This story is part of my Pandora's Box series. Although I believe each story can be read as a standalone, a full list of the entries and the chronological order to read them in can be found in my bio.
Comments and feedback are welcome as always!
An Awkward Chat
Dani groaned as the doorbell rang, rolling over in bed and rubbing her eyes. She had been half-awake for about ten minutes now, but the loud clang had now successful destroyed any chance to fall fully asleep again.
"Babe? You awake?" Jake's muffled voice came through the en-suite door.
"Yeah," Dani called back blearily, propping herself up on one elbow.
"Can you get that?"
"Who is it?"
"I dunno. Ava isn't due with Lucas for another half an hour or so."
"Ugh." Dani forced herself out of bed. She was naked, and she pulled on some white designer joggers and a loose blue crop top before tottering out of Jake's room, through the living room, and to the front door. The doorbell rang again as she grasped the handle, and Dani winced at the noise.
"Dani!" Five-year-old Lucas beamed widely as Dani opened the door, rushing through and hugging her around the waist.
"Hey handsome," Dani smiled, tousling his blond hair as she returned the hug. "How've you been?"
"Look what I have!" Lucas held up a plastic dinosaur toy, grinning from ear-to-ear.
"Wow! What's that one called?"
"It's a Spinosaurus," Lucas said proudly, turning it over in his hands.
With all her attention focused on the excitable boy, Dani was caught off-guard by the sound of someone clearing their throat in the doorway. She glanced up and was greeted by the sight of Ava, Lucas' mom and Jake's ex. His baby mama.
Ava had a round, pretty face and long, glossy raven black hair. Serious brown eyes pierced into Dani. She was dressed strikingly in black, knee-high boots, black skinny jeans, and a red crop top behind a leather jacket. Ava appeared in decent shape, yet Dani couldn't help but focus on the tell-tale signs that she had previously been pregnant, evident on her exposed midriff: slightly loose skin surrounded a popped-out belly button, with faded stretch marks and scars wrapped around it. Dani was suddenly self-conscious of the obvious contrast with her smooth, perfectly pristine abs, her own skin tight and unblemished by the trials of pregnancy.
"Is Jake here?" Ava asked in a breathy voice, a hint of irritation clear behind the words.
"Uh, yeah, he's... on the toilet."
Lucas clearly thought this was the funniest thing ever and burst out laughing, and Dani stifled a grin at his reaction. But Ava didn't look as amused.
"Right. So you're Daniella?" Ava's eyes flashed up and down Dani's body, drinking in the appearance of Jake's sexy, college-aged girlfriend.
"Yeah, that's me."
A brief silence followed as Dani and Ava looked at each other awkwardly, Lucas still giggling in the background.
"I... I like your outfit. Are you going somewhere?" Dani asked, attempting to break the ice.
"Out with some friends, yes."
"Cool. I like your jacket. Where's it from?"
"I can't remember. I've had it a while."
"Oh. Right." Dani sucked air between her teeth. "Well, you can leave Lucas here with me. Jake won't be long."
"I'd rather see Jake first," Ava replied bluntly.
"Oh. Okay."
Another silence.
"I like your joggers," Ava said suddenly.
"Oh, really?" Dani's face lit up. "Thanks! They were super expensive."
"I bet. Being a stripper at Pandora's Box pays incredibly well, I hear."
Dani felt like a bomb had gone off inside her, stunned apprehension gripping her insides and twisting them.
"Excuse me?"
"That's what you do, isn't it?" Ava's hard, judgemental gaze bored into her.
"No. I'm a waitress," Dani replied indignantly.
"Same thing," Ava said, shrugging disinterestedly.
"It's not," Dani shot back, a spark of anger lighting inside her. "I don't do that kind of thing."
"Well, you hear all sorts about that place."
"I am not a stripper!"
"Don't take it personally. You've got the looks for it." Ava shrugged. "Plus you're clearly pretty free and easy about showing off your body."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, do you really think it's appropriate to dress like
that
around a little boy?" She gestured at Dani's half naked appearance with her exposed midriff, joggers riding low on her wide hips, and her plump breasts swelling the small crop top. Without a bra, Dani's nipples poked clearly through the fabric.
But Dani was shocked. "I've just got out of bed! And you weren't expected for another half an hour!"
