Chapter 10-Tonight, You're Mine

Holly sighed as she exited the elevator to begin her 12 hour work day at the hospital. She wanted to stay home in bed all day, so she didn't have to hear her co-workers gushing over their husbands and boyfriends sending them flowers and cute little notes. Holly hated Valentine's Day, she was always alone on the most romantic holiday of the year.

Putting her purse in the drawer next to her desk, she clocked in and began her rounds checking on her patients. They were all happy to see her back from her three week long vacation.

"Holly, welcome back," Patricia greeted as Holly walked by the other nurse's station at the end of the hall.

"Thanks Patricia, how are you?"

"I'm doing well, honey," the chubby middle aged woman said, "How are you?"

"I could be better but I'm not complaining."

Patricia smiled slightly before answering the phone that had begun ringing. Holly sighed as she saw Lauren sitting at the desk. She had two weeks to think about what had happened between the two of them, and she felt bad about arguing with Lauren.

"Hi," Holly said being the first to break the silence.

"Hi," Lauren replied smiling slightly.

"I'm sorry," Holly said, "I overreacted about everything. I shouldn't have slept with Mike either, but it hurt seeing my best friend with Jeff."

"I never should have slept with Jeff, I'm sorry. I regret that night and I'd change it if I could."

Holly sat down in the chair next to Lauren, "I love him," she admitted for the first time to someone other than herself. Riley knew, but he didn't care.

"Who," Lauren asked.

"Jeff," Holly sighed, "I realized I loved him after I spent the night with Riley a couple of days after I caught you two together. I snuck out in the middle of the night after writing him a note. I feel the same way about Riley now like I do about Mike. We can be friends and nothing more. I've been through everything with Jeff and it just feels right."

Lauren smiled, "I think he loves you. When he says your name, he has this look in his eyes that is pure love."

Holly smiled reaching put her arms to hug Lauren. Lauren stood up and hugged her back, "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too," Holly said, "Let's call it water under the bridge."

Lauren smiled and they fell into their normal work day routine like nothing had happened. The phone rang and Lauren answered it and found herself giggling. Holly rolled her eyes as she heard Lauren agree to go out for the night with Mike. It was good to see that those two had worked everything out.

Holly went to go check on her patients and when she came back, there were roses on the desk with her name on them. She found the card and she felt her breath hitch in her throat as she saw who they were from.

Holly,

I'm sorry! Be mine tonight, please?

--Jeff

Holly sighed as she shoved the card into the pocket of her shirt. Pulling out her cell phone, she texted Jeff and told him thank you for the flowers. Holly didn’t get a response right away and she knew that Jeff was probably still at practice and wouldn’t get back to her until later.

Lauren returned from the coffee shop downstairs and set a coffee down in front of Holly, “So, who are the flowers from?”

“Jeff,” Holly replied taking a sip of her drink.

“Aw,” Lauren gushed, “Mike sent me flowers this morning.”

“I’m glad you two worked everything out.”

Lauren sighed, “He followed me home that night and he wanted the truth. I told him everything and he told me that you two had slept together as revenge. We aren’t even together but Mike wants to start over like nothing happened. I never should have let it get as far as it did.”

Holly laughed as she looked at Lauren who looked at her like she was crazy, “What’s so funny?”

“I have just one question to ask you.”

“What?”

“How was he?”

“Who?”

“Jeff,” Holly replied.

“That was my first time but let me tell you, I think I have no expectations of men after him. How the hell do you keep up with him?”

“Mike is almost as good as Jeff,” Holly smirked, “I keep up with Jeff because I have the same sex drive he does. We just work when we’re together.”

Lauren couldn’t stop the blush from her cheeks and Holly laughed as her phone vibrated in her pocket.

I’m glad you didn’t give them to Patricia. I’ll pick you up tonight at your sister’s house be ready at 7. Make sure you wear something nice.

Holly put her phone back in her purse as her and Lauren fell into conversation as if nothing ever happened. Before Holly knew it, it was time to go home. Working 5am-5pm was stressful but she had tomorrow morning off and would be able to enjoy her night with Jeff without cutting it short because she had to work.

When Holly got back to her sister’s house, she searched through her makeshift closet trying to find something to wear. Holly called out to her Stephanie for help but when they couldn’t find anything in her closet, they went to Stephanie’s room. Stephanie found a dress that didn’t fit her anymore that still had the tags on it. It was a 1950s style red dress with a black belt. Holly fell in love with it as soon as she saw it.

“Who are you going out with tonight,” Stephanie asked.

“Jeff is taking me out.”

“Holly,” Stephanie sighed, “Are you sure that’s a good idea.”

“I talked to Lauren today; we both apologized to each other and Jeff sent me flowers. Please spare me the lecture.”

Stephanie sighed, “Okay, I’ll shut up.”

Holly was finishing curling her hair when the doorbell rang, “I’ll be there in a second,” she called out down the stairs. Stephanie and her husband had left to go out for the night.

Holly shrugged into her coat and opened the door. Jeff stood on the other side with a smile on his face and a rose in his hands. Holly wrapped her arms around him in a hug and Jeff kissed the top of her head.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered handing her the rose.

“Thank you, you don’t look so bad yourself,” Holly replied. Jeff was dressed in a black suit with a black shirt and a red tie.

“We match,” Holly smiled as Jeff walked her to the car.

“Your sister called me and told me what you were wearing. She also told me that if I fuck up again, she’ll hang my balls from the Rocky statue.”

Holly laughed lightly as Jeff drove back towards Philadelphia from Stephanie’s home in Haddonfield.

“Where are we going,” Holly asked.

“We’re going to Bliss. It just opened down on South Broad Street.”

“We always go to eat down there,” Holly joked causing Jeff to laugh.

They arrived in front of the restaurant and Jeff handed the keys to the valet before helping Holly out of the car. They were seated at a table towards the back of the restaurant. Throughout dinner, Jeff and Holly caught up to what was happening in each other’s lives for the last three weeks.

They ate their dinners in silence and Jeff paid the bill before grabbing Holly’s hand and leading her out of the restaurant. The temperature had dropped and Holly shivered. Jeff noticed and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her in close to him.

Holly inhaled his cologne and for the first time in three weeks, she was happy. Jeff drove towards their house in Philadelphia. Holly sighed as she walked through the doors and immediately felt comfortable being back home.

“I’ll be right back,” Jeff said as he slipped into his bedroom. Holly sat down on the couch and took off her shoes.

Jeff came back to the living room with his shirt now untucked and his tie discarded. He sat down next to Holly and wrapped his arm around her shoulder pulling her close to him, “I’m sorry Holly, I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

Holly silenced Jeff with a kiss; she had been dying to do it all night. Jeff cupped Holly’s face in his hands and kissed her as if his life depended on it. Jeff lay back on the couch pulling Holly with him. His hands unzipped her dress and he brought the straps down her shoulders. Holly unbuttoned Jeff’s shirt and he sat up slipping it off. Jeff groaned as he saw the black lace bra and boy shorts that Holly was wearing. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he made his way upstairs to his bedroom where he laid her down on the bed.

Holly gasped as Jeff slid the panties down her legs and traced her slit with his fingers, “You’re beautiful,” he whispered.

“Stop teasing,” Holly warned, “Please?”

Jeff slid his pants and boxers off while Holly took her bra off. Holly gasped as the tip of Jeff’s dick traced her slit and he entered her slowly. Her eyes rolled back into her head as Jeff made the first stroke.

“You feel so good, baby,” he whispered as Holly dug her nails into his back. Jeff reached between them and tweaked Holly’s clit with his fingers sending her over the edge before he spilled himself into her.

Jeff collapsed on top of Holly before placing a gentle kiss on her lips. Jeff rolled to Holly’s side and wrapped his arm around her waist and they stayed like that for a while just enjoying each other’s company. Holly heard Jeff’s breathing even out and she whispered what she had been dying to say but chickened out, “I love you,” she whispered before curling into his chest and falling asleep. Jeff heard her and he smiled to himself before drifting back off to sleep himself.

They had a long way to go before everything was back to normal between the two of them but little did they know nothing would ever be normal again in their lives. It would no longer be the two of them and they would have to learn to rebuild their lives around the change that was coming.

Chapter 9-S{he} Be{lie}ve{d}

Holly lay in the bed of the hotel room that Riley had booked for the two of them feeling like she had gotten ran over by a truck. Everything had hit her at once as she thought about everything that Riley had done for her when she arrived. It was picture perfect, but when he kissed her, all she could see was Jeff’s blue eyes staring back at her.

Riley was gentle with her whispering sweet nothings in as he made love to her. When Holly arrived, Riley greeted her wearing a white bathrobe while holding a glass of wine. Riley led her to the bathroom where he had candles lit on the sink and all over the room. Rose petals outlined the bed and the floor, when Holly had asked him why he had outdone himself, he simply replied, that she deserved it and that he’d do anything for someone that he loved.

Holly turned over on her side staring at the wall as Riley snored slightly behind her. She loved Riley but all she could think about was Jeff. He had hurt her deeply after he promised that he never would but Holly felt her clench at the thought of her possibly being in love with him. How she felt about Jeff now was the same way she had felt about Riley when she first met him, now all she felt for Riley was a friendly feeling that she felt for the other guys that she knew.

When she saw Jeff, she felt butterflies in her stomach and a desire to protect him from the fame monster that he sometimes fell victim to. Holly knew that although Riley said he loved her, he loved his wife more than anything in the world and that he lied to her so that she’d believe him and she’d end up sleeping with him.

Holly felt Riley shift in the bed behind her as he rolled over in his sleep. Securing his arm around her waist, he resumed snoring as Holly slowly and carefully lifted his arm before climbing out of bed. Holly gathered her clothes and got dressed. Grabbing the hotel supplied tablet and pen, she quickly scribbled down a note to Riley.

Riley,

Thank you for everything last night but we both know that this has to end for good. I loved you and I still do but I love you now like I love Mike, as a friend. I sat up all night thinking about things and I’ve realized that I love Jeff. How I feel about Jeff is the same way I felt about you when I first met you. You need to be with your wife who loves you more than anything in this world. We have some great memories that I will remember forever, but there’s only room in your life for one Holly…and I’m not her. You will always be the first man that I have ever loved, I wish you would have came into my life sooner but then again I don’t because I wouldn’t be in love with Jeff.

Love,
HollyHolly kissed the piece of paper leaving her lip prints on the sheet before she placed it on her pillow next to Riley. Making her walk of shame towards the elevators, Holly descended downstairs to the exit of the hotel where a cab was waiting to take her home.

Holly arrived home shortly before nine in the morning, Jeff was gone for the day which meant she’d get to sleep and be alone for awhile while she settled everything she was feeling before he came home. Opening the door with her key, she immediately saw the new dining room table and chairs. Smiling slightly, she hung her coat on the hook before heading upstairs to her room to sleep until she woke up.

Meanwhile, Jeff woke up the next morning not feeling well. The flu was hitting the Flyers hard, and Jeff knew that it was only a matter of time before he too caught the virus. Jeff was laying under three blankets but he couldn’t keep warm no matter how hard he had tried. He felt a wave of nausea overcome him and he rushed to the bathroom.

Holly heard dry heaving and gagging coming from the room next door to hers. She rolled her eyes figuring Jeff was just nursing a hangover before climbing into the hot shower that she had running. When she was finished, she heard Jeff on the phone with his coach explaining that he had caught the flu like the other guys on the team had came down with.

