode without warning. I pushed my pelvis right into her, thrusting deep into her. I held my cock as deep as it could go and poured every drop of my semen into her welcoming body. Each pulse of her orgasm made me cum again, pouring more of myself into her.

Still inside her, our bodies soaking from sweat, gasping for air, the final shocks of pleasure flowed through us. I kept my dick deep inside her and slowly lifted my body to look at her. Her head was turned to the side, her hand resting near her forehead. She was smiling ear from ear.

We were both silent as we tried to catch our breath. I kissed her on the cheek and she turned to look at me.

“Whoa,” she said with a smile.

I smiled and kissed her.

“Tell me about it! Meadow, you’re incredible!”

CHAPTER 34

MEADOW

My eyes gently blinked open. It was still dark in his room, but I could hear birds outside so I knew the sun would be up soon. Without making much movement, I rolled over slightly and looked back over my shoulder.

My heart melted.

Kane looked so peaceful, fast asleep beside me. Waking up there, next to him, was greater than any dream I’d ever had.

I smiled as I lay there, quietly remembering all the incredible moments from the night before. Kane going down on me in the alley, the naughtiness of being in public adding to the excitement. His sexy white ass flashing me every time he dove through the waves in the moonlight. His cock waving in the air as he teased me and tried to get me to join him in the water. How hard he laughed at my dumb jokes, and how incredibly kind his words to me had been. And, of course, the moment we orgasmed at the exact same time, his cock spilling every last drop into me.

That never happened with Matt. Ever.

I’d convinced myself it was just a myth and actually wasn’t possible. Or at least not physically possible for me. I thought maybe there was just something wrong with me. I always felt that Matt and I had good sex. Turns out, I didn’t even know what good sex was until last night.

And what Kane and I had wasn’t even just sex. It was more than that. It was bigger than that. We’d been far more than just physically connected.

Kane startled me when he let out a short snore. I froze. He scratched his face, then rolled over onto his side facing away from me. I kept perfectly still, not wanting to wake him. Minutes later his breathing got deeper again and I knew he had drifted back to sleep.

That was my chance.

I very slowly moved my leg out from under the covers and off the side of the bed. As my foot reached for the floor, the rest of me carefully slid off the bed after it. I didn’t breathe for fear of disturbing him. I placed the covers down and tiptoed away from the bed. I was completely naked and felt more beautiful, more sexy and seductive, than I ever had in my life.

As I passed by the armchair in the corner of his room, I picked up my purse and continued to tiptoe my way to his ensuite bathroom. I gently closed the door as far as I could without completely shutting it.

I sat down on the toilet and took a moment to look around.

I was impressed with his style. He had a modern look going on, very manly. Very clean lines with lots of solid blacks, grays, and whites. I thought the only thing missing was a nice statement piece of art.

Not only was his style good, but the bathroom was clean. The towels were hung up and he had even left the seat down. I braced myself as I flushed the toilet for fear it would make a lot of noise, but it didn’t. I washed my hands and opened my purse on the counter.

As I got out my makeup bag, I heard him moving around again. I peeked out the crack of the door and watched him roll onto his back. My eyes lit up when I noticed he had a full erection. His massive and very sturdy cock was raising the sheet high off of his body like the pole at the center of a circus tent.

Naughty thoughts raced through my head. I wanted to get my mouth on that dick again, and this time I was going to keep it there until he came. I wanted to taste him. I wanted to swallow him.

This time it would all be about him. I was going to suck on his solid, throbbing cock until I made him cum in my mouth. I wanted to taste his semen. I would get such pleasure from getting him off. I wasn’t going to stop until I finished the job.

I was excited that my chance to make a man cum again was here. I couldn’t wait to have him wake up from the feeling of me taking him deep into my wet, sensual mouth.

I looked in the mirror and wiped the sleep from my eyes. I put on some concealer. My eyeliner had become a bit blotchy so I touched it up and gave my lashes a lift with some mascara. I put some of his toothpaste on my finger and rubbed it around on my teeth and tongue. I rinsed my mouth and then used my wet hands to comb my hair down a bit. Now, looking a little better than I did when I woke up, I quietly pushed the bathroom door back open.

My eyes were locked on his pitched tent as I made my way toward him. I didn’t want him to wake up too soon, so I continued to move quietly. I wanted him to be caught off guard and surprised when he realized what I was doing to him under the covers.

Just as carefully as I got up, I slid back onto the bed. He started to move again and I stopped where I was. He rolled back over onto his side.

He was moving pretty frequently so I decided to lay there quietly and wait for him to turn my way. I wanted to give him the perfect surprise blowjob. I could have gone for it right then but it would have been an awkward angle. I debated reaching over to take his dick in my hands, but decided against it. I wanted the first thing his dick felt to be my wet mouth.

I looked over at him as he slept with his back turned to me. His skin was smooth and perfectly tanned. He was so perfect. My eyes traced along the lines of his beautifully sculpted back, shoulders and arms. His long hair lay in a sexy mess on the pillow. I continued to lay on my back and started to feel sleepy myself. As I waited for him, I could feel the weight of my eyelids as I started to drift in and out sleep.

My thoughts began to blend with my dreams. The sounds of him breathing and the birds outside were soothing. I rolled over on my side with my back to him and got comfortable. At the same time, Kane rolled back over. This time all the way so that he was facing me. I smiled with my eyes still closed when I felt his arm reach out and pull me back, close to him.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as my body relaxed back into his. Being in his arms like that felt so nice, so perfect, so safe. I felt like I was finally where I was meant to be. Like my whole life had been a journey to this special, beautiful place.

He leaned over and gave me a kiss on the neck and whispered in my ear.

“Good morning, Carolyn.”

CHAPTER 35

MEADOW

I leapt out of the bed, but not before elbowing Kane in the gut.

“You fucking asshole,” I yelled, with a glare strong enough to shoot daggers through him as he fumbled to sit up in the bed.

“I knew it. I fucking knew it. I never should have trusted you.”

He just sat there. He had nothing to say for himself, which was just as well because I had plenty to say for both of us.

“You’re a liar and a cheater. I can’t believe I let myself fall for your tricks. After everything I’ve been through, I should have known better. I’m such an idiot.”

I was so furious with him, and myself, that I hadn’t even realized I was standing there yelling at him, completely naked. I kept yelling while I looked around the room, trying desperately to find my clothes before finally remembering they were out back on the clothesline. I reached down and ripped the sheet off his bed, leaving him completely exposed as I covered myself up.

“You told me you’re a one woman kind of man, and I believed you. I believed I was your one woman now. I let myself believe I’d hit the jackpot with you. But no! You’re a multiple woman kind of man. Just like every other man. You’re all the same.”

I still couldn’t believe he wasn’t saying anything. He just sat there. I guess there’s not much to say when you’ve been busted for being a piece of shit. I stormed out of the room to get my clothes.

“Where is she? Where is Carolyn? Does she live with you? Is this her house too? This house is massive. It’s way too big for just one person, even if he is a giant asshole.”

My voice got louder and louder as I stormed through the house. I needed to make sure he heard every word I said. My blood was boiling. I was so frustrated with myself for not trusting my instincts. For ignoring the signs. I’d asked him in so many ways if he was playing me, but he convinced me he was better than that.

My fault for falling for it!

I passed rooms with the doors shut, went down the stairs, through the living room and kitchen, and opened the door to the back deck. I pulled my pants and top off the clothesline and put them on as I walked back into the kitchen.

“Poor Carolyn. Does she even know you’re a cheater? You’re probably not as good at hiding it as you think you are. Or maybe she isn’t your girlfriend and doesn’t live here. Maybe you’re a womanizer with a revolving door of women. Was Carolyn here the night before me? Is that why her name was so fresh on your mind? Who’s coming tonight?”

He was still upstairs, like a coward. The least he could do was come down and own what he’d done. I wanted an explanation. I deserved an explanation. Maybe he figured he didn’t owe me one because we hardly knew each other. I was just some woman he met the night before.

My emotions were all over the place with feelings of total rage and being utterly mortified. But mostly rage.

I was pissed.

I was so tired of men having zero respect for me.

I continued to yell up the stairs at him while I finished getting my clothes on. With one leg in my now dry pants, I hopped around on one foot trying to get the second leg in. After the third hop, I lost my balance and tripped over a chair. I stumbled forward, my legs tangled in my pants, but I was able to break my fall by grabbing onto the fridge.

Once I’d steadied myself, I finished doing up the pants. I looked at the fridge and the truth dawned on me all at once.

It was covered in pictures of a beautiful woman and a little girl. There were some pictures of just the two of them, and others with Kane, like a perfect, happy, beautiful family.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

He was the worst kind of cheater. The married kind! And a father on top!

I practically screamed at the top of my lungs as my hands reached up and I dragged my fingers down the front of the fridge, ripping the pictures off.

