The Party (The Proposition 0.5)(3)
She cocked her eyebrows. “And what do you consider us?”
“We’re f**k buddies, Lydia. What is it exactly that we do if it’s not use each other for sex?”
“I think what we’ve been for the last six weeks is a little more than your clumsy summation,” she snapped.
“Oh Christ, don’t tell me you’re now looking for an invitation to go with me to my godson’s baptism today?”
“I’m sure as hell not. I was just making conversation.”
Aidan shook his blonde head. “I can see where this is going. You think meeting my family will magically make us more than two people who meet for sex once or twice a week?”
Sliding away to the edge of the bed, she pulled the sheet against her chest before glaring at him. “You can be a real ass**le, did you know that?”
Aidan threw up his hands in frustration. “Right now all I know is I’m confused at what the hell is your problem? I thought we’d been having a lot of fun together, and we could have some more—specifically before I had to leave for a real hellish day.”
“We were having fun, but I don’t want to be used by you, Aidan. No woman likes the idea that she’s just a piece of ass to be used whenever or however some jackass wants to, especially when he wants to emotionally check-out for a while. I am a person, you know, with feelings.”
Oh Fuck. Here it was. The ‘I want more’ conversation that inevitably ruined every good friends with benefits or hook-up situation he had ever been a part of. Things had been going so great with Lydia. He’d met her one night after work at his favorite hang-out, O’Malley’s. They’d done an hour or so of drinks with the typical mindless get to know you conversation before going back to her place for the hottest sex he’d had in a long time.
After the third round of sex when he was crawling out of her bed to leave, he’d broached the subject of meeting up once or twice a week. Still in a sex haze, she’d been more than willing. So for the last six weeks, he’d been well satisfied by what they had, and he wanted nothing more.
Of course, the problem was that he always went into every sexual relationship making it clear that he would not want more. But every single time it got f**ked up by some chick clinging to the desperate hope that they would be the one to tame him. With hate and loathing for him burning on Lydia’s face, it would now seem she was about to join the long line of former flings.
He cocked his brows at her. “So that’s it? We’re done because you’re suddenly feeling used?”
Lydia tore back the sheet and shot out of bed. “Get out! Get out of my house, you sorry son of a bitch!”
“Fine, I’ll be happy to,” Aidan grumbled as he unraveled himself from the comforter. Just as he stood up from the bed, Lydia threw his pants at him. They smacked into his face followed by his shirt. “Jesus, I’m going, okay? Trust me that I don’t want to stay here with you one second longer.”
He jumped into his pants. Her tirade had doused any desire he had along with his erection. He didn’t bother buttoning them up or putting on his shirt. He snatched up his shoes that he had kicked off in the living room before stomping out the front door.
Unf*ckingbelievable.
One phone call from his father had managed to c**k block him with Lydia forever. What was it about chick’s and meeting families? The last time he had actually dared to bring a girl around his family was almost six years ago. It had been just two years after he had broken things off with his former fiancée, Amy. At the time, he hadn’t thought anything about asking his newest flame to join him. After all, it was just a harmless 4th of July BBQ—or so he thought. But the moment his flavor of the month met his mom and dad all she could hear were wedding bells. Two days later she started referring to them as “we”, and Aidan stopped calling her. He didn’t do “we”.
He never did and never would.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true. He had tried monogamy, relationships---even an engagement, but he had been so badly burned by it that he vowed never again. Seven years later, he was happy being a confirmed bachelor with no plans of ever settling down. Even though it seemed to be his family’s mission in life to get him married, settled, and with a houseful of kids.
Aidan shuddered as he pulled into his driveway. No way in hell was that ever happening.
***
After taking a leisurely shower and then shaving, Aidan had slipped on his finest suit before heading out the door to pick up his father. Just as he expected, Patrick was already waiting for him in the driveway. “It’s just now eleven,” Aidan said as Patrick opened the door.
“I didn’t say anything.”
Aidan grinned. “I was just stating facts in case you tried to say I was late.”
“Do you really think I’m that much of a crotchety old man?” Patrick mused as he buckled his seatbelt.
“You’re starting to get that way a little bit, Pop.”
Patrick chuckled. “It must be the fact I’ve been spending too many Saturdays down at the VFW. Those other senior citizens are rubbing off on me.”
Aidan grinned. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s what it is.”
“Did you remember Mason’s gift?”
Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Aidan replied, “Yes, Pop. I did.”