"Selby!" Glen called out as the bell over his head sounded, announcing his arrival inside Selby's Downtown Books. Once they finished Mr. Jenkins' dock, the day was over, and Glen decided a visit to his wife's brother-in-law might help him get steered in the right direction."Be right there!" came the reply from the back of the store.Glen heard some shuffling in the back, and a few minutes later, Selby came out followed by a short redhead with a very satisfied smile on her face. Suddenly, Glen felt as if he should have called first. "Um, sorry, I should have…" He didn't know what to say. Selby had left the door unlocked, the OPEN sign still facing out. How was Glen supposed to know Selby was getting busy in the back?"Glen, good to see you. I don't think you've met Tracey yet. Tracey, this is Cherish's husband, Glen." Selby introduced the two as if nothing had just happened in the back room or that Glen hadn't busted them acting out a scene from an erotic novel. Well, he didn't actuall
They said their goodbyes, and Glen stepped back out into the afternoon sun. He wasn't sure whether he received the answers he wanted, but at least he possessed more information with which to make a decision. Between everything Brent and Selby said, it boiled down to whether or not Glen could give Cher the sexual adventures she seemed to crave. Yet, how would that change their relationship? He knew he could give her some of what they had before, returning to that friskiness that kept them touching each other no matter where they were. It was the additional partners he would need to come to grips with if that was what she wanted. How would he feel if she slept with another man? One he knew about this time?He needed to talk to her and find out.~ ~ ~ ~ ~"How have you been?" Nick stood there, his hands in his pockets, as the afternoon breeze tugged at his wavy dark hair. "I think I heard you and Glen tied the knot and started a family, right? I bet that's wild. I never even pictured the
Hello! Where's everyone at?" Aubrey's voice followed the sound of the front door opening. "Yoo hoo!"Cherish walked out of the kitchen, drying her hands on an old towel, her brows scrunched up over the bridge of her nose. "What are you doing here?""Babysitting," Glen said as he walked through the doorway to the hallway. He stopped by earlier saying he needed some more clothes. Cherish hadn't realized he intended on changing right then and there, however, which only added to her confusion when she glanced at him. He was dressed up…well, dressed up for him. He wore a pair of dark jeans and a gray pullover. He even wore socks with his sneakers. "Why is she babysitting?""Hey, Aubrey!" Jordie ran out of the hallway and hugged their neighbor. "Daddy said you were going to hang out with me tonight. Can we have pizza?"Aubrey gave Cherish a smile as she walked past her to tousle Jordie's hair. Cherish watched for a moment and then turned her attention back to Glen. She popped an eyebrow at
Glen couldn't help but smile as Jerry embraced Cherish. It was like stepping back in time, back into a period when his life was uncertain and Cherish's was chaotic. Yet, she was happy back then, and he wanted her happy again. He wasn't sure what that would take, but he knew he would do whatever was necessary. So far, the only way he knew to get that started was to take her back to where it all began, where they began. Once Jerry finished hugging Cherish, he turned and grabbed Glen, hugging him as well. "Man, the place has not been the same without you two around here. How's that baby boy?""He's doing great," Cherish said, a smile on her face that Glen had not seen in days. "About to turn five.""Wow," Jerry said, shaking his head. "Has it really been that long? You two have stayed away way too long. First round's on me." He turned to the waitress walking by, a small girl with breasts that oozed out of her skimpy top, and blond hair she had pulled back into a tight ponytail. "Erin, ho
Cherish stretched, sleep fighting her to ignore the morning and just stay in bed. As she reached out, her arm touched… She jerked to the side of the bed, eyes wide, wondering… Glen slept soundly beside her, his arm tucked under his head, his dark hair mussed up from a hard night's sleep. Confusion added to the fog of her waking brain as she stared at him. Why...? How..? She closed her eyes as last night's adventures broke through the cloudiness of her mind, the games of pool, the beers, the… the blowjob she gave Glen in his car. She felt the blush warm her cheeks and neck, waking her up even more. She couldn't believe she went through with it. Hell, she couldn't believe he even suggested it.She leaned back down on the bed, propped up by her elbow, hand on her head as she smiled over at him. His breathing was calm, restful. It had always given her a peaceful feeling at night whenever she would wake up and hear him beside her, like everything was right in her world. She felt safe. Well,
Tina did as expected, and Jordie had extra bananas on his pancakes as well as double chocolate milk. She said nothing about not having seen Glen in a while or Cherish eating there by herself earlier in the week. Glen and Cherish sat across from each other with Jordie kneeling in the booth beside his mother as he leaned on the table. Tina gave him some coloring pages and crayons to keep him occupied, which left Cherish and Glen time to sit and chitchat without the little boy interrupting them too much. Not that they could talk about too much with tiny ears right there, but they still managed to appear like a normal couple and not one in the throes of upheaval. They appeared normal, and for the first time in a couple of weeks, Glen felt normal, a feeling he didn't want to lose anytime soon. He even reached out, taking Cherish's hand in his as they waited for their food, and Cherish didn't pull away, but rather smiled, holding his hand in return.Glen made a fuss over the food and service