“You’re married? You are fucking married and you have a child? Unbelievable.”

Some of the pictures caught between my fingers and I crumpled them in my fists.

“I can’t believe you. I thought you were different. But you’re not. You’re just like Matt. You’re so selfish. A married man and a father. No wife or child deserves this sort of betrayal. How could you?”

I looked down at my feet and saw the faces of his wife and daughter looking up at me. My stomach turned and I wanted to vomit.

“Oh my God,” I said in a quiet voice to myself. “Now I’m the other woman. He’s made me the other woman.”

The reality really started to sink in as I realized what I’d just done.

“Now I’m the other woman. You’ve made me the other woman,” I repeated, but this time louder.

“I would have never, ever, slept with you if I’d known you were married. I wouldn’t have come near you. Your wife doesn’t deserve this. Neither do I. You don’t deserve either of us. You’re an awful, selfish asshole and you deserve to be alone, forever.”

I didn’t bother putting on my shoes. I’d had enough. I picked them up and stormed out the backdoor, slamming it behind me so hard it almost broke. I swore to God I would never set foot in that house again.

CHAPTER 36

MEADOW

As if I wasn’t angry enough, I could have screamed when I remembered my car was at the café.

Just perfect.

Doing the walk of shame across Pismo Beach back to my motel was exactly what I was in the mood for. I didn’t even know where I was or how long it would take to get back. The night before, when Kane carried me all the way from the beach to his house, I paid no attention to where we were going. The only thing my attention was focused on was how blissful I felt in his arms.

I was a blissful stupid idiot.

I was so mad I’d let myself get caught up in him. Before I reached the edge of his lawn, I stopped to put my shoes on. I bent over and saw a large rock that was just begging me to hurl it through his window. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t consider it, but I chose not to.

I didn’t have to stoop to his level.

Plus, deep down, I knew that below this rage was the world’s most awful hurt. It felt awful knowing I was the other woman, and doubly sad knowing Kane wasn’t the man I’d hoped for.

I wandered down his street, hoping it would start to look familiar soon. I was looking for a clue as to which direction I needed to go. When I got to the bottom of the street, I had to choose left or right. I checked left first and didn’t see much that was recognizable. When I checked my right, I saw the large glowing sign for the Rolling Wave Motel.

I was less than a two minute walk from my motel.

That’s how close I’d been to sleeping in my own motel bed and not putting myself in this terrible situation. The thought really pissed me off.

That lying, manipulative pig of a man knew I was staying at the Rolling Wave. When I was soaking wet, dreading having to walk all the way back to my motel, he’d made it sound like his place was closer. He said it like it was a fact that if we went back to his place, I’d be in dry clothes quicker.

He was never worried about me. He wasn’t trying to help me get into dry clothes. All he wanted was to get me back to his place so he could get more of what he was after.

Sex.

It had nothing to do with me. He just wanted to get a naked woman into his bedroom.

I walked into the motel parking lot and remembered the free coffee in the office.

I wanted a coffee.

I needed a coffee.

The one good thing about being up so early was that it gave me a couple hours to calm down before I started my shift at the café. I knew it was just a waitressing job, but that job meant so much to me. The way it almost seemed to fall into my lap, and the fact that Sandra took a chance on me was more than dumb luck.

I knew it was a gift from God, and I wasn’t about to do anything to mess it up.

I slowly opened the door to the motel office. Before it was halfway open, I reached up and held the bell above my head, stopping it from making a sound. I leaned on the door a little further and slid through unnoticed. I loosened my grip on the bell and made my way to the coffee machine. I took a cup from the tower of paper cups and poured myself a hot, strong cup of coffee. When it was full I took another cup and filled it too. It was definitely a two cup kind of morning.

“Well, it seems we’ve got an early riser on our hands. Good morning, dear.”

I forced a friendly smile on my face before turning around to greet the lady.

“Good morning,” was all I could manage.

The look on her face made it clear I hadn’t been very successful in my attempt at a smile. She stood there with a worried look on her face.

I felt horrible. I was in an awful mood, but it wasn’t her fault. Without physically shaking my head, I mentally tried to snap out of it so I could be kind to her. I could fake my way through a bit of small talk in the interest of good manners.

“It’s funny, I haven’t always been a morning person. It must be the ocean,” I said with a little laugh.

“I do love the mornings here. It’s so peaceful before the rest of the town wakes.”

“It sure is,” I said.

“I can’t help but notice you’re pouring two cups of coffee,” she said before I could hide them.

“Oh my. How greedy of me,” I said, embarrassed at getting caught abusing my coffee privileges.

“Oh no, it’s fine. There’s plenty where that came from. But now, this might be none of my business, but I can’t help wonder if you found a nice young man to welcome you to town,” she said with a cheeky smile on her face.

“Oh, I found a man all right. He welcomed me by reminding me all men are lying, cheating assholes,” I blurted.

She looked at me like a deer in headlights. The poor woman had no idea how to react. I knew the best thing was for me to get out of there before I really made a fool of myself.

“I’m sorry. I need to get back to my room,” I said, placing lids on both cups of coffee.

I was mortified and couldn’t get out of there quick enough.

I opened the door and the bell rang above my head as I hurried out. I rounded the corner and burst out crying. With both hands carrying coffee, there was no wiping the tears. I hurried to my door, put both coffees on the ground, and dug through my bag for the key.

Once inside, I slammed the door behind me and collapsed on the bed, burying my face in the pillow. I took a deep breath and let out a massive scream. I hoped the pillow would muffle it enough that I wouldn’t terrify the other guests. I lifted my head and the giant alarm clock caught my eye. It wasn’t as early as I thought it was and I had to be at the café in an hour.

I hurried into the bathroom and turned on the shower, undressing as it ran. I was ready to get in there and scrub Kane off me forever. I made a mistake with him and I was going to wash it down the drain.

I knew I had to toughen up. I couldn’t be so emotional. I wasn’t going to let him win. This was my new life, and I wasn’t willing to let another cheating asshole rob me of it. I was going to shower, do my hair and makeup, and look fabulous for my second day at work.

CHAPTER 37

SANDRA

With an armload of ketchup bottles, I backed out of the cooler. I put one on each table as I made my way to the front of the restaurant. I was so focused on my task I didn’t even notice Meadow come in. She was standing behind the counter with her back to me as she searched through the pile of aprons for a clean one she could wear.

“Well good morning, sleeping beauty. I hope you got lots of rest last night. It’s going to be a busy day today,” I said as I made my way toward her.

She turned and smiled, tying the winning apron around her waist.

“Holy. You look like shit,” I blurted out.

I instantly regretted it. No one wants to hear that, even if it’s the truth. I couldn’t help it though. She looked so run down that it caught me completely off guard. I could tell she’d put some effort into her appearance, but it was written all over her face that she’d had a sleepless night.

“I’m so sorry. That’s not what I meant. Of course you still look beautiful. We’ve got some time, why don’t we relax over a coffee before we open? I just finished brewing a fresh pot.”

I reached for two coffee mugs, knowing she wouldn’t say no to a coffee.

“A coffee would be great, but if you don’t mind, I’d rather just get to work. I’ve got lots to learn about how to open a restaurant.”

She was so determined to prove she was a hard worker.

“Oh, yeah, okay. Greg better be careful. Seems like you’re going to take over his title as hardest working employee,” I said as Greg, our sixteen-year-old dishwasher, walked through the door.

Greg laughed and gave Meadow a mock glare. I introduced them and they had a little chat before he continued back into the dish pit. Meadow looked around the restaurant. I could tell she was ready to start work, but had no idea where to start. I handed her a mug of coffee and a package of napkins.

“Here, take this and start at the back. Make sure that the napkin dispensers on each table are full.”

“I’m on it,” she said like she’d just been given a highly important mission.

It was nice to have an extra set of hands. Knowing the napkins were in capable hands, I headed back to the kitchen to chat with the cooks. Eventually I peeked out the service window and saw that Meadow had finished the napkin task and was looking around again for something to do. I tried to think of another job I could give her, but we were pretty much ready with time to spare.

I tried to think what could have given her such a bad night. She’d been happy, literally thrilled, when she’d said goodnight to Paul and me at the brewery.

Was it the work? Not only was this her second day at a new job, it was her second day at a job, ever. I could only imagine how nervous and anxious she must have been feeling. I wondered if she’d been worried all night about her shift.

“Don’t be nervous about today, girl. I know you’re going to be great,” I said as I walked up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.

She looked at me with a half smile. That’s when I noticed a quiver in her lip.

“Meadow, is everything okay?”

I turned her towards me gently, leaving my hands on her arms as I looked her in the eye. I wanted her to know she could be honest with me.  The moment our eyes met, she started sobbing.

“Oh, no,” I said as I pulled her in for a hug.

“Meadow darling, today’s going to be fine. You’re going to be great and I’ll be here all day to help you. Remember how much of a natural team we make?”

