Chapter Seventeen
Talen
“Talen!” Lacey greeted me as though we were old friends who had long, drawn out conversations every day.
“Lacey,” I replied in a more subdued voice.
“Forget the booth today,” Lacey said. “Why don’t you sit at the counter today and have your breakfast? That way, Brit and I can keep you company with our scintillating conversation.”
Brittany was clearly uncomfortable with her friend’s request. She shot a warning look in Lacey’s direction, but Lacey ignored it completely.
“Ignore her, Talen,” Brittany said. “You can sit wherever you’d like.”
I smiled. “No, actually, that’s a good suggestion,” I said, taking a seat at the counter.
“See?” Lacey said, slapping Brittany’s ass. “It was a good suggestion.”
Brittany rolled her eyes. “Coffee and toast?”
“Please,” I nodded.
Lacey seemed thrilled to have me front and center. It was obvious she wanted to do a little more interrogating, but I was prepared for it this time. Brittany was obviously embarrassed by her friend’s blatant curiosity, but she was powerless to rein Lacey in.
“So, Talen…” Lacey started. “I hear you’re a professional MMA fighter.”
I nodded. “Getting there.”
“When is your first fight?”
“January,” I replied. “I’ll be going up against Kendrick Conner.”
“Am I supposed to know who that is?”
“Not unless you’re familiar with the MMA.”
“Hmm…hold on,” she said. “I’ll Google him.”
She got out her phone and a few seconds later her eyes went wide. “You’re going to be fighting him?” she asked incredulously. “He’s fucking huge.”
“I’m huge, too,” I pointed out.
“Yeah, but this guy…”
Brittany peeked at Lacey’s phone over her shoulder. “Whoa,” she breathed, looking at me with a start. “He seems…”
“Scary?” I offered.
“A little,” she nodded.
“Are you worried for me?”
“That depends,” Brittany said.
“On what?”
“How good you are.”
I smiled. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
Lacey put away her phone and turned back to me with interest. “According to Google, this guy is already an MMA champion.”
“That is correct.”
“But this is your first fight?”
“Also true.”
“Doesn’t it seem kind of…uneven? To pair the two of you together?” she asked, as she placed my toast and coffee in front of me.
“Sometimes it’s about working the crowds,” I explained. “Pitting a virtually unknown fighter against an established one can garner interest.”
“Does it work?”
“It can.”
“Risky.”
“True,” I nodded.
“So, Talen?” Lacey continued.
“Geez, Lace,” Brittany interrupted. “Will you give the guy a break? He’s just trying to eat his breakfast.”
“I’m not stopping him,” Lacey said, with a shrug.
Brittany rolled her eyes and mouthed an apology at me. I smiled as Lacey continued with her question, completely unfazed by Brittany’s interruption.
“Sorry about that, Talen,” Lacey said. “She can be so rude sometimes. Now what was my question… Oh yeah, do you have any more at home like you?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Are you asking if I have brothers?”
She gave me a wink. “I am.”
I smiled. “I have four, actually.”
“Really?” Brittany asked. “You’re one of five boys?”
“I am,” I said. “I’m the youngest.”
“Strange,” Lacey said. “I would have pegged you for an older brother. You just have that vibe. Now about your brothers… Are they hot?”
I paused. “Umm…they’re my brothers… I haven’t really stopped to think about whether they’re hot or not. And in any case, they’re all paired up at this point.”
“All of them?” she asked, with obvious disappointment.
“Peter and Alan are married, John’s about to have his first child with his partner, and Sam just got engaged.”
Lacey sighed dramatically. “Just my luck.”
I smiled. “You don’t look like you have any trouble finding men.”
“Awww, how sweet of you,” she said, giving me a wink. “But the truth is that the pool here is small. And, even a stone cold fox like me finds it hard to meet men. Which brings me to my next question… Do you have any hot fighter friends who enjoy wrestling a girl to the ground?” Brittany laughed from behind her.
“What?” Lacey demanded, turning to Brittany.
“Nothing,” she replied quickly.
Lacey turned to me with raised eyebrows, obviously waiting for my answer. “Actually… I might have one that would be very interested in doing just that.”
“Really?” Lacey asked, inflecting her tone with possibility. “How hot is he?”
“Uh… I think I’ll leave that up to you to decide.”
“Fair enough,” she nodded. “When can I meet him?”
“How about this Sunday?” I suggested. “We don’t train on Sundays.”
“Perfect,” she said excitedly. “We can all meet, you and your friend, Brittany and me.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said.
I made eye contact with Brittany, looking for her approval, and she nodded in agreement. I finished my coffee, paid for my breakfast, and said my goodbyes.
“He’s in the MMA, too, isn’t he?” Lacey called after me.
“He is.”
“Excellent,” she said. “That means he’s got an awesome body.”
I left the diner smiling and shaking my head. Somehow, I had a feeling that she and Ryan would get along great. Ryan was already at the facility when I got there. He was working over a punching bag in the corner by the ring when I put down my bag and joined him.
“You’re here early,” I observed.
“I’m not a slacker,” he replied. “Like you.”
“Yeah,” I said sarcastically. “I’m the slacker here.”
He gave me a wink. “What have you planned for Sunday by the way? I was thinking another boys night out.”
“Do you really have to say shit like that?” I demanded.
“Shit like what?”
“Boys night out,” I repeated. “We’re not teenagers.”
“We’re not old men, either,” he sighed. “You’re such a fucking killjoy…”
His annoyance amused me. “You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew what I just did for you,” I informed him.
Ryan dropped his arms and turned to me, obviously intrigued. “What did you do for me?”
“I’m not sure I want to share it with you now,” I said, with a shrug. “I might just call and cancel actually.”
“Cancel what?” he asked urgently, his tone rising to a panic. “Call whom?”
“The girls.”
“Girls?” he asked adamantly. “What girls? There are girls? And, you’ve made plans with them?”
“Well, I had,” I nodded. “But now I’m not so sure.”
“Stop being a fucking asshole and tell me,” Ryan demanded.
I laughed. “There are these two waitresses at the diner I go to every morning for breakfast. I’ve kind of being seeing one of them; her name is Brittany, and she has a friend called Lacey… I made plans with them for Sunday.”
“Plans that include me?” Ryan asked stupidly.
I rolled my eyes. “Obviously,” I replied. “Lacey is interested in having a professional fighter pin her to the ground, apparently.”
“She actually said that?” he asked, with bulging eyes.
“She did.”
“She sounds like my kind of woman.”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “That’s what I thought, too.”
“She better be hot,” he said. “And skinny with low standards, though I’m flexible on the skinny part. I draw the line at one-sixty though.”
“She’s definitely under one-sixty kilos.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes at me. “I meant pounds.”
“She’s a living, breathing woman who’s actually open to meeting you,” I said. “Just be thankful for that and shut up.”
Ryan held up his hands. “Geez…you ask a few innocent questions. But in all seriousness – is she hot?”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Does it matter?”
“Yes!” he practically yelled. “You better not have stuck me with the ugly one.”
“She’s not ugly,” I said finally.
“On a scale of one to ten?”
“I’m not going to rate her for you,” I said.
“Hair color?”
“What?”
“What color is her hair?” Ryan asked slowly, as though I were the slow one.
“Red…” I said uncertainly.
“Red?” he repeated with interest. “Natural or dyed?”
I sighed heavily. “What the hell does it matter?”
“I just want to know if the curtains match the drapes, if you know what I mean…”
I groaned, already regretting my decision to introduce Ryan to the girls. I had no doubt he was a well-meaning guy, but when it came to women, he could be both awkward and perverted in the same breath. I didn’t really care about Lacey’s opinion as much, but I didn’t want Brittany judging me by merit of the company I kept.
“After the last ‘boy’s night’ we had, I would think you’d be glad to get a chance with any woman,” I said, gently reminding him of the embarrassing night he had had. “No matter how…mismatched the curtains and the drapes may be.”
Ryan shot me a glare. “Let’s not mention that night to the girls.”
“Did you not want them to know about that?” I asked seriously.
His eyes went wide with shock. “You ratted me out?”
I smirked. “I didn’t know your reputation with women was a state secret.”
“Fuck you,” he said, catching on. “You didn’t say anything to them.”
“Give the boy a prize,” I said, shaking my head.
“You are a heartless bastard, Burbank,” Ryan complained.
