Page 2 of Scoring Chance

I pick up the phone from where it fell and read Tanner's reply.

Tanner: They're doing layoffs. I couldn’t even go back to my desk. They said they’ll box up and ship all personal items to me.

I grumble, pounding into Maya with my seething frustration. Corporate America will fuck you as hard as I'm fucking her.

"What's wrong, baby?" She looks back over her shoulder again. “Are we still dealing with your friend?”

"This is cruel. That’s what it is. Tanner worked so hard for that company. I told him that he should have been looking for a job once that merger was announced because he's in HR, and they don't need duplicate HR teams. But Tanner and his fucking optimism. 'No, it'll all work out. They really like me there. It'll be fine.'"

“Can we switch positions? I’m starting to get a crick in my neck.”

“Yeah. Sure thing.” I pull out and flip her onto her back. I throw her legs over my shoulder and slide back into her. She unleashes a loud moan that echoes through my very large apartment.

“Fuck me, Des. Just like that.”

Maya is getting close. And I’m…checking my phone again for updates. It’s going to be an uphill battle for Tanner to find another HR job. Guys in their forties have to deal with ageism. Luckily, I’ve avoided it by working my ass off for my company, but I also don’t have a family pulling away my attention.

"Hey, do you need to stop?" Maya raises her eyebrows, losing some of the flush on her face. "Do you need to call him?"

I look at my phone. “Fuck, I am such an asshole, Maya. If it was anyone else…but we're always there for each other, no matter what.”

"God, are you two sleeping together?" she asks.

"Me and Tanner?" I laugh. I push her knees to her chest and thrust deeper inside her. She squeals with delight.

“I know you’re bi. You’ll stick it in anyone.” She shrugs her shoulders. “Your words, not mine.”

I’m an equal opportunity hole destroyer. But there are some people that are off limits; Tanner being number one on that list. "Tanner’s been my best friend since forever. Please. The man has a million kids. I wouldn't want anything to do with that. I'll call him when we're done."

"He sounds cute. Is he single?" she asks.

I shoot her a look.

“What? It’s not like you and I are exclusive.” Maya cocks an eyebrow.

I don't do exclusivity at all. My bedroom is like summer camp. We’re here to have fun and enjoy ourselves.

“Can you go a little to the left?” Maya asks. A benefit of a fuckbuddy is honesty in the bedroom. We’re two professionals on a time crunch in the middle of a busy day. “Fuck yes!” She throws her head back as I shift my position.

"He’s single. He never dates. He's still getting over his wife."

"Did she leave?"

"No, she died. It's a sad story I don't want to get into. That's the real boner killer."

"Poor guy. Well, you can call him in a minute," she says.

"A minute?” I scoff. I toss my phone on the floor. “You’re wildly underestimating me.”

After we both get our cookies in the end, Maya puts on her clothes, and I chill in my boxers. I met with a client this morning, and I’m working from home for the rest of the day. Maya, however, has to get back to the office. She checks herself in the full-length mirror, smoothing out her skirt and cream-colored blazer.

The only doors in my apartment are for the bathrooms. The kitchen, living room, and dining room are all one big space, currently glowing with sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows. A sliding door separates the open space from my bedroom. I stare out on the gorgeous mountains and rivers that make up the Hudson Valley. The first leaves are beginning to turn for fall, and soon, I’ll basically be living in the middle of a postcard.

I waltz into the living room and make myself a post-coital, afternoon martini. “Do you want one?” I yell back into the bedroom.

“No. I have a meeting at four.” She joins me in the living area, sinking into a plush black leather couch. “We’re brainstorming on a pitch for our client. They’re coming out with a new wart remover. Sexy.”

She snorts a laugh. The thing about working in advertising is that not every account you work on is an iPhone or Coca Cola. Even the boring things we use every day need to be marketed and sold. I spent last weekend perfecting taglines for mustard.