Rooster #2
“But that doesn’t make it right,” Maggie argued.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about it.”
“You could talk to Jessie and try to sort things out.”
“But she’s been a total jerk to me.”
Maggie shrugged. “Maybe, but there was a time when she was a really good friend, and there’s a chance you could be again.”
“But I didn’t do anything wrong. Why do I have to be the one to try and fix things?
“I don’t know much about this kind of thing,” I interjected. “But I’ve always believed that if you want good friends, you have to be a good friend.”
“So, you think I should talk to her?”
“Don’t think it’d hurt.”
“Okay.” Samantha sighed. “I’ll talk to her.”
“That’s my girl.” Maggie leaned over and kissed Samantha on the forehead. “Now finish your dinner, and we’ll go into the living room and watch the game.”
“No football for us tonight,” Nathan announced.
“Oh? Why not?”
“Matt and Brayden are hopping on Fort in a few minutes, and me and Sam want to get on with them.”
“Okay, well, that sounds fun.”
“It will be when we kick their as—” Nathan grimaced as he corrected himself. “Butt.”
“Yeah, they have it coming,” Samantha added. “Especially Brayden. He was a total tool the last time we played.”
“Why? What did he do?”
Samantha went on to tell her mother all about Brayden and how he’d sabotaged their last game when he quit the game without telling them.
That story led to another. And another. And before I knew it, we’d all cleared our plates, and dinner was over.
The kids disappeared into their rooms, and I helped Maggie get dinner cleaned up.
I was gathering the trash when Maggie said, “Thanks for saying what you said to Samantha. It was really great advice.”
“Glad I could help.”
“And thanks for picking up dinner and helping me clean up.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I gave her a wink as I cinched up the garbage bag and placed it outside the door. “It’s what I do.”
“Well, since it’s what you do, would you mind helping me replace the lights in my bedroom fan? Several of them have gone out.”
“Sure thing.”
“Great.”
Maggie grabbed some fresh light bulbs from the cabinet, and then I followed her down the hall. There was an echo of shrills and shouts as we passed the kids’ rooms. I chuckled as I said, “Sounds like they’re having a good time.”
“You think?” She shook her head. “I bet the neighbors can hear them three blocks away.”
When we got to her room, I looked around and asked, “You got a step ladder?”
“Sure. Let me get it.”
She stepped over and grabbed it from the closet.
I took it and got to work. I climbed up the ladder, and a few minutes later, I had the new bulbs in and was remounting the globe.
Once I had it secure, I climbed down and folded it up.
I put it back in the closet, and as I closed the door, I couldn’t help but notice the emotion in Maggie’s eyes.
Worried that something was wrong, I asked, “You okay?”
“It’s been a while.”
“What do you mean?”
“I haven’t had anyone around to help me with stuff like this. I’ve gotten used to just doing it myself, even before my divorce, and then, you come along. You fixed my heater and now my fan. It’s just really nice. I appreciate it.”
It was hard to believe that such a mundane chore would get to her the way it did, but that was Maggie. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and I liked it. I liked it a lot. “Come here.”
“Why?”
“Come here.”
“The kids are in the next room.”
“And they are playing their game. Listen. You can still hear them screaming. Trust me, they could care less what we’re doing.” I dropped my hands to her waist, pulling her closer as I leaned down and began trailing kisses down her neck. “Besides, I can be quiet if you can.”
“That’s just it. I don’t know if I can.” She placed her palms flat against my chest, giving me a slight push. “Not with you.”
“Oh, and why’s that?”
“Because you keep doing that thing.” She drew her shoulder up to her ear, trying in vain to prevent me from teasing her any further. “There’s no way I can keep quiet when you do that.”
“You like that, huh?”
I continued to kiss her along the neck, causing her to moan, “Maybe just a little.”
“Then, there’s no way in hell I’m gonna stop.”
I reached for the hem of her sweatshirt, quickly pulling it over her head. I wasn’t patient. I needed to feel her against me to ease the burning need that was building in the pit of my stomach.
Her fingers slid up under my shirt, and the muscles of my stomach grew taut against the touch of her fingertips. She eased it over my head and tossed it toward the bed. “I knew you were going to be trouble.”
“Baby, you have no idea.”
Her eyes locked on mine as she removed her leggings and kicked them to the side.
I bent down and lifted her into my arms. I carried her over to the bed and dropped her down on the mattress.
I wanted her so bad I could barely think as I eased her legs over my shoulders and lowered my mouth between her thighs.
She inhaled a deep breath when the bristles of my beard brushed against her soft skin, her back arching off the bed as my tongue skimmed across her smooth center.
I spread her trembling legs wider, and a needful moan echoed through the room as I began to nip and suck her delicate flesh. “Damn, baby. You taste so fucking good...like fucking heaven.”