Chapter 12
Beth
I knew my life would change as soon as I started publicly dating Jacob Maddox. While I didn’t expect any preferential treatment by anyone that we work with, or whenever we went out or by the media, I was surprised to hear one news story report that I jumped from Tyson over to Jacob as my heart was broken by Tyson’s engagement as a way to get even. That one was misconstrued from photos of Tyson and me at dinner a few weeks ago, complete with the headlines of him trying to console the estranged ex. There was another where there was speculation that Tyson was getting back together with the ex-girlfriend, assuming to be me. The local media had a field day thinking that I was the other woman.
What I didn’t anticipate was the flood of hate mail that I received from adoring fans of Jacob Maddox. Women throughout the nation have sent me plenty of hateful and discouraging words. Some claimed to have slept with him, knew him, or would hopefully know him as soon as he “threw out the trash.” I couldn’t help but to laugh with each one. Jacob, on the other hand, was irritated with the whole thing, telling me to not even open the mail. But then, he secretly seems to enjoy when I read some of the letters to him.
On a daily basis since the event last Wednesday, I’ve received at least ten pieces of “fan” mail addressed to me in care of Mad Designs. I wait until I’m home to read the mail with some alcohol, so I can act respond unprofessionally and provide commentary without my associates thinking that I’m bat-shit crazy, as I’ve begun to categorize the mail.
Tonight, my legs were up on Jacob’s lap as we sat on his sectional couch. He was leaning forward with a video game controller in his hands and my back was pressed against the center spot. I had a beer in my hand and in the other was another letter on flowered stationary.
“This one is a good one.” I take a sip from the bottle.
“I still don’t understand why you’re reading these.”
“Entertainment. It’s just like reading the internet, but an old-fashioned version.”
“Speaking of which, have you been on social media lately?” he asks without breaking his gaze from the screen.
“Yeah, I had to make my entire profiles super private. I had the PR department help me with that, just like they did with your Google alerts.” I laugh as I poke him with my foot.
“Funny,” he deadpans.
“So, this one, as you can see, is written on beautiful flowery pastel paper.” I wave it in his periphery, seeing him roll his eyes as I smell it. “It smells like regret and bad decisions otherwise known as cheap perfume.” I pause for dramatic effect. It works and he stops playing Madden Football and looks to me to continue.
“To the woman who stole my man, I don’t know just who you think you are. You parade around in these fancy outfits, which I am sure are given to you in exchange for your services. Who are you? First, you sleep with Tyson behind his fiancée’s back, then like a hoe, you go after my man. Let me give it to you straight, sister, you are a nobody. Enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame, because it will be over and Jacob Maddox will return to my loving arms.” I look to Jacob for his reaction.
“It would be helpful if she provided a picture, then I could tell you if she had any leg to stand on there.” He laughs.
“Did I steal you from…,” I grab the envelope to see the mailing address. “Juanita Delaunter?”
“Just that name makes me want to dump you and go to her.” he whispers, leaning over towards me. I meet him in the middle and kiss him softly.
“I think Juanita is a contender everyone. We can put this one in the semi-crazy pile.” I say loudly, as if I’m announcing it to a packed room. Then I place it on the table and reach for another.
“You have different piles?” he asks, resuming his game.
“Yes. I have Fucking Crazy, Semi-Crazy, and Just a Tad Crazy.”
“How many are in the ‘Fucking Crazy’ category?” He hides his smile.
“It’s a decent sized pile. There are some chicks out there who basically think you walk on water. You have several children, the majority of them seem to be in the mid-states, with one on the continent of Africa. Then there are the ones who don’t know how to spell your name. Oh, oh, oh! There was one who qualified for Straight Jacket Crazy. She’s alone so far in her own category.”
“What made her straight jacket material?”
“She referred to you as her werewolf and said that you guys imprinted on one another?”
“Is she talking about me as if I’m one of those dudes in those books and movies?”
“Sparkles and all.” I laugh, as he shakes his head in disbelief.
“Can we put those away and just have a quiet night without anybody interjecting into our relationship?”
“I never would have taken you for a homebody, a romantic, or a one-woman man, Mr. Maddox.” I smile.
