sex + alcohol tw

It had been three years since Shoeshine had killed himself. Polly was thirty now and she still couldn't find it in herself to move on. She had loved- still loved- Shoeshine with everything in her. He was her best friend. He had been since they were both twenty.

Polly had tried many things to try and get her mind off Shoeshine. Yoga, meditation, reading, poker, pool, one-night stands… she couldn't get her mind off him. She understood what he meant about his mother now. She understood why Shoeshine had turned to alcohol, too, because she had as well.

"May I buy you a drink?"

Polly turned around in her stool. She gripped her glass tightly. Her eyes widened as she saw the source of the voice.

He was a kindly looking man, with dark half-lidded eyes and a sly smile. He was a dog, a mostly-beagle mutt, with tan fur and floppy black ears. Polly looked him up and down. His hands were at his sides, with one tucked into a pocket. He wore a full blue suit with a fedora and red tie. White-rimmed glasses were clipped onto his lapel.

Good God, he looked just like Shoeshine without his freckles.

"Uhm," Polly cleared her throat and twirled a piece of hair nervously. "I-I'm sorry, you just… you look so much like a dead friend."

"Sorry about that, I can't help it," the man chuckled, taking a seat beside Polly and resting his arms on the table. They were empty save for a few dollar bills between his fingers. "I'm sure they're in a better place now."

Polly sighed and circled a finger around the rim of her empty glass. "I sure hope so."

The man was silent a moment. Then he asked, "How about that drink, hm?" He observed Polly's glass. A drop or two of amber liquid sat in the bottom, accompanied by a cherry stem. "An old-fashioned, yes?"

Polly swallowed thickly, trying to push away the blur at the edge of her vision. She didn't take her eyes off the man's hands as she answered, "Sure."

The man called the bartender, passed the money, and ordered. Polly kept careful watch, trying not to blink, over his hands. His hands didn't move from the table. The only time they shifted was to grab one of the two small glasses. Polly grabbed the other.

The man held up his drink to offer a cheers. Polly couldn't help a smile splitting her face. They clinked together, and each took a drink. The man cleared his throat before setting it down. Polly took a bigger drink than he did.

"I don't believe I've introduced myself," the man said as Polly set down her drink. "My name is Taptap Clark. I work down at Tympani's Jewelry Store. You can call me Taps," he added with a wink.

Polly didn't notice. Her heartbeat quickened. She gripped her glass tighter.

Taptap looked concerned. "Are you alright, dear?"

Polly cleared her throat and took another drink to try and loosen the knot. "I'm fine," she lied with a click of her tongue. "My-my dead friend. His last name was Clark too."

"Ah," Taptap replied. "Sorry about that, love. I hear it used to be a rather popular last name."

Polly hummed thoughtfully. "Sure," she answered. She took another drink. "I'm Polly Purebred, I'm a reporter for TTV."

"I thought you looked a bit familiar," Taptap said, holding his glass to his lips. "No one can truly forget a woman as beautiful as you."

Polly flushed and finished her glass. "Th-thanks," she answered.

Taptap didn't seem like much of a threat. But Polly decided she didn't need to get any more drunk, just encase he tried something later in the night.

...ah, one more wouldn't hurt her.

A few more drinks in and hours later, Polly found that Taptap's soft hand was rubbing her cheek.

"Yes," he whispered, "You're one beautiful girl, Polly."

Polly hummed and grabbed his hand with her own.

Another drink and hour later, Taptap stood up and pulled Polly up with him. She drunkenly giggled as the man pulled her closer. Their noses were touching, and Polly could smell the alcohol on his breath. Taps held her face while Polly held her hands on his shoulders.

Polly just let words fall out of her mouth without much of a thought.

"Can I kiss you?" she asked, softly.

Taps didn't reply with words. Instead, he closed the gap between their muzzles and met Polly's lips with his own. Polly sighed wistfully and pushed her arms forward, resting her elbows on Taptap's shoulders.

Polly pushed back when Taps pulled away. Taps pulled her further from the bar so they wouldn't block it. She let his hands slide down to her hips.

"Are you good?" he asked kindly. "Like, clean?"

Polly flushed. Then she nodded and replied, "Yeah."

"Me too," Taps answered, pulling her into another kiss.

Polly's other one-night stands hadn't been this passionate with her. She didn't know quite why Taps was doing this, but, man, she adored it.

