Tonight’s game was tough. Philly’s always been a strong team, and they played hard tonight. We just happened to play a little bit harder.
Since I have some history here, we’re doing a group dinner of sorts. It’s really just half of a bar that’s been blocked off, but the food is decent, and the music is chill.
Making my way through the crowd, I keep getting stopped by old friends. It’s nice to see everyone, it really is, but all I want right now is Kitten. I want to be in her apartment, under her covers, tangled in her like a horny octopus. And I’m not just thinking about the sex. I mean, yes. Yes, I want more of that fantastic sex. But really, I just want to be with her. Feel her warmth and smell her scent. But since I’m halfway across the country, I need to settle for a phone call.
Looking at the time, I hope it’s not too late. I asked her to wait up for me, but I didn’t think it would take this long to break free. Piling my plate with chicken skewers, I find a high-top table in the back and take a seat. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I catch the movement of someone sitting across from me.
Glancing up, I see it’s Luke and sigh. “Hey. Not trying to be a dick, but can you go away? I need to make a call.”
“To your mama or to your Kitten?” he smirks
He’s lucky I need him to play tomorrow, because I’m tempted to hit him. “Kitten.”
He matches my stare for a moment, before tossing up his hands and rising from his stool. “Okay, okay. Call your girl. I’ll come back when you’re done.”
He’s only just turned away, when I hit Kitten’s contact.
She answers almost immediately.
“Hi, Jackson.”
She even sounds cute. And kissable as hell.
“Hi, Kitten.” I keep my voice low, not wanting people eavesdropping.
“Good job tonight.”
My chest fills with pride. “Did you watch?”
“Duh.” She giggles. “The girls were over. We watched together.”
“The girls?”
“Yeah, Meghan and Izzy and Steph. They all say hi by the way.”
“Hi back.”
“They’re gone now, but I’ll let them know you said so. It was fun having them over.” Kitten sounds a little extra breathy and sleepy. “Steph’s really smart. She wanted to help me, and her idea definitely worked.”
“Oh, did she? What did you need help with?”
“I needed help making the nerves go away. I’m always so stressed during your games.”
I cut in, “Why are you stressed?”
She huffs out a breath, like the answer is too obvious to need explaining.
“Because, Jackson… Because you could get hurt. Or you could do great. Which you always do. Be great I mean. Because you’re so good… at everything. But I just worry. There’s a lot of pressure on you out there. And… And I worry.”
This girl. She doesn’t even realize she’s doing it, but she always goes straight for my soft underbelly. Her compassion and concern for me is overwhelming, and I’m stuck somewhere between a smile and a frown. I love that she cares so much, but I hate that I’m causing her stress.
Unaware of my mixed emotions, Kitten continues, “So, Steph made us drink.”
I’m back to smiling. “Kitten, tell me the truth. Are you drunk right now?”
She’s quiet for a few seconds before she drags the word out. “Mayyybe… ”
“Are you alone?” I ask.
“Jackson Wilder! I’m not having phone sex with you.” She started strong but she got pretty wistful by the end of her statement.
You and your dirty mind. You’re gonna get me in trouble.” I shift in my seat. “I wasn’t going to suggest that… but, now that you brought it up…”
“Oh.” Kitten sounds mildly disappointed. “What were you going to suggest?”
“Well, if the girls are gone, I was going to suggest you go put your pretty self in bed and let me lull you to sleep.”
“Oh!” her tone perks up. “That sounds nice.”
“It does, doesn’t it. Then at least one of us can be comfortable and relaxed. I’ll be stuck here for a little while longer, until the bus leaves.” I hear rustling. “Where are you now?”
“Just put you on speaker.”
“Are you under the covers?”
“Yep.”
“Lights out?”
“Yep.”
“Naked?”
“Jackson!” She laughs. But she doesn’t answer the question.
I growl, “Answer me, Kitten.”
“I’m sorry to dissatisfy, but no. And I’m extra sorry to report that my pajamas are not sexy.”
“Describe them to me. I’ll decide.”
“Well… I’m wearing a large, grey, long-sleeved sleep shirt that goes to my knees. And a pair of fuzzy neon-pink socks.”
“Hmm, I don’t know. Still sounds sexy to me. Are you wearing any underwear?”
“Oh. Um.” She starts to giggle.
“Kitten. What aren’t you telling me?”
“So, do you remember that last game I came to, afterward, in the hallway?”
“Remember? I relive that encounter every time I take a shower.”
“Oh. Um… Wait, what?”
That has me chuckling. “I’m sorry, did that visual distract you?”
She groans, and it goes straight to my dick. “Jackson, you’re the worst.”
“I know, darling. Now tell me about your panties.” I really shouldn’t be pushing this. She’s going to talk me right into a raging hard-on. Then I’m going to be stuck sitting here, hiding myself beneath the table.
