Storm: I’ve been beaming all fucking day. Now this. The guys will think I’m mental smiling so much.

Me: LOL. I’ve been smiling, too. Every time I think of you.

Storm: Tell me it’s all the time or I will spank you

Me: Yes, you’ve invaded my thoughts 24/7. Mission accomplished.

Storm: Legit. I knew I’d conquer your stubborn ass eventually :)

Me: Now you’ll be bored with me :/

Storm: No way, baby. I have lots in store for you.

Squee!!

Me: I better go. I just wanted to say goodnight and show the pix

Storm: Where are you sleeping

Shit.

Me: I’m not sure yet. I’m stalling in the bathroom right now hoping he’ll be asleep when I get out.

Storm: How many times per week?

Me: What??

Storm: How many times per week do you guys have sex

Me: So rude!! There’s no set number! It’s just whenever he wants to.

Silence.

Me: And just so you know, it’s just like you and that girl, he just sticks it in. There’s no foreplay or anything. It’s like five minutes.

Silence.

Me: I don’t enjoy it at all. I fake orgasm every time

Storm: I’m going to fuckin punch something

Me: Storm, no. Come on, we were having such a nice day :(

Storm: I know. But fuck.

Me: Is she there, too?

Storm: Who?

Me: You know who.

Storm: Yes, but I’m not going anywhere near her. I made it clear to her this morning that I’m off limits.

Me: Really? You did?

Storm: Yes

Me: Thank you

Storm: I expect the same, Evie

Me: You know this is harder for me! I live with him!

Storm: Then you had better start getting headaches every day. I will lose my shit if I know you’re sleeping with him every night.

Me: I promise I will do the best I can, but I need some time to get away from him. I can’t just move out

Storm: Why not?

Me: Hello? I have nowhere to live. I need to find an apartment

Storm: Fuck that. I have two houses.

Me: I’m not moving into your house. I can’t do that. And I need to be close to the office.

Storm: Can I call you

Me: No. He’s in the next room. He’ll hear me talking

Storm: Then answer it and just listen to me. I can’t do all this fucking typing. You don’t have to talk.

Ugh!!!

Me: Fine, give me a sec to turn the sound off

A minute later, my phone vibrates. I answer it.

“You don’t have to talk. I just can’t do all this typing. My fingers hurt from playing so much the past few days.” He pauses. “I know you’re tryin’, Evie. I am, too. This ain’t gonna be easy for either of us. These are just speed bumps, though. We’ll figure it out. I was so fuckin’ happy today, just knowing you were finally letting me in. Knowing you were seriously thinking about us. But you gotta understand one thing about me, when I want something, I don’t stop until I get it. And I don’t share well. Somehow, you got under my skin and I’m crazy wanting you. I’m a very sexual person, Evie, I’m not gonna lie. But this isn’t just about sex with you. I have real feelings for you. That on top of wanting to devour you is a dangerous combo for me. This is something I’ve never had before. You following me?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Good. If you want to be with me, I can’t share you. I can’t be half way across the country driving myself crazy wanting you, knowing you could be in bed with him and him touching you. I will lose my effing mind. I know this is gonna be hard for you and he’s gonna get pissed. If you want to move out tomorrow, you can move into my place. Or I’ll send you money for your own place. I don’t care.”

“I can’t just do that, Storm. Give me some time to work this out please.,” I whisper, praying Michael can’t hear me.

“He’s leaving tomorrow for three or four days.”

“Thank fuck.”

There’s a loud knock on the door. “Evelyn, what the hell are you doing in there? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine! I feel sick to my stomach. Just go to bed.”

“You’re not pregnant, are you? You’ve been sick a lot lately.”

“No, Michael! Go to bed.”

I hear him walk away. Jesus!

“Holy shit. Did that motherfucker really just say that to you?”

“It’s just how he is. He’s petrified of an unplanned baby,” I whisper.

“Please tell me you’re on the pill.”

“Yes!”

“I’m gonna lose my effing mind over this shit. “

“Storm,” I whisper. “Please just give me time to get out of here the right way. I promise you I will not let anything happen between him and me. I want you, okay?”

“Damn, I love how that sounds on your lips. Say it again.”

“I want you.”

I hear him take a deep breath. “You better go. Try to get on the couch.”

“I will. I’ll call you tomorrow when he’s gone.”

