Diary of a Dieter (18 page)

Making a beeline for the bar, I ordered my drink plus five shots of Jack Daniel’s each for Adam and me. He sniffed at the brown liquid before winking and tossing back each and every one in a row. I tried to keep up, but the more I drank, the more my throat burned. Wincing, I looked up at Adam through blurry eyes. I coughed and spluttered. Adam was bent over laughing at me.

“It’s not funny. I used to be able to down at least ten of these things in a row. What happened?”

He patted my arm, and his laugh was now a soft chuckle. “No stamina.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I think you and I both know I have plenty of stamina.”

He blushed and ran his fingers through his hair. Removing his glasses, he slotted them into his pocket. “Come on, let’s get another round. “

* * * *

Six vodka and cranberries and ten shots of Jack later … the room was spinning. Adam and I had played every drinking game we knew, and I could see he was also a little tipsy, though he never did seem to get as drunk as I did. The sounds of Marvin Gaye’s “Give It Up” filled the club and leaping to my feet, I caught Adam by the hand. “Come on! We
have
to dance to this song. It’s my favourite song.”

He laughed loudly. “Every song is your favourite song.”

I pouted a little, and he quickly came to my side as we made our way onto the dance floor. It was packed with people, and all around us bodies swayed, shimmied, shook, and moved to the music. Adam placed his hands on my hips, and I began to move in time to the rhythm.

I raised my hands in the air above my head causing my shirt to lift slightly and expose my bare skin. Adam’s fingertips grazed my hips, and I hitched a breath. I didn’t care that I had a muffin top over my jeans. All that mattered was that I was having fun and what’s more, Adam was touching me. It was wrong for me to want that. I should have stopped him, pushed him away, but as his hands slid gently up my shirt to my stomach, I couldn’t help but close my own hands over his, urging him to hold me tighter. His arms were around my waist as his hips pressed against my behind. His lips caressed my neck, and I moaned gently. I was high on the atmosphere, the booze, and heat I could feel raising between Adam’s body and mine.

I leaned my head back onto his shoulder, exposing my neck. He nuzzled it gently with his nose before hungrily kissing and licking my collarbone. My hands swept around his neck, and I fisted his hair in my hands. His teeth skimmed my earlobe, and I bit my lip in anticipation.

“I have to have you, Charlie.”

Turning around, I pressed my palms against his cheeks and gazed into his eyes.

“Take me home. Now.”

Lifting my head from the pillow, I rubbed my sore and aching head. Light was streaming through a partially opened window across the room, and as my eyes adjusted to the light, I panicked. The memory of the night before flooded my brain. Sitting bolt upright, I scanned my surroundings. I was in my own room, and … I was alone. Confused, I swung my legs out of bed and staggered to the bathroom. I was still wearing my bra, but the rest of my clothes, including my underwear, were missing. Staring into my bathroom mirror, I winced. Oh crap. I remembered. Adam’s hands on me at the club, our frantic exit, and the countless stops we made on the way back from the apartment to grope, fondle, kiss, and almost undress one another. It was a miracle we had made it back without being arrested for being drunk and disorderly or for indecent exposure. Possibly even lewd behavior … but that’s just between you and me.

But what happened when we got back to the apartment was a hazy blur. I remembered taking off our clothes. I remembered giggling, lots of giggling. And I remembered … I held my hand to my mouth and gasped. Oh no. I remembered everything! The sofa, the kitchen counter, the floor, and God only knows where else. I also had a vague memory of Jacob screeching and fleeing from the room, but the details were evading me.

The sound of the kettle boiling in the kitchen caught my attention. Pulling on my work clothes, I inhaled sharply as my arm caught in my shirtsleeve. I had a carpet burn! For real? A carpet burn. I rolled my eyes and held my head in my hands. Great, Charlene. Well done. Another awkward breakfast with your best friend. What is wrong with you? What is wrong with him?

Grabbing my jacket, I stormed out of the bedroom toward the kitchen. I was ready for a blowout confrontation, but as I approached the counter, I had the wind taken out of my sails by a sweet kiss planted on my cheek. Turning my head to face him, Adam smiled at me.

“Morning.”

He was beaming. He looked positively radiant with happiness … or satisfaction. I wasn’t entirely sure. Pulling out a stool, he gestured for me to sit. Watching his every move with suspicion, I lowered myself onto the seat. Why was he so chirpy? Maybe he’d forgotten what we did last night. Maybe he was a little tipsier than I’d thought. Handing me a cup of coffee, a glass of water, and some painkillers, he smiled.

“Sleep okay?”

I eyed him curiously. Reaching for my glass, I raised an eyebrow, cautious of what exactly his game was here.

“I guess so … and you?”

