Page 11 of Secrets in Love
“Mum.” It was a good old-fashioned standoff. We stared each other down, and I mirrored her crossed arms and stance to annoy her.
“I haven’t got time for this crap, Nate. I have a shit-ton of ironing to do, and I left your dad pantless on the couch, watching bloody home reno shows. God knows what I am going to find when I get home. He could be half naked on the roof, so let me tell you this before I rescue him from himself, or he has another bloody stroke. Polly Hart deserves better than to be messed around with. If you decide to date, let it be because you genuinely like her and are interested in a relationship. I know how you feel about Evie.”
“Mum.”
“No, let me finish.” Her arms unfurled, and I was wrapped in the kind of smothering, do-as-I-say-cause-I-love-you hug only a mother can deliver. “I know you are hung up on Evie, and I know that’s why you have never been serious with anyone else. But if you are ready to move on, and if you think you like her, then Polly is a great choice. Just be careful, though, darling. Alright? Just think of your poor mum.” She then kissed the top of my head before slapping it and walking away.
Nate
As I stuffed a good portion of Mum’s lemony, poppyseed deliciousness into my mouth, my dilemma pinged off the walls in my thick skull.
Should I go out with Polly?
More importantly, should I bang Polly from behind? Damn.
It was moments like these that I missed Finn. He was the most frightfully organized person I knew. At the drop of a hat, he could and would make a pros and cons comparison and a ten-point plan of action.
The temptation to call him was strong, but there were two major issues.
One, the last time we spoke, he hung up on me, and I absolutely deserved it. Being an insensitive prick wasn’t new for me, but giving him shit about him not dating, getting laid, and implying he lived like a monk was a new low. The guy was a single dad who clearly harbored severe guilt and grief over the death of my beautiful sister. He didn’t need a smug prick like me judging him.
Issue number two—Evie. This whole thing with Polly started because of Evie, and I couldn’t tell Finn about Evie because Evie was his sister. As per usual with me, everything came back to Evie. I felt like freaking Jan Brady. Evie, Evie, Evie!
So no, Finn wasn’t going to be the one I reached out to, and obviously, neither would Evie, which really sucked because she was usually the one I wanted to speak to about everything.
I had other friends I could call, but they weren’t really the emotional-support kind of friends. More like a collection of tools I could count on to get me drunk, give me a laugh, and who knew the exact moment to piss off when I zoned in on my evening’s target. Talking about feelings and shit wasn’t going to fly with them.
The way I saw it, I had two options. Take a good hard look in the mirror, man-up, and actually deal with the emotions swirling in my stomach by myself or talk to the one other person I could think of.
“Nathaniel Myers. Two conversations in one day. I am a lucky lady.” Warm, smooth honey dripping over my tongue. That was what I envisioned when Polly’s voice dropped an octave and rasped into my ear. Katy Perry blasted in the background, mixed with buffering wind.She must be driving with the windows down.The image of her hauling me home from the pub hit me. Raven hair floating through the air, sticking on those pretty lips. I didn’t bother with small talk. Neither of us had time. Well, she didn’t. I was just getting horny.
“Polly…at the sheds, did you…did you mean what you said? Even with all the slut, STD, man-whore jokes you make every time I see you at the pub, you still really want to go out with me?”
There was a slight pause before she answered with a smile in her voice. “What can I say, Myers? I’m a sucker for a broken boy. They’re my favorite book boyfriends. You’ll see what I mean when you come and pick me up. If you’re lucky, I’ll invite you inside to finger through my collection…amongst other things.”
Gulp.
I cleared my throat. “And what about…about…?”
“Evie?”
“Yeah, what about Evie? You know, I kinda have…issues, let’s call it, where she is concerned. Are you sure you can handle that? Because I may sleep around, Pol, but I am always upfront and honest about what I can give a woman. I can’t promise you anything. I can’t tell you that I will magically forget all about her if we do this, and I don’t want anyone getting hurt.
Patronizing laughter was followed by a heavy sigh. “Geez. I don’t expect you to fall madly in love and propose, Nate. I just thought we could be two friends who hang out, keep each other company, and fuck our brains out.”
Double gulp.
“I gotta say, Polly, that sounds mighty tempting and too good to be true.”
“Trust me, Nate. You’ll soon know how true my words are. You know what else is true?”
I scrubbed my hand over my face. “Nope, but I get the feeling you’re going to tell me.”And that I’m going to like it.
“The way I’m going to make you groan when my lips wrap around that massive cock of yours… Every thought, worry, and memory of anyone else will melt away, Naty. See you Saturday.”
Without another word, Polly hung up, which was good because my phone had melted into my palm.
Submitting timesheets to our accounting software was supposed to be the boring manner in which one of the oddest few days of my life came to a close. Opening my laptop, signing off on the week’s wages, and clicking on processes heralded the start of a new week. A fresh start. Flushing the pipes and bringing me a clearer mind to figure out what the fuck to do. But bang, at eleven pm, an email notification from Evie flashed on my screen, and my waters were once again muddied.
