Cal's POV**
I hate this goddamn job so much.
I'm working my ass off and it still sucks. It's hard, draining, and for what? I took it just to shut Lori's her constant bitching up and finally have some rest.
Once the paychecks start coming in, we can chip away at the debt, that's what she keeps saying. A little more sacrifice, and then we can get married again. Like a ring and some vows will fix everything. Bullshit.
Yeah. Yeah. Sure. We'll get married once the debt's gone, as if. She just keeps been pushy about it and it's annoying as hell. Sometimes it makes me just wanna get up and walk away.
"Cely is one of the prettier ones, I'd say." One of the old cargos say.
"She's only 22, right?"
"It's good to be young. At that age, they're still so fresh and soft…"
They cackle, slapping each other's backs, their potbellies jiggling under white shirts that keep fighting to keep the buttons together.
Fresh and soft? Jesus, these creeps. But hell, the young ones do turn heads. I shift my weight, leaning properly against the wall.
Then one of them nudges me, his breath reeking of cigarettes and a mix of something rotten. "Cal! Couldn't help but notice, Cely's got her eye on you. Got all prickly when we asked if she's looking out for a guy, but the way she stares at you? She has hearts popping out of her eyes like in cartoons."
Another chimes in, grinning with his yellow teeth. "It's cause you're handsome, Cal. Thirty three and single is the prime time to grab a girl like her."
I force a laugh, rubbing the back of my neck, heat creeping up my face. Single? Yeah, right.
"Yeah… I'm single, all right."
"Give her a shot! She's a looker." They howl, clapping me on the shoulder hard enough to jolt me.
I toss the butt of my cigarettes away after a drag, watching it arc and land in the gravel.
Maybe I will.
Cely's got this habit of brewing coffee every morning, slipping a cute little note with a heart doodle next to my mug. It's sweet, kinda makes the start of the shift bearable. I figured she'd show up any second, so I beat her to it, pouring a hot cup for myself.
It'll be nice to maybe snag some quiet time with her, see where a chat like that goes. My heart picked up just thinking about it.
I was already stirring mine when I hear her light and bubbly voice behind me, '"Hi, Cal! I was gonna grab you a coffee." She steps closer, her heels clicking on the linoleum.
I glance over my shoulder, mug in hand. "Oh, we're out of instant already?"
"No worries," she says, brushing past me, her arm grazing mine just enough to send a spark up my skin. "I think the new box is… around here somewhere."
She rises on her tiptoes, reaching for the top cabinet, her shirt riding up a bit to show a sliver of smooth waist. The rustle of bags shuffles as she rummages.
"Aahh!" Her hands grab onto my arms, her nails digging in lightly through my sleeves.
"What's wrong?" I turn toward her, steadying us both, her wide eyes locked on mine.
"Th-there's a spider!" she stammers, her fingers squeezing tighter as she buries her face against my shoulder.
I blink, scanning her flushed cheeks. "You scared of spiders, huh?"
"Y-yeah," she says, biting her lip, body still glued to mine like she's afraid to let go. "They terrify me. I just… freeze up whenever one shows." Her words trail off softly, i could feel the curve of her hip brushing my side.
Damn, that's kinda cute.
"Alright, where is the little guy? I'll handle it." I say turning us toward the counter.
"Right over there…" She points shakily.
I lean in close. "Huh, That's odd. Where'd it vanish to? Thought it was just here a second ago." No sign of the thing.
This is a nice change of pace. Lori would never freak out over a spider like this, she'd sway the damn spider without blinking.
"Did it… escape?" Her voice quivers as her fingers curled more into my bicep, pulling me a little nearer.
I chuckle, covering her hand with mine for a reassuring squeeze.
Maybe this job's got its perks after all.
***
"I'm home."
I yank my tie off and toss it onto the floor.
"Ugh. I'm exhausted. Make me some soup."
"I made some earlier," Lori says. "It's gone cold."
"Heat it up, then. I'm jumping in the shower. I kick off my shoes, the leather scuffing against the floor, and head toward the bathroom. "Oh, and… I need some cash." I say walking to the shower.
"Cash..?"
"Yeah. I want a new suit, all the ones I have here are old and raggedy. I want something fancy and nice. I can't keep looking like some bum now, what would the others at work say about me?"
"but you just got the job…"
I stop in my tracks "and….? why do you always have a fucking problem with what I want… you're not my damn mom and I'm a grown ass man!"
"I'm sorry. How much do you need?"
A smirk tugs at my mouth, finally. "That's more like it. Just three grand."
Her eyes widen. "what…? that's too…"
"Why? You can't give me…? You literally have a stack of cash right there, your money's our money, babe. I'm not gonna ask again." I say and walk into the bathroom and slam the door shut.
God, she's such a pain sometimes. I miss when she didn't nag so much.
The hot water hits my skin washing away the grime of the day. "Phew, that's the stuff," I mutter, scrubbing shampoo into my scalp.
By the time I towel off, the mirror's fogged up, and the apartment's gone quiet, guess she heated the soup after all.
I pull on boxers and a tee and pad into the bedroom. Lori's already under the covers, curled on her side facing the wall.
I slide under the covers besides her, maybe I came down too hard on her earlier, I wonder if she's angry. But Lori never gets angry at me. Not even after I used her signature on that loan, dragging her into my debts. Her love for me surpasses all my mistakes.
And somehow because of it, I know she won't ever leave me, no matter how bad I fuck up.
"Ahem." I shift closer. My hand finds the swell of her ass, as my fingers sink into the soft flesh through her thin nightshirt.
How the hell does she keep these curves? No gym, no salads, just endless shifts at those dead end jobs. Even my buddy's new girl, that fresh-faced kid half his age, doesn't pack this kind of heat. Lori's got it all, wide hips and thick thighs.
I guess… she really does have a killer body. Shame she buries it under those baggy sweats and worn out oversized tees all day, like she's ashamed or something. My palm slides up, cupping one full breast, I squeeze, thumb brushing the nipple hardening under the fabric, but I can't even hold it all in one grip.
Damn. I can feel the heat in my guts, my cock twitching against the sheets. It's been forever since we've done this, weeks, maybe months of her turning away or faking headaches. So why's she just lying there, still as stone?
'Hey. You asleep?' I murmur.
'No.' Her reply's flat.
"Then why you just lying there like a log?" I press closer, my erection nudging her hip, and my hand still kneading her tit, waiting for her to arch into it, to moan like she used to.
She doesn't budge.
"You never act cute with me anymore. And just nag endlessly. And now you're gonna play dead in bed? Come on." I was getting frustrated.
"I'm just… a bit tired. That's all." She finally muffled into the pillow.
"Tired?" I pull back a bit, staring at her shoulder. "I got a job too, you know. One that I hate so goddamn much!"
"Stop pulling the I'm-always-working card. You're only slinging coffee and folding laundry part time and a bunch of other simple stuff. I bust my ass for us."
She still doesn't say anything.
"Whatever. Why do I even bother anymore?"
Damn it. I grab the blanket and turn away from her.
If she won't give me what I want, then maybe I might as well grab that shot with Cely.