Natasha
The final bell rings and kids squeal as they push the front doors open and race to the freedom that summer break brings. “Bye, Ms. Knight. What are you doing this summer?” Sarah, one of my avid readers asks as she walks slowly toward the door.
“I’ll be reading.What else?” I tell her. “And actually, if you're interested, the library has summer reading group Wednsdays at noon. So come see me.” I have a feeling she doesn't have the greatest home life, or social life for that matter. I wonder if she has many friends.
“I'll be there Ms. Knight. Maybe we can read those new werewolf books you were telling me about.”
“Sure thing kiddo.”
I turn and head for the bathroom where I trade my black suit skirt and yellow librarian blouse for jean shorts and a black band tee shirt. Topping the outfit off with some chunky-heeled summer sandals and tying my long amber hair into a high ponytail, I look like I’m officially kicking off summer right.
I'll be driving North for the week, enjoying some of my own Alaska wilderness adventures before I make my annual visit to see my parents, who have relocated to Washington state. This year, I am going to check out Chena Hot Springs and three local breweries near Fairbanks. Fairbanks summers are as hot as the days are long. Can you believe Alaska has approximately sixty days in the summer where we have little to no darkness depending on where you are in the state? Crazy, right? It's a little strange getting used to it, but being as I grew up here, I actually crave the long summer days. There’s nothing like gardening at midnight and not even realizing you should be in bed sleeping. One more benefit to working for the school district-summers off!
Sure, it would be nice to have someone to enjoy summer with, but I havent met anyone lately that will agree to my six month relationship limit, especially as I get older and all the age-appropriate men are looking to settle down with long term partners. More like looking for someone to take care of their old, grumpy asses. The last thing I need is an old man that wants to hang around watching television and complain about his gastrointestinal problems. Or his back problems. Why do all the men in their forties have back problems? I’m still active-I still like to camp and hike. I need someone who can keep up with me and lately those men are few and far between.
As far as the six-month rule, I know it sounds dumb. But, think about it, if you only date someone for six months, you can keep it casual. You never really get too attached which means you can have fun and don't have to always worry about something traumatic happening to them. I feel like after the six month mark, there’s just no going back. You’re suckered in as your lives merge, your own happiness dependent on their safety, their existence.
Me and my brother were best friends. I don't think I would survive if I let myself get attached like that to someone again, just to have my heart shattered when the inevitable happens. And the inevitable always happens. Life taught me that lesson young, too young. It took me years of therapy to get where I am. To get to a place in life where I can enjoy the pleasures of life like gardening and hiking and taking a six hour road trip in my new Corvette, with a brand new thermochromatic aquamarine paint job (did I mention that?).
By the time I box up the rest of my supplies and shut down the library computer system for the year, I am practically running to the parking lot.
Alex Waking up later than usual, I scratch my long beard and look in the mirror. I’m not so bad, I say to myself. At 6’4”, I’m taller than most men and thanks to my hockey background I have a solid foundation of thick muscles. Those boys had no business calling me ‘Quarter Pounder’ last night, I work out nearly every day. My hair is starting to turn silver, but the salt and pepper isn't bothering me. I could use a haircut though. Going into the playoffs, the team agreed this year to refrain from cutting their hair or beards in a superstitious ritual. This was the first year I played along, letting my locks go wild. Considering our victory, I guess I’ll be growing it out next year, as well, if we make the playoffs. Seriously, if it grows any longer than this, I'll have to pull it back into a man bun. I guess I should call and schedule that haircut today. I grab my phone off my night stand and notice Cameron has called four times since last night. He’s such a hard working k
NatashaIt feels beyond good to be back home, back to my own kitchen, and mostly to my own bed. I had a great time in Chena Hot Springs, I got to check out the breweries as I was hoping, and now I’ve returned from a full week of visiting my parents in Washington, a trip I force myself to make each year. My parents are getting older and while I’m usually losing my sanity by the end of the week, I know I would regret not spending this time with them. I was also lucky enough to be able to get in a few nice hikes while in Washington, including Maple Pass Loop, which was on my hiking bucket list. Nothing can compare to the seclusion I can find in Alaska, though. While I am always anxious about visiting my parents, it wasn't as bad as I was anticipating and now that it's over, I can concentrate on having the kick ass summer I deserve. I mean it’s not that my parents are bad people. It's the opposite, really. My mom has never really got over the loss of my brother and my dad just spend
