"What the...?" I’m balancing too many things in my arms at once when I accidentally kick sothing at my feet. Backing up a little, I see a box in front of my door and sigh. I can’t pick it up while I’m holding all of this shit, so I step over it and unlock the door.
After I drop my ssenger bag, groceries, gym bag, and everything else I was hanging on to, I make my way back to the front door.
"It’s not safe to leave your door wide open, Blake," my neighbor and best friend Asher calls out.
"These cri-ridden streets fear ," I say as I watch him scoop up the box on the ground and close my front door. He puts the package on the coffee table then makes his way toward .
"Please." He rolls his eyes as he goes straight to my fridge and pulls out a beer. "Want one?"
"Do I want a beer that I paid for from my refrigerator?" Sarcasms drips from my words, but he only smiles and passes one. "What’s in your fridge and why do you always raid mine?"
"Because you keep buying groceries, and all I’ve got is a jar of pickles."
"You don’t even like pickles."
"Which is why they’re still there." He shrugs.
I shake my head as I loosen my tie and we walk into the large living room. There’s not much in here even though we’ve both lived in this neighborhood for several years now. I haven’t gotten around to it, and Asher is always over here instead of at his place. I’m pretty sure he’s only got a bed in his whole house.
When we graduated from college, we agreed we wanted to work together and stay in the Sa city. What we didn’t plan on was becoming next-door neighbors, but when the houses ca on the market at the Sa ti, we jumped on it. Who wouldn’t want to live next door to their best friend since middle school? Asher is my brother even though we don’t share DNA. His dad died when he was young, and that’s when he started going to my school. My mom passed when I was still a baby, so it was sothing we kind of had in common.
What we didn’t expect was for our parents to fall in love during all those tis Asher and I were hanging out. So there might be a "step" between us, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
"How was work today, dear?" He laughs at his own joke as he grabs the remote and sits down.
"Busy." I yawn, and he gives a look. "I know I say that every day, but it’s true. It’s exhausting being this successful."
This ti when he rolls his eyes, I’m afraid they’re going to get stuck that way.
"I’m so glad I’m only an investor and that I don’t actually have to run that office."
"Keep saying that, and I’ll put you to work." I let out a long breath as I take a seat. "I could really use so extra hands, so I guess it’s good the interns start tomorrow."
"You need more people to get coffee?"
"I wish. I need hands to process data and help us catch up with the demand. The company is so close to being where I want it, and then I can take a step back."
"What will you possibly do with all your free ti once you retire so young?" Asher wiggles his eyebrows, and I laugh.
"I guess finally see what your ass does all day. What is it, napping?"
"My days are filled with adventure. For example, I went to Costco today."
"Please don’t start." I try to cut him off, but he keeps going.
"Blake, do you know they lose money on their rotisserie chicken?"
"Here we go." I rub my temples as he goes on about all the deals he saw today.
"I’m just saying, until you try their slippers you haven’t lived."
"As often as you go, I’m surprised you don’t have more food at your house."
He sighs and changes the channel. "Where do you think most of your stuff cos from?"
"Bro, you really need to get laid."
He pauses his search on the TV and turns his surprised gaze on . "Look who’s talking."
"I have an excuse. I’m busy." Just then my phone rings and gives a way out of this conversation.
Sure, it’s been a while since I’ve had sex. Okay, maybe it’s been longer than a while. Like years. But it’s true what I told Asher. I’ve been busy building my business and making sure that the family I hope to one day have will be financially secure. That’s what I told myself all this ti. That eventually my hard work would pay off and then I could settle down. But what if I’ve waited too long and now my chance to have a wife and babies has passed by?
Instead of dwelling on that and sinking further into my own misery, I answer my phone.
"Blakeuel here."
"Hi Blakeuel, it’s Ramona from Human Resources."
"Hey, Ramona, is everything okay?" It’s not normal that I get a call from HR after hours.
"Yes, I just wanted to let you know that I had the mail room implent your request to forward everything to your house. We had a notification that you received a package today, and I wanted to follow up and make sure the work order was completed."
"Oh yeah." I glance back to the coffee table and see the box I kicked earlier sitting there. "It’s here."
"Great. I’m going to close the work order as completed. Everything should forward to your ho address from here on out. So anything addressed to you at the company will co to your ho."
"Perfect, thanks for following up."
"No problem at all. Have a good night."
"You too," I say before we end the call.
So people might be questioning why I’m getting all my ducks in a row, but I was serious about what I told Asher earlier. I’m close to getting out, and when I do, I want that transition as smooth as possible. Which ans separating my personal stuff from the business. It will be bittersweet to step back, but it’s the right choice.
Putting my phone on the table, I reach for the box and begin opening it. Asher says sothing about the ga he put on, and I’m watching the screen as I tear open the tape. Without really paying attention, I reach inside and grab sothing big and plastic.
"What the?" My eyes widen when I see what I’ve pulled out of the box.
"Dude, I know it’s been a while, but that seems a little extre," Asher says as he begins to laugh.
"It’s not mine." I’m looking at the vibrator that’s shaped like a cock with a little rabbit spur on it that I’m guessing is for tickling a woman’s clit.
"Hey, no judgnt, brother." Asher shrugs as he goes back to watching TV. That’s him in a nutshell. Absolutely zero surprise that I just pulled out a dildo in front of him.
It’s strange because the more I look at it, the more I wonder what it would feel like to use it on a woman. Fuck, it’s been so long, I’m imagining putting a dildo in a woman instead of my cock.
"I’ve always considered these teammates more than an enemy," I say as I turn the package over. "But right now, I’m jealous this was ant to get fucked tonight."
"You and both," Asher grunts.
Picking the box up off the floor, I look at the front and see the address is correct. It was sent to my corporate office, but instead of my na, I see Piccola Smith typed out on the label.
"Piccola Smith?" I say out loud, with a sneaking suspicion that I know that na.
"Smith?" Asher repeats. "Is that the guy you recruited a couple of years ago?"
"Yeah," I say slowly as the gears in my brain begin to turn. "And his daughter, Piccola, is one of my new interns."
"Oh, shit." Asher begins laughing. "She sent her new boss a dildo?" His laughter grows, and I feel myself smiling too.
"I’m not sure why, but I think it’s only polite to return it to its owner."
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