Page 36 of FWB
Tiegan
I don’t remember much about the end of December.
Rob and I finally finished up the potential partners’ binders and sent them out to the appropriate recipients.
We exchanged gifts for the holidays. He got me a floor-length hooded blanket with colorful jack-o-lanterns all over it.
It’s officially the warmest thing I own.
In return, I bought him a portable, rechargeable whiskey smoker.
He’s gotten into the bourbon scene lately.
Jerome, Rex, Elizabeth, Alyssa, and I also exchanged gifts one night after work when we went out for drinks. I got each of them a personalized gift that I felt matched their individual personalities. In exchange, I got books, books, and more books. My friends know me so well.
I keep Kenny’s present tucked away inside my underwear drawer, stuffed inside an envelope—two lower-bowl seats to the Bruins vs.
Predators game at Bridgestone Arena in January.
I had purchased them before my birthday for a great deal during a pre-season sale in hopes that Kenny would go with me.
I started to enjoy watching hockey with him.
He is— was —always so patient when I would ask questions regarding the rules of the game or what was happening in real-time.
Now I have to figure out what to do with the tickets.
Kiersten and I stopped trading presents for the holidays years ago.
Instead, we pick a day between Christmas and New Year’s Eve to get dressed up and go out for a fancy dinner at a restaurant neither of us has been to before.
This year, we chose this hip new Asian fusion place over on the West side.
As we get seated at our table and look over the menus, Kiersten turns to me, a serious look on her face.
“How have you been since the last time I saw you?”
“Oh, you mean the night I was humiliated in front of the entire company by essentially being rejected by the love of my life?” I say nonchalantly while continuing to graze over the menu.
“And then proceeded to vomit my brains out in your car? Afterwards, we went back to your condo where we ate our weight in Half Baked ice cream and screamed Celine the Queen’s ‘All By Myself’ at the top of our lungs? ”
“Yup, that night.”
“Never been better,” I say, giving her my fakest smile.
“Thought so. Tell me what’s been going on around the office. I swear, Kroger needs its own soap opera or reality TV show— The Crazy Lives of Colleagues .”
I take a sip of my cocktail. “There’s not much to tell. Kenny has been MIA, either working at home since the holiday party or he took time off to fly back to Boston for the holidays. Either way, I haven’t seen nor heard a peep from him since the party.”
“I say good riddance. You don’t need that negativity going into the new year.“ She holds up her cocktail, waiting for me to cheers. I sigh and raise my glass to clink against hers.
“I don’t know, Kierst. I don’t know what to do about this mess.”
“Forget about him, T! You know what you need?”
“What?”
”A rebound. The best way to get over one guy is to get under another. Isn’t that what all the books say?“ she asks with a mischievous glint in her eye.
“Oh, my god , Kiersten!“ I hiss. “Could you speak any louder? I don’t think they heard you across town! And what would you know about rebounds? You’ve been with Trevor since you were, what? Twelve?”
“Chill! No one is paying any attention to us. And I’m serious! You need some new eye candy to get your mind off of Mr. Flippy Floppy.”
I consider it. Maybe Kiersten’s right? Maybe I should put myself out there again. It’s been a while since I’ve been on any dating apps. It couldn’t hurt any worse than now.
When I get home, I open my social media and notice a new post from Torin. Maybe Kiersten is right and I need a rebound? He seemed cool when we met a few weeks ago. I decide to shoot him a direct message.
@Tiegans_Corner: Hey! It’s Tiegan, Rex’s friend. Any chance you’re a hockey fan?
After a few minutes, three dots indicate he’s typing.
@TotallyTorin: Hey, Tiegan! I am a hockey fan, actually. Especially the Bruins. Why? What’s up?
@Tiegans_Corner: I happen to have two tickets to the Predators v Bruins game. Would you be interested in going?
@Totally Torin: That sounds amazing! What’s your number?
I shoot Torin my cell number and he texts me instantly. We start chatting, getting to know one another. We make plans to get coffee this Saturday in the meantime.
I spend the last few days of the work year with a renewed pep in my step, thanks to my constant communication with Torin over the last several days.
Our coffee date goes well. We talk about anything and everything.
Conversation is so easy with him. It’s like I don’t have to worry about my problems when he’s around.
He asks me if I have plans for New Year’s Eve during a phone call one night, and I tell him that I don’t. “How about we spend it together?”
I think about it and decide Kiersten is right. Besides, getting laid is better than staying home and moping around while watching the ball drop on TV. So I agree to come to his house the next night.
The office is a ghost town, so Rob and I pass the time shooting the shit. Now that we’re finished with our big project, there isn’t much for us to do besides check the mail. He asks, “Do you have any plans for tonight?”
I blush a little. “I’m actually going on a date with this guy I’ve recently been talking to.”
“Oh, I thought there was something going on between you and Kenny?”
I groan. “You heard about that, huh?”
“Tiegan, I’m pretty sure all of Kroger and Associates heard about what supposedly went down between you two at the holiday party.”
I squish my face in my hands. “I know.”
“Listen, it’s none of my business what you do on your own time. But be careful, whatever you’re doing. Okay? I’d hate to see something bad happen to you.”
“Something bad has already happened to me,” I deadpan.