I gave him an evil smile. “I never claimed to be anything else,” I said. “Now enough chit chat – let’s start training.”
“You never answered my question,” he complained. “Natural red head or not?”
I ignored Ryan and headed for the ring. “Come on,” I said. “I need to practice my right hook.”
“Your right hook is perfect and you know it. Stop changing the subject.”
Again, I ignored him and sent a punch right at his jaw. He was so preoccupied with our plans for Sunday that he didn’t even notice the attack. He went flailing into the ropes and sunk to his feet.
“Pathetic,” I said, shaking my head at him.
“Urgh…help me up.”
“Umm, no,” I said, without pity. “Get up yourself and give me some real competition. Otherwise I’ll speak to Steven about a proper training partner.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Watch me,” I said threateningly.
Ryan got up and narrowed his eyes at me. “Fine,” he nodded. “Prepare to die.”
I smiled. “Tough talk from a guy who just said hello to the floor.”
His response was to charge at me. He was fast, but entirely too predictable. He had used this same attack on me three times before, and I had his moves memorized before he had even made them. I tripped him easily, grabbed his arm, and had him in a headlock in a matter of seconds.
“You don’t learn,” I said with disappointment. I held him against me for a moment longer, simply to make my point, and then I released him.
“Jesus,” Ryan gasped. “You’re good.”
“I’m a fast learner,” I said. “But that’s not going to help me much when I go up against Conner.”
“It’s a start though,” he pointed out to me.
I nodded, feeling a thrill of excitement at the thought of my impending fight with a professional MMA champion. “It is,” I agreed.
Chapter Eighteen
Brittany
“Brittany!” Lacey’s voice was raised in annoyance.
“What?” I asked, turning to her.
“You’re not helping me.”
“What should I be helping you with?”
She rolled her eyes at me. “I’m trying to figure out what to wear, remember?”
“Right,” I nodded, with an apologetic smile. “You’re better at picking out outfits than I am, though.”
“True,” she nodded seriously. “But you’re the only one here, so you’re opinion is all I have to work with.”
“Gee, thanks,” I said sarcastically.
Lacey stripped down to her bra and undies and then picked up a tiny mauve skirt and held it to her waist. “What do you think?” she asked. “It’s vintage, and by vintage I mean it used to belong to my mother when she was in high school.”
“I’ve always loved that skirt,” I nodded. “I think the length has always appealed to you.”
She shot me a wink. The shirt was extremely tight on Lacey, who was a little wider at the hips than her mother was. She was also about four inches taller, which meant the skirt ended at her butt, just barely.
“This skirt is a man-catcher all right,” Lacey nodded. “But the thing is… I don’t know if this Ryan guy is worth it. What if I put it on, he shows up, and I’m underwhelmed?”
“Then don’t sleep with him,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“If I’m going to suffer through the whole entire night after I find him underwhelming, then I might as well sleep with him,” she said reasonably.
“That’s your logic?” I said incredulously.
She laughed and slipped on the skirt. “Damn,” she said, dancing around in it. “It looks good.”
“You definitely look good,” I said. “What are you going to wear with it?”
“Something slutty?” Lacey thought out loud. “Or something demure?”
“Umm…considering that skirt is pretty out there, why not go for something with sleeves?”
“I hate sleeves.”
“I’m aware-”
“How about this one?” she asked, holding up a tiny halter top that would put her toned tummy on display.
I laughed. “If you want to make an impression, then I’d go for it,” I said. “I’m just reminding you that it might be a little cold tonight though.”
“Please…” Lacey said, waving away my concern. “So? What are you planning on wearing?”
“Not really sure,” I said, falling back onto my bed.
“You better decide fast,” she said. “They should be here in the next fifteen minutes.”
“Hmm,” I sat up and looked at the clothes lying in heaps on my bed. It felt like déjà vu again. I decided to opt for a dress this time. I chose a short, fitted navy blue dress that was right between formal and casual.
“Cute,” Lacey observed, looking at me critically.
“Thanks,” I said. “Should I wear my hair up or down?”
“Down, I think,” she nodded.
I was standing in front of the mirror, applying my make up when Lacey gave me a sigh that told me she wanted me to ask her what she was thinking.
“What’s wrong, Lace?” I asked pointedly.
“What if he’s ugly?” she asked, in complete seriousness.
“I highly doubt he’d going to be ugly,” I laughed.
“But say he is?”
“Then…close your eyes when you fuck him?” I suggested.
Lacey’s expression held for a second before she started laughing. “Bitch,” she said with affection.
“Don’t worry so much about how he looks,” I said. “Let’s hope he’s a nice guy who you can hold a conversation with.”
“Is that what you have with Talen?” Lacey asked curiously. “Because he doesn’t seem like much of a conversationalist.”
“You would think,” I nodded. “But actually, he’s really interesting and can even be funny at times. Sometimes it’s unintentional I think, but it’s still so…cute.”
“You still don’t know much about him though do you?” Lacey asked. “I mean, apart from what he does now.”
“I know he has four brothers,” I reminded her.
“That’s because I asked,” she said. “You don’t know anything about his past or his childhood or his dating history. What if he has a debilitating STD? What if they both do?”
“Umm, that argument could be made for any guy we choose to go out with,” I reminded her.
“These guys are not from Canada,” Lacey said, as though that somehow made a difference.
I laughed. “You’re more suspicious of them because they’re not from Canada?” I clarified.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Laugh all you want,” she said. “My fears are not unfounded.”
“They are completely unfounded,” I argued. “And, they also happen to be- Oh shit, there’s the door.”
“They’re here!” Lacey pushed me out of the way so that she could check her reflection in the mirror.
I shook my head at her and headed for the door. Talen was at the forefront with his friend standing just behind him. He was not as tall or as big as Talen was, but he had a nice face and I knew instantly that Lacey would like him. He had calm brown eyes, brown hair edging towards the long side, and an excited smile plastered on his face.
“Hi,” Talen said.
He was dressed in his usual jeans and a black sweater that hugged his beautifully muscled arms and his chest. I felt the need to press myself up against him, but I resisted the urge for Ryan’s sake and invited them in.
“You must be Ryan,” I said, shaking his hand.
“And, you must be Brittany,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You have?”
Ryan glanced at Talen. “Actually, no, I haven’t,” he said. “Talen doesn’t really open up much. I know your name, that’s about it.”
I saw Talen roll his eyes, and I laughed just as Lacey breezed in. I saw Ryan’s eyes go wide as his eyes fell on Lacey. The mauve mini skirt, combined with the nude halter and the hooker heels Lacey was wearing were eye-catching enough. But when you added the flaming red hair and the dark burgundy lipstick to the mix, it was like she was asking for it. And knowing Lacey, she probably was.
“Hi, there,” she said, coming forward to shake Ryan’s hand. “I’m Lacey.”
“Wow, you are hot!”
Lacey laughed, obviously thrilled by how sexy he found her. She had never been one of those girls who were attracted to men who weren’t immediately interested in her. She wanted a man fawning over her to consider them worthy of her attention.
“That’s a cute accent,” she said.
“Louisiana, ma’am,” Ryan replied, playing up the accent.
“I heard you boys were gentleman over there.”
“Oh, we are,” Ryan nodded. “Except, of course, between the sheets. We tend to be more like wild animals there.”
“That’s good to know,” Lacey said.
Talen and I exchanged a glance, obviously uncomfortable with how aggressively sexual the two of them were being. It was more awkward because neither one of them seemed to even notice that Talen and I were there.
“Umm, Talen?” I said, drawing his attention.
“Yes?”
“I need some help deciding what to wear,” I said. “I’m not sold on this dress, will you help me?”
He nodded silently, and we disappeared into my room, leaving Lacey and Ryan sparring with one another outside. I shut the door on them and turned to Talen. “Geez… I can already tell that’s a good match.”
He smiled. “I kind of thought so.”
We descended into silence and stared at each other. He looked incredibly sexy in his black sweater, but I had the urge to rip it off him. In fact, I had several different desires at that particular moment that were working their way up to my consciousness. I walked up to him, while he stood there, watching my every move.
I was aware of how much I wanted him. It was a strange feeling, one that I’d never experienced before with any other guy. It was just raw, carnal sex that I was feeling. I could feel myself moisten at the very sight of him. Acting on instinct and pure, unadulterated desire, I slipped downwards until I was on my knees.
