20. Chapter Twenty ~ Emma
Chapter Twenty ~ Emma
I have to admit, the date wasn’t what I expected. Though … exactly what I did expect I couldn’t have said.
Chris never struck me as the type to take a girl out for beers, after all, though that’s part of what his club is best at. Rather, he’s the type to wine and dine and that’s exactly what he did with me. And it was amazing.
Two days later I’m still smiling as I get ready for the day. I grab the Mardi Gras costume that’s our new outfit for the week and reach for my phone, which is when I remember that it’s been days since I spoke to Leann and Mom.
A wave of guilt washes over me and I glance at the time on my phone. There’s still a little time to make a call. And I can go over there after work. It’ll be late, but it’s been way too long since I’ve been there. They won’t mind.
“Hey Leann,” I tell her as she picks up the phone, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. I don’t really want to let on that I feel guilty. Or that anything is going on with me. It’s just too soon. I'm not quite sure what’s going on yet.
“Hey! It’s been forever! The election is going to be next week!” Her tone is vibrant, bright, and I feel a moment of gratitude that she’s obviously in good health right now. And relief that I haven’t missed something serious. Though it takes me a moment to place what she’s talking about with an election.
“Student council, how’s it going?” I manage to get out quickly.
“Amazing! I might even win!”
“That’s great,” I reply, loving the normalcy of it all. Not that long ago we weren’t sure just how ‘normal’ Leann’s life was going to be going forward. And now, things are looking good.
“So, when are you coming over? There’s a big event for the announcement and I need your help to find something great to wear.”
“I’ll come over tonight.”
“No, not tonight. Mom has an interview in the morning. She has to get up early.”
“An interview?” Again that guilt because I didn’t know about that either.
“Yeah, only don’t tell her I told you. She didn’t want you to know in case she doesn’t get it.”
“Okay, um … tomorrow. I’ll be there tomorrow before work. After you get out of school.”
“Awesome. We’ll see you soon then. And Emma?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t be so stressed.”
Leave it to Leann to pick up on exactly what I’m feeling, even when I’m trying to hide it. I just shake my head and grab my things as she hangs up the phone, laughing at her own intuitiveness.
As I’m walking out the door of my room something else catches my eye. A single flower sitting on the dresser. And a little note.
‘I can’t wait to see how you look in your new outfit.’
I blush slightly as I think about it because I tried the costume on last night, uncertain if it would still fit. It’s a good thing Mardi Gras is this week and not next, though. Because it’s pretty close.
My stomach is only slightly different. A little more round but not overly noticeable. My breasts, however; no one told me those were going to get bigger right from the start. They barely fit in the costume. But maybe that’s just as well. It should get me some better tips, right?
I smile to myself, take another moment to glance at the flower and hurry out of the room. If I don’t get a move on I’m going to be late and that’s definitely not what I want. Not when Chris is waiting to see me in this costume … and I want a little extra time to get ready.
Of course, that little extra time is even worse when I’m competing with the other girls who are preening in front of the mirror.
“Wow, they really outdid themselves this year, huh?” one of the girls laughs as they all stare at each other, tugging at necklines and hems to get just the right look.
As for me, I actually like the way I look.
Sure my top is a little snug but I can breathe well enough. And the skirt is just long enough to brush against my thighs. I look good if I do say so myself. I’m disappointed though, because as I walk out of the room to start my shift, Chris isn’t there.
I glance up toward the window of his office and wonder if he’s up there, watching me, but there’s no way to know. I can’t see anything from this side.
Which has come in handy on more than one occasion, I think with a small smile.
I shake myself and turn back to the job at hand. Just because I’m sleeping with the boss and having his baby doesn’t mean that he won’t fire me. Especially since he doesn’t really want me working anyway. He’s probably looking for an excuse to fire me. Though I don’t believe he’d be unfair about it. If he was planning that, he’d have fired me already.
The first half of my shift passes quickly enough.
Mardi Gras season is busy around here. The party never stops and neither do the drinks. Or the food he’s brought in for the occasion. Or us.
And then I feel a hand snake around my waist, grabbing my hip and tugging me into the hall. A startled sound escapes my lips but almost immediately there are arms wrapped around me and his mouth is on mine.
The familiar feel of him, the taste of him … and all the tension melts from my body with a moan.