I tried my best to reassure her as she sobbed into my shoulder. Between the tears, I could tell she was trying to say something, but I couldn’t make it out.

“What was that?”

She repeated herself, but with all the sobbing it was impossible to make out a word she said. I felt awful, but I had to ask her to repeat herself a third time.

“I slept with Kane last night,” she said at last, and burst into hysterical tears.

Startled by the news and her sobbing, I grabbed her hand and rushed her into the back office. It was the last thing I expected to hear. No wonder I had no idea what she was trying to say. I would never have guessed that. I couldn’t believe she slept with Kane. I was so sure it was her and Paul who were going to hit it off.

Having never slept with Kane myself, I wasn’t sure what about sleeping with him would make a grown woman burst into hysterical tears. I mean, I knew he had his faults, but he was one of my best friends and that was because he was a solid guy. They got off to such a rough start with each other, and I was feeling pretty happy with myself for smoothing it over between them last night, but I really had no idea that I had done such a good job. I still couldn’t get over the fact she’d ended up with Kane when I was sure the chemistry had been between her and Paul.

“Kane? Really? I thought you and Paul were hitting off.”

She looked up and stared at me, wiping her tears on her sleeve. She said nothing and that was when I realized the problem wasn’t with my matchmaking skills.

“Sorry. Sorry. Okay, you slept with Kane. Why is that a disaster?”

She looked into my eyes, still saying nothing. I could tell her mind was racing but I had no idea what about. The way her eyes were moving, in short quick movements, let me know she was collecting her thoughts. It looked like she was trying to make sense of it all. My curiosity was killing me, but I gave her time.

“I can’t believe you, Sandra. How can you just sit there like it’s not a big deal. You call that man one of your best friends? How could you ever be friends with someone like him? Do you support his lifestyle? I feel like I’m going to be sick. Why did everyone fail to mention that Kane is married?”

CHAPTER 38

SANDRA

Finally, the penny dropped!

My heart ached for her. It was almost like she’d become so accustomed to being lied to that she expected every man she met to do the same. I loved Kane like a brother, and I respected his choice to keep his private life private, but Meadow needed to know. If he wasn’t going to tell her about them, I had to.

She deserved to know. Meadow deserved to be told the truth about what happened.

“Oh, hun, Kane isn’t married. He’s never been married and he doesn’t have a child,” I said as I held her hands in mine.

She glared at me. It was like she suspected me of covering for him.

“Meadow! If Kane was cheating on someone, I’d be the first one to knock him over the head. Don’t you know the code? Hoes before bros,” I said with a laugh, hoping I’d at least get a smile out of her.

I didn’t.

She kept looking at me with the same untrusting glare. She was desperate for an explanation and I was ready to give it to her.

“Kane has never been married, but two years ago, he was engaged.”

She crossed her arms and looked at me. Feeling like I was on the stand, I continued.

“The little girl was his fiancée’s daughter. Not Kane’s child. His fiancée had her with another man long before her and Kane even met.”

I could see Meadow slowly calm down as I continued.

“She wound up in Pismo Beach much the same way you did. She’d been in an abusive relationship with the father of her daughter and finally decided she’d had enough. She loaded her car with some things, drove through the night with her daughter, and ended up here.”

Meadow cleared her throat.

“Kane was the first person she met. Without hesitation, he insisted they come stay with him while she figured out her life out. Her name was Carolyn.”

Meadow’s eyes shot daggers the second I said her name. I still didn’t know how she’d found out about Carolyn and Tamara, or how much she knew, but it was clear she knew her name.

“Anyway, the two of them moved in with Kane and never moved out. He fell head over heels in love with both of them. We were all shocked. Kane had always been the lone wolf type, but it was different when he met Carolyn. Something changed in him, for the better.”

Meadow let out a deep sigh. I could see the tension releasing from her body as the story progressed.

“He loved those girls more than anything in the world. He adored Carolyn and treated Tamara like she was his own. In no time at all, they were engaged. Kane wouldn’t stop bragging about it. He wanted everyone to know. He had big plans for starting a life with the two of them. He hated that they’d been mistreated and vowed to show them a more loving life.”

I could tell Meadow was less than interested in the love story of Kane and Carolyn. She seemed more interested in the part that explained that he wasn't engaged anymore. I got the hint and got to the point.

“Two years ago there was an accident.”

Meadow’s expression was completely blank.

“Carolyn had packed a picnic dinner for the three of them. It was this adorable thing they used to do. They’d go to their favorite spot on a cliff overlooking the ocean. They’d eat dinner, swim and watch the sunset together.”

“I see,” Meadow said. It was the first she’d spoken since I started telling the story.

“Kane got caught up in a job at the shop he had to get done. He called Carolyn and told her to take her own car to the spot and he’d meet up with them as soon as he could. Their spot is just a little ways down the highway.”

“I think I know it.”

Meadow’s voice was so soft I barely made out what she said.

“Maybe you do. It was a bit of a secret spot. The tourists hadn’t found it yet, so it was essentially a private beach. Though it was so secret that it also meant there were no lifeguards, beach flags and warning signs to tell current conditions.”

“I’m pretty sure I noticed flags there,” Meadow said, correcting me while trying to make sure she was remembering correctly.

“Yeah. There are now. They put those there two years ago.”

That was the moment Meadow’s anger cooled down enough to figure out where this was going. Her arms uncrossed and she held her hands together in front of her chest. She said nothing and waited for me to go on.

“Carolyn didn’t grow up on the ocean like Kane did. Kane could tell just by looking at the water if it was a good idea to get in or not. He was so protective of those two. Not every picnic dinner included swimming. If the conditions were even the slightest bit off, Kane got strict and wouldn’t allow them to get in.”

“Oh no,” Meadow said, piecing the rest together for herself.

“I guess Carolyn was feeling confident that she’d been there enough with Kane to know what to look for. The wind was calm that day and the waves were gentle so she assumed it was fine. Most people would have assumed the same. She and Tamara went into the ocean for a swim while they waited for Kane to finish work.”

It had been so long since I’d told the story. It felt strange to be telling it. It had become something that no one ever spoke of. That day shook the whole town. No one was quite the same after it, but soon enough, life goes on and we got on with it. As the memories came flooding back, I could feel my voice start to tremble.

“There was a massive undertow. It was nothing the untrained eye would have been able to spot. Now, no one else was there, so I’m not exactly sure what happened. Kane told us once what happened when he got there.”

“What happened?” Meadow said, her voice breaking.

“He pulled into the lot and saw her car parked there. Excited to see them, he headed down the steep, winding path to the beach. He saw their clothes, blanket, and towels on the beach. He looked out into the water to see them swimming. But he couldn’t see them swimming. He started to glance around frantically, noticing the dangerous conditions. It was then that he saw Carolyn, way off in the distance. He couldn’t see Tamara at all.”

“Oh, God.”

“He rushed into the water and swam toward Carolyn. He had always been a strong swimmer. He swam and he swam towards Carolyn, all the while scanning for a sign of Tamara. Eventually he reached Carolyn, but it was too late. She was just floating there, facedown. He grabbed her in his arms, turned her over, and knew she was gone.”

“What about Tamara?”

“He held onto Carolyn and looked for Tamara. He could feel the strong pull of the current as he tried to stay afloat but he never gave up. Not until he saw Tamara’s tiny pink water shoe. Then he knew in his heart he’d lost her too.”

By that point, I wasn’t even looking at Meadow anymore. I couldn’t. I kept my eyes down as they filled with tears. When I did look up, Meadow had the same tears in her eyes, her hand covering her mouth.

“I’ve made a horrible mistake,” she said with a look of gut wrenching regret.

CHAPTER 39

MEADOW

I couldn’t believe how stupid I’d been. Kane wasn’t a cheater or an asshole, he was just a man with a broken heart. Sandra meant it when she said that Kane had one of the biggest hearts she’d ever known, and I, Meadow the Jackass, had stomped all over it like a crazy jealous ogre.

“I need to go. I have to find him and apologize,” I said, starting to panic.

“Of course you can go. I can handle opening on my own, but you might have already missed him,” Sandra said.

“What? Why? I need to see him. I said awful things, Sandra. I was horrible to him.”

“The guys are going to Big Sur today. He might have already left.”

“He said he needed to do work at the shop first. Where’s the shop? I can go there, maybe he’s still there,” I said.

I couldn’t just let it go and wait for when he got back from his trip. I had to apologize immediately or I’d die.

I needed to tell him I was sorry. Sorry for how I behaved and sorry for his loss. The second he said her name, I just jumped to conclusions and went off on a psycho rampage. I was furious with him for just sitting there in bed. Now I knew why.

“Here’s the address for the shop. I’ll take care of the café. Go.”

I looked at her like she was my savior and hugged her tighter than I’d ever hugged anyone.