Swallowing her pride, Holly walked into the hall and saw Jeff’s pale face. He had on sweatpants and a sweatshirt with a comforter wrapped around him.

“Are you okay,” she asked as he hung up the call.

“Do I look okay,” he snapped but Holly chose to ignore it. Everyone is miserable when they’re sick but today was not Jeff’s day to take an attitude

Holly slowly approached Jeff, feeling his forehead, she frowned at how warm he was. Holly replaced her hand with her lips, something her mother used to do to her when she was sick with a fever that wasn't taught in nursing school.

“Go lay down, I’ll go get the thermometer then I’ll call Dr. Milano and tell him that you have come down with the flu.”

Jeff gave up without a fight and went into his bedroom where he crawled back in bed pulling the covers up to his chin.

"Open your mouth," Holly said sitting on the bed next to him placing the object in his mouth.

Holly placed her fingers on Jeff's wrist and looked at the clock on the wall, "Your pulse is okay," she said as the thermometer beeped. Holly pulled it out of Jeff's mouth and frowned at the numbers on the small screen, "102.3."

Jeff growled causing Holly to smile, "Fuck me," he groaned.

"Here, take these," she said reaching into her pocket to pull put two Tylenol that would hopefully break his fever, "Try to get some rest, I'll be back in when you wake up to see if your fever has gone down. I'm going to CVS to get your prescription, do you want anything else?"

"I need more condoms," Jeff said with a smirk, "We're all out."

Holly couldn't help but laugh at him, even sick with the flu, he was still a pig but that's why she loved him, right?

"I'll grab Gatorade and soup while I'm gone. Please stay in bed," she asked and Jeff nodded.

"There's a fifty in my wallet, take it to cover everything."

"It's fine, I got it. Call me if you need anything else, I'll be back as soon as I can."

Holly left Jeff's room suddenly not mad at him. He was sick and she hated seeing him so helpless. Jeff was always the strong one and Holly didn't like it when he looked weak.

Holly went to the drug store to get Jeff's prescription before going to Costco to shop for food Jeff would need over the next couple of days.

Holly laughed as she walked through the health section of the wholesale store and saw the 1000 pack of condoms, “If he goes through these, he needs help,” she whispered to herself as she made her way to the checkout.

The cashier gave Holly a weird look as she scanned the condoms and placed them into the box that held Holly’s groceries. Holly dared her to say something as she swiped her credit card. Holly had stayed out longer than she had intended to.

When Holly arrived home, Jeff was asleep while curled up under a blanket on the couch. Holly sat down on the coffee table and nudged him awake, he groaned as he slowly came to his senses, "How are you feeling," she asked as he slowly sat up.

"Like shit," he replied as she handed him the Gatorade and flu medicine.

"Are you hungry," she asked.

Jeff shook his head no and Holly stood up to go back to the kitchen when Jeff reached for her hand. Holly wanted to pull away but for some reason, she didn't. Jeff looked up at her sadly before pulling her down to his lap wrapping the blanket around them as he lay back with Holly on top of him.

"Jeff, I have to go make dinner," she said struggling to get up before her emotions got the best of her.

"Stay here a little while, please," he asked, "You're warm and I'm cold."

Holly reluctantly lay still trying not to cry as Jeff kissed her forehead gently, before he too fell asleep. The doorbell rang and Holly silently thanked the Heavens above for saving her. Carefully removing herself from Jeff, she walked towards the door.

Mike smiled seeing her clad in just sweatpants and a Flyers hoodie, "Look who has the I got laid last night look on their face," he replied smirking.

"Can we not talk about last night," she asked as her and Mike made their way to the breakfast bar in the kitchen. Mike sat in the stool as Holly put the groceries away. Holly threw the box of condoms in Jeff's lap before returning to the kitchen."

"Where'd you go last night? Jeff said you came home in a taxi this morning."

“I went to stay in a hotel, I couldn’t be under the same roof with him anymore.”

“So…you didn’t go to the Double Tree and have a romantic evening with Riley?”

Holly froze, “How did you find out?”

“Riley’s the one who was called up while Jeff is sick, he told me this morning.”

“FUCKING ASSHOLE,” they both heard Jeff scream. They turned their heads and saw him standing in the entryway of the kitchen, “What the fuck Holly? You keep going back for more and getting hurt, are you that much of a slut?”

Holly didn’t have time to react as Jeff’s head snapped to the side and the red handprint made its appearance on the left side of his face. Holly stormed upstairs and slammed her bedroom door shut. Holly knew Jeff would find out about her night with Riley but she had hoped that she’d be the one telling him when everything was finally settled between them.

Holly heard the doorbell ring downstairs and she knew someone had come over. She heard Lauren’s voice and she wanted to throw herself out of the bedroom window.

“Holly,” Mike said coming into the room, “Can you please come downstairs and talk to them? You haven’t let them explain anything. We have some explaining to do ourselves, let’s just get this over with.”

Holly sat up slowly on the bed and Mike sat down next to her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed her forehead telling her that everything would be okay and to relax.

“Everything will be okay,” he whispered, “I promise, come on let’s get this over with.”

He grabbed her hand and wiped the tears away from her eyes with his free hand, “Thank you, Mike.”

“Anytime Holly, I’ll always be here,” he smiled as they walked downstairs and saw Lauren sitting on the chair and Jeff sitting on the couch.

Holly stood in the doorway, “Someone better start talking,” she said, “I want this over and done with.”

“Holly, I’m so sorry,” Lauren cried, “I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

Holly laughed sarcastically, “No one ever means for it to happen but it does. I seriously thought I could trust you and that you weren’t friends with me just for who I knew.”

“I swear it was never like that.”

“Holly, stop making this a one sided situation,” Jeff said, “You are guilty too, I know you fucked Mike for revenge, he told me and I know you fucking spent the night with Riley last night. I don’t understand why you are yelling at Lauren when you are just as fucking guilty as all of us sitting in this room right now. With all of the shit you’ve done with Mike, Riley, and me…you are no better than any one of us. If anything, I think you were using me.”

“Using you,” Holly snapped, “Jeff, I’m a fucking nurse who can keep up with your monthly salary even though I don’t make as much as you. I never fucking asked you for anything, I pay for my own shit and I pay all of the utilities in the house and half of the mortgage now. I am not fucking using you. I could give two shits about the Flyers to be honest with you.”

Jeff sat there clearly not knowing what to say when Holly started on Lauren again, “I never took you for a slut but hey I don’t blame you for fucking Jeff, I mean look at him. I guess the only thing I’ve ever used him for was sex but he’s the one who suggested this whole fucked up relationship him and I have anyways,” Holly said trying not to let the tears fall, “For three years, I’ve watched Jeff use everything with a fucking vagina, so you’re no different than any of the other girls he fucked. He was drunk and you were convenient for him.”

“Slut,” Lauren laughed, “You seriously have the nerve to call me a slut when you have slept with Riley, Jeff, and Mike. If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black then I don’t know what is.”

“Well you’re not a virgin anymore, so that makes you a slut since you fucked Jeff when he was drunk. At least I’ve had those three both sober and drunk. If that makes me a slut then so be it.”

“You two both need to stop before you both say something that you regret,” Mike said as Lauren started to cry. He was ready to forgive Lauren as he watched her break down. He knew there was something that she wasn’t telling Holly and he hoped it wasn’t what he thought it was.

“I WAS A FUCKING VIRGIN,” Lauren screamed causing the room to fall silent, “I was a virgin, okay and I slept with Jeff. I can never get that night back, Holly; I thought you were my friend. I should go,” she said standing up and grabbing her purse.

Mike breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, “I need to talk to her. You two need to work everything out. Holly, you are more than welcomed to stay at my house if you’d like.”

Holly whispered a thank you as Mike walked out of the house leaving her and Jeff to be there by themselves. Holly could see the color was still drained from Jeff’s face and he was still sick.

“You need to go get some rest,” she said, “You will never get better if you stress yourself out. Go upstairs and go to sleep, I’m going to stay with my sister.”

“Do whatever the fuck you want, I don’t care,” Jeff said standing up from the couch and walking upstairs.

Holly walked upstairs a couple of minutes later and packed her suitcase. She was moving out for now while everything cooled down. She needed to live her life without Jeff for a while and she didn’t know how she would do it, he was her everything, he just needed to realize that without each other, they were nothing.

Chapter 8-Revenge is the Best Medicine

Holly pulled into Mike's driveway as the tears threatened to fall. Lauren and Jeff had betrayed her, you don't screw around with someone's fuck buddy, it's just girl code. Jeff was on her shit list too for fucking her best friend.

Holly knew she had no reason other than Lauren breaking girl code to be mad; but she felt like her heart was ripped out of her chest, and she didn't know why.

Mike answered the door sleepily, wearing nothing but Flyers sweatpants and his brown curly hair was messed up slightly, "Holly," he said as he leaned against the door frame, "What are you doing here this late?"

Holly didn't respond, instead, she pushed her way into the house and shut the door behind her pressing Mike against it as her lips crashed down upon his

"Holly," he said when he had finally managed to pull away, "What's wrong?"

"Lauren," she began as a few stray tears fell down her face, "She--I walked in on her having sex with Jeff."

That was all Mike needed to hear, he had no time to be angry at his best friend, or the girl he was close to asking to be his girlfriend. He grabbed Holly by the waist roughly, slamming her hips against his before crashing his lips to hers.

Holly fumbled with her scrub top before pulling it over her head as Mike quickly pulled her pants off before picking her up. Holly wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her towards the couch in the living room.

“We shouldn’t do this, it’s not fair to them,” Mike said.

“What’s fair is foul and foul is fair, what they did is foul and we need to be fair with them. Please Mike,” Holly begged, “Mike, the girl you were going to ask to be your girlfriend fucked your best friend and my two best friends just fucked each other.”

Holly didn’t have time to react as Mike buried his face in her core. Holly gasped as Mike took his clit it his mouth and sucked on it before lapping at her.

“Oh God,” she panted as he changed his patterns on her before plunging two fingers into her. Holly went over the edge and arched her back off the couch, “Mike,” she screamed as his lips claimed hers again. Mike groaned as Holly reached between them and ran her hands over Mike’s dick. Mike leaned his head back as Holly jerked him off.

“I need to be inside you, right now,” he groaned as he felt himself ready to blow his load on Holly’s stomach.

“Condom,” she whispered and Mike reached into the couch cushions and pulled out a Magnum.

Mike rolled the condom over his erection before pushing into Holly. Holly gasped as Mike slid out all of the way before ramming back into her.

Mike sent Holly over the edge a short while later reaching between then to tweak her clit with his thumb, “FUCK,” she screamed as he collapsed on top of her.

Mike sat up pulling Holly with him carrying her upstairs to his room. Mike gently laid her on the bed before walking out of the room into the bathroom. Holly heard him turn on the faucet of the tub; Mike returned and smiled at her lightly.

“Take a hot bath,” he whispered into her hair before kissing her forehead. Holly smiled and walked next door to the bathroom. Holly leaned her head back against the wall and let the hot water relax her. The water turned cold before she decided to clean her body and return to Mike’s room.

When she returned, Mike was sitting in bed watching TV. He had his sweatpants back on and Holly noticed her clothes folded neatly on the dresser, Mike smiled over at her as she entered the room. She was wrapped in a towel and Mike gestured to the t-shirt on the bed that he had grabbed for her. Holly stepped into the hallway and put the shirt on before turning around and going back into the room.

“Want to talk about it,” Mike asked as Holly lay down on the bed.

