Illusion (10 page)
One thing I have been noticing a lot, which makes me both happy and nervous, as do a lot of other things lately, is that my OCD that I'd developed after Kirt's death has started to disappear. I'm thankful for that. It was frustrating, but I was so scared of the unknown, it was like my safe haven to have things organized and planned.
I still visit my cafe every morning before work, I still keep a routine while at work, and I still have things organized, but I'm not the irrational person I was.
I call Harvey when I leave work. He is at work but he usually answers when I call.
"Hello," he says after the fifth ring, not that I was counting.
"Hey, am I bothering you?"
"No, not at all," he replies. "We're actually finishing up for the day. I'm at the last tour stop."
That makes me smile. "So does that mean you're able to come over for dinner tonight?"
"Yes, of course it does. I actually need to speak with you about something anyways."
That doesn't sound so good. "Oh, okay, well I'll see you when you come over."
We hang up the phone and I make the tread home. I decide to change into something more comfortable, then I paw through the freezer until I find a bag of frozen vegetables. I steam them over the stove top, then I cut up the pork I had thawing. I throw that in a frying pan with some precooked rice, oil, and the steamed vegetables, and make my own version of a stir fry. By the time its done Harvey is knocking on the door.
He is standing there with a large bouquet of flowers and a bottle of wine when I open the door. I'm not sure how excited I should be, because he said he needed to talk to me and shows up with two dozen tulips and an expensive white wine. I'm assuming things aren't going to go so well by the end of the night.
Nevertheless, I thank him with a chaste kiss to the lips, then I take the bouquet from him. They smell wonderful and are an array of different colors. He walks over and pops the cork on the wine, then pours us both a glass. "Mm, dinner smells delicious."
"Thanks," I tell him, while placing the flowers into another large cup. Obviously I need to invest in some sort of vase. I pour in the little packet it comes with and set them on my coffee table. It looks too beautiful to have sitting on an old wooden table that wobbles, but it's honestly the only place in this entire apartment I have to put them unless I want to put them on the stove or fridge.
Harvey makes us both a plate and brings them in the living room, setting those on the table too. It's the only place I can eat in here, since I don't even have enough room for a kitchen table. He then walks back in and grabs the glasses of wine.
"So what's with the flower and wine?" I ask when he sits next to me.
He smiles at me before giving me a small kiss on the end of my nose. "I feel the need to apologize."
"Why?" I swallow the lump forming in my throat at what he could possibly need to apologize about. He doesn't look guilty, and we honestly talk or hang out all the time, so I can't imagine he's been hanging out with anyone behind my back. You never know though.
He turns towards me and takes my hands in his. "My dad called. My aunt is sick and needs me to head to Maine tomorrow. I won't be able to go on Saturday with you guys. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone for either."
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt." I kiss his cheek and give him a small hug. "Of course I'm not upset, you need to go to your family. I only wish I could go with you."
"Yeah, I wish you could too. But I know you'll have fun with your sister. Please be safe when you girls go out. It makes me nervous to think just the two of you are going to the bars or to a night club alone."
"Oh, right. About that. Emi already has a sort of date," I roll my eyes at that. Of course my sister can get a date from several states away just days before she makes it here. "This guy I work with, who monitors all the emails in the office. I'll explain more of that in a minute. Then I have my assistant from work, Meghan, and her friend Ryan that are going."
He gives me a sad look, obviously feeling bad I'll be the only one without a guy there with me. "I'm sorry. I can call my dad and possibly head up Sunday."
"Don't be ridiculous, he needs you and your aunt does too. I'll be okay. I'm sure it'll be fun."
"So tell me how Emi got a date already?" He laughs and shakes his head.
While we eat supper, I explain about the emails and about meeting Brice today. It completely amuses Harvey and I'm glad he finds it funny and not just incredibly weird. I hope his aunt is fine and he can make it back here Sunday or Monday so he can get to know my sister. They'll get along great I believe. She wins the hearts of nearly everyone she meets, and Harvey is one of the sweetest guys I've ever known.
That kind of hurts to think. Kirt was sweet. He was romantic, thoughtful, nice, and loved with his whole heart. He was a true gentlemen, that knew how to have a good time. He supported me, even when I was told I couldn't have his children. I never met such a perfect person in my life. The only time I ever truly got mad at him was when he made a decision for the both of us that ended his life. But that is also part of the grieving process, so everyone tells me.
"Zoey, wake up."
I grunt and push at Harvey, not wanting to wake up just yet. He chuckles in my ear and it warms me up.
