Monday’s Sloth

“You really shouldn’t scare me like that, Ms. Revelin. For a second there, I thought you were serious,” laughed my boss, Mr. Simmons.

“I’m serious, sir. My fiancé doesn’t want me to work now that I’m pregnant. I’ll be in later this week to pick up my final check.”

“Oh! You ARE serious! Well, can I persuade you to work from home? I understand your fiancé’s concerns and I’m sure with your dedicated work ethic, you can stay on bed rest while continuing to earn a paycheck,” Mr. Simmons suggested.

“You mean you want to make sure I stay with your company so you don’t lose your biggest clients. Tough titties,” I thought to myself.

“Thanks but I’ll have my hands full once the baby is here not to mention all of the wedding planning and doctor’s visits between now and then…”

Damn!! He is really making me work this lie!!!

“Well, if you change your mind, you’re always welcome to come back to…”

CLICK!

“Save your breath, Mr. Simmons,” I thought aloud. It took everything in me to hold that conversation with my now ex-boss as Franklin rubbing coconut oil on my heels and calves, massaging my aching muscles. Even if I wasn’t pregnant, it was time for me to quit that dead end job.

“How long are you going to do that?” I asked Franklin although I had no plans to stop him. I just wanted to know how much longer I could enjoy the pampering.

“You mean today or in general?” Franklin smiled as his oil massage found its way under my nightgown, up to my knees and thighs.

Purring, I said, “Today.”

“When you tell me to stop,” he replied as he dipped his tongue into my pussy.

“Oh well THAT won’t happen anytime soon!” I said, allowing Franklin to continue “massaging” me.

RIIINNGG!! RIIINNGG!!

“FUUUUCK!!” Franklin exclaimed, ripping his head from between my thighs. Patting my belly, he said, “I’m sorry, Sexy. Sorry, Baby.”

“No I’m sorry. I thought I turned it off because I’m not answering my phone today,” I declared as I picked up my cell off the coffee table to put it on vibrate. Before the screen went dark, I saw that it was Leon calling, which made me do a double take.

Why is he calling? Leon NEVER calls!

Rising to go into the kitchen to get myself a snack, Franklin gently pulled me back down onto the sofa.

“And where do you think you’re goin’, Lil Mama?” Franklin asked as he pulled me onto his lap.

“To the kitchen for a snack,” I said, looking at him quizzically.

“You stay here” he said as he set me on the sofa. “I’ll get us both something to eat. You must be starving!”

Shaking my head as I reached for the remote control, I said, “You’ve been feeding me since I got home yesterday.”

Settling on the LogoTV channel, I was just starting to get caught up on one of my favorite movies when Franklin returned with bacon-cheddar grilled cheese sandwiches, apple slices and individual bottles of chocolate milk.

“Wanna watch this or something on Blu-ray?” Franklin asked as he set the tray of food on the coffee table.

“I wanna see ‘Pocahontas’!” I squeaked. One thing this kid had going for her was her parents’ love of Disney movies. In addition to my own extensive collection, I’m surprised I haven’t worn out his movies, VCR’s, DVD players and Blu-ray players in all the years I’d known Franklin.

Chuckling as he retrieved the movie from his collection, Franklin said, “Why do you always wanna see THAT one? You never finish it.”

“Franklin, it’s 2:30 in the afternoon and I’m nowhere near sleepy. I’m finishing this movie today dammit!” I said before taking a healthy bite of my sandwich.

“Hey, no cussin’ around our baby,” he warned as he joined me on the couch scooping my legs up into his lap.

“I’ll try to keep it down when I’m around you two but don’t expect me to stop cussin’, Franklin,” I warned as I finished off my sandwich, attacking the apple slices next.

“I bet little Olivia will make you wanna stop cussin’,” Franklin smiled, sitting back on the sofa. “One look into her pretty little eyes and you’ll apologize every time a word slips out.”

“Just like my Mama did when she saw me?” I giggled. “Oh wait! She cusses more than Richard Pryor so I’m guessing your darling daughter will hear a few from Auntie Rissa.”

“‘Auntie Rissa’? You really don’t want kids of your own? Not even OUR baby?” Franklin grimaced.

Not this conversation again.

“No.” When his facial expression didn’t improve after my response, I said, “Franklin, we discussed this before I agreed to carry your baby. I don’t want a relationship or kids. You want to be a father without the baby mama drama. When did you change your mind and what makes you think I changed mine?”

“I didn’t change my mind, Sexy. I’m just not feelin’ our daughter calling you ‘Auntie Rissa’.”

“Would you prefer ‘Aunt Clarissa’?” I smiled as I finished off my snack by downing my chocolate milk.

“I’d prefer ‘Mommy’,” Franklin said with a kiss before starting back on massaging my feet.

“First of all, stop thinking of her as our daughter. She’s YOUR daughter because after I give birth, she’s all yours,” I reminded him.