Talen looked down at me, and I held his gaze the whole time I was undoing his pants. I pulled them down and then pulled down his boxers, too. I took a moment to admire and appreciate the size of his penis. It was long, large, and beautifully shaped. As I admired it, I realized it was slowly getting hard before my eyes. I smiled and stroked it for a few moments until it was semi hard.
Then, supporting the shaft with one hand, I licked the tip of his penis until he was rock solid and enormous. No wonder he had made me cum thrice in one night, I thought. With a penis that size, it was impossible not to feel things. That fact, combined with his obvious skill made orgasming virtually impossible to avoid.
A few years ago it might have been a daunting task to fit a penis that size into my mouth, but now I trembled with desire at the thought.
I took only the head of his penis into my mouth at first, letting my tongue explore its head and get accustomed to the subtle sweetness there. Then when I was really wet, I took more of him into my mouth. I felt his body shiver slightly, which encouraged me to go further. I used my saliva as lubricant, and his penis slipped in and out of mouth easily.
I sucked him off gently at first before I got more aggressive with my technique. I tickled his balls with one hand as I pushed his penis further into my mouth until I could almost feel him at my throat.
“Fuck,” I heard Talen breathe. He sounded as though he was losing control – and that was precisely what I wanted. I placed my hands on either side of his hips and forced almost the entirely of his cock deep into my mouth. I held that position for a while, so that I could really feel him in my throat and he could really feel the soft juices of my mouth engulf him thoroughly.
It was only when he started shaking that I pulled away just in time to see him cum onto the floor in front of me. I wiped my mouth and stood up slowly. Then, without a word, I grabbed a few tissues and passed them to him. We cleaned up together and threw away the soaking tissues. I adjusted my dress and reapplied my makeup while Talen pulled on his boxers and pants. When we both looked presentable again, we made eye contact and walked back outside to my tiny living room.
Ryan and Lacey looked towards us simultaneously and they both looked amused and suspicious. “Ready to go?” I asked casually, grabbing my purse from the sofa.
“Uh…sure,” Lacey agreed. “You two were in there for awhile.”
“Were we?” I asked innocently.
“You were,” Ryan nodded. “Did it really take that long to pick out the exact same outfit all over again?”
I looked down, realizing that I was in the same clothes. I looked up at Talen, and he smiled without concern. “I decided I liked this dress the best,” he said with a shrug.
“Right,” Ryan said slowly.
As we headed out the door, Lacey came up behind me and slapped my ass. “How many orgasms was it this time?” she whispered to me. “I’m impressed that you managed to stay so quiet.”
“Shut up,” I said, trying my best to ignore her, but I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. Because all I was thinking was, you can’t exactly scream with your mouth so full.
Chapter Nineteen
Talen
We ended up at a laidback restaurant in the city. Its interior had a lot of German influence, with alcoves for tables, dark wood, dim lamps that hung low, and a number of strange posters that had been framed.
“Never seen this place before,” Ryan said, as we were shown to our table.
“That’s because you don’t know the good places to hit,” Lacey said, sidling up to him.
We sat down and ordered food and drinks. Everyone else decided to go with the restaurant’s homemade beer, but I declined when the waitress turned to me.
“Not for me,” I said. “Just water is fine.”
“Just water, sir?” the waitress said. “Are you sure? We’re famous for our beer.”
“I’m sure you are,” I said. “But I don’t drink.”
She nodded, gave me a smile, and walked away to place our order. Lacey turned to me immediately. “You don’t drink?” she asked with interest.
“Not for a few years,” I admitted.
“Drinking problem?”
“Lacey,” Brittany said in a warning voice.
“What?” she asked. “He doesn’t have to answer.”
“No, it’s okay,” I told Brittany. “I don’t mind answering. It’s not a big deal… I just decided to stop drinking a few years back. I didn’t have an alcohol problem – at least, it wasn’t a serious problem. But it did compromise my judgement in many cases and I made some bad choices. So, I decided to stop it altogether.”
“Wow,” Brittany said. “It takes a strong man to make that kind of decision and stick to it.”
I shrugged. “Once you make up your mind, things become easier.”
“I couldn’t do it,” Ryan said, shaking his head. “Give up alcohol? It’s too big a sacrifice.”
“I agree,” Lacey nodded.
Brittany shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, I like alcohol, but I can live without it.”
“That’s because you’re the queen of deprivation,” Lacey said. “She can go days without a meal if she has to. She’s incredibly thrifty, too… But I suppose that’s a skill born out of necessity.”
I felt Brittany tense a little, as though she were uncomfortable with Lacey’s words. I could sense that she didn’t want her friend giving away too much about her life and possibly even her financial situation. I had been in the same situation not long ago and understood completely how she felt.
“I’ve been thrifty ever since I left home,” I said. “Counting money is second nature for me. Even now, when I’m doing okay, it’s hard for me not to think about what I spend money on.”
My gaze fell on Brittany, and she smiled at me. A few moments later, the waitress appeared with the beer and water for our table. She set everything down in front of us, told us our meals would arrive shortly, and then she walked away slowly.
“I think she likes you,” Lacey said, looking at me.
I frowned. “I didn’t notice.”
“Neither did I,” Ryan piped up immediately. “In fact, I could have sworn she was eyeing me the whole time.”
Lacey laughed. “Would you be happy if she was?”
“Hell, yeah,” he nodded. “The more the merrier.”
“How kinky.”
“You disapprove?”
“On the contrary, I’m turned on,” Lacey said, pressing herself against him with come hither eyes.
I shook my head at the two of them and turned to Brittany, who looked supremely embarrassed by her friend. “It’s going to be hard to pretend like we don’t know them when they’re sitting at our table,” she whispered to me.
I smiled. “I don’t know what I was thinking when I set up this evening.”
Brittany laughed. “Maybe we should just ignore them and focus on each other?”
It was the best thing I’d heard all night. “That sounds good,” I nodded.
“So,” Brittany started. “Four brothers, huh?”
I nodded. “Growing up in that house was chaos.”
“It must have been fun, though,” Brittany said, with longing in her voice. “I used to dream of having siblings when I was growing up. I thought that would make me feel less lonely.”
“You were lonely?”
“All the time,” she nodded. “I was kind of an odd kid.”
“Odd?” I repeated.
She shrugged. “I liked weird music, I dressed differently, and I didn’t really fit in with any one group in school. I suppose the other kids didn’t really know what to do with me so they just…ignored me altogether.”
“I can’t imagine anyone ignoring you,” I said honestly. I wasn’t trying to be flattering, and I wasn’t trying to pay her a compliment. That was genuinely how I felt. She was a beautiful girl and the past she was describing to me just didn’t make sense.
“You should know that I looked a little different back then,” Brittany admitted.
“How so?”
“I was a little overweight in middle school,” she admitted. “I had these awful bulky braces that made me look like a Martian from outer space, I had these out of date glasses that I wore for a couple of years, and I had the most terrible acne until I was seventeen. I wasn’t the prettiest kid. I was the prettiest teenager, either.”
“Well, it obviously didn’t last.”
“I dropped out of high school in my senior year,” Brittany told me. “And from then on, it was all about survival. I kept my head down and worked hard, and all the petty things that used to bother me suddenly disappeared. When I finally started paying attention again, I guess I had grown out of a few things. The glasses I wore managed to correct my eyesight, so I didn’t need them anymore; my acne cleared up, and I had my braces removed before I left school.”
“So everything worked out,” I said. “And the ugly duckling became a swan.”
Brittany laughed. “I don’t know about that, but my looks improved. I’d like to say that I was self actualized enough not to care about that but the truth is I cared. I always felt like an outsider wherever I went and I suppose looking a certain way helped me to fit in.”
“I know something about not fitting in,” I replied.
“Do you?” Brittany asked uncertainly.
“Yes, and I’ll say this. Sometimes having siblings doesn’t really make much of a difference,” I said. “I grew up with four older brothers, and I still always felt like the outsider… The black sheep of the family.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “Maybe because I was the youngest. Maybe because I was just different, quieter and more reserved than the rest. Maybe it had something to do with my mother… I don’t really know.”
“Your mother?”
I hesitated a moment, realizing that I’d just mentioned my mother to her. I was a little surprised that it had slipped out. I hated going into the details of my family drama with anyone. I hated to talk about it too much, even with my own brothers and it was our shared history.
“It’s a long story,” I said.
Brittany looked at me for a moment and then she gave me a soft smile. “You don’t have to tell me if you’re not comfortable,” she said.
