Every year up until she died, she and her friends arranged a Christmas party for the homeless in New York. They hired an old gym that was closed down years ago and decorated it the best they could. Then they cooked food enough for an entire village and served thousands of Christmas cookies for dessert. The homeless were allowed to use the showers in the facility, and got new clothes from a charity organization they collaborated with. But the icing of the cake was something they worked on all year round.“They made mittens for everyone?” I asked in astonishment.“Yeah. They contacted all people they knew, who knew how to knit, even people in nursing homes, churches and similar institutions. They truly did an amazing job. But then my granny died, and the old gym was demolished to give room for new apartments, so... It stranded, I guess.”“That’s sad,” I said with a frown. I couldn’t quite fathom how people could be so selfless and give so much to others without getting anything in retur
“Great, Aaron. You’re already seeing things, and you haven’t even started drinking yet.”I groaned at the fact that I was talking to myself, but I still cheered to an invisible nobody before I took the first sip.“That’s what I’m talking about,” I murmured and sat back with a grin. The liquid burned in my throat, and I felt a warm wave of calmness spread through my body on its way down inside my stomach. It made me relax again.Maybe I should play some guitar?Without thinking twice, I got up and turned on the Stagepas. I connected the cable and turned the volume up. The sexy instrument was in my hand while I took another large gulp of royal liquid, and then I struck the first loud chord. But it wasn’t loud enough, so I turned the volume even higher, and then I played until my fingers bled. Not literally, of course. As the matter of fact, I didn’t get to play more than a good half hour, until old Mr. Dobbins knocked on the door. Or knocked? He pounded! With his fucking walking cane.“
“Good night, Aaron. Sleep well.”“So you’re avoiding me today?”Martina’s question was simple, yet so spot on that I didn’t dare to look at her at first. And when I finally did, I saw her pursing her lips in a way that made her dimples show.“No...” I dragged, but she didn’t buy it.“That’s mature.”“What is? I said I’m not.”I watched her shift her weight to one side, while she rested her hand on her hip. I didn’t miss the eye roll, either.“Yet you’re not talking to me.”I didn’t reply.“See? Point proven. You’ve barely said a word all morning. Even Jakefound it strange.”“I... Uhh. I didn’t have anything to talk about.”A raised eyebrow said it all.“Sometimes answering questions can be enough to keep a conversation going.”“I answered,” I muttered.“One-syllables doesn’t count, Aaron. Now can you please tell me what’s wrong? You’re confusing me with this hot and cold behavior.”I snorted."I’m confusing you?” I said a little too loud. Luckily, after a glance over my shoulder, I fo
Jake laughed.“Maybe we should ask Marty to teach us?” he suggested, which was not a bad idea.“Is she okay, though? She’s usually the first one up.” “Hungover as well. She kicked me out of the bed because she claimed I was snoring. Pff.”Our attention was drawn to the hallway, when we heard Catherine shut the door to their bedroom. Her hair was extra messy and only partially gathered into a bun, and she was wearing a white tank top that left very little to the imagination since she’d obviously skipped her bra. Adding her usual shorts that showed off her legs, and I almost groaned out loud. But that wasn’t the only reason why all the blood rushed to a certain body part of mine.She had bare feet.Oh, for fucks sake!I mentally kicked myself in the groin and forced my eyes away. Did she do it on purpose just to tempt me? I didn’t seem like it, plus Jakeacted indifferent. If I was him, I’d already be all over her, doing all kinds of dirty things. I literally struggled breathing just b
“And since you two aren’t especially close, it was a great opportunity to do so.”“Right. I think you two did enough bonding for all three of us,” he murmured sourly.“That’s enough!” I exclaimed.“You’re fucking treating your wife like shit, Rocco. And you dare trying to make her feel guilty for wanting to have fun, when you’re the reason why she doesn’t? That hella cruel.” Catherine looked at me with wide eyes, startled and surprised, but gorgeous nonetheless.“But dad...”“Don’t fucking try to make excuses. That’s not the way to treat your wife.”He scoffed and rolled his eyes, and somehow I knew what he was going to say before he spoke again.“Like you were the husband of the year? All I can remember from my childhood is you and mom fighting and being mean to each other. How do you think that made me feel? I was in the middle of it, yet I couldn’t say anything to make it stop. You were too busy trying to hurt each other than to realize that you hurt everyone around you as well. ”
“No. You can’t do that to her,” I groaned to nobody, while I followed the pavement on an aimless path that left me walking in circles in the big city. It was like I’d never been here before. I was lost even though I knew exactly where I was, and I found that I didn’t really mind. I just needed to clear my head. It didn’t help much though, and after a couple of hours, I unlocked the door to my apartment and kicked off my shoes. Then I dumped down on the couch like a heavy stone.It was almost midnight now, and I actually felt relieved to be home by myself. Sometimes being alone is the best medicine you can get, and tonight it was exactly what I needed.I strummed my guitar but wasn’t in the mood for blasting holes in my amplifiers. So I chose the acoustic one instead and ended up playing one pathetic love song after the other. When did I even learn those?Suddenly, I was pulled out of my catatonic state by the sound of the door shutting closed. I didn’t even hear it open. Maybe they’d
“You’re mine now,” I murmured and leaned my forehead against hers, and I could see the shock from what I did slowly fade away in her eyes. Then I smiled to myself when I realized what I’d just said, and ended up repeating it, almost like I didn’t really believe it.“You’re mine, Anny.”Then I kissed her, hard. And with a growing voracious appetite I let her feel my undiluted desire. I slowly backed her up against the wall and gathered her hands in mine, before I lifted them both above her head. I took a short break from devouring her lips, just to admire how gorgeous she was. Her body was absolutely flawless, and I wanted to get familiar with every single inch of it. Every curve and crevice, her nipples, her belly button and every erogenous spot that would make her body sing for me. Then I was all over her again.I tugged her dress up to her waist and touched her lace underwear. My fingers found their natural spot, and I carefully started rubbing her clit in circles. Her arms came do
Eventually I realized that Catherine had somehow gotten dressed while standing behind me. Only, it wasn’t her own clothes. They were mine.Damn! This is not a good time to get horny again, Aaron. But man, she looks fine in your clothes. “You’re just like mom said! You’re a sick bastard and a lowlife!”“Me sick?” I barked back.“You’re the one puking all over the floor!”“I didn’t mean literally, idiot! You’re sick in the head! An old pig! And you’re...”“Rocco! Please stop! You don’t know what you’re saying,” Catherine said, and tried her best to calm him down. She gave him a glass of water and brought a moist cloth so she could wipe his mouth like he was a big baby, and that’s when I realized how wrong their relationship was. She was acting more like a mother to him than Bree ever did. The only difference was that they had sex.“Sit down,” she demanded, but he shoved her away.“I’m not staying here a minute longer!”“SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN!” Catherine yelled and made everyone stare