He half-smiled. “And I love you for that. I’m jus’ sayin’ if you ever decide you want us all to be a REAL family…”

“I’m not getting married if that’s what you’re hinting at,” I shuddered as I realized that Mackenzie had proposed to me just yesterday! What in the hell is wrong with these men?!

“I know. Gon’ and watch your movie. I’ll be right back,” Franklin said before gently placing my feet on the sofa before retreating to his extra bedroom. When he returned, he was carrying a large box that contained his artificial Christmas tree.

“You still have that old thing?!” I laughed as I sat and crossed my legs Indian style while I watched Franklin’s activities.

“I keep everything that’s special to me, especially when it’s given to me by someone I love and care about,” Franklin explained as he proceeded to remove the dismantled tree from the cardboard box it was stored in before setting it up in front of his patio doors in between bites of sandwich and gulps of milk.

Franklin and I had been best friends since high school. Both open minded individuals and offspring of infidelity, we instantly bonded. When we first met, we tried dating each other but found ourselves too possessive for each other’s taste. Eventually we realized that the only thing working for us was our sex life so we agreed to be each other’s Fuck Buddy.

“Want some help?” I offered as I began to take the empty plate and bottles into the kitchen.

“Woman if you don’t sit your narrow tail down! I got this!” Franklin said, swiftly retrieving the plate and bottles from me. Kissing me slowly, he said, “Where do you want to go for dinner?”

“I hadn’t thought that far considering we just finished eating. What’s up with your appetite, man?” I asked with curiosity.

“Just making sure my Baby is getting enough to eat,” Franklin replied before taking the plate and bottles into the kitchen.

“‘Your Baby’? You better be talking about the baby I’m carrying! Boy, you’re about to make me run to Leon with all of this mushy stuff!” I laughed as I switched the TV over to play Xbox.

When Franklin returned to the living room with a large plastic tote, he looked pissed!

Assuming he was upset because I didn’t ask if he was done watching the movie, I immediately apologized. “Baby, I’m sorry. Were you still watching ‘Pocahontas’?”

“I thought you were done with Leon,” Franklin said as he stood in front of the naked tree, dropping the box beside him.

“What do you mean ‘done’?” I asked, trying not to react to his harsh tone.

“Done smokin’ with him.” Something in his eyes said he wanted to say more but he held it back. Franklin and Leon knew of each other but neither could claim me so beyond knowing each other’s name, neither asked about the other.

Until now.

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t smoke around MY baby,” Franklin stated.

Realizing my mistake, I looked down and put my hands on my belly. “Olivia, Mommy is so sorry for clogging your little lungs. I promise I won’t let it happen again.”

When I looked up at Franklin, he had a tear in his eye. “You said ‘Mommy’ is sorry.”

Oh dammit!

“Franklin…”

“Come here,” he said as he helped me off the couch. I couldn’t be more than a month or two pregnant but Franklin was treating me as if I would give birth any day! Pulling me into a hug, he kissed the top of my head. “I know you didn’t mean it and it won’t happen again since that was a goodbye ‘smoke’, right?”

“Don’t dance around it, Franklin. Either ask the question or don’t bring up the subject,” I reminded him as I pulled out of our embrace, retrieving an ornament from the tote box to hang on the tree.

“Sexy, I don’t need to know anything. We’re not a couple so what you do is your thang so long as it doesn’t harm my baby, cool?” Franklin clarified as he turned on his stereo to play my favorite Patti LaBelle Christmas CD.

Smiling, I said, “Cool.”

Decorating the Christmas tree was a tradition for Franklin and me ever since our post-college days. If he was in between girlfriends during the holidays, and if I were in town, we made sure to bring in the New Year together. Waiting until a minute after midnight, no matter where we were, we made love to make sure neither of us ended the New Year as a “virgin”.

Vibrating on the coffee table, my cell phone disturbed us to let me know that Leon was calling again. Franklin was too busy hanging ornaments to see me slip my phone into my nightgown pocket.

“Something must be wrong for him to call me twice!” I thought to myself.

“Can I help decorate the tree or would you prefer if I take a nap?” I asked, knowing which option Baby Daddy would choose for me.

“If you’re tired, lay on the couch so you can keep me company,” Franklin suggested as he hugged me and rubbed my belly.

“The bed would be much more comfortable. And when you’re done out here, you can join me or come wake me up,” I winked as I headed toward the master bedroom.

“Since I’m taking you out later, I may have to catch a quick nap, too. Give me a minute and I’ll be right in there.

Leaving the bedroom door cracked open to listen for Franklin, I sat on the bed and called Leon.

“What’s wrong?! You NEVER call me! Is everything ok?!” I quietly exclaimed into my phone.

“What took you so long to call back?” he snapped back.

“OK, so nothing is wrong,” I breathed a sigh of relief.

“What the fuck took you so long to call me back?” he repeated more colorfully.

“I’m at Franklin’s,” I replied.

“Oh. OK, cool. When you’re done, come on over.”

CLICK.

Done?? When I’m done?? What the hell?!