"Plans change. I messaged Jake to let him know. If he hasn't seen it, it's not my fault."
"Hey champ!" Jake's voice boomed through the air, and Dani felt relief flood through her.
"Daddy!" Lucas shouted, running up to Jake and wrapping his arms around his hips. Jake made a growling noise and lifted the laughing boy into his arms, carrying him back towards the door.
"You're getting real heavy you know!"
"Dani said you were doing a poo!" Lucas grinned.
"I said he was on the toilet!" Dani gasped as Jake started laughing.
"Not to interrupt," Ava said icily, her voice slicing through the air. "But can I speak with you a moment?" Her question was levelled at Jake. And it wasn't a question.
Jake's smile faltered slightly, but he still had an easy-going expression on his face as he walked towards Ava, gesturing for them to talk in the hallway. But Ava shook her head and gestured at Dani.
"No.
We're
staying here.
She
can go somewhere else."
Dani scoffed indignantly. "Don't talk about me like I'm not here."
"Dani's right," Jake said, a hint of annoyance in his voice as he defended his girlfriend. "Don't do that Ava."
Ava raised her eyebrows. "Seriously Jake?"
Lucas looked a little nervous, his eyes now darting between his parents, and Dani felt a pang of sympathy for the small boy. "It's fine Jake," she said, forcing a smile and resting her hand on his arm. "I'll leave you to it."
"No. Stay." Jake replied firmly, his eyes still fixed on Ava.
"Jakey, it's cool, I swear. I'll just wait in the bedroom."
Jake turned his head slightly towards Dani, one eye still on Ava, and huffed. "Alright, fine."
Dani gave Jake's arm a little squeeze before turning and pottering into the bedroom. A thin layer of agitation still coated her from Ava's accusations, but she did her best to quash it as she seated herself on the edge of the bed. Dani picked up her phone and stared at it absent-mindedly. She had hoped to eavesdrop on Jake and Ava, but couldn't hear anything even after getting up and putting her ear against the door.
Eventually, after a few minutes, Dani heard footsteps approaching. She jumped back and landed heavily on the bed as the door swung open and Lucas charged in, followed by Jake.
"Dani! Dani!" He jumped on the bed next to her, grinning widely. Dani still couldn't get over how much the small boy looked like Jake.
"Look who's all excited," Dani beamed, giving him a friendly shake.
"Dani! We're going to the waterpark!"
"Wow, that sounds amazing!"
"Are you coming?" Lucas stared at her with his big, blue eyes.
"I'm not sure I can, I haven't got my swimsuit with me."
"I have two pairs of trunks! You can borrow one!" Lucas insisted earnestly. "Not the seahorse ones though, those are mine."
"That's a sight I'd pay to see," Jake chuckled from the door.
"How was Ava?" Dani asked, gesturing at the front door as Lucas started absent-mindedly playing with her hair.
"Oh, she's fine. She's just stressed about school stuff. Don't take it personally."
"Heh. She doesn't seem to like me much."
"She's convinced you're a stripper at Pandora's Box. I don't know where she got that idea from, because it definitely wasn't me. And, for some reason, nothing I say can convince her otherwise. But that makes you a bad influence, as far as she's concerned."
"A bad influence? On Lucas?"
"Both of us, I think," Jake said, laughing lightly.
"What's a stripper?" Lucas asked innocently, still tracing Dani's thick, messy curls through his fingers.
"Lucas, where's your dinosaur?" Dani asked quickly, hoping to distract the young boy from his questioning.
Lucas shrugged. "I dunno. On the sofa probably. What's a stripper?"
Dani looked to Jake for help, who was watching them with wry amusement. "Ask your mother. She brought it up, she can tell you."
"Fine," Lucas huffed, sliding off the bed to retrieve his toy. Jake took his spot, seating himself beside Dani and combing his fingers through her chestnut tresses.
"What are your plans for today?" he asked softly. "You're more than welcome to come to the waterpark with us. We can swing by yours and grab your swimsuit."
"I'd love to," Dani replied. It was a great day for it -- the sun shined brightly outside, illuminating the closed curtains and bathing the bedroom in faded light. "I made plans with Martine though. She'll go ape if I back out."
"Ah that's right," Jake smirked, "it's your big girl's shopping spree, isn't it?"
