An unforeseen invitation

“Hey, Ben, this is lucky—I was just about to call you!” It’s Bailey’s mom. I deal with a spike of anxiety and get my face under control. I’ve been having to do this a lot since the girls graduated, after spending a week with Scarlett and a couple nights with Abby. I know everything we’ve done has been consensual—I didn’t even initiate it—but part of me still thinks I should feel guilty, and knows there are those who would agree. I haven’t even fucked Bailey yet, but I know I’m going to, and I know her parents will be extremely displeased if they ever find out.

All this flashes through my mind in a split second before I turn around. “Hello, Mai,” I greet her, sketching a vague salute in greeting. “What’s up?”

“Jack and I need to go out of town unexpectedly for a week or so,” she says. This is weird, I tell myself, this happening twice in a couple weeks. It’s like the universe is conspiring to help me fuck these girls. “We were hoping you could help a little. If Lily will be home, we thought maybe she could stay with you two.”

“Unfortunately,” I say with sincere regret, “Lily isn’t at home at the moment, and she’ll be away for much of the week. Personally, I think she overscheduled herself this summer, but I’m just Dad—what do I know? I get a vote, but these days she gets two, so if we disagree, I’m outvoted.”

Mai’s giggle sounds like little silver bells. When she gets herself under control, she says, “Well put.” Her grin is distinctly wry. “Well then, Plan B is for her to stay at home, but we don’t want her completely on her own. Would you be willing to check in on her every day or so? Maybe when Lily is home you could have her for dinner.”

I’m going to have her for dinner, all right, is the thought that flashes through my mind before I can stop it. I know that’s not what Mai meant . . . I wonder if she realizes what she actually said? Apparently not—she’s just looking at me, waiting for a response, and from her expression I’ve probably already taken too long. I shake myself, by way of giving myself an excuse. “Sorry, Mai, I was just mentally checking my schedule,” I say apologetically. Her face relaxes and she nods with a half-smile. “That will be fine—I can do that every day, no trouble.” Actually, it will be better than fine, but you don’t need to know that . . .

Mai smiles in relief and pleasure. “Thank you, Ben. It’s good to know someone we can trust will be keeping a close eye on our daughter.” Mai, you have no idea how close . . . “I’ll send her a text to let her know what’s happening—we have to leave before she gets off work. Let me give you my spare house key, just in case.” She pulls out a small keyring and hands it to me. “Let us know if anything goes wrong, OK?”

“Sure thing, Mai.”

*****

I leave a message for Lily so she knows what’s going on—I can imagine the eyeroll with which she’ll receive it—and head over to the Rivers’ place. I get there before Bailey gets home, so I let myself in and sit down to wait. It isn’t long before the door opens and she comes in calling, “Hi, mom, hi, dad!” Uh-oh—she didn’t get the text. When she doesn’t get a response, she repeats herself more loudly, sounding uncertain. She comes around the corner and does a doubletake when she sees me. “Hi, Mr. Harrison,” she says, her voice very uncertain now. “What are you doing here? Where are my folks?” The level of concern in her voice is rising swiftly. “Is something wrong?”

“No, Bailey, nothing’s wrong,” I say quietly, making a stilling gesture with my hand palm-down. “I take it you didn’t get your mom’s text.”

“My phone died—I think something’s wrong with the battery. Why?” Bailey asks, clearly confused.

I stand up and walk to her, putting my hands on her elbows. I tell her the situation and her mother’s request. As the light begins to dawn in her eyes, I shift my hands to her curvy hips, pick her up, and carry her to the island in the kitchen, which is nearby. “In other words,” I say in a low voice, “as far as I’m concerned, your mother gave me permission to spend the week giving you the fucking you’ve had coming since that day I heard you talking outside my kitchen window.” I step forward, pushing her thighs apart to stand between her knees, and fasten my mouth on hers in a deep, demanding kiss. She gives a low, guttural cry into my mouth—almost a sob—and kisses me back with **** hunger, gripping me with her knees and throwing her arms around me in a fierce embrace.