Eleven Eleven

by Micalea Smeltzer

11:11 I close my eyes and make a wish. I wish for this move to be the right thing.

Even my own mother is ignoring me. Why? Because she loved Chase. In her eyes, I’m the one who failed. I didn’t give him what he wanted, so he moved on to greener pastures. You should’ve tried harder. Fix this. I would’ve if I could’ve, but the negative pregnancy tests were piling up, and my body was failing me—failing us. I couldn’t get pregnant, so he found someone who could.

He’s gorgeous, but more than that, he’s magnetic. Something about him draws me in and refuses to let go. Maybe it’s his crooked smile, or the way he effortlessly commands attention. Whatever it is, it feels like he’s sucked every ounce of oxygen from my lungs.

That makes him eleven years younger than me. Ironic. That it’s my lucky number.

Yes ma’am 🤭

“Because you’re fucking gorgeous and nice to talk to. If I had a woman like you, I’d never let her go.”

“Does it bother you that I’m younger?” With a gulp, I survey him, getting lost for a heartbeat in those uniquely green eyes. Shaking myself out of my stupor, I dip my chin. “Yes.” His smile returns. “Good.” “Good?” I rear back. “How is that good?” “It means you’re thinking about me in less than decent ways.”

“Come home with me.” He smiles. “You are the one who said you wanted fun.”

“Come on, Via, what do you say?” He leans in, his mouth pressed to my ear. “Don’t overthink it. Everything is temporary anyway. Me. You. The stars in the sky. We’re all just a blip. Take the risk. I’m worth your while.”

single word swirls through my mind. One word. Four letters. “Okay.”

“Because you were sitting there with this lonely look in your eyes.” He brushes a thumb along my jawline. “I wanted to be the reason you didn’t feel that way anymore.”

“Don’t get shy on me now,” he coaxes. “Not when my tongue has been all over this sweet pussy.”

“Good girl,” he growls,

grip his length through his boxer briefs. My lungs seize and I nearly choke on my tongue at his size. He’s long and thick, bigger than I’m used to.

“It’s too big,” I squeak. Stroking himself, Reid throws his head back and laughs. “God, Via, you really know what to say to make a man feel good.”

“I’ll be gentle.” Overtaken by an unfamiliar bravery, I press my lips together and look up at him through my lashes. “What if I don’t want you to be?”

“Fuck, look at us, angel. Look at the way your pussy grips my cock. It’s like I belong inside you.”

“Hold my hands down and fuck me hard.”

DAMN yes mommy 😳😩

And once we’ve scrubbed each other clean, he drops to his knees on the tile and goes down on me again.

“Where are my clothes?” He peers over his shoulder and points to the coffee table. Last night, the Candy Land board and pieces were scattered across it. Now, only my neatly folded clothes sit atop it. “I washed them.” Hit with a pinch of confusion, I swing my head in his direction so fast I nearly give myself whiplash. “You washed my clothes?” “That’s what I said.”

My one-night stand washed my clothes. What the fuck?

The sadness lingering between us is heavy. It’s the feeling one might get when visiting a new place and falling in love with every aspect of it, all the while knowing the trip will end and the chance to come back is near nonexistent.

“Bye, Reid.” He swallows, watching me silently. I take a step to the side, to move closer to my car, but then his hands are on my cheeks and he’s pressing me against the side of his car. A moan escapes me before I can put a leash on the sound. It’s cut off abruptly, though, when his lips are on mine. He devours me in a kiss that sends tingles all the way down to my toes.

“Goodbye, Via.”

As I turn out of the lot, I catch sight of the clock on the dash. 11:11 Dammit.

I’m not a prude—at least I don’t think I am—but I planned to keep Reid to myself. A secret I could hold tight to and look back on with fond memories.

Easier said than done. To say Reid made a lasting impression on me is an understatement.

Chase: I miss you.

Fuck you ya bitch ass 🖕

It wasn’t my fault—my inability to get pregnant or stay pregnant—but that doesn’t make the losses easier to cope with. It’s impossible to be prepared for the anger that comes when one’s body commits such a betrayal, when it refuses to participate in what’s seemingly the most basic experience a woman goes through.

When I found out about Chase’s infidelity, I sobbed in our bed, convinced that it was all my fault, since I couldn’t give us a baby.

I didn’t tell her about how our mom blamed me for Chase’s infidelity. How she told me I should’ve done more because, clearly, I wasn’t giving him what he needed. How she lectured me about not fighting hard enough. As if I wasn’t devastated by his betrayal.

He grins, eyes twinkling. I’m not stupid. I can tell he’s attracted to me. Izzy’s right; I’ve caught him checking me out once or twice. The question is, am I attracted to him?

Eleven years older. Huh. Interesting.

With a pained grimace, he rubs his jaw, almost looking betrayed. “My dad, Via?” “I didn’t know he was your dad,” I hiss. “How could I?”

“Do you really think I would’ve gone on a date with him if I did?” Reid looks me over, his jaw working back and forth. “No, I don’t.” He blows out a weighted breath. “This is fucked up, though.” “Yeah.” I drop my gaze to my bootie-covered feet. “It really is.”

He hooks a finger under my chin, sending a shiver running down my spine. He opens his mouth, but before

OMG stop 🛑 stop it ahhhh 😳😭

Her question is answered a moment later when a little girl no more than five or six tiptoes into the room and clings to Reid’s leg. “I called grandpa.” Layla looks about two seconds away from blowing up, whether at the little girl—her daughter?—or the situation itself.

Lmaoooo 😭

“I thought I’d never see you again.” His voice cracks with a heartfelt emotion that takes me by surprise. “And then I do. But it’s because you’re my dad’s date. How fucked up is that?” Heart lodged in my throat, I rub my hands over the soft material of my sweater dress. “Very.”

I’m about two and a half seconds away from bursting into tears. This is not how I expected my night to go. I blame Izzy.

“when you said art studio, it clicked. I’m scheduled to start on this project on Monday.”

There’s no way I can handle Derrick and Reid all in one room. One, I went on a date with. The other I fucked. Father and son.

“This doesn’t have to be a big deal.” He leans in and presses a gentle kiss below my ear. “Night, Via.” He pulls back, but with an “oh,” he quickly ducks close again and brings his lips to my ear. “I can fuck you better than my dad ever could.”

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh nooooo LMAOOOO 😭🤣

“Unknowingly or not, I want to mark you so you remember which Crawford you belong to.”

Stupid Via wants to be fucked very, very much.

Sometimes being stupid can be very, very fun.

“How good it is? How your pussy was made for me? I’m going to ruin you, Via, the same way you’ve ruined me. No man is ever going to make you feel this good. Not the way I can.”

It’s not just the sex, even though it’s phenomenal. I’m intrigued by her. I genuinely want to get to know her, but she’s skittish. Our age difference freaks her out, yeah, but I don’t think that’s the whole picture.

They’d swear that the way to get a girl is to play disinterested. I call bullshit on that. But then again, Brandon has been a complete asshole to my sister for years, dragging her along and driving her nuts when he doesn’t respond, and she’s still on the hook.

Ohhhh he shady 🤣

I hate mind games. They’re a waste of fucking time. It’s so much easier to be clear about my interest. Though most people, apparently, don’t share my mindset.

Via’s affection feels like a monumental win already.

“You make me crazy,” she says,