“I told you everything,” Holly said, “I came into the door from work and I heard moaning, I walked into the dining room and saw Jeff fucking her.”

Holly started crying and Mike pulled her into his arms and held her while she cried, “I care about him a lot,” Holly said, “More than I thought, do you know what it was like walking into the house I share with him and seeing him fucking someone that wasn’t me? I don’t want to be with him but damn Mike, he could have told me that he wanted to see other people. I do it all of the time; I don’t know why it’s such a big deal.”

Mike smiled at her blubbering as she became incoherent and fell asleep. Mike kissed her temple before turning over and going to sleep. Mike woke up to the sound of his phone ringing on the nightstand.

“Hello,” he answered groggily.

“Where is she,” Jeff asked, “I know she’s with you.”

“Who,” Mike replied knowing just who Jeff meant.

“Holly,” he snapped.

“Yeah, she’s here,” Mike said, “We’re sleeping.”

“What do you mean ‘we’re sleeping?’?”

“Well since you think it is okay to fuck her best friend and the girl that was almost my girlfriend, she came over and we fucked. How does it feel, Jeff?”

“You son of a bitch,” Jeff yelled, “You fucking knew that I loved her. I was fucking drunk and Lauren was here.”

“That’s no excuse, Jeff,” Mike replied, “You of all people know how Holly feels about trust. I seem to be the only one she can now since Riley dicked her over, and by the looks of it…you and Lauren have too. Holly will be staying with me until this blows over.”

“You honestly think I am going to let her stay with you?”

“Newsflash Jeff, you don’t own her and you don’t tell me what to do. Now please, leave me alone and go fuck Lauren.”

Mike ended the call and slammed threw the phone across the room before putting his arm around Holly’s waist to fall asleep.

Holly woke up the next morning with swollen eyes. Mike was nowhere to be found but there was a note on the mirror of the bathroom letting her know that he would be home after the afternoon game the Flyers were playing that day. Holly saw that he had invited her to stay with him but she couldn’t stay here. She felt guilty for betraying Lauren even though Lauren betrayed her by having sex with Jeff.

Holly threw on her clothes from the night before and headed back to her and Jeff’s house. Holly locked the door behind her and walked into the kitchen. Sighing to herself, she grabbed the Lysol cleaner from under the kitchen sink and the dish towel from the oven handle before going into the dining room. Squirting every square inch of the table, Holly began disinfecting the now tainted table. Holly was finished cleaning the oak table that she had bought when they moved in when she saw the image of Jeff and Lauren in front of her eyes again. Sliding down the wall and burying her face into her knees, she started crying. Throwing the cleaner and the dish towel across the room, Holly stood up and grabbed her phone out of her purse.

She immediately dialed the number that she wished she didn’t remember to ask for help from the man she swore she’d stay away from. When he answered, Holly asked if he could come help her move the table to the trash. He agreed and told her he’d be there in fifteen minutes.

Holly took that time to take a shower and change her clothes. When she was finished, she heard the doorbell ring. Walking down the steps, she saw the tattooed arms of Riley Cote standing on the porch.

“Hey,” he smiled nervously as Holly opened the door.

“Hi,” she greeted, “Thank you for coming over.”

“You know I’d do anything for you,” Riley said hugging her.

“Can you help me move the table to the trash?”

“It’s a nice table, why would you want to get rid of it?”

“Jeff fucked Lauren on it last night.”

“Jeff fucked your best friend?”

“Did you expect anything less from him,” Holly asked sarcastically.

“I guess I shouldn’t be shocked, he’s a pig.”

“So are you,” Holly mumbled causing Riley to shoot her a pointed look.

Riley walked into the dining room and Holly helped him lift the table. Riley dropped his keys as they were walking out of the door, “You dropped your keys,” Holly said as they turned the table sideways to get it out of the house.

“Leave them there, we’ll get them when we come back in.”

They sat the table on the curb and walked back up the walkway to the house, “Do you need anything else,” Riley asked as he bent down to pick up his keys.

Holly didn’t respond, instead she wrapped her arms around him and uttered the words she never thought she’d say again, “Meet me somewhere tonight,” she whispered against his chest inhaling the scent of his cologne that she loved.

“You got it,” he smiled pulling away to give her a kiss, “Meet me at the Double Tree over on South Broad at 7.”

Holly smiled as Riley walked towards his car, she knew she would regret it but she didn’t care because Jeff Carter was dead to her. Meeting Riley would make him angry and she laughed to herself because revenge was the best medicine and Jeff was getting a taste of his own.

Chapter 7-I Think I Lo...

“Faster Jeff,” Holly moaned as Jeff thrusted inside of her. She wasn’t used to Jeff taking his time with her. He always gave it to her how she wanted it, rough and fast. That’s what made their sex life great, they both loved rough, hard, fast sex that would make the neighbors one street over hear their moans but what Holly didn’t know was Jeff was tired of it.

Jeff never once complained about their sex life and the only time he had one night stands was on the road when Holly couldn’t be there. Holly was there for him and wanted sex just as much as he did, therefore, that’s why they started this whole “roommates with benefits” thing that they had going.

“God, baby, you feel so good,” Jeff moaned silencing Holly’s scream in his mouth as his lips met hers as he sent her over the edge. Tonight was all about Holly, Jeff made his decision to show her what making love felt like. You heard it right, Jeff was in love with Holly. Over the last month, it took Riley coming back into her life and breaking her heart again for Jeff to realize that he wanted her and only her.

“Jesus Christ,” Holly gasped, “Fuck me already!”

Jeff groaned in defeat, picking up his pace as Holly fisted the sheets beneath her. Holly screamed Jeff’s name at the top of her lungs before arching her back off the bed. Jeff took the opportunity to pay attention to her breasts as he continued his thrusts.

At twenty-one years old, Jeff had had his fair share of women from the time he was 17; but right now, he was at a point in his life where all he wanted was that one person he could come home to that would love him for who he was and not the million dollar paycheck that he brought home. Jeff had known Holly from the time he was 19 when he played for the Phantoms. In the two years that they had known each other, Jeff never thought that they would be living together two years later when he made the big league and moved into a bigger house taking her with him. Holly was a struggling student at the time, and Jeff bought the house with her agreeing to pay all utilities and they’d split the cost of the food down the middle since Jeff had healthy things and Holly had her junk food that they occasionally shared.

Jeff moaned as he came like he had never came before, he collapsed on top of Holly and continued kissing her as he ran his hands through her hair. Jeff rolled off of her and onto his side keeping an arm around her waist.

“What the hell has gotten into you,” she asked as Jeff kissed her collarbone.

“Holly, the truth is, I lo-,” he went to say when her cell phone rang on the nightstand.

“Ignore it,” Jeff whispered as he kissed up her jaw ready to confess the words that he had almost said.

“I can’t, it might be the hospital calling me back in,” Holly said reaching for the iPhone.

Jeff got out of bed and walked into the bathroom slamming the door behind him when he saw Riley’s name flash on the screen causing Holly to stand up, pick up her clothes, and head into her bedroom.

Jeff didn’t know how much longer he could take being the shoulder that Holly cried on. He was fed up with picking up the pieces for her, he cared about her a lot more than she knew and each time she went back to Riley, it killed him knowing she was going to get her heart broken again. It was beyond his control. Jeff took a shower and walked back into his bedroom.

Jeff didn’t pay attention to his bed where Holly was returned wearing one of his t-shirts that she had taken out of his dresser while he was in the shower. Jeff removed his towel throwing on a pair of black boxer shorts before turning around and sighing as he saw Holly sound asleep on the bed. Even though he was mad at her for answering Riley’s phone call, he didn’t deny that he loved holding her in his arms at night every now and then when they slept with each other.

Jeff pulled the blankets back and pressed himself against Holly’s back. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he kissed her shoulder.

“I love you,” he whispered knowing she was sound asleep and wouldn’t hear it. Jeff turned the lamp off and fell asleep vowing that the next morning; he’d make Holly see what she had right in front of her.

Holly woke up to find Jeff’s side of the bed empty. She walked into her bedroom to shower and get ready for work. When she was finished, she walked downstairs to find Jeff flipping a pancake on the griddle that his parents had gotten him when he bought the house.

“Hey,” he said as Holly sat down at the counter.

“Hi,” she smiled as he handed her a glass of orange juice, “Do you have practice today?”

“Yeah, but not until three, what time do you start work?”

“I start at noon,” Holly replied looking at the clock.

“Good thing you have an hour to eat then,” Jeff smiled setting the plate down in front of her.

“You should cook in your boxers more often! You are going to make your future wife a very happy woman when she wakes up.”

Jeff sighed turning off the griddle before taking a seat at the counter across from Holly, it was now or never, “Holly, listen, can we talk?”

“Yeah, sure,” she smiled suddenly feeling nervous, “Is everything okay?”

“I’m not sure how much longer I can do this,” Jeff began.

“Do what? Cook?”

“No, not cook,” he said laughing, “Holly, I don’t know how to say this but I think I lo…,” he went to finish when the doorbell rang clearly not agreeing with Jeff’s confession.

Jeff groaned as Holly stood up and headed towards the foyer, “What the hell are you doing here,” he heard her ask as he rounded the corner and saw the tattooed arms of Riley Cote in the doorway.

“What’s up, Jeff,” Riley greeted and Jeff nodded his head in the older man’s direction.

“Not much, man, how are you?”

Jeff wanted to throw the door open and beat the shit out of him but he knew it would hurt Holly since part of her still loved Riley. Jeff excused himself and went upstairs where he stood by the railing out of sight where he could hear everything.

“Can we talk,” he heard Riley ask.

“You’re not welcomed here,” Holly replied, “I told you to leave me alone last month, what part of that didn’t you understand. I’ve been ignoring your calls for a reason, just leave me alone.”

“Holly, please,” Riley pleaded, “Five minutes.”

“Go home to your wife, Riley,” Holly replied and Jeff heard the door slam. Jeff smirked to himself clearly proud of Holly not giving into the man that had broken her heart on more than one occasion.

“Jeff, I’m going to work, I’ll call you when I get a lunch break,” she said and Jeff told her goodbye as he heard the door slam.

“Fucking prick,” Jeff said grabbing the crystal candy dish from the hallway and throwing it against the wall causing it to shatter.

Holly sat at her desk at work with Jennifer, a nurse who had just been hired, Lauren was off tonight.

“Holly, there’s a visitor for you,” Patricia, the nurse at the main station down the hall said on the intercom.

“I’ll be down in a minute,” Holly said standing up.

“How often do you get visitors,” Jennifer asked.

“Never,” Holly replied curious as to who was there to see her.

She rounded the corner and rolled her eyes as she saw the brown curly hair hanging out from underneath the backwards Flyers hat, “Hey,” Riley smiled handing her a bouquet of roses, “Delivery for Holly Petersen.”

“Riley,” she whispered, “Don’t do this here!”

“Holly,” he whispered, “Please.”

“I’m Holly,” she smiled, “Thank you, I wonder who they’re from.”

Riley sighed in defeat, told Holly to have a nice day and got on the elevator.

“What pretty flowers,” Patricia said, “Who are they from?”

“The married man I fell for that doesn’t know I want nothing to do with his ass anymore. Here you go, enjoy the roses.”

“Holly,” Patricia gasped, “Are you sure? They’re beautiful.”

“Take them, I don’t want them,” Holly reassured her ripping the card in half and tossing it in the trash before walking back to the nurse’s station. It was going to be a long night without Lauren working for her to vent to.

Jeff shuffled to pull on his jeans as he headed down the steps, “I’M COMING,” he yelled, “Hold your fucking horses.”

