Two Can Play (23 page)

“
Shut the fuck up,” I snap. I can't help it. I'm getting annoyed with his crass and thoughtless probing. It seems I'm rather protective about Kate.

“
Well, well, it sounds like she's got a real hold of you, pal. I'm shocked.”

“
So what if she has?”

He puts his hands on the desk and looks at me closely.

“About fucking time, bud. You need a real girlfriend, Aaron. It's cool, don't fight it.”

“
You'd know all about what I need, wouldn't you?”

“
Look, I've been with Lolo for months. I admit I completely love the woman. She actually makes me feel good about myself. And you know what I used to be like. How many girls did I get through, hmm? Way more than you. You're a saint compared with me. Well I can tell you this, having a regular girlfriend is so much better than screwing everything in sight. I was sick to death of doing it. It didn't thrill me much in the end.”

“
Yeah, well you did overdo it, didn't you? And I know what you're saying is true...but it might not work out anyway. I don't know. We didn't part too well.”

“
Hey, pull out all the stops and go for it if you want her. None of us know whether it'll work, longer term, do we?” he points out realistically.

“
I guess not.” I give him a dark look. A real “shut up please I don't want to talk about it” look.

“
Oh, lighten up for fuck's sake, will ya?”

I try to smile at him. I know he means well. He's a great friend of mine really.

“I'm having a hard time adjusting to things at the moment,” I admit.

“
Where is she anyway? Venice?”

“
No she's in Vegas now, but she lives in L.A.”

“
Is that worse or better than Venice...? How the hell's that gonna work?”

“
Really not sure yet. Not sure of a lot of things. But yeah, distance is definitely a big issue.”

HER

I'm sitting in the kitchen having a cup of coffee and a ham sub when I finally get to meet Kelsey.

I look up and say “hi” with a smile as she swans in through the front door, loaded down with designer shopping bags and staring at her cell intently. Too blonde and over endowed with female attributes. None of her seems to be natural, I think unkindly. False tits, bleached hair, false nails, false eyelashes, tons of makeup, tattoos and piercings everywhere, and very scantily dressed.

“
Hey, hon,” she says, passing me by. “Wait up, be back in a mo.’”

I sit and wait for at least twenty minutes before she deigns to reappear. I'm feeling diva vibes coming off her in waves.

“I'm Kate,” I introduce myself.

“
Yeah, I guessed. I'm Kels.” She eyes me up with a touch of hostility, giving me the once over, dismissing me as no competition, I guess. I curb the desire to laugh out loud. Apart from my blonde highlights, I'm all natural. We're about as polar opposite as we could get. I couldn't and don't want to compete with her.

“
How was your night out downtown?” I ask her, trying to be friendly.

“
Good. I've got some old school friends here. They work at the strip together in a restaurant, so we went to a bar,” she pauses and her eyes stare into mine, unblinking, I feel awkward. “So how's everything? Where are Dad and Bren?” I notice she doesn't ask about Mom.

“
Everyone's out. Bren went out for food ages ago and hasn't come back yet, and my mom and your dad are doing something downtown. We're meeting them for dinner tonight, at eight.”

“
Cool....” She looks at her iPhone again and texts someone.

“
Want a cup of coffee?” I offer.

“
Nah, gotta crash, been up all night, then I hit the stores, sooo...need serious shut eye. Catch ya tonight....” She wanders off, texting.

“
Sure, nice to meet you, too. See you later, Kels,” I reply a touch sarcastically to her retreating back.

I was hoping she'd be friendlier than that, but it's early days and she's tired. Maybe she'll warm up later.

I wash up my mug and still hungry, make myself another sub with cheese and pour a glass of juice. I wander around, grabbing my iPod and ear buds and end up by the pool again. I sit in the sun, stretching out my bare legs on the pool lounger. I eat and drink and then doze under the shade of the huge parasol. It's really feeling like a vacation now. It's hot and a light breeze is blowing lulling me off to sleep.

He wakes me with a shake. His wide white smile greets me as I open my eyes.

“Sleeping again, beauty?”

“
It was just a catnap.”

“
Kelsey text me. Said she met you.”

“
Briefly.”

“
If you got more than hello, you're doing well.”

“
Wow, I must be honored.”

“
My sister is a complete bitch. I can say that because I'm her twin. She's number one, two, and three on her list, so don't expect to pal up with her, Kate.”

“
Oh don't worry, I'm not.”

“
She's also very anti dad and your mom.”

“
I thought she might be.”

