Page 23 of The Pursuit of Her Happiness

“But you don’t want to?” she asks with so much hope, my heart stutters in my chest. She’s one of the strongest women I know, but she’s been hurt too much. Disappointed. Abandoned. And that is why I’m waiting.

“More than anything, baby,” I admit honestly. She hums contentedly, a sound that burrows into my soul.

“Today was…Thank you for knowing what I needed. Your parents are wonderful.”

Snorting, I smack her ass lightly, “So you weren’t talking about the life-altering orgasms I gave you?”

“Those were nice.” She teases, earning a harder smack to her backside. Quinn protests, moving to the side to escape me. I roll with her, hovering above her, my body suspended inches from hers. She winds her arms around my neck, and pulls me down for a soft, languid kiss. “Today was one of the best of my life, Bently. Because of you.”

“Get used to it, Quinny. I plan to spoil you every day of forever.”

She smiles wistfully up at me. “I hope I never get used to it.”

Quinn 12.

Leaning against the closed front door, I try and fail to catch my breath. My heart beats a tattoo that threatens to break my ribs.

Polk.

Bently Walker.

Mine.

Closing my eyes, my neck arches as my head drops back and I laugh. Hard. Which turns into a giggle. Then a high-pitched keening. Followed quickly by loud, violent sobs. What the hell is wrong with me? What the fuck just happened?

The last 24 hours of my life don’t feel real. But the residual wetness between my legs says otherwise.

I scramble into action, desperate for my phone. I find it in the living room. It rings twice before Audrey answers. “Hey, girlie pop!”

“Audrey!” I push out between gasping breaths.

“Quinn! What’s wrong? Where are you?”

Her panic relaxes my throat enough to speak. “I’m sorry. I’m ok. Everything’s fine.”

“Uh…ok. How was your date last night? Is that why you’re all…weird? What’s the guy’s name? Ray? Ralph! Are you just nowcalling me because Ralph the Electrician knows how to charge your circuits?”

“That was terrible!” I chuckle, then take a deep breath. “Actually, his name is Bently Walker. But he usually goes by Polk.”

“Polk. Polk? Our Polk?”

“Yeah.” I respond with an obnoxious smile, good thing she can’t see it.

“Holy shit! Woman, I need details!” I run through the evening from beginning to end. Then I tell her about today, his parents, and skim over the crazy good sexual chemistry. “You’re holding out on me, but I’ll let it slide for now.”

“Aud…I don’t have a lot of experience with dating. Honestly, this string of internet dating is the extent of it. But last night…I don’t think anyone has ever had a more perfect first date. I had so much fun, even though we discussed some heavy shit. I felt comfortable but excited. He’s hot. My God he’s fucking sexy as hell. Only, it’s more than that. He’s smart, and compassionate, and open, and giving, and HOT.” She laughs but doesn’t interrupt. “We’ve known each other for a while, and he’s always been around. But I was so stupid—”

“Not stupid.”

“I latched on to the first man to pay attention to my kids.”

“Feelings are not rational, Quinn. They don’t have to make sense, they just are. And at that moment in your life, Ford felt like he fit. Like a tampon. It fits at first, but then the longer you wear it, the less comfortable it is until it feels like it’s falling right out of your vag but when you yank it out you realize it’s still stuck in there good, and it hurts when you finally extricate the devil’s cotton. And once it’s out…pure relief.”

I’m not sure what to say to that.

She coughs awkwardly, “Sorry, that got away from me. I’m on my period and I hate tampons.”

“Noted. I don’t miss them at all.” I had a procedure years ago that stopped my periods and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. “Uh…so, back to what I was saying. I like him. A lot. And he likes me too. More than likes, I think. That’s the crazy part! He’s gorgeous, inside and out and he wants me. And he wants to share his parents with me, and they welcomed me with open arms, and his mom high-fived me for punching the human tampon, and they are eager to meet my kids so they can spoil them. And the kiss against my car last night was epic. SO amazing! And then today…Aud, his tongue is magical. Created by sexual elves. One tongue to rule Quinn’s twinkle cave!” I lean back against the couch panting.

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