Jeff opened the door and saw Lauren standing on the other end with brown bags in her arms from the liquor store, “Hey Jeff,” she said with a smile, “Is Holly home yet?”

“Nope, she’s not due home until midnight maybe one depending on who relieves her. You are more than welcomed to come in and wait if you share the booze.”

Lauren laughed as Jeff held the door open for her to come in. Lauren took a mental image of his bare chest in her brain and willed herself not to sweat as she saw his abs and arms flex when he took the bags from her.

Jeff grabbed orange juice from the refrigerator and ice from the freezer while Lauren opened the bottles of vodka that she had bought. Jeff filled glasses with ice as Lauren filled glasses more than halfway with vodka as Jeff finished them off with orange juice.

They sat at the counter talking about Holly and Riley as well as Lauren hanging out with Mike. Half an hour later, they were both drunk after they started drinking the whiskey straight from the bottle.

“I fucking lava her,” Jeff slurred, “But all she fucking caress about is Riley. Fuck Riley!”

“He’s an ash hole,” Lauren slurred, “You’s so mush better lookings! I would totally fuck you! Whoops,” she burped as her and Jeff laughed.

“What do I have to do for her to love me back,” he asked, “I can’t take this shush no more.”

“I’ll fush you,” Lauren giggled and Jeff stood up pressing her back into the counter claiming his lips with her own. Before they could register what was happening, bottles were on the floor spilling their contents as Jeff and Lauren made the biggest mistake.

Holly finished her shift and headed home saying goodbye to Patricia and Jennifer as she headed to the parking garage. Turning on her phone, she was half way home when her phone rang.

“Don’t hang up,” Riley said, “Did you at least like the flowers?”

“Patricia loved them,” Holly replied.

“Who the fuck is Patricia,” Riley asked?

“The lady that called me out to come get your pity gift, I don’t want your pity, Riley. I want you but you don’t want me.”

“That’s not true,” he sighed, “I want you so bad.”

“I’m not going to be second best to your wife. I’m done, Riley, I mean it,” Holly said hanging up the phone despite Holly’s protests.

Holly saw Lauren’s car parked in the driveway and she sighed in relief, she had someone to vent to for the next how many hours after she changed her clothes. Opening the door, she heard moaning coming from the dining room. Walking into the kitchen, she saw Jeff’s ass as he pounded into someone who was moaning his name.

The female turned her head and Holly gasped, “WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE,” she shouted as Jeff stopped and suddenly came to his senses as he realized it was Lauren he was having sex with.

“Holly,” Lauren said sitting up pushing Jeff away from her.

“Holly,” Jeff said stepping towards her pulling up his jeans, “Let me explain.”

“Fuck you both,” Holly replied walking out of the house towards her car with Jeff chasing after her.

Holly watched as Jeff stood hunched over on the lawn watching her drive off, she was going to the one person’s house she knew she could trust and that person wasn’t Jeff or Lauren who Holly had just vowed to make pay for backstabbing her.

Chapter 6-Happy Bitchgiving

Three weeks had passed since Holly’s run in with Riley and it was now a three days before Thanksgiving. Holly had to work until nine in the morning while Lauren worked all day. Ben Eager’s family was flying down from Canada to celebrate the American holiday and they had invited the guys over Ben’s house for dinner.

“Ben called,” Holly said coming out of her room to tell Jeff who was tying his tie in a hallway mirror.

“What the fuck,” Jeff snapped straightening the finished tie, “I told that bastard that I’d pick him up at four, and it is only three thirty.”

Holly laughed as she put a dimple in Jeff’s tie, “Calm down, he didn’t call for his ride, he called to ask us if we were going to his house for Thanksgiving.”

“Well, I don’t know, are we?”

Holly shook her head ‘no’ and Jeff looked at her questioningly, “What do you mean no?”

“I may or may not have told my mom we were going to go to her house for Thanksgiving,” Holly whispered and Jeff sighed.

“Oh, Jesus Christ,” he said, “She fucking hates me.”

“She only hates you because we’re ‘living in sin.’”

“Exactly,” Jeff replied, “I kind of like my dick and my sanity; she wants to castrate me and I think if she found out half of the shit we did without being together, she’d go all crazy Church lady and call her priest to have an exorcism performed on the both of us.”

“Don’t kill me,” Holly said causing Jeff to raise an eyebrow.

“I don’t like the sound of that, Holly what did you tell her?”

“Itoldherweweretogether,” Holly said quickly hoping Jeff didn’t hear it.

“YOU WHAT,” he screamed, “Oh God, my dick is going to be Thanksgiving dinner. She’s going to chop it off and roast it in the fire place. Why the fuck would you do that?”

“I just couldn’t say, ‘Oh hey, Jeff and me fuck each other senseless and we’re not together or ever plan on being together.’ I had to tell her something, so I told her we were together.”

“We’ll talk about this tomorrow,” Jeff said grabbing his coat, “Have fun at work, I hope you get groped by an old man.”

“Real mature, asshole,” Holly said and Jeff stuck his tongue out at her, “I hope you score on your own goalie.”

Jeff flipped her off and walked out of the house. Holly went back into her room to take a shower before she had to be at work. It was one of the final days she had to work before her vacation that would begin on Thanksgiving.

Holly and Lauren were working together and listening to the game on the radio. Holly barely had time to listen to it because she kept running back and forth making rounds because her patients kept pressing the call button.

“What are you doing for Thanksgiving,” Lauren asked when they finally had time to sit down and talk.

“Going to my mom’s house, Jeff’s not too thrilled about it but I don’t give a fuck.”

“Does your mom still think that you two are together?”

“Yup and Jeff has these theories that she is going to chop his dick off and then call a priest to give us exorcisms.”

Lauren laughed as the two women heard a goal horn go off on the radio and the announcer said that Mike had scored a goal and Jeff got the assist.

“They’re still going to lose,” Holly joked causing Lauren to laugh and nod her head in approval.

“Are we still going shopping on Black Friday,” Lauren asked.

“I thought you worked until three in the morning?”

“Nope, I work until midnight, I’ll go home, take a nap and we’ll be in line by five. What store do you want to go to first?”

“We have to check and see what store has good sales first? I’m leaning towards going to the mall.”

“Mall sounds good,” Lauren replied as the call button went off again, “I am going to shove that fucking button up their asses if it goes off one more time.”

“I don’t think that is part of our job,” Holly joked.

“Like I give a fuck,” Lauren said standing up and heading down the hallway. Holly laughed and started her paperwork that had to be done. Before she knew it, she was making her final round before heading home to get some sleep.

November 23, 2006

Holly came home to find Jeff asleep on the couch with the credits from “Wedding Crashers” playing on the large TV. Holly pulled the blanket over him and went to work in the kitchen making the pumpkin pie that she had promised her mom she would make.

Jeff woke up to the smell of cinnamon in the house. Standing up and stretching before making his way into the kitchen, he saw three pumpkin pies on the counter. Heading into the kitchen to grab a fork, he finally noticed the post-it that was sticking to his forehead. Jeff pulled it off and read it before sighing like a small child that was being scolded.

Do not eat the pies, two of them are for us and one is for my mom.
Please do not taint my mom’s pie either.

Holly

Jeff pouted and opened the freezer to grab the Eggo waffles. Popping them into the toaster, he grabbed the syrup from the cupboard about the counter and turned on the coffee pot.

Jeff looked at the clock when he was finished eating and saw that it was almost two o’clock in the afternoon on the stove clock. Standing up from the table, he washed his plate in the sink before heading to Holly’s room to wake her up.

Holly was already up and noticed Jeff standing in the doorway from the mirror she was sitting on the floor in front of putting her make-up on.

“Oh good, you’re up and we can go to your psycho mom’s house,” Jeff said sarcastically pushing off the door frame and heading further into the room.

“Oh good, you’re an asshole,” Holly replied smirking as Jeff tackled her to the floor and started tickling her.

“I’m not going to stop unless you say you’re sorry,” Jeff laughed as Holly squirmed underneath him.

“I’m not sorry,” she giggled and he straddled her hips and pinned her wrists above her head smiling down at her. Holly was still laughing as Jeff leaned down and kissed her.

He let her wrists go and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Jeff rubbed his hand over her bare side before running his hand over her bra clad breasts. Holly moaned as Jeff’s lips attacked her neck.

“Jeff, we can’t, we have to leave at three,” she moaned as Jeff slid the straps of the bra down her arms.

“It’s only two thirty,” he replied, “I can make you come in then minutes.”

Holly felt herself grow hotter than she already was as Jeff slid the thin strip of lace out of the way before sliding his boxers down his legs, “Condoms are in my room, did you take your pill today,” Jeff asked breathless as his fingers stroked Holly’s folds.

“Yes,” she moaned and Jeff slid into her causing her to shriek. Jeff began slow then started going as fast as he good while reaching between them and tweaking her clit with his fingers. Holly let out a yell and Jeff took it that she was close. Her walls clamped around him and Jeff felt her juices spill over his dick. Jeff pulled out before he came and Holly was on her knees in a flash sucking him off. Jeff tangled his hands in Holly’s hair as she stroked him and slid more of him down her throat. Jeff shot his load into her throat and she stood up kissing him before he went to shower leaving her to get dressed and fix her hair.

Holly was in the car when Jeff was finished getting ready and they drove to her family’s house in Haddonfield, NJ. Jeff groaned as they pulled into the driveway, “I swear I better go to heaven after putting up with this hell all fucking day,” he said as he got out of the car and shut the door.

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Holly said as she dug the key out of her purse and unlocked the door.

Jeff held the screen door open while Holly opened the door for them, after they both took their shoes and coats off by the door, Holly and Jeff made their way into the kitchen.

“Hold my hand,” Holly said to Jeff who reached down and entwined their fingers together.

“Aunt Holly’s here,” Steven, Holly’s nephew said jumping up from the dining room table and running over to hug her legs.

Jeff took the pie from Holly’s hands as she bent down to pick up the five year old boy, “My baby,” she said kissing his cheek as he hugged her neck.

“Hi Jeff, want to play hockey downstairs?”

“I’m going to go set the pie down and say hello to your grandma then we’ll play, okay,” Jeff asked and the boy nodded his head in agreement as he jumped out of Holly’s arms and ran downstairs.

Jeff wrapped his arm around Holly’s waist and they headed into the kitchen where Holly’s sister, Stephanie was helping her mom cook.

“Holly,” Stephanie said hugging her sister, “It’s so good to see you. Hey Jeff, how are you?”

“Not too bad,” he said giving her a hug, “You?”

“Getting ready to have baby number two,” she replied rubbing her stomach as Jeff sat the pie down on the counter.

“Hi Jane,” Jeff said.

“Hello Jeff,” she greeted coldly before hugging Holly, “I see you guys are out of the playoffs already.”

Jeff rolled his eyes as Holly scolded her mother for being rude, “Mom, stop it.”

Jane hugged her daughter before turning around to finish mixing the gravy on the stove.

“Bitch,” Jeff mumbled and Holly elbowed him.

“Go play with Steven,” she whispered and Jeff kissed her temple before heading downstairs to play hockey with the child.

Holly and Stephanie were talking about Stephanie’s pregnancy when Jane called out to the boys downstairs that dinner was ready.

Holly’s dad, Tom and her brother-in-law Brad came upstairs first followed by Jeff who had Steven hanging off of his back.

They sat down at the table as Jane placed the turkey down in the center of it before taking her seat, looking at Jeff a smile was placed upon Jeff as she challenged him to say grace.