It had been two hours, and Cherish already wanted to scream. The woman she replaced, Kim Rosa, was a disorganized mess. None of the files had any semblance of order, and some even had information in it that belonged in someone else's file. The records were a shambles, the record books riddled with coffee rings, and the computer files a spider web of chaos. How the woman managed to function or answer any of Bernie's questions was beyond Cherish's capacity for comprehension. She blew out a burst of frustrated breath, her bangs flipping up at the gesture. It would be a nightmare just getting everything organized."You settling in okay?" Bernie leaned in her doorway. Her office was next to his, and she usually saw him as he went in and out, getting a cup of coffee, following his wife around, or talking to the installers out in the warehouse. Whether he left his office or returned, he always stuck his head in her doorway to check on her and see how she was doing. So far, in the mere two hou
"He's doing it again," Amy whispered, giggling as she leaned over toward Cherish."Stay in your row, Miss Wynn," Mr. Walker said, looking at her from over the top of his glasses.Amy leaned back in her seat, still giggling, as she raised her eyebrows at Cherish, pointing at Glen with her eyes suggestively. Cherish just rolled her eyes as she turned her attention to the front of the room. She didn't need to turn around to see Glen staring at her. Mr. Walker had a glass cabinet in the front corner of the room beside the chalkboard; she could see Glen's reflection in the glass. He was too busy staring at her to notice she stared back at him.Once class was over, Amy and she headed to the cafeteria for lunch. Glen left as well, but soon disappeared in the crowded corridors of Eau Gallie High. He wouldn't be out of sight long, however, Cherish knew. They shared the same lunch period, and Glen always found a spot with his friends near whatever table Cherish and her friends ate. It wasn't li
Dropping the arm holding the towel to his side, he walked over to where Cherish sat and joined her on the bed. He reached out, placing a hand on her leg and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sorry you're having to deal with this," he told her. He gave a weak shrug. "I guess we never know the full extent of our actions and their consequences until it's too late." He quickly held a hand up, stopping her from saying anything else. "That wasn't a judgment. Promise."She offered him a weak smile. "I didn't take it that way." She shrugged. "Besides, you're right. I didn't realize while I was...you know...how it would hurt you or Jordie, and I sure as hell didn't realize how it would follow me to another job. I was too caught up in what I was doing to even think of anything else." She reached out, placing her hand on top of his. "I'm sorry I was such a selfish bitch."Glen leaned over and kissed Cherish's forehead. When he pulled away, he grinned. "You're my selfish bitch, so it's all good.
Cherish shoved her phone into her purse, closed the final file folder, and shoved herself away from her desk. This day was over, and she was more than happy to see it go. As she stood, however, she realized the day was not completely over. She stood at the edge of her desk, adjusting her purse on her shoulder, as Mary Overton stepped into her doorway, arms crossed over her chest, looking as if she had a corncob shoved deep up her ass. What Bernie saw in the woman, Cherish would never know. Cherish sucked in a deep breath as she paused, waiting to hear what had brought the grump of a woman to her door. "Is there something I can help you with?" Cherish asked.Mary glanced over the room, scowling as she took in the changes Cherish made to the small office. "I see you've rearranged. Making the place more to your liking." Cherish could have sworn the woman gave a disgusted sniff as she said it. "I thought the way Kim had it set up was quite efficient." She glanced around the room with a sn
Glen soaked in her naked body, making no qualms about devouring her with his gaze. He had always thought Cherish was gorgeous and hated when she started to hide her body in baggy shirts and shorts. He wanted to see more of her flesh, more of her body tempting him under tight clothes or low-cut tops. He wanted her to be seductive, sultry, sexy. Hell, he even wanted her to dress slutty for him.Reaching out, Glen ran a hand over her freckle-covered shoulder, up her neck, and into her strawberry-blond hair. Gazing into her eyes, he sucked in a breath as he stared at her. "You, Cherish Lansky, are beautiful."He saw her cheeks redden with her blush, felt her squirm under his touch as his words embarrassed her, but he didn't care. While he thought the words often enough, he failed to say them out loud for her to hear. She needed to hear them. He needed to say them. They needed to get back to the spark that was them when they first ignited each other's passions. Looking at her right then, he
