Chapter 11
New Rules
Chapter Eleven
Ella
“That is awful, Ella. I can’t believe he turned out to be a complete weirdo,” Kyra says as she sits back up after grabbing the bottle Aria dropped on the floor.
Just like we planned, we all met up for brunch today to talk about my date. I had hoped to go over how great it was, but unfortunately, that’s not how the night ended.
“The sad thing is, his actions aren’t uncommon.” Pamela takes a sip of her mimosa before finishing her sentence. “I hear stories all the time about how men on those sites prey on who they think are the ‘vulnerable’ women.” She uses air quotes when she mentions the word vulnerable.
“I know a girl at my job who says men often swipe on her because she’s a single mother. It’s like they think just because she has kids she has no morals.”
I shake my head at Destiny’s words. It's so disgusting that people think just because someone has had kids or divorced that they are desperate for any attention. Having children makes most people a lot pickier about who they allow into their lives.
The more I hear about this dating world, the more I think I may not be ready.
“Well, I’ve already contacted the app developers to warn about his scheme, and I reached out to G-Mobile to let them know what type of person they have working for them.” Jada says placing her phone down on the table.
“Dang, Jada. You did all that in thirty minutes?” Meagan teases.
Jada tosses her hair over her shoulder. “Yes. He'd better be glad I don’t take legal action and sue his ass for assault. I’ll have my girl with all his G-Mobile money.”
Pam chuckles. “Jay, you work for the state, you don’t even handle civil cases.”
Jada shrugs, taking a sip of her mimosa. “I know people who do.”
We all laugh at her antics. I wasn’t interested in suing Jeremy, but I had planned to let the app know about his predatory actions. Jada just beat me to the punch.
“I think all this just proves I’m not ready for this dating thing.” The moment the words are out of my mouth, everyone at the table groans around me.
“Absolutely not.” Jada places her glass back down on the table. “You are not allowing one terrible date to make you go back into your shell licking your wounds.”
“She’s right,” Meagan says. “Don’t let that creep win. I promise not every guy will be like that. We’ve all faced some shitty dates.”
“Though I can admit.” Destiny holds her hand up and shrugs. “I never had one follow me home and demand I screw him. That’s some next-level crazy.”
“See,” I say, pointing to Destiny. “Even D knows that I’m just unlucky.”
Destiny shakes her head. “Oh, I did not say that. Your crazy was unique, but not unheard of. I went out with a guy who, after three weeks of knowing me, asked me to help pay his car note. Said he was in a jam. When I said no, he berated me through calls and text messages for weeks. I’d block one number, and he’d call from another one.
I had to have Jace answer it and threaten to kick his ass before he stopped. ”
Clutching my hand over my mouth, I’m completely disgusted by this.
Dropping my head I pinch my brow.
“Again, why the hell are we even doing this?”
“Because we like dick,” Meagan says lifting her glass as if she’s giving a toast. Everyone at the table lifts their glasses in her direction.
Look, at the rate this dating thing is going for me, I’m tempted to go celibate and walk around naked in a house full of cats for the rest of my life.
However, I know I’d never be happy. I enjoy being in love and giving love.
I wanted to be in a relationship again. However, I wasn’t in a rush for one, but I definitely wouldn’t mind that connection again.
The moment that thought scurries across my mind, I immediately think of Mitch.
My body heats up like a furnace. His scent last night, coupled with the way his muscular arms lifted me off the ground without even a grunt of exertion, had me feeling like I was floating.
And let’s be clear, I’m not a small woman.
I’m a solid 195 at only 5’5”. I have a belly, thick thighs, an ass and d cup tits; I was not a lightweight.
Despite all that, he scooped me into his arms as if I weighed less than a bag of potatoes.
Even the way his thick arms wrapped around me and held me so firmly had my lady parts hot and wet.
And then I had that stupid idea to kiss him.
Immediately the heat I was feeling earlier turned into burning shame.
I can never show my face in front of that man again.