“Jeff, would you like to lead us in a prayer,” she smiled and Holly gulped audibly.

Jeff forced a smile and grabbed Holly and Stephanie’s hands before clearing his throat, “Bless us oh Lord and these fine gifts that we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

“Amen,” everyone said in unison and Jane stuck her nose up in the air as Jeff won the challenge. After everyone had eaten as was visibly full, they began talking about Jeff’s hockey and Holly’s job at the hospital. Jane remained quiet while everyone spoke and finally she spoke up and Holly wanted to slap her own mother.

“So Jeff, when are you going to marry Holly and have children like Stephanie and Brad?”

“Well, Holly and I have haven’t been together long enough to make that commitment but when it gets to it, we will,” he lied as Holly picked her nails.

“Holly, why can’t you be more like your sister,” Jane asked and Holly rolled her eyes.

“Mom, can we not start this,” she asked and Jane shrugged her shoulders.

“Why not? I mean it’s obvious you two aren’t doing what the Bible says to do,” she began.

“Here we fucking go,” Jeff whispered and Brad laughed hearing the comment from next to Holly.

“Maybe because I don’t read the Goddamn Bible,” Holly snapped and Jeff tried to hold back his laughter but failed miserably.

“Is something funny, Jeff,” Tom asked and Jeff boldly shook his head ‘yes.’

“I think it is funny that you two think you are the perfect Christians but in reality you guys aren’t. Not even Jesus would treat me or Holly like shit,” Jeff replied and Holly couldn’t believe Jeff wasn’t backing down from her parents.

“Jeff, let’s go,” Holly said standing up from the table.

“Run away like you always do, Holly, run away,” Jane said.

Jeff and Holly got in the car and Jeff laughed the whole way home, “I feel bad for your future husband, he has to put up with two Jesus lovers who don’t practice what they preach.”

Holly couldn’t help but laugh as they drove back to their “house of sin.” So much for a Happy Thanksgiving, right?

Chapter 5-Tattoos on this Town

"What are you doing tonight," Holly asked Lauren as they walked around the King of Prussia mall.

"Oh you know, nothing just sitting around at home, being lazy on another lonely Saturday night. At least you have Jeff to keep you company."

"Jeff is boring and doesn't do the whole cuddling thing. We fuck and he goes back to his room or I go back to mine."

"That's not true, when Mike and I saw you two last week, he had his arms around you when you were sleeping and you two looked content. I still hate the fact you scarred my guestroom for life."

"Fuck you," Holly joked as they walked into the Betsey Johnson store.

Holly browsed the racks of handbags, "What about this one," she asked Lauren who was trying on a belt.

"That is super cute," she replied, "Wear it with a brown or black belt and some boots. I like the orange one better."

"There's too much orange in my life, I like both the black and red one."

"Get a black and red belt."

"I need boots."

"There's red leather boots on the mannequin, so they have to sell them here."

Holly and Lauren finished shopping before grabbing lunch at a nearby restaurant. Lauren smiled down at her phone as she took a drink of her iced tea.

“What are you smiling about?”

Lauren sat her phone back down on the table before smiling up at Holly, “Mike wants to know if I want to hang out tomorrow afternoon after practice. Do you mind?”

Holly squealed earning glares from people eating around them, “Why would I mind? It’s obvious you two have a lot in common.”

“I just don’t want you getting mad, that’s all. I mean you did have sex with him several times and you went on a date with him.”

“It wasn’t a date, just dinner and sex,” Holly replied, “Just tell him that you’ll go with him.”

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"I just don't want to be in a relationship with someone from my hometown. Don't get me wrong, Mike is great but everyone knows who he is back in Kenora and I don't want to be that 'hometown girl.'"

Holly sighed in defeat as she felt someone staring at her. When she looked across the room, she saw the blue eyes of the only man she ever fell in love with staring back at her.

He gave her a small smile and she immediately turned her attention back to Lauren, "Can we leave?"

"Are you okay," Lauren asked, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Something like that," Holly replied as Lauren waved for the waiter to bring their checks. Holly threw money down on the table and stood up to leave. She felt the man's eyes on her as she left and when she looked behind her, he was standing up to walk in her direction.

Lauren and Holly disappeared into a crowd of people and when Holly turned around, she noticed she lost him. Breathing in a sigh of relief, she looked around the Victoria's Secret store with Lauren.

Lauren was the first to break the silence, "Holly, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she lied, "I'm fine."

"You're lying and you aren't yourself. What happened in the restaurant?"

Holly realized she couldn't lie to Lauren, "I saw someone from my past that I haven't seen in a year. I fell in love with him and when I told him, he ripped my heart right out of my chest."

"I'm sorry," Lauren replied, "I don't know what to say."

Holly smiled, "No one can say anything, and I am over him." So she thought…

Lauren smiled slightly and immediately they turned their attention back to the lingerie in front of them, “Where did you meet the guy?”

“Jeff introduced me to him; he invited a bunch of people over one time and we started talking. He took me out on dates and I really thought we had it good. He was everything I wanted and more: the tattoos, the bad boy attitude, and the soft side. I fell head over heels in love with him; I always thought Jeff was jealous when he would try to talk to me about him. I should have listened to him when he told me wasn’t who I thought he was. I wish I would have listened to Jeff because when I told him that I loved him, he told me he was married and that he couldn’t see me anymore.”

“What an asshole,” Lauren replied, “I want to know who it was so I can kick his ass.”

“You won’t have to look far, just think of the Phantoms with tattoos, there’s not that many,” Holly replied giving the cashier her credit card for the lingerie set and the body products that she had purchased.

Lauren’s eyes grew wide and Holly slapped her hand over her mouth before she could blurt out the name, “WHAT?”

“Keep it down,” Holly warned as people stared at them in the mall.

“I can’t believe it. I always thought he was a great player and a nice guy off the ice but after that, what a fucking loser.”

“Like I said, I’m over him,” Holly said lying to herself and to Lauren.

"How about since we are both boring and have no lives, we go out tonight, just the two of us. You need the alcohol tonight too."

"As long as there is alcohol involved, I'm in."

Lauren and Holly finished shopping before they headed to Lauren's house for the night. Holly texted Jeff to let him know she wouldn't be home until late and not to worry. Holly and Lauren ordered in food and Holly took a shower in Lauren's guest bathroom before getting ready.
Once they were both dressed and ready to go, they headed back into the city.

The Barbary was a small night club in the heart of the city that stayed busy seven days a week. Holly liked the club; she just didn't come here often since Jeff always dragged her to fancier night clubs.

Holly and Lauren found two seats at the bar and ordered their drinks. Holly and Lauren looked around the bar laughing at men and women who thought they could dance in their drunken, perhaps sober states of mind.

Holly and Lauren giggled as they ordered another drink, “Remind me never to marry a man that rhythmically challenged,” Lauren joked as Holly paid for her drinks.

“You two ladies have your drinks paid for, for the rest of the night,” the bartender replied handing Holly back her twenty dollar bill.

“By who,” Lauren asked suspicious of who could have paid for her and Holly’s drinks.

“I’m sorry but I swore to secrecy,” the statuesque bartender replied smirking at Lauren who was undressing him with her eyes.

“I think I know who it was,” Holly said nudging Lauren out of the bartender’s pants.

“Who?”

“That piece of shit across the bar did,” she said pointing to the blue eyed man staring back at her.

“Come on,” Lauren said standing up, “Let’s get out of here and go to Azure.”

Holly grabbed her clutch off of the bar and the two of them headed outside. Lauren lied and told the taxi driver that she was the person he was looking for and they headed to the new nightclub.

“Why does he keep popping up everywhere today,” Holly asked sighing and Lauren rubbed her forearm.

“Don’t let him get to you, Holly. That’s what he wants to happen, by ignoring him; you are saving yourself a lot of heartbreak.”

“I wish someone would have told me that two years ago.”

Lauren smiled apologetically as the taxi arrived in front of the nightclub in downtown Philadelphia, “Let’s get some more alcohol and dance until our feet fall off,” she said as her and Holly showed the bouncer their IDs while paying their cover charges.

Holly and Lauren were sitting at a small table towards the back of the club that still overlooked the dance floor. Lauren and Holly were laughing and having a good time just having time to themselves. Holly was constantly surrounded by men and her girls night out with Lauren was a breath of fresh air.

“I’m going to get another drink, want anything,” Holly asked Lauren as she stood up from the table.

“I’m to my limit; just get me a ginger ale.”

“Ginger ale is a great idea, I’m starting to lose my consciousness,” Holly replied as she made her way to the bar through the crowded dance floor. Holly was waiting for the bartender to pour her and Lauren’s drinks when the all too familiar scent of the man she hated filled her nose and she felt the familiarity of his broad chest pressed against her back. Swallowing hard, she tried not to let him feel the shutter of her body when his hands made their way towards her hips.

“Why do you keep running from me,” he whispered in her ear and she felt the goose bumps rise on her arms as his hot breath tickled her neck.

“I’m not running from anyone, Riley,” she snapped, “I just don’t want anything to do with you, now if you would excuse me; I have to get back to my friend.”

Riley Cote threw his hands up in defeat and watched the woman who’s heart he broke walk away from him and towards the table where a small brunette woman was sitting. Ordering a beer for himself, he tried not to let her bother him.

“I can’t fucking believe this shit,” Holly said slamming the glasses down on the table causing Lauren to jump and almost drop her phone onto the floor.

“What’s wrong?”

“He fucking showed up here, I think he fucking followed us,” Holly said pointing her thumb behind her towards the bar where Riley was leaning with his back against it drinking his beer and looking at the table.

“We aren’t leaving,” Lauren said, “You are not going to continue running from him, like I said, ignore him. It’s eating him up inside that you won’t even acknowledge him. By the way, Mike is coming. I know I said this was going to be a girls night but Mike is bored and Jeff is too wrapped up playing Xbox with Ben Eager and said no to coming out.”

“He gets that way sometimes,” Holly joked, “He loves to party but turn on the Xbox and his ass stays on the couch all night. One time I had on lingerie that I had bought for him and he just completely tuned me out.”

“Are you talking about the same Jeff Carter, the one who is Philadelphia’s nymphomaniac of the century?”

“That’d be the one,” Holly laughed as Riley made his presence known at the table.

“Sweet mother of God, can I please lick your abs,” Lauren said without thinking causing Riley to let out a husky laugh that sent a trickle down Holly’s spine.

“I don’t think Holly would allow that,” he joked grabbing a chair and sitting down.

“Go home to your wife,” Holly snapped, “I’m sure she doesn’t know what a pig you are.”

“Holly and I are having problems,” Riley replied crossing his arms on the table in front of him.

“Your wife’s name is Holly too,” Lauren asked, “How fucking ironic?”

“Shut up, Lauren,” Holly warned ready to fight her own battle.

“Can we talk,” Riley asked quietly and Holly shook her head no, “Please Holly, just hear where I was coming from? You never gave me a chance to explain.”

Lauren shot Holly a sympathetic glance that told her maybe it would be okay to at least hear Riley’s side of things, “Just go, Holly,” she said, “Maybe it’ll bring you closure instead of ignoring him.”

“Make up your fucking mind,” Holly snapped at Lauren, “You either want me to ignore him or you want me to talk to him.”

“Talk to him,” Lauren said, “Just go, Mike is going to be here shortly anyways.”

Riley smiled as Holly gave in and followed him out of the club and to his SUV, Riley opened the door for her and helped her make the big leap into the monster like truck that he drove before he walked around to the driver’s side and drove off into the direction of his house.