Cherish took a deep breath, deciding to tackle the topic of Rutherford even if Glen hadn't brought it up. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Jed. It's been a pretty emotional week all around, and I swear, it just slipped my mind."Glen cocked an eyebrow at her. "A lot of things have slipped your mind lately. I should probably do something about that, eventually."She bowed her head. "Yes, sir," was all she said, but she couldn't deny the tingle between her legs at the thought of Glen punishing her again. She would never have thought the idea of him spanking her would have such an effect on her.He took a sip of his coffee as he studied her, and Cherish just stood there under his scrutiny. After a stretched-out moment, he said, "So, tell me about the conversation now. You said you weren't interested in returning. Is that the truth?"She shrugged. "I don't know, to be honest. And, in the way of full disclosure, it was sort of a mixture of him asking if I would want to return and me aski
Cherish placed the last of the glasses back in the cabinet, her back screaming at her due to the lengthy day she just endured. Jordie was already sound asleep in his bed, his tired little body crashing as soon as everyone left, and the constant energy faded away. She could relate as exhaustion tugged at her as well. She had to admit, however, Glen's idea of having the party at their house opposed to her parents' was definitely a winner, minus the cleanup part afterward. Jordie loved every gift he opened, and he and the other kids made full use of the bounce house. Even a few of the adults climbed inside to get their inner youth on while they made the little ones stand outside the giant inflatable while they took over. The children, of course, were far from happy about not being permitted inside, but they laughed like crazy as they watched their parents bouncing around, trying to do flips, and falling on their asses.Valerie surprised Cherish with how she interacted with everyone else a
Cherish felt the tears streaming down her cheeks, felt the anguish clutching at her heart as she sat there, staring at her mother, the woman crying openly now as she stared back at Cherish. How could her mother ever doubt Cherish's love for her? Because I did a shitty job of showing it. I pushed her with everything I did. Cherish reached out, taking her mother's hand in her own, squeezing it tight. "I've always loved you, Mom. You did nothing wrong. It was all me; I was the selfish bitch who never seemed satisfied and happy. I'm so sorry I ever made you feel that way." She squeezed her mother's hand again. "I should never have treated you that way."Her mother gave her a weak smile, squeezing her hand back before pulling it away. "I love you, too, and I'm sorry I ever made you feel as if you couldn't tell me you were pregnant." She shook her head. "Not a very good mother, huh?"Cherish settled back in her chair. "I think we both made mistakes, but that was then. This is now. I need to
Cherish left the others and walked over to her mother, taking one of the remaining chairs beside the other woman. "Why don't you come join the rest of us? Has to be better than sitting over here all by yourself."Her mother didn't even look at her, keeping her gaze on the children. "Why is she here?" she asked, her back stiff, hands clasped in her lap."There are a lot of shes here," Cherish said, even though she knew to whom her mother referred. "You'll have to be a little more specific.""Your sister's new friend," her mother said, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Why did they have to bring her to a family event? It's rude."Cherish glanced over and watched as Tracey Williams laughed at something Arni said, her feet barely touching the ground from where she sat in the chair. "She's close to Selby and Faith," Cherish said with a shrug. "We permitted Brent to bring Bonnie; why wouldn't we allow Faith and Selby to bring Tracey? She seems to be getting along with everyone all right."
Glen stepped back out into the yard, two camp chairs in his hands. Valerie Driscoll was accustomed to calling all the shots, and he knew she set up her area far away from his mother to try to force a division in the party, drawing the crowd to her, so she could show off. That was one of the reasons he wanted the party at his house, so she wouldn't be able to pull a stunt like this. Yet, she still wrecked division wherever she went.Glen moved to the middle of the yard, close to the bounce house, and set up the two chairs. He turned to find Cherish near her mother, two beers in her hand as she watched him, one eyebrow raised and a smirk turning up the corner of her lip."Excuse me," he heard her tell her mother. "I think I'll go join my husband." She then left her mother's side, Valerie's mouth ajar as she gawked at her daughter's retreating back. When Cherish reached him, she handed him his beer as she slid into her chair. "Your beer, sir," she said, smiling at him.He glanced over at
Glen just needed a few minutes to calm his temper. He knew he had acted rude since returning home, and he didn't mean to snap at everyone, taking out his frustration with Cherish on everyone but her. He shoved his way inside the house and headed for the bedroom at the back of the house. Just a few minutes, that's all he needed.However, what he needed and what he received were two different things. As soon as he plopped down on the bed, his hands clasped together as he rested his elbows on his knees, doing his best to take deep breaths, Cherish walked into the room, shutting the door behind her. He didn't even turn to look at her. He couldn't right then. She had lied. Again. That's all she ever did lately.Cherish walked in front of him and dropped to her knees, sitting back on her heels, her hands on her thighs as she stared up at him. She said nothing. Just knelt there, waiting.Glen closed his eyes, taking another fortifying breath. Before opening them again and staring at his wife.