“I just…don’t like talking about it too much,” I said. “Especially because it’s in the past. Nothing I do now can change what happened, so why drag it out and talk about it all the time?”
“Some people say it can be cathartic,” she said. “But apart from that, sometimes it’s not about dragging up the past, sometimes it’s about sharing a part of yourself with someone you trust.”
“Yeah…”
“It’s okay, Talen,” Brittany said, reaching out and placing her hand over mine. “You don’t have to talk about it. Forget I asked the question, okay?”
“Okay,” I nodded. “Thanks.”
The waitress appeared at our table again with our meals, and we tucked into our hearty dinner. We shared light conversation. Ryan and I explained about the MMA, and the girls told us about the diner and how they had both come to work there. By the time we had finished with our dinner, it was ten o’clock.
“I think this is the perfect time to hit a club,” Lacey said. “Are you guys in?”
I hesitated and turned towards Brittany. “Only if you are?”
She nodded. “Why not,” she agreed.
I saw Ryan’s face light up, and I knew he understood where the night was heading. We ended up at a club only a few blocks away from the restaurant. Again it was dimly lit and pulsing with lights and smoke, but the effect was to create an aura of sex and excitement. Ryan and Lacey wasted no time in getting to the dance floor. Within seconds, they were dirty dancing and grinding against one another. I looked at them with distaste and turned to Brittany.
“It’s like they were made for each other.”
“You made a good call there,” she congratulated me. “Now, are you going to ask me to dance?”
I raised my eyebrows. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
She laughed. “Why not?”
“I’m not the dancing type.”
“Well, then how about you just stand there and I’ll dance around you?” Brittany suggested. “That’s a happy compromise, right?”
“It sounds like a trick.”
“Come on,” she urged, grabbing my hand and dragging me onto the dance floor.
I was a little less self-conscious because of how cloudy and unclear the dance floor was. It was packed with people, and you could only see so far as the three people surrounding you.
I kept my eyes focused solely on Brittany, however. She looked particularly sexy as she started dancing around in front of me as though no one could see her. She was so uninhibited that I wanted to grab her and take her right there in the middle of the club.
I seriously contemplated grabbing her, dragging her off to some little corner, and fucking her against a back wall. But I also wanted to watch her dance some more. She danced with her eyes closed, moving her body to the beat of the music as though possessed by it. With the smoke surrounding her perfect hourglass body, she looked like a creature out of a mythical land. She looked like a siren who lured men to their deaths by virtue of her beauty.
She danced close to me, moving her body against mine without expecting anything in return. I just stood there and watched her. After awhile, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to find Ryan a few inches from my face.
“Hey, man,” he said, as Brittany and I turned to him. “I’m taking Lacey home, okay?”
As Brittany and Lacey said their goodbyes, Ryan turned to me and started making sexual hand signals that indicated what he would be doing with Lacey when he got her home. I rolled my eyes and shoved him away from me with my fist. Laughing, he grabbed Lacey, said goodbye to Brittany, and the two of them headed out.
When Brittany turned to me, her blue eyes were hooded, but there was a deep sensuality in them and I knew she’d had enough, too. “Come home with me,” she said.
“I will,” I replied.
Since Ryan had taken Lacey home in his car, Brittany and I got a cab and headed to her place. We didn’t talk much on the cab ride over, but the sexual tension that filled the space between us spoke volumes. The moment we entered the dark space of her living room, I closed the door and then reached for her. She fell into my arms easily, and I leaned down and kissed her hard.
She buckled under the weight of my kiss, and I lifted her up in my arms to carry her into the bedroom. Moonlight streamed in from her windows, so I didn’t bother turning on her room lights. Instead, I placed her gently on the bed and started to undress her slowly. The whole time, I kept my eyes locked on hers. I could feel myself harden instantly.
Her body was beautiful, a perfect mix of hard lines and soft curves. Her shoulders were small, shapely, and angular. Her breasts were firm and rounded, and they fit perfectly in my hand. Her stomach was toned and flat, and her thighs were thin, long, and shapely. When she was naked in front of me, I pushed myself off the bed and onto my feet so that I could undress quickly.
I could feel her eyes studying my body. When I was naked, too, I bent down between her legs and pulled her towards me. I could feel her anticipation as I lowered my mouth to her cunt, and I longed to experience the sweet taste of her once again.
Chapter Twenty
Brittany
It was like his tongue could unlock feelings that I never knew could be humanly possible to experience. It started with this floating feeling that was almost peaceful. Then, there was the piercing pull of desire that quickly overtook it. Then, I was moaning, crying out, trying to grab onto anything I could find just to keep myself in the present.
He took no notice of my movements or my screams. He kept his hands on my hips, while one hand moved up and down my torso as though he were massaging me into stillness. Every so often, his fingers would rake across my breasts, brushing across my nipples, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I arched my back as my toes curled in ecstatic animation. It was the most glorious feeling in the world, and when I came, it was with an almost calm sense of satisfaction. I felt his lips kiss me between the legs one last time before he rose.
I stared into his beautiful blue eyes and remembered that the first time I had seen them, they had reminded me of the sea before a storm. They were a dark, violent blue that promised a wild passion, but there was more there than just a mix of passionate emotion. There was calm, there was thoughtfulness and kindness, perhaps even a little bit of vulnerability. But it was all hidden behind amazing strength, a determination that had seen him through his life and the loneliness that had emerged from it.
I understood that loneliness only because I had experienced it, too. It was hard being the outsider; survival was even more imperative because you had no one else to rely on. I reached out with my hand and drew him up towards me. When he kissed me, I could taste myself on his tongue. It sent a thrill clawing through my body, and I knew I wanted more of him. The night was young and that was my solace.
I flipped over so that Talen was lying flat on the bed and I was straddling him at the hips. He was still hard, erect and ready for me. But I wanted a few moments to admire him. I had a Greek god in my bed and I wanted to savor that moment.
I had learnt a long time ago that moments like these were often temporary. They were filled with promise, but they disappeared all too soon. If I got only that with Talen, then I would make sure to take a breath and soak in the nuances.
He watched me watch him, and I wondered for a moment what he was thinking. Did he see me the way I saw him? Was this as different for him as it was for me? Was this just another night with another woman, or did he think there was something special here?
I didn’t want to ask because I was afraid of the answer. Instead, I let my hands run across his chiselled chest. My first impression of him had been correct – it was like he was carved from stone. There was not an ounce of fat on the man. He was like granite or marble; his body was ridged muscle and sharp angles. His shoulders were so broad that they took my breath away. His arms were toned and muscled to perfection, and I took a moment to trace my hands along his impressive biceps.
His scars and tattoos only made him more beautiful. There were stories there, his life was written across his body in a way that he would probably never be able to accurately describe. He had Celtic symbols, spiritual phrases written in ancient languages, and beautifully detailed images inked onto his skin.
There was the pouncing tiger, the biting scorpion, and the hooded eagle. Each animal represented a little piece of Talen. I recognized their significance without having to hear it from him.
I bent my head down and kissed each tattoo; I kissed his arms, his chest, his neck, and his face. I could feel his hands on my body and knew he couldn’t wait anymore. He slipped inside me easily given how wet I was, and the moment we fused together, I saw his eyes close in relief.
I took control, allowing my hips to move slowly against him. He was deep inside me, and I was aching for him, savoring each tugging pull of emotion. My body had never felt so alive, so desirable, and so in control. It gave me new confidence – the kind of confidence that gave you courage.
As the minutes ticked by, the urgency and the need became more acute. I started moving faster against him, lifting myself up before slamming down onto his cock. I felt a smile tease the corner of my lips at his moan. I repeated the process, rising and falling hard on his cock, and each time, I felt another surge of passion and heat.
Talen gripped my hips hard and anchoring me as I bounced on his cock with increasing force. His eyes were wild and his jaw was tensed, and I knew he was fighting the orgasm that was close to the surface in an effort to make this moment last. I slowed down my pace and felt him shudder. With my hands on his chest, I rode him slowly at first, before I increased the tempo again.
Then, all of a sudden, Talen grabbed me bodily and flipped me around so that he was on top. The strength with which he moved me took my breath away. It was like I was a rag doll and it had taken no effort at all.
I loved the feeling of having him on top of me and inside me all at the same time. Missionary was such an underrated position. It was a beautiful expression of intimacy. Our faces were only inches apart, his chest pressed up against my breasts; his breathing tickled my eyes and nose. It was a celebration of the physical, an ode to our bodies.