“Isn’t your wife home,” Holly asked finally breaking the silence that had settled between them.

“She’s in Ohio visiting her family,” he replied as they pulled into the driveway of the house that Holly knew all too well.

Riley locked the door behind them as Holly took her shoes off by the door and walked towards the kitchen, “You wanted to talk, so talk,” Holly said as Riley smirked and stepped towards her claiming her mouth with his.

Holly pushed him away and went to protest but Riley’s hockey playing reflexes caught her and his lips were on hers again. Before Holly could even register a complete thought, her back was on the bed and Riley was hovering over her shirtless.

“Riley, I can’t,” she said but as soon as she saw the muscles in his body flex, she was a goner and claimed his lips with her own.

Riley leaned her up against his chest and slowly slid the dress’ zipper down. Holly shivered as his calloused fingers touched her bare back. As she was fully naked in front of him, Riley traced the tattoo that he had given her on her hip with his fingertips causing Holly to squirm underneath him.

“I never forgot about this,” he said kissing the Chinese symbol for “fighter.” Something he had tattooed there so that Holly would remember him.

Holly pulled the skullcap off of Riley’s head and ran her fingers through his curly hair. Riley smiled at her as he entered her slowly causing her to hiss as her body expanded to fit him. Holly shrieked as Riley hit her spot as their bodies rocked together. Holly saw the sweat dripping from Riley’s hair that had fallen forward and she pushed it back as he stared into her eyes as he brought her to the brink of pleasure.

Holly cried out Riley’s name as he collapsed on top of her and placed gentle kisses down her collarbone. Riley rolled over and pulled Holly to his chest and soon he was fast asleep with his arm around her waist. Holly lied in the bed that she knew he made love to his wife in and stared up at the ceiling. Wiping away the tear that had fallen out of her eye, she carefully removed Riley’s arm from around her waist and got dressed before calling Jeff to come get her. Jeff pulled up in front of the house and saw Holly sitting on the porch steps crying.

Jeff got out of the car in his sweatpants and Flyers hooded sweatshirt and picked Holly up carrying her to the car. Holly shivered as the cold November air hit her bare shoulders. Jeff pulled the sweatshirt over his head and gave it to her leaving him shirtless as they made the drive back to their house.

“Want to talk about it,” he asked as they sat on the couch in their living room.

“There’s nothing to talk about it, I did it again after I swore I wouldn’t.”

Jeff pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arm around her waist protectively, “It’s hard to forget people you love but you are a beautiful girl, Holly.”

“I should have listened to you when you told me to stay away from him,” Holly cried and Jeff sighed before picking her up and carrying her to his room.

Holly had changed out of her clothes and was wearing Jeff’s sweatshirt as he held her against his bare chest on the bed, “I’m not going to say I told you so because that would be rude on my part,” Jeff whispered running his hands through her hair, “Just get some sleep and try not to think about it.”

Holly kissed his cheek and laid her head on his chest, falling asleep while Jeff ran his fingers through her hair. Jeff lied in bed and vowed to beat Riley’s ass the first chance he got, he was an idiot for letting Holly go, any man was. Jeff knew he had to be there to protect her and he vowed never to let anyone hurt her again, especially not the man that had ruined her and had turned her into a girl that Jeff wasn’t sure he knew anymore.

Chapter 4-This is Halloween

“So, how was the party,” Lauren asked Holly on Monday morning after the Halloween party.

“It was fun until I got food poisoning and Jeff had to take me to the hotel room that he had rented to screw his latest whore in.”

“That sucks, I’m sorry,” Lauren replied, “I take that you had a good time despite that.”

“It was nice, Mike was a good date. I have pictures if you’d like to see them.”

Lauren squealed in delight before sitting down on the desk as Holly grabbed the camera out of her purse in the drawer, “You have to have me over for dinner or take me to a game with you.”

“Keep squealing like that and it is a negative, ghost rider.”

“You’re a bitch,” Lauren spat as she gasped looking at the picture of Mike smirking while Holly kissed him on the cheek.

Holly’s cell phone vibrated in her purse, she looked at the screen and smiled, “It’s Jeff,” she said and Lauren shrieked once again.

“Answer it! Answer it! Answer it!”

“We need to be making our rounds.”

“We can do that in a minute, please just answer it?”

“Hello,” Holly said sliding the green button over.

“Hey,” Jeff replied, “What are you doing?”

“Working!”

“I’m sorry; I thought maybe you’d be on your lunch break.”

“I’m going in twenty minutes.”

“Were you doing anything tonight,” Jeff asked.

“No, I was just going to pass out candy to trick or treaters. Why,” Holly asked and Lauren clapped her hands in delight as Holly put the phone on speaker before laying it down on the desk.

“Mike wants to go to a haunted house; he picked that Bates Motel down in Glenn Mills.”

“I usually hate scary shit but yeah I’ll go if you two go. We’ll give the candy to Mrs. Thompson next door.”

“I’ll do it when I get home,” Jeff replied, “We’re at 5:30, since I dropped you off on the way to the rink this morning, do you need me to pick you up?”

“You said Mike is going, right,” Holly smirked causing Lauren to look at her questioningly.

“Yeah, why?”

“Is it okay if I bring a friend from work?”

“Yeah, that way Mike doesn’t feel like the third wheel.”

“Pick me up at our house; I’ll have her drive over there. I need to change anyways.”

“Alright, we’ll meet you at home. Mike’s going to drive his car back to his place then I’ll be there.”

“Sounds good but look, I really have to go check on patients before I go on lunch, I’ll see you later.”

“Bye!”

“OH MY GOD! HIS VOICE IS SO FUCKING HOT ON THE PHONE!”

“Are you busy tonight?”

“Nope, why?”

“Jeff, me, and Mike are going to Bates Motel and well since you want to meet them so badly, want to come with us?”

“YES,” Lauren replied jumping off of the desk, “A million time yes.”

“Great, come to mine and Jeff’s house after work and they’ll be there when we get here.”

“Shut the front door,” Lauren said, “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

“Oh my God, I love you.”

Holly laughed as Lauren kissed her cheek before skipping down the hall to begin her rounds. Holly finished her paperwork before taking her lunch break. Making her rounds as her shift ended, she waited for Lauren to finish her shift.

“Can I raid your closet when we get to your house? I don’t have a change of clothes.”

“Sure,” Holly replied, “I have some stuff that will fit you. I’m just wearing jeans and one of Jeff’s sweatshirts since it’s chilly and I want to be comfortable.”

“I have tennis shoes in my trunk that I can wear just not clothes.”

Holly gave Lauren directions to the house that she shared with Jeff. Jeff wasn’t home yet and Holly took the bowl of candy to a neighbor’s house before coming back to find Lauren already rummaging through her closet.

“These fit,” she said trying on jeans, “Can I wear that Villanova hoodie?”

“That’s fine; I have to go to Jeff’s room to steal one of his.”

“Can I come with you,” Lauren asked, “I need to see where all the magic happens.”

“You are a creep.”

“Come on, how many women can say they saw Jeff Carter’s bedroom?”

Holly stopped abruptly causing Lauren to bump into her, “Did you seriously have to ask that question?”

Lauren laughed, “Sorry didn’t think that through before I said it.”

Holly walked over to the closet and pulled the orange sweatshirt off of the hanger. Holly heard Jeff pull into the driveway.

“They’re here.”

“How’s my hair, how’s my make-up,” Lauren asked standing in the mirror in the hallway.

“You look fine, don’t be nervous. They are two of the nicest guys that you will ever meet.”

Jeff honked the horn and Holly grabbed her phone and credit card out of her wallet. Stuffing the credit card in her pocket and her phone in the hoodie pocket, Lauren followed her out of the house.

Holly opened the door to Jeff’s truck and saw that Mike was sitting in the back behind Jeff.

“Hey Mike,” Holly said shutting the door behind her, “Guys, this is Lauren.”

“Hi Lauren,” Mike smiled but Lauren just smiled back before managing to stutter out a reply, “I’m Mike,” he said sticking out his hand.

“Hi,” she blushed and Holly smiled, “It’s nice to meet you.”

“No hello to me,” Jeff pouted from the front seat.

“Hi Jeff,” Holly said causing Jeff to smirk.

“Jeff’s mentally challenged sometimes,” Mike whispered to Lauren who laughed causing Jeff to glare at them.

“Is there any good pizza places on the way,” Holly asked turning around in her seat to look at Lauren.

“Just Domino’s and Papa John’s,” Lauren replied, “There isn’t anywhere to actually sit down and have a meal.”

“What about that Zio’s down on South 13th Street,” Mike said, “We can stop there on the way.”

“That’s fine,” Holly replied.

Jeff drove towards downtown Philly. When they arrived at the pizza shop, Jeff held the door open for Holly who walked in quickly and headed towards the back of the restaurant.

Holly sat down and pulled Jeff into the booth next to her earning a glare from Lauren. Lauren sat down across from her and kicked her but Holly smirked and picked up a menu.

“You’re evil,” Jeff whispered looking at his own menu so he and Holly were blocked from Mike and Lauren’s view.

“She literally is peeing herself right now probably, she was so nervous and giddy about meeting you guys.”

“Don’t get hurt, please,” Jeff said kissing Holly’s forehead.

“She was my friend before she even knew who I lived with. Trust me, she’s different.”

The waitress came over and took their drink orders, when she walked away they picked their menus up again and decided on what they were going to get.

“I think I’m going to get a hot sausage, I had pizza at work today.”

“I’ll give you sausage when we get home later, all you can eat,” Jeff smirked causing Holly to elbow him.

“You’re a pig.”

“You’re not as innocent as you think you are."

After they ordered their food, Mike made small talk with Jeff and Holly about his summer golf tournament, Holly took it upon herself to let Mike know Lauren was from Kenora.

"Maybe Lauren can help us out, she's from Kenora too," Holly smirked causing Lauren to kick her under the table.

"Really," Mike asked.

Lauren laughed nervously, "Yeah, I am."

"What brings you to Philly," Jeff asked.

"My grandparents died when I was a teenager and left us their house here, so I've been here ever since."

Mike turned to look at Lauren, "What neighborhood did you grow up in?"

"Minto," Lauren replied, "Excuse me one second, Holly come to the bathroom with me?"

"Why do I got to go?"

"Women travel in packs when they go to the bathroom, just shut up and go," Jeff said standing up as Holly slid out of the booth.

"Only you would know that," Holly fired back causing Jeff to laugh slightly.

"What can I say," he replied shrugging his shoulders, "I know women."

"Really," Holly asked sarcastically, "I never would have guessed."

“Why the hell would you do that,” Lauren asked when they got into the bathroom, “It’s bad enough I look like an idiot in front of him now.”

“Mike loves Kenora, it’s all he talks about when he’s a little bit homesick, so I thought I’d mention that you were from there too, that way you guys had something to talk about and it just wasn’t awkward silence the entire time.”

“You know how nervous I am right now though,” Lauren said, “Sorry, I’m overreacting.”

“I’m sorry, I just thought it would be a good way to go since you were being so quiet.”

“I’m just really nervous.”

“Calm down, you see how down to earth they are. Now, let’s get back out there before they eat our food.”

Lauren laughed as she followed Holly back to the table; Jeff was ready to take a bite of Holly’s hot sausage when she grabbed it from his hand.

“Hey, I wasn’t finished with that,” he smiled.

“Too bad, you have your food and I have mine. Leave mine alone.”

