Eighteen | Avery
Eighteen
Avery
N ot only had I kissed Sam tonight, I’d had sex with him.
My mind was still spinning as it tried to process everything that happened. Even with all of the craziness that I wouldn’t typically have done, I didn’t feel any regret about any of it. While I hadn’t planned on sleeping with him, I was happy that I had. Sam was an excellent lover, and I had never had anyone bring me the amount of pleasure he had.
I took a few minutes to freshen up my makeup after cleaning up and getting dressed. By the time I was done, Sam was waiting for me in the front by the registers.
“Here,” he said, extending a stack of cash to me.
“Ummm. Woah.” I held up my hands and took a step back as I gave him a questioning look. “I was just playing about the whole raise thing. I thought you knew that. I wasn’t actually expecting you to pay me for sex.”
“I’m not,” he said with a chuckle as he rubbed his finger along his jawline. “I went ahead and cashed out your bonus check for you. That way, you’ll have cash tonight if you want to do some shopping for Kennedy while she’s not with you.”
“Oh.” I snapped my mouth shut, feeling completely embarrassed as my cheeks burned redder than Rudolph’s nose. “Thank you.”
I accepted the money he handed me and tucked it safely into my wallet.
“You’re welcome. Besides, if I were to pay you for sex or give you a raise based on your performance , it would be far higher than five hundred dollars.”
“Sam!” I exclaimed, smacking him on the chest.
“What? I know what that sweet pussy of yours is worth,” he replied with a smirk as he leaned in and kissed me.
His dirty talk still sent chills up my spine.
“Have dinner with me.” He held my hands in his and brought one to his lips to kiss.
“Okay. Let me call Cassidy real quick and let her know I’ll be late tonight. I don’t want her to start worrying.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I already talked to her and told her you would take her up on the offer to keep Kennedy overnight tonight.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. I hope I didn’t overstep. I just really wanted to have more time with you tonight.”
“You didn’t,” I said, though it felt weird to say it. I wasn’t used to having someone else make decisions when it came to my child because Grant never bothered. Everything always fell on me to handle and coordinate, so it felt weird that Sam so easily took charge and got it situated without me having to ask.
“I know you don’t get a lot of time to yourself, and yes, technically, you won’t be by yourself because I’ll be with you,” he teased. “But I thought it might be nice for you to have a night off. Go to dinner. Do some shopping. Have more sex if you’re into that sort of thing.”
He winked, but the blush that spread across his cheeks was adorable.
“It’s funny you should mention it because I am most certainly into that sort of thing.”
He took my arm and led me to the front as we officially started our first date.
***********************************************
D inner was good, and I was relieved that Sam didn’t insist on going to a stuffy restaurant where everything on the menu cost an arm and a leg. He insisted on eating at the mall and claimed they had some of the best food in Sugarplum Falls. After stuffing myself beyond full with a cheeseburger, fries, and a shake, I could see why. Plus, there were plenty of stores to shop, which meant I’d have time to walk off some of the unnecessary calories I’d just eaten.
“Do you know what you want to get Kennedy for Christmas?” Sam asked as we browsed the toy section in one of the larger department stores.
“Honestly, I have no idea,’ I replied, putting a Lego set back. “I used to always know what to get her, but this year, things feel so much harder. Not only is there a lot going on with us moving and not really having a place to call home, but as she gets older, her interests change so quickly. I feel like no matter what I get, it won’t be the right thing.”
“Well, first, you do have a place to call home, and you can stay there as long as you want,” Sam said, pointing at me with a slight glare. “Second, it’s okay that things are changing. We still have time to figure out what to get her.”
“Christmas is in ten days. I’ve pulled shit together in the eleventh hour before, but even this feels impossible. If I wasn’t so distracted with everything else, I could take the time to focus on her and what she likes these days.”
“Stop being so hard on yourself,” he said, gently rubbing my back. “You’re her mom, and you know her better than anyone. Why don’t we shop for other stuff and come back to the toys later?”
“Okay,” I agreed, letting out a heavy breath as I nodded my head. “I still need to get something for Cassidy and your parents. Who all is on your list?”
“You and Kennedy,” he replied with a slight grin. “So, if you could casually look around and make a big deal over the things you like, that would be a big help.”
“You do not have to buy for me, Sam. Really. I appreciate the thought, but it’s not necessary.”
He stepped in close, pulled me against his body, and lowered his mouth to my ear.
“Do you really think I’m going to fuck you in my office and devour your pussy like it’s my last meal but then not get you something for Christmas?”
My cheeks flushed with color as I looked around to see if anyone had heard him. Thankfully, it was relatively quiet in the store, and the few people who were there weren’t close enough to hear our conversation.
Before I could answer him, my phone started ringing. I pulled it out of my pocket, and then worry rushed over me as I saw Cassidy’s name.
“Hey, Cass. What’s wrong?”
“Why do you assume that something’s wrong?”