"Do you wanna come home with me?" Polly asked next time she got the chance.

Taps kissed her once more. "Yes," he answered.

Polly did just that. She closed the door to her apartment and turned to look at Taptap once more. He loosed his tie and smiled slyly. His eyes sparkled with love and lust. Polly returned the smile.

Taps stepped forward and pushed Polly against the door. His hands gripped her hips, one trailing a bit lower. Polly wrapped her leg around him as Taps pushed his knee forward. Polly held his face.

"Is this good?" Taps asked.

"Perfect…" Polly answered, kissing him.

Taps turned his muzzle downward and started work on Polly's neck. "God, you're gorgeous," he stated, kissing harder.

Polly was panting with her arms around him in bed before she knew it.

"Stay with me tonight," Polly begged, breathlessly.

Taps kissed her chest. "Yes, my dear, yes."

The next morning was not nearly as fun as the previous night. When Polly opened her eyes, she felt lightheaded and couldn't tell if Taptap was moving or not. She sat up slowly with a groan. Her hips really hurt, which was pretty fair. So did her back, which hadn't quite happened before.

"Good morn~ing," Taps chirped.

Polly groaned again and stretched, though couldn't help smiling. "Hi," she answered. "I feel pretty gross."

Taps sat up and kissed her shoulder. "I thought you were great."

Polly smiled a bit wider. "You were, too," she answered. "I'm going to the bathroom."

"Have fun."

Polly chuckled. She stood up, still dizzy, and pulled a tanktop and underwear from a drawer. The bed creaked as Taps stood up as well. Polly figured he was redressing too.

Whenever Polly arrived in the bathroom, she pulled out a box of pregnancy tests just out of habit. Usually she was rather scared waking up in the mornings after banging a stranger, but she quite liked Taptap. She hadn't ever asked anyone to spend the night.

She waited for the results as she got dressed. Then, she pulled her hair into a ponytail and brushed her teeth. She glanced over at the test a few moments later.

There were two lines on it.

Polly shook her head and closed her eyes a few seconds. She had woken up rather dizzy. It was probably just her mind playing tricks on her. She held the test closer.

Two lines.

Polly let out a nervous breath. No way- what? They used protection. Surely, surely, Polly told herself, it was just her dizziness.

The poodle stumbled out of the bathroom and back to her bedroom. Taps was humming beside the bed, wearing his dress shirt and underwear.

"What's that, love?" he asked.

Polly padded closer. "It's a pregnancy test. Uhm… my eyes haven't really woken up yet, I don't think, how many lines does this have?"

She showed the test to Taptap. He observed it a few times, his eyes darting between the screen and the key.

"Th-there's two," he answered.

"...ah, fuck…" Polly replied.

Polly glanced up at him, but couldn't keep his gaze. Taptap looked as if he'd seen a ghost.

"Oh my god," he whispered. "Oh my god! Polly, I'm so, so sorry! I didn't notice- I didn't-!" He spoke rapidly, his hands shaking as he reached out for Polly. He never actually touched her. He took a deep breath in and out, crossing his arms. One of his hands stroked his long, velvety black ears. "Are you, um… keeping it?"

Polly didn't answer for quite some time. She rolled it over in her head. She did want kids. She just didn't imagine this would be the way she'd get them.

Polly had set herself a moral code when she lost her virginity. If she got pregnant, she would keep it, no question. Unless the conception was traumatic, then she could get it out.

But Polly liked Taptap. She did. But on one hand… he looked so much like Shoeshine.

Polly clenched her fist and sighed, looking up at Taps. "Yeah, I am."

"...will I be allowed to see it?" Taps asked.

"Do you… want to?"

Taps didn't reply. Then he spoke quickly again. "I-I don't know. This is a lot, Polly. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Polly nodded sadly. She understood the sorrowful notes in his voice.

"I'll note you down as the father on the birth certificate," she said, looking at their feet. "And you'll certainly pay child support."

Taptap nodded with a sigh. "I deserve that. Polly, I'm so sorry. I didn't- if I'd noticed I would've pulled out faster- I didn't mean for this to happen…"

"It's alright, Taptap," Polly replied.

Taptap stepped away and slipped into his pants. He threw his blazer over his shoulder and put his hat on lightly.

"I should go," he said quickly. Then, the man rushed out of Polly's apartment.