Leaning back against the kitchen counter with his feet crossed and a hand on the edge of the countertop, he nodded as he sipped his coffee.

“Best night’s sleep I’ve ever had. I was pretty exhausted after—“

I flopped my arms onto the counter and slammed my head against them.

“Charlene, what the hell is the matter now?”

I groaned loudly in frustration. “We had sex again! What is wrong with us? Didn’t we learn the first time? We said it wouldn’t happen again, but here we are at another awkward breakfast.”

The corner of his mouth curved into a smile. “I don’t feel awkward. Do you?”

And that was the strange thing; I didn’t feel awkward. I didn’t feel uncomfortable, guilty, or ashamed. Maybe when you’ve done it once, the rest kind of pales in comparison.

“I … I don’t know what I feel like. I feel …” I couldn’t find the right words, but it didn’t matter, Adam found them for us.

“I feel great. I feel rested, satisfied, and last night was the best sex of my life. Last time was amazing, but this time was incredible. I don’t know if it’s the connection we have already and knowing each other so well, but I really don’t think I can go without it, Charlie. So … I have a little proposition for you.”

I picked up my coffee and sipped it, wincing a little as it burned my top lip.

“I think we should keep having sex.”

I spluttered my coffee all over the kitchen counter. Grabbing a towel, Adam mopped it up and continued, “Just hear me out. We have great sex. You know you can’t deny it. I’m not seeing anyone. You’re not seeing anyone, and you keep saying how sex-starved you have been for the past few years. We can stay friends. Nothing has to change we just … fuck now and then. What do you think?”

I was lost for words. He was actually suggesting we become fuck buddies! Rounding the counter, he stood in front of me and swiveled my seat around to face him. “I know you like it, Charlene. No woman can fake that many orgasms and those sounds you make every time I touch you, I know you’re enjoying me as much as I’m enjoying you. I can make you feel sexy again. I can make you feel wanted, desirable, and help you get over those damn body hang-ups of yours. Haven’t you noticed how you kind of … let go when you’re with me? Have you been with a guy lately and actually done that? Not worry about how you look, how he thinks you look, or how anything is showing? You even keep the lights on when we’re together, and I know you don’t do that with anyone else. Think about it. You know what I’m saying is right.”

I placed my hands on his forearms and gripped him tightly.

“Adam, you’re crazy. We can’t just fuck one day then hang out the next. It’s not going to work. Look at how awkward things were last night.”

He shook his head. “That was because we were still hungering after more. Once we actually set out the ground rules and make an agreement, why does anything have to be difficult or complicated?”

He had a valid point. But we couldn’t do this! I’d only ever had this kind of arrangement once in my life, and that was with a guy who lived across the hall from me in college. It was uncomplicated as we hardly knew each other, but he was hot, and at two in the morning, both of us were available for a booty call.

Standing abruptly, I pushed him away from me gently and shook my head. I walked to the sink and emptied my cup. Caffeine was the last thing I wanted right now. I turned around to find myself caged in by Adam. His hand stroked my thigh and his voice whispered in my ear and he leaned into me.

“Tell me you don’t like this. Tell me that it’s not turning you on.”

I couldn’t breathe. The effect his body, touch, and voice had on me these days was insane! Adam and I had known each other forever, and now he wasn’t just my nerdy doctor best friend, Adam. No. He was hot, sexy, sexpert, make me moan all night, Adam. I tried to calm my nerves, and I could feel my pulse beginning to race.

“Adam, I …”

His teeth grazed my earlobe. “Don’t deny it, Charlie, you’re body gives you away. Just give this a chance. I promise you won’t be sorry.”

I pressed my palms down on the counter behind me and stared into his eyes. “Just sex. I don’t want anything else to change between us.”

He nodded. “Just sex. Everything else is exactly as it was before.”

Smiling slightly, I urged him to move away from me and grabbed my purse from the counter top.

“Is that a yes then?” he called out as I made my way to the front door in silence.

“I guess you’ll find out,” I threw back over my shoulder at him.

He chuckled. “I’ll come by the office at lunch. We’ll go for something to eat and discuss details.”

I nodded and held up my hand in a quick wave before heading off to the office. I would need to come up with some kind of rule list before lunch, and I still had a ton of work to plow through on my desk. It was going to be an eventful day.

* * * *

My office felt significantly smaller as I sat at my desk, rifling through a large pile of paperwork. The band from L.A. was well on their way to being signed and the stipulations, agreements, and finer details of their contracts were still to be completed. Each had specific requests. The drummer seemed to be the biggest diva in the group, whereas the lead and the bass player were more laid back. Their requests were simple enough, and the company would be only too happy to oblige, but the drummer clearly needed a good and firm punch in the face! I scoured through every line, every detail, and each page was scribbled with notes, highlighted paragraphs, and sticky labels by the time I was finished. And that was only one of the contracts! It had taken me almost three hours. Glancing up at the clock, I bit my lip anxiously. Adam was meeting me for lunch, and there would be yet another form of verbal contract to negotiate. Though that one benefited me directly.