Thank goodness Jacob came to the door. Can you imagine the irreconcilable damage I would have caused if I’d kissed him?
“So, Ella, who’s the next candidate?” Jada’s voice brings me out of my humiliating memory.
I nearly choked on my saliva. “Next?” I question. “Do you really think I’m ready to do this again?”
“You have to,” Destiny says, leaning forward, placing her elbows on the table. “It’s like falling off a bike. The faster you face your fears and get back out there, the better. The longer you hide, the harder it will be.”
I hate that she had a point. I was so tempted to tuck my tail and run, but what happened between me and Mitch last night is proof that I need to find a man.
“Ugh, fine.” I say, tossing my hands up. “I’ll try again.”
“Nope.” Jada holds her hands out. “Hand me your phone. We are going to help you pick your next date now.”
“Oh yay, this should be fun,” Kyra cheers, and her daughter smiles and claps her hands as if she’s agreeing with her mother.
We all laugh at the cheerful baby. I begrudgingly pull out my phone and hand it over to Jada.
For the next hour and a half, we laughed, ate, and went through all the swipes on my app picking out my next date.
After dropping off a few orders and picking up more supplies, I head back home. I had a three-tier wedding cake I had to prepare for pickup next Friday.
As soon as I pull onto my street, my speaker rings. Glancing at the screen, I let out a deep exhale before answering the call.
“Yes, Andrew?” I kept my voice pleasant, but I really wasn’t in the mood to talk to him. I still wasn’t quite over him calling me a bad mom that day in my living room.
“What’s this I hear about you going on a date?”
My stomach drops. Oh my goodness, did Mitch tell him about last night? Does he know everything that almost happened?
It takes me a moment to get my next words out of my dry mouth.
“Did....Did Mitch tell you that?”
“Mitch?” The name comes out in disgust. “No, Mitch didn’t tell me. Cameron told me.”
There is a moment of relief that washes over me. That is until he opens his mouth to speak again.
“Do you think now is a good time for you to be dating?”
My thoughts come to a screeching halt like a record scratch. Is he serious?
“And why wouldn’t it be?”
He gives one of those condescending laughs that really pisses me off.
“I mean really, Ella? You're trying to date right after I make the announcement I’m getting married? We both know what this is about.”
“No, we don’t. How about you enlighten me?”
I pull into my driveway and turn my car off.
“Look,” he gives another one of his chuckles. “You need to be focused on the things that matter. Like that little business you started. See, that’s the reason I never agreed to open up that bakery with you. You don’t know the first thing about running a business.”
I shut my eyes as the anger rose in me. Andrew has always known about my bakery dream. It’s the main reason I got a business administration degree with a minor in accounting. He knew from the very beginning that it was what I wanted. My dreams got a little off track after I got pregnant with AJ.
However, years later, when we were a little more established, I went to my husband with my business plan and asked if he’d partner with me to start my dream.
He turned me down. Told me it wasn’t the right time.
Of course, it was never the right time for him.
So for him to bring it up now only pisses me off more.
“I may not know the first thing about it, but after a few months of taking orders online, I’ve paid off my car, remodeled my new home, and taken care of my household all without your income.
It’s been so successful that I didn’t need your alimony and your child support goes into savings accounts for your boys. ”
I used the lump sum of money I received from the sale of our large marital home to buy my current house. The rest of the money is put away in a savings account for a rainy day. Granted, my job as a medical receptionist helps keep my bills paid, but that online money has been a large boost.
“I didn’t call to argue—”
“Are you sure about that?”
That’s exactly what he called to do. This argument just didn’t go the way he had planned. Every time I fight back against his bullshit, he tries to change the subject.
“No, I didn’t. I have better things to do.”
I roll my eyes at his bullshit.
“I’m trying to help you out since you are the mother of my children and you don’t know any better. You shouldn’t be out there dating. Men are going to take advantage of you. All they want is sex, Ella. No one is looking to commit.”
“And maybe that’s all I want.”