I could tell that this position gave him more control. He hiked up one of my legs until it was resting on his shoulder. A new wave of pleasure overtook me as he rammed into me, and for a moment, it almost felt as though he were fucking me into oblivion. I moaned and writhed underneath him, looking for some way to keep control, but there was just no way to do it. This kind of pleasure had to be divine because it just had no place in the mortal realm.
His eyes met mine, and we held the eye contact as we both orgasmed together. It was violent and passionate and filled with heat. I clung to his body even after the spasms of pleasure had left us. His face was pressed in against my shoulder, and I could feel his breath warming me. After a moment, I felt him lick the sweat off my breasts and felt a tingle ring down between my legs. My body was sore and aching, but I had never welcomed the feeling more.
At last, Talen rolled off me until we were lying side by side in my tiny bed. He raised his arm so that I could rest my head against his shoulder. It was in the quiet moments when I could feel the little buzz of alcohol float my system. It was wearing off now, there was barely any left. It was giving me new clarity and a newfound appreciation for the last hour. But it was also making me sleepy. I could feel my eyes blink shut slowly. Annoyed, I tried to stay awake. I wanted this night to last forever.
“You have a dreamcatcher,” Talen said suddenly.
“What?”
“A dreamcatcher,” he repeated.
I lifted my head a little so that I could see the direction of his gaze. The dreamcatcher was an old brown one with yellowy-blue feathers and red beads that I had bought at a flea market a couple of years ago when I had just moved into this apartment. I had hung it on my bedroom door for good luck.
“Oh yeah,” I smiled. “I have a dreamcatcher tattoo,” Talen said. “It’s on my back under the tattoo of the date of my dad’s death.”
“You lost your father?”
“A long time ago,” he nodded.
“Was that the first tattoo you got?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“When you were thirteen?” I asked.
He glanced down at me. “Did I mention that to you?”
“Once,” I nodded. “In passing at the diner… I remembered.”
Talen turned his eyes up to the ceiling. “The dreamcatcher I got a few years later. I had always associated it with my father, but I think…”
“Yes?”
“It might be more about my brother.”
“Which one?”
“My oldest brother,” he replied. “Peter. But then, he’s always been a father figure in my life, so maybe there’s not much difference there.”
I knew he was talking mostly to himself. But it didn’t matter. He had trusted me enough to let down his walls, and I wasn’t naïve enough to believe they would stay down forever. So I prompted him gently.
“Why did you think of your brother when you saw the dreamcatcher?”
“He used to carve them out of wood,” Talen replied. “And, decorate them with eagle feathers. He made them for me.”
“Why?”
“Because I was five and our mother had left us,” he said softly. “I think it was the only way he could think of to cheer me up.”
“He sounds like a pretty great brother.”
“I haven’t always thought so,” he said softly. “I haven’t always been fair to him.”
“Have you told him that?”
“No,” Talen replied. “I can’t…”
“Why?”
“I’m not the talking type,” he replied after a moment’s hesitation.
“You mean, you’re too proud,” I said gently.
The corners of his mouth went up in a tiny smile. “You could be right about that. I am too proud. It’s the reason I haven’t really spent much time with my mother since she came back.”
“She came back?”
Talen nodded. “She had a reason for leaving us. It was even a good reason, but…”
“You were hurt.”
“And proud,” Talen added.
“You don’t have to keep being either,” I reminded him.
“Maybe…”
His words trailed off, and I let the silence sit. I sensed that he had said everything he needed to say, and I didn’t want to take more from him than he was willing to give. We lay like that, in each other’s arms, and I drifted off to sleep against his shoulder.
Chapter Twenty-One
Talen
I blinked awake, aware that I was not in my normal surroundings. It took me only a moment to remember last night. It came to me in a wave of memories, and I knew that thinking about it too much would just inspire a hard on. Brittany was lying against my shoulder; her hair was sprawled across my arm, locks of deep black hair that would have put Snow White to shame.
I had spent the night with her. It was the first time I had ever woken up with a woman, and I had to admit it was a strange feeling. But the more surprising thing was that I wasn’t upset by that fact. I was actually happy to find myself next to Brittany this morning.
I glanced at the clock and realized I was already late. I didn’t want to wake her, but I couldn’t be late, either. Gently, I eased her onto the pillow next to me and extricated her from my arms.
I froze when she stirred in her sleep. I saw her eyes flutter a little, but they stayed closed. She looked so peaceful and calm that I couldn’t resist giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek before I got out of bed and started dressing quickly. I had just pulled on my shirt when I turned to the bed to find that Brittany was awake and watching me from behind the covers.
She had a slow smile on her face. “Morning,” she said.
“Morning,” I replied. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“No, I’m glad you did,” she replied. “I’m late for work.”
“And, I’m late for training,” I said.
“Does that mean you won’t be stopping into the diner today?”
“Not today,” I told her. “I have to head straight to the campus.”
“Bummer,” Brittany sighed, as she pulled the covers higher up on her chest.
I could see the outline of her hourglass body through the sheets, and it made me want to strip down again and join her in bed. It was like she knew what I was thinking because she gave me a seductive smile.
“See something you like?” she asked teasingly.
“I see everything I like,” I replied. “Unfortunately, I don’t have time this morning to unwrap it.”
Brittany laughed and moved to get out of bed, but I stepped forward and stopped her. “No, don’t worry about me. You don’t have to walk me out.”
“Sure?”
“Positive,” I nodded.
I leaned in and gave her a hard kiss on the lips. Then I ran out and headed straight towards the facility. Ryan was already in the ring when I arrived. He was punching the air when I joined him.
“I think that’s the only opponent you can actually beat,” I joked. “The invisible kind.”
“Talen!” Ryan roared, turning to me. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you to show up all morning.”
“Umm… Why?”
“Because I have so much to tell you about last night.”
I groaned, knowing immediately what he was talking about. “I didn’t ask,” I said quickly.
“Too fucking bad,” he said happily. “We went back to her place, and we hadn’t even made it through the door before she attacked me. I mean, that’s the only word for it, she was so fucking horny that she was on me before she even had the door open.”
“I’m sure that’s an exaggeration, but I’ll pretend to believe you,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Please, that’s exactly what happened,” he insisted. “And, you know what she had on underneath that outfit?”
“Do I really need to know this?”
“Nothing,” Ryan replied. “Okay… Well, she had on a bra…and panties…”
“So…not nothing,” I said, shaking my head at him.
“But you should have seen the underwear… It was like she wasn’t wearing anything,” he said excitedly. “They were so fucking sexy. Oh yeah, and she’s a screamer. At one point, I actually thought her landlord might show up at the door and ask if someone was being murdered.”
“Murdered, huh?” I repeated. “Was it that painful for her?”
“Fuck you,” Ryan said impatiently. “That’s not what I meant.”
“That’s what you said.”
“I’m trying to paint a picture here,” he replied, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Which is exactly why I’m trying to change the subject,” I said. “I really, really don’t want to hear this.”
“The sex was so good, man!” he continued, as though he hadn’t heard me. “I mean, I think I had her twelve different ways.”
“I thought you only knew two ways-”
“And, she gave me head,” Ryan said, talking over me. “Damn… I’ve never had a blow job that good before.”
“Urgh,” I groaned. “How much longer is this going to go on for?”
He sighed. “You are no fun,” he complained. “How was your night?”
“It was good.”
He looked at me with a slacked jaw. “That’s it?”
I raised my eyebrows. “What more do you want?”
“Something more than that,” he said. “I just gave you some juicy details, and you just gave me squat.”
“Yup…that’s all you’re going to get, too.”
“Bastard.”
I laughed. “You are such a freak.”
“Guilty as charged,” he nodded, giving me a wide smile. “By the way, did I think you?”
“For what?”
“Introducing me to the sex goddess that is Lacey?”
“I think you just did.”
“How about a hug to show my appreciation?”
“How about I punch you in the face?”
“Fine,” Ryan said, rolling his eyes. “No hug. Geez… What messed you up as a kid?”
I smiled and turned away. “Can we just get on with training?”
“Fine,” he said in an annoyed voice.
We had just started trading punches when a booming voice rang through the room, calling out my name. “For fuck’s sake,” I sighed. “We just started.”
