Page 82 of Bending The Rules

Until I heard, “In the kitchen?! Seriously?!”

I opened my eyes just in time to see Cat covering hers as she turned away. Toni coughed and sputtered as she pulled away from me, hurriedly getting back to her feet as I pulled my boxers back up.

“What the hell are you doing here??” I asked Cat, then turned to Toni before I got an answer. “Are you okay?” I inquired, taking in her shell-shocked expression as she tried – unsuccessfully- to pull her shirt down a little further.

“I’m fine,” she muttered, covering her face with her hands as she turned away.

“I’m sorry!” Cat called out, still facing away from us. “There aren’t any cars in the driveway, and I didn’t think anybody was home. Justin, you told me you had dinner plans when I came to pick Bri up earlier!”

I frowned. “That still doesn’t explain why you’re in my house unannounced! Where is Bri? Did she see anything??”

“Bri is at my house, with Jeff! I just left the gallery, and was swinging by to pick up some books she said she forgot in her room. I didn’t know I’d be interrupting… kitchen fellatio.”

“I’m going to go put some panties on,” Toni said, rushing past me to get out of the kitchen.

“I’m sorry Toni,” Cat yelled after her, and Toni grunted.

“Shit happens.”

We heard a door – presumably the one to my room – slam shut, and then Cat turned around. “Oh my God… I ammortified.”

“You aren’t the one who had a dick in your mouth. Imagine how Toni feels!”

“Iknow,” she whined, pressing a hand to her chest. “I just wanted to get my baby her books.”

I nodded. “I get that, but ring a doorbell or something next time.”

“The front lights were off, and I didn’t see your car.”

“It’s cold out there,” I explained. “I parked in the garage.”

“Oh. Well…” she crossed her arms, defiantly lifting her chin. “I’m not used to having to ring doorbells around here. I have a key to your place so I can come and go for what our daughter needs. You have a key to mine.”

“And I stillknock first,” I said, shaking my head. “Cause I’m not trying to walk in on you and Jeff pretending to be Furries, or whatever the fuck y’all are into.”

She pushed out a sigh. “I get that. I’m just… accustomed to you not…”

“Being with anybody?” I supplied. “Yeah, it’s an adjustment, butthisshit is awkward.”

“As hell,” Toni added as she reemerged from down the hall, ass covered in a pair of yoga pants.

“I’m sorry again,” Cat said, and Toni shrugged, giving her a little smile.

“It’s fine. I guess we need to be more discrete or something,” she said to me, touching my arm as she passed to go back to the tomatoes. “We keep getting caught like teenagers.”

I grinned. “Making up for lost time.”

“And, that’s my cue to leave you two lovebirds to… whatever you’re about to do. I’m going to grab those books, and be out.”

As soon as Cat was out of the kitchen, Toni and I shared a smile, but didn’t say anything. I took the chicken out of the oven, and Cat yelled goodbye as she quickly skirted past the kitchen with Bri’s books in her hand, like she thought we’d already be at it again.

“Well that wasn’t how I was expecting my night to go,” Toni laughed, as we heard the front door close behind Cat when she left. “That was beyond awkward.”

I chuckled. “I don’t think we’ll have to worry about it again. She’ll knock next time.”

Toni sucked her teeth. “I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about her being so nice to me. I really could have sworn she hated my guts.”

“Yeah, when she thought you were competition for me,” I said, taking plates down from the counter. “Now… I get the feeling she’s trying to mend that rift. She knows you’re going to be around. Knows what you mean to me, what you’re going to mean to Bri…”

---