“I’m so sorry. I promise I’m not normally surrounded by so much drama. Please, Sandra, I have to ask you to keep all this a secret. All of the Kane stuff. I don’t want anyone to find out about us sleeping together, and I especially would hate if anyone found out what happened this morning. I need to find him and make things right. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I rushed through the restaurant, took off my apron and left it on the counter, before heading out the door. Thankfully, my car hadn’t been towed and I got in and sped to the shop. As I rolled my way through each stop sign, I wondered what I would say when I saw him. I had no idea how to redeem myself after my display.

I found his shop and instead of using a parking spot, I drove right up to the front door. The closed sign was facing forward, the door was locked, and the lights were all out. I went to the back where the garage doors were. I tried lifting them with no luck. I banged and banged on them, but no one came.

He wasn’t there.

I ran back to my car and hoped to God I’d find him at his place. I drove like a lunatic and was lucky I wasn’t pulled over.

I parked and ran up to the front door. I rang the bell, and after waiting one second for him to answer, rang it again and again. With still no sign, I started knocking too. I peeked in the window before deciding to run around back to the deck entrance. I ran up the stairs about as gracefully as an elephant being chased by a mouse. I got to the door and knocked again. Then, I reached to open the door, but it was locked. I put my face to the glass and used my hands to block the glare so I could see inside. I noticed his shoes that were there earlier were gone now. I also noticed that the pictures I had crumpled and thrown to the ground were now in a neat pile on the kitchen table.

I turned around and slumped to the ground. I sat there and held my head in my hands. I had made such a horrible mistake. I was so embarrassed. Mortified. I hated the thought of him meeting up with the guys in Big Sur and telling them everything I’d said to him.

It was such a knee-jerk reaction and I had no excuse. Why couldn’t I just shut my giant mouth for a moment and let him explain?

In a last ditch effort, I reached over my head and knocked on the door one last time. Still nothing. I picked myself off the ground and made my way to my car. Even though I knew he wasn’t home, I kept looking back to the door to see if he was there.

He wasn’t.

I got into the passenger side of my car and opened the glovebox to get a piece of paper and pen. In all of the time we spent together, we were too busy talking or fucking to bother exchanging numbers. I had to leave him a note so he’d know I wanted to talk to him as soon as possible. I held the pen and paper in my hands and the blank page stared me in the face.

I had no idea what to write. I had no idea how I could ever recover from the damage I did that morning. What could I possibly say that would smooth it over? I was sure I’d put myself on the top of his list of most hated people. My hand was shaking as it held the pen, nervous to write the wrong thing.

Kane,

Please call me. Sandra told me everything about how Carolyn and her daughter died.

I scribbled all over the page. Maybe I really was an idiot. I ripped the page off the pad and crumpled it up. I wrote his name again at the top of a fresh page.

Kane,

I am so so so sorry. I was out of line (again). I really can’t get anything right when I’m around you. I need to see you and apologize in person even though I’m certain I’m probably the last person you ever want to see.

Regretfully yours,

Meadow

Ugh, too pathetic. Regretfully yours? Come on. I scribbled all over that page too and threw it on the floor of the car. I wrote his name a third time on a new page.

Kane,

I messed up. Please call me so I can apologize in person.

I hope you can forgive me,

Meadow

I sat and looked at the letter. I wrote my number beneath my name. I could have written him a novel with all of the things I wanted to say, but I knew a letter wasn’t the place for it. I needed to see him. I needed him to see me so he would believe how truly sorry I was. I walked to the back door again, folded the piece of paper and wedged it in the door near the handle.

I felt torn between going back to work at the café or just finding a dark hole to crawl into for the rest of eternity. My anxiety said dark hole, my conscience said work. I got my phone out of my purse to text Sandra.

Meadow: I missed him. Thanks for letting me try. Heading back to the café now. See you soon.

Sandra: Take the day off, hun. Go rest. I can handle today on my own. Let’s do dinner later so I can get the full story of what happened between you two.

Getting her text was a great relief. I drove back to my motel, kicked off my shoes and crawled under the blankets. I was exhausted in every sense of the word. Not only was I emotionally overwhelmed, but I really didn’t get much sleep at his place. I lay in bed for hours, my head covered by the blanket, but my guilt, regret, and anxiety wouldn’t let me rest. I knew I had to talk to him.

Meadow: Would you mind sending me Kane’s number?

I watched my phone until she replied with the number.

Meadow: Thank you and thanks for giving me the day off. You’re amazing xo

I started typing a text to Kane without hesitation.

Meadow: Kane, it’s Meadow. Can we talk?

I turned the volume on my phone up high and put it next to my head on the pillow while I impatiently waited for his response.

I had finally fallen asleep. With my eyes still shut, I reached for my phone to check the time. It was nine thirty at night. I’d drifted off to sleep and slept through the entire day. I had four texts and two missed calls from Sandra, but nothing from Kane. I put my phone back down, rolled over, and fell back asleep.

CHAPTER 40

KANE

Diary Entry

I should have left you a message. I shouldn’t have just disappeared. I know you’ll worry.

The way we connected. The bond we forged. It meant something.

But I had to get away. I have to clear my head. What I said in your ear, the name of another woman, that’s not fair to you. That’s not right. And if I can’t move on from the loss I’ve experienced, how can I start a relationship with you?

How can I wake up in the morning and know your name is going to be the first thing from my lips? How can I know I’m able to be the man you want, the man you deserve?

I want to be there for you, darling, body and soul, and that means letting go of the past. That’s why I’ve disappeared.

But don’t worry. I’m not gone for long. I’ll come back to you, and I’ll make it all up to you.

I’ll wake up in the morning and the first thing I’ll think about is you. I’ll roll over in the bed, searching for you before I even open my eyes. I’ll know your naked body is there, close to me, keeping me warm. You’ll be tired from the lovemaking of the night before.

Because I’ll fuck you every night of our life, baby. You know it. I know it. You’ll be mine, for my pleasure, and I’ll never be able to get enough of you.

If you’re not in the bed, you’re in the shower. I walk quietly to the bathroom and peek around the corner. The water’s running. Steam is billowing out from behind the curtain.

I take off my clothes and pull back the curtain.

“Good morning, Kane,” you say.

Your nakedness thrills me. It always thrills me. The curves of your thighs, the round, heart shape of your ass, the thin line of your pussy, the soft pillows of your breasts. Instantly, I’m hard.

“Again?” you say, amazed because of the treatment I already gave you during the night.

“Again,” I say, leaving you in no doubt I’m serious.

My cock is erect and throbbing, pointing dead ahead, right at you.

I get into the shower and you start washing me, rubbing your hands over my chest and back. I pull you close against me and kiss your lips. I’m so hard that my cock is sticking into your stomach.

You look down at it and laugh. You grab a sponge and pour shower gel on it. Then you rub my cock, teasing it with the sponge as you wash me. You get down on your knees to wash my legs and I take your head in my hand.

You look up at me and your sweet, innocent eyes almost make me cum right then and there. It’s a good thing I don’t because my cum would take you by surprise, right on your face.

The water is hitting you on the back and flowing off you, giving you an alluring gleam.

I can’t resist you. Not for another second.

I guide your mouth to the tip of my cock.

“Open wide, baby.”

You obey me, opening your mouth, and I slide my erect shaft into your warm mouth. You feel like heaven. It’s all I can do to resist cumming. You’re a drug to me. An addiction. All I want is to cum in your mouth.

I slide my cock along the length of your tongue and then you pull me back into your mouth. Your tongue is heavenly, playing with the head of my cock and coaxing my pleasure. Back and forth, I slide my cock out of your mouth and then all the way back into your throat. I feel a throb of pre-orgasmic pleasure and know I’m ready to cum in your mouth.

In a flash of passion I pull my cock out of your mouth, reach down and lift you up in my arms. Instinctively, you wrap your legs around my torso and cling to me as if your life depends on it. I press you against the tiled wall of the shower and pin you between the wall and my rock hard chest. My hands are splayed against the wall as my cock finds the opening of your pussy and slides far inside you.

You cry out in shock, and your arms knock over all the bottles and soaps, sending them crashing to the ground.

Neither of us care about the mess. I drive my cock deeper into you, slamming my body into yours, and you kick out your legs and tear down the shower curtain.

Water is spraying all over the bathroom, getting all over the floor, and neither of us even notice.

“Cum in me,” you say, and I know you’re the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.

That’s why I can do this. That’s why I can cum inside you without a care for the consequences. That’s why I can make you mine in the truest, fullest sense of the word.

I thrust into you again and again, each powerful motion pressing you harder against the wall. The entire bathroom is a mess now, bottles of shampoo spilling down the drain, water getting all over the floor, and the mess matches the raw, animal passion of our lust.