The side door in my office breezed open and in sauntered Regina. Perching herself on the edge of my desk, she grinned. I eyed her with curiosity and continued to search for the next contract.

“What are you so happy about? You look like the cat that got the cream,” I remarked.

“Not cream, dear. But something just as tasty. You know that gorgeous new band we’re signing?”

I nodded and held up the various pieces of paper on my desk. “I’m vaguely aware, yes.”

She smirked. “Well, I just got off the phone with Nicola and Denise and it seems that they’re already on board! They’re just waiting on the contracts. How soon can you fax them over?”

I exhaled exasperatedly. “I have no idea. It’s the drummer’s terms and conditions giving me the most hassle.”

Regina giggled. “The lead singer—Oliver, I believe his name is—has told Nic and Denise to ignore it all and issue him the same as the other two. He advises us not to pander to his drama queen needs.”

Slamming the wad of paperwork in my hand on the desk, I sat back in my chair and huffed loudly.

“What’s the matter with you? You would have thought you’d be relieved to have less work to do.”

I rubbed my eyebrows with my finger and thumb. I could feel another headache coming on.

“I am relieved. I’ve got something on my mind. That’s all.”

Regina leaned forward. “A problem shared is gossip for lunch tomorrow.”

I gave her a half smile. “It’s Adam.”

She gave me a bewildered look. “What about him?”

I let out a long and staggered breath. “We … had sex.”

I waited for a gasp, a look of shock, anything really, but she simply stared at me and raised her eyebrows in what looked like confusion. “Well, everyone in the office knows that, Charlene. They heard it. It was the hot topic of the water cooler for days. What’s your point?”

I’d forgotten about our little display. Time to come clean. “We didn’t
actually
have sex in here, Regina. We were faking it. Adam said it would give the minions something other than my broken engagement to talk about. And it did.”

She sniggered. “So you hadn’t had sex then, but you have now?”

I nodded.

“I’m not seeing the problem here, Charlene.”

Resting my head back on my chair, I groaned. “He’s my best friend! I fucked my long-time best friend. And not just once, oh no, several times. All over my apartment. And now … he wants to keep doing it!”

“He wants to be your fuck buddy? I think I’m following this correctly.”

I nodded again. “Yes. He’s coming to meet me at lunch to discuss it.”

Regina shook her head gently. “Well, I really don’t understand what all the fuss is about. Friends can make the best lovers. They know you so intimately already that there’s no need for inhibitions or worrying about where the
relationship
is going. It’s a win-win situation. You get to spend time with a friend and get laid. Wasn’t he good in bed? Is he notoriously bad? Is he tiny?”

I sat up straight and gripped my hands on the edge of the desk, leaning forward as I spoke. “Oh, God no. He’s perfect. He’s an Adonis in a white coat. And the sex … wow. I have never been so satisfied.”

Standing up, Regina fisted her hands on her hips. “You know, the sooner you modern girls get over the whole
it’s complicated
shit, the better. I mean, look at me. I’m married, and I’ve got more boy toys than I can count. Why shouldn’t you have one? It’s about time you stopped being so rational and stopped thinking so much. That’s your problem. You think too much and feel too little, and I say you should keep feeling Adam!”

I giggled a little. “Yes, but none of your boy toys are also your best friend for twenty years. What if we mess it up, and I lose him forever?”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, for the love of God, Charlene. If you’re not fucking him, someone else will. Would you rather enjoy his pogo stick or have some little tart bouncing up and down on it?”

I suddenly thought of Janine. I had to admit, I was jealous at that bar. I didn’t want him to have her number, and I certainly didn’t want him to call her. Was that why I had fucked him? Was it a possessive thing?

“So you think this is a good idea?” I asked her.

She nodded enthusiastically. “I think it’s certainly worth trying. Have a little fun for once in your life. Since you and Brad broke up, you’ve been a different person. You’re losing weight, you look great, you’re more confident at work, and I can see by the way you carry yourself that you clearly don’t miss that douche hole.”

She was right. I had lost almost three stone so far and was well on my way to my target weight. I had Adam to thank for that. His strict diet program, exercise sessions in the park, and even the apartment, had kept me right on track. The amazing and athletic sex probably didn’t hurt either. Maybe happiness was the best diet tool. Maybe just being satisfied in most aspects of your life could do that. Work was going really well. My body was changing for the better. My friends and I were having fun, and I was having mind-blowing sex. Move over Dr. Atkins. Dr. Fitz had the cure to obesity, and it was a rocking hot sex life!