Temporary Pleasure

Chapter 2

Mac Demarco played from his phone, and it felt like time had slowed down. I don't know what was in this joint, but it definitely wasn't some generic shit I got from my dealer. We laughed about my awful toilet blow-up joke as he lit up another joint. He showed me pictures of photos he took while he was in the army. Photos I'm not sure he was supposed to show me, but I appreciated it anyway. We asked questions about each other's childhood and how we were only eighty-four miles away from each other our whole life. He talked about past relationships, and I sugarcoated mine. It was so easy to talk to him but terrifying. I laid my back to the floor while he sat against the tub and as high as ever, we sang in harmony with Mac.

"I didn't think it would be this easy to talk to you." He smirked to himself.

"I wouldn't have said anything had you not bribed me with weed." I chuckled.

"Bribed you?! I vaguely remember you throwing your book in order to snatch this joint from my hands."

"Potato, potatoe. So, answer me this, how did you find yourself in the army?" He looked down before speaking and I nearly felt guilty for asking.

"My parents sacrificed a lot for me as a child. We grew up not poor but not rich. There wasn't enough to send me to college. Hell, I wasn't even sure I wanted to go to college, but I was a smart kid. It just wasn't in the budget. So, when I graduated, I ended up getting a job laying pipe but sometimes it just wasn't enough money between rent and food. So, at 22, I got an apartment with my best friend Adam. We worked the same job and same shift, so things were going well for a while but then it got to be a bit much when I got a girlfriend. I was missing work, and I couldn't pay my share of the rent. I ended up having to move back in with my parents and I got a job at Whole Foods and was let go from my previous job. My girlfriend cheated on me and I went down a really bad spiral. I felt like a failure and that no one could love someone who didn't have it together."

"But you were only 22 years old. You're not supposed to have it together." I said but he just shrugged and took another hit off the joint.

"I had plans for my life, but they weren't lining up. So, while I was working at Whole Foods, I enlisted in the Army, and for once in my life, I felt like I was where I was supposed to be. I went through training and left my twig figure behind. I gained a whole new level of confidence. My Army days have ended and now, at 26, I find myself stuck once again but I'm trying the fun things normal adults do."

"You find housewarming parties fun?" I spoke up and earned a hearty laugh from him.

"Absolutely not but Olivia threatened to kill me if I didn't come and I'm not sure if you noticed but she's very feisty for such a small human. Plus, my current company isn't so bad." I said with a smile and looked up at me and I couldn't help the blush that rose to my cheeks. He passed me the joint that was quickly becoming a roach but lit up another from his pocket. God, how many does he have?

"My turn to ask questions. How did you and Olivia meet?" He exhaled in such a manner that I almost missed his question.

"Well, we met in our freshman year of business school. She ended up being my dormmate and we've been inseparable ever since. There was one time when we got notice from our resident advisor that they were planning to add a third roommate to our dorm and man, when I tell you she bitched them out, she bitched them out. She's just that s- "

"-scary!" We said at the same time, and we laughed like friends who've known each other for years. After our laughter died down, he glanced at me again.

"It's weird how I can talk and open up to you so quickly. Feels like I've known you my entire life."

"Oh god. Is this the part where you say you want to fuck me?" I said quickly with humor dancing in my eyes as I looked at him. He seemed taken aback by that question but corrected his stature. Oh, I fucked up.

His eyes darkened, as he came dangerously close to my face. He laid his hand on my hip lightly; I could barely tell it was there till he whispered to me.

"Do you want me to fuck you, Kaia?" My breath hitched and nothing came out of my mouth, as if I was frozen.

"I barely know you." He nudged my cheek with his nose as his face dropped into my neck slowly.

"We can keep going with twenty questions, but it won't lessen the desire I've had for you since I walked in the front door. Tell me what you want."

"James..." His hands rose up my torso.

"That's it, love. That's what I want to hear- "

A big bang sounded outside my door, shocking us back to reality. He held my gaze for a second more before helping me off the floor to investigate the noise.

Opening my door, there stood a fuming Olivia holding my mother's vase she bought us the day we moved in.

"Party is over! I love you guys and thank you for coming but the second something breaks, that means the party is done."

People started filing out, grumbling under their breath over how one vase could ruin an entire party. My heart dropped knowing James was leaving and I honestly didn't know when I'd see him again. Olivia looked at me, but I turned towards James as he came towards me, placing his hand on my waist once again. I could feel Olivia's eyes boring in the back of my head, but I ignored it.

"Can I see you again this week?" He gently asked me.

"Oh. Yeah, I'd like that." He nodded at me and smiled at Olivia as he made his way out of our apartment. As soon as the door shut behind him, I wanted to hide.

"So, we aren't going to talk about his hand? On your waist!?"

"I don't think it's relevant honestly." I tried to shoo her away.

"Fuck that. What happened? You were in there for two hours!"

I honestly had no idea. It felt like thirty minutes to me. But how I wish it could have been longer.

"We talked and smoked and God Olivia it's like I knew him in a past life or something. It was so easy talking to him. He's very nice."

"And?"

I looked up at her, confused.

"And what?"

"You're going to look me dead in my face and tell me you guys didn't end up fucking?" She scoffed but I could tell she was very invested in a possible romance unfolding in front of her."

"God, no! We really just talked. Check my bed if you don't believe me. There's a trash bin you can check for condoms if you're feeling up to that too."

I rolled my eyes and laughed as she stomped her tiny legs into my room and groaned seeing how neat it was. I caught myself smiling and quickly hid it before she came back.

He asked if he couldsee me again. Wait, fuck. I don't have his number