“But…but…I’m hungry,” Jeff whined sticking out his bottom lip.

“Shut the fuck up and eat your own food.”

“…but we’re growing boys,” Mike said.

“Pizza, cheese sticks, fries, breadsticks, nachos, and a calzone is enough for the two of you. You make a fat kid look tame.”

“I dunf carf,” Jeff said through a mouthful of food.

“Fis is soo goof,” Mike moaned shoving a whole piece of calzone into his mouth.

“I’ve officially lost my appetite,” Holly said placing her sandwich back on the plate.

“Are you going to finish that,” Mike asked Lauren who ate half of her spaghetti.

“Mike,” Holly said kicking him under the table, “Leave her alone and let her eat.”

Mike and Jeff moaned that they were fool after eating half of their feast, “I need a nap,” Jeff groaned undoing his pants.

“I need to take a good shit,” Mike replied and Jeff fist bump him from across the table.

“You two make me sick, why am I even with you two right now?”

“Because we’re hot,” Jeff smirked and Lauren kicked Holly under the table causing her to glare at her.

The waitress came over and packed the leftover food into a box to go for Mike and Jeff. Mike and Jeff both split the bill and they headed to Bates Motel. As they drove down the road, Holly closed her eyes.

“I’m not fucking going in there,” she said, “No way in hell.”

“I’ll be right there with you, I won’t let anything happen to you besides it’s not real,” Jeff said reassuringly as they got out of the car. Holly grabbed his hand and stayed close to him as they walked to the gate. Holly went to pay for herself but Jeff handed the girl behind the ticket window his credit card.

“Jeff,” she whined.

“I asked you to come, did you seriously think I was going to let you pay,” he smiled as they headed through the turnbuckle.

“…and for you,” the girl behind the window asked Lauren.

“One adult,” she replied.

“Make it two,” Mike said stepping in front of her.

“Mike, I’ll pay for it.”

“My parents always said the female should never pay even if she is just a friend,” he smiled causing Lauren to blush.

As they walked through the haunted house, Holly buried her face in Jeff’s shoulder, “I don’t like the looks of it already.”

“How scary can it be,” Mike asked, “They always say the lamest ones are the scariest.”

“Trust me, I’ve been here before it just gets worse,” Lauren said as they walked through the entrance and saw the concierge that was covered in blood.

“Oh my fucking God,” Holly screamed, “Jeff, get me out of here.”

They walked up the stairs and went into a room that was a nursery and when they peered into the crib, the blanket moved and Holly screamed as a zombie baby came into view, “FUCK THIS SHIT,” she said going to leave.

“Holly,” Lauren said but that was a bad idea as one of the actors started calling Holly by her name.

“Holly,” they said as she walked through the haunted house, “Holly, why don’t you join us?”

“Lauren, I am going to fucking kill you,” she shrieked holding onto Jeff’s hand tighter as a man dressed like leatherface grabbed her arm, “DON’T FUCKING TOUCH ME,” she shouted pulling away from him.

“Lauren,” the actor said, “Join me in my butchershop.”

“I am officially creeped the fuck out,” Lauren said as they entered another room that was a kitchen with dummies that looked like beheaded children and a bloody highchair was in the middle of the floor.

“These people are just fucking sick,” Holly cried, “Jeff, if you don’t get me the fuck out of here right now, I swear to God I will kill you.”

“There’s still one more floor,” Mike said and Holly groaned.

They went to walk down the steps but they flew open and a man popped out dressed as a zombie, “OH MY GOD,” Lauren screamed grabbing Mike’s hand and burying her face into his shoulder.

“This is just fucked up, never again, ever,” Holly said as they went outside.

“Look Richie, there’s one of you brothers,” Jeff said pointing to a guy dressed as a redneck with a bullet hole in his head.

“Fuck you,” Mike said shoving Jeff who laughed.

Holly nudged Lauren and she realized she was holding Mike’s hand, “I’m sorry,” she said pulling her hand from Mike’s grasp.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said smiling down at her, “Glad it was me and not that little kid that kept grabbing my ass in there.”

Everyone laughed as Jeff noticed a concession stand, “Anyone want anything?”

“I want something hot to drink, it’s freezing out here,” Holly said.

“Want something to drink,” Mike asked Lauren who shook her head no.

“I don’t have much of an appetite after seeing everything in there, thanks for asking though,” she replied smiling.

Jeff walked over to the concession stand but Holly ran and caught up with him, “You are not leaving me by myself,” she said reaching for his hand but Jeff put his arm around her waist before kissing her forehead.

“It’s okay,” he whispered before ordering their drinks. They headed back to the car since it was almost midnight.

“You guys can stay at my house if you’d like,” Lauren offered, “I have plenty of room and the city is such a far drive this late at night. Holly and I are both off tomorrow, what about you guys?”


“We don’t have practice until three,” Mike said, “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“It’s no problem,” Lauren replied.

“Just guide me to your house,” Jeff said and ten minutes later they pulled into a modern day street that was a round circle of houses.

“This is such a nice neighborhood,” Holly said, “Jeff, next time we move I want to live here.”

They pulled into Lauren’s driveway and she headed up the steps to unlock the door, “There’s the kitchen through there and the living room is to your left. My room is the first room on the left upstairs and the bathroom is the first door on the right. Jeff and Holly, you guys can share the room next to mine if you want.”

“I’ll take the couch, it looks pretty comfy,” Mike said sitting down on the oversized leather sofa.

“I’m going to bed,” Holly said, “I’m tired.”

“I’m going to head to bed too, practice kicked my ass and the food is catching up to me.”

“No wonder, you ate enough for days,” Holly joked as they walked up the stairs.

“Goodnight Mike, thanks for everything,” Lauren said.

“You’re welcome,” he smiled, “Goodnight.”

Mike unzipped his jacket and laid in on the chair in the living room before pulling his belt off and laying it on top. Removing his shirt, Mike sat back down on the couch and turned on ESPN.

Jeff fell asleep as soon his head hit the pillow but Holly tossed and turned. Giving up on trying to sleep, she carefully rolled out of bed and grabbed the blanket. Opening the sliding doors that faced a small pond, she wrapped the blanket around herself and sat down on one of the lounge chairs that were on the small balcony that was separated from Lauren’s deck.

“What’s wrong,” Jeff asked as Holly turned and saw him leaning against the doorway wearing nothing but boxers.

“I couldn’t sleep, I’m still kind of creeped out.”

“Stand up,” Jeff said stepping onto the balcony.

Holly stood up and Jeff sat down on the chair pulling her against his chest wrapping the blanket around them both.

Jeff ran his hands up and down her arms before running his hands through her hair as she leaned her head back on his shoulder. Jeff placed a kiss on her neck before biting her earlobe.

“Jeff,” she gasped as his lips moved to her neck.

“Hmm,” he whispered and Holly moaned.

Holly turned around and straddled his waist as they began kissing. Jeff ran his hands up her thighs and gripped her ass under the sweatshirt she was wearing.

“Want to do it here on the deck or in the bedroom,” Jeff asked, “Either way is okay with me.”

Holly smirked before disappearing under the blanket and Jeff groaned as she took him in her mouth. Jeff gasped as Holly massaged his balls and licked his length.

“Fuck,” he said as she continued to work him, “If you don’t stop now, I swear.”

Holly smirked as she finished swallowing Jeff’s load that he shot into her throat, “You’re amazing,” he whispered kissing her lips before picking her up and carrying her into the room.

Mike was almost asleep before he walked upstairs to use the bathroom. He noticed Lauren’s door was open and the TV was on, “Are you okay,” he asked.

“I’m fine,” she smiled, “Just not ready to go to sleep yet. Want to finish watching this movie with me?”

“What movie is it?”

“Little Miss Sunshine.”

“This movie is hilarious,” Mike said stepping into the room. Lauren was wearing an oversized t-shirt and Mike was in his jeans.

“Do you mind if I take my jeans off? I can’t sleep in jeans.”

Lauren felt the blood rush to her face, “That’s fine,” she smiled reassuringly, “I want you guys to feel at home here.”

Mike got under the blanket. When the movie was over, Lauren turned on a rerun of Entourage.

“I love this show too.”

“Ari is my homeboy,” Lauren smiled and Mike laughed.

“So,” Mike began, “What’s your favorite movie?”

“Wedding Crashers. Yours?”

“Primal Fear.”

“Never heard of it,” Lauren replied.

“Are you serious?”

“I’m afraid so, what’s it about?”

“It’s with Richard Gere, it’s about an altar boy who murders a priest.”

“I’m going to have to rent that.”

“Definitely do it, it’s so good.”

“Alright my turn, who’s your favorite band?”

“The Tragically Hip, how about you?”

“Sugarland and Rascal Flatts. I do love Bon Jovi and Nickelback too.”

“Wow,” Mike laughed.

“Shut up,” Lauren smiled.

“What was your favorite thing to do growing up in Kenora.”

“I loved going out on my dad’s boat with my family in the summer. We’d spend hours on the lake.”

“I love going out on the lake too. I fish a lot.”

Lauren and Mike continued to talk and get to know each other when they both fell asleep. Shortly after they fell asleep, they were awoken by the Holly screaming in the next room.

“Are you fucking kidding me,” Mike grumbled looking at the clock on Lauren’s cable box, “They’re fucking rude.”

“Oh God, make it stop,” Lauren grumbled hearing the headboard bang off the wall.

Mike pounded on the wall with his fist, “SHUT THE FUCK UP,” he shouted but it was to no use as the pounding stopped.

Somewhere between hearing Jeff spank Holly and her beg for more Mike and Lauren fell back asleep.

Holly collapsed on the bed face down as Jeff collapsed on top of her, “That was the best we’ve have in a while,” Jeff said rolling next to her.

“Mhm,” she mumbled and Jeff kissed her.

“I’m not finished with you yet,” Jeff said biting her shoulder as her eyes fluttered shut.

“Save your energy for tomorrow, I have a sexy costume for you.”

“Really,” he smirked running his tongue along her collar bone.

“Mhm,” she moaned.

“Well then, I guess I better get some sleep.”

“You’re going to need all the rest you need because tomorrow I am going to rock your world.”

Holly smiled as Jeff turned over and shut the lamp off and pulled the covers over them, “Goodnight.”

Halloween was looking to be Jeff’s new favorite holiday.

Chapter 3-The Girl Next Door

“You’re so tight,” the man said as he picked up his pace causing Holly to dig her nails into his back.

“FUCK,” she screamed, “Right there, MIKE!”

MIKE?

Holly sat up and noticed an arm around her waist. Trying not to panic, she slowly turned to look at the person that it belonged to. Holly sighed in relief as she saw the blonde hair and she laid back down curling up to Jeff’s chest.

“Are you okay,” he mumbled kissing her neck.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Holly lied, “Just a bad dream.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“I can’t remember what it was about; I just know it scared me.”

“Get some sleep,” Jeff whispered pulling her closer but Holly moved away.

“I’m still pissed at you,” she said turning away from him and Jeff sighed before falling back asleep.

The next day, Jeff left for a road game in Pittsburgh and Holly had to work. Jeff tried seducing her before he left but Holly shot him down and told him to use his hand since she was done fucking an asshole.

“What’s wrong,” Lauren asked coming over to Holly’s desk at the hospital. Lauren was a couple of months older than Holly and one of her first friends there.

“Roommate problems,” Holly sighed, “Mine is a total asshole.”

“You have a male roommate,” Laure asked, “Why don’t you just sleep with him?”

“That’s how we got into this mess, he comes home from being out of town for work and we sleep together.”

