Meeting of the Homemakers

(Mat's PoV)

I buzz Maria in and finish dressing. I'm downstairs to meet her by the time she rides the elevator up. The full-length mirror by the door give me a chance to double-check that everything is in place. This is my only chance at a first impression with Maria.

Why am I so nervous? Remember shopping! Mat, you’re one of the girls. Talking to a beautiful woman shouldn't give me butterflies. You can offer her wine. No need to fear the older woman.

I **** my hands open and away from gripping my dress and put a big smile on my face. Ready to greet John's workplace lover. With a deep breath, I open the door.

"Maria?" I look up to the tall, curvy woman at the door. I am not afraid of this beautiful older woman.

"Mat! I've heard so much about you!" I spread my arms to give her a hug. She matches my energy and takes it up a level, embracing my head in her bosom. The intimidation I was expecting to feel melts in Maria’s mature warmth. A bosomy hug shouldn’t hold this power. It makes me jealous.

What can I say? It’s a nice bosom. I wish my bosom was that nice. In fact, all of her is nice. From her solid square shoulders, to her soft, huggable arms down to her full, wide hips. She’s curvy, but firm. Her time in the gym can be felt in her hug.

I don't blame John for sleeping with her, in fact I'm proud of him! Good job bringing her home to Matty.

(Maria's PoV)

The door opens and a housewife straight from an anime is in front of me. All she needs is an apron to complete the image. She stands a full head shorter than me, blue eyes, pink hair, she's adorable!

After the welcoming hug, I break the ice by complimenting the chunky piece by the door way. "Cool mirror."

"Thank you!” Mat’s face lights up, tension broken. “I found it at a consignment shop. I saw it and knew it would be perfect for this entryway. We moved recently and I'm in a scramble to decorate. It takes some time to really make a place feel, you know, homey."

"Trying? Oh bambolina, you're a great job with your home. My place could use your touch." She takes my coat and puts it on a hook by the doorway.

"Want some footies?" Mat gestures to a cute little bench with a basket of folded socks. She is asking me to take my shoes off. Looking at the rug leading to the kitchen I can understand why. This white pair with a pink kitty on the side will do just fine. "Alrighties! Let's have ourselves a drink before we finish dinner. You like wine, don't you?"

“Why yes, yes I do.” I am presented with a glass of a light, fruity Chardonnay and a board of crackers, cheese, and meat. I approve.

"I'm trying new things, so I have different wines for tonight. The man at the store said this one is good with lighter fare, and pointed me to this charcuterie board!" Mat explains.

A bite of cracker and cheese match well with a sip of wine. Mmmmm. It's good. "You choose well."

"I know, right! I was surprised by the combination." She leans in conspiratorially. "Can we talk about another combination?"

I feel a segue happening. I take another sip and nod. She smiles demurely, this part of the conversation might not be so bad.

"It seems that my man has charmed you with his ... ample... manly charms." Mat starts with a slow drawl. She seems excited about this.

"His manly charms are... ample." We giggle together at the phrase. We’re still on our first glass of the wine, so unless she started before I got here, the red in her cheeks isn't from ****. She pauses, her eyes moving from my hair to my chest to my arms, back to my face. Her look reminds me of how John looks at me.

Mat's next line is said looking at my lips. "You returned the favor with your ... abundant... womanly charms."

You naughty girl. I move forward to wrap my arms around her, bringing my lips to her ears. "You have …plenty… charms of your own, bambolina."

"You're just buttering me up, hun." Her words all have a musical lilt to them. She continues softly in my ear. "I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to ... explore ... your charms."

Mat moved back to sip on her wine. I went to take a sip and found my glass empty. A problem Mat quickly remedied. I'm quickly warming up to this young woman. Mat placed a cutting board with a knife and potatoes in front of me. "Chop these into cubes for roasting, please."

I pick up the knife and start chopping. Chopping is easy work to accompany our conversation. A conversation which flows easily as the topic changes from John to hair, to other life things. Somehow we get to the topic of work and the Fall Costume Ball. Mat listens as I vent about all the work Cotton dumped in my lap for planning that event. I'm almost finished with the arrangements, I just need a judge for the costume contest.

Vegetables for a salad are next on my chopping block. Followed by a third glass of wine. This one from a new bottle. This one is pink and bubbly, like Mat. We take it over to the couches.

"So." I slide closer to Mat, so my knee rests on her thigh.

“So.” She responds with her hand on my knee and shyly looking away. I can’t resist playing with her pink hair.

“So, we need to talk about how naughty our man has been.” That gets Mat’s attention. “And how he can make it up to us.”

