Page 57 of Middle Ground

“Yeah,” I agree, turning over my shoulder as I walk toward the voices, “that’s why it costs me an arm and a?—”

“His huge cock rams home. In and out, and in and out. My inner walls flutter as he stretches me to the max. The sound of skin slapping skin is erotic…”

My jaw hits the floor. Sitting in my mother’s living room is her book club. Here I was, thinking they individually read their books and then discussed their plots over tea. Little did I know they hold smut read-alouds.

“Meyer,” Mom says when she sees me, “I wasn’t expecting you.”

I clear my throat. “I can see that,” I reply. I gesture to my companion, who is shaking with restrained laughter. “We had a free afternoon, so I thought I’d bring Jackson by. But you’re busy…”

My mother claps her hands. “Alright, ladies, pack it in. We can meet again tomorrow. Same time, same place.”

At Mom’s command, a group of old ladies rocking perms and near identical floral grandma sweaters begin to filter out of the room. Each woman holds a book in her hand, the cover showing off the naked chest of a kilted man.

“Meyer, good to see you, dear!” one of the women says.

I offer her an awkward smile. “Good to see you, too, Georgia.”

Her gaze slides to the man standing beside me. “Is he your lover?” she whispers rather loudly, pointing at Jackson.

I shake my head with a scoff. “No. He owns Dog Days Innwith me.”

“Oh.” She frowns. Then her eyes drag down Jackson’s body appreciatively. “He’shandsome. You better get on that, dear, or someone else might just snap him up.”

She fluffs her perm, and I grimace at the older woman. “Have a nice day.”

She walks away, and I shiver. Jackson, however, seems to be all too amused.

“Georgia’s a peach,” he drawls.

I send him my best look of contempt, to which he simply laughs.

Once my mother’s book club has exited the apartment, Jackson and I sit down in the living room. Mom’s in her recliner, so I make sure to sit as far away from Jackson on the couch as possible.

“I hope my daughter isn’t giving you too much grief, Jackson,” she says.

My mouth pops open. “Hey!”

Jackson grins. “She certainly gives me a run for my money, but it’s not totally unjustified,” he tells her. “Sometimes I need reminding that not everything is a problem that needs to be fixed.”

Oh.

Mom’s smile is soft in return. “How are you liking Fraisier Creek?”

Jackson relaxes further into the couch. Making himself at home in my mother’s presence. Something about that stirs a warmth inside me.

Indigestion. It's just indigestion.

“It’s a huge change of pace from the city. I’ve lived in Toronto all my life, so it was jarring to move here, to say theleast.” His eyes flick in my direction briefly. “I think it agrees with me, though.”

Mom has that look in her eyes that screams,I’m about to meddle. I know the look well. So I blurt out the only thing I can think of.

“So…huge cocks, huh?” Both my mother and Jackson look at me, blinking. My cheeks flame. “The book club,” I croak. “You guys read smut. Out loud.”

At this, Mom laughs. “Oh,that. We didn’t for the longest time, but Doris suggested we try it one day and we found it’s kind of fun. You should come sometime!”

Jackson coughs into his fist, but I know he’s trying to cover up a laugh. I cast a dirty look in his direction before turning back to my mother.

Tugging at the collar of my shirt, I say, “I think I’m okay. Thanks, though.”