Chord
“Holy shit! What the fuck is that smell?” Benny shouted with his arm around his latest piece.
“I’m cooking.” I said waving a towel around to get rid of the smoke.
“I have no idea what you’re doing but it ain’t cooking. Right, baby?” Benny asked the giggling girl.
“I think it tastes great.” Oscar said eating burned remains of what I’d have hoped to be a gourmet meal for Rhapsody.
“Your opinion doesn’t count, Oscar.” Alec said joining everyone in the kitchen. “So, what made you want to all of a sudden cook something other than ramen?”
I sighed. “Rhapsody has been having a stressful time. I wanted to do something nice for her.”
“And in turn get laid.” Benny called as he shut the door behind his giggling guest.
“That’s not-“
“Yeah it is. When was the last time you got laid?” Alec asked.
A flush crept up my neck.
“Damn! That long? Even Oscar’s gotten laid recently.” Benny smacked Oscar on the back.
“Hey!” He said with a mouthful of charred food.
“It’s not all about getting laid.” I said going back to searching the cabinets for something I could make quickly.
“Just cause you knocked her up doesn’t mean you still shouldn’t get action.” Alec crossed his arms.
“Will all of you get out of here before she gets here?”
Just as the words left my mouth three knocks drew our attention.
“Too late.” Benny laughed as he jogged to the door. He swung it open then leaned against the frame. “Well, hello gorgeous. Where have you been all my life?”
“Is Chord here?” Rhapsody’s voice was flat.
Benny blocked me from seeing her. “He’s here but why have a burger when you can have steak.”
Rhapsody sighed. “You know you’re right, handsome. Why would I want Chord when I could have a STD riddled manwhore?”
Benny stuttered as the rest of us laughed. I pushed Benny aside and finally laid my eyes on her. My heart flipped when I saw her grimace at Benny. She was so damn hot when she was snarky. After I was done getting an instant hard on from the look she was giving Benny I noticed what she was holding. She had four pizza boxes and two plastic bags.
“What is all this?”
“Does it matter? Can you just take the damn things? I had to walk all the way up here because your stupid elevator wouldn’t work.”
I grabbed the pizzas from her then led her into the apartment.
“Something smells good enough to eat.” Benny purred next to Rhapsody.
Without looking at him she shot her hand out and landed a solid nut punch. Benny landed on the floor in the fetal position.
She looked at me then asked, “Will there be anymore assholes I need to nut punch?”
“Well, Alec is here.”
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. No nut punches needed.” Alec placed his hands over his crotch.
I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I don’t think that’s necessary, babe. Why did you bring dinner? I told you I was going to cook.”
Her eyes slid to Alec then back to me. “Miranda texted me saying you weren’t the most experienced cook. So, she suggested I bring over a couple pies, breadsticks, wings and a giant cookie.”
“There’s a giant cookie around here?” Oscar started rummaging in the bags she’d put on the counter.
“How did she even know I was cooking?”
She shrugged while pulling out paper plates.
“Alec?” I looked at my cousin.
“What? I didn’t want your baby mama to starve.” He opened one of the pizza boxes letting the aroma of cheese and sauce fill the kitchen.
Feeling dejected I circled my arms around Rhapsody. “I’m sorry. I thought I could follow a recipe.”
Rhapsody turned in my arms and linked her arms around my neck. “It’s alright, Chord. You didn’t have to make anything special for me. Hell, little monster has been craving mac and cheese with pickles.”
“Ew. Even I wouldn’t eat that.” Oscar said with a mouthful of pizza.
She gave him a dirty look. “So are you going to introduce me to these assholes?”
I laughed and buried my face in her neck breathing in her scent. It made me impossibly harder than I was before she stepped into the apartment.
“Yeah. The one whose nuts you bashed is Benny, our resident gamer and manwhore.” Benny glared at Rhapsody. “You already know, Alec.” He saluted her with a piece of pizza. “And finally this is Oscar, our resident pothead.” Oscar didn’t even acknowledge I said his name.
