Marissa still has her hand in my lap, and I reach down, gripping her wrist. I run my hand up her arm, around the nape of her neck, tangling my fingers in her hair and bringing her mouth to mine. If she wants to be my stress relief, I’ll let her.
All my pent-up energy goes into fucking Marissa. Hard. But I feel dirty. Like I cheated on Goldi. Which is truly an extra level of some fucked-up shit. I should feel the opposite, since it was the image of honey-blonde locks and lush curves that made me come, not the woman who was underneath me.
I brush my hand through my hair as I look at Marissa who’s lazing in bed next to me, still naked. She sees me staring and rolls toward me, throwing her leg over my hip as her fingers play with the hair on my chest. “Mmm… I could get used to this.”
I absentmindedly rub her back as I ponder whether this is something I could get used to. Could I see myself with her, here? It’s not unpleasant, having her warm my bed. A nice pussy to feast on and an intelligent mind to talk with. There are worse things to come home to.
My phone vibrates on the end table, bringing me out of my thoughts. Marissa pokes her head up to look at the screen. It’s a random number she wouldn’t recognize. But I do. My heart speeds up, and I push Marissa off me as I sit up to answer.
“Goldi.”
She says she needs me and I’m out of bed in seconds, holding the phone between my ear and shoulder as I throw on my clothes.
“What are you doing?” Marissa asks, leaning on her elbows.
I hold up my finger so she knows I’ll answer her in a second. I’m sure she’s wondering who’s on the phone, but my mind is only worried about Goldi. Complete tunnel vision. I repeatedly fucked-up when she needed me before, no chance in hell I’m going to let that shit happen again. I’m so damn happy I gave her my number.
I hang up the phone after getting her address.
Hands creep around my waist as I grab my wallet and keys. Shit. How did I forget Marissa was here?
“Are you going somewhere?”
“Yeah. A friend needs some help. Car trouble.”
She gives me an incredulous look. “At ten p.m.?”
“Seems so.”
“Well, hold on a second. I’ll come with you.” She steps back, picking up her dress from the floor.
Panic chokes me. “No, no. You hang out here. I’m not sure how long this will take.”
Her dress hangs limply in her hand. “Are you sure?”
Fuck yes, I’m sure. Having the woman who wants my heart around the reason she’ll never get it? Hard pass.
Her eyes narrow. “Who’s the friend?”
“What’s that?”
“I asked who the friend was that you’re going to help. Someone from work?”
“Oh. No, it’s…” I debate how the fuck to handle this situation. Why is it even a question? I’m not doing anything wrong, and I have no reason to lie. “It’s a friend from when I used to live here. Alina.”
Her eyes spark. “Alina. That’s a pretty name.” She slinks over to me, running her hand down the front of her naked body. Confidence is not something Marissa lacks, and if it were any other time, she’d have my full attention. “Doesn’t she have someone else she can call? Another friend, a boyfriend of her own?”
I shrug, but her words invade my brain. Does she have a boyfriend? God, I’m fucking pathetic. I’m wondering about Goldi while the woman I’m in a relationship with is standing right in front of me. “I don’t know, but I’m not gonna be a dick and ignore her when she needs me.”
Marissa huffs, dropping her hands from where they were teasing her breasts. “Fine. I’ll just be here, waiting for you to get back.”
I feel like an asshole, but not enough to make me stay.
“How long will you be gone?”
“I’m not sure. However long it takes, I guess. Order some food if you get hungry, I don’t have much here.”
“Okay.” She goes up on her toes and leaves a lingering kiss on my lips.
When I asked if Goldi wanted to go for a drive, I didn’t plan to end up at the lake, but here we are. I have so many things I want to say. But I’m silent because I know it’s not what she needs to hear.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I ignore it. I’m sure it’s Marissa asking where I am for the tenth time, even though I’ve already told her. I feel like a shit boyfriend for not responding, but when I look at Goldi, it’s hard to care. For the first time tonight, she looks relaxed. Leaned back on her elbows as she stares at the water. I love seeing her like this.
“Do you remember that date you went on with that fucker Reed? He brought you here to the lake.”
A soft smile grows on her face. “Yep. It was a great date.”
I scoff, decades-old jealousy creeping from my memory into my bones. “You mean it was great after the date.”
She laughs. “I see time hasn’t lessened your ego.”
“I was so fucking jealous. The thought of him touching you drove me crazy. It was all I could think about. And when I found out he brought you out here…” I shake my head, chuckling. “I thought I’d go insane with how much I wanted to take his place. He was doing things with you I wanted to do. Things I wouldn’t let myself do.” My
