Jewel Ann - Idle Bloom

“I figured you’d still be at the hospital.”

“She wasn’t having a good day, so I left early.” I’m a cowardly ass for lying. I don’t know how I’m going to go back home and tell Vivian that all this time away from her has been for nothing.

“That’s too bad. I was hoping for your sake she’d have a better day.”

“Are your parents there?”

“Yes, our moms are in the kitchen making magic. I just stuck the pies in the oven.”

“You made the pies?”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, babe. Yes, I made pumpkin and pecan.”

“Are they baking or reheating?”

“Baking, you idiot. Your mom helped me make the perfect crusts and my mom supervised the filling stage. So as long as the timer on the oven doesn’t fail, I will have bragging pictures to send to both you and Alex.”

“I’m impressed and so bummed that I’m not there.”

“Me too. We all miss you and can’t wait to see you.”

It hurts to breathe. God, I miss her. Our first Thanksgiving together is our first Thanksgiving apart.

“Miss you too. Is Chance behaving? Is he fully dressed?”

She laughs. “He’s on his very best behavior because he brought a guest.”

“What? On Thanksgiving?”

“Ronnie.”

“No way!”

“Yes, way. You know he hired her via email. Well, that’s because her family lives in Ohio. She’s going back home for Christmas but decided to stay in Boston for Thanksgiving so Chance invited her.”

“How’s that going?”

“Let me just say it would take more than an electric carving knife to cut through the sexual tension.”

“What?”

“I’m serious. I’m kind of horny just from being around them.”

“Fuck! Vivian! Is anyone listening to you?”

I have to adjust myself because the idea of her being horny makes me hard as steel.

She giggles. “No, I snuck off to the guest bedroom for some privacy and because the TV was too loud.”

“Sooo … you’re alone?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“And horny?”

“Mmm hmm.”

I’m a fucking disaster. My mind is all over the place. I just lied to the one person I swore I’d never lie to again, but in spite of it all, I’m still a guy and I need this.

“Lock the door.”

“Already did.”

“God, I love you.”

“I’m wearing a light pink lace push up bra and matching thong.”

Sweet, sweet Jesus. I didn’t even have to ask what she’s wearing. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her this anxious, and the crap part is I’m not actually seeing her. Dammit!

“What are you wearing over that?”

“Nothing, babe. I removed my sweater and jeans while we were talking about the pies.”

Oh fuck me, this is not happening. I unfasten my jeans and slide them down enough to free myself.

“Oli … I’m so wet for you.”

I pump myself several times. She’s not even giving me a chance to say anything. All I can do is close my eyes and imagine her naked body astride mine, slamming down onto me with relentless need, taking control just like she’s already doing.

“Lick your lips, Oli. Can you taste me? Oh God. I can see you, babe. I can see your head buried between my legs. How do I taste?”

“Sweet, you always taste so sweet. Where are your hands?”

Her breath is slow and heavy in my ear. “My breasts. I’m squeezing and oh … oh God … pinching my nipple. I love it when you pinch and drag your teeth over my nipples.” I hear her moan. “It’s like … it’s like a bullet of pleasure to my sex.”

I pump my dick harder and a little faster, circling my thumb over the head several times. “You make me so hard, I want to bury myself in your warm, wet pussy.”

“Oli … oh God!”

“Can you feel me?”

“Yes.”

“Are your legs spread wide for me?”

“Yes.”

“Are your fingers wet?”

“S-so wet.” She pants.

“Slide a finger in for me.”

“Oh … yes.”

“Now pull it out and circle your clit.”

“Ung … yeesss …”

I clench the sheet with my other hand.

“Make yourself come. Do it now.”

“I-I … I’m c-coming! Oh dear God!”

I thrust up into my hand and stroke myself letting my release squirt onto my shirt. “Oh, shit … holy hell …” I pant as my heart catapults from my chest. My head falls back as my breathing slows.

“Vivian? Are you in there, sweetie?”

Fuck, nothing like my mother’s voice to yank me back into reality.

“Uh … yes. I’m in here.”

“Are you alright, sweetie? I thought I heard you yell something.”

“Um … no. I was uh … laughing. I’m talking to Oliver.”

“Oh, well open the door. I want to talk to him.”

If this woman loves me she will not open that door—

“Oh my, are you feeling okay? You look like you’re burning up. You even have perspiration on your brow.”

Kill me now. My parents are both Harvard-trained doctors. It’s not going to take my mom long to diagnose Vivian with an acute case of phone sex fever.

“Oli, your mom wants to talk to you.”

“Am I on speaker?”

“No.”

“Good. Have a wonderful dinner, send me pictures of your pies, and know that I have not come this hard in months. Love you.”

She giggles. “Love you too, Oli.”

“Oliver?”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Are you coming home for Christmas, honey?”

“I’m not sure yet. I’m trying to wrap things up here, and I don’t want to miss Alex and Sean’s wedding so I can’t make any promises yet.”

“What do you mean ‘wrap things up?’”

“I mean making sure Brice and Mitchell can finish up anything that I can’t before I leave to come home.”

“And Caroline?”

“She’s fine.” Another lie and to my mother. I’d say I’m fast-tracking my way to Hell today, but since I’m already there what does it really matter?

“Fine? Really?”

“You should know better than anyone that she’ll never be the same again, but her doctors think she’s improving so my job here is done.”

“And you?”

I sigh. “What does it matter what I think? The doctors are the experts.”

“Oliver, I’m not asking what you think. I’m asking how you’re doing. Have you made any progress?”

“I’m not the one in the mental hospital.”

