Chapter 9
Marlie got her first dick pic as she was waiting for Jeff to fetch her jacket.
“What the…?”
A picture of Dick Van Dyke grinned at her via text.
She had to laugh. A glance up showed Damon smirking at her.
Marlie still couldn’t get over what she’d done at a holiday party in the host’s guest room.
Shameless.
Jeff would be so proud when she told him.
And speaking of Jeff. The guy had been difficult all night. Just when she’d grab hold of him, he’d disappear then reappear with no explanation except, “It’s a party, Marlie. People want me, what can I say?”
She couldn’t blame him for socializing. Besides, she’d had so much fun not worrying about anything, to include Ben’s snide glances or McBoob’s nasty stares.
Her phone pinged again. This time she studied an image of Dick Sargent, whom she recognized from her Mom’s obsession with the old Bewitched television show.
“Who’s texting you?”
Marlie showed Jeff her phone.
“Huh?”
“He’s sending me Dick pics.”
He laughed. “Bet the next one you get is Dick York.”
“How do you even know who that is? I only know because my mom loves that old show. Dick York played the character, Darren, before Dick Sargent took over for him.”
“I know because I love dick.” Jeff paused to let that sink it. “Ha. Get it?”
She rolled her eyes.
He cringed. “Sorry. I admit, that was both immature and plain bad. But I actually love the show. It’s cute.”
Hmm. She studied her friend. “You just happened to be into an old show my mom watches on her classic TV channel?”
“Hey, sometimes older is better.”
“My, my. Don’t you sound defensive?” What was her friend hiding?
“Shut up. Let’s go.”
She waited for him to grab their jackets then followed him out the door, determined not to look over her shoulder for Damon again.
How about that? She’d remembered his name.
Of course, she’d also given Damon a handjob. Not something she often did in public. Hell, not something she’d ever done before.
Warring embarrassment and empowerment confused her, so that she was mostly silent on the drive back to her home, the low hum of Christmas music soothing in the otherwise silent car.
Jeff parked in front of her place and sat with her for a moment. “Okay. What’s up with you? You’re never this quiet. Are you okay?”
“I did a bad-girl thing at the party.”
He waited.
“I feel like a whore. But I also feel so amazingly awesome.”
“Oh, I like where this is going.”
“I also feel weird about telling you.”
“What? Why?” He frowned. “We tell each other everything.”
She studied him. “Do we? Because you wore your sexy clothes to a party we just happened to crash tonight. And you’re seeing some schmuck behind my back.”
“Well, I guess we don’t tell each other everything.” He sighed. “Look, my guy is new. And he’s special. I don’t want to ruin things.”
“By telling me?”
“By jinxing it if I say his name out loud.” Jeff shrugged. “I like him a lot, Marlie. Like, more than anyone I’ve ever dated before.”
Pleased, she leaned close to kiss his cheek. “Finally. Cupid strikes.”
“Shush, you. Now what aren’t you telling me?”
“Well, it’s just… I got naughty with Damon at the party.”
“Oh my God. Tell me more.”
She laughed, feeling her cheeks heat. Not one to be shy about sex, or about talking frankly with her best friend, sharing this felt…odd. As if encroaching on intimacy with someone special. Which made no sense.
“I, um, it was after he insulted McBoob and Ben for me.” She repeated the conversation.
“Did I say I was a fan of Damon’s before? I think I’m in love with the man now.”
“It was pretty awesome. Then I dragged him with me into an empty room and kind of molested him.”
“What?”
She blushed anew. “Let’s just say he had a super happy experience. And now he’s sending me Dick pics.”
As if on cue, her phone pinged. And there, a shot of a smiling Dick York. She flashed Jeff her phone. “You called it.”
Jeff held up a hand. “High-five, my girl. I am so proud of you!”
“For getting my stalker off?”
“For finally taking charge of your pathetic love life. Ben is an ass. We both knew that from the start.”
