The Emmys.

Honestly, I just went for the open bar.

Of course, over the past few years, it was nice to actually get a few awards. If I had a fireplace, I’d display those babies so everyone could see them. Instead, I kept them in my office. I wouldn’t mind adding to my collection. I even wore the same black and white tux every year because I was hopeful that it was good luck.

Since my parents lived almost an hour from the city, my father drove into town with my mother, and they checked into a hotel—that I’d paid for—where the Emmys were being held. My dad was going to watch TV while we were downstairs. He’d probably order room service and something on Pay-Per-View, but I didn’t mind.

Ashtyn and her co-worker, Abby, were going together, and we had plans to meet up inside the ballroom. Once everything started, we were probably going to be at different tables, unless my mother talked someone into switching. I wouldn’t put it past her. Once they met, I was sure my mom was going to tell me to marry her tomorrow.

I rode the elevator up to the floor my parents were staying on, walked down the hall until I found their room number, and then knocked on the door. My dad opened it, dressed in his boxers and nothing else.

“So not painting the town red tonight?” I teased as I moved past him and into the room.

He closed the door and followed behind me. “Not a chance. I get to order whatever I want for dinner, watch whatever I want on the TV, and not have your mother nag me to death. I’m staying right here.”

“I heard that!” Mother yelled from the bathroom.

Dad rolled his eyes as I asked, “Are you almost ready, Mom?”

The white bathroom door flew open, and my mom walked out in an emerald colored dress that had long sleeves and went to just past her knees. “Yes. I’m so excited!”

I chuckled as I kissed her on the cheek. “You look beautiful, Mom.”

“Thank you. I wasn’t sure what to wear to meet your girlfriend.”

“You’ve met almost all my girlfriends. Why would this be any different?” I looked to Dad for confirmation, but he wasn’t paying any attention to us. Instead, he was laying on the king-sized bed, his ankles crossed as he flipped through the stations on the TV.

“Yes, but this is a local celebrity.” She moved to grab her purse.

“You don’t need your purse,” I reminded her. “We’re going downstairs to the ballroom.”

“I have my camera in here.”

“You mean your phone?”

She pulled out a digital camera she’d had for at least ten years. “No, my camera.”

I laughed. “No one takes pictures with cameras anymore.”

“I want to get a picture with Ashtyn.”

I smiled. “Trust me. We’ll get pictures with her, but we’ll do it with my phone.” I patted the chest of my tux jacket, indicating I had my phone on me.

“And if you win another Emmy?”

“I’m sure Ashtyn will have it under control.”

Mother sighed and put her camera back into her purse. “Okay, then I’m ready.”

The traditional red carpet was in front of the ballroom with The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences – Chicago/Midwest backdrop. We made our way down the carpet, stopped for a picture, and then I was stopped by a journalist who wanted to ask me about the Blackhawks’ season. My answer was always the same. “They have a good chance to go all the way.”

“Want a drink, Mom?”

“Sure.”

We moved to the bar where I ordered a beer and my mother ordered a glass of Rosé. As we stood, sipping our drinks, I looked around for Ashtyn. I didn’t see her anywhere. I pulled out my phone to text her.

Are you in the building?

The three dots automatically started to dance on the screen.

Ashtyn: We’re walking in now.

“Ashtyn’s here,” I said out loud as I texted her back.

We’re by the bar to the right.

“Where is she?”

“She’ll be here in a few minutes. She’s just walking in.” I chuckled.

Mom turned her gaze toward the front doors, and my girl walked in wearing a black dress that showed her bare shoulders. Bare shoulders that I’d kissed the first night I met her.

“She’s even more beautiful in person.”

I nodded my agreement and watched as Ashtyn scanned the crowd in our direction. When her gaze met mine, we both smiled. She said something to her friend and then started toward us. My smile hadn’t faltered one bit in the time it took her to walk across the room.

“Cupcake,” I greeted, kissing her lips softly. “You know what your shoulders do to me.”

She shoved me playfully and hissed, “Be good.”

“I am being good or I could—”

“You must be Mrs. Cole.” Ashtyn reached out her hand to my mother.

Mom waved off the handshake and moved to Ashtyn with opened arms. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. And please, call me Claire.”

