Chapter Thirty-Six

Six months later

 

 

Reality has been harder than our time on the island, and the place we now call home, a sweet cottage-style house in the suburbs of Melbourne, has nothing on the mansion we often occupy for weekend getaways. Our new place is humble, sweet, and relatively lush, but not overly extravagant.

My life isn’t a perfect vacation filled with every luxurious item accessible, but it’s the life I want, and the life Arlie knows is important to me. I wouldn’t change it for any amount of money in the world even though we have plenty of that.

It’s true—even crazy girls can find love, and I found love with Arlie Blight. The man who I met in a grocery store, dined with in a local Chinese restaurant, and unknowingly followed to a secret hideaway fit for a king and queen in a place called Heart Key. Who knew he’d end up being the man who owned it and a bunch of gyms around the world? Not me.

“Babe, are you nearly ready? You’re going to be late for work.” Arlie’s light blue eyes find mine in the mirror. Toothpaste foams over my lips. My hair status is currently unruly. “God, you’re sexy as fuck in those scrubs,” he growls, stalking me from behind. “How do all those doctors and patients keep their hands off you?”

Arlie’s wide, naked chest takes my vision as I dip my eyes downwards while looking at his reflection.

“The things I want to do to you right now are not PG-rated; they’re so R-rated it would make even the most sexually prolific person blush.”

I squeeze my thighs together to tame the sudden pulsing I experience, then spit toothpaste into the basin, running water over my mouth.

“Come here,” Arlie says, all deep-voiced and sexy. I squeal the moment he snakes his arms around my waist and lifts me with ease, carrying me to the bedroom. “Me, Tarzan. You, Jane, and I will mate with you. No doctoring for you today.”

My body bounces against the mattress when he throws me against it like he’s the king of the jungle and I’m his woman to do what he wants with. He stands tall, wearing only a pair of hot pink boxer briefs, and puffs out his chest, beating his fists against it until I groan in complete discomfort.

“Oh, shit. Are you okay?” He drops to the bed.

I sit half upright, grabbing my waist.

“Did I hurt you?”

“Foot. His foot is in my ribs again.” I clutch my side.

“I’ve got you.” Arlie stacks some pillows behind my head and moves me until I rest against them. “This little fellow is going to be a kickboxer, I think.”

“Agreed.” I wince.

Arlie lifts my green scrub top under my breasts and places his big, strong hand high up on my ever-growing baby bump. “Dude, shove over—you’re hurting Mummy, and you’re kind of messing with playtime for Daddy right now.”

I laugh, then wince, scrunching my face.

Small circular movements—it’s how Arlie normally convinces our little rib kicker to move. “Any better?” he asks.

I shake my head. “It doesn’t seem to be doing the trick.”

Arlie shifts to his plan B and dips his head until his lips brush over my skin. “Maybe he wants some love and attention.” He speaks against my belly before leaving small kisses in place of his words.

“He’s so needy already.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t go to work today, babe. You should probably stay here so I can care for the both of you. You don’t even have to work.”

“I’m pregnant, not dying, and the little gem has just moved so I’m good to go now.”

“He’s moved? Excellent.” Arlie wiggles his eyebrows.

I giggle.

“Well, in that case, before you take off and save lives with outstanding medical diagnosis genius powers, I have a parting gift for you.”

“You have already parted a gift inside me.” I point at my rounded tummy.

Arlie throws back his head and laughs. “I have more gifts where that came from,” he says, standing upright. “Now, let me take these off. I’m going to rock your world before you have to go out into the real world and kick sickness’s arse.”

I twist my neck and eye my watch. “I’ve twenty minutes until I have to leave, and I’ve not even brushed my hair. Can you work with that?”

“Oh, I can. I’ll take fifteen minutes of your time and we’ll get you in shipshape and out the door in the remaining five. Deal?”

“Bring it.” I cup my palm in the air and signal for him to take what’s his—me.

I’m his, and he’s mine, and we’re madly, deeply, and insanely in love. Arlie gets me and all my little quirks. He cherishes me for the crazy woman I am. Every weakness and strength I possess Arlie accepts, and no matter what happens around our happy little life bubble, it doesn’t matter because we’re strong enough to rise to any challenge. We have each other, and a new little baby on the way. And although we’re not married and we’re not exactly taking all our steps in order, we’re content. Life’s not about rushing things, it’s about living in the moment, and I’m doing just that. Living every single moment.

“Goddamn, you’re fine.” Arlie runs his hands over my small bump and cups my boobs. “Yep, they’re bigger than yesterday. I’m so happy.”

I giggle.

“Hello, sugar dumplings, Daddy’s home.” It’s Chris, calling out with the most feminine tone a male can possess.

Bang!

The door slams shut.

“You know you don’t live here,” I yell from the bedroom.

“Where are you two?” he shouts.

“Why did you give Chris a key?” Arlie lays his head to my chest. “He’s the biggest kid interrupting our Mummy/Daddy playtime, I’m telling you. It’s like he has a radar for when we’re about to get busy.”

“We’ll be out in a moment,” I yell, attempting to rein in my humour.

“Hurry, hurry. I have a gift for you two.”

