Chapter 25 So Far, No Good
SO FAR, NO GOOD
brAD
Walking up to Shari's front door, I'm filled with warring feelings.
Guilt for almost kissing her the night of her first date.
Rage at the douchebag who didn't know just how far out of his league she is.
Disbelief that she's going on another first date with a different guy already.
And the worst feeling? Regret. For not kissing her.
Which just cycles me back around to guilt.
I ring the doorbell – sure, I have a key but we agreed to keep some boundaries as co-parents – and try to distract myself by looking around at things I can help out with whilst I listen to the howling bark coming from inside the house.
Her front lawn could do with mowing, and the weeds are coming back through the edges of the driveway.
The pale teal frames on her windows and front door could do with a fresh coat of paint after the relentless miserable weather we've just had.
I'm eyeing up the gutters when the front door opens and one of my favourite sounds greets my ears “Daddyyyyyy!!” It will never get old to hear how excited my daughter is to see me.
I swoop Lizzie up and spin her around whilst pretending to nibble on her cheek, and her adorable fits of giggles fill the air.
But as soon as I look up, my heart stops, my lungs seize, and honestly, my dick wakes up.
Which is awkward as fuck when you're holding a child, so I quickly bend to put Elizabeth down and try to reroute the blood back into my brain.
I make the mistake of looking up, though, and the sexiest pair of tanned legs appear right at eye level from my hunched over position. Abort! Abort!
“Brad, are you ok?”
“Yep,” I manage to wheeze out in reply. “All good. Just a bit,” horny, “winded.”
Just as I'm getting control of myself, I'm viciously attacked by excessive face licks from the aforementioned howling dog.
I quickly stand up to avoid any further slobber, but the idiot wraps his front paws around my knee and starts humping my leg.
Instant karma for lusting after the wrong woman. Again.
“Pickles! No! Get down! No humpies!”
Elizabeth, of course, thinks this is the funniest thing in the world and starts clapping and chanting, “Humpy, humpy, humpy!”
I finally disentangle myself from the assaulting pup, only to have the wind knocked out of me for a second time, because Shari looks positively sinful.
She's wearing a royal blue dress that makes her rich olive skin glow and hits just above the knee, but the truly devastating factor is how it hugs every.
Single. One of her curves. Her heavy breasts, that I know have the perfect amount of jiggle when she bounces on my cock, her deliciously juicy bum, that I know is a touch too big for even my large hands to cover completely, those thick thighs, that I know have the softest, most delicate skin that I could just bite all damn day, the dip of her waist, that I know my arm fits into perfectly when we spoon.
I know this woman. Intimately. And yet, I'm watching her get ready to go on a date with another man.
“You look incredible, Blaze,” I manage.
She dips her head, almost shyly, “Thank you. You don't think it's too much?”
“I’m not sure prick number two deserves this level of effort, but it's definitely not too much.”
“Ugh, who plans a first date at Moderna? I feel like I might even be underdressed for that place. It's just making me even more nervous!”
“There's still time to cancel,” I hedge. “Say the word and we'll have family dinner – picnic style – and movie night, just the three of us.”
She stills for a moment before ushering Pickles back in the house with a cooed promise to be home soon, and follows us back outside.
As she locks her door, the setting sun catches her hair, making it glint in shades of red and gold.
It reminds me of when we first met. She had her hair in two Dutch braids, a brown so dark it appeared black at first. But when the sun hit just right, you could see the natural fiery tones woven through the strands.
I smile at the memory of those braids. I sure enjoyed pulling on them that night in my tent.
When she undid them in the morning, her hair was wild, and I can't help but chuckle at the memory.
She turns around and flashes me a curious glance. “What's so funny? You have Loki Face right now.”
Loki Face. The face she says I make when I'm up to no good and full of mischief. The face she says I made right before I first asked her to spend the night with me. And then the next two after that.
The reference only makes my smile grow wider until we're both laughing and grinning at each other like fools.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to Loki Face you. I was just remembering your braids.”
Her face flushes prettily, because she knows exactly what I'm remembering. All fours, pigtails as handles, in front of her, behind her...ok I need to stop this train of thought, my cock is twitching again.