“Well, because you’re watching my daughter and calling me, so yeah, my first guess is that something happened with Kennedy.”
“Nope. She’s fine. We’re watching movies and having popcorn.”
“Okay,” I said, not bothering to comment on how late it was or that the popcorn might give her an upset stomach. “What’s going on then?”
“I was calling to see if you wouldn’t mind picking up a few packs of tape and a roll of wrapping paper for me while you’re there.”
“Oh. Yeah. Not a problem. Any certain print or color you want?”
I smiled at Sam as he mouthed who’s that .
“It’s your sister,” I said, moving the phone slightly away from my mouth. “She needs tape and wrapping paper, so don’t let me forget to grab some.”
“Tell her to get it herself,” he said with a frown.
“Tell him I said to stop being a jerk and buy it for me.”
“Do you want me to put you on the phone with him?” I asked with a laugh, knowing this was just the start of them razzing each other.
“No, I’m good. I’m hanging out with Kennedy and don’t have time for his nonsense. But I’m helping her finish wrapping her gifts tomorrow, but we ran out of supplies.”
“What do you mean her gifts ?”
“She might have made some stuff for everyone,” Cassidy said in a tone that I immediately recognized.
“Made or bought?” I questioned with my hand on my hip.
“Both.”
“Cassidy,” I exhaled heavily. “You guys don’t need to be giving her money to buy stuff. She’s five. When I’m back on my feet, I’ll start giving her allowance again, but until then, you guys don’t need to do that.”
“Well, first of all—I didn’t give her money.”
“Okay, then who did?”
“My parents.”
That didn’t surprise me any.
“And Sam.”
My eyes widened as my head whipped around to stare at him. He winced and scrunched his shoulders, already knowing he’d been caught.
“You guys have got to be kidding me,” I groaned. “I can’t trust you for shit.”
“Hey, that’s not true. You can trust us,” Cassidy argued. “It’s not hurting anyone, Avery. She wanted to be a big girl and shop for people herself. We just helped make that happen.”
“How is it that my five-year-old already knows what to get people and has her shopping done, yet I can’t think of a single thing she wants?” I blinked quickly to try to force away the tears, but the emotion in my voice was evident.
“Oh, Avery,” Cassidy whispered. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were struggling with that.”
“Yeah, well, I haven’t had much time to think about it. But now that I’m out shopping with Sam, I’m drawing blanks on what to get her. On what to get anyone.” I threw my hand in the air helplessly as Sam gave me space.
“It’s okay. Do you want me to go shopping with you this weekend? Frosty Fest is happening, and they always have tons of good stuff. We can make a whole day of it and take Kennedy to the parade in the morning,” Cassidy offered.
“I can’t buy stuff for her without her seeing if she’s there with me.”
“True.” Cassidy took a deep breath and then blew it out.
“Okay, how about you try to do some shopping with Sam tonight? Then we can finish stuff this weekend. I’ll have my parents go with us and we can distract Kennedy while you purchase stuff, then one of us can go hide it in my parent’s car.”
“You do realize that none of this is a secret if she’s sitting right there?” I asked, feeling even more defeated.
“I went to my room for a few minutes so she didn’t hear me. She’s cuddled with my mom on the couch. I honestly don’t think she even realizes that I’m gone.”
“Okay. I’m sorry. I’m just getting frustrated. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”
“Don’t be. I get it.”
“Thanks for helping with everything. I’ll see what I can get done tonight, and then we’ll plan to attack the rest this weekend.”
“It’ll be alright, Avery. I promise.”
“You say that now, but you haven’t had to shop for a five-year-old who you have no idea what they want.”
“I actually already did my shopping for Kennedy,” she said quietly.
“Are you kidding? How did you know what to get her?”
“I cheated,” Cassidy admitted with a laugh. “I’ve been taking note of what toys she gets excited about when commercials come on, then I go add it to the list on my phone.”
“Did you already buy everything on that list, or are there a few things you weren’t able to get?” I asked, chewing my nails nervously.
“There are five or six things I didn’t get. I’ll take a screenshot and send it over once we hang up.”
“Thanks, Cass. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Not a problem. If you need help with anything else, just let me know.”
“Do you by chance have a similar list of things your brother wants?” I lowered my voice and turned so he couldn’t hear me.
“No, but he’s pretty simple. He likes graphic t-shirts, beanies, and tools that he never bothers to use.”
“Is that it?” I didn’t want to get Sam stuff that wasn’t special, but I couldn’t just come out and tell Cassidy that I spent the afternoon fucking her brother so I needed a more personal gift.
“That’s all I can think of off the top of my head. Why?”
“No reason. I just want to make sure I get him something nice. You know, as a token of my gratitude for everything he’s done for me lately.”
The line was eerily quiet for a few seconds, and I knew she could hear the change in my voice.
“Oh my God.”
“What?” I asked, playing stupid as I stared across the store, hoping she wasn’t going to say what I thought she was.
“You’re hooking up with my brother, aren’t you?”