“Oliver …”

“Yes, I’m fine, great, fabulous. I’ll be home by the wedding so life couldn’t be better.”

“Have you gone to Melanie’s grave?”

“Yes.” Lie.

“And?”

“And she’s still dead.”

“Oliver!”

I fist my hair. “I’m sorry. I just don’t need this from you.”

“I love you, Oliver. I want my son back. He’s found an amazing girl and I’d like to see him get his happily-ever-after. So don’t waste your time out there. Do what you need to do so you can come home.”

Do what I need to do? Stupid psychobabble bullshit.

“Yep.” I cringe after the word falls out. Please let her react better to my “yep” than Vivian.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Oliver. I love you.”

“You too. Tell everyone hi for me.”

“I will.”

I toss my phone aside. Yeah, sure Happy Thanksgiving. It’s been a real peachy day. The best part of it is evidenced on my shirt. The rest … Caroline—I still hate her.

* * *

Vivian

It’s heartbreaking that Oliver feels the need to lie to me, and equally so that he has to do the same with Jackie. What Oliver doesn’t know is that Lily called Jackie after he was escorted out of the hospital. It must be a motherly thing; she was worried about him and wanted us to know what had happened. She called a second time when she got home and discovered he and all his stuff was gone. That was about ten minutes before he called me. Funny how he never mentioned any of it. So now we know he’s had a breakdown and he’s no longer staying with Doug and Lily. What we don’t know is where he is staying or what frame of mind he’s in.

The phone sex wasn’t planned, and honestly I didn’t think he’d be interested after what had happened earlier. But I’ve been studying like a crazy woman, and Oliver’s been so busy, my body needed a release. Then Chance showed up with Ronnie and I caught them in the hallway making out. Not like, we’ve-been-having-sex-but-are-just-messing-around making out, it was, you’ve-been-frustrating-the-hell-out-of-me-for-months-I’m-dying-to-fuck-you-for-the-first-time making out. He had her shoved up against the wall, you’re-under-arrest style, and he was grinding his crotch against her ass while massaging her sex through her jeans. They didn’t see me and it’s embarrassing to admit that I hid behind the Ficus tree and watched him give her an orgasm, but it’s true. So when Oli called I was hot and bothered and already on the verge of having my own orgasm.

“These pies look amazing!” Jackie smiles while cutting them.

I’ve taken at least a dozen pictures of them because she’s right, they do look … well, like somebody else made them.

“Did Oliver say when he’ll be home?” Chance asks.

I shake my head.

“For sure by Alex and Sean’s wedding,” Jackie answers to my surprise.

“He said that?” I glance over at her.

“Yes.” She nods.

“What about Christmas?” My mom asks.

“He’s going to try…” she looks at me with a sad smile “…but he didn’t sound as confident about it as I’d hoped.”

My posture sags and I’m sure everyone else sees it.

“Maybe you should fly out to Portland as soon as you’re done with classes,” Chance suggests.

Jackie and Hugh scowl at him.

“What?” He takes a sip of water. “Oliver’s the best version of himself when he’s with Vivian and maybe he needs a little reminder of what he’s missing.”

“He needs to find something I can’t give him.”

Jackie nods with pain in her eyes. “Closure.”

I nod back.

“Who cares? Go out anyway and surprise him. He has to be missing you something fierce.”

“I can’t afford it.” I look down at my pecan pie.

My dad’s hand covers mine. “Yes, you can.”

I look up and he winks at me.

“Consider it your Christmas present from me and your mom.”

My parents have struggled financially for so many years. I want to turn down his offer as I’ve done so many times before, but I can’t. Yes, I’m dying to see Oliver, but right now I know how much this means to my dad and that alone is the reason I accept his gift.

“Thank you.” I hug him with tears in my eyes and then lean the other way and hug my mom.

I look at Jackie and see the concern etched along her face. She’s worried about Oliver’s emotional state, and she’s worried about me being in Portland with him so close to the source of his pain.

I smile at her. “I’ve got this.”

It’s faint, but she smiles back.

The days between Thanksgiving and the start of my winter break fly by. When I’m not in class or studying, I’m helping tame the Bridezilla. How Alex is managing to pass her classes and prepare for her wedding at the same time is way beyond my comprehension.

“You’re going to be back for my bachelorette party, right?”

I laugh. “Yes, at least that’s what my round-trip ticket says.”

“And he still doesn’t know you’re coming?”

I pile my folded jeans into my suitcase. “Not unless you’ve blabbed or sent him pictures of me packing.”

“Then how are you going to find him since he still hasn’t confessed that he’s no longer staying with Caroline’s parents.”

“My plan is to show up at his work.”

Alex hands me my sweaters. “And if he’s not there, what’s your backup plan?”

“I’ll turn around and fly back to Boston.”

“What?”

I laugh. “I’m kidding. I don’t have a backup plan. If he’s not there, I’ll think of something. Maybe an airplane banner over the city that says Oliver Konrad, where are you?”

Alex chuckles. “Nice, Flower, go with that one.”

I zip my suitcase and lug it off the bed. “Don’t leave your sneakers out where Rosenberg can get them.”

“Don’t forget your ID.” Alex follows me down the stairs.

“Don’t forget to check the front step for delivery packages.”

“Don’t forget to make it home for my bachelorette party.”

I slip on my coat and grab my purse as Alex does the same. “Don’t forget it’s poor etiquette to kill the groom during a Bridezilla rage.” Alex holds the door open for me as I kiss Rosenberg goodbye. “And don’t forget to give Rosenberg his present from me on Christmas.”