On their date, Kai and Paisley go to the park and play on the swings. Soon, it turns into a seductive make-out session, until they get interrupted.
They looked up to see a female police officer. She held a flashlight, pointing it at them.
“Sherri? My God, girl. Is that you?” Kai let the swing down slowly, helping Paisley stand as he spoke to the woman.
She was medium height with a compact, athletic build. Her skin was a rich mocha, her eyes dark and her lips full. Kai hugged her, kissing her cheek.
“I want to introduce you to my girlfriend, Paisley. Baby, this is my friend, Sherri. I didn’t know you were a police officer now. When did that happen?”
“It’s been a few months. He neglected to tell you we used to date.” Sherri shook Paisley’s hand. “I’m engaged to Patrick now,” she told Kai.
“McMurtry? No shit? Still a geek?”
“Patrick’s not a geek!” She punched his shoulder.
“Hey! Police brutality. There’s nothing wrong with being a geek. He’s the smartest guy I know. I wish I had half his brains.”
“You do,” Sherri said, walking them to Kai’s Jeep. “Have half as many brains. Nicer build, though. I’m trying to convince him to workout more. But nobody has as tight an ass as you. I have to admit, it’s a thing of beauty. Don’t you think?” she appealed to Paisley.
“She’s not had the pleasure of seeing it up close and personal, yet, Sherri.”
“Oh, sorry. I assumed by the level of groping I saw going on, you’d progressed at your usual, dexterous speed.”
Kai opened the door for Paisley. “One second.” He walked Sherri a few feet away. “Look,” he said softly. “I really like this girl. I don’t want to spook her, so could you not?”
“Spook her? What are you talking about?”
He looked around furtively. “She’s never been with a guy. I’d rather not make her nervous.”
“You’re not behaving yourself very well, under the circumstances.”
“Could have been worse.”
“Oh, you mean like the way you behaved on our first date?”
“Be fair, I’d known you nearly four years by that time. And you weren’t protesting.”
Sherri punched him again. “I’ll be nice, if you’ll forget that night ever happened.”
“I’ll never forget—it was incredible. But I won’t bring it up.”
“It was pretty good. Deal.” Sherri held out her hand.
Kai took it, kissing her fingers. “You be happy, Sherri. Pat’s a good guy. Little goofy…. But he’s been one of my best friends forever. He better take good care of you, or I’ll kick his ass.”
“Oh, you won’t need to. Trust me, I can do that myself.”
Laughing, they hugged and Kai walked Sherri to her squad car. He joined Paisley a moment later.
“Have you had a lot of girlfriends?”
“A few. Not that many. Why?”
Paisley shrugged, shaking her head. She wouldn’t look at him.
“Five,” he said quietly. “Five serious girlfriends, and a handful of friends who happen to be girls. We hang out, have a few drinks….”
“Have you had sex with them? The friends, I mean.”
“A couple of them, yeah. Okay, more than a couple. But it didn’t mean anything. Just friends with benefits. But never when I’m in a serious relationship. Ask Officer Sherri. She’ll vouch for me.”
“And if one of these beneficial friends called you tonight?”
“I’d say, Hi, how ya doing? I’m in a relationship. Nothing would happen.”
His phone rang. Kai looked at the ID, laughing. He turned it to show her, continuing to laugh. It was, predictably, one of the beneficial friends.
“Yeah, Toni. Hi. Sup?” He listened with the phone pressed to his ear.
Paisley could hear a woman’s voice, but not what she was saying. Kai blushed, clearing his throat uncomfortably. Toni was being very explicit about the reason for her call. He hoped that Paisley couldn’t hear her words. Since she hadn’t killed him yet, he had to assume she couldn’t.
“Whoa, Toni—hold up. No can do.”
“Why not?” she screeched. “You always have before!”
“Cause I’m in the Jeep with my new lady. You know I’m a one woman guy.”
“Bastard,” she said loudly. “Why do you have to be so damn honorable? I need your lovin’ touch! Nobody does it for me like you.”
“Toni, can I put you on speaker a second, and have you assure Paisley that I didn’t, in any way, coerce you to make this call?”
“Oh, sure!”
© 2019 Dellani Oakes