“
She has wild fantasies about our mom and dad getting back together again, even though they've been separated for fifteen years.”

“
It's okay, Bren, no problem. Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep it cool.”

“
You do that, keep out of her hair, like I do.” His grin reappears, his mood lightening.

I'm lazing on my bed in the afternoon, on my laptop, desperately trying to compose a poem and not doing very well. He knocks and calls out and I invite him in.

“
When you're ready, we ought to get going.”

“
Oh my God, I don't know. I'm getting really nervous about it.” I close my laptop and swing my legs off the bed.

He pulls me up.

“You're going, even if you have a teeny one on your ass, you'll get to see there's nothing to worry about at all, little Miss Beautiful.”

He kisses my cheek and before I have a chance to object I'm in his arms and his mouth is all over my face.

“Please stop kissing me.”

“
I'm not kissing you, just tasting your face.”

I laugh out loud at his amusing remark.

“Oh you are, are you?”

“
Mm mm. Babe, you taste like nothing else...I'm dying to lick some other parts.”

“
Well dream on, Casanova.”

“
I already dreamed it, the explicit version, where I get my tongue on you. Wanna know what happened? Guess how many times I made you come?”

“
Holy mother, Bren. Shut the fuck up.”

He laughs, very sexily. “So sweet, and such an innocent at heart. I'd like to be the one who corrupts you though. I want to lick and suck it out of you.”

My eyes couldn't be any wider as we stare at each other. My heart's pounding. “
Yeah right
,” I gasp, “innocent's my second name. Look, you'd better go while I mentally prepare for the torture session. Please excuse me for a minute. Or maybe five.” I usher him out the door in a state of shock.

Holy fuck, what's got into him? He's really ramping up the heat.

And I can't help it. Despite myself, I really like it.
Is it just nice to receive such unbridled attention?

I'm sitting in the tattooist chair. Bren's at my side being sweet, supportive, and non-sexually challenging. We've chosen a rose design and it's transferred on my skin ready for the real business to begin. I'm gritting my teeth as Jacie picks up the needle and starts the inking. The buzzing makes me feel sick. The first touch on my skin is an irritating tickle, then it picks up a pace to a dull throb. Not too bad, bearable. And if I don't look, I really can forget she's sticking a needle in me.

“
Hey, Kate. Okay, honey?” she asks.

“
Fine,” I reply with an attempt at a smile.

“
You're doing well, babe,” Bren says with a squeeze of my hand. I put my ear buds in and turn the volume of my iPod up to drown the buzzing out. Brendan plays a game on his iPhone as it all begins to flow on my arm.

Just over one hour later I'm done and out. I'm euphoric. It's not only the most beautiful tattoo on the entire planet, in my opinion, but it didn't hurt a bit. I survived the ordeal and I'm unscathed mentally. Altogether, a real success.

“Let me see it again,” Bren says as he drives me home. I flash it at him with a smile.

“
Pretty neat, awesome, dead sexy in fact. I might do things to that later.”

“
Oh yeah? Like what for instance?”

“
Rub it somewhere. Or lick it.” He pokes his tongue out, lick style.

I widen my eyes at him. He's getting way too intimate with me. “Give me a break.”

“Kate, honey, there's not much of you I don't want to lick or rub somewhere on me, but that'll get special attention.”

“
You're a real horn dog, aren't you?” I laugh.

“
I'm trying to wear you down somehow. I'm not quite at the point of begging you on my hands and knees for anything you wanna give just yet, but I will if I have to.”

“
You're joking, right?” I look at him with wide eyes.

His face breaks into a broad grin. “Maybe, maybe not.”

“I'm not gonna believe a word you say.” I laugh.

HIM

I'm blasted. Sunk and drunk and a touch unsteady on my feet. It seems everyone is. I'm feeling good, happy even. Positive about whatever's to come. Mom's kinda cool, I'm financially sorted, and I'm ready for things to move on with Kate. I'm seriously chilled in my mood and propping up the bar when Hazel fuck-me Jones breezes in.

Fuck. Me.

I'd forgotten all about her affect on me.

She's one of
those
girls. The kind men can't take their eyes and hands off.

A real looker. Big eyes, pouty lips. Very well stacked.

She's a glamor model and very dirty minded.

I've a permanent attraction going on there.

Not that we've ever dated.

I don't do dating in New York. Ever.

It's my home turf.

I rely on the extremely casual to fill my needs for female company.

Tonight might be a test of character.

But as I'm half trashed. I don't think I can resist.

The odds are stacked
way
against me.