Work in Progress

“Perhaps for a day or so. Then we can go around town and fuck with everyone we meet. Always wanted an identical twin for that sole purpose.” He shifted his weight to his good leg, nodding shortly. “I said I’d try. Key word there. I’m still a selfish and self-destructive asshole, but…like I said. You mean a lot to me. Besides. I suppose I’ve punished my liver long enough.” 

“That’d be a very interesting day” She laughed and shook her head. “That’s still...more than anyone’s ever offered to do for me.” She murmured, pursing her lips and clearing her throat a little. “All of this is” She waved a hand to the space. 

“And I share a first name with the Brooklyn Strangler and a famous self-mutilating Dutch artist. We’ve all got her flaws.” Vince smirked, and his smile grew as she spoke. “Well…good. And remember, this all started with nachos. So we need to be very grateful to them, in my opinion. Not that we shouldn’t have been in the first place.” He took another sip of juice. “I know this isn’t always the most…stable of environments to live in, but I imagine it’s better than before. Baby steps, I suppose. And….I’ll try to do better. Cut back on the drinking and the general recklessness. I gave up smoking for my first child. It’s the least I can do for you.” 

“Wanna trade names?” She murmured dryly with a small smirk, mirroring his own. “Yeah...something good came from the bad” She nodded and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’d....do that for me?” She asked softly, as her brows pulled together a little as she looked over at him.

“Yeah well, most of them are just people who have nothing going on in their lives and want to make other people feel bad.” Mia replied with a small shrug. She didn’t understand why people wanted to be so judgmental all of the time.  “I couldn’t agree more.”

“True. They really just take anything to make their lives a little more interesting, even if it’s just gossip and rumors” She wrinkled her nose. “They’ll have to wheel us out of here. Or worse you’ll have to call Trevor to come deal with us” She laughed

Instead of answering her Jasper just closed the distance between them and kissed her. He wanted to prove to her that he was able to make her feel good again. But most of all he just wanted to be inside of her once more.

Olive pressed up onto her toes to meet his kiss, her fingers gripping the front of his shirt to pull him in closer. A soft sound left her lips as she started to walk backwards in the direction of her office.

“Definitely not in a town like this, people talk.” Mia replied knowing that rumors seemed to go around a lot around here. “That is a sentiment I can agree with.” 

“I’m sure they probably have pretty colorful opinions of me already I don’t need to add that one to the list” She laughed softly. “It’ll be a little less long after a few of these” She noted as the waiter returned with their drinks. “Just keep them coming,” 

“I must admit, the idea of becoming a distraction to you is pretty tempting.” Jasper replied with a small smirk. “It could really work in my favor unless it backfires and you fire me for it.” He added knowing that was always a possibility because she had that power. “But then you’d have to hire a new bartender to fuck you, and I doubt he’d be as good.”

“Only pretty tempting?” She teased a little, placing her hands on her hips as she looked up at him. “I wouldn’t fire you for it. That’d make me a pretty shitty person. I mean I am in other ways but...” She snorted and shook her head. “Oh, very confident aren’t you?”

“No, I must come up with something equally unique, sentimental, and embarrassing for you. I believe that is something father…..figures do.” He cleared his throat and stood. “I am now going to pretend that did not just happen, and continue my journey to the fridge, where I will pour myself a glass of juice despite what my loving, never critical wife might think.” Vincent did that in silence, then spoke up again. “You uh…are you…okay with me calling myself that? I-I know you’re not…related to me…and you’re a grown woman….I just…this past month or so…” He trailed off, finally adding. “You’re uh…you mean a lot to me. I hope you know that, kid.” 

“Well good luck with that I’m pretty hard to embarrass with a nickname...I mean I’m named after food” She snorted. “You go do that” She nodded as she chewed on her lip as she looked over at him. “Yeah....yeah I’m okay with that” She smiled slightly and looked down at her hands. “You mean a lot to me too...both of you” She glanced up briefly. “You’re the only family I’ve ever had.”

“I’d offer to share, but I don’t play too well with others when it comes to Trevor.” Mia replied knowing she just hated the idea of him being with anyone else. She wanted him all to herself. “Oh wow, you aren’t playing around.”

“I wouldn’t want to go getting labeled a homewrecker now” She snorted as she sat back in the seat and nodded slowly. “Yeah it’s been a long day....week...month...life” 

“Maybe I should fuck you all over that desk you spend so many hours working away at.” Jasper replied with a small smirk. “Or would you find that memory too distracting next time you actually need to get some work done?” He asked her, although he did like the idea of taking her on her desk.

“Maybe you should” She raised a brow as she took a step towards him as soon as she locked the doors behind them. “Hmmm you’d like that wouldn’t you..me thinking about fucking you all the time I’m in there” She smirked, raking her teeth over her lip

“I guess we’d just have to take our time.” Jasper replied with a small smirk. He was more than happy to be friends with benefits with his boss for as long as she wanted. Jasper allowed her to pull him towards the bar and stopped in front of the door for her to unlock it. “So where do you want to start?”

