Natalie's Frustration (Natalie PoV)

My presentation was ready. I had all my notes in order and I’d triple-checked the computer to make sure my presentation was working and ready to go. I’d gone over things so much, I could probably recite them by heart. I was ready.

But I was last on the meeting agenda. A meeting where ninety percent of everything discussed could have been done in an email. A meeting I shouldn’t even be at except for this damn presentation I needed to give.

So while the bosses droned on about how great everything was going and how amazing they were at their job, my mind wandered. For a moment, my life seemed to be sliding back. A terrifying moment where I thought the whole thing was going to collapse. Fortunately, things seemed to be stable. Alexis was on the mend and doing better than ever. There were even times where I caught her doing work. Actual work! That wasn’t the only thing I noticed. It was little things. She was finally making her bed when she got up. She scraped off the dishes and rinsed them before putting them in the dishwasher. She was actually using the dishwasher. There were even moments where she did some small chores around the house.

It was all a huge relief. It seemed that the shock of realizing her feelings for Jake at the worst possible moment had given her the little shake she needed to realize there were things that needed doing. My baby sister was growing up… well… a bit.

I knew she was still going out and having her fun, but she hadn’t brought any home in awhile so a little victory on that front.

Though I felt a bit sad knowing I wouldn’t get to see the parade of guys leaving the apartment anymore. Some of them…

Seriously? What was wrong with me? This wasn’t the first time I’d had those thoughts. It was frustrating since they came at the most random of times. A cute guy standing in front of me at the coffee shop? No harm in checking out his butt. Attractive guy walk past? A little daydream of what I would do to him in bed…

Ugh, I needed to get laid. I should call Tommy. I hated calling him for a booty call, but god damn I needed one. Hell. I’d drive up to his place for a few hours if it meant getting some relief here. This was driving me insane. One quick fuck to get my head on straight… and I was talking about a fuck. The wild, take-me-as-hard-as-you-can sort of fuck. The type that you couldn’t think about anything else and left you completely exhausted and gasping for air. If it wasn’t Tommy, maybe that cute nerdy guy in IT could—

“Ms. Parker?”

My mind snapped back to reality to find everyone around the table looking at me.

“Yes!” I said, standing. I fought back embarrassment as I moved to the front of the table. Standing tall, I projected an air of confidence as I launched into my presentation.

I prayed to whatever god or gods there up there listening that no one would notice how god-damn wet I was…