Alex This morning has turned into a series of uncomfortable silences. Both on the ride to the cafe after Cameron dropped his pregnancy bomb and while we were sitting eating our sandwiches, and now again on the ride home. That woman’s anger was the topping on the shit-cake that Cameron didn't need today. I mean I can understand why she'd be upset. I'd be upset too if I had a sweet ride like that and it just got smashed. But to yell such obscenities in the middle of the parking lot? She must have a few screws loose. She’s old enough to know accidents happen. Obviously old enough to be able to handle a fender bender with a little more grace than yelling at a kid in his twenties. Though, I deserved what she said to me. I know better than to mention a woman's age. It's not like she looked old. In fact, she looks pretty damn good for whatever age she is. I guess it's true, the better looking they are, the crazier they are. I should have already known that. I was hoping to just sit
NatashaI was able to barely salvage the summer. My car is still in the shop. As I suspected, the passenger side front fender and door both needed to be completely replaced. So the search for parts begins. Once they are found, the whole car will need to be repainted as it could never match up correctly due to both color matching and the thermochromatics. To top it off, the driver who hit me is refusing to pay what the insurance won't cover and unless we come to an agreement soon, the whole mess is going to wind up in small claims court. I'm confident I’d win the case, but the time it takes to do that only puts me more and more behind on actually getting to enjoy my ride and that is what's making me so angry about the whole situation. Needless to say, it's going to be at least next summer until I can enjoy my baby again. I was able to get in some decent hikes and camping and now that school is back in session, it's time to concentrate on the fall reading festival. Summer reading g
Alex As much as this summer has not been what I expected, I can't complain. I was able to get a deck built onto my backyard and even had a couple barbecues with the team and their families over. I went and spent some time in Denali both hiking and rafting, something I've been wanting to try for quite awhile. It was a little trickier getting booked as a single, something I wasn't expecting. Apparently, people usually raft with groups of friends or their significant others. It's not that I don't have friends. I do. I have a few good friends left from when I was a player for the Aces myself but most have families of their own now and are busy raising their kids. Some of them went on to careers-some are sports professionals, some teachers, and even one is an accountant. Most live out of state now and when we travel for games, I always get invited to family dinners and kids birthday parties. Last year, I even attended a piano recital for an ex-teammates first grandchild. As if t
Natasha Kristina and I sit in the middle of her living room with papers sprawled out around us. We have used our time wisely, choosing fall reading books that will hopefully challenge and inspire our young readers. We have a few hours left of planning and then we should be all ready. We are just starting to go over the flyers, trying out some themes that might entice some participants this year. “How about ‘fall into reading’ ‘fall into the books’ ‘don't leaf a book unread’?” Kristina asks. “Those are terrible!” I giggle as I pass her the second bottle of wine that’s already halfway gone and say, “We really should have stayed sober if we wanted to come up with a clever slogan tonight.” “Yeah, I better quit drinking or our slogan’s gonna be ‘fall over drunk’.” “Fall on my drunk ass,” I come back with. Kristina snorts, which makes us both laugh even louder and now I'm holding my stomach as my body rolls back and I roll from side to side, holding my belly. “Stop, stop, I'm gonna
“Now that Adam knows I'm drinking he’s not gonna leaf me alone tonight,” Kristina giggles as we start to gather our papers. “And what about coach? It seems like you two had a moment there.” “Ha! A moment of embarrassment,” I deadpan. I can try to set you guys up on a date if you want “Didn't you hear him? He was livid when he thought Adam had set him up to even meet me. Plus, he was with the guy when my car got hit and he’s seen all my crazy. Trust me, men run from the shit I was throwing out that day. I even called him Grizzly Adams.” I bust out a laugh. “I was wondering where that comment came from,” Kristina chuckles. “They grow their hair and beard during the playoffs. Some sort of superstition I guess.” Alex Adam and I wrap up watching the tapes as I try to stay focused on hockey plays instead of the more than hot red head in the next room. She’s is gonna be the end of me. Kneeling in front of me like that I could feel my dick stir to life. Stir to a life it used to
