Page 26 of Call Out
I’m still in shock and awe when he blankets my body, both of us quiet in the knowledge that what we’ve done can never be undone.
“I’ve been dating Danny Rocco for three blissful weeks,” I answer with an easy breezy wave of my hand. “It will be our one-month anniversary in a few days.”
Wini slots a bookmark between the pages and closes the novel. “I love it when a plan comes together. I knew that gorgeous young thing had the hots for you.”
“Your interference was commendable on this occasion.” I smirk.
She gets up from her chair and pauses. “Where’s he from again?”
“Texas.”
“What part? Houston or Dallas?”
“Uh—I didn’t ask.”
“What school did he go to? Sharon is from Texas.” Wini leans on the dresser to hold herself upright.
“Sharon lived in Texas over fifty years ago.” My eyes roll playfully. “I’ve no idea what school he went to. It’s not like we talk all night about high school or who our best friends were in kindergarten.” Her face pales. “Can I give you a hand?”
“I’m not fragile.” She scowls. “I bet you two don’t do much talking.”
“Winifred!” I proclaim. “We talk all the time. In fact, he’s meeting me at my place later for dinner and lots of conversation.”
My grin stretches from ear to ear. Our time together has been a whirlwind romance. I stay over at his house on the nights he’s working late, so when he creeps into bed, he finds me with fresh stockings and a sleepy smile. On those nights, I swap out my early shifts at Blossom Grove, so we can laze in bed until noon. Some of the things he’s taught me are downright dirty. I secretly love it, and he knows it. I’m quickly getting used to his demands and only too happy to indulge in his requests.
Tonight, I’m making dinner. Grilled chicken and salad with a side of fresh summery vegetables drizzled in a snazzy sauce. The chef showed me how to make it with only a handful of simple ingredients. I can’t wait to wow the pants off Danny, literally.
“I’d better leave now. I have to stop by the grocery store to get extra virgin olive oil.” I stroll over and kiss her forehead. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” She’s a little clammy, and her usual glow is duller today.
“I have a headache. Nothing one of those little pills won’t cure.”
“Let’s get you into bed to rest.” I latch on her arm and feel her relent, using me as a support. This adorable woman is as stubborn as a mule, so giving in to help is out of character. “Do you need the doctor to check you out?”
“Since when do doctors see patients for a mild headache? I’m old, honey. Things don’t run as well as they used to,” she titters.
“Fine. I’ll grab some Tylenol from the medical cabinet and drop it off on my way out the door.” That reminds me, I have to buy more condoms. “There you go.” She lies back and exhales slowly. “Louise is doing the evening shift. Make sure you tell her you’ve got a headache. I’ll call you later and check in.”
“You will not. Please, Viv, stop fussing. Go and enjoy yourself. It’s about time you lived a little.”
“Friends before... men. Isn't that what they say?” I don’t think anyone says that.
I drift out into the corridor, mentally checking off my list of important items. I’ve departmentalized the entire evening into subcategories. Hopefully, my package of fresh new nylons has arrived for his dessert treat. With this order, I went a tiny bit over the top and bought red fishnets and matching panties. He liked the red bra, so this should give him an eyeful.
The thought of his arousal, that sublime erection, pulsating because of little old me, makes my skin blaze. Pulsating. What a word. A well thought out description of his penis. I’ve never used it in my vocabulary until now or allowed the word penis to enter my mind. I’m trying my best to be mature about it all, now that I know it’s okay for a lady to say the word… Dammit, I still feel Nonna’s glare. Cock. There, I thought about it. Cock. Cockalock. Cock n’ chocolate. No… I’m a floozy.
As I wander into my office, muttering an obscene string of cock rhymes, I find myself licking my lips at the thought of him. It really is a mouthful, and some. Fingers crossed Nonna wasn’t looking down on me the exact moment I gagged on it.Oh, the shame!Let’s hope she only watches when he’s hugging me—fully clothed. Anything else would be extremely unsettling and wrong. This train crash of a thought is messed up.
I punch in the four-digit combination to the medical cabinet and twist off the lid to the pain reliever.
Before clocking out, I need to save the finance spreadsheet I was working on for most of the morning and shut down my laptop. When I reach my desk, the photograph of Nonna is flipped over, and my phone is sitting on top of the gardening magazines. I swore I tossed it in my bag after I sent Danny a message about tonight.
The rest of the room is exactly the same. Perhaps it was the cleaner. Although she works in the afternoons because she keeps her grandbabies in the mornings. Plopping the phone into my bag, I double check that I actually put it in there, then I lift Nonna’s picture and kiss the glass screen protecting her face. I’ve been preoccupied since Danny introduced me to sex and all the trimmings. The late nights are catching up with me.
With the pill in my fist, I visit the staff room and grab a bottle of water from the fridge. Knocking once, I peer around the door slowly in case Wini is sleeping. “I’m going now. Here you go.”
“Thanks, Viv.” She beckons me in with a slight wave. “I’ll take this and have a nap. I can’t be bothered with Myrtle’s card games today.”
“Okay.” I watch her swallow the pill and slump back into the pillow. “Rest up. I’ll bring you a special treat tomorrow.” I glance at the clock on the nightstand. “Right, I have to go. Danny finishes his shift soon.”
