There is no hope for the human race.
“Good, cause I hate myself right now.”
I got up and went back to my room. Among the missed calls from Karrie, there was also one from Alex. Since I had screwed up earlier with her mother, it was time to do at least one right thing. I dialed back her number to let her know that we were no longer fooling around.
Chapter 14
Hello?
Hey Sexy. Do you have plans tonight?
Actually, there's something I need to talk to you about. Do you think you could come over here? I've had a few beers, but I can walk somewhere close.
I'm outside of your apartment. I'll just come up.
I heard the phone click right before the doorbell rang. Damn, I sure was happy that Karrie had already gone back to New York. I opened the door to see Alex standing there in one of the little skirts she always wore. Why couldn't she just dress like a normal person? Was it necessary to wear clothes that made a guy want to undress her immediately?
She leaned up and kissed me on the cheek before walking past me toward my bedroom. Mark looked at me and put both thumbs up in the air. I flipped him the bird before following Alex into my room.
She had lain down on the bed and started playing with her phone. Her big purse lay next to her and I could tell it was some designer bag. "So, how was the visit with your ex? Did you have a nice weekend?"
I stood in front of her, not wanting to put myself in any kind of position for her to pounce on me like her mother had. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Karrie and I decided to get back together. I didn't want you to hear it from anyone else."
She climbed up on her knees and put her hands on them as she sat on her feet. "Well, that kind of sucks for me. I guess we aren’t going have any fun perks to our new friendship now."
"Look Alex, I'm sorry. I didn't know that it was going to happen. I mean, in the back of my mind I always hoped that we would get back together eventually. The thing is that I really miss her. She's so far away and it's been hard on her
too. We're just going to try to make things work. I hope you can understand."
She patted on her thighs before she spoke. It was like she was thinking of the words to say to me. I didn't want to hurt her feelings and I was actually feeling bad about it, until she started to talk. "I guess I better get going then. Maybe we can hang out some other time."
Thinking it was totally a plutonic gesture, I agreed. "Sure." I saw her out of the apartment and came back in to find Mark waiting for me.
"Dude, was that the daughter?"
I smiled and scratched my head. "Yeah, pretty hot, huh?"
"Dayuum! That girl is sexy as hell. I bet she's a little freak too, isn't she?"
I grabbed another beer and sat down next to him. "You have no idea."
"I would have fucked her one more time before letting that piece walk away."
"That's the difference between you and me. I have morals and you don't. I actually have some brain cells left and since you smoked all of yours away, all you’re left to think with is your cock."
We both started laughing. "You're probably right about that. But damn, she was fucking fine. You are such a lucky bastard. If I wasn't so lazy I might bow down to your ass."
I took a toss pillow and hit him in the face. "Jesus, can you shut the hell up? I made the right decision."
"Hey, you think I can get her number from you? I mean, would it be weird and shit if we hooked up?"
I stood up and walked toward the kitchen. "Have at it man. I'll text you the number."
I went into my room and texted Alex's number to Mark before dialing
Karrie.
Hello.
Hey, babe.
Hey. I was getting worried when you called and then didn't answer. You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine. Rough day I guess. How was yours?
It was good. I got to touch the new fabric that's going to be used in the upcoming line. It's so exciting. They are mixing a lilac chiffon with a purple velour and a metallic spandex. I know you could care less, but I’m just so excited to be a part of it. I've always wanted to know what this part of the business was like. Plus, I got to see my awesome boyfriend over the weekend, so naturally I feel satisfied and happy.
So, what are you wearing?
Bastian...seriously?
I'm lying in my bed thinking about you being naked next to me. I guess I just wanted to visualize. I’m wearing my Spiderman underwear and matching t-shirt. My Superman ones are dirty, but if they weren't, I would put
them on and fly my ass right to New York. Superman can fly anywhere he wants, you know.
She started laughing. Since I didn't own Spiderman or Superman underwear, she got the joke immediately.
I miss you already. Four weeks is a long time not to see you. I might have to start talking to strange cab drivers to bide my time. My friend is having a toy party. I guess I could always buy a giant dildo to keep me company
. She giggled.
Do not replace me with a dildo, woman! I’ll be so jealous.
I can send you videos.
Okay, retract the last comment. I could totally get used to those kind of videos.
Are you going to send me videos back?
I can send you one right now. Do you prefer soft or hard penis poses, or I can do the tucked thing where it looks like a vagina?
Shut up! Don't you dare send me those kind of pics. I know you. You’ll send them while I’m with my bosses.
You know you like them.
I know I like you.
Yeah, you're pretty darn okay yourself. Listen, I'm going to hit the hay. Feel free to send me a video tonight. We could video chat while you take a shower. Better yet, position the camera behind you when you’re styling your hair. I love how you bend over to dry it.
Bastian! I'd smack you for spying on me if I was close to you. You’re such a creep.
I prefer peeping Tom. So, I'll call you tomorrow around lunchtime. Is that good for you?
Yes, I love you.
Love you too, babe. Goodnight.
