41. Cohen

Ollie and I sat across from each other at the dinner table. Our plates were full of spicy chicken and rice. It was one of my favorite things to make, and thankfully he liked it too. He also seemed in a better mood today than he had last week.

Things were looking up. Finally. Therapy must be helping, and Saturday with Birdie... I couldn't think about things like that at the dinner table. Not when I still had until Saturday to see her—and it was only Monday.

"Did you have a good botany club meeting?" I asked Ollie.

He nodded, looking down at his plate full of food.

"No-word answers? That's a new one," I said with a teasing tone.

He rolled his eyes. "How much is there to say about it?"

"Apparently not much." I took another bite. "And what about your weekend? Mom doing well?"

"Yeah. She is."

"Good," I said. And I meant it. No one deserved to be alone. And even though divorce had felt like admitting failure, no one deserved to be in a loveless relationship.

I wondered what might have happened if Audrey and I had tried to stick it out—lived alongside each other like roommates in a house big enough to hold all of our possessions but none of our baggage.

I might never have met Birdie. Might not be seeing her Saturday.

"Dad?" Ollie said.

I nearly dropped my fork. It was the first time he'd initiated conversation with me in quite a while. "Yeah, son?"

"What happened to the house?"

I shook my head. "The deal fell through. We can look for something together this summer."

Ollie smiled softly, then frowned. "I'm sorry. I know you liked the house."

I raised my eyebrows. "What am I paying Cecilia? Whatever it is clearly isn't enough."

With an eyeroll, Ollie said, "Sorry, lapse in judgement."

I chuckled and took another spicy bite, following it with a drink of lemonade.

"Dad?"

Again? At this rate, I'd have to erect a trophy in Cecilia's honor. "What's up?"

"Have you ever thought about dating?" he asked.

My hand stalled on the fork. In fact, I'd thought about dating a lot lately, and more, even though it was way too soon. "Sometimes," I admitted.

He nodded, pushing rice around on his plate.

"Why do you ask?"

His shoulders lifted in half a shrug. "Mom just got married so soon, and I... I don't know. I haven't really seen you with anyone."

"I never wanted to introduce you to anyone unless it was serious, you know?" I wished I could tell Ollie about Birdie. How much I liked spending time with her. How lucky he was to have someone like her working at his school. But I needed to respect her privacy too, especially before we made anything official.

Ollie lifted a corner of his mouth. "Because of your mom?"

I nodded. "And because of you. You deserve the best, kid."

"You know, Dad?" he said. "So do you."

* * *

That conversation with Ollie left me feeling as high as the moon. Even while he went to his room to finish up on homework and go to bed. Even while I scrubbed the dishes and the table and the sink.

Even when the house was quiet and I went to bed. I couldn't wait to tell Birdie about our breakthrough, about our first full conversation in weeks that didn't involve an argument.

Then I realized I didn't have to wait.

Cohen: You're not going to believe this. Ollie actually talked to me tonight at dinner. We had a really good conversation.

I settled into my pillows, wishing she was beside me.

Birdie: !!!

Birdie: Cohen, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you two!

Cohen: I'm happy too. Happier than I've been in a long time.

Birdie: :) what do you think made the difference?

Cohen: I'm not sure. Maybe a combination of things. Whatever it is, I hope it stays this way.

Birdie: Me too. You both deserve it.

Deserve. That word made me smile. When Ollie had said I deserved the best, he didn't realize she was coming over Saturday.

Cohen: Is it bad if I say I've been thinking about you all day?

Birdie: Not at all. I've been thinking about you too.

I wondered if she'd been having the same thoughts as me. Ones that left me wanting her even more.

There was only one way to find out.

Cohen: What have you been thinking?

It took a long while for Birdie's reply to come, but when it did, my mouth fell open.

Birdie: I've been thinking about you in my office and what I wished we could have done.

My free hand trailed down my abs to the waistband of my pants.

Cohen: What do you wish we could have done, baby?

I held my breath, mentally begging for her reply. That we could ride out this fantasy together on the phone even if we couldn't do it in person.

Yet.

Birdie: I would have let you bend me over the desk.

Cohen: I would have fucking loved that.

I ran my fist down my length, already turned on. The thought of Birdie thinking of me in her office, touching herself to us—god, it made me hard.

Cohen: Baby, are you touching yourself?

Birdie: I am now.

Cohen: Good.

Cohen: Imagine I bend you over your desk and tear down your panties. I pull up your dress. I drop to my knees and eat your pussy from behind, making you so damn wet you're dripping in my mouth.

Birdie: I'm moaning. It feels so fucking good.

Cohen: I want to make you feel good. I get my fingers inside you, licking your clit and all along your folds. You're getting closer, so I stop.

Birdie: I want to see you, so I turn around and unzip your pants, taking that cock of yours in my hands. It's wet at the tip. I lick it off.

I shuddered, pumping my fist faster over my cock. Fuck, even on the phone Birdie was sexy as hell.

Cohen: That's hot, baby.

Birdie: I'm so wet for you, Cohen. I want to feel you inside me.

I didn't know if she was talking about reality or the fantasy that was pushing me closer to the edge, but it didn't matter.

Cohen: I want to be inside you. I spread your knees and press the tip of my dick against your slit, teasing you.

Birdie: You're cruel.

Cohen: I push inside your tight hole, inch by fucking inch until my balls hit your perfect ass.

Birdie: Fuck me.

Cohen: I pull back, slowly, watching my dick slide out of you, seeing how wet it is from your pussy. And then I slam inside, grabbing your thighs to keep you exactly where I want you.

Birdie: I'm grabbing your arms, digging my nails in your skin. It feels so fucking good, Cohen.

Cohen: I pump inside you, rubbing your clit with my thumb.

Birdie: I'm moaning. Getting so fucking close.

Cohen: Come with me, baby. I want to feel you milk my cock.

Birdie: Almost.

I pumped faster, working myself harder and harder, silently begging Birdie to come so I can imagine her around me, the moisture of our orgasms slicking my dick.

Birdie: I'm coming. Cohen, I'm coming.

Fuck. I ripped off my shirt and pushed myself over the edge, coming into the cotton, wishing it was Birdie instead.

Cohen: That was... amazing.

Cohen: You're amazing.

Birdie: I can't wait to do it in person.

Cohen: I promise, baby, I'm going to make you feel so good.

Birdie: I'm counting on it. Goodnight.

Cohen: Goodnight.