“Uh-uh, don’t even go there with that filthy mind, Christine. I mean, he’s my stepbrother!” She protests, but I notice a glint in her eyes as she thinks of him. Yeah, I also know how to read people - specially Kim.
“I was just sayin’,” I laugh again, taking a sip out of my cocktail as the conversation drifts off to what I’m planning for the wedding, and when I’m thinking of telling Anders about the pregnancy. We girls are nosy when it comes to sex, babies, and weddings… and more when these three come hand-in-hand. Just part of being the fairer sex, I think.
Can you imagine it? A few months ago I was just another graduate student, one of many eyeing the hot professor in class. And now here I am, a life growing inside of me, a wedding to plan, and a career at the United Nations! And, of course, the perfect man by my side. And, just between me and you, my sex life couldn’t be any more perfect as well… ‘Perfect’ meaning that I’m coming four to six times every time we make love. Which is everyday.
Jealous? Don’t be. Men like Anders are a rarity, yes, but if you keep your eyes open... Well, you might find someone like that for you. Just keep your hands off of Anders, okay?
He’s mine… and I might bite.
203
Daphne
Now we have three short steamy stories!
Ashely!
Christine!
And then me!!!
204
Ashley
I get home from Blush, my feet just aching from standing all day. Trying to get new reporters up to speed and up to the quality that I want...
It’s exhausting.
It doesn’t help that Apollo has been working long hours lately. We’re hardly ever at home at the same time anymore, and it’s slowly driving me insane. I’d thought that when we moved in together and then again when we got engaged, that this would mean, you know, us being in the same zip code more often than not.
Turns out, I was wrong. I was also wrong about all of the exotic vacations that I thought we’d go on. Who is rich enough to make God jealous, and yet spends all their time at a desk, working to make yet more money? Apollo Kane, that’s who.
When does the fun part of being rich start happening?
I shuffle into the kitchen and mix myself a dirty martini. I’m just going to sit down and relax and not think for ten minutes. Not go over magazine spreads in my head, not try to decide if the new hire is going to work out or if I should just fire her now…just relax.
But before I can really even get settled in for a nice breather, I hear the front door open. I turn on the couch, my body protesting at even that movement, to see Apollo at the front door.
“Hi, baby,” he says in a sing-song voice. He comes over and gives me a quick kiss on the forehead, excitement radiating off him. I just stare up at him, unable to really get my heart into…whatever it is that he’s excited about. Normally, seeing Apollo truly is the highlight of my day, and I’d do just about anything to sneak a glance at him throughout the day, but...
Stress
So
Much
Stress
Spirit-killing stress
He seems completely oblivious to me and my dour mood, and instead pulls a skinny, tall gift bag out from behind his back. “I’ve got a surprise for you!” he says in that same sing-song voice.
At that, I sit up straight, eyeballing the package. It could be a bottle of wine, based on the shape, or some other container of alcohol. Really, any kind of alcohol is welcome at this point. I set my martini down on the coffee table and hold out my hands. “What is it?” I ask eagerly as I pull the bag towards me.
“Well, today is our seven-month anniversary,” he says and I stop pulling the tissue paper away from the bag to stare at him. He grins and shrugs. “My phone told me. So, I thought it’d be fun to buy you something to commemorate our first real meeting.”
I look at him quizzically, totally confused now. I did not remember there being wine in his office that first time I went in to talk to him.
He waves his hands impatiently towards the bag and I take the hint and turn back to the mysterious seven-month anniversary present. Oh god, now I’m going to have to find a present for him. I have no idea what kind of present you get for the seventh month as a couple.
A gold watch?
Ugh, that seems too much like a retirement gift after working at a company for forty years.
And then I finally get it out.
It being a purple vase.
The ugliest purple vase I’ve ever laid eyes on. Even uglier than the one that I broke that day in his office, as hard as that is to believe. Purple and green, it looks like a vase version of Barney. It even has the same curves as Barney, and no, that isn’t a compliment.
I stare down at the vase for a little while, my mind blank. I just don’t even know what to say, or do.