Normalcy.
"Shut up," Ian grumbled as my alarm burst to life. I got up, turning the alarm off. Ian rolled on to his side, still sleeping. I smiled at his sleeping form, getting out of bed.
Even when I was done showering, Ian was still sleeping. I wore a pencil skirt, with a red blouse, taking out my heels.
"Ian," I called out, as I brushed my hair.
No response. Ian had always been a heavy sleeper.
I sighed. "Ian! I'm pregnant!"
Ian was up in a second, looking at me like I was crazy. I burst out laughing and he glared at me. "Not funny."
I chuckled. "It is. You're up, aren't you?"
"You'll give me a heart attack one day," Ian muttered, closing his eyes. I rolled my eyes at him. When he looked at me again, his eyes were narrowed. "Where are you going?"
"Work." I stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. And it was.
"Do you have to?'' Ian muttered.
I nodded. "I have some important meetings today. Don't you have work?"
Ian nodded. "I only have to go check on how their doing, Khloe."
"Okay. I'm making coffee, want some?"
Ian shook his head. "No. You're leaving now?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I'll grab breakfast from the deli. Bye!" I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, turning around to go.
But not before Ian caught me. I raised my eyebrows at him.
"That's not a proper kiss."
I rolled my eyes, leaning down, and softly pressing my lips to his. The softness of his lips never failed to surprise me. Ian pulled me, so I was almost sitting on his, as he deepened the kiss.
A small groan escaped my lips, as he sucked on my tongue. His hands moved to my blouse, his fingers starting to undo the buttons. That was enough for the alarm bells to ring in my head.
"Ian," I protested, moving away from him. Ian looked at me, smirking.
"I'm going. You got your kiss. Have a good day."
Ian smiled. "Don't have too much fun, kitten."
I rolled my eyes, but didn't say anything. I knocked on Parker's door, waiting for him to show up. Minutes later, a very hungover Parker stood at the door.
I raised my eyebrows in amusement. "Its a work day. Just why did you think drinking was a good idea?"
Parker narrowed his eyes at me. "Go away."
"Happily," I chuckled, walking away until I heard Parker curse. He was next to me in seconds.
"You'll drive?" Parker asked. "And please take the long way. We'll tell them we got stuck in traffic."
I raised my eyebrows. "It takes an hour to reach the bank, if we drive by the longer way."
"Please, Khloe. I need some sleep."
I sighed. "Only this once."
Parker and I worked in the same bank. But in different departments. The manager had realized right from the start that both of us couldn't be placed together.
I worked with the loan department of the bank, checking out the purpose for loans and the securities involved. It wasn't a very easy job. We had to be sure and thorough with our investigation.
Once we reached the bank, Parker left for his office, while I went to mine. I sighed as I saw a number of files already waiting for me. This is going to be a long day.
**
"Khlo?" Parker's voice at the door made me look up. I looked up from my file.
"Hmm?"
"It's lunch time."
I looked at him in surprise. "Already?"
Parker chuckled, walking into my office, keeping the bags of food on the table. "C'mon. How many did you finish?"
I sighed, frustrated. "Just one. This one is really complicated."
"I would ask you to talk about it, but no work talks during lunch."
I chuckled. "Yes, boss."
"What did you do last night?" Parker asked, and I froze.
"U-Uh, nothing much. Watched tv and slept. How was Ora?" I quickly changed the subject.
Parker shrugged. "I've had better."
I smacked his arm, appalled. "What the hell, Parker! You can't say stuff like that."
Before he could say anything else, my phone rang. "Hey Marley," I said and Parker motioned for me to put the phone on speaker. I shook my head, smirking at him.
"What's up, bitch?" Marley greeted me in her usual way.
I rolled my eyes. "Lunch with the oh-so-amazing Park."
Marley burst out laughing, and Parker glared at me. "That boy. Anyways. I called you for a reason."
I rolled my eyes. "Course you did."
"Girl's night. Tonight."
Excitement filled me. We hadn't had a girl's night im ages. "Okay. You're place. We don't want gatecrashers."