“Our man has been naughty.”

Something about the way she said our man sent chills down my spine. "Hmmm, we can’t let this power go to his head."

"You sound like you have an idea."

“Since he’s so interested in girls who take the lead in bed, I think we should give him more than he can handle.”

“Oh?” She raises a curious eyebrow. "Girls who take the lead in bed?" Her innocence is cute.

I shift my position next to her to show her my current Quest.

• Sign up for a twerk class
• Upload a video from class to your Stargram

Reward: Booty size increase

“See what I mean?” I stand up and give her a little shake-shake. "I'm sure I'll learn some good tricks."

”Do you think, maybe I could join your class?” Mat asked quietly. “I’d like to be less awkward. Maybe we could wear matching shorts?”

I smile and caress her face. “Mat, I like how you think.”

(John's PoV)

Walking home, I had a dilemma. Tell Rita about Mat on the walk, or when I introduce her at the house.

We walk with my hand around her waist and her head against my chest. After Maria and Cotton being almost my height, having a short girlfriend is refreshing.

After the high energy of the game, Rita is quiet on the walk home. Content to be together. We continue that way until interrupted by a text message.

[The roast will be ready in thirty minutes. You will be here by then.] -Mat

[Game’s already over and we’re on our way. We’ll be there with time to spare.]

“Good news!” I tell Rita. “Dinner will be ready when we get to my place.”

“Oh? Dinner plans! Is that why you cut off my sushi in the third quarter?” Rita perked up at the mention of dinner. This girl really likes food. “What did you order?”

I decide to tell her now. “I didn’t order anything. Mat’s cooking. She wants to meet you.”

“She?” Rita stopped walking and started to look nervous. “There’s a girl cooking food at your house wants to meet me? I was hoping to have some time.. alone…” the last part was quiet. I don’t think I was supposed to hear it. Her shoulders tighten under my hand.

This is what Cotton warned me about. I use both arms to hug her to me. “Look, Rita. I had a great time with you. You’re really Interesting and fun to be with.” I raise her head so I’m not just talking to her ribbons. “I want to bring you deeper into my life. That means I have to introduce you to Mat. She’ll love you.”

“Have to introduce me? Does that mean … Mat … and you? Does that mean you are …?” She spoke to my chest and trailed off, unable to say the words.

I nod to confirm. “Mat’s my first wife. She’s encouraged me to have cute girlfriends, like you, and bring them back to her. Would you believe she’s even more of a homebody than you were?” That’s met with a small giggle. I play with Rita’s hair, trying to re-assure her. I can still feel the tension in her posture release a bit, even if she still feels like she wants to run away.

We stand there, silent. She turns towards me and puts her hands on my cheeks, looking up at me. Her eyes dashing back and forth with real fear.

“John. You aren’t going to get tired of me? I don’t want to be the childhood friend slash early love interest that is forgotten in Book Two because the MMC out grew her.”

“Rita, love. This is your invite to help write Book Two. You’re are joining the hero party of my story, we can write our future together.”

“Let’s write an ending that fits!” Rita grabbed my shirt in both of her hands with an intensity she doesn’t usually display.

“Instead of a Hollywood horror.” I boop her nose and hug her tight to me. She seems to be perking back up. We start walking again in companionable silence.

"So if I'm part of the hero party, which member am I? Probably the smart guy." She adjusts her glasses.

"Hmmm, you definitely aren't the big guy."

"I dunnooooo." She tapped her finger to her chin in thought. She shifted her wide hips from side to side. Her skirt bounced, accentuating the motion. "These are pretty big." She kept going, working her hips in a rhythmic dance around in a circle, turning her back to me and looking over her shoulder.

"Watch out! She knows what she's doing with those."

Rita finishes her turn and puts her hands on my shoulders. "Dance with me." Her hips don't stop. I try to two-step, but it doesn't match the rhythm in her head. "You're terrible." She laughs.

"You'll have to teach me."

My clumsy attempt isn't enough to interrupt her rhythm. "I will definitely have to teach you. I can't introduce you to my family with those moves."

"Your family? Where are you from?" I point her towards my home, we're getting close. We start walking again, arm in arm.

"Where am I from? America. That question is kinda rude." She snuggled against my arm, content with her sassy response. Seems like I'm not getting any more from her on this walk.

"All right then, keep your secrets."

“It seems I can’t remember on an empty stomach. Someone owes me dinner.”

As she says this we arrive at my apartment building. “Dinner is one elevator ride away.”

Author's Note: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. It took me a while to tweak the dynamic between Mat and Maria. We should be up for some fun times.