"You make me feel brand new..."

• • •

His fingers press deeper into my hips, gripping me tighter. His other hand glides up my back to my ruined blow out, grabbing a fist full. He firmly pulls it, causing my head to jerk back, thrusting harder and harder.

"Fuck! Fuck! Mmm..." I shout at the sensation. He lets my hair go, putting both hands on my hips. Pulling them towards his pelvis, increasing his speed.

"Shit, baby." He grunts.

I feel sweat trickling down my forehead. I bite the pillow in front of me, burying my head into the bed. Deepening my arch, he continues cursing under his breath.

"Ah..mmm, I'm gonna... fuck." My body is on edge, the feeling of release creeping up on me. My eyes roll into the back of my head and my toes curl.

"Almost there, almost...fuuuu..." He moans, his strokes becoming erratic.

I feel my stomach tighten and shut my eyes. My mouth falls open but nothing is even coming out anymore. My legs shake and I grip the sheets in front of me.

Jacob finishes shortly after me. He slowly pulls himself out and I fall forward. I can now hear the circle of life playing on the television. Jacob chuckles. I'm still trying to catch my breath while he lays down next to me.

"Are you good?" He kisses me on the cheek, then grabs a water bottle and chugs it.

"Shut up." I joke back.

"I wish you could stay the night."

"I want to but I'm finally meeting my mom's boyfriend after harassing her about it so I can't really cancel." I reach to the ground, grabbing my clothes.

"Are you sure?" He whines, nuzzling his face into my neck.

"Unfortunately, yes." I say even though I would rather stay here.

"Mmm, you should being us up tonight." He says after stopping his kisses. I get anxious at the thought.

"I can't, it makes me want to throw up." He puts his hand to his chest, as if he's offended. "Oh shut up!"

"What am I supposed to get from that then?"

"That we're so perfect that I don't want to bring anyone in that could mess it up." He understands where I'm coming from, I can see it in his eyes.

"Will you at least think about it?" He grabs my cheeks.

"Why is this so important to you?" I ask.

"It feels like we're hiding, I hate hiding. It's never been my thing. Aren't you tired of lying to your mom?" He points out.

"I'll think about it." I feel bad for making him pretend we aren't together. I'm not ashamed of him but my mom's opinion is important to me. What will she think when she realizes I've been lying to her?

• • •

The doorbell rings and I run to fix my hair in the bathroom. Quickly running back out to go find my mom.

"He's here! He's here!" I yell. My mom comes up behind me, walking past me to open the door.

"Girl, calm down." She laughs. I stand behind her as she opens the door.

Once it's open, the man I've been waiting to meet for months is finally revealed.

I'm relieved that he's attractive, as shallow as it sounds. He's tall, but not too tall. Honey brown skin, salt and pepper beard, but more salt than pepper. Well groomed, expensive looking glasses sit on his face. Hair cut in a low fade.

His light grey suit pants and jacket compliment his pale blue shirt. The Rolex on his wrist makes me remember that he's one of Mr. Ricci's friends. How come we didn't go to his house then? It's probably better than ours. I bet he has a wife or some shit at home.

A frown falls on my face when I start to wonder why we couldn't go to his house instead of vice versa. I even tune out them talking to each other but I step back when he walks in.

"Daisy, meet Alonzo." He extends his hand to me, I shake it.

"It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you." He says, his soft brown eyes staring directly into mine. His hand shake is firm.

"Mhm, it's nice to meet you too." He finally lets go. Looking at me sort of confused but still trying to be polite.

"If you'll excuse me, I really have to use the restroom." He says, his voice is very rich and deep. He could probably be a voice actor.

"Oh yeah, you know where it is." When was he ever here?

"He's been here before?" I ask.

"Yeah, why wouldn't he have been?"

"Where was I at when this was happening?" I ask like I'm the mother.

"You don't need to know what I'm doing. Look, be nice." She says.

"I am being nice. Just wondering why we couldn't go to his house instead."

"Maybe because I invited him over here? Don't over think this honey. I'm glad that you're looking out for me but, I've got this. This is not my first rodeo." She's right.

"Honestly..., I half expected him to be Mr. Ricci." I admit.

"What? Why?" She says, it's almost like the thought alone disgusts her.

"I don't know, I guess just the way you were hiding him from me. Figured it had to be someone I know." I shrug.

He comes out of the bathroom and I realize how weird we must look just standing in the middle of the living room.

"Let's eat." My mom says and we both follow her into the dining room. I sit down opposite of him while my mother goes into the kitchen to grab the food.

Leaving us alone at the table. I know what she said but if there was a time to find out if something is wrong with him it would be now. When she can't stop me.

"So how do you know Mr. Ricci?" I ask him nonchalantly.

"Oh we used to work together, I forget you know them. Are you friends with his son?" He asks curiously. I think nothing of his answer then remember that Mr. Ricci has a not so clean past. The words "used to" don't sit right with me.

"Ok, here's the salad. I'll be right back with the bread sticks!" My mom says, making a brief appearance.

"So what do you do now then, for work. Actually, I don't even know what Mr. Ricci does. Where did you guys work together?" I ask, trying not to seem like I'm prying.

"Well uh, we met many many years ago. When he worked as a stock trader, I was in the next building over as an accountant. When he left to go into investing full time I became his accountant." He chuckles.

"Mmm, do you know his brother too?" I ask and he looks at me inquisitively.

"Last thing I have to grab is the lasagna!" She runs back out of the room after placing the breadsticks on the table.

"I've met him a few times. He's not someone I'd choose to spend my time with. I'm surprised you know of him. Did Jacob tell you that? I didn't realize you two were so close." He shoots back, picking up on what I'm hinting at. I'm impressed.

"We're not, I've just met him before." I say unconvincingly.

He chuckles. Fuck, he's definitely caught on to my relationship with Jacob. "Did I answer all these questions to your liking?"

"Yes. I think we can switch subjects now." I say, giving up. There's clearly nothing wrong with him. Maybe it's time I should be 100% happy for my mom.

"Alright! I hope everyone is hungry! You guys in here getting to know each other?" She asks, sitting the lasagna down and looking over at me like she doesn't trust my hospitality skills.

"Yep." We say simultaneously.

I like him.

• • •