Birthday Party (Trading Up #2) pt.1

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“Yes, Mom.” Christian said over the phone, looking at Doug and rolling his eyes as Doug drove the two of them to the grocery store. “I won’t forget to pick up your pills.”
“And pick me up some Sprite while you’re there.” Erin continued to ask of her son. “Not the two-liter bottle. Get me one of those six packs of the individual bottles.”
“Mom. How many times have I gotten you Sprite?” Christian said. “You don’t have to…”
“Excuse me?” Erin interrupted Christian.
Christian paused. He then looked over at Doug, who could hear everything Erin was saying. He was laughing silently but hard enough to nearly impair his driving.
Christian shook his head. He then said, “Sorry, Mom. I’ll get you the six pack.”
“OK, then.” Erin said. “Now, how is Irene doing?”
Christian took a deep breath before continuing. “She is fine, Mom. She’s doing fine.”
“Make sure you take care of her, Chris.” Erin said. “You know she’s your late Godmother Anna’s only child.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Christian said. Doug glanced at him and then shook his head as he pulled into the grocery store parking lot.
“OK, baby.” Erin said. “I’ll see you soon. Don’t forget my pills.”
“OK, Mom. I won’t.” Christian ended the call and then silently stared at the phone.
“Gotta love arranged marriages.” Doug said.
“We’re not married.” Christian said.
“Not yet.”
Christian looked angrily at Doug as he parked the car.
“Well, you’re better than me.” Doug said.
“Irene isn’t all that bad.” Christian said. “And Miss Anna was a very special lady.”
“Irene is that bad.” Doug said as Christian rolled his eyes. “And I remember Miss Anna. She was great. But she’s dead. And I don’t think that she would have wanted you to be this miserable.”
Doug looked at Christian as he stared straight ahead and said nothing before silently exiting the car.
As they approached the grocery store Christian’s heart began to seize in his chest at the sight of Vivian headed to the parking lot with her groceries. He hadn’t seen her since his and her dalliance about a month before. “That’s her.” Christian whispered forcefully, nudging Doug harder than he intended and pointing toward Vivian with his eyes. “That’s her, that’s her, that’s her.”
Just as Doug caught his friend’s hints and looked toward her, Vivian saw Christian. Her eyes bulged and she looked uneasy. She flashed a stilted smile and half-heartedly waved. Christian returned the hesitant wave, slowing his gait and hoping she would do the same so that they could talk. She didn’t. In fact, it seemed she increased her pace as she turned away from the twosome and headed toward her car.
“That’s her?” Doug said, continuing to look at Vivian. “That’s the woman you hooked up with last month?”
“Yeah.” Christian said listlessly.
Doug continued to stare at Vivian as she walked away. “Damn, man. Shit. She is fine as hell.”
Christian, realizing his friend was leering, hit him on the arm. “Come on, man. Let’s go.”
Doug, stunned, turned back around to continue into the store as he said, “Wow. She is hot.” He then looked at Christian who was despondent. “Hey, are you sure that was the girl? She didn’t act like someone who was bouncing on your lap recently.”
“Hey, fuck you, man.” Christian said. “It was her.”
“I mean, it was obvious she knew you.” Doug said. He then paused before saying, “Are you sure you didn’t bump into her at the grocery store and then dream about fucking her?” Christian glared at Doug as Doug continued. “I mean, because I wouldn’t be mad at you. I’m probably going to be dreaming about her tonight, myself.”
Christian looked at Doug in disbelief. He then turned and sped toward the pharmacy area, leaving his friend to chuckle as Doug jogged to catch up with him.