Then I noticed it was Steven and he had Wendell in tow. I exchanged a glance with Ryan as they were approaching the ring.
“Hmm…looks like this is going to be about your fight,” he said.
I suspected as much, too. I hoped nothing had been cancelled. I ducked out of the ring and jumped down to the ground in front of Steven and Wendell. I couldn’t help notice that both men wore different expressions on their faces. Steven looked a little cautious and unsure, while Wendell looked positively enthused.
“What’s up?” I asked, looking from Steven to Wendell.
“I have good news…” Wendell started.
“That’s a matter of opinion,” Steven cut in.
Wendell rolled his eyes, but kept looking at me. “Your match…”
“Against Kendrick Conner,” I nodded quickly. “Yes, what about it?”
“We have the option of fighting the two of you sooner,” he said.
“Sooner?” I repeated.
“In a few weeks, to be precise.”
“Seriously?” I said, looking at Steven, who looked much less happy.
“Apparently, your upcoming fight with Conner has generated interest,” he explained soberly.
“Interest?” Wendell said, cutting in. “It’s more than just interest – it’s excitement, it’s curiosity, it’s intrigue. Everyone wants to know about the newcomer with big enough balls to go up against an MMA champion his first time in the ring. We want to capitalize on the interest you’re receiving because it seems that people are actually rooting for the underdog.”
“That or they just want to see how long you’ll last,” Steven said quickly. “Listen to me, Talen, Conner is an experienced fighter. He’s won titles and championships, and he’s got a loyal fan base. All you’ve got at this point is a fickle crowd whose interest will shift the moment the first punch comes in.”
“You’re assuming that Conner will make the first punch,” I said, somewhat defensively.
“You’re still in training,” Steven said bracingly. “You need more time to ready yourself for the fight. You need more practice. Agreeing to bring up the match is not a good idea.”
“And, what if I say no?” I asked.
“Then they’ll find someone else to take your place,” Wendell said immediately. “Make no mistake, there will be a fight in the next few weeks. The question is whether you’re going to be the second man in that ring.”
“Talen…” Steven started.
But Wendell cut him off. “The prize money is significant.”
“Fuck the prize money,” Steven said with annoyance. “He’s not going to see that cash if he loses.”
“What makes you think I’m going to lose?” I asked challengingly.
“You’re good, Talen,” Steven said. “But I’m not going to mince my words – you’re going up against a superior opponent. Why risk losing now, when you can train up and make a proper attempt at meeting him in January?”
“We need to capitalize on the crowd’s interest in you, Talen,” Wendell countered. His reedy eyes were hypnotizing, and I knew he was giving me his best sales pitch. “By January, it might have dried out. Do you want to risk that?”
“Do you want to risk fighting Conner before you’re ready?” Steven demanded.
“Okay, hold on,” I said, raising my hands up to both of them. “I’m a grown man, and I can make my own decisions. Just… Give me a minute.”
I turned my back on them and walked back to the ring. Ryan was leaning against it, but his eyes were fixed on me. “Tough choice, huh?”
“You were listening?”
“Of course,” he nodded unapologetically.
“And?” I asked. “What do you think?”
He raised his eyebrows. “You’re asking me for my advice?”
“Apparently,” I nodded.
He smiled as though I had just handed him a prize. Then he jumped down from the ring so that he was at eye level with me. “You should listen to your heart,” he said seriously.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry I asked.”
Ryan laughed. “Listen, man, in all seriousness, I think I’ve come to know you pretty well in these last couple of weeks. You’re not the sort of guy who’s going to listen to anyone else’s advice. No matter what I say to you now, you’re just going to do what you want in the end. And, a part of me suspects you’ve already made the decision.”
I stared at Ryan for a moment. “Well, what do you know, Ryan,” I smiled. “You’re not as stupid as you look.”
“Fuck off, Burbank,” he said, punching me in the arm.
I laughed and headed back in the direction of Steven and Wendell. I understood both their points and even happened to agree with them, but Ryan was right – this was no one’s choice but my own.
“I’ve made my decision,” I said.
“And?” Wendell asked hopefully.
“Let’s bring forward the fight,” I said. “I’m in.”
“Yes!” Wendell said happily.
Steven just looked resigned. “You’re sure about this?”
“Positive,” I nodded. “I understand your concerns, Steven, but… I need to do this. I need to prove myself. If I can beat Conner at this stage, after only a few months of training…think about the impression I’ll make. Think about my reputation, then.”
“You’ll be a star,” Wendell said dramatically. “The new Kendrick Conner.”
“And, what if you lose?” Steven asked somberly.
“Then, I’ll do my best to give the crowd a show,” I said, with determination. “Either way, if I can hold my own, if I can make it through to the third round, at least… It’ll be enough to make an impression, even if I end up losing. At least, I’ll be remembered.”
“That’s right,” Wendell nodded approvingly. “Boy’s got the right attitude.”
“Boy’s got too much damn confidence,” Steven said, shaking his head at me. “And, too much damn pride.”
He was not wrong. In fact, I was fairly certain that Steven’s was the advice I should be taking. But the truth was I had never been one to choose the safest route and I didn’t see the point in starting now.
I felt my game face slip on as I turned back to the ring to resume training. This was it, this was where years of ambition had led me, and I was ready.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Brittany
I saw Lacey pull up in her car just after I caught sight of the diner. She was walking fast for the door when she caught sight of me.
“Fuck,” she said, as I approached. “You’re late, too.”
“I had to walk,” I reminded her.
She shrugged. “I live farther than you.”
“Let’s just hurry up and get inside,” I suggested. “Danny’s going to be livid.”
“Oh, don’t worry about him,” Lacey said. “It’s too early for diners. He would have been forced to do the prep.”
“And, we both know how much he enjoys that.”
As we walked through the door, Danny was in our faces. “Nice of you two to show up,” he said, glaring at us. “Had a nice chat outside?”
“That was barely a chat,” I said apologetically. “But I’m sorry we’re late, Danny.”
“What’s your excuse?”
Lacey and I exchanged a glance. “Umm…we had a really late night,” she said, trying to suppress her smile. “And, we both missed our alarm clocks.”
He narrowed his eyes at us. “Seriously?” he said. “That’s the excuse?”
“Would you prefer we lie?”
He sighed and threw the table cleaner liquid at me and the wiping rag at Lacey. “Just get to work,” he said. “I have to start breakfast for our regulars.”
He disappeared into the kitchen looking positively harassed, and I smiled after him in sympathy. “Poor guy,” I said. “I really need to buy him something nice one of these days.”
Lacey nodded distractedly. “Sure, sure, we’ll do that,” she said. “Now, how was your night?”
“Same as yours,” I said coyly. “You were there.”
Lacey rolled her eyes at me. “I’m talking about afterwards, obviously,” she said. “Stop it with the evasive routine. I hate when you do that. Just tell me what happened.”
“What do you think happened?” I laughed. “We went back to my place and…”
“Stuff happened?” she asked eagerly.
“It did,” I nodded, blushing slightly.
“As good as the first time?”
“Better,” I replied.
Her eyes went wide. “Better?” she repeated.
“Yeah… I don’t know how to describe it,” I said. “It was just that we were more comfortable with one another. We were more…in tuned to what we needed from each other. There was more of a connection there, you know? He spent the, night too.”
“Did he now?” Lacey asked, with interest.
“Did Ryan?”
“Nah, he left last night after we fucked.”
“And, how was he?”
Lacey seemed to consider the question for a moment. “I honestly had higher hopes,” she said.
“Really?”
“First of all, he attacked me before I could even get the door open,” she said. “I mean I was literally just trying to get into the apartment when he started pawing at me. I mean, I didn’t mind very much, it was actually kind of hot…”
“But?”
“He was good,” she said, with a shrug. “But there’s definite room for improvement.”
“In what way?”
“He could do with a few more moves,” she replied. “And I wanted it to last longer than it did. He lasted about ten minutes, but it was still ten minutes too early.”
“Ah,” I said sympathetically.
“I’m guessing you didn’t have that problem with Talen?”
I smiled. “I don’t want to get into the gory details.”
“Why not?” Lacey demanded.
“Because I might make you jealous,” I teased.
She groaned. “You’ve already done that, you heartless bitch.”
I laughed as the door to the diner opened and Monica walked in. “Morning, ladies,” she greeted. “Is my breakfast ready yet?”
“In the process of being made, Monica,” I said. “Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll bring you some juice and a piece of pie.”