“Right. So, Mom, this is Ashtyn. Ashtyn, this is my mother, Claire,” I introduced them sarcastically. I meant to do the introductions before they hugged but seeing Ashtyn in a tight dress that showed a lot of skin was killing me. It was causing me to have thoughts of dragging her in the restroom and having my way with her.

“It’s nice to meet you too.” Ashtyn smiled.

“You want something to drink, Cupcake?”

“Cupcake? That’s a cute term of endearment,” Mother cooed.

Ashtyn’s gaze flicked to mine, and I smirked at my mother’s words. Yeah, I wanted to lick Ashtyn’s cupcake right about now.

“I’ll have what your mom’s having.”

I turned to the bar and ordered a Rosé for Ashtyn while she and my mother chatted about God knew what. Mother was probably asking her how she felt about a spring wedding. They were both laughing, and it struck me that it was the first time my mother had laughed with one of my girlfriends.

The bartender placed the pink wine in front of me, and after tipping him, I turned and moved back to the ladies. “Where did your co-worker go?” I asked, handing Ashtyn her drink.

“To mingle with some people.”

“You know who I’d also like to meet?” Mother asked.

“Who?” I questioned.

“Barbara from the evening news. She’s been on for years, and I’d like to just meet her once.”

“I can introduce you,” Ashtyn offered.

“Really? I’d love that.”

Ashtyn scanned the room. “She’s over there. Want me to do it now?”

Mom looked at me, and I shrugged. “I don’t mind. In fact, I need to visit the little boy’s room.” The women started to move away, but I grabbed Ashtyn’s wrist, halting her. “After you introduce them, meet me by the men’s room.”

“And leave your mother?” she asked in a whisper.

I nodded. “Trust me. She’ll talk Barbara’s ear off, and I want to show you something.”

Ashtyn’s eyes brightened. “I’m intrigued.”

We parted ways, and I walked out the door in the direction where I assumed the restrooms were. I actually didn’t care. I was going to find a quiet place where I could finally kiss her and not the sweet-hello-how-ya-doing one I gave her earlier.

I found the restroom, and instead of going inside, I waited against the wall for Ashtyn. I hadn’t seen anyone go in or out, and when I saw her walking down the hall, I smiled.

“What do you want to show me?”

“Well, it’s more I show you mine if you show me yours kinda thing,” I teased, but actually the more I thought about it, and the more I figured no one was in the restroom, other thoughts entered my mind.

She groaned. “Rhys.”

“Come on, Cupcake. I’ll make it fast.” She didn’t move, so I walked the few feet back toward her. “It will be like when we were on the booze cruise.”

“When we were on the booze cruise, people couldn’t walk in on us at any moment. People we may work with.”

“True.” I ran my fingers along her cheek and brushed her long blonde curls off her shoulders. “But that makes it more exciting, right?”

“My boss is a guy. What if he walks in?”

“Then you better not be loud.”

I took her hand, and she willingly walked behind me. I heard her mumble, “I can’t believe we’re doing this, especially with our co-workers right down the hall.” She stopped. “And your mother!”

I pressed the door to the women’s restroom open. “Fine. We’ll do it in here.”

She stared at me for a few seconds while I held the door. Finally, she stepped forward, peeked her head in and then tugged me inside. “Is this going to be a thing when we go out in public?”

I smirked. “Do you want it to be?”

Ashtyn bit her bottom lip. “It does turn me on.”

“Of course it does, Cupcake. The thought of being caught excites everyone. They just don’t admit it.” I pulled her into the largest stall.

“What if someone who needs this stall comes in?”

“Then we better fucking hurry now shouldn’t we?” I closed and locked the door behind us. “Take your panties off.”

Ashtyn hesitated for a moment and then did as I asked. I took them from her, stuck the lace in my pocket and started to unzip my pants. She faced me, her back against the wall and after I slipped a condom on that I had in my wallet, I picked her up and teased her opening with my cock as she wrapped her legs around my hips.

“You ready, baby?”

She moaned her response as I used my cock to circle her clit.

I took that as my greenlight and guided myself into her. Ashtyn threw her head back, exposing her neck and while I thrust into her, I sucked and licked her skin. She moaned again, this time louder.

“Shh unless you want someone walking by to hear us.”

“Feels. Good,” she panted.

“Yeah, baby.” While sex always felt good, especially with Ashtyn, there was something about thinking that at any moment someone could walk in and hear us. It only fueled my drive which caused me to thrust harder over and over, Ashtyn’s back sliding up and down the wall.