Natasha The car ride was uneventful. After I gave him my address and he entered it into the GPS, it was pretty quiet the entire ride except for asking about the reading festival. His jaw was clenched and I noticed he’s flexing his huge thighs, alternating between the left and the right. Hmm, maybe it's something he does when he is annoyed. “I wanted to apologize for freaking out when my car was hit,” I blurt as I notice we’re getting closer to my street. “Don't worry another moment on it.” Quiet again. Okay, this is getting a little awkward. I probably should have just taken an uber I think while I find myself staring at his profile. He really is a nice looking man. I wonder why he isn't married. Maybe he is but doesnt wear a ring? Maybe he has a girlfriend? Maybe that's why he’s acting so professional? That's it. He has a girlfriend. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. Of course he's taken. He's not going on and on about his health issues, so that alone makes him a catch
Natasha I roll to my side and can feel the heaviness on my eyelids. As much as I want to jump right up and put on my swimsuit and head down to the hot springs, even I can realize my limits and admit I need at least a short little snoozer before I am going anywhere.“Alex?” I use my whiniest voice in hopes he will comply with my request. “Yeah?” he asks as he pulls me toward his body, positioning my head on his chest. “Will you promise to wake me up in thirty minutes so we can go check out the hot springs?” Then I add an extra whiny, “Please,” just so he knows how serious I am. ……….I feel an elbow nudge the side of my waist. It's Alex, he’s still laying beside me. “Hey you still want to check out the hot springs or do you want to keep laying there snoring all night?” “I do not snore.”“Ok tell that to the bears you woke up out of hibernation,” he says laughing. “So dumb,” I say as I roll my eyes and throw my legs over the edge of the bed and walk across the room, bending over t
Alex You absolutely cannot take a trip to North Pole, Alaska without stopping by the Santa Claus house, especially in the midst of the holiday season. When Natasha told me hadn't been there, I knew immediately I had to add it to our itinerary. Even though she told me that she hates Black Friday shopping, this is a completely different experience. I grab her hand as we walk into the building which is sectioned off into three separate but blended areas. There is a coffee/cafe area where you can order espressos and baked goods, even sandwiches but their specialty is different flavored fudges There is a reading area where Santa Claus himself sits and reads books to children and adults. Unlike the shopping mall Santa claus’, this Santa is present during all open hours. The rest of the building is set up like a holiday themed store selling anything from Christmas ornaments and decor to toys and books for gift giving. Outside, holds a giant sleigh for a photo opportunity that families l
Natasha “Hey big brother,” Bobby says as we walk in the front door. Alex stands beside me, hand on my lower back. “Hey kid. You better give me that niece of mine,” Alex spots the baby and reaches out to grab her out of Bobby’s wife's arms. “Hi. I’m Bella,” Bobby’s wife introduces herself, “and you must be Natasha.” “Yes, thank you for inviting me to your home,” using my best manners. The home is beautifully decorated but cozy with that lived in feeling. There are some carefully placed pumpkins and cornucopia around the fireplace. I look over at Alex who looks so comfortable with that baby in his arms. If my ovaries weren’t so old they'd seen the days of rotary telephones, they'd be doing flips right now. Bobby is practically crowding him as if he’s afraid his brother will drop the little bundle but Alex just straight-arms him and tells him, “Back off papa bear. I can handle a six month old. I used to take care of your ass, didn't I?” Bobby looks at him with uncertainty but bac
Alex I picked her up at seven am sharp. I go to the door fully expecting her to be loaded down with luggage like my other two ex wives but Natasha surprises me again with one small carry on size case. I really need to quit comparing her to other women because she is nothing like the ones I have encountered in the past. It's a little over a six hour drive to North Pole from Anchorage, not considering stops to use the restroom, get gas, or pull over to admire the sights along the way. Sure we could have easily flown, it's only a forty minute flight. But then we would have had to rent a car and with the roads covered in ice the way they are, I would much rather be in my truck; it's safe with four studded snow tires and all wheel drive. I even have chains I can wrap around the tires if we need them. I throw her carry on in the back and jump in and stop at a drive through coffee shop on the way to the highway. Alaska is known for its drive through coffee shops and there's practically
