Firstly, let me apologize to the few of you out there who have been kind enough since my last chapter to keep on me to carry on. Work, Love and Pursuit of the Mighty Dollar kept getting in the way, but here we are. I also apologize for the length, but hopefully it's worth the read. For those of you who have just stumbled upon the series, I'd suggest you at least take a look at the first chapter and see what you think.
Thanks again, George
*****
** Late Saturday morning -- Mid December **
I woke up alone and immediately I didn't like it. Stretching all four appendages, the sheets were cold; I didn't like it. Admittedly, I'm spoiled and I knew this day was coming, but still, I didn't like it. I forced myself to get out of bed. Actually my morning wood forced me out of bed and I shuffled into the bathroom to pee. I stood there waiting, waiting for the soft warm body to nestle against my back, her delicate hand taking charge of my cock and giggling as she directed the warm stream; she wasn't there, I didn't like it.
It took a couple minutes in the big, lonely shower for all the cobwebs to wash away and with a big sigh, I gave into the fact that for the first time in I don't know how long, I was all alone. Alone in this house, built within a massive brick warehouse, that served as my... no... correction, served as the home of Britt and my photography business. It also was home to Gina and Kate's online swimwear company. I used to savor my privacy; languish in the silence in solitude; now I felt lost.
Late last night I put my girls on a red-eye to the east coast so that they could spend the winter holidays with their families. They had begged me to come with them, but work and in all honesty, unknown personal complications that may arise...well, it just seemed easier to not be the trigger of some uneasy questions for the girls. We all live together and although Britt is my main squeeze, to borrow an old term, Gina and Kate are just as important to me.
The last couple weeks have been a blur. Thanksgiving was a holiday I won't be forgetting anytime soon and the girls had to finish up their semesters and get ready for the trip home. The part about school and the trip prep were pretty straight forward. Britt and I dialed in what I was supposed to accomplish while she was gone. There were a few shoots to do and I had some computer work I needed to get done and finish a couple of jobs; she said she'd even trust me with billing if I let her look at it first. Kate and Gina scurried around and made sure they were caught up with all their pending orders and filled me in on any deliveries that might come in. Being an online business, they could pretty much do everything but the physical handling of goods from their parent's homes, so they were pretty comfortable with leaving the business behind for awhile. We also thought about doing our own Christmas early, but decided that it could wait until after they returned and I was thankful for another few weeks of procrastination; shopping is clearly not one of my strong points.
Even though all the business burdens were lifted and Christmas had been rescheduled, the girls seemed to be overly concerned with my well-being while they were gone. It didn't matter that they had been in my life for such a small percentage of it and that I had managed to take care of myself those many years. The three were convinced that I would be like a lost puppy while they were gone; wandering aimlessly, nose to the ground, searching for the comfort they have brought to my life. And now that I walked into the kitchen and found there really was no one there but myself; well damn it, they may have been right to be concerned.
The girls however did have an ace in the hole and they had stacked the deck before they took off for a few weeks to get reacquainted with their loving families. The winning card was named Becky and she and the girls, behind my back by the way; they had a master plan laid out that would keep me in check. No playing for this mouse while his cats were away.
Truth be told, in a matter of a couple days, I'd have probably gotten over my lonely funk and buried myself in work, resorted to meals from the freezer and rediscovered on-line porn and my talented right hand. Any normal girlfriend would have been fine with this, even happy that her man would more than likely be climbing the walls waiting for her return and she'd be treated like the gift from god that she thought she was.
But then, Britt's not normal is she? At least not when it comes to relationships; fifty years ago, she could have been the stereotypical hippie, with free love and all that. Her take on love and life are idyllic and to some would seem maybe a little naive, but in the end, it works and if you're blessed enough to be part of her life, then you count your lucky stars every day.
My life had indeed changed since I met the love of my life. My hobby, photography, became my career and I was now one of the lucky ones who loved what they did for a living and was rewarded monetarily as well. And with her also came that love for life and living and living to her meant freedom to love and make love; and boy did she know how to make love. And again, I doubt there is an honest soul on this planet that has not fantasized about the life I now lead, and somehow, I am lucky enough to be actually living it.
Back to reality, it's still too quiet in the house as I rummage around in the fridge for something for breakfast when the phone shatters the silence; my spirit somehow lifted by the obnoxious ring-tone. I glanced at the caller ID and my spirit now soared; "Hi Becky!" I chirped into the phone, evidently a little too chipper.
"Hey George," she replied with a little apprehension in her voice; "How's things? Did you get our girls off last night?"
"Yeah," I said, taking on a cocky tone. I'd have hooked my thumbs under my suspenders if I had any on, much less a pair of pants to hold up. "It wasn't easy, but they all were satisfied and walking a little funny when I dropped them off at the airport."
"Good Lord," she laughed, "I called to make sure you were okay and not down in the dumps or suicidal now that you were all alone with none of your playmates to take care of you."
"Yeah, I'm okay," slipping back into honesty mode. "It was a bit odd waking up alone and this place is so damn quiet. I mean even when the girls were all still asleep, the place still seemed, I don't know, alive somehow. It's just kind of weird, but I guess I'll get used to it; it won't be for that long."
"No, you're right, they'll be back before you know it, but...you know you don't have to be alone all the time," she voice a little more sultry now.
"Yeah, I know," now back to my normal, asshole self; "But I already told Britt I don't want a damn cat; all that fur and litter boxes and stuff."
"Oh my god," she spewed into the phone; I was afraid she was really mad. "If Britt and the girls hadn't asked me to, well, to look after you while they're gone, I'd just...well you could just take matters into your own hand," she finished and I could tell she was proud of that last part.
"Okay, okay," I laughed, "you win and for your information, I was thinking of just that a while ago."