“Okay, fine. Something worse to happen to you, then.”
I smile. “Thank you, Rob. I promise I’ll take care of myself.”
“Good. Now get out of here. There’s no sense in both of us sitting around twiddling our thumbs. Go, get an early start on your celebrations.”
“Happy New Year, Rob,” I say after I’ve collected my things.
“See ya next year, kid.”
Since I’m going to Torin’s place, I opt for a more casual look.
I grab my favorite black tank top with a low-scoop neck and match it with a pair of dark-wash skinny jeans.
He’s so tall, I decide to go with my pair of chunky boots with a nice heel.
I check my makeup and hair one last time before throwing on my faux leather jacket and heading out the door to Salem, which I already have preheating.
I plug his address into my GPS. It’ll take about thirty-five minutes to get to his house. I pull up my audiobook that I’m in the middle of and press Play. Suddenly, my car speakers are flooded with talk of fairy smut. Might as well get myself in the mood beforehand.
When I arrive, I check my teeth in my visor mirror and spray a spritz of my travel perfume. You can do this, Tiegan. It’s just a date.
I walk up the walkway to the modest, white single-level home and ring the doorbell.
After a few seconds, the door opens to Torin in his very tall glory.
He welcomes me in before wrapping me in a ferocious bear hug.
He smells pleasant, like clean laundry soap and a slight hint of mint. “I’m so glad to see you!”
“Me, too. Thank you for inviting me over last minute.”
“No worries. It sucks being alone on New Year’s Eve no matter how old you get.”
I nod in agreement. In truth, I’ve always been either alone or with platonic friends on New Year’s Eves prior. I’ve never had a midnight kiss. Tonight, that will change.
After giving me a brief tour of the small house by pointing in all the directions I can locate the kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms, Torin leads me to the couch. Once I’m settled, he asks, “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Ice water would be great, thanks.”
I’m suddenly parched. Torin promptly comes back with two bottles of water gripped in one large hand and two cups filled to the brim with the good kind of pebble ice in the other.
I take one of each from him as he approaches and thank him before taking a large bite of ice.
I love feeling the crunch in between my teeth.
Pouring the water in the glass, I chug it down in three big gulps. So ladylike.
“You thirsty, there, little fish?” he teases.
I blush, embarrassed by my crassness. “Sorry. I suppose I get thirsty when I’m nervous or anxious.”
“So which is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you nervous or anxious right now? Those two things are not necessarily synonymous. So which is it?”
“A little of both, I guess,” I say in a hushed tone.
He leans in a little closer. “I don’t want you to be either of those things with me. However, I understand that it’ll take a little time getting to know me better before your mind eases.”
I relax at his words.
He continues, “And we don’t have to rush into anything tonight. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. We can start by talking and getting to know each other better. Deal?”
“Deal,” I say smiling, holding out my right hand for him to shake on it.
He looks down and laughs before taking my microscopically-compared hand in his and giving it one firm shake.
We end up spending the next few hours talking about past relationships, mutual friends, music, and more.
He tells me about how his wife passed away five years ago from cancer, and he’s just starting to get back into the dating pool.
We continue chatting until his watch beeps, signaling one minute until midnight.
“Do you want to watch the ball drop?” he asks me, pointing to the flatscreen TV mounted to the wall in front of us.
I shake my head, biting my lower lip.
“What would you rather do?” A slow smile creeps up his lips. I stand and take his hand, leading him across the small house into his master bedroom. He looks at his watch—twenty seconds to midnight. He then turns his steely blue gaze to mine. “Well, what’s your plan now that you’ve got me here?”
I look at his watch. Fifteen seconds. I start to panic a little.
What am I doing here? Do I really want this?
I want Kenny, but Torin is who I have tonight.
And perhaps Kiersten is right. Maybe the best way to get over one guy is to get under another.
I look back at his watch. 7…6…5… I stand on my tiptoes and wrap my hands behind Torin’s neck, bending him closer to me. At the stroke of midnight, I kiss him.
I lie in Torin’s king-sized bed, naked, with his hulking arm draped over my chest. It’s well after one in the morning and I can’t sleep after what I’ve just done. Well, I got my midnight kiss, and then some!
Don’t get me wrong. The sex was fine. More than fine, if I’m being completely honest. His cock is impressive for a man of his size, and he felt incredible.
But it also felt … wrong. It was like my vagina was at war with my mind the entire time.
My pussy is saying Relax! Just enjoy the ride!
All the while, my mind is screaming Abort! Abort! Abort!
Once it was over and I hear Torin snoring, I realize I’ve started crying. Hot tears streak along my cheekbones and onto my pillow. I don’t bother wiping them away.
I’ve been lying here awake, thinking about Kenny. Why did I have to go and fall in love with him? He warned me not to; he set strict boundaries when we first started this arrangement, and I broke those boundaries. I got myself in this heartache. I’m going to have to get myself out.
I glance over at a sleeping Torin. He looks so peaceful, this gentle giant of a man.
He’s like Kenny in so many ways—compassionate, caring, loyal, intelligent.
He’s also nothing like him. There’s no silent brooding with Torin.
He’s kind, open, and forthcoming. He would be good for me.
He confessed he’s interested in dating toward a long-term relationship. Maybe I should give him a chance?