“Well—”
“No. You knew. You just think you have to date a certain type to recreate what your parents have.”
She groaned. “You know me too well.”
“Sadly, I do.”
“Apparently, good guys don’t work for me. So I’m strictly looking for bad boys now. Nothing long-term. No meaningful dating. Just hot sex with a guy who won’t stick around.”
Jeff frowned. “Seriously? You think you’ll be happy with that?”
“It’s nearly Christmas. I’m giving myself an early present I’ll enjoy. No promise of tomorrow means no disappointment when he ghosts me.”
“And that’s not dark or discouraging at all.” He snorted. “But you have a point. Okay, Mad Marlie. I’m with you. Live for the moment and enjoy the holidays. And especially enjoy Demon Sinclair.” He wiggled his brows.
“I will. And starting the new year, you’re going to tell me who you’re secretly dating. Or else.”
Jeff shivered. “Oh, not the mean voice.”
“Laugh it up. But if you don’t tell me at New Year’s—or before—I’ll make sure Carla knows you have a secret boyfriend you like so much you won’t even tell me.” Then Carla would make a big deal about it and blab to his parents, who loved nothing better than to meddle in Jeff’s pitiful love life.
Jeff glared. “That’s just mean. But you know what? I can always do the same with you and Damon and your parents.”
“Bring it, Morrison.”
He studied her then sighed. “Fine. I’ll tell you all about him.” He coughed. “I have a feeling that conversation will be a lot harder than this one.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing. Get out. I have to get sleep so I can tolerate family tomorrow.”
Jeff loved his family as much as she loved hers. But they both had issues getting their parents to treat them like grown adults not needing unsolicited advice.
“Good luck.”
“Back at ya.” He nodded. Just as she left the car and readied to shut it, he gave her a sly grin. “And just so you know, you’re not the only one who got lucky at the party.”
Then the jerk peeled away from her house, the door closing on its own.
She stared after him, laughing and more than curious about Jeff’s secret crush. Hoping against hope her friend finally got lucky at love.
Luckier than me, anyway.
The next day at her parents’ house, Marlie had already dodged her brothers trying to corner her in private to talk about Damon.
They hadn’t dared say a word in front of their parents thanks to her warning text earlier that morning: One word about Demon Sinclair wanting to date me and you guys don’t have a coach tomorrow.
Unfortunately, she could do nothing about the rumors and speculation about her public breakup with Ben, which her family had chosen as the topic du jour.
“I can’t believe he two-timed you,” her mother said once again.
“What a douche,” Will said. “We can talk to him for you, Marlie.”
“No thanks.”
Ed scowled. “I never liked him.”
She swallowed a sigh. “No, you never did.”
“Want me to arrest him?” Steve added with a grim smile. “For being a dick?”
Marlie immediately thought of the last Dick pick she’d been sent, that of Dick Clark, a now-deceased TV personality, and grinned.
“See? Marlie wants me to.” Steve nodded.
Her mother sighed. “Stop it, Steve. Marlie can handle herself. I hear she really let Ben have it the other night. Nice job, honey. We don’t tolerate cheating.” Mona Reynolds glared at her boys. “Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, Mom,” Marlie’s brothers said as one.
Her mother harrumphed and glanced at Marlie’s father. “Well, Irv? What’s next on the list? Pie?” She brightened. “When do you make the pie?”
Almost angelic-looking with wavy, honey-blond hair, joyful amber eyes, and a disarming smile, Sheriff Mona Reynolds often fooled her opponents into thinking her a soft touch. Then she’d figuratively blast them with both barrels—or so Marlie’s dad liked to say.
Irving Reynolds, on the other hand, approached life from a calm, rational standpoint, from which he’d weigh all the facts before acting on them. Marlie’s father didn’t hide what he felt and always believed in being fair.