When I thrust for the final time, our eyes lock. I feel the orgasm rush up from the core of my being and flow through my cock, into you. I pour my cum into you as if I’m pouring my soul into you. I keep going, the orgasm reaching into the depths of my being and finding more and more cum, more and more pleasure, more and more of my soul, to pour into you.

I can tell you’re cumming too. I scream your name and you cry out, an indecipherable moan of pleasure.

“I love you,” I pant, still holding you in my arms.

I carry you out of the bathroom and drop you on our bed.

“Holy shit,” you say, looking up at me.

“Don’t get too comfortable,” I say. “I’m going to shut off that water, then I’m really going to show you what I want to do to you!”

CHAPTER 41

SANDRA

“There she is, our star waitress,” I said as Meadow pushed through the front door of the café.

Her smile was always so big and bright and it had easily become my new favorite part of the morning. She laughed and said good morning as she made her way behind the counter. Having her arrive in Pismo Beach over a week ago was the best thing for the café. She truly was heaven-sent.

She started this job with such determination and dedication that she picked it up in no time. I really admired her strength and courage. To say she was a wreck when she first got here was an understatement. Not to mention the man drama she got herself into right away. But to her credit, she didn’t let her Kane mix up keep her knocked down. She pushed through and put all her energy into building her new life.

Not only was it amazing to have her working at the café, but she and I had become instant best friends. Despite working crazy long shifts, we still went out for dinner and drinks every single evening. The conversation flowed so easily and we were never at a loss for things to talk about. We talked about it all, life, love, loss, fears, regrets and oh how we laughed together. She was a hilarious girl. She could bring me to tears from making me laugh so hard.

Days flew by at the café. It was always busy, but always fun. Today was no different. Before I knew it, we were already only a couple hours away from closing for the day. As I was taking a customer's payment at the register, I looked up to see someone coming in through the door.

“Paul, you’re back,” I exclaimed, happy to see him back from his trip to Big Sur.

He waved and made his way to a seat at the counter. Meadow was behind me, getting a fresh pot of coffee. I turned and quietly asked her if Kane had texted back yet. She said nothing, and hardly shook her head, but I could see in her eyes that the answer was no.

It had been a long week waiting each day for Kane to reply. He never had, but Meadow never seemed to give up hope that he would.

I went around the counter and gave Paul a big hug. He hugged me then turned to Meadow.

“What’s the deal, Meadow? I go away for a bit and when I come back I no longer get a hug? Get over here,” he said.

I could tell she was shy about it. She had been so paranoid that Kane was away with the guys and telling them how much of a psycho bitch she had been. Judging by Paul’s enthusiasm and warmth, either Kane had said nothing, or Paul didn’t let it cloud his judgement of her. She made her way around the counter and gave him an awkward hug. She was trying so hard to act normal but I could tell she was mortified.

Paul sat down and Meadow left to give menus to some new customers.

“How was Big Sur?” I asked as I held up the pot of coffee to see if he wanted any. He nodded.

“Rad. It was so rad. We had perfect conditions. The waves weren’t too monstrous, so we were able to get in some really long runs. We were out there for hours and hours each day. Most nights we were asleep by nine because we were so exhausted. It was perfect.”

Paul spoke with classic surfer enthusiasm. Meadow nervously walked up behind him, and I knew I had a new best friend job to do.

“That’s awesome. I’m glad to hear it. Did Kane head back at the same time as you and Jason?”

I looked at Paul and then back at Meadow. Her eyes thanked me.

“No. Kane didn’t end up coming. It was just Jason and I,” Paul said.

Meadow and I gave each other the same confused look. She made her way behind the counter and picked up a cloth to look busy.

“Really? Kane didn’t go? For the entire week?” I said, making sure I’d heard correctly.

“No. You guys haven’t seen him around?” Paul said, now almost as confused as we were.

“Nope,” I said.

“He texted me to say he wouldn’t be able to make it. I was out on the water so didn’t respond. I just figured when he got to the shop, he realized there was more work than he thought and he had to stay to get it done. You guys really haven’t seen him in here or the brewery?”

“No. No sign of him,” I said as Meadow continued to wipe the same spot on the counter.

“At all?”

“Not at all,” I said.

“That’s weird. I wonder what happened to him?” Paul said, starting to look worried.

I left Paul to look over the menu and gave Meadow a sympathetic rub on the shoulder. Suddenly Paul slammed his menu down on the counter, making us both jump.

“Oh, Meadow, there’s something I wanted to tell you.”

“What?”

There was an undeniable hint of fear in her voice. Even I got tense wondering what he was about to say.

“I called that buddy of mine with the apartment.”

“Oh, right, the apartment,” she said with a sigh of relief.

“He said it’s totally empty right now. You can move in as soon as you want.”

“What? Really? Are you serious?” Meadow asked, shocked by the good news.

“Serious. He said I can bring you by tomorrow night to check it out.”

“Oh, Paul, that’s so amazing to hear. I thought when I hadn’t heard from you that it meant it was a no go. Thank you so much. I’d love to check it out. I’m sure it’s perfect.”

Meadow went around the counter and this time gave Paul a much less awkward hug.

After the hug she said to us, “Hey, you guys, watch this.”

She picked up a copy of the daily paper and put it under her arm. Paul and I looked at each other, very confused. She grabbed a glass of water and the pot of coffee. We watched her walk away, toward Mr. Mathers sitting in his booth.

When Paul and I figured out what we were supposed to be watching, we looked at each other and laughed. She confidently put down the water and paper and started to fill up his coffee cup. It wasn’t until we saw Mr. Mathers reach out and insist she sit down with him that we both dropped our jaws. Not only had Meadow learned what to do when Mr. Mathers came in, but he had already taken a shine to her and was now talking her ear off. She looked over at us and winked.

“Geez. That didn’t take long,” Paul said.

“I can’t believe it. It took him months to warm up to me like that. That Meadow is quite the little charmer,” I said.

Paul watched her and smiled. I went back to check with the kitchen on an order I was waiting for. Before we knew it, all the tables were full again. Paul hung around at the counter while Meadow and I did our thing. When the last table finally left, Paul followed behind them to flip the sign and lock the door. Then, he pitched in with the cleanup so we could all get out quicker.

“There. We’re all done. Thanks for helping out, Paul. We should buy you a beer,” I said.

“Hey, no problem, but I’ll pass on the beer. I’m pretty wiped from the trip.”

“Rain check then,” I said, giving him a hug.

“How about you Meadow? Shall we have our traditional after work beverage?” I asked, sure she’d say yes.

“Actually, I’m pretty exhausted too. I think I just might call it a night,” she said.

“Well then, I guess I’m having wine for one at home tonight,” I joked as we all walked out of the restaurant.

Meadow stopped on the spot and stood on the edge of the sidewalk as she looked up and down the street.

“Where’d you park?” Paul asked her.

“I can’t remember. I swear I was parked out front, but it’s not here. Where did I leave it?”

She was confused and deep in thought as she tried to remember where her car was parked. She walked to the corner and looked up the side street. Paul and I started talking and then she called back to us.

“You guys. I know I didn’t park on the side street. I remember so clearly parking out front today.”

She looked at me and I could tell she was worried.

“You sure you drove?” Paul said.

“Yes. For sure. I’ve been driving every day. I get here so early that there’s always parking on the main street. My car was here and now it’s gone,” she said, now speaking louder and with distinct panic in her voice.

“It might have been stolen, Meadow. I swear, if your car was actually stolen I will be so pissed off. Who steals cars? Shitty people, that’s who. I can’t believe it. This is unacceptable. I’m calling the police.”

I fished through my purse to find my phone. I was furious that someone would do that. Car theft was rare in Pismo Beach, but every now and then some asshole would show up. Meadow continued to nervously pace up and down the street, searching for her car. Suddenly she stopped and looked back at me as I was on the phone waiting for someone at the police station to answer.

“Sandra, hang up.”

“What? Why? Your car was stolen. We need to report it as soon as possible so they can catch the bastards.”

“Seriously. Please hang up. Please don’t call the police,” she insisted.

I was confused. I looked at her and then at Paul who shrugged and was clearly as confused as me.

“My car wasn’t stolen. I’m so embarrassed,” she started to say with a nervous laugh.

“I just realized what happened. I remember exactly where I parked now. It was down the street, over there, right by that fire hydrant. I must have parked too close to it. I’m such an idiot. I clearly hadn’t had my coffee yet.”

She was standing on the street and pointing to the hydrant.

“If you park even an inch under fifteen feet from a fire hydrant in this town, you’re getting towed. They’re ruthless. I’ve learned that lesson more than once,” Paul said.

“I’m sure that’s what happened. My car is fine. I just made a silly mistake and I was towed,” Meadow said with an embarrassed smile.

“I’ll give you a ride to the impound lot,” Paul said. “I know exactly where they take them. There’s only one place in town.”