“I wouldn’t be complaining,” Lauren joked, “Why is he always out of town for work?”

“You wouldn’t understand, no one knows except me and my family.”

“Is he in the mafia, I bet he’s fucking sexy with the pinstriped suit or whatever they wear.”

“He’s not in the mafia,” Holly laughed, “Not everyone knows what he does, and I’ve lost too many friends because of it.”

“You have me curious now, you’ve worked here six months and I’m just now finding out you have James Bond for a roommate.”

Holly looked around and told Lauren to lean down, “My roommate is Jeff Carter.”

“No fucking way,” Lauren said loudly earning glares from other people in the small office, “Sorry,” she whispered, “Are you serious?”

Holly grabbed her phone and pulled out a picture of her and Jeff at his beach house in Sea Isle from a couple of months prior.

“Holy shit,” Lauren said, “You are one lucky girl.”

“Lucky my ass, he’s pissed because I slept with Mike.”

“You slept with Mike Richards,” Lauren practically screamed.

“Shhh,” Holly said, “I don’t want everyone knowing my business.”

“Sorry,” Lauren said, “I’m from Mike’s hometown.”

“Seriously?”

“I moved here when I was a teenager with my parents. My mom’s from Philadelphia and my grandmother got sick with cancer and when she passed away, she left us her house and we moved here. Canada seems so far away.”

“I’m from Cherry Hill, moved into a townhouse during college, that’s where I met Jeff. We got to know each other then we started having sex from out of nowhere, long story short, he got called up to the Flyers, started making more money, and he bought a house in Old City and asked me to move in with him.”

“You are one lucky girl; you have to invite me over for dinner.”

“I need to forgive this asshole first then we’ll talk. I’m going to this Halloween party with Mike because Jeff’s being a fucking prick and is arguing with me for no reason.”

“What’d you do?”

“May or may not have had sex with Mike twice.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Lauren said, “I am seriously so jealous of you right now. I’ve always wanted a threesome with those two.”

“Been there, done that,” Holly whispered.

“No fucking way, that’s seriously so fucking hot.”

“It was hot at first now it just drives Jeff to be an even bigger asshole.”

Lauren stood there in silence not saying anything while trying to process what Holly had said, “Make sure you take pictures at the party, lunch is on me today. You took one for every girl in Philadelphia.”

Holly laughed and grabbed her purse before leaving for lunch with Lauren.

Jeff stumbled around his hotel room in Pittsburgh looking for his phone, he hadn’t heard from Holly since he left and that was two days ago. He was worried about her, he felt bad for treating her shitty but when he found out she was going to the Halloween party with Mike and not him, it made him even angrier.

Jeff vowed that when he got back to Philly, the first chick he met at a bar, he was fucking and taking to the party with him just to give Holly a taste of her own medicine.

“Bitch,” he spat as Holly slammed the door of the house shut.

“Fucking asshole,” she fired back opening the door and slamming it again.

Holly drove to Mike’s house and got ready for the party there, “You look hot,” Mike said as Holly came out of his bedroom where she was getting ready, “Carts is going to be sulking in his sorrows. You look fucking hot.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself, Puffin,” she replied kissing his cheek.

“I thought about it and I feel really bad about this whole thing, Jeff hates you right now. I can’t have him hating me.”

"Why? Oh I get it; it'll ruin the chemistry of the team. Newsflash, you guys are already out of the playoffs and you guys suck major ass."

"Jesus Christ, you sure know how to kick a guy when he's down."

"Just telling the truth," Holly smirked fixing her ears in the mirror, "Let's go Hef."

"After you," Mike smiled grabbing his keys off the table. Locking the door behind them, Mike and Holly got into Mike's Mercedes and headed towards the city for what was sure looking to be a memorable night.

Holly and Mike arrived at the Double Tree hotel on South Broad Street. The Halloween party was usually held at one of the guy’s houses but being that none of them had a house big enough; the team rented a ballroom at one of the hotels.

“Fucking whore,” Jeff said as he noticed Holly and Mike walking through the door.

“You’re hear with Tits R Us, why are you bitching,” Ben Eager asked.

“I wouldn’t have to fuck Tits R Us tonight if she didn’t fuck everyone and their brother lately.”

“She’s not yours; she can do what she wants. Face it man, one day you aren’t going to have her.”

Jeff waved the bartender down and threw back a shot of tequila before going back to the table where his date was dressed as a cowgirl.

Mike and Holly were talking to RJ Umberger and his girlfriend when Holly looked across the room and saw Jeff for the first time, “Who’s the whore,” Holly asked.

“I think Jeff picked her up on the corner of Broad Street on the way in here,” Cara said, “I can’t believe he’d bring that trash here.”

“He’s only doing it because we’re not getting along right now and I’m here with Mike. I really shouldn’t have called her a whore when I’m the one dressed like the playboy bunny.”

“It’s a show now right,” Ben asked, “They seem classy behind the pictures.”

“Thanks Ben,” Holly replied hugging him.

The DJ began playing and Holly shrieked in delight, “I fucking love this song,” she squealed dragging Mike out on the dance floor.

“Ms. New Booty” by Bubba Sparxx started playing in the ballroom shortly after dinner.

Holly and Mike were grinding on each other when Jeff and his puck fuck started dancing next to them.

"I'll be right back, I got to use the bathroom," Holly said excusing herself from Mike.

Holly knelt down in front of the toilet and spilled the contents of her stomach into the porcelain bowl.

There was a knock on the single bathroom door, “Someone’s in here,” Holly managed to get out.

“Holly, it’s me. Let me in,” Jeff’s voice said.

“I’m fine, I’ll be right out.”

“I’m not going away, let me in.”

“Go back to your whore,” Holly replied before puking again.

“Holly come on, just let me in,” Jeff sighed.

Holly crawled over to the door and unlocked it; Jeff pushed his way in and shut the door behind him.

“What happened,” he asked holding her hair back.

“I think it was the salmon, it started right after I was finished eating then dancing made it worse.”

Jeff knelt down behind her and held her hair back as she spilled what was left of her stomach into the bowl. Jeff reached up and grabbed a paper towel and wet it with cold water before placing it on Holly’s neck.

Holly looked over and gave Jeff a small smile, “Thanks,” she said, “Go ahead back to the party.”

“The party sucks; I’d rather stay here and have a show.”

“Gee, thanks,” Holly joked causing Jeff to laugh lightly, “Where’s the McSlut with sleaze?”

“I told her to go to hell.”

“Like I believe that, you fuck anything with a vagina.”

“You fuck anything with a dick.”

“Touché,” Jeff smiled, “She’s still out there thinking she’s going home with me. I’m not going to lie, I was going to take her home but you’re sick and I’d much rather take care of you.”

“I’m fine really; I just want to go home. I’m sorry for ruining the party.”

“You didn’t ruin it at all,” Jeff assured her, “It fucking sucks anyways.”

Holly turned her head and Jeff grabbed her hair and started dry heaving into the bowl, “Come on, you’ll never make it home. I booked a room here tonight, we’ll stay there. I have some clothes you can put on.”

Holly nodded her head and wiped her mouth with the paper towel that Jeff had placed on her neck. Tossing it in the trash, she washed her hands and left the bathroom with Jeff following behind her.

“Hey, are you okay,” Mike asked noticing how pale Holly was.

“I’m going to take her home, is that okay,” Jeff asked, “She ate something bad and it caught up to her.”

“Yeah sure, that’s fine,” Mike replied, “I’m going to stick around a little bit longer and do some shots with Ben.”

“Jeff,” the annoying voice of the slut that Jeff had brought to the party said, “Are we going upstairs or what?”

“Go fuck yourself, whore,” Holly spat, “Why would he fuck you when he can fuck me anytime he wants? I hear the Phillies are having a party down the street, why don’t you go chase Ryan Howard!”

“Really, Holly,” Jeff laughed when the slut huffed and walked out of the door, “You had to bring Howard into this.”

“Don’t worry, Jeff, I like white chocolate.”

Jeff shook his head causing Mike to laugh, “We’re going to head out,” he said as Holly gagged.

“Get her out of here before she pukes on me.”

Jeff picked Holly up in his arms and walked out of the ballroom to the elevator. Holly was almost asleep when they got to his hotel room. Jeff managed to open the door without dropping her.

Laying her on the bed gently, Jeff grabbed a pair of boxers and a wife beater tank top from his duffle bag, “Come on, sit up,” he whispered lifting Holly to a sitting position, “How the hell do you undo this thing?”

Holly stood up and turned her back towards him pointing to the zipper on the back of the costume. Jeff took her ears off and threw them on the table in the corner of the room before telling her to take off her shoes. Doing as she was told, Holly stepped out of her pink stilettos and slid the corset down her body.

Jeff felt his pants grow tight as Holly’s breasts became visible, “God Holly, please hurry up and put these on,” he said holding on the clothes he had grabbed for her.

Holly smirked and pulled the jersey shorts over her legs and rolled them so they’d fit. Sliding the tank top over her shoulders, she tied it to the side since it was big and grabbed a hair tie out of her purse to put her hair into a ponytail.

“Go ahead and lay down, I’m going to take a shower.”

Holly kissed his cheek and climbed under the blankets immediately falling asleep. Jeff grabbed a bottle of water out of the small refrigerator and a bucket. Placing them on the night stand, he shed his 1920s gangster costume and headed to the bathroom. After a cold shower to relieve the tension in his lower body, Jeff returned to bed and crawled in behind Holly wrapping his arms around her and running his hands through her hair.

The next morning, Holly woke up and felt better immediately. She had slept through the night only waking up once to go to the bathroom and drink the water that Jeff had set out for her. Holly was watching a movie on the Lifetime network when Jeff stirred awake next to her.

“Hey,” he grumbled sitting up slowly rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, “What time is it?”

“It’s almost noon,” Holly replied.

“How are you feeling?”

“I feel better,” she replied, “I think it was just a twenty-four hour thing.”

“Want to fuck,” Jeff asked.

“Really,” Holly asked, “That was your next question.”

“Come on, we haven’t fucked in days and I had to relieve my own sexual tension last night in the shower. I really want you right now,” he said leaning over and placing his lips on her neck.

“Jeff,” she moaned.

“Yes baby,” he whispered as he nibbled on her ear, “Tell me you want me to stop.”

Holly didn’t respond and Jeff chuckled, “That’s what I thought baby.”

“I ha-hate you,” she managed to get out before Jeff pinned her to the bed and stuck his hand in her pants.

“If you hated me, you wouldn’t be dripping wet for me, would you?”

“Go fuck yourself,” Holly spat.

“Now, why would I do that when I can fuck you right now,” Jeff replied pulling her shorts down slowly before pulling the tank top over her head.

“Fucker,” she gasped as Jeff thrusted into her at once.

“I love it when you talk dirty,” he groaned as he began moving.

“Faster,” Holly screamed as Jeff pinned her hands above her head.

“You feel so fucking good.”

“Shut the fuck up and fuck me,” Holly said managing to flip them over so she was on top.

“I fucking love it when you ride me,” he groaned as Holly sat up letting him fall part way out of her before slamming back down onto his hard member, “FUCK!”

Holly started slow then changed her pace so that both she and Jeff were satisfied, “I’m so close,” Holly moaned, “FUCK! JEFF!”

Jeff reached between them and tweaked her clit with his fingers sending both of them over the edge.

Holly collapsed on top of Jeff and they laid there panting knowing that they weren’t the only partners each other had and they sure wouldn’t be the last of each other’s sexual partners either.