Then it happened.

I didn’t hear the door open, but I heard the females talking.

“I hope the food’s good this year. Last year the chicken I got was dry.”

Another woman replied, “I know. I hate that.”

Ashtyn looked at me, her eyes wide. I smiled and placed my hand over her mouth. I didn’t slow down as I pumped into her until she moaned deep in her throat. I followed behind her with a low groan of my own and then kissed her until I heard the door close and no more voices in the room.

After cleaning up, we walked back into the ballroom and found my mother. She was still talking to Barbara as if they’d been best friends since kindergarten. For all I knew, they were best friends now. My mother had a way of making everyone feel like friends or family. She could also sell ice to an Eskimo. I was certain I got my personality from her, and that was why I was comfortable in front of the camera.

“There you two are. I found our tables, and since we weren’t all sitting together, I switched Ashtyn with someone. I hope that’s okay?”

I chuckled. “Yeah, Mom, it is.”

“I also heard dessert is cupcakes from that baking challenge show on TV: Cupcake Battle.”

“I love that show!” Ashtyn exclaimed. “I bet the cupcakes are delicious.”

I smirked. I’d never look at a real cupcake the same now.

Dinner was served during the awards ceremony. Ashtyn and I each won an Emmy, and pictures were captured on our phones and by the hired photographers. Now, every time I looked at my Emmy for this year, I’d think about the restroom and this night.

It was a fantastic night.

We walked my mother back to her room. My father was snoring logs, so we whispered and hugged our goodbyes. Then Ashtyn and I grabbed an Uber and headed home.

“Want to display our Emmys over your fireplace?” I asked in the backseat of some stranger’s car.

“You want to keep it at my place?”

“I want to put it out in the open so we can brag to our friends how awesome we are.”

“If I recall, this isn’t your first one.”

I shook my head. “Nope, but it’s the first time my girlfriend won one in the same year. It can be like bookends or … mantel ends.” Whatever the hell mantel ends were. Hers could go on the right, and mine could go on the left.

“You’re silly, but okay. Whatever. Does this mean we’re staying at my place tonight?”

“Sure. Just let me run home and get my phone charger and change so I’m not doing the walk of shame in a tux tomorrow.”

Ashtyn laughed. “Walk of shame, huh?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Okay. I’ll get the shower ready.” She smirked.

I groaned. “I’ll be quick.”

A moment later, the car pulled up to Ashtyn’s building. She took my Emmy from me, and we got out on opposite sides of the car. The car drove off, and as I started to walk across the street, I called out, “Leave the door open and wait in the shower for me.”

“Just go!” Ashtyn shooed me away as she laughed and turned to walk into her building.

As I was rushing into my condo to change, a thought occurred to me. I called Ashtyn.

“Hello?”

“Hey! Want to go to Garfield Park tomorrow?”

“To the conservatory?”

“Yeah. We both have tomorrow off. It can be our first official date.” I heard a faint knock in the background as I made my way to my bedroom to change.

“Sure. I haven’t been in years.”

“I’ll just grab a change of clothes too, and we can do breakfast beforehand.”

“Did you send me flowers?”

I stopped dead in my tracks and scrunched my eyebrows at her question. “No, why?”

“There’s someone here holding up flowers.”

A weird feeling went through my body. The only way to describe it was a sinking feeling in my stomach. “This late?”

“It’s probably Jose. He sometimes brings up packages if he’s on break and misses me when I walk through the door. Hold on.”

“Why—” I started to say but stopped when I heard Ashtyn speak again.

“Philip, what are you doing here?”

“Who’s Philip?” I asked, but she didn’t respond.

“Ashtyn, Ashtyn, Ashtyn, did you think you’d get away from me that easily?”

“Ashtyn!” I yelled.

She didn’t respond again. All I could hear was the wrestling of what I assumed was the phone.

My feet started to move on their own as I listened. I was running down my hall toward the elevator as fast as my feet could go. I wasn’t sure if I’d even closed my door. I pressed the damn button over and over, but it wasn’t coming fast enough. My heart was beating to the point I thought it would jump out of my chest, wanting to run across the street and beat me to Ashtyn’s. I took the stairs, needing to hurry—needing to save my girl.

With every step I took, I could hear Ashtyn screaming for the person to let her go.