Page 44 of Side Hustle
Amelia:Wait. Your mom is bothering you? Where’s she staying? I’ll pay a visit…
Hazel:You can’t beat up my mother, no matter how much I hate her, Amelia. Thank you for your immediate support though.
Finnie:I saw her yesterday and she doesn’t look good, H. She needs to check into a rehab facility.
Hazel:Yeah, I know, but with what money? And who’s going to make her?
Lenora:Can we all just get back to the fact that Hazel and Rip finally did the dirty??
Amelia:He’s so dark and brooding. I bet the sex was hot. Amiright?
Hazel:LADIES. I will tell you all the details later when there’s alcohol involved. But for now, you have to tell me if moving in with him for a few days is the worst move ever in the history of Rip and Hazel’s convoluted past.
Lenora:Hell no! Let him distract you with orgasms!
Lucy:I think it’s fine too. But don’t hide out too long. Your problems won’t just go away on their own.
Finnie:Use protection, please.
Hazel:Don’t worry. I’ve got twenty-eight more condoms.
I put my phone down and started up my car. Looked like I was moving in with Rip for a few days. I always loved a sleepover. Especially when there was good dick involved.
17
Rip
I could wake up like this every morning.
That thought flitted through my brain on repeat, wrapping itself into my veins and pumping out a new rhythm in my chest. Hazel came over yesterday after she did some cat yoga thing I didn’t want to know about. We spent the afternoon presenting information over the phone to Chief Waldo about my father’s shady dealings, who promised to start looking into things on his end while keeping everything quiet. Then Hazel and I spent an equal amount of time talking about her mother, what Hazel wanted out of life and her career, who she thought was on my property, and even a rousing debate on the merits of glitter usage. In case you were wondering, I was strictly against the devilish substance that invaded every damn nook and cranny in your life. Hazel wished to spread it like sunshine. We agreed to disagree.
And then we’d ended up in bed, using up more of her stash of condoms and falling into a deep sleep. The sun had just started to rise and shine through my blinds when I burrowed my head under the covers and found my way between her legs, where I felt like I belonged. I wasn’t some awkward guy who blended into the wallpaper when I was buried deep inside Hazel. She looked at me like I personally lit the sun for her each day. She made sounds that made me feel like I’d mastered her body. It was a heady feeling, one I was quickly becoming addicted to.
Just like the taste of her. I licked her open, finding that exact spot that made her breath stutter out of her lungs. I sucked her clit into my mouth and used my tongue to flick it over and over, as if I was waving good morning from down below. I released it to lick her clean, her hips finally moving against the mattress as she came to life. A feminine groan above the covers lit up the quiet morning. Then her hands found my head and gripped my hair, the pain lighting up my scalp as a tease. I attacked her harder, burying my tongue inside her before coming back to the spot that drove her wild.
“Oh God, Rip,” she cried out, her legs thrashing under the covers, her heels hitting my back in rapid taps.
And then her thighs went rigid against my ears and the tremors began. I gentled my tongue, lapping her up until her legs flopped lifelessly on either side of me. I waited until I got so hot under the quilt I couldn’t take it any longer, climbing up her deliciously naked body and looking my fill. Hazel was small, but she had curves in all the right places. Even her shapely calves made me hard.
I grinned down at her as she peeked at me with one eye.
“Morning,” I said simply.
Her eye closed, but she smiled back. “Good morning, indeed.”
I kissed her quick, hopping out of bed with morning wood harder than a sledgehammer, but wanting to take her out to breakfast like a decent guy would after a night like that. She’d simply left the night before after round two and I hadn’t liked how that felt. She deserved better than a quick—yet mind-blowing—fuck between friends. I intended to ply her with pancakes and then ask her to be my girlfriend. Make it official. I was changing my life and a big part of that would be making Hazel mine. The rest of my life was fairly uncertain, but I was damn sure I wanted Hazel with me, come what may.
I swatted her bottom as she tried to roll over and go back to sleep. “Come on, sleepyhead. Breakfast awaits.”
I should have been nervous. Terrified, even, to put myself on the line with someone who had the power to deflate me with a simple shake of her head. I’d avoided these exact situations my whole life, preferring to be the odd man out rather than get my heart trampled on. Life had taught me that holding out hope for the good in people was a useless exercise.
And yet…all I felt was excitement and hope. Neither of us was the same person we were in high school, when hormones ran rampant and clouded the truth of the matter. Hazel was right for me. More important than that, I was right forher. The man I was becoming was the exact man who could show her how special she was. This land I’d been blessed with was giving me a second chance at a life I could be proud of, and I’d make sure Hazel got that same chance too.
In the kitchen, I made a cup of coffee for her, knowing she liked it mostly cream and sugar with a hint of coffee. My own cup of straight black coffee sat next to hers on the countertop and I just chuckled. Even our coffee preferences were complete opposites.
“God bless you, sweet child of love,” Hazel exclaimed behind me.
I spun around to see her dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a burgundy sweater that slipped off her left shoulder. Her brown eyes were still puffy from sleep, but held excitement as they eyed the coffee. Extending the mug to her, I stayed quiet until she’d sipped at least half of it.
