Chapter 2:-
Rachel woke early next morning; Taylor was still sleeping soundly, snoring gently beside her. She carefully lifted his arm from around her and slipped out of bed. She really wanted coffee but her body didn't, so she got a glass of ice-cold milk and went to the door to get the post.
With her glass of milk in one hand, she opened the door – just as two men walked into her. Luckily, the only thing that went flying was the milk – all down her.
"Sorry," the bigger of the two spoke to her. "You ok? Didn't hurt did I?" He looked down at her gently swelling belly.
"No. No. I'm fine. Just a little wet," she looked down at her robe – dripping with milk.
"We'll pay for any damage done," the other man said.
"Oh don't worry about it; it's just a little spilt milk. Soon wash out," she smiled at them both. She held out her hand to the first man, and he shook it. "I'm Rachel Deserve. I live here," she thumbed the apartment behind her. "Are you two just moving in?"
The second guy took her hand and shook it, nodding, "yeah, upstairs. We started moving in last night. Didn't bother you too much did we?"
"No, don't worry. I can sleep through pretty much anything these days. Anyway, nice to meet both of you, whoever you are, but I'd better go and change," she smiled and picked up her post.
"Sorry, I'm Ben Frazetti and the big lug is Tony Carmine," he smiled back. She thought they both looked like they were mid to late 40's. They all said goodbye and Rachel went back into the apartment, closing the door behind her.
Matty was sitting at the kitchen table drinking a mug of coffee, when he saw her, dripping wet. "Who're you talking to out there and what happened to you?"
"Took my milk outside to get the post and met the two new guys from upstairs. Unfortunately I didn't notice them until too late," she pulled at her robe. "You know the apartment opposite is up for rent – I'm gonna ring Innez and tell her about it." She flicked Matty with the dishcloth she was using to try to mop up the milk.
Matty smiled at the thought of Innez. She'd been Rachel's best girl-friend since they were five years old at Kindie. And she lived right here in LA, she was round quite a lot at the moment helping Rachel with baby stuff. Matty liked Innez, a lot. Liked her enough to have taken her on a couple of dates. Hoped to take her on a few more, too!
He saw Rachel smiling at him and he laughed. "Give her a ring. Let her know about it." Rachel handed Matty the phone and he took it. "I am going to get changed and wake Taylor up."
Matty watched her leave the room; walk down the hallway and into her bedroom. When he was sure she'd gone, he took the phone and dialed Innez's number. His palms were wet and he let out a sigh. The phone rand maybe five-six times and then he heard her voice and his cock twitched in his trousers. "Hello?"
"Erm…Hi…Innez. It's Matty. Er… Matty Demaret…" he stopped when he realized he was rambling.
"Hi, Matty. Is Rachel all right?" she asked.
"Yeah, she's fine. Still sex-mad!" Jeez, fuck, did he really say that aloud. He could hear Innez in the background, laughing.
"Ok. What did you want, Matty?" she hoped he was calling to ask her out again. He was gorgeous. "Only I'm running late for work. Some idiot used up all the hot water again and…"
"Well, that's why I'm ringing. Rachel said to tell you the apartment opposite is empty and she wondered if you'd be interested?"
"Hell, yeah," the words flew out of her mouth. "Damn right I'm interested. When can I come over and check you out? Shit! Check IT out!"
Matty laughed. Innez laughed. "You could do both tonight if you wanted. I'll cook you a meal, yeah?"
"Sounds good. What time?"
"I'll let you know. But it will have to be early because of work ok?"
"Ok, ring me at work, Rachel has the number." They said goodbye and Matty went downstairs to speak to the property owner, who was more than happy at not having to advertise. He told Matty to bring her up around 6pm-ish.
Matty went outside for a smoke, listening to Taylor and Rachel make love at this time in a morning was not fun – nearly as bad as when he'd walked in on them one day, indulging over the kitchen table. Thinking about it now was funny but at the time he'd been mortified. He didn't know what was worse: actually catching them (they didn't even see him) or the fact that they ate off that table. He shook his head and laughed. He was really happy for them both, and they definitely belonged together.
Matty lit a cigarette, blew a trail of smoke into the air, and watched it curl away into nothing.
"Scuse me, bud," Matty spun around to see two middle –aged men wanting to come into the building. He moved to one side to let them pass and he wondered if they were the two men Rachel had been talking to earlier.
He let the thought pass and took out his cell phone to ring Innez. His palms were sweaty again as he waited for her to answer. "Hello? Palmers Insurance, how can I help you?"
"Innez, it's Matty. Hi. The landlord said to come by around six-ish and he'll show you the apartment," he realized he was rambling again.
"Yeah, that's fine, Matty, thanks. Erm…dinner after that?" she asked.
"Yeah, you like Italian, right?"
"I love Italian. Just don't let Rachel cook, ok? I don't want food poisoning," she laughed.
"Mmmm, she's gotten worse just lately. Taylor blames the hormones," they both laughed.
"Have to get back to work, Matty. Sorry. Look forward to tonight though," she said goodbye and hung up.
Matty put his phone away and wondered if it was safe to go back up yet, he decided to take the risk.
It was ok. Taylor was in the kitchen making pancakes and Rachel sat at the kitchen table reading a baby manual. He watched as she absent-mindedly rubbed her six-month belly and smiled contentedly.
"Hey, Matty! Pancakes?" Taylor said when he saw Matty.
Matty nodded and sat next to Rachel. They all made small talk about Innez coming to look at the apartment, about Taylor and Rachel going to see the doctor later that day and about their new neighbors.