“Oh no, that’s okay. You guys go home. I’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

“Dude, it’s no trouble and it’s easier just to get out out of the way now,”  Paul said.

Meadow finally caved and accepted his offer. I gave them both hugs before they hopped in his car.

CHAPTER 42

MEADOW

I got into Paul’s car and fastened my seatbelt.

“Before we go to the impound, I’m going to swing by Kane’s place, okay? It’s weird you guys haven’t seen him around,” Paul said.

“Oh, Kane’s place, sure. Are you worried?” I asked, trying desperately not to show how worried I was.

I was still shocked Kane hadn’t gone to Big Sur. If he wasn’t there, and he wasn’t in town, then where was he?

And why didn’t he go? Wouldn’t that be the perfect thing to do after a crazy woman terrorized you in your own home? I’d gone through the entire week thinking he was with the guys, now that I found out he wasn’t, I was really scared.

I looked across at Paul. He seemed worried too. At least he had no clue of what had happened at Kane’s place. I wanted to keep it that way. I felt responsible enough for Kane’s sudden disappearance as it was.

And I was still so embarrassed. Embarrassed at how I’d reacted when I saw Carolyn’s picture. Embarrassed I’d slept with Kane first chance I got. I tried not to ask any questions about Kane in case I came across as too interested.

So I sat there silently. I could have saved us some time by saying I knew Kane wasn’t home. I knew he wasn’t there because I checked earlier that morning before work, and the morning before that, and the morning before that. I’d been by, every day since the day I stormed out. I went back to check if he was home, but he never was.

I had heard nothing from him since that morning. I wished more than anything that he’d at least respond to my text so that I’d know he was okay.

“If he’s not there, where do you think he could be?” I said, looking out the window and twirling my hair in my fingers.

“Not sure. Kane is a creature of habit. If he’s not at home, he’s at the shop, and if he’s not at the shop, he’s at the brewery,” Paul said. “If he’s not at any of those places, then I really have no idea.”  

Now I was really getting worried. I’d been by all three of those places multiple times and there’d definitely been no sign of Kane all week.

I knew Kane wasn’t in town. It was a small place and I’d have seen him. I desperately wanted to know where he was. Maybe when we got to the house, Paul would have a key or something or would get more ideas as to where we could look.

We got closer to Kane’s house and he slowed down. Paul parked in the driveway and got out.

“I don’t see his Jeep, but I’m just going to run up to the door and check,” he said.

And that’s when I realized!

Oh my God!

My letter.

My stomach twisted as I watched Paul walk up to the front door. I prayed he’d just go up, knock on the door, and then we could be on our way. He knocked and peeked in the window when there was no answer. He called down to me and said he was going around to check the back. That’s when I flung my door open and leapt out.

“I can check the back. How about you check the workshop?” I said, running to catch up to him.

“Sure,” he said, turning for the garage.

Relieved, I slowed down and caught my breath as I walked up the stairs to the back door. When I got to the top, my heart sank when I saw my note was still exactly where I left it.

Where was he?

When I wrote that note, I’d been desperate to speak to him so I could apologize. Now, I was more desperate than ever. I heard Paul behind me and grabbed my note, shoving it in my back pocket.

“No sign of him back here either,” I said to Paul.

“Oh well, I don’t know what else to do,” he said. “I’ll try calling him and I can swing by his shop in the morning. For now, we might as well go get your car.”

It was a fifteen minute drive to the impound. We didn’t speak much, and I knew we were both thinking about Kane.

When we got to the impound I climbed out of the car.

“Paul, thank you so much for the ride.”

“No problem. I’ll wait to make sure you get your car back.”

“Oh no, there’s no need.”

“Don’t be crazy, of course I’m waiting,” Paul insisted. “I’m not leaving a woman here alone at night.”

“No really. I can already see my car there at the back,” I said, pointing toward the lot. “I’ll just pay up and be on my way.”

“All right,” Paul said, still unsure, “if you insist.”

“I do insist,” I said, grabbing my purse.

I gave him a friendly wave as I turned to walk towards the office and he pulled out of the lot.

CHAPTER 43

MEADOW

As I walked away, I listened to Paul’s car reversing behind me. The office was around the corner in a small trailer. A light was on inside. I heard Paul pull back onto the road and turned to watch him go. He gave me a couple of short honks and waved through the back, then he was gone.

I let out a sigh of relief.

When I’d pointed to my car, I couldn’t actually see it. I just pretended to so Paul would feel comfortable leaving me. I had no idea if it was there, and deep down, I was sure it wasn’t. I didn’t actually believe it had been towed.

At first when I saw it was gone, I thought the same thing as Sandra, that it had been stolen. Then I thought maybe I just forgot where I’d parked. Then I turned back and saw Sandra calling the police.

That was when it hit me. My car had been stolen. I’d stolen it. From Matt! It was in his name. In his classic style, he’d ‘given’ me the car without ever signing it legally into my name. It was the way he liked things, always in complete control of everything.

I was screwed. And too embarrassed to tell Paul and Sandra the truth. I hadn’t counted on Paul taking me all the way to the impound.

Despite knowing my car wasn’t there, I popped into the office to check anyway. Just as I’d suspected, the guy confirmed they didn’t have it.

With every ounce, I knew Matt had taken it back. Somehow, he’d found me, and figured out one more way to screw with my life.

The second I realized it was gone out front of the café, an awful feeling came over me. It almost made my skin crawl. I’d looked around, but it wasn’t for my car, it was to see if Matt was still there, watching me. And then, in the car with Paul, I remembered the GPS anti-theft protection my car had, which allowed Matt to look up it’s location whenever he wanted.

I’d never escaped him, not as long as I was driving his car.

I was so naive. I’d thought blocking his phone number was all I needed to do to get him out of my life. I should have known better. Pismo Beach wasn’t far enough away to escape him. Nowhere was.

But what could I do?

I called a cab on my cell and paced around the parking lot in front of the office as I waited for it. I wondered if Matt was still in town. Maybe he just came to reclaim what was his and left when he had it. But was that me being naive again? Was that too simple?

I’d parked right in front of the café. He easily could have looked inside and seen me working there. I felt sick at the thought. Maybe he’d sent someone to get it for him. I hoped he had. He was probably too busy fucking random women to do his own dirty work. But the thought that he’d been in town was definitely very disturbing.

The cab driver pulled up outside the motel and I paid him. I should have told him to swing by a liquor store so I could buy a bottle of gin. I could use a drink to clearthe thoughts that were swirling in my head.

I walked past the motel office and saw the same cute surfer girl that had been working the night I checked in. I went inside.

“Hey, any chance you have a large envelope to spare?”

She rummaged around under her desk and came back with one.

“I’m pushing my luck, but do you have stamps too?”

She smiled and handed me an entire sheet of stamps.

“Really? You don’t mind?”

“Anything for a customer,” she said, making a joke.

I laughed and thanked her. When I got into my room, I saw a plate of fresh cinnamon rolls and a note sitting on the desk.

“I hope you’re enjoying your time in Pismo Beach. If you liked my muffins, you’ll love my cinnamon rolls.”

It was official, the old lady who ran this place was the best hotel matron in history.

I took a bite from one of the rolls and shut my eyes as I savored the sweet taste. I licked the homemade icing off my fingers and bent down to unlock the safe in my room. I took my envelope of cash out and tossed it on the bed. I picked up a pen, pad of paper, a second cinnamon roll and sat down at the desk and started writing.

Matthew,

You’ve got your car, and now you’ve got your money back too. You have what you want, and I’ve realized I no longer need any of it anyway. Please respect that we are over and leave me alone to live my life peacefully. I’m making a life for myself without your help or the help of anyone else. You were wrong about me. You knocked me down, but you can’t break me. I am stronger without you. If you get a divorce agreement drawn up and sent to this motel, I’ll sign and return it and I won’t ask you for a penny.

Goodbye Matt,

Meadow

I folded the letter and put it in the envelope with all the cash. It was a lot of money to let go of, but I didn’t want it. I knew I had to send it back. If he was coming here to get his car, I knew he’d be sniffing around for the money too. It was fine by me. He could have it. I wanted to cut all possible ties to him.

I addressed the envelope and put my shoes back on to walk a few blocks to mail the letter. It was odd, I didn’t feel anxious at all. I felt nothing as I wrote that letter to him. I wasn’t mad. I wasn’t sad. I was just done. What I knew for sure was that I was doing the right thing. I felt strong and confident. I knew I’d be fine.

I got to the mailbox and lifted the envelope to lick it. In that moment I remembered that Paul was showing me that apartment the next day. If I wanted it, I’d have to put down first and last month’s rent and likely a damage deposit too.

I shook my head. Independence, sure, but within reason.

I reached into the envelope and pulled out a few thousand. He’d never miss it.

I licked the adhesive strip and stopped again to take out an extra twenty dollar bill. My next drink would be on him! I’d earned it!