With parents like hers, Marlie should have grown up on the straight and narrow. But like her brothers, she’d instinctively rebelled at so much sense and structure from an early age. And that hell-raising had stuck with her through to adulthood.
Now she tempered it with good judgement and sage action.
Usually. Going out on a date with Damon Sinclair tomorrow made no sense to the old Marlie.
But the new and improved Marlie intended to have some fun with the bruiser.
Besides, he made her laugh, and she needed that after dealing with Ben’s sorry ass.
“So, you’re not pining for Ben then?” her father asked.
Her brothers stared at her, knowing enough about Damon to be super curious. It had to be killing them not to ask her anything.
“Nope. I’m happily single.” She smiled at her brothers, showing a lot of teeth. “But I’m not opposed to being swept off my feet by some giant stranger with huge arms and a serial-killer appeal.”
Will, Steve, and Ed scowled at her.
Her parents laughed.
“Yeah, that’s exactly what attracted me to your father. His murderous vibes.”
Irv grinned. “I’m killer with a textbook and mathematical formulas.”
“Eh. Bad dad jokes so early in the day.” Ed cringed. “I need a beer.”
“Don’t overdo before the turkey,” Mona warned.
“I’ll join you,” Will said.
Steve remained in the kitchen, watching her. When their parents focused on checking on the bird in the oven, he leaned over and whispered, “He coaches us guys. But no messing around with our baby sister.”
“Moron,” she whispered back. “I’m older than you by two minutes.”
“Please. Mom only says that to make you feel good about yourself. You’re the baby.”
“No, you’re the baby.” Marlie punched him in the arm.
He tugged her hair, and she grabbed a fork, wondering if she could stab him before her parents caught her.
Will grabbed her before she made good on her imagined threat while Ed pulled Steve back.
They made silent threats at each other before their parents turned back around to find all four of their children smiling at each other like angels, pleased to be with family.
Mona and Irv sighed. “Okay, who started it?”
She and Steve pointed at each other. “He did.” “She did.”
Will snorted. “And I’m the immature one.”
Ed frowned. “Well, you are. You never answer your texts. You were supposed to call me about that party last night.”
“Party? What party?” Steve’s eyes narrowed.
Marlie tried to catch Will’s eye, but he was ignoring her a little too hard.
Steve grabbed her in a headlock and whispered, “What party?”
She murmured back, “Shh. I’ll tell you later. But if you want your coach to show Saturday, get off.”
He released her so fast she dropped to the floor.
“Ow.” She glared up at him.
“Good thing you landed on your fat ass,” Steve said.
Which did nothing to Marlie’s ego because she, and the rest of her family, knew her penchant for keeping in shape. “Oh, please. Whose fat ass? I can skate rings around you, and you all know it.”
“Bet,” Ed said.
“What’s to bet? You have never beaten me on skates. Ever…loser.”
Her mother guffawed. “She gets that from me.”
“No kidding,” her dad said. “Competitive be thy middle name.”
Will smirked. “Yeah? Well, we have an edge, little sister. Guess what, Mom and Dad? The great Demon Sinclair agreed to coach our team this weekend. And right before our game with the Sharks on Sunday.”
“With those idiot football players,” Steve said with a sneer. “I hate those guys.”
Her mom grinned. “Why? Because they donate to the town, are genuinely nice people, and steamrolled over you at the last charity football game?”
Their dad laughed. “Man, Steve. You took so many hits.”
She had to laugh as well. “You really did. No wonder you still have brain damage from last year.”
“Ha ha. Laugh it up.” He glared with evil intent. “Just wait until this weekend when Demon gives us the secret to slopping the ice with the Flashmans.”
“Well, now I have to see the game Sunday,” Mona announced.
Her brothers swung their gazes to Marlie, no doubt wondering the same thing she did. Could they keep her quasi-relationship with Damon from her mother?
If she even had a relationship with the guy after her date Friday. What did a girl do to follow up a handjob after barely getting to know the guy’s name?