********************

Christian walked into his apartment’s living room with his hands full of groceries and was greeted by a smiling Irene. “Hi, sweetie.” she said, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. “Can I help you with those?”
“Sure.” Christian said. He immediately wished that Doug could see the sweet side of Irene. She took a couple of his bags and they walked into the kitchen together.
“How was work?” She asked.
“It was fine. It’s kind of slow now that the holiday season is over.”
“Well, that’s a good thing.” Irene said as she began putting up the groceries. “You could use the break. I know you work really hard.”
Christian smiled. He then thought about Vivian and her massaging his shoulders after his long shift. But then her cold reaction to him at the grocery store with Doug entered his mind.
“What are you thinking about?” Irene asked.
“Huh?” Christian said. “Oh, nothing.” He went to help her with the groceries and realized that she was already on the last bag.
“It’s OK.” Irene said. “I made you breakfast. It’s in the microwave under a paper towel.”
“Oh, thank you.” Christian said, startled as Irene cooking for him was a rare occurrence. He, however, knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth. He quickly grabbed a fork and began eating his bacon and eggs.
“Mom asked about you.” Christian said between swallows of his food.
Irene smiled. “That’s sweet. What was she calling you about. I know it wasn’t just to check on me.”
“No, she needed me to pick up her prescription and some Sprite for her.”
“Her beloved six-pack.” Irene said.
“Yeah. You know how she is. She still tells me not to get her the two-liter.”
“After all these years? Can’t she go out and get her own Sprite?”
“It’s fine.” Christian said. “I was headed to the store anyway.”
“It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t mind calling you in the middle of the night to do something for her. She needs a man of her own.”
Christian quietly finished his food as Irene ranted.
Her brow then furrowed as she looked back over the empty grocery bags on the counter. “Chris. You didn’t get my rye bread?”
Christian paused, feeling an argument coming on. “I’m so sorry. I forgot it.”
“So you can remember your precious mom’s Sprite and medicine but you can’t pick up the one thing I asked you for.”
“Well, my mom is precious to me, Irene.” Christian said. “And I did pick up a bunch of groceries for you. I’m sorry I forgot…”
“You could have left all this other shit at the store.” Irene said. “All I asked for was the rye bread.”
“Well, it would have been a neat trick seeing you make a sandwich with rye bread without the meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes I bought you.” Christian said.
“Are you going to go get my bread, Chris?” Irene said.
“Go get your… Are you kidding? I just got off work.”
“You just said it was slow at work today.”
“I said it was slow.” Christian said. “I didn’t say that I didn’t work.”
“So I fix you breakfast and you don’t care if I eat or not.”
“Eat?” Christian said. He then walked to the refrigerator and opened the door. “We have a fridge full of food here, Irene. You can eat something else.”
“So you’re really not going back to the store?” Irene asked.
“I’ll go after I wake up. I have to take your car to get the oil changed anyway. Right now I’m taking a shower and going to bed.”
Irene then stormed out of the kitchen and headed toward the bedroom. She emerged a minute or so later with her coat on and her car keys in her hand. She looked back at the kitchen and said, “You ain’t shit.” before leaving the apartment and slamming the front door.
Christian stood in stunned silence for a few moments. He then slowly walked toward the bedroom to take his shower.

********************

Typically an outburst from Irene would have left Christian wired and he wouldn’t have been able to rest. However, he was more tired than usual and after his shower he was able to swiftly drift off to sleep.

Christian opened his eyes. Lying in bed only wearing his pajama pants, he rose up and rested on his elbows as he saw Vivian walking toward him. He smiled as he had never seen her in the short silk robe she was wearing. It was loosely tied in the front but barely covering her breasts and her stomach was exposed.
She slowly climbed from the foot of the bed toward him. He could smell the heavenly scent of her hair as she moved toward his lips. They kissed deeply. He then inhaled, enjoying the lush combination of aromas that she wore. He slipped his hand underneath her robe and ran it down her side to her hip where he felt the lace of her panties.
“Take them off.” She whispered. His heart raced as he obliged, tossing them aside and turning her onto her back. He softly pulled her robe tie loose and exposed her breasts. He then leaned down and began licking on and around her nipple with the tip of his tongue, evoking a seductive groan from her. He put his lips around her nipple and gently sucked which caused her breath to catch.
After a few moments, Christian then moved up to Vivian’s lips. With one hand under her breast, softly kneading, he placed his lips on hers and drank in their plush feel against his. She then almost imperceptibly allowed her tongue to escape her mouth and tease his upper lip. He excitedly allowed his tongue to join hers as his hand moved from her breast to her hip and upper thigh.

The loud crash of Irene’s keys hitting the end table on her side of the bed awakened Christian. He opened his eyes wide and stared at the table for a few seconds in a sleepy stupor. He then looked toward the bedroom door and saw Irene standing there staring angrily at him. She then, with her grocery bag in her hand, turned and walked presumably toward the kitchen.
Christian, realizing she had maliciously awakened him, yelled out, “FUCK!”