CHAPTER 44

KANE

Diary Entry

I miss you so much it hurts.

I’m coming back for you soon, and when I get there, I’m going to do something to you I only ever dreamed of.

Want me to tell you what boys really want? Want to know what we think about in our deepest, most private moments?

Are you sure you can handle it?

I don’t know. Maybe you’re going to read this someday and get shocked. Maybe it’s too much for you. I’ll tell you what. If you can’t handle it, stop reading. Stop reading right now and never pick up this diary again. Because this diary is the truth. It’s what’s inside a man’s mind. It’s what we want from you, what we demand of you, and if you can’t say yes to absolutely everything your man demands, then you can’t read about it either.

So ask yourself this. If I was your man, and I told you I wanted to do something very naughty to you, would you say yes? Would you give me that pleasure? Would you trust me enough, and love me enough, to let me do this to you?

Would you let me take this pleasure?

Because only you can give me this pleasure. Without you, it’s impossible.

So whisper it now. “Yes.” Say it, with me.

“Yes.”

“Take me.”

“I’m yours.”

Move your lips and form the words.

“I’m yours. My body is yours. Make me give you this pleasure.”

Because unless you can say those words to me, unless you can surrender completely and give me ultimate control, you shouldn’t be reading this diary.

So, you’re still reading!

Naughty girl!

I see how it is.

So you want me to do this to you. You don’t even know what it is yet and already, just by reading, you’re giving me permission to take the ultimate pleasure. You’re giving me complete ownership over you.

Well then, strip naked, put on this blindfold, and lie on the bed, facedown.

That’s right. I want to see your ass. You know I love your ass. You know I’ve got a fetish for it. If I could see your ass right now, I’d sink my teeth right into your cheeks. I’d pull your cheeks apart and slide my tongue right over your cute little asshole. I’d run my tongue under you from pussy, over your clit, all the way over your anus.

My tongue would run circles around your anus, sliding all over it, in and out of it, and you’re not permitted to look back, to move your blindfold, or to say a word.

I demand silence.

A single word, and Spank!

And if you cry out in surprise, Spank again!

You’re mine now. You had your chance to back out, but you kept reading. That means your thoughts are mine. Your mind is mine. And the feelings inside your body right now, right at this very second, they’re mine too.

And that’s why my tongue is free to make it’s little circles around your anus, licking you there where you’re most shy, most afraid, most modest.

I take a bottle of lotion and pour it on your ass, letting it drip, little by little, all over the left cheek and the right, the crack down the middle, the back of your thighs, and the small of your back.

It’s cold and you flinch, but once I start massaging it into your skin you relax. It feels good doesn’t it?

My hands kneading your lower back. Sliding up and down the back of your thighs. My fingers sliding between your legs and running along the slit of your pussy, getting lotion all over your sensitive, lovely clit.

Your back arches, your legs open a little more, and you sigh in pleasure.

Spank! I said silence and I meant it!

I put my left hand on your back, between your shoulder blades, and I put my weight on it, holding you down. There’s no escape for you now. You’re mine. No backing out.

With my weight holding you securely in place, I put my right hand on your ass. You’re lubed up perfectly, your ass covered in lotion. I slide my finger over your anus and you squirm a little. I rub lotion around it in tiny circles, just as I did with my tongue.

You like it. You like it a lot.

You like belonging to me. You like the sweet pleasure of surrender.

So I press your ass with my finger, until my finger slides in past the ring of muscle and enters your asshole.

Were you expecting that? You were, weren’t you, you naughty little slut. You knew exactly what I wanted. Even now, with my finger in your butt, you’re still coaxing me in further. You’re lifting your butt slightly, showing me that you want me. You’re begging me to come in.

And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

I slide my finger in and out of your asshole, loosening it for me, stretching it, making you ready for the pleasure you’re going to give me.

My finger comes out and next I slide my thumb to your butt. You press back against it and I slide it right inside you, twirling it to heighten the sensation.

You moan again but this time I don’t spank you. You’re being so obedient. You’re being so good. Why would I spank such a good, obedient girl?

In and out my thumb slides, opening you ever so slowly, ever so gently.

Then I pour more lotion on the crack of your ass, and sit up so that my huge, throbbing, erect cock can rest right on your crack. I lube up my cock, sliding it along the length of your ass crack.

You rise your ass a little higher. You want this so bad, don’t you.

I touch your anus with the tip of my cock and you moan.

I press tighter, so that just the tiniest little part of my head slides inside your anus. I reach around you and pull you up against me. You try to get up on your knees but I push you back down. I want you lying against the mattress. I put all my weight on you, lying on you, and press my cock against your anus again. This time I slide in a little bit further.

The first inch of my hungry cock enters your asshole. I slide out and then slide back in. This time I get in an inch and a half.

That’s my girl.

I slide out and reach around to play with your clit with my fingers. As I play with your clit, I slide into your anus again, this time a full two inches.

You’re really squirming now, grinding your ass against me, begging me to fuck your asshole.

I slide in again and this time I don’t stop. I go in all the way, my entire shaft sliding deep into your asshole.

And then I start fucking your asshole. Slowly at first, and then faster and more forcefully, I slide all the way into you. My fingers are toying with your clit and my cock is sliding in and out of your asshole. You’re moaning and grinding against my hand and cock, begging for more. With my free hand I grab your nipple and squeeze it hard.

You cry out and I thrust powerfully into your asshole. At the same moment, I slide my hand from your clit and my finger enters your pussy.

That’s it. Perfection.

My orgasm rushes through me, flowing through my cock and into your asshole as you cry out and scream in pleasure. I’ve never seen you orgasm like this before. You’ve never had an anal orgasm before. You’re crying out and writhing against me as my cock pours it’s cum into your asshole.

I thrust and thrust as semen flows in endless spurts into your anus.

You’re really mine now. You’ll never belong to another man. I know that for real.

When your orgasms finally subside, I pull my long cock out of your ass and look down at the mess I’ve made. My cum is on your anus, mixed with the lotion I used to lube you up. I know that deep inside you, my seed is somewhere no other man has ever been or ever will be.

You’re mine now, and whenever I command, you’ll lie on the bed on your stomach, your eyes blindfolded, and you’ll sway your little ass in the air for me, begging to fuck your tight, delicious little asshole.

CHAPTER 45

MEADOW

It was a beautiful night. There was a light breeze in the air, but it was still warm enough to not need a jacket. I decided to turn my walk to the mailbox into an enjoyable evening stroll. I knew I’d eventually pass by a store where I could pick up some gin and tonic to bring back to my room. Despite the fact that my cheating ex-husband had just tracked me down and stolen my car, I felt surprisingly calm.

It was almost like his taking the car back freed me from his grip. Sure, that money was comforting to have, but it came with a heavy emotional price tag. I was glad to be rid of it. I’d been working full time at the café and my tips were getting bigger each day. I knew I’d be fine. I’d be better than fine without any attachment to Matt.

It felt pretty amazing to realize he was loosing his grip on me. Telling him to send through the divorce papers felt even better. I hadn’t realized it, but in the last week, I didn’t think of Matt once.

It was Kane who consumed my mind and heart now.

As I walked down a side street, a saw a tiny pub I hadn’t noticed before. I took a few steps back and peeked in the front window. It wasn’t too busy and had a certain old fashioned charm to it. I decided to go in and have a drink.

I walked in and went straight to the bathroom to fix up my hair and makeup first. Then, feeling freshened up, I grabbed a seat at the counter. The bartender came over and I ordered the gin and tonic I’d been craving all night.

I took my first sip and that’s when it hit me. It had only been a little over a week since I’d arrived in Pismo Beach, but it was like I was already a new woman. When I first showed up and went to the brewery for food and a beer, I’d been so nervous.

Terrified!

I dreaded that I had to go in and eat on my own. Tonight, I just walked right in, sat at the bar, and ordered a drink like it was nothing. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t even thought twice about it.

My job at the café was doing more for my confidence than I realized. Not only was it giving me a steady cash flow, but it seemed to have been working wonders on my self-esteem. I felt like I had purpose, like I was a part of something. I loved working with Sandra and the rest of the staff and getting to serve all kinds of different people. With each shift I could feel myself getting better at it, and Sandra never failed to see it and encourage me.

I knew it was just a waitressing job, and I couldn’t even imagine what my family or old friends would say if they found out I was a waitress, but that didn’t matter. I loved it.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed a man walk in and look for a seat at the bar. All of them were taken except for the one beside me that I’d put my purse on. I moved it off and hung it on the back of my chair. He smiled and thanked me as he took the seat. I told him it was no problem as I reached back into my purse to grab my phone.

Still no word from Kane, but both Sandra and Paul had texted to make sure I got my car back. I sent them back the same message saying things were all good. I thought it was a vague enough answer and would do the job until I explained in person what happened. I was still in the gin and tonic processing phase, and was ready for my second.