"Did you just call me a gatecrasher?" Parker narrowed his eyes at me.
I chuckled. "See? He's already planning on ruining our girls night."
Marley laughed. "I have to go. I'll call you later."
I cut the call, smirking at Parker's sour face. "Oh, come on, Parker."
Parker raised his eyebrows. "That means I can come?"
I shook my head. "No. Its a girls night."
"C'mon Khlo!"
"Hang out with Ian," I suggested.
Parker made a face, looking away. I smiled in amusement. He was really a baby sometimes. We finished lunch with our usual bickering.
"I'll pick you up when I leave," Parker said and I nodded.
Going back to work, my mind wandered to Ian. I hadn't heard from him all day, after I left this morning. I wondered if he was angry with me. On impulse, I took out my phone and texted him.
**HEY. WON'T BE HOME TONIGHT. WHERE ARE YOU?-K**
His reply was almost instantaneous.
**WHY WON'T YOU BE HOME?-I**
**GIRL'S NIGHT AT MARLEY'S PLACE.-K**
**I'M AT WORK. MEET ME FOR COFFEE SOMETIME LATER?-I**
**I CAN'T. HAVE A LOT OF WORK :( -K **
**YOU'RE GOING HOME THO? -I **
**MOSTLY NOT. PARKER WILL DROP ME OFF AT MARLEY'S PLACE. YOU GUYS CAN CATCH UP. - K**
**I'D RATHER CATCH UP WITH YOU -I**
**WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW, SWEETHEART - K**
**I HAVE TO GO OUT TOMORROW. - I**
**WHERE? -K**
**COME BACK HOME TONIGHT. I'LL TELL YOU- I**
**THAT'S BLACKMAIL - K**
**I KNOW :P GOTTA GO. I'LL CALL YOU -I**
I didn't bother replying. He was going out? Where? It wasn't like he knew anyone here. And there wasn't anything fun happening in the city either.
Bitterness filled me as I though of Silver. He knew her. Maybe he was going to meet her. Would he tell me if he was? I was almost certain he was going to meet her.
I shook my head, clearing the thoughts. I had to keep a clear mind. Work was more important. I quickly started up on the files again, stopping only when Parker came back, telling me that we were leaving.
"You want me to drop you at Marl's?" Parker asked.
I shook my head. "No. I'll go home and change first. And I don't think she's home yet."
Marley was a chef. She worked at the best restaurant in the city, and also the kids centre. She usually went there in the evenings, but I knew she would have cancelled today.
"So, what are you planning on doing for this girl's night?" Parker asked.
"Talk. Drink. Eat." I answered, making Parker give me a sidelong glance.
"Talk about?"
I smirked. "Not you."
"Why can't I come?"
I chuckled. "Because we need girl time. And you can hang out with Ian. He's your cousin, isn't he?"
Parker glared at me. "Thanks for making me feel like a bad host."
"Anytime sweetheart," I smirked, making him glare at me. As we got out the car, I really hope Ian would be here.
I went to my apartment, quickly changing and leaving a message for Marley. I left one for Ian, telling him I was home for some time if he wanted to come and talk.
I got back a negative response. **SORRY, KITTEN. I CAN'T COME. I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT. - I**
I frowned. What was going on? He wanted to see me tonight, but now he was changing to tomorrow night? Something wasn't right. I knew it.
Marley's text came soon after, and I left for her place with a box of pizza and some wine.
"You got sex!" Marl yelled as soon as I walked through the door.
A blush covered my cheeks. "What? No!" I flinched at how fake my voice sounded.
She narrowed her eyes. "Oh, come on! Who was it? Was it good?"
I was still protesting. "I didn't have any sex!"
Marl raised her eyebrows. "Oh? And I was born a goat. Now, spill."
Two bottles of wine and three boxes of pizza later, Marley knew about my whole relationship with Ian. Without the BDSM part, of course. I didn't know how she would react to that.
As we slept on her extendable couch, I was happy that I told her. That's what best friends are for, right?
***