"Come on, you got to get showered and ready for work. I have to leave in about two hours."
I pull the blankets over my face and mumble how much I hate mornings. That just amuses Harvey. His hand reaches under the comforter and rubs between my thighs. I'm instantly wet and ready for him but I don't give him the satisfaction of removing my head from under the blankets.
His lips come to my ear, the blanket the only thing separating them from touching it. "Oh, Zoey, my sweet, precious darling, what do we have here?" His finger dips inside me and I stifle my moan against the thick blanket. "You like that, don't you?" I'm currently happy I can't feel his warm breath against me.
I shake my head back and forth, which is a lie. I'm enjoying this, way too much.
"Oh really?" His voice is becoming thick with need. He adds another finger and pushes a little harder inside me then removes them. My body quivers. "You don't like when I do this?" He does it a second time with both fingers.
This time I moan, unable to stop myself, unable to cover it up in time. I bite down on my lip so I can stop a second moan as he pushes his fingers deep inside me and doesn't remove them, he just keeps thrusting them in and out, pleasuring me.
I can't hold back and I pull the blankets away from my face. His fingers leave me just long enough to get the comforter completely off me, then he continues his assault on my sex using just two thick fingers. My hands grip into the sheet underneath me as my body arches with pleasure
"You do like it," he chuckles.
I glare at him for a quick second before moaning under his touch. I come around his fingers and he leaves me alone for just a moment. His body then rolls over so it's on top of mine and he is completely naked. And completely ready. He dips slowly into me, pulls back just as slow, then he slams his length deep inside.
I moan out, "ohhh."
His hand grips into my hair as he continues going harder into me. I wrap my legs around him so I'm able to get as close as possible. His mouth goes near my ear again, this time I can feel his warm breath and it heats me up all over. "You feel so damn good."
I clench myself around his cock when he speaks to me in that amazing tone. I love knowing how turned on he gets by me, it's thrilling and exciting. The more pleased he becomes, the more pleased I am too.
I bite down on his shoulder as he starts going a little faster. His breathing is erratic in my ear and the sound of it pushes me over the edge. I start coming around his shaft this time. He pulsates inside me before I'm filled with this warmth. As he pulls back, his smiling lips press to mine. He doesn't remove them until he pulls out of me entirely.
Continuing to lay in bed, I stare at the ceiling, lost in a blissful moment. Harvey lifts my leg and slaps my ass cheek. "Time to get a move on."
I pout my lips out at him while rubbing the heated cheek. "That really hurt, jerk."
He starts laughing and climbs out of bed. "If you don't get out of bed, it's going to hurt a lot worse than that." The devilish gleam in his eyes has me ready for another round, but the clock says I don't have the time for that.
"Whatever," I mumble under my breath. I stand and walk into the shower. Harvey comes padding through the room behind me.
He squeezes the same ass cheek he slapped and kisses my shoulder from behind. "I'm going to miss this sweet ass."
Of course I can't help but laugh. "You're so weird," I tell him. I start the shower and pull out the pony tail, tossing the holder on the sink counter top.
"And you're so beautiful." He pulls me to him, wrapping his arms around me. I run my hands along his chest while looking up into his gorgeous gray eyes. "I'm going to miss everything about you. I wish I didn't have to go."
I kiss his chin softly. "I know, I'll miss you too. You need to go though."
His face lifts into a smile. "Before that, we have just enough time for a quickie in the shower." He grabs my hand and we both hop into the shower together.
Before Harvey takes off for his place, he gives me sweet kisses and hugs, then reluctantly leaves my place so he can get going. I finish getting ready, then I head out to work.
"Morning Miss LaRoche," Bob says to me when I walk into the building.
"Good morning Bob. How are you? How’s the wife?"
He smiles, showing me he is a proud man of his wife. "She is lovely. How is that Harvey guy doing? How come I haven't met him yet?"
On days I get into work early, or wait around for Harvey at lunch time, Bob and I usually have a small conversation about our lives. I've learned quite a bit about him, like the fact he has been married for forty years, and he has three sons and two grand-daughters. I told him all about my sister, parents, and Harvey. I skipped out on anything to do with Kirt.
I shrug my shoulders, giving him a sad smile. "Sorry, difficult schedules I guess. He is going to Maine today to see his dad and sick aunt."
"Oh, well give him my well wishes Zoey. Have a good day."
I wave to him as I continue walking. "Will do. Have a good day as well, bye."