“And bring another gin and tonic for the beautiful woman sitting next to me,” the guy said to the bartender.

I looked at him with a curious, raised eyebrow. I couldn’t figure out if he’d just read my mind, or if I’d spoken my thoughts aloud.

“I hope you don’t mind. I noticed you just finished your drink, and I was worried you’d leave before I had the chance to say hello.”

He was undeniably charming.

I smiled and thanked him. The bartender put our drinks down in front of us and we raised them to cheers.

“That’s quite the purse you have. I bet it says a lot about you,” he said.

“Oh really? Like what? That I shop at gas stations?”

“Well, I just noticed how colorful it is. A colorful purse for a bright and stunning young lady.”

“Oh, well thank you,” I said, a little embarrassed.

“I like it. You never know where you’ll find things of beauty, you just have to be open to finding them,” he said.

This guy was smooth.

I turned to face him as he was obviously trying to have a conversation with me. He seemed nice and was very handsome. I wondered who he was. He was laying the cheesy compliments on thick. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t making me smile though. The attention felt nice.

I could tell he wasn’t a local. He was lacking that sexy, relaxed surfer style. He was fair skinned and dressed in jeans and a blazer, which was attractive but smarter than what the local guys tended to wear.

“I just arrived in Pismo Beach today,” he said.

Knew it.

“I work for a big tech company. I’m here for work.”

Not that there’s anything wrong with the tech world, but I could have guessed that was where he was from just by looking at him. He certainly didn’t come from the Beach Body Automotive and Marine Repair world.

Regardless, he was charming, and next thing I knew, we were three drinks in with each other. With each drink we got a little closer, and the physical touches became more frequent.

“I can’t get over how stunning you are,” he said, letting his hand rest on my knee. “What do you say we get out of here?”

He leaned in closer and put his hand on my upper thigh.

“But I’m not done my drink yet,” I said.

He was a nice guy but something stopped me from falling for his offer. I knew I should give him a chance, and I was trying to, but I just couldn’t. It was weird. I was having a perfectly enjoyable time with him. I couldn’t deny that much. His compliments and flirts were hitting me right where I needed. And for the first time in my life, I was a free woman. I could do whatever I wanted. I could do whoever I wanted. It was finally my turn to sow some wild oats.

I was no expert at picking up men in bars, but it was impossible to ignore that things with this guy were heating up. But the second he suggested leaving, I froze. I knew I didn’t want to leave with him. I didn’t want to be with him.

He stood up from his seat and leaned in to me, his lips touching my ear.

“I’ll be right back for you, you irresistible woman.”

I watched as he made his way toward the men’s room.

I couldn’t blame him for thinking he was going to get with me. I was totally responsible for giving him all the green lights. With each drink, my green lights only became more frequent.

I knew I should have wanted to sleep with him. He was ready and willing. But I just wasn’t. I couldn’t even imagine it. I wanted to leave before he got back, but I hesitated too long and he was back before I could escape.

Before sitting back down, he kissed me on the neck.

“Looks like you’re done your drink,” he said with a look that said he was sure he was about to get laid.

When he kissed me, Kane’s face flashed before my eyes. The look on his face before he orgasmed inside me. I almost burst into tears at the memory. It brought back so many emotions.

“I really need to get going. I work early tomorrow,” I said, retreating from his next advance.

“I can come help you relax,” he said as he reached around my waist and put his mouth on the back of my neck again.

“I said, no, buddy.”

“Oh come on,” he insisted, this time letting his hands slide up over my breasts.

That’s when I got mad. Who the fuck did this guy think he was. Maybe Kane was gone forever, maybe I’d never see him again, but until I knew for sure, I was going to consider myself his girl and I wasn’t going to let this guy get away with any more liberties.

With all my might, I drove my elbow into his stomach, sending him doubled over in pain.

“I said, no thank you.”

I got up from my seat as he struggled to get his wind back.

“What the fuck, lady? I just bought you three drinks.”

He put his hand on my arm and I looked down at it. For the first time I noticed the tan line on his finger, right where a wedding ring should have been.

“Well, maybe you should have bought them for your wife, asshole,” I said, driving my knee into his nuts.

I fell back, knocking over a table and sending glass crashing all over. I couldn’t believe it. It was the second time in less than two weeks that I’d sent a guy falling into a table full of glass.

I reached into my purse and took out the twenty dollar bill I’d taken from the envelope.

“Here, consider yourself reimbursed.”

Then I flicked back my hair, grabbed my purse, and strode out of the bar.

CHAPTER 46

SANDRA

“We brought drinks!” I exclaimed as I held up two bottles of champagne.

Meadow opened the door and welcomed Paul and I into her new apartment. It was the night of her housewarming.

“Thank you guys!” she said, hugging us both. “And don’t worry Paul, I stocked up on beer from the brewery for you.”

“As if I’d show up empty handed,” Paul said, whipping out a case of beers and strutting through the door.

“Meadow, your place looks amazing. I can’t believe all the work you’ve done. You’ve got incredible style” I said as I made my way to her kitchen.

“Seriously,” Paul said. “I can’t believe this is the same place we checked out three weeks ago. You’ve completely transformed it.”

“Thanks,” Meadow said, beaming with pride.

“I should pay you to redecorate my place so it doesn’t look like a frat house,”  Paul added, cracking open a beer.

“Really? Do you guys like it? I was on a really tight budget.”

“Could have fooled me,” I said. “It looks like something straight out of a design magazine.”

“You guys are the best friends a girl could ask for. Here, follow me, a few others have already arrived,” Meadow said, leading us through to the next room.

Paul and I said hi to everyone while Meadow went to answer the door again. There was a mix of people she’d met over the last month from working at the café and hanging out at the brewery. She had really settled into Pismo Beach and was now just a regular part of the gang.

She was a completely different woman than the one who showed up a mess and in tears. She arrived with nothing and figured out how to start a new life all her own. Over the last few weeks, Paul and I offered to help set up the new place but she always refused. She said she wanted to do everything herself and she meant it.

When her divorce papers arrived, we all got drunk at the brewery and she signed them on the beach at a lifeguard tower she said held sentimental value to her. I’d never been so proud of her as I was at that moment.

I watched as she lead the next batch of people into the living room. She looked so beautiful and confident as she showed off her new place. She was proud as a peacock showing off it’s nest!

“Hey, Paul, do peacocks have nests?”

“What?” he said from across the room. “Someone had a few pre-drinks.”

I gave him my guilty as charged smile.

“Speaking of drinks, where’s your drink, Meadow?” I said as she sat down next to me.

“Oh, I’ve got a glass of wine somewhere. I must have left it in the kitchen,” she said as she adjusted the snacks on the coffee table.

Just as she started to sit back and relax with her guests, there was another knock on the door and she was up again. As she walked out of the room, I caught Paul’s eyes glued to her ass.

“Enjoying the view?” I said with a playful nudge.

“I didn’t mean to stare, but she did not have that ass when she first got here. Must be all those shifts at the café,” Paul said, leaning over to watch her walk away.

I hit him playfully on the arm.

“Once an ass man, always an ass man,” Jason added from across the room.

“You could bounce a quarter off that ass,” Paul added.

The guys all started debating the pros and cons of being an ass man or a breast man. The room seemed fairly evenly split. I added my two cents, asking the girls if they were into men’s asses. Next thing I knew, all the men were standing up, bending over and displaying their butts. It was going to be a hilariously fun night for sure. Meadow came back in the room and didn’t quite know what was going on.

“Does anyone have a quarter?” Paul asked when he saw Meadow back in the room.

The guys all laughed. Meadow looked at me and I just shrugged.

Jason leaned over and reached in his pocket, handing Paul a shiny new quarter.

“What’s going on?” Meadow said.

“Meadow,” Paul said, “we’re conducting an experiment. In the interests of science, would you please bend over?”

Meadow looked confused but obliged. Paul flicked the quarter at her ass and it bounced right off. All the guys howled in laughter and I grabbed Meadow.

“The guys are all in agreement,” I said to her. “You have the best ass in the room.”

“Do I say thanks or pretend to be offended?” Meadow said, laughing.

“It’s a compliment,” Paul said.

“Well, turning down your offer to use your spare car was the best decision I ever made. I’ve never walked or biked so much in my life.”

“Here’s to Meadow and her killer ass,” Paul said as he held his drink in the air.

“Not only her killer ass, but her amazing new bachelorette pad,” I said, holding my drink up too. “We’re so lucky to have you in Pismo Beach, Meadow.”

The whole room cheered for her.

CHAPTER 47

MEADOW

“Thanks for coming you guys,” I said as I closed the door behind the last of the party guests.

Well, not the very last. Sandra hung back and insisted on sticking around to help me with the clean up. I made my way back to the kitchen where she was already clearing the plates.