Believe it or not, there was a time when Greta Abney had it all figured out. Marriage, a family, and a thriving career all by the age of 30 was her plan. But plans change, and now she's drinking alone at her best friend's baby announcement party.
A...
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The next morning took Greta and Eli out of the apartment. Their status was still new and undefined, but it wasn't without acknowledging that this wouldn't be the last time she stopped by his apartment after work. Perhaps not even this week.
And so, their destination had been to the store. In her last few visits, she came armed with a tote bag of extra panties and a spare toothbrush. And though they weren't talking dresser space just yet, there were still things she wanted to leave at his place, just to prepare him.
One of the items, of course, had been towels. Along with that, her favorite shampoo and conditioner. A pack of toothpaste, some soap that'll soothe her better than the Dove bars he had, and Twizzlers - lots of them.
"Hold up..." By the time they made their way to the hair care products, Eli stopped them as he took the curling iron from her hand. "You don't need this."
And with a scoff, Greta snatched it back. "Uh, yeah I do. You think I'm just gonna put it all in a bun every time I walk out of your place?"
"Well I was hoping you keep that messy ass nest you got goin' on whenever you get out of bed."
She laughed to that, then tucked the curling iron into the cart before moving onward. "In what world would you think I'd step outside and not do my hair? And by the way, we're good on towels, right? You got red ones?"
"Why do I need red ones?"
"My period's next week. Third day turns me in a raging monster with urges."
That was when Eli intervened in the moving on the cart. He reached out, grabbing the hand in between Greta's arms, and when she was forced to stop, she looked up at him confusingly. "We ain't fucking when you're on your period."
At first, she made a playful scoff. But after seeing the expression he wore in his seriousness, Greta tilted her head, then contorted her face to some disapproving expression. "I'm sorry... Excuse me?"
And he shook his head, confirming her worst fears in his words. "That shit messy, and I ain't tryna get involved in all that."
A new look of concentrated fury colored her once brown eyes with a burgundy hue. She stared up to him, to the man she oh-so admired. Her finger pointed its way to his broad chest. And at first while she kept her tone low and sincere enough, it wasn't long before the more words she spoke, the louder her words pierce at him.
"Oh, Eli... My sweet, sweet southern man. You've been a saint. You've been kind, and patient, cooking me breakfast every morning, going down on me when I ask for it... But it's 2018, I'm a grown woman. After the third day the cramps feel like someone took a lightsaber through my abdomen and the only thing that helps eases that pain is Ben and Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream, and slow, passionate sex! And since this fucking store isn't holding up on its end of deal, then guess what that means for you?"