He wiggles his fingers back to me before I walk through the metal detector. I say hello to a busy Fred while he checks my handbag, then I continue up the elevator.
Meghan is waiting for me in my office when I walk in. She jumps up from the chair she is sitting in, hands me a few papers, and explains what I need to get done before I leave. It'll be a busy day for sure.
"So did you figure out the plans for Saturday night?" she asks.
"Yeah, I did." I place the papers down on my desk, then roll my chair towards it while starting up my computer. "Would you be able to meet me at my place, say nine thirty or a little after? I'll give you my address. Then we're hitting up a night club my sister found online," I roll my eyes, "and apparently they're having a stripper pole dancing contest or some such thing. Be warned, my sister is a little... wild."
She giggles. "Oh, you'd be surprised, I can be a little wild. Are you doing the contest?"
I sigh, remembering the email Emi sent yesterday. "So my sister tells me." My voice is a little annoyed but I make sure to let her know I'm humored by the idea.
"Oh goodie." I look at her, slightly surprised by her immediate acceptance of the idea. "I'll probably join you girls." She winks and I can't help but smile at her.
"Is Ryan going? Did you ask him?"
She tilts her head then starts laughing. "Oh, I guess I should have told you. Yes, Ryan will be joining us, but Ryan is a girl."
I can feel my face heat up. I just assumed Ryan would be a guy. "Oops," I say with a bite of my lip.
She waves it off. "No biggie, I don't think much about it honestly. We've been friends, since uhhh, the second grade. You'll like her, she's pretty charming. We'll both be at your house around nine thirty. Just write down your address so I don't forget it."
I scribble it on a sticky note, then give it to Meghan. We say bye to one another before she exits my office, leaving me to get this massive amount of work done. I start typing out a report before I notice the icon in the top right corner, indicating I have a new message. It's from my sister, of course.
Subject
: Sat-ur-dayyyy!
Hola! Hope you two lovies are having a fabulous morning so far. How is the weather up there anyways? I need to finish packing. I'm getting off work at noon today so I can >_< Yippie! I'm not even sure how a city girl from New York dresses. Would I be okay with cowgirl boots and skinny jeans, or should I wear a skirt and heels? I'm sure I'd prob win the competition then.. ;-)
I was curious if you two (along with Harvey hot pants) wanted to do dinner and drinks before we went out?! I'm thinking it sounds like a fantastic idea. I need to see if the food up there is worth the $1,000 a plate. Or is that just a rumor? NOT that I have that kind of money, so we'd have to find a cheap place to eat, just saying.
Okay, I'm rambling. Tell me your thoughts, and hurry up and email me... BOTH of you! Love you Z.
*KISSES* Emi
Of course she knows Brice's email! I roll my eyes at that. He emailed her yesterday, that fact interests me. I wonder to myself what they talked about. I don't really think too much into it, not sure if I want to know the personal things they shared with one another.
I send her a quick one back, but I don't have the time to chit-chat, and I make sure to let her know.
Subject
: RE: Sat-ur-dayyyy!
Hey Emi. I can't email back and forth today, sorry. I'll call you when I get out of work. I have a ton of work to do today that is due before I can leave. I'm already thinking I'm staying late tonight, blah. Anyways, I'm not sure what is "right" or not for a night club in NYC, but according to one incredibly fabulous fashion magazine called In-and-Out (hehehe) they say that tight jeans, skirts, or short dresses are in right now for a night club in any state. If you decide on the skirt or jeans, wear a flirty and fun shirt that doesn't show off TOO much boob. I know you!!
But like I said, I'll call you later on that. Harvey can't make it Sat, his aunt is sick and he went to visit her.. :-( But my friend Meghan from work and her friend Ryan (who is a girl BTW) is joining us! I don't mind if we eat first, that is up to you two. I'll talk to you later. Love ya too.
Zoey LaRoche
"You love me?" Brice asks as he sits across from me during our lunch break. I didn't leave today since I couldn't meet with Harvey, and it's another rainy day. Instead I packed a couple sandwiches and some lemonade.
I pause myself from taking another bite of my food and place the sandwich back down on the baggie I pulled it from. "Excuse me?"
He grins at me, giving me a flirty little look. "Your email," he says with a shrug, "the end said, and I quote, love ya too."
"Did you say you loved me first?" I give him a pointed look.
He shakes his head, not smiling so much anymore.
I laugh at his silly banter. "Well then, it obviously wasn't meant for you. Especially since she said, love you Z."