The line went silent. Look, I was lying, but I was tired of him dumping his bullshit on me. I didn’t need his advice, especially when my first date had already proven to be awful. And hey, what if all I got from these dates was some good dick? I’m not mad at that either.
“Wow! Is that the type of woman you’ve turned into? I thought you had more respect for yourself than that. I guess I left you at a good time.”
“I guess you did. Goodbye, Andrew.”
I quickly pressed the end call button on my phone. It's in moments like this that I miss those flip phones where you could simply snap the phone closed to hang up on a caller. I refused to let him take up anymore of my thoughts. He didn’t deserve my time or attention.
Grabbing my purse off the passenger seat and my phone out of the cup holder, I climb out of my car and shut the door.
“El,” Mitch calling my name nearly causes me to stop, but there is no way I was facing that man right now. I lift my phone to my ear.
“I’m telling you, Jada. It was crazy,” I pretended to be on the phone as I hurried to the door with my head down.
“Ella,” Mitch calls me again.
I’ve never opened a door so fast in my life. You would think Jason Vorhees was after me the way I got the door open and rushed into the house.
Shutting the barrier between me and Mich, I let out a dep breath. I knew I had to face him eventually, but now was not the time. I needed to let the embarrassment fade just a little. Pushing away from the door, I place my things down and head into the kitchen.
The sound of my front door opening has me spinning around. Mitch is standing in my foyer; his arms folded over his wide chest and a scowl on his face.
“You avoiding me now?”
My mouth opens to say something, but nothing comes out. What the hell do I say? I was, in fact, avoiding him. Realizing that the truth is best, I let out a deep breath.
“You’re right. And I’m sorry.”
He nods his head, dropping his arms down by his sides. He turns and shuts my door before coming further into the house.
“We need to talk about last night.”
Oh crap. My stomach damn near dropped to my feet. Is this where he tells me how inappropriate I was and how he doesn’t have those feelings for me? Maybe he’s going to tell me he will now stay as far away from me as he can because I nearly leapt all over him last night.
“What...” I have to stop and start over for lack of moisture in my throat. “What do you want to talk about?”
“We have some new rules about this dating thing.”
I threw my head back, completely caught off guard. That is not where I thought this was going.
“What do you mean?”
He sits down on my couch and then points to the seat across from him for me to sit, as if this is his place and not mine. I follow his direction plopping down in the recliner.
Mitch leans forward, placing his fingertips together. “Rule number one: I need to know every time you go on a date. I don’t care if it’s at a coffee shop in the afternoon; I want to know.”
That isn’t a hard ask. I mean, I have no problem with letting him know where I am. After the last date, I felt safer with him knowing.
“Okay,” I agree easily.
He dips his chin before continuing on. “Rule number two: you can still share your location with Jada, but you need to share it with me as well.”
Another rule I can easily agree with. With a nod I let him know I accept.
“Rule three: you will call me when the date is over so I’ll know to be on the lookout for your return home.
And no more going to your place after the date.
You will park in my yard and come into my house.
And lastly, if something ever feels off or unsafe, you send me a text.
It can be anything.” He thinks for a minute. “Pineapple.”
“Pineapple?”
“Yeah. You call or text me pineapple, I’m on my way to you no questions asked. Do you understand?”
There were many ways I thought this conversation would go, but I swear this never crossed my mind. He wasn’t here to talk about the almost kiss. He wanted to talk about my safety. I guess last night scared him too.
“I understand.” I hold my hand out for him to shake as if we were making a business deal. Mitch looks down at my hand and grins before shaking it.
“Alright.” He lets my hand go and stands to his feet, looking down at me.
“And Ella, there will never be anything that happens between us where you would need to avoid me.” He leans down, placing a finger under my chin.
He lifts my face up to his. “Never.” His warm breath brushed across my lips.
Those beautiful eyes stare back at as if he’s making sure I understand his words fully.
Finally, he lets my face go and straightens before walking out of the house, leaving me sitting in a puddle of my arousal.
Damn that was sexy.