You're with Larissa. You like Larissa. You chose Larissa. Maybe if I remind myself enough times, I'll be able to stop wanting Shari. I've never been the unfaithful kind, so why do my mind and body keep betraying me when I'm around her?
I clear my throat and change the subject, “So, remind me about douche the second.”
“Brad,” she laughs, “you don't know that he's a douche!”
He's taking the woman of my dreams on a date. Of course he's a douche. Instead of voicing that thought, I just raise an eyebrow at her.
A heavy sigh, “His name is Drew, and he works in IT for the fire service. He's forty-seven, divorced, two teenage kids, and lives somewhere near Pensford. Satisfied?”
“Not even a little. I'll call you in forty-five minutes in case you need an escape again, ok?”
Grabbing my forearm, she says softly, “Brad, you really don't have to do that. I'll be fine. I'll sit through dinner and if he's a douche, I'll make my excuses to leave as soon we finish eating. I promise.”
I don't say anything to that because I'll be phoning her either way.
After she kisses and hugs our girl with a vow to see her for breakfast tomorrow, she gets in her car and Lizzie and I watch her drive away.
Elizabeth leans her head against my shoulder and whimpers a quiet ‘Mama’ and all I can think is, yeah, I miss her already too. Fuck.
SHARI
“So your daughter is almost two years old?” Drew inquires in his smooth baritone.
He's definitely attractive in a gym rat way. Even if I hadn't seen several shirtless photos in his profile, I'd be able to tell that he's buff as fuck under that suit. He reminds me of John Cena, thinking about it.
“She is! My Lizzie. Her speech seems to be improving daily, and she's now stringing three to four words together fairly often. How about your kids, you said they're fourteen and seventeen?”
“Yes, their speech regressed somewhat with the teenage grunts, but they do still string several words together every now and then,” he deadpans, tapping the table softly with his forefinger to the beat of the music trickling through the speakers.
I burst into laughter at his dryness, and he cracks a smile. We've actually been getting along really well so far, it's just a shame that I feel zero romantic chemistry with the man. Maybe it'll come the more we settle into each other's company.
“Tell me, Drew, you seem like a really down-to-earth guy, so why did you choose such a posh restaurant for our first date?” I decide to just ask outright.
Another small smile. “I am a down-to-earth guy. And in the interest of honesty, I have two reasons for choosing Moderna. One, I like to see how my date acts in such an environment. I think you can learn a lot about a person when they make certain assumptions about you.”
“Hmmm, I can see the logic in that. And two?” I prompt when he doesn't continue.
“Two, my brother is the head chef, so I get a huge discount,” he grins widely then, and it makes his features more boyishly handsome.
I chuckle, shaking my head.
The rest of dinner goes much the same; dry humour, raw honesty and laughter. I feel like I've gained a good friend, just not a potential boyfriend.
As he walks me out to my car, I decide to keep with the honest theme. “You know, I was a bit worried you'd be a complete prick with your choice of venue, but I'm delighted to find the opposite.”
He throws his head back, laughing, and when he looks at me again, his eyes seem to twinkle. As he leans in, I panic slightly, turning my head to offer my cheek for the kiss instead. He seems a little disappointed, but is still smiling softly at me when he pulls back.
“If I were to ask, would you be interested in a second date, Shari?”
“In honour of our candour, I have to say that I genuinely hope we can be friends. But sadly, I just don't feel any chemistry past friendship. I'm willing to bet you probably feel the same?”
“You'd lose that bet, but I appreciate your honesty,” he lifts my hand to kiss my knuckles. “I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for, Shari. And if you ever change your mind, you know how to reach me.”
Damnit, why couldn't I just fancy him?
As I drive home, I wonder if I should take Drew up on a second date.
He’s objectively handsome, funny, seems like a really genuine guy, and we have great banter.
Was I too hasty in saying no? Does forced proximity actually foster attraction like in my books?
Can I force it by spending more time with him?
No, it wouldn’t be fair for me to use him like that, especially if it didn’t work out.
Ugh, stupid hormones and brain chemicals! Why don’t you work properly?
14th November 2025
“Third time's the charm, right?” I ask Jaime through the phone as my cab pulls up to the curb.
“Ehhh, let's hope so. Shall I fake call in half an hour?” she offers.
“Please!”