“I love not being what people expect me to be.”
“I would rather take off your clothes and see how well you play this video game while I’m distracting you.” I smile, removing my shirt slowly.
“Oh yeah? And how do you intend to distract me?”
“Continue playing and you’ll see.”
Jacob
Best.
Girlfriend.
Ever!
I haven’t had a lot of girlfriends in my life – when I think about it I can count them all on the same hand – and those were all in my youth. I do have to say that Beth is #1 when it comes to that title. Not only is she smart and sexy, she’s confident and obviously, with the amount of attention we’ve gotten lately and the negative bits of mail she gets, she’s taking everything in stride. I did my best to focus on the game on the screen, but the more vigorous her attempts became as she teased my body and hers, I eventually gave up and took her right there on the couch.
As we lie in each other’s arms in the post-sex afterglow, I can’t help but think that if you would have asked me a year ago about my future, I wouldn’t have even thought that I would be in a committed relationship with my brother’s best friend. My arms tighten around her midsection and I lean in to smell her skin. She smells of a combination of sex, lemons and me. I smile at the mixture.
My phone has been periodically vibrating across the coffee table all night, but I would rather devote my attention to her right now, than jump to see what non-important items want my attention. I enjoy the bubble we create when we’re together; it’s almost as if no one can penetrate through it. Not even the negative letters or the local paparazzi can get us down.
Unfortunately, when someone is buzzing through from the apartment lobby more than once, that is something that cannot be completely ignored.
I roll her onto her back, and slowly hover over her, my semi-hard dick teasing at her openings as I playfully rub myself against her, and then with a kiss to her nose, I climb all the way off her and press the call button to the lobby.
“Yes, this is Maddox, someone has been trying to get my attention, Mr. Carley?”
“Yes, sir. Your brother and his fiancée are here. They don’t seem happy to have been kept waiting. They’re rather anxious.”
“Thank you for not allowing them to come up right away. Please wait at least two minutes prior to sending them up. Thank you, Mr. Carley.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I turn to head back into the living room where Beth is sitting up, naked, and looking ravishing with her just fucked hair and the glow across her skin. If I could keep her naked always, I would. But then I would have to beat up a lot of people for just looking at her the way I am right now.
“Ty and Allie are here. We may want to get some clothes on.” I smile holding my hand out to her to help her up.
“Shit, we’re naked!” She jumps up and runs to the bedroom as I follow her laughing.
She dresses quickly in a pair of my sweats and one of my t-shirts as I don my basketball shorts.
We leave my bedroom just as the elevator opens and we hear two people stomp into my penthouse.
“To what do we owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?” I inquire, as we walk into my brothers eyeline.
“You haven’t returned any of my calls!” my brother exclaims.
“Or mine,” Allison adds.
“I’m sorry, we were playing video games, and then we were otherwise occupied.” I smile and cross my arms. Beth takes a seat on one of the dining room chairs beside me, as I plant my ass on the tabletop, running my hand against the surface, picturing Beth splayed across.
“A year ago, you went to Vegas.” my brother starts.
“I’ve gone to Vegas since, too. What’s your point.”
“Well a year ago, you went to Vegas. It was when Allie and I met. You and Brad were MIA for a week.”
“Oh, yeah. That was a tough week; I think I regurgitated my liver. It was close to a depiction of The Hangover movies. Anyways, what’s the point?” I laugh in remembrance.
“Well, you got married.” my brother says.
It was almost as if there was a vacuum in the room as all the air was sucked out of me. Everyone was quiet, afraid to say a word.
“Nice joke,” I finally say, brushing off the ridiculous motion.
“Not a joke, buddy.”
“I’ve been getting letters left and right saying that Jake’s married to them and also fathered several children. These chicks are just mental.” Beth interjects.
“The claim came a few days ago. Some chick called Mad Designs, somehow got through the operator and to someone in Marketing, who in turn sent the call to PR and they brought in one of the lead PI’s that I generally use. There was a legal document recorded in Vegas and it’s confirmed that you in fact are married to some chick named Candace Waters. She goes by the name Candy.”
Still not believing this, I scoff. “What is she, a stripper?