*click click clack clickity click clack click*
My mom sat in the dining room, legs crossed, texting. She seldom looked up as I helped the movers dispose of my parents' old creaky bed frame, then helped them assemble the sturdy new king sized bed she had bought. Her fresh set of long, square-tipped French acrylic nails produced the clicking against her phone screen that I couldn't ignore. I also couldn't ignore my phone buzzing in my pocket, which told me that her new boyfriend DeAndre was the recipient of her texts. In the middle of the sweaty work, I would make excuses to "vape" or "use the bathroom" in order to follow the lovers' conversation:
"How was work, boo?"
"Ugh Paula was being a total bitch. I'm gonna need your dick extra hard tonight."
"You know I gotchu."
"I'll be wearing something new for you."
"Aww don't even tease me baby. Gimme a hint."
"Uh-uh, it's a surprise! You'll find out when it's time to break in this new bed."
Weeks earlier, I had correctly suspected my mother, who had recently separated from my father, of seeing someone new despite remaining married officially. DeAndre, a fit black man considerably younger than her, was her new lover. I had overheard and ultimately witnessed them having sex in my parents' old bedroom, nearly breaking the old bed I was now helping to discard.
Obsessed with my mom's newfound, tirelessly active sex life, I monitored her communications remotely via a hidden app I had installed on her phone. Because they work together, they would often discuss the sex they'd had the night before via text so coworkers wouldn't overhear.
"That was a massive load you shot inside me last night, baby. You trying to knock me up or something?" *Winky face*
"Hah, that's right. You gonna be my baby mama."
They would frequently joke like this. My mom had gone through menopause years prior, but apparently that didn't slow down her sex drive one bit. Her and DeAndre had been fucking like newlyweds since their relationship began. They spent every night together, either at her place or his.
It was also through this spying app that I learned of various lifestyle and beauty changes she had made since I'd last seen her. There were the acrylic nails, routine lip injections, Botox, cheek fillers, long semi permanent lashes, Brazilian waxes, several new piercings up the side of her left ear, a nose stud, a dangling belly piercing, and a new tribal tattoo around her ankle. Most evenings, she'd spend a few hours at the gym with DeAndre before they would go home and fuck. She was looking and acting younger than she had in decades.
I hadn't yet watched them fuck again since that first night. I couldn't wait much longer, not after the things I'd been reading in their conversations. There was more clicking as she typed out another message.
"I'd like you to meet my son before he leaves today. I think he should find out from me, before he finds out otherwise."
"That's cool with me, baby... you nervous?"
*A minute's hesitation*
"A little. Yeah."
"It will be ok. I'll be there in about 30."
I nearly threw up, but my stomach also leapt in excitement. Right now? Today?? But if he's coming to visit, and I don't stick around long.... Yes, this is it! My chance to watch them again.
I thanked the furniture crew absentmindedly as they left. My mom passed each of them a modest but fair tip, even winking at a couple of the younger guys, giving sugary sweet comments like "Enjoy your day, babe!". Who was this new woman she'd become? Confident, flirtatious. They each thanked her and went on their way.
She turned to me. "Hey, uh, there's someone I'd like you to meet?"
"O-oh, oh yeah? Who's that?"
"Well, your dad and I... well, your dad... uhh it's just that... I'm dating someone."
I stumbled over a giggle, then forced a smile.
"Oh, well hey! That's cool. What's his name?"
"DeAndre. He's on his way over."
Platitudes were all I could muster. "Well... you seem happy lately, so I'm happy for you."
She blushed and looked at the floor. "Thanks..."
"So is he like, your boyfriend or..."
"Ehhhh I wouldn't say so? We're just dating."
Ha! She was trying to play it off as modest and casual, but I knew the truth. They were already boyfriend and girlfriend, practically lived together, and were constantly having sex.
DeAndre's green SUV parked in front of the house. Excitement started building, as the last time I saw that SUV, I saw my mom's legs up over her lover's shoulders a couple hours later.
There was a knock at the door. My mom nervously scurried over to open it.
"Hey!" I noticed she didn't greet him with any pet names like "boo," and they didn't kiss. "This is my son. This is DeAndre."
"Hey champ!" He extended his hand and shook mine. He was genuinely friendly.
"H-hey, good to meet you!"
"Been working hard today?"
"Eh, it wasn't too bad. There were lots of furniture guys helping."
"Hope your mom tipped you ok!"