chapter eleven

him

I knew coffee would be necessary for pure survival. I took in Bella's small bedroom, blinded by Miami in March. The brutal early Spring sunshine kicks a prior late night right in the balls. I counted her faint snores, imagining her rage when I told her she sounded like a wounded, desperate goat. A gorgeous goat. Fuck it's bright. My head burned from tequila and wedding champagne. Bella's would undoubtedly pound worse. She challenged me sip for sip until the grooms left and the taxi arrived. I dug through sticky tangles to find her naked back and face. My dick jumped from the morning heat of the room and the memory of last night. I smoothed over her skin with fingers and lips, I dared hope a quick, hot round of morning sex might be possible. Her answer was a deep ugly blend of snore, sigh and get the fuck away from me.

"Mom…" Toby tried the handle. Fuck. "Mom. I'm back. I'm hungry." I tugged on my dress pants as soon as he fell in. "Hi, Edward." This was new.

"What's up, bud?" I pushed a hand through my hair, catching my breath.

"Does my mom have a fever?" He crawled on top of the bed, dirty sneakers leaving a trail.

"What? No. No fever." I buttoned a few buttons of my dress shirt and moved towards the door. "She's just really tired."

"I'm kinda hungry."

"Come on. Let's see what we can find." Jesus. I wasn't planning to navigate this alone. Toby settled on the barstool across from me as I fumbled to begin something, anything that resembled breakfast.

"Where did you go last night? Did you see an adult movie?" I managed to get him started on a glass of juice and found a pound of cheap grocery brand coffee.

"We actually were at a wedding. Do you remember meeting Martin from work… when you came in with your mom?"

"Yes. He's really tall. What's his wife's name?"

"Well… His wife's name is Kevin." He stared.

"That's a funny lady name." Cereal… yogurt… juice… and gay marriage…

"Right. So Kevin isn't a lady."

"But he married him?"

"Yes. That's cool right?" He shrugged. "It was actually a lot of fun."

"Is that why my mom is sick?"

"She's not sick. She's just tired."

"Maybe we should call my dad and he can send her some medicine."

"Nah. We don't need to call your dad. She just needs coffee." I made progress. We had brew action and Toby was fisting a spoon. "Copious coffee."

"What does cops us mean?"

"Copious?" I poured him a bowl of speckled, hideous looking flaked cereal. "Copious means A LOT. Like huge amounts." I gestured, wide eyed, finally coming into my morning reality.

"Like… you love my mom copious?" Oh. Toby… Well. Shit.

"Yeah. Like that." I grinned, finishing the first cup of many. "What is this?" I studied the box of healthy cereal. "This is should be outlawed."

"My mom wants me to be strong."

"Next time I come over, I'm bringing you some real cereal. Okay?"

"Okay. When? Did you spend the night last night?" He was matter of fact, I froze. The sun in the kitchen window warmed our faces. His freckles matched hers. I missed her. I wanted to do this with her. He deserved more than a lousy yes. I moved to sit on the next stool.

"I did. I spent the night here… with your mom." I paused, he scooped and chewed watching me. "Is that cool with you?"

"Yeah."

"I want to be sure. Because I know this is your place too." I leaned, head in palm struggling through the over share and hangover, hoping desperately I was doing it all right.

"You love her copious, so it's okay for you to sleep over."

"Right. I do. She's pretty easy to love."

"What about Genevieve? Can she sleep over too?"

"Of course she can. But we should check with your mom first. I think those two might be having some issues. I'm not sure…" We laughed. "Hey. Wanna do something really hilarious?" He nodded. I whispered a nasty plan, he kicked off his shoes and we tiptoed back to the bedroom, Toby stifling the best giggles.

We silently counted to four and half then pounced. "Motherfu…" She rolled slow. Her death glare didn't stop us from our attack. She fought to stay covered and kept her eyes shut, finally begging for mercy and grounding us both from electronics for the day.

"I can't believe you're making me work today," she shouted over a running shower. I spied from behind the curtain, surprised.

"Where's Toby?"

"Outside. Catching with Chase." She motioned, I smirked and finished fast. "At least you and Toby are coming with me." She leaned for a kiss, toweling damp hair.

"I honestly don't know shit about basketball. But I do plan to eat every greasy food in the arena concession."

"Is that your hangover remedy?" She cringed. We heard Chase correcting Toby's throws through the small window next to the sink.

"Tried and true." I melted behind her, a towel low at my waist.

"You're gross. Seriously." She bent forward, plucking and puckering. I pulled her hand behind.

"Am I?" Warm whispers against her neck, as she squeezed and teased my dick. We met knowing stare for stare in the foggy mirror. I reached, slamming the window closed. Knees weak, she pushed back, ever ready to feed that fucking ache. "You want that?" She gently stroked as the towel fell.

"Lock the door..." She breathed. I was inside her before either of us could steady. Hand over hand we leveraged against the mirror and sink, watching as I took her from behind. "Faster…" Nearing the edge I led our hands to her pussy, her breast. "Oh my… Fuck…" She quivered, loose and lost in my arms as I hovered and pumped.

"Bella. Goddamn…"

American Airlines Arena rocked near capacity. Toby and I balanced corndogs, hot pretzels, French fries, sour straws and soda. I estimated we had about twenty minutes before Bella would return and our junkie adventures would come to a mom freak out halt. Toby gave me a proper schooling on professional basketball, while squeezing mustard designs on our deep fried dogs.

"These seats are better than my grandpa can get."

"Oh yeah?" I rushed to wipe my face as Bella climbed the stairs towards us, press pass swinging between her tits. Fuck. "Then I'll get them for you every game."

"You goons. Oh my god. You're both going to be sick tonight." She eye rolled twice and settled in with Toby between.

"You get what you need?" I hoped.

"I got enough. The rest is up here." She tapped her forehead, pursing lips, nodding. Cocky, hot, mine… The first quarter was far underway, Bella and Toby bordered on obnoxious, screaming at refs and missed hoops. While they danced and whooped, I confirmed Kat's Spring break flight to visit me… us, approved employee hours and replied to Brendan that beers on Thursday worked for me. "Hey. Put the phone away." Bella nagged, winking. "Be present."

"Sorry. I'm super lame. I'm here. I'm into it. What inning is it?" I joked. Toby laughed.

"So lame…" Bella mouthed, flirting hard.

"Are you spending the night tonight again, Edward?" Toby sat tall on his knees, leaning towards me.

"Hey, Bubs. Quit being so nosy." Bella tugged him into a squeeze.

"What? He loves you." Bella stared, mindlessly fixing his hair. "Copious amounts." She dodged as his arms flew wide.

"He does, does he? Says who?" A silly riddle and game became a genuine moment. She dared me with narrowed, smiling eyes, while Toby obliviously shouted for a foul. We met behind his bouncing and bobbing. Slow and secret, we whispered the good stuff against each others lips to seal our deal.

a/n.

thanks for sticking with these two. they're fluffy today. i'm grateful for your time and words.

back very soon with more.

for tara. she picked me up, when i fell. literally. xo