“Nice to finally meet all of you I guess.” Rhapsody grabbed a slice of ham and pineapple pizza, my favorite.
“How did you know that was my favorite?”
“Whut?” She asked behind a mouthful of pizza.
“Ham and pineapple.”
Rhapsody swallowed her mouthful. “Oh…that’s my favorite actually. I figured I’d have the pizza to myself.”
“Great. We have two weirdos here.” Alec said as he walked past us.
In a blur, Rhapsody’s fist shot out and cracked him in the nuts. When he crumpled to the floor Rhapsody stepped over him with her plate and sat at the dining room table. I shook my head and followed her. Damn if I didn’t love her with each crazy moment we were together.
***
“Damn it.” Benny cursed.
Rhapsody laughed. She’d managed to sneak up on him and shoot him in the back.
“Damn baby. That is some dirty play right there.” I said as I continued to massaged Rhapsody’s feet.
“Can you give the controller back to Chord now?” Benny asked.
“Why? Don’t like losing to a girl?” She asked as she continued to mow down other players.
“Baby, he doesn’t like losing period. I’m perfectly content watching. No need to go back to playing.”
Benny slumped in his gaming chair. “Can we at least be on the same team?”
Rhapsody bit her lip and thought. “What’s in it for me? I don’t see any benefit in having you on my team.”
He looked at Rhapsody then grinned. “I’ll tell you what we were talking about before you came over.”
She furrowed her brow. “Why would I want to know that?”
“Shut up, Benny.” I said.
“It’s good, Rhapsody. I promise.” Benny wiggled his eyebrows.
“Hmm…sure. What were you idiots talking about?”
My hands gripped her feet as I stared daggers at Benny. His shit eating grin was about to get smashed in by my fist.
“Ow. Chord you’re hurting me.” She kicked my stomach with her foot.
“Oh. Uhm..sorry.”
“It’s fine.” She looked at Benny. “Spill it, Benny.”
Benny sat up straight and cleared his throat dramatically. “We were talking about how long it’s been since our boy Chord has gotten laid.”
Rhapsody blushed. “Huh. How long has it been?”
“We never found out. That was when you showed.”
She looked at me then asked. “Well, how long has it been?”
I looked around then said quietly to her, “You don’t want me to answer that here.”
“Oh I think I do. What are you hiding?” She snatched her foot away and sat up.
“I just don’t-“
“Fine if you don’t want to tell me maybe I should just leave.” Rhapsody slid her feet into her shoes and stood to leave.
“Wait! Wait! The reason I don’t want to say is because you were there.”
“What? That doesn’t make sense unless…”
“Yep.”
“Holy shit! It’s been since you knocked her up?” Alec called from the hallway.
I looked up at the ceiling. “See why I didn’t want to say anything around these asses.”
She nodded slowly.
“Are you ok?”
“Yeah. Um…can we talk in your bedroom?”
Worry churned in my stomach but I said, “Sure.”
Taking her hand in mine I led her down the hallway. I opened my door, led her in then shut it behind us. I observed her taking in my disheveled room. She hadn’t left screaming yet so I’d count that as a win.
“This is nice.”
“I guess. I’m hoping not to be here too much longer.”
Rhapsody turned to me. “Why? Where are you going?”
“I want to find my own place before little bean is born.” I held back the part where I wanted her in the new place with me.
“Oh. Well, that’s probably good. They are not good role models.”
As if on cue, Alec yelled through the door. “Don’t screw too loud in there. We are all assuming she feels bad that’s why you’re getting some.”
“Definitely not role models.” I agreed. Taking her hand I led her to the bed. “What did you want to talk about?”
“You really haven’t had sex since the wedding?”
“Nope.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Have you?”
She let out a loud laugh. “Yeah right.”
“What? You can’t tell me you don’t have a line of men chasing after you.”