“What are the options?” she demanded loudly.
“Pecan and strawberry shortcake.”
“Bring me a slice of both,” she said. “And, don’t dawdle.”
After I had given Monica her pie, I headed back to the counter. It was a quiet day. The other regulars hadn’t turned up yet, and I knew that Talen wasn’t coming in today. I glanced outside the diner and my eyes fell on Lacey’s car. It was just another reminder that I needed to repair my car as soon as possible, or I would be coming in late more often than not.
I sighed, knowing that my funds were woefully limited. I was already counting pennies like a miser, and this repair would take much more money than I had. Even if I took another job, it would take me months to earn enough cash to put towards the car repairs. I needed a windfall and I needed it now. It wasn’t just my car, either. It was rent and electricity and hot water, and I wasn’t sure I had enough to stretch me through the next few months.
“Something the matter?” Lacey asked, as she saw my face.
I sighed. “Just trying to make a difficult decision,” I admitted.
“How difficult?”
I stared down at the counter for a moment. “I think I need to talk to my father.”
“Fuck,” she said slowly.
“Yeah…”
“I didn’t think you’d actually consider that until you were desperate-”
As she said the words, she colored a little bit, realizing that she had hit the nail on the head without thinking. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
“You know what they say,” I said, trying to sound resigned and cheerful. “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
“It’ll be okay, Brit,” Lacey said bracingly.
“Will it?” I asked uncertainly.
“It’s one conversation,” she said. “Think of it that way – it’s one conversation and afterwards you can forget about it.”
“How?” I asked. “How can I forget about it? First, I have to go through the humiliating process of asking him for money. Then I have to look into his cold, hard face and wait for his answer. If he says no, then I’ve humiliated myself for nothing, in addition to being hurt. And if he says yes, then I have to accept his money with a thank you and the acknowledgement that he was right about everything.
“Then for the next few months, every time I pay a bill or use his money, I’ll be reminded of him. I’ll be reminded that I had to swallow my pride and go to his doorstep with a begging bowl. I’ll be reminded that he’s the one supporting me, despite the fact that he never wanted to in the first place.”
Lacey looked at me with eyes that looked a little watery. “Brit…” she said softly.
“That’s my reality, Lace,” I said, with a tired sigh. “There’s just no escaping it.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, putting her hand on my shoulder. “If I could help-”
“I know,” I said, cutting her off. “I know you would. And, I appreciate that. But we’re all struggling to stay afloat here. I know that.”
Lacey looked like she didn’t know what else to say.
“You know what would be great right now?”
“What?” she asked, jumping on the opportunity to do something.
“Let’s play some music and dance all our troubles away.”
She laughed and headed for the radio. We spent the next few hours twirling around the diner, waiting on diners who clearly thought we were a little loopy. But it succeeded in cheering me up and by the end of the day, even though my decision had been made, I didn’t feel quite so low.
Lacey was in the back with Danny and I was cleaning up in the front, when the door to the diner opened. “I’m sorry, we’re close-”
I looked up and caught sight of Talen stepping into the diner. “Talen?” I said, with a smile spreading across my face. “What are you doing here?”
“I was passing through,” he said. “I saw you in the window and I thought that you might need a lift home.”
I smiled. “Wow, that was sweet of you.”
He took a seat at the counter. “Does that mean you’re taking me up on that offer?”
“I wouldn’t say no to a lift,” I nodded, as I wiped down the counter. “Thank you for thinking of me.”
“Of course,” he nodded.
I noticed he had a sparkle in his eye today and there was a tinge of underlying excitement I could sense from him. “Are you happy about something?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
He smiled. “Observant,” he said. “Actually, there is something I’m happy about.”
“Do tell,” I said, with interest.
“Remember that fight I was telling you about? The one in January?”
“Yes,” I said. “Against Kendrick something or the other.”
“Kendrick Conner,” he corrected. “Well, they’re moving it up.”
“They’re moving it up?” I repeated. “How close up?”
“Three weeks from tomorrow,” Talen replied.
“Wow,” I said. “Are you ready for that?”
“I have to be,” he nodded. “The fight will be held in Las Vegas.”
“Wow,” I breathed. “That’s a big arena.”
“I’m actually comfortable there,” he replied. “I’ve fought in Las Vegas before. Not on this large a scale, but it was a jumping off point. That was the fight that gave me my big break.”
“Which led to this fight?”
“Yes,” he nodded.
“You look excited.”
“Wouldn’t you be?”
I laughed. “I would be nervous.”
“I’ll probably be a little nervous on the day,” he replied. “But for right now, I’m just excited.”
“Well, then, I’m happy for you,” I said.
“Thanks,” he said. Then his eyes raked over my face and seemed to notice something amiss. “Is something the matter?”
“Nothing,” I replied, a little too quickly.
He raised his eyebrows at me, and I gave him a self-conscious smile. “I’ve just been a little…preoccupied today, that’s all.”
“About?”
Just at that moment, the kitchen door opened and Danny and Lacey came out, all set to leave for the night. Danny looked a little startled to see Talen sitting there, but Lacey gave him a huge smile.
“Well, hello, Mr. MMA,” she said. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” Talen nodded. “You?”
“Great,” she nodded. “Where’s your pal?”
“Probably at home, dreaming about you.”
“Yeah,” she nodded confidently. “I kind of thought so. You’ve met Danny before, haven’t you?”
The boys shook hands as Lacey introduced them. Then we said our goodnights and Talen and I headed out of the diner towards his car. It was nice and warm in the passenger’s seat, but my mind was still thinking of the decision I’d made earlier in the day.
“You were about to tell me what was bothering you?” Talen reminded me.
I glanced over at him and sighed. “I suppose it’s no surprise that I’m going through a few money troubles,” I said the bitter words quickly. “I’ve sort of hit a cross roads. I can’t manage without some help, which means… I’m going to have to see my father.”
“Your father?”
“He’s my father is name alone,” I said quickly. “He’s never really been…fatherly towards me in any way. But he has money, and I’m desperate, so…”
“You’re going to ask him for help,” Talen nodded.
“It was and always has been my last resort,” I admitted. “But I’m at the end of my tether. I have bills to pay and an expensive car repair that needs to be sorted out immediately. I can’t afford to wait any longer. Asking my father is the only option I have left.”
Talen grew quiet for a moment. “This must be hard for you.”
“You have no idea,” I sighed.
“When are you planning on seeing him?”
I paused. “I was thinking of doing it tomorrow, actually,” I replied. “It’s soon, but I want to get it over with as soon as possible.”
“You know, I could come with you,” Talen offered.
I turned to him with a start. “You would do that?”
“Yes,” he nodded. “For moral support.”
I smiled, realizing that I would actually take a huge amount of comfort from his mere presence alone. “If you’re serious-”
“I am.”
I smiled. “Okay, then,” I nodded. “I would love if you could come with me.”
Talen turned his eyes back to the road. “Good.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Talen
“Hi,” I greeted, as Brittany got into the passenger seat.
“Hi,” she said. I could tell immediately that she was nervous and preoccupied at the same time.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Sure,” she said distractedly, but her eyes were far away.
I wanted to reach out and take her hand, but the gesture was foreign to me and I felt strange doing it. Instead, I kept my eyes on the road, stealing a glance in her direction every few seconds just to make sure she was all right.
“Can we stop by my place for a little bit?” she asked, the moment we cleared the diner. “I’d like to shower and change before we head over to my father’s place.”
“Of course,” I nodded.
“I just want to warn you…”
“Yes?”
“My father is a little different.”
“Different?” I repeated.
“He’s…a tough guy,” Brittany tried to explain. “And he doesn’t exactly mince his words. He’s blunt and cold and abrasive.”
“I know the sort.”
She nodded. “I’m just preparing you,” she said.
It sounded to me like she was trying to prepare herself. I glanced at her again, but her eyes were fixed on some unknown point in front of her. She was looking, but she wasn’t really seeing. “It’s going to be okay, Brittany,” I said.
I hated saying the words because they sounded so hollow and generic, but they were all I had to work with. I had no idea what her father was like, and I had no idea what their relationship was like. The only thing I could do was be there for her.
We headed up Brittany’s apartment, and I took a seat on the sofa while she headed for the shower. Twenty minutes later, she still hadn’t appeared. A little concerned, I got up and headed to her little box of a room. The door was closed and I didn’t want to be presumptuous, so I knocked.