********************

“Vivian.” Traci said to her boss for the third time as she stood in Vivans’ doorway.
A startled Vivian looked up at her assistant. “Yeah.”
“What’s going on with you today?” Traci asked, placing documents on her bosses desk for which Vivian had asked.
“Nothing. I’m fine.” Vivian said. “Thank you. For these.”
Traci stared at Vivian for a few seconds. “Well, it’s most certainly not nothing, but you’ll talk to me about it when you’re ready.” Traci then turned to leave the office. As she reached the door, she quickly turned back around. “Hey. Did you want to do something different for your birthday party?”
“Why?” Vivian asked.
“Well, you don’t have a date.” Traci said. “I thought it might be awkward, having a huge party with lots of people. Lots of couples. We could do a girls’ night out or something.”
“It’s my 30th birthday.” Vivian said. “It’s a big deal. I want all of my friends there. Men and women.”
Traci shrugged. “OK.” She then headed back toward her desk outside of Vivian’s office.
“Traci.” Vivian called to her. “What do you think?”
“I think you should bring a date.” Traci said. “It’s not like there aren’t a hundred men you could call.”
“I don’t want to call a guy just to have a warm body with me.” Vivian said. “It’s a big birthday. One I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
“So invite someone special.” Traci said.
“Like who?” Vivian asked.
Traci looked at her knowingly. Vivian smiled and began to blush. “Viv, why don’t you just call him? It sounds like you had a great time with him.”
“I had a great fuck with him.” Vivian said.
“I don’t care how good the sex is…” Traci said, “...it doesn’t make you blush like a schoolgirl at the mere mention of him.”
Vivian thought for a couple of seconds. She then looked at Traci. “I don't know about that. It was some pretty good sex.”
They then both laughed loudly.
“Call him, Vivian.” Traci said.
Vivian shook her head. “I don’t know his number.” They both then sat silently for a few moments. “I did see him today, though.”
“What?” Traci said, stunned. “How? When?”
“At the grocery store. He was with a friend. He was coming in as I was leaving.”
“Did you talk to him?”
“No.” Vivian said, looking into the distance. “I barely waved at him. Seeing him caught me off guard. I didn't know how to act.”
“What is it about this guy?” Traci said.
“I don’t know.” Vivian said.
“Well, I guess unless you want to camp out at the grocery store until you catch him again...you have to just forget about him.” Traci said.
“Yeah.” Vivian said. She then had a flash of inspiration. “I do know where he lives. The apartment complex, anyway. He told me.”
“Really?” Traci said.
“Yeah. Woodland Hills. But I wouldn’t know which apartment...”
“Hey. You know his car, right?” Traci said. “He gave you a ride.”
“Oh my god.” Vivian said. “You’re right.”
Vivian and Traci smiled at one another. Vivian then leaped from her chair, grabbed her purse and keys, and darted out of the office.

********************

Vivian pulled her car into Woodland Hills apartments with great apprehension about just dropping in on Christian. Particularly after her icy interaction with him at the grocery store. But she had gone too far to chicken out. And there was no way she could face Traci without at least giving their plan a try.
Vivian made a few turns through the complex before spotting Christian’s car. Where it was parked it was obvious in which apartment he lived. Her heart began to race as she parked a couple of spaces away from his car.
She then pulled down her car visor and opened the mirror with which it came equipped. The lights next to the mirror shone and she began ensuring her makeup was flawless. She then stepped out of her car and checked her outfit, even looking at her back as best she could, imagining that he would also watch her walk away and wanting to make sure everything was in order for that visual as well.
Finally satisfied, Vivian grabbed her purse, closed her car door, and then walked up to the front door of the apartment. After a deep breath to try and control her ever hastening heartbeat, a smiling Vivian knocked on the door.
After several seconds the door opened. It was Irene.
Shit. Vivian thought to herself. He has a girlfriend. He told me he has a girlfriend. Why didn’t I remember that?
“Hello?” Irene said.
“Hi.” Vivian said, trying not to allow her smile to fade. She then switched into business mode. “Is Mr. …”
Shit! she thought again, I don’t know his last name!
Desperately trying to regroup, she finally asked. “Is Christian… available?”
Irene’s brow furrowed as she gave Vivian a once-over. Coming from the office, Vivian looked very professional. However, she was also very attractive. “Christian Caldwell?”
“Mr. Caldwell. Yes. Is he here now?” Vivian said quickly.
“How do you know Chris?” Irene asked, still looking wary.
“We meet at Odyssey Warehouse.” Vivian said. “I have a project management firm and I am looking to put together a group of guys to help with moving supplies to and from the sites of our various projects. It would be contract work but it would pay descent and Chr… Mr. Caldwell expressed an interest in working with me. With my firm.”
Vivian and Irene looked at one another for a few seconds, Irene’s face still looking suspicious.
Vivian then reached into her purse. “Here is one of my business cards.” As Irene looked at it, Vivian continued, “The work wouldn’t be very consistent but… well, it would be helpful for me to have a team I could rely on to help with logistics for our various projects.”
Irene’s expression changed. “And this is your project management firm?” she asked Vivian.
“Yes.” Vivian nodded.
“I need to be like you.” Irene said, handing Vivian back her card.
“No… keep it.” Vivian said, then looking behind Irene. “So, is Mr. Caldwell available to talk right now?”
Irene, looking at the card again, shook her head. “No. He’s not here right now. He took my car to get an oil change.”
“Oh. Well, if you could just pass my card along to him and tell him to give me a call at his earliest convenience, I would appreciate it.”
Irene nodded. “Sure.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Caldwell.” Vivian said.
Irene shook her head. “Sharp.”
“I’m sorry?” Vivian said.
“My name is Sharp. Not Caldwell. We’re not married.” Irene said. “I’ll give him your card.”
“Thank you, Ms. Sharp.” Vivian said. She then turned around and walked back to her car. Just making sure. She thought to herself with a smile.

********************

The end of pt. 1
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