Even though I held the guilt of my actions earlier in the day, I felt like for once Mark was right. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Karrie. Even though I knew what I had done was wrong, I couldn't consciously break her heart when I didn't need to. She was the only woman I wanted. It wasn't like I had gone out looking for pussy. I went to tell the bitch it was over.
I had school the next day, and for once I went to class and focused on what the professor was talking about. I got good grades, but found some of the lectures boring as hell. I learned faster by reading and usually just read a chapter ahead of time. I talked to Karrie around lunchtime and was still in a great mood, even after my second class. It wasn't until the next morning that things went to shit.
The alarm went off for me to get ready to head to Mrs. Smith's house. I had made the decision to end my career as a
male maid. I wanted to put everything about it in the past and move forward. The semester was coming to an end and I was seriously thinking about changing my major.
I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep. My phone started ringing around ten, right when I was getting out of the shower. The number was unknown, so I just ignored it. That same caller must have hit redial ten times. My phone rang over and over, but I refused to answer it. I didn't see Mrs. Smith as being crazy like that, but I had to assume it was her.
I spent the rest of the day studying for finals. I had some work to catch up on in one of my classes and a paper to write. I sat down at my kitchen table with a beer and started researching a good topic for my final paper. The guys were all out doing other things, so when the doorbell rang, I ignored it. I wasn't expecting anyone and I didn't really feel much like having company.
That night, I spent two hours talking to my girlfriend. We didn't talk about anything of value. It was more like we were watching television together, but separately.
The following morning was much like the one before. I would normally have been getting ready to head to Mrs. Jones house, but since that was done and over with, I decided to start looking for part time jobs. I showered like every other morning and headed out to put in some applications. Around lunchtime my phone rang and that is when all my hopes of putting this shit in the past came crashing down.
Hello?
Hey stranger. Have you had lunch?
It was Alex.
Oh, hey. Not yet.
Turn around.
I turned around to see Alex standing across the street. She was waving at me and still holding the phone up to her ear.
I waved.
Hey. Are you following me?
I was joking.
Maybe. So, you going to let me buy you lunch?
You don't have to buy.
There is this awesome taco place down the street. Hurry up, I'm starving to death!
I hung up the phone and made my way across the street to meet her. Maybe I should have seen something coming, but I didn't at all. We'd no sooner sat down when she pushed me a manila envelope.
I looked up at her. "What's this?"
"I can lie and tell you that it's nothing to worry about, or you can just open it and see for yourself. You aren't the only person who has a secret, Bastian.”
"What's that supposed to mean?"
She rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, do you really think I didn't know you were fucking my stepmother? Please, I'm not an idiot. Unfortunately, you’re the one with the problem."
I was literally shocked. This chick had let me fuck her even after she knew I'd been with her stepmother.
I was glad about the ”step” part, though.
"I don't know where you’re getting your information." I was trying to get myself out of this mess.
"Just shut up and open the envelope." She shoved it toward me more.
I felt irritated, but opened the envelope while still looking at Alex. She had this smirk on her face like she was getting off on my confusion.
I stared at pictures of me in the pool yard with Mrs. Smith. She was naked and I was rubbing her down with lotion. I flipped through a couple more photos and saw one of me walking out of Alex's house. It was after my first time with her mother. I said nothing as I put the photos back into the envelope. "What the fuck are you doing, Alex? How did you even get these? Why do you have these?"
I was pissed and I wasn't trying to hide it.
She leaned in and looked directly at me. "This could have all gone differently, had your girlfriend not come back into the picture. I didn't want to have to explain things this way. Your knowledge of the situation was never necessary, but I don't have time to wait for things to work themselves out."
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"I need you to sleep with my step-mother again. I need it to be in different places, all over the house and maybe even out in public. As far as Mrs. Smith goes, well you can fuck her at the house like normal."
"You're out of your mind, you little bitch!" I started to stand up, but she grabbed my arm.
"I wouldn't do that, Bastian. Not unless you want Karrie to see what you do when she isn't around."
I sat back down and leaned over in her face. "Don't you dare threaten me."
"All I need you to do is sleep with them. You give me what I want and we all walk away happy."
"You're sick, you know that?" I wanted to hit the bitch. I was clearly being blackmailed for a mistake I wanted to keep buried.
"Actually, I’m the opposite. I see what I want and I take it. I will literally do whatever it takes to have it. You’ll sleep with those women again and you’ll get me proof of it, or I’ll not only show Karrie these pictures, but I’ll paint a very vivid and detailed account of the relationship between the two of us. I’ll add more details of course, just to make it more realistic."
"You are nothing but a little cunt!"
"Spare me the childish names. Agree to what I ask, and nobody finds out." She picked at her nails like this was nothing to her. I instantly hated her. I was freaking picturing taking her in the back alley and strangling her. Then reality set in. One thing stood between me and my future with the girl I truly loved. I put my face into my hands and tried to think of a way out of this. Sure, I could take the pictures and burn them, but there were probably copies. She was a smart bitch, who
clearly had this planned for a while. I couldn't see any other way out of it. "Fine, I'll do it."