Natasha I'm going to have to be careful with this one I think as I sink down into my comfortable bed. I can still taste Alex on my lips and feel his hardness between my thighs. So much hardness. I can’t say for sure since I didn't get my hands on it, but from what I could tell from over the pants, the coach is packing. I can't even remember the last time I've been so turned on. There's something about this guy. I've dated hot guys before, well, maybe not quite Coach Alex Anderson hot, but hot nonetheless. Damn, if he can make me come with my clothes on, imagine what he can do when we’re both naked. I fall asleep to the sweet dreams of the truck shenanigans running through my mind. I wake up and already know it’s going to be a busy week at the school with the yearly battle of the books competition. This week our school is hosting the inter-school competition for all elementary and middle school students in Anchorage which means both early mornings and late nights in the library
AlexWhen we arrive back at the truck, Natasha bends, stretching her legs and I realize what a mistake I made. I was trying to be polite by leading the way when what I really should have been doing was watch her lead so I could stare at that fine ass on the way down. No, then I would have had to walk down with this boner that is rapidly filling my thoughts and any extra room I once thought I had in my pants. The bottom of my jeans are covered with mud from a puddle I slid into on the way down and I’m just thankful it was me who hit that slick spot so Natasha didn't get hurt. That would be a sure fire way to hang a big loser sign on a first date that so far seems to have gone pretty damn good. I hit the quick start on the truck so it roars to life as I move to the passenger side of the truck to unload my backpack and open the door for Natasha. I need to take the jeans off so my truck doesn’t get covered in mud. “Don’t panic. I’ve got pants on under. I just need to take these jeans
Natasha Today's laundry day and while I'd much rather be lounging on my couch, snuggled into my favorite blanket, I know if I don't get these clothes washed tonight I'll be stuck wearing whatever's left in my closet to work for the next week. It couldn't be that bad, could it? Well, let me see. I've got an old bridesmaid dress, a swimsuit, and a bunch of black yoga pants, because let's face it, I will always have plenty of black yoga pants. I talked to my dad earlier. Everything seems good, well good enough, there. He informs me that mom is having an emotional meltdown over some Hollywood actor who got caught cheating on his wife. He lets me know the weather in Washington is turning wet with winter just around the corner and asks if I have any plans to visit. I tell him that I will be sure to get down there for the holidays. My phone dings, and I gleefully run to see who is texting me happy for the distraction. Cute Coach: I can't stop thinking about you Me: Well, DuhCute
“Who would have thought a bunch of jocks could get my festival out of the shitter,” Natasha beams as we walk into the not-so-crowded bar. I'm not sure whether or not to be offended by her jock comment, but I do plan to find out where her dumb jock stereotype comes from. She looks gorgeous in black jeans and a tight tee-shirt that reads, “The Library: Where Shhh Happens.” Her hair is down and it flows smooth along her shoulders. We grab a table near the dart boards. I purposely chose this bar. While meeting for drinks and ‘greasy food’ was Natasha’s idea, I chose the actual meeting place. It’s my favorite spot for relaxing drinks because not only does it have a small town feel, they also have a big screen television that frequently runs games-mostly hockey. Even with the television playing a game, it's still quiet enough to be able to talk and hear your tablemates. The beer is always on point, with several local brews to choose from. “What do you like to drink? Besides wine?”
Alex When I woke up this morning, I decided I would casually show up to the reading festival to see how the boys are representing the team. I heard some of them complaining about ‘getting up so early on a Saturday’. You would have thought I had asked them to be there at five o’clock the way they were acting. What’s with the kids these days? When I was playing, I was always on the ice no later than six o’clock, every damn morning. Yet, when I ask them to help with a charity reading event for kids they act like missing a few hours of beauty sleep will ruin their whole weekend. Yes, I needed to go check, just to make sure they were being professional and helping enough. Yeah sure that's why. Definitely not because I want to see Natasha. That woman is cray-cray, as the kids say. Although driving her home the other night wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. She was even nice, not to mention, modest. I noticed how she wrapped her coat around her when she noticed I was staring