Page 66 of The Art of Being Merry
I don’t expect her to respond immediately, but my heart kicks up at seeing the bubbles, and I wait with bated breath for her response.
It’s on my agenda for tomorrow afternoon before the kids get home from school. Does that work with your schedule?
No, not even a little. There’s no way I can beg off work tomorrow afternoon after being late today.
It’s probably not since you have a job requiring you to be at work during certain hours, but I don’t want to drag the boys there
If I pay Shania to watch them, could we go after work?
I cringe when I reread the text after sending. I consider deleting it, but no doubt she’s already read it.
I shouldn’t do this. I can’t force my agenda on her and throw money at the situation. Maybe she wants to spend time with the boys after school, or maybe she doesn’t want them to be left with a babysitter when she can easily go when they’re in school.
Let me see if she’s available
I read the text three times to understand the meaning.
She’s going along with my crazy plan?
I can’t get ahead of myself, but damn if even the possibility of seeing her tomorrow night, driving to the craft store, shopping for what we need, and driving home doesn’t make me merry.
Shania says sure. What time should I have her come over?
My fingers trip over the letters trying to hastily type out a reply.
I’m done at five-thirty, so six? I’ll need time to take a shower, clean the grease from my hands
Any chance we can move the quickie to tomorrow evening, say around six at your place before our errand?
If I were drinking anything, I would have spit it out as her comment processes.
Absolutely. Check the hours for the craft store to ensure we have time to get there. It’s about a twenty minute drive. Or if we’ll have to go there first and canoodle after
“Canoodle” is unexpected but I’ll allow it since I know how good you are at canoodling
I’m not so good with words but I’m good with the sex
You are good with “the sex.” Better than I imagined. Not even going to let my mind drift why . . .
Same. Because we don’t need to get into my dating—or lack thereof—and sexual history. Not over texting and not in person either. Let that remain a mystery between us.
Much as I like where this conversation is going, I’ve put myself in a position of being hard at work and I’m already behind with the day’s tasks. We can pick it back up at a later time
Same about getting work done and being turned on. Though I’m in a position to take care of myself . . .
I type out the words “Don’t you dare,” but I delete them before my trigger finger can hit the “send” button. I’m not the guyto tell any woman what they can and can’t do for themselves. If she’s able to pleasure herself, it’s not my place to stop her.
Enjoy. Hope it’s as good as this morning
I may not discourage her, but I’m still a selfish bastard.
I silence my phone and put it in my pocket. I have work to do.
20
clem
I won’t feelguilty for having time to myself.
