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Fifteen
Ihang up on Kalon when one of our clients need both my and Oakley’s help to fit into her wedding gown. When we’re done, and she’s happy, the studio is blessedly empty. Which is the perfect time for Oakley to pounce.
“So, Kalon called,” she hedges. “What’s going on with you two?”
I sigh. “It’s complicated.”
“And I’m your best friend, Channing. Tell me.”
“Fine,” I turn to face her, “His sons walked in on us having sex in the living room, and it freaked me out.”
She raises her brows, and then, “Shit.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you tell him how you felt about it?”
“I think he knew I was embarrassed, obviously, but I may have also told him that him having kids is a problem for me, and that hurt his feelings.”
“But you knew going into it he had kids,” Oakley replies. She’s not wrong, but I got carried away.
“I know, but I don’t think I really thought it through. I don’t want to be a stepmom, least of all to kids who are only nine years younger than me. That’s weird.”
“Who said anything about being a stepmom?” Oakley asks. “You said it wasn’t serious for either of you.” She has a point.
“It’s not, but something changed when his kids walked in on us, you know? It was a dose of reality.”
“Look,” Oakley takes my hands in hers, “You’re overthinking it. What’s really stopping you from just enjoying it for what it is?”
“I’m scared of getting attached, Oak. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want more, and I’m not sure I’m ready for more, with anyone, but I like being with him.” I shrug. “That’s what scares me. What if I like being with him too much, and then he ends things? Isn’t it better if I end it now, before he can?”
“You should like being with him, and if he makes you happy, and you enjoy his company, then why not have fun with it?” She pauses. “Is the sex good?”
That gets me to smile. “It’s insane. There’s something to be said for experience and age. And don’t even get me started on his body.” It plagues my dreams, his body. His ink, his piercings, the image of him all sweaty, and hard. It’s great material for my spank bank.
“Then I don’t see the problem,” Oakley says, like it’s really simple, and I’m just not getting it. “Seriously, Chan, just go with the flow, and if at any point you feel like you’re feeling more for him, you can call it quits before he even knows you’ve caught the feelings.”
“Easier said than done. I’m still nervous about his kids.”
“You’re fooling around with a single dad, his kids are going to be part of the picture. Besides, they seem cool. You have the added bonus of not having to deal with a toddler, or a teenager.”
“There is that,” I concede. “I’m just not sure, Oakley. It feels like I’m playing with fire.”
“You probably are,” she admits. “But why deprive yourself of having some fun just because you’re afraid of something that might never happen?”
I exhale a loud breath. It’s been two weeks since I last saw him, and it has sucked balls. That, in and of itself, scares me, too. The fact that I miss him. “He’s coming to fetch me for lunch, let’s see how that goes.”
“Did you want to leave early?”
“No,” I reply. “I told him I take my lunch at one.”
She nods, and we get back to work. I’m busy putting the finishing touches on Kalon’s suit when there’s a knock downstairs. I hear the door open, and then Kalon’s there, looking sexy as hell in his usual attire. Suit pants and a button-up shirt. He’s becoming more and more comfortable with his tattoos because his sleeves are rolled up, and he’s forgone wearing a jacket. He smiles at me and greets Oakley before walking closer.
“You’re early,” I remark, trying to relax when he comes in for a kiss. This is a little weird for me, and suddenly, I feel bad for ignoring his many texts and attempted phone calls. I have been busy, but not so busy that I couldn’t respond to a single one of his messages.
“I couldn’t wait,” he says, wrapping an arm around my waist in front of Oakley. She’s making lewd hand gestures behind Kalon’s back, and thrusting her hips. She’s ridiculous.
“You can take your lunch now,” she tells me once she’s done behaving like an ass. “I don’t mind.” She smiles sweetly at Kalon.