She smiled then leaned in and kissed me. Pulling back she said, “You’re so sweet.”
“Oh well..”
My words were cut off as she went back to kissing me. Finally my brain caught up to my lips and I kissed her back fervently. I pushed her gently back against the bed. My hands explored her breasts while our tongues tangled. Breaking the kiss, I moved down her neck placing little nibbles along the way. My hands had a mind of their own as they massaged her cloth covered mound. She moaned with each touch. It seemed she needed me as much as I needed her. I sat up, pulling my shirt over my head. She did the same as I moved to her pants. Rhapsody lifted her hips as I slid her leggings down. I smiled when I saw the panties. Across the pink panties it said gobble gobble with a cartoon turkey next to them. She covered the panties with her hand.
“Sorry. I got these as a joke one Thanksgiving.”
I moved her hand to the side. “I think these are fine instructions.” Settling between her legs I kissed her pussy through the cloth. As my fingers went to remove her panties, there was a frantic bang on the door.
“Go away, asshole.” I yelled and met Rhapsody’s glazed eyes while I started to slide her panties down.
The door swung open making me fall off the bed.
“What do we have here?” Jimmy stood in the doorway.
Rhapsody squeaked and tried to cover herself.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I stood.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about that ultrasound I saw. Guess I know who the baby mama is. Or weren’t you going to introduce us.” He looked over at Rhapsody. “You look really familiar. Do I-“
“You need to leave, Jimmy.” I placed my body between him and Rhapsody.
“Do I now? Hallway. Now.” He took one more glimpse at Rhapsody then went out to the hallway.
I looked at Rhapsody then followed Jimmy out closing the door behind me.
“What the fuck are you doing knocking up some fat chick up? For fucks sake she’s probably just after the prestige of fucking a rock star’s son. Did you get a paternity test? I’m betting it isn’t even yours.”
“Will you shut up? It’s not what you think.”
“So, you’re not into her? She’s not pregnant? Just having a little fun with the easy girl?”
“Yeah. Ok. So, you didn’t need to come barging in here like a prick. She means nothing to me.”
Jimmy smiled and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “That’s my boy. What I really wanted was to see if you could come with me for a week or so on tour.”
“Why?”
He cleared his throat and avoided eye contact. “Well, the hall of fame is doing something new. They want to do a documentary on the road and how we’ve juggled family.”
I snorted. “You didn’t give a shit.”
“Yeah well that won’t make a very interesting documentary. Come on. Just take a vacation and come with me. Alec will be there too.”
“Perfect. It’s not like I don’t see him every damn day.”
“Look, just try to make it happen ok.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Good.” He winked then said, “I’ll leave you to your big girl. They are always so grateful to get some.”
I watched him walk away then turned back to my room. When I opened the door, Rhapsody was getting dressed.
“What are you doing? He’s gone.”
Her tear stained face looked at me. “I need to go.”
“Why?”
“I figured the fat girl could leave since she doesn’t matter to you.” She moved toward the door.
“Wait a minute. You didn’t believe what I just said did you? I had to say that to get him to go away. He can’t know who’s daughter you are.”
“Yeah well that answer came a little too easily for my comfort. Goodbye, Chord.” She pushed past me into the hallway.
“Rhapsody! Wait!” I followed her down the hallway but she just ran out the door.
“Did you fuck up again?” Benny asked.
“Oh he royally fucked up.” Alec said.
“Thanks for the help, Alec.”
Alec pushed off the counter he was leaning against. “Who the fuck do you think banged on your door? If you’d have listened then you wouldn’t have had to say that bullshit to Jimmy. Why does it matter if him and Emmerson Lee know? You two are adults and are about to have a child. The stupid feud doesn’t matter anymore.” Alec marched off.
“Yeah, he screwed the pooch.” Benny said into his gaming headset.
Feeling at a loss, I went back to my room. Falling into my bed I stared at the ceiling and wondered why what I felt for Rhapsody and their little bean needed to be a secret anymore.