Lustly(34)

“Did I do something wrong?”

He leaned down and kissed me softly. “No. This time it’s all me. I told you before that I didn’t want to be a regret.”

“But I want this.”

“Yeah, but I’m willing to wait for it.”

It took me a while to accept that he wanted me to leave. I’d promised to pick him up in the morning so that he could get back to his car at the office, albeit I knew that being alone with him made me want things that I couldn’t ever have.

My life was in shambles, and in order to put it back together I was going to have to keep my priorities straight. Eli was an unfortunate bump in the road that I couldn’t afford to get involved with, no matter how much I wished I could.





Chapter 7


That night after taking the kids where they all needed to be, and feeding them dinner, I headed upstairs to soak in the tub and think about my situation. Honestly, I just wanted some alone time to take in the day that I’d had. Aside from Eli I’d gotten involved with my first client, who happened to be my boss’s son. On top of that, he had some sick obsession to protect me, and I didn’t understand why.

Charlie came in the bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub. When he knew that I’d seen him but wouldn’t say anything he spoke up. “We need to talk, Lil.”

I put the rag over my face. “I have nothing to say to you, Charlie.”

“How long are we going to go like this? Don’t you think we should call a therapist or something?”

I took the rag and put it in the water, then turned my attention to him. I looked him right in the eyes as I spoke. “As far as I’m concerned right now I don’t like you. It’s going to take me a long time to be able to look at you without seeing what you’ve done. If I were you, I’d keep your mouth shut and your dick in your pants.” I put the rag over my face. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m trying to relax from a shitty day.”

He got up and left without saying anything, and by the time I climbed into bed, he was rolled over and appeared to be asleep. I found it hard to fall asleep with so much on my mind. I’d created a clusterf*ck of situations and if I didn’t gain some kind of control I was going to surely lose my mind.

It was almost morning when I finally closed my eyes. A little later I woke to the kids getting ready for school. Charlie was up and already dressed. He came over to my side of the bed. “I’ll take them to the bus stop on my way in.”

I started to get up. “You don’t have to.”

“It’s fine.”

As soon as he left the room I fell back asleep.

My cell phone woke me up and when I saw what time it was I knew it was the diner calling. My first decision of the day was to tell them that I wouldn’t be coming back in. I felt terrible, but my mind was made up. I was going to see my client once a week, for both the money and sexual pleasure. I’d be lying if I didn’t want both. Even in the awkward first encounter, I’d found myself drawn to Frankie. It amazed me, but clearly I didn’t need to know someone to enjoy myself.

Didn’t I deserve some kind of release?

As soon as I ended the call my phone rang again. This time it was Eli.

“I overslept.”

“Were you dreaming about me?”

“You’re funny. Actually I didn’t sleep last night.”

“Yeah, me either. We need to talk about us, Lily. I know you say you don’t want to, but I feel like there are things you need to know.”

I couldn’t listen to him tell me why I should see him. Even if I had the time to do it, he’d never sleep with a hooker. He was a man of the law, and that would go against everything he stood for. Besides, I could see the headline if I was ever caught, and known as his girlfriend. He’d lose his clients over it.

“I can’t talk today. I’ve got something to do.”

“I guess you can’t tell me what it is?”

“I’m going to look at houses to rent.” I really hadn’t made any plans, but one internet search could give me some ideas.

“Do you want company?”

“You have court at one, remember?” I was around him so much that I knew his schedule.

“We could go this morning. You know I don’t see clients on court days.”

“Eli…”

“Can’t I be your friend?”

I closed my eyes and thought about not having him around. He was right about being my friend. I couldn’t tell anyone how I felt about Charlie, but for the past two months I’d been able to tell him everything. He knew how my heart had been ripped out. He’d been the one person to make me smile when I was down in the dumps. He’d even been my shoulder to cry on. I owed him at least a friendship, if nothing else. “Yes.”

“Good. Come pick me up.”

“I need to get dressed.”

“Friends can pick each other up naked,” he teased.

“Funny. I’m getting a shower. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

“Ok. See you soon.”

I jumped in the shower and hurried up getting washed. After dressing, I dried my hair halfway and grabbed my purse, running out the door after only fifteen minutes. When I arrived in front of Eli’s house I saw him standing out front on his phone while his dog went to the bathroom. He waved and called the dog to go back inside of the house before walking in my direction.