Wet

I watch the flush of what I sure as hell hope isn’t arousal crawl up her long neck as she bites her lip, waiting for my answer. “Why do you want to know?”

She chews on the tip of her olive pick. “Because I’d like to try that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’ve been with women before. My college roommate turned me onto the wonders of that scene, but I’ve only ever done one-on-one.”

I’m speechless. Melanie is bi. That’d be really hot if I liked her a lot more than I do right now.

“My boyfriend that I just mentioned really likes to watch me with another woman.”

“Really? How modern of him.” I gesture to the bartender for the check.

“What’s the most women you’ve done in one orgie?” she asks, leaning even closer.

“I think the stories about me have been exaggerated.” I hand the bartender my credit card without taking time to open the folder to check the bill.

“Well, I’ve heard straight from the source about your many talents.” I feel the tips of her fingers graze my knee as I slide the credit card back in my wallet.

So is this why she wanted to see me? I’m not even sure in my craziest times that I would have fucked her after hearing all that I did tonight. I may have screwed women I didn’t have anything in common with during my sex fiend days, but I never screwed someone I didn’t like.

I manage to get her outside claiming a really early morning at work. We’re standing next to the building at the valet station—waiting for my car and her Uber—when she suddenly turns and leans into me, pressing me against the building.

“Why don’t you come for a drink at my place?”

If I push my disappointment with her aside, I can’t deny that it feels really good to have a beautiful woman this close to me after two dry years, but there’s no way I’m going to her place.

I choose a vague reply. “Tonight’s not the night.”

She leans her face into my neck and skins her teeth along my stubble while she slips her hand into the back pocket of my jeans. She moans as she squeezes my ass and pulls me against her. “We could have such a good time,” she whispers.

My head starts swimming, it’s been so damn long since anyone has rubbed against me like I was the flint to their flame. I shouldn’t be surprised when she kisses me. Honestly, I’m trying so hard to focus on her home wrecker ways, and not her naked with another woman, that I don’t see her next move coming as her tongue slides in my mouth and tries to take control of mine. She’s moving over me like hot lava and with the resulting roar in my head I barely hear the valet clearing his throat and jingling the car keys.

Holy hell.

My eyes pop open and I peel her off me so I can hand the guy a ten and get my keys.

“You sure?” she asks as the Uber driver tries to get her attention.

I do what I did so many times back in the day and it makes me feel dirty but I do it anyway—the McNeill brush-off. It’s all in the presentation. I take her chin in my hand and run my thumb back and forth along her jaw, while looking in her eyes like I’m peering into her soul. “I’ll call you,” I say just loud enough for her to think she heard me right but can’t be sure.

I may be a liar too, but at least it’s to avoid hurting someone.

She winks with the thrill of what she imagine is up ahead, and turns on her heel before sliding into her ride.

I take a deep breath to get my bearings as the Uber guy drives off.

Thank God. Free at last.

I’m numb the next day. How do you process so much shit at once? The girl that had lingered on the edge of all my fantasies as a young man, has now taken a swan dive right into never ever land. I should be relieved to be free of all of those years of frustration but I’m more pent up than ever.

The feelings remind me of Chelsea, a girl I was really into my first year of college. I sat next to her in the History of Landscape Architecture class and we started talking. I’d never met anyone who had such similar taste to mine and shared my passion for landscape design.

She was beautiful too, in that quiet way that didn’t shout for attention. We had coffee after class once in a while, and we even studied together, but every time I’d ask her out for anything not involving schoolwork, she’d brush me off. I was falling for her, and her disregard of my obvious interest in her was making me crazy.

Right after our quarter-finals there was a department party, and I was hoping she’d show up so I could finally co

I left the party that night with a thick shell cemented over my heart, and a redhead from our program on my arm. By morning, I felt high realizing that wild sex with strangers could be my crack. My days of chasing the right girl were over. The new me embraced the pleasures of being with all the wrong girls who put-out, and never made me feel like I wasn’t important enough. Instead these girls made me feel like a porn star and my ego inflated like a hot air balloon.

Unfortunately, for me casual sex, like crack, was incredibly addictive. My constant craving for release, led me into an insatiable obsession that I may always struggle with. I’m not sure what would’ve happened if my Dad hadn’t forced me to get my shit together.

As the afternoon passes it weighs on me that Elle called me late last night and didn’t leave a message. She knew where I was going and probably now wants a full report. Do I tell her about the kiss with Melanie, as disingenuous as it was? I’m not sure if she’d be happier if I had found a love co

But when I get home from my after-work run she’s sitting on the stair leading to my front door chewing her thumbnail. I’m sweaty, winded, and gross.

Great . . . just great.

She grins and gives me a little wave. “Hi Paul!”

“What are you doing here?” I ask, not hiding my alarm. I’ve never given her my address. It’s not like where I live in Beachwood Canyon is around the corner from Studio City.

Her eyes grow wide. I guess that isn’t the greeting she was expecting. “I was waiting for you.”

I peel the sweaty shirt away from my chest. “I can see that. Are you okay? Everything okay with the baby?”

“Yeah, it was a rough day at work but we’re okay.”

I finally remember my ma

“Are you sure? You act like you don’t want company.” I can tell she’s trying not to not assume anything.

“How’d you get my address anyway?”

“Your mom. By the way she wants me to remind you that there’s no family di

I nod. “Yeah, I remember.” I jog up the steps until I reach her and I hold out my hand. “Let’s go inside. I just have to jump in the shower.”

She nods. “While you shower, do you have anything I can eat? I was so busy I didn’t have time today.”

“Elle,” I say in a stern voice.

She holds up her hand. “I know, I know.”

“You have to take care of the two of you.”

“That’s why I’m asking if you have any food.”

I let us in the house and head to the kitchen. “How about a turkey and cheese sandwich?”

“Perfect. Thanks.” She leans against the kitchen counter as I wash my hands and then watches me throw the sandwich together. I pull out some grapes and carrot sticks from the fridge and make a pattern with them around the plate before handing the sandwich to her.