“Of course, he does.” Arlie groans, causing laughter to explode through my lips.

“Get dressed,” I say, trying to roll out from under Arlie.

“Can’t we pretend we’re not home?”

“He knows we’re home.”

“I’m getting the key back today.”

“And what if we get locked out?”

“A locksmith, I’ll call a locksmith. It’s not like I can’t afford it.”

“Play nice. He’s my best friend,” I tut.

“And he’s great and all, but he seriously has no boundaries.”

“Are you two naked in there?” Chris’s voice grows closer.

“We are. Go away.” Arlie takes my hands and holds them above my head. “Fifteen minutes. Those fifteen minutes were mine,” he whispers against my lips.

“I know, baby, but we have company.”

“Unwelcome, gift-bearing company.”

“Exactly. Now unhand me and get dressed.”

“Fine,” he groans, climbing to his feet and adjusting himself while sporting a pout.

Pulling down my scrub top, I straighten my pants before running my hands over my locks. “I’ll meet you out there. Don’t be long,” I warn.

“Okay.” Arlie sulks.

I stalk my way over to him, running my finger along his jawline until I pistol grip his chin. “You’re my one and only,” I whisper against his lips.

“I know.”

“Now get some clothes on and play nice.”

“Play nice. I can play nice for you.”

“I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

I press my lips to his, and he takes my mouth in a way which speaks volumes of his frustration and hunger. For a split moment, I think maybe if we don’t come out, Chris will disappear, but then I remember it’s Chris, and he’d not hesitate to barge into the bedroom whether we were naked or not.

When our lips part, I twist on my heel. Arlie taps my bottom, causing me to gallop a few steps. “Tonight. We’re going to resume this when you get home.”

I peek over my shoulder and blow him a kiss before finding the door handle and exiting the bedroom.

“There you are.” Chris’s teeth are exposed in a wide smile.

“Hello, bestie. You look very chipper today. I don’t have long. I need to get to the hospital.” I glance at my watch. “In ten minutes.”

“Sex hair,” Chris blurts.

“Totally sex hair,” Matthew chimes in, stepping into my view.

“Oh, you’re both here. This will make Arlie extra happy.” I pinch my lips together to rein in my laughter.

“Girl, have I got a big surprise for you.”

“It’s the best thing ever,” Matt adds.

“Okay, what is it?”

“Ta-da.” Chris whips out a pink bag with no store label attached from behind his back. “You’re going to love it.”

“Chris, is it a …”

He giggles. “No!”

“Oh, thank God.” Another vibrator is not on today’s agenda for me.

“Take it.” He holds it out, and I accept.

Matthew steps forward, snaking his arms around Chris’s waist. “I’m so proud of you, sugar bug.”

“I know you are, sugar daddy.”

They kiss the moment Arlie appears.

“Get a room, you two,” he snaps, annoyed.

“One seed inside my bestie wasn’t enough for you? You’re still violating her, I see,” Chris tuts.

“Do you have any boundaries?” Arlie counters.

Chris shakes his head.

I laugh.

“Mindy, open, open it already. The suspense is killing me.”

“You’re killing him. Hurry up,” Matthew chimes in.

“Alright already.” I open the bag. I can clearly see a book inside.

“A baby-naming book?”

“Nope. So much better than a baby book.”

I drop the bag to the floor and turn it over until I’m looking at the front cover. Perfect Catch is the title. Even crazy girls can find love is the tagline. C.J. Grandy takes up the bottom of the cover.

“You published a book?” There’s excitement in my tone.

“Not any book. Turn it over and read the blurb.”

“Okay.”

 

Dr Belinda Trant is hopeless in love. Her life is far from where she thought it would be by her thirtieth birthday. She’s broke, single, and living with her cat, Letcher. The only shining star to brighten her days is her best friend, Chris.

 

I burst into laughter.

“Keep reading,” Chris encourages me.

 

But Belinda’s life is about to change in the most explosive way when she meets a smoking-hot, god-like man on a game show called Perfect Catch.

Charlie Right is strong, determined, wealthy, and dominate. He’s eye candy and cocky, and he knows it.

What happens when the paths of Belinda and Charlie cross?

Fireworks. A bunch of love-making fireworks.

 

“Is this serious?” I say.

“It is. I wrote a sexier, heat-filled story about you two.”

“Is he shitting us?” Arlie doesn’t look impressed. His nostrils are flaring, his eyes thin slits.

“I think it’s great.” I laugh.

“I told you she’d love it, sugar bug.” Matthew beams with pride.

“This is the best day of my life,” Chris cheers.

“Is he seriously having us on, or is this real? He just changed the beginning letters of our names.” Arlie’s distress only causes me further laughter.

 

I guess not every love story closes with a happily ever after. Sometimes, it ends with a happily ever after and an erotica book of fiction based on your life, written by your gay best friend …

That’s how this story ends.

 

 

Thank you for reading THAT GUY!

I hope you love Melinda’s story.

If you’re looking for another humorous read check out my Thirty Days Trilogy!

If you loved That Guy, you’ll love the funny, hot and swoony rollercoaster ride of Thirty Days: Part One.

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