“Come in.”
I walked in to find Brittany standing in front of her mirror wearing a pretty blue dress. The dress was sleeveless, tight at the bodice and billowy at the waist. A pattern of white flowers adorned the hem and the neckline of the dress. She had tied up her hair into a demure bun and even her make up matched her pretty but conservative choice of dress. She slipped on a pair of beige wedges and turned to me. It looked as though she were preparing for a date, as opposed to a meeting with her father.
“How do I look?” she asked.
“You look…different,” I said. “Beautiful, but different.”
She gave me a nervous smile. “I have some silver earrings I can wear… Do you think it’s too much?”
I frowned. “No…” I said uncertainly.
She turned around, grabbed a pair of earrings on her dressing table and put them on quickly. “There,” she said. “What do you think?”
“You look perfect,” I said, giving her the thumbs up.
“Sure?”
“Positive,” I nodded.
“Okay, then,” she said breathily. “I guess…we should get going.”
We walked out to the car together, and I could practically feel the nerves waft off of Brittany. I wanted to take a moment to hold her still and calm her down, but she hopped into the passenger’s seat before I could do anything.
“Head over to Manson and Ivy,” she instructed me. “It’s a housing complex, so it’s hard to miss.”
It took us nearly thirty minutes to get there, and we travelled in near silence. I understood Brittany’s need to maintain the silence, so I didn’t even try to attempt conversation. There were signs that marked our way before we arrived at a huge, intricately-adorned black gate. To the side of the gate was a fancy sign that read “Manson and Ivy.”
I had to roll down Brittany’s window so that she could talk to the security guard. He was dressed like an army commander in a blue uniform.
“Yes, ma’am?” he asked without interest.
“I’m a visitor,” Brittany said, tripping over her words a little. “I’m here to see Fletcher McMillan.”
The security guard nodded. “Name?”
“Brittany McMillian.”
The guard glanced up, pressed a button on his screen, and the black gate parted like the red sea. “It’s number thirteen. Make a right at the traffic circle, drive straight, take another right at the second traffic circle, and you’ll find number thirteen on your left.”
“Right,” Brittany nodded. “Okay, thank you.”
I looked around in awe as we drove through. Brittany’s father was obviously incredibly wealthy to be able to live in a luxury-housing scheme like this one. I was a little puzzled as to why sshe lived the way she did if she had a father who could obviously help her out without even noticing the money going. I resisted the urge to ask, however. I knew she was choking on her own nerves.
“Urgh… I’ve already forgotten his instructions,” she groaned, looking frazzled.
“Don’t worry,” I told her. “I’ve got it.”
Within two minutes, we had pulled up outside a massive two-story building that looked more like a mansion than a house. Everything about it screamed wealth, and I could understand why Brittany might feel a little intimidated.
“I can stay in the car,” I said.
She turned to look at me with wide eyes. “Please don’t,” she said, as her hand grabbed mine. “I… I think I’d like it if you came with me. If you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind,” I said.
We got out of the car and headed over to the front door. There was an actual brass doorknocker in the center of the ornate wooden door. Brittany ignored it and just rang the doorbell that was off to the side. A few moments later, the door opened and we found ourselves face-to-face with an impeccably dressed man with a bored expression on his face.
“May I help you?” he asked politely.
“Is… Um… Is Mr. McMillian in?”
“May I know who’s asking?”
I raised my eyebrows, observing the butler as though he were a sideshow. It was hard to believe that people actually had butlers anymore – it was hard to believe people actually lived like that.
“I’m Brittany…his daughter.”
The butler did a good job of hiding his surprise, but I noticed his expression change slightly. He nodded once. “Of course, ma’am. Please come in. If you’ll wait in the foyer, I will let Mr. McMillian know you are here to see him.”
“Can’t you just take me straight to see him?” Brittany asked.
I was pretty sure it wasn’t just my imagination, but I noticed that the butler gave me a slightly judgemental glance before he turned back to Brittany. I realized my appearance might not exactly be in keeping with the décor.
“Mr. McMillian likes to be notified of any visitors before he receives them, ma’am,” the butler replied before he disappeared through a door on the right.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” Brittany sighed, reaching out for me.
I grabbed her hand and held her steady. “This place is…something else.”
“My father’s always lived this kind of lifestyle.”
“It must have been surreal…growing up in places like this,” I said, looking up at the massive circular stairway that seemed to go on forever.
“I didn’t,” she said. “I never grew up anywhere even close to this.”
“You didn’t?”
“There was that one year when I was a teenager, but it seems more like a dream now…”
I was trying to understand what she had just said when the butler reappeared. “Please follow me,” he said formally.
He took us through a huge room, down a broad corridor decorated with oil paintings, before coming to a stop outside a large door with marble inlay. He knocked twice, waited three seconds, and then opened it and gestured for Brittany and I to enter.
He was sitting on a massive leather armchair, reading a book and smoking what looked to be a cob pipe. He was not a particularly impressive man in build or stature. He looked pretty ordinary, in fact.
But I noticed there was a power in his face that came close to what Brittany had described. It was a harshness that suggested wealth and privileged without any of the humility. His eyes were the same blue as his daughter’s, but they lacked her depth and warmth.
He looked up slowly when we entered. Then he uncrossed his legs, put down his book, and took another puff of his pipe before he removed it from his mouth. His eyes passed only momentarily on Brittany before they landed on me. I could tell immediately that he wasn’t happy about me being there, nor did he approve of my tattooed arms.
“Brittany,” he said, without bothering to get up.
“Hi, Dad,” she said, a little shakily. “This is Talen. He’s…a friend of mine.”
He gave me a cursory glance. “Talen?” he repeated. “Unusual name.”
“I had unusual parents.”
“Apparently,” he nodded sardonically. “Why have you come to see me, Brittany?” he asked, cutting to the chase.
There was no small talk, no niceties, and no interest in his daughter’s life. He was blunt, abrupt, and clearly disinterested. I was starting to see why Brittany had been so nervous to make this visit. And, I was starting to feel my temper rise just looking at Fletcher McMillian’s pompous face. For Brittany’s sake, I gritted my teeth and stayed silent.
“Umm…” Brittany just stood there awkwardly, because neither one of us had been offered a seat. “Well… I came here to ask you for a favor.”
“I gathered as much,” Fletcher nodded. “You want money?”
Brittany tensed immediately. “I… Well… It’s just that these last few months have been hard…”
“Life is hard.”
She paused, obviously thrown by his interruption. She seemed to gather her words up quickly, however. “I wouldn’t have come if I had any other choice,” she said. “I just need a little money to get me through these next few months. And obviously… I’m not asking for a hand out. I intend to pay you back.”
“With interest?”
I glared at him, shocked by how coldly brutal he was being, but he wasn’t even looking in my direction. I felt the need to grab Brittany and get the hell out of that oppressively overdone house, but I didn’t want to overstep.
“I… I can’t afford to pay you back with interest,” she replied.
“A bank would require interest,” Fletcher continued. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Because you’re her fucking father, I wanted to scream, but my tongue was tied in shock.
“I…”
“But then, a bank would never lend you the money in the first place,” Fletcher said disparagingly. “Which is why you had to come to me.”
“Yes,” she said in a small voice.
“How much money do you need?”
Brittany hesitated for a moment. “I need…four thousand dollars.”
Fletcher pursed his lips up and stared at her with his cold blue eyes. It was amazing to me that he could look at her and have no feelings towards her.
“I worked hard to earn my money,” he said.
“I know that-”
“No one gave me any hand outs.”
“It wouldn’t be a hand out-”
“The answer is no,” Fletcher said, cutting Brittany off again.
She froze for a moment. She was about to say something when I stepped forward. “Come on,” I said, taking her by the arm. “We’re leaving.”
I pulled Brittany towards the door, and she followed me without resistance. We were at the threshold when I turned back and made eye contact with Fletcher. “You can go fuck yourself,” I said, through gritted teeth before I got the hell out of there, Brittany at my side.
She was shivering slightly when we got into the car, and I reached out to her and engulfed her in my arms. “I’m sorry,” I said, wondering if she was upset with me.
“I… It’s okay… That wasn’t your fault… I should have known… He…he…”
“It’s okay,” I said bracingly. “You don’t have to explain. Let’s just get the hell out of here.”
Her beautiful blue eyes met mine for a moment before she nodded, as though nothing in the world sounded better to her than that.