“You are entirely too sexy in this outfit,” he murmurs in my ear, his kisses falling at the side of my neck and then slowly down over the curve of my breasts and I forget that we’re not even in his office. We’re standing in a hallway. Where anyone could walk by and see us.
But all that matters is his hands and his mouth on me. And the amazing feelings that are coursing through me.
“I got your flower, and your note. I expected to see you earlier.”
“I got caught up in a meeting.” He sounds apologetic, his lips teasing the edge of my shirt over so that he can play with my nipple on one side and then the other, making it hard to think straight. “Mmm, you taste amazing, Baby Girl.”
Another moan and then the sound of voices and music seems to filter through the haze that his touch and his mouth cause.
“We can’t be doing this here. Anyone could see us,” I protest and he grumbles but slowly straightens up, glancing toward the main room of the club as I fix my top and try to cool my heated cheeks.
“Let’s go up to my office.”
It sounds tempting. Very tempting. But then, I’m feeling in a somewhat frisky mood today and so I give him a cheeky grin and shake my head. “I don’t think my boss would like that very much. I was put on the schedule so I could take care of the customers. And that’s what I intend to do.”
“I think your boss would understand,” he retorts, his eyes roaming over my body with so much heat I’m surprised I don’t catch fire.
“I can’t afford to test that theory,” I reply with a teasing glance back at him. “But maybe I can catch up with you when I get off work.”
He grabs my arm and pulls me in tight against his body, so I can feel how hard he already is for me, his mouth crushing mine as he claims me yet again. But I quickly slip away, shoot him a flirty smile, and enter the main room again, getting straight back to my work.
I know I’m making him crazy. It’s making me crazy too. But at the same time, I love the fact that I have the power here. That I can make him want me beyond reason. Because I know, without a doubt, that he’s watching me as I continue my shift.
It’s like I can feel his eyes on me and that only makes me feel even more hot, desired, excited. I almost can’t wait to get out of work to see what’s going to happen. But it turns out I’m destined to be disappointed, because when my shift is over he’s not there.
In fact, he doesn’t come back to the house at all that night that I know of. If he does, it’s after I go to bed, which is quite late because I’m trying to wait for him.
Finally I have to give up, practically collapsing back into my bed. But between the long shift and being pregnant, I feel exhausted all the time now.
When morning comes, I try to hurry through my routine so I can get over to see Mom and Leann. I’m sure Chris is still sleeping and it’s easier if I slip out of the house without him noticing anyway. I’m still not sure I want to answer any questions about them. Not sure I want to tell him much of anything.
“Well, you’ve returned.”
“Sorry, Mom,” I apologize as I walk through the front door and she gives me a look for a moment before shaking her head and pulling me into a hug.
“We’ve missed you. It’s been ages.”
“I know. I know. I’m sorry. I brought you a few things.” I take my bag to the living room and the three of us start going through the items inside. “Some more blankets and sheets.”
“Are we running a hotel?” Mom asks. “How many do we need?”
“You’ll have extras. You won’t have to do laundry every week.”
She shakes her head but sets the sheets and blankets to the side while Leann reaches into the bag.
“Ooh, this is nice.” The sweater she’s holding is cashmere. Which I only know because I looked at the tag on the inside when I saw how soft and warm it was.
“Yeah, I thought you would like it.”
“Where did you get this?” Mom asks, reaching over to run her hands over it as well.
“It was a gift. Same as the rest. But I don’t need it and I thought Leann would like it. There’s some other clothes in here, too.”
By the time we’re done going through everything in the bag it’s getting late. At least, it’s nearly afternoon and I realize that I’m supposed to be on tonight. And I’ve left my outfit at home.
“I’ve got to get going. I’ve got work tonight. But take whatever you’d like to keep and the rest just sell, all right? The money for that stuff will help you get some other things you could use.”
I’m rushing out the door so Mom can’t protest like she normally does. But I can tell she’s not thrilled. She never likes when I bring them a lot of things. A few extra groceries now and then or a couple little gifts for Leann she never really says anything about. But this much stuff … ever since I started with Chris she hasn’t been really happy about the quantity of items that I bring along with me when I come.
But then the next day I get a call.
Leann isn’t doing well. She’s been feeling sick. The new meds make her tired and she hasn’t been eating. And I drop everything to spend as much time with her as possible.