“Okay, so you were a bit busy and didn’t get to see what I was wearing, but I’m wearing the same ones again.” A slight pause. “I washed them. Obviously.”
I laugh. “Obviously. Now I like the idea that you’re wearing a pair of panties that I’ve had my hands in, but I don’t see why that’s so funny.”
“Well, you know how I had those new mittens and hat and stuff?”
“I remember.”
“Well I bought them with the girls at the mall. And Meghan found this pair of undies… Sleet undies… They’re blue and they say ‘Biggest Fan’ across the butt.”
I take a moment to process this. Actually, I take about three moments. She’s wearing panties with my team name on them. Panties that say Biggest Fan. And she was wearing them when I fingered her behind my locker room.
“Jackson?”
I swallow to clear my throat. “Yeah. I’m here.”
“Sorry, was that weird? I thought you’d find them funny, but it’s weird isn’t it. I didn’t want to buy them. I tried to refuse, but Meghan said—”
I cut her off. “Kitten, that’s the hottest fucking thing you could possibly be wearing. Your pussy is literally branded with my team name. Tell me where you got those, and I’ll buy you one for every day of the week.”
“That’s… that’s not the reaction I was prepared for. Damn it, Jackson! You’re getting me all worked up with your alpha-male crap. And that deep sexy voice.” I hear her take a long breath. “I wish you were here. I miss you.”
I feel my chest puff out at that. My Kitten misses me. And I’m turning her on without even trying.
Fuck. We need to wrap this up before it gets out of control.
“Kitten, darling. I need you to go to bed. Pretty soon you’re going to distract me past the point of no return.”
“Okay,” she whispers.
“Good night, beautiful. I’ll call you again tomorrow.”
“Night, Jackson. I love… Um. I love talking to you.”
Kitten hangs up the phone.
Time stops.
She caught herself before saying I love you. I’m stunned. Was she going to say that out of reflex? Was it from Steph feeding her wine all night? Or… Or was she really going to say it, because she meant it? Because she loves me?
Realizing that I’ve stopped breathing, I force my lungs to pull in a full breath.
The thing is, the more I think about it, the more I want her to say it. I want to hear those words from her. And even though it’s too soon, it’s crazy soon, I want to say those words back to her. It would explain everything. It would explain why these feelings I have for her are so overwhelming. So unlike anything I’ve ever had with another woman before. Could we really be in love already?
A body settles into the seat across the table, shaking me out of my thoughts. I’ll ask Luke. He’ll make fun of me, but he’ll listen.
Looking up, I open my mouth to speak, only to find myself staring at Lacy.
My eyes are seeing her, sitting across from me, but my brain won’t register the facts. This place and Lacy do not belong in the same realm. She can’t be here.
I’m still confused about what the fuck is happening, when she reaches over and places her hand on my forearm. Leaning in, she rests her fake tits on the tabletop, where they’re on full display in the low-cut black minidress that she’s wearing.
Looking at her now, I wonder how I ever thought I was in love with this woman. She was never right for me. Katelyn, my Kitten, that’s what’s right for me. Getting engaged to Lacy was the dumbest decision I ever made. Getting Kitten’s number from her cousin, that was the smartest decision I ever made.
“Hi, Jackson. You’re looking handsome tonight,” she purrs, as she slides her hand further up my arm.
That snaps me out of it. She probably thought I was checking her out when, really, I was trying to remember what I ever saw in her.
Pulling my arm away, I push my stool back from the table. Her appearance worked better than a bucket of cold water.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Lacy?” I try to keep my voice down, but the sight of her makes me furious.
“I was in town and heard your team would be here.” She gives a little shrug. “I thought maybe we could catch up. You and I.”
“Catch up on what?” I scoff. “We aren’t friends.”
“You can’t still be mad at me,’ she pouts. She actually fucking pouts.
“Mad!? I was more than mad. You were screwing some photographer douchebag while you were engaged to me. Or did you forget?”
“Don’t be like that, honey. Can’t we put that behind us?”
Shaking my head, I can’t believe how blind I’d been to her shitty personality. Well, I’m not blind anymore. “Don’t call me honey. I always hated that.”
“Really?” She looks as surprised as her Botoxed face allows. “See, Jackson, you never told me anything! You never shared! You’re the one who pushed me into another man’s arms!”
She’s not wrong. I mean, she’s wrong about blaming me for her cheating, there’s no excuse for that. But I never really opened up to her. I wasn’t trying to be distant, but looking back, I was. Somehow, over the past week I’ve shared more with Kitten than I ever did during my entire relationship with Lacy.
I shake my head. “You’re right. I’m sorry. But that doesn’t change anything.”
“It could. We could try again. Pick back up where we left off.” She slides her hand across the table, as if she thinks I may take it. “We’ve both matured. We could make it work.”
I don’t have the energy, or headspace, to deal with this.
“Goodbye, Lacy.”
Without looking back, I get up and leave.