“If I don’t answer, leave me a message. It’s gonna be busy tomorrow.”

“I will. Goodnight.”

I end the call.

This is not going to be easy.

Chapter Sixteen

Monday mornings are the work of the devil. I am practically falling asleep at my desk, grateful for the cubicle walls hiding me from my co-workers, who are also probably half-dozing. I sip my latte and read all my emails, jotting down a list of everything I need to do today.

My cell phone beeps and I discretely check it. I don’t want Jack to catch me texting during work time.

Storm: We’re just heading out. Wanted to say good morning. :)

Me: Good morning, you :) Try to call me tonight

I managed to feign a stomach bug for the past two days and slept on the couch. Being deceitful to Michael is making me feel awful. This is not the kind of person I want to be. I keep telling myself it will all be okay, but I am honestly afraid I am going to rot in hell for this.

Thankfully, Michael will be gone for the rest of the week so I won’t have to make up excuses to avoid him. Eventually, he’s going to start wondering why I’m sick all the time.

The mail guy shows up at my desk and hands me a pink package. It has no return address. It must be a marketing promo of some sort. I’m intrigued by the shiny pink box, though, so I open it right away. Beneath the outer pink shipping paper is a glossy pink box. I pull off the lid and peel back the white tissue paper.

Holy shit.

I push the lid back over it and look around me real quick to make sure no one is looking at me. No one is.

I peer back into the box. Inside is a pink dildo. Or vibrator. Whatever it’s called. It’s made out of some soft pink rubber and looks just like a real penis and it has like little rabbit ears at the base of it. What the fuck?

I push it aside a bit and find a tiny card inside.

Bring this home and call me tonight. ~ S

Oh, my. Storm sent me this? Why? I put the lid on tight and hide the box under my desk by my purse. I’m completely confused. Why on earth would he send me such a thing? I’ve never had a sex toy before and have no idea what to do with it. Maybe it’s supposed to be some kind of joke that I’m forgetting. A bunny?

I send him a text.

Me: Did you send me this thing?

Storm: What thing?

Me: This rabbit thing?

Storm: I did.

Me: Um? WTFis it?

Storm: Bring it home and call me tonight around midnight. Be naked.

What?

“Evelyn how are those reports going?” Jack is at the entrance of my cube, watching me stare at my phone.

“I’m so sorry. What did you say?” I know I’m blushing and looking guilty, trying to put my phone away and fumbling with my purse.

“Evelyn, I really need you to focus. You’ve been very distracted lately. I’ve tried to be patient after your accident, but it’s becoming very non-productive.”

I nod in agreement. “You’re right, Jack. I’ve just been tired lately. I’m sorry. I’ll be more focused.”

“I hope so. Otherwise, I will need to write up a formal performance review,” he replies and walks away.

Great. Just what I need to hear on a Monday morning. If I lose my job, it will throw a monkey wrench in my plans of getting my own place. I don’t feel comfortable moving into Storm’s house or letting him foot the bill for me. I do not want to be some kind of kept woman. And I don’t want to be dependent on him or owing him anything if things don’t work out between us.

Ironically, the words ‘if things don’t work out between us’ never even crossed my mind once during my relationship with Michael. I just always felt sure we would be together. I didn’t question it or doubt it. How stupid was I, lulled into some false sense of security and happiness?

I clock-watch the entire day, my focus on the contents of the pink box hidden under my desk and not on marketing reports. Two months ago, I was completely engulfed in my job, working nights and weekends to try to impress Jack. Now, I can’t wait to leave.

I pick up a take-out salad on my way home and eat in silence at the kitchen table, the pink box looming like an elephant in the room. My skin is sweaty wondering what Storm’s intention with this thing is. Maybe I should throw it away, call him a perv, and just end this now before I walk down some dark and twisted path I’m not ready for or even aware of.

And never see him again.

I know that I can’t do that anymore than I can saw off my own arm. I can barely go five minutes without thinking of him. He’s become the nucleus of my world somehow. All thoughts, dreams, and actions end up going back to him.

The ringing of the phone drags me out of my thoughts. I look at the ID and see Michael’s cell number.

“Hi,” I say.

“What’s up? How was your day?”

“Okay. Jack’s being an ass as usual. How ‘bout you?”

“The usual. I have a dinner meeting with the client, so I thought I’d call you now since I might get in late.”