“Well we do have several hours before we have to open” She noted as she pulled the keys from her pocket, looking at him over her shoulder as she pushed the doors open. “I’ll let you decide...since you’re the one who brought up the idea of fucking me on all the surfaces” She raised a brow as she locked the door behind him. “So tell me...where first”

“That might be the case. Or at least I got the best one.” Mia replied knowing Trevor was the best. He spoiled her even when she was being her most difficult.  “Are you sure? I don’t mind listening.” She added with a small shrug. “It’s a gin and toxic kind of day.”

“You did, and I’m happy you did. You deserve it” She smiled and nodded. “Yeah...yeah it’s fine “she waved it off before looking up at the waiter. “Make that two...make one of them a double, thanks” She smiled slightly. 

“A roast? Impressive. Most senior citizens like us can’t even make that right.” “Correction, you can’t make that, Vince. Not without burning the house down.” “You just don’t appreciate my technique. The remnants of our home’s ashes would really bring out the flavor.” He turned to Olive. “I mean, why else do you think we moved to Ashton?” “Ignore him, and don’t believe a damn word he says.” Katherine stood. “No, I trust you’re doing it right. I think I’ll freshen up before dinner.” “Eating is one of the most primal things us humans do, besides sleeping and shitting. Why do women feel the need to freshen up for such an occasion? Not like you’re going anywhere.” Katherine playfully hit her husband’s shoulder  ‘So, kiddo. You don’t mind me calling you kiddo, right? Maybe a cooler nickname would be best…I’ll think of something, eventually.” 

“It wasn’t too hard...just season it and throw it in the oven” She shrugged. “It won’t be nearly as impressive or good as what Katherine makes but...it’s an attempt. It’ll at least be edible” She smiled a little before shaking her head as the two continued to banter back and forth. “Just listen to her” She smiled as Katherine hit his shoulder. “No, no it’s fine...I mean it’s better than what I’ve been called in the past anyways. It’s...comforting I guess” She shrugged, clearing her throat as she stood. “I’ll go check on it all”

“Why wouldn’t I? Your hot and if I remember correctly I enjoyed myself a great deal.” Jasper replied with a small smirk. There had been something thrilling about fucking his boss at their place of employment. “Hell, I’d fuck you on every surface in the whole place if you wanted me to.”

“Oh really?” she bit her lip, her cheeks flushing a little as she raised a brow at him. “That’s a lot of surfaces...” she pointed out, cocking her head to the side as she nodded slowly. “Well then...what are we waiting for.” she grabbed his wrist lightly and pulled him back towards the building. 

“I mean then you just haven’t found the right man, but that doesn’t mean you should give up.” Mia replied with a small shrug. She just wanted her friend to be happy, and for the first time in a long time she actually believed in the idea of love. “I don’t mind listening to you Olive, that is what friends are for. But yes, lets get a drink.”

“I’m starting to think you got the last good one” She smiled slightly and shook her head. “I’ll just....stick to cheering for you from the sidelines” She nodded once. “I don’t wanna bring you down, you came for a break, not to hear my sad stories” She waved it off as she motioned for a waiter. “What do you want, its on me”

Vincent groaned, interrupting Katherine as she was about to respond. “You people really know how to bring the mood down….I want grape juice with dinner, I think.” He got off the couch and went to the fridge. “You are a literal child.” His wife snorted. “Truly? Rather impressive resume for a juvenille, then. I’ll have to call Guinness World Records, let them know.” Katherine rolled her eyes, but could not hide the small smile on her face. “Exams are always hell, at least in my experience. Let me know if you need any help. What did you make for dinner, anyways?” 

Olive couldn’t help but laugh at the banter between the two as she slid into a seat and watched them for a moment. The sense of normalcy warmed her heart a little. It was a scene she’d never thought she’d get to be a part of, a family. “Oh I made a roast, it’s in the oven now if you want to look. It’ll be done soon. I used that recipe Katherine showed me” She smiled proudly, feeling accomplished in her slowly growing talents in the kitchen.

“Just keep telling yourself that, Olive.” Jasper replied, although maybe she was right. The real issue might be that he often didn’t work hard enough in his life. “Well that makes both of us then.” He added knowing that he’d been quite the mess for years. “No pressure though, you know?” Jasper added not wanting her to feel like she had to do anything she didn’t want to do.

“I will. I’m fine. It’s all under control” She nodded once before clearing her throat. “Yeah...right no pressure.” She glanced over at him. “Do you want to though..like it’s not just you agreeing because you feel bad for me or something right? Because if you don’t want to we don’t have to and we can pretend this whole situation didn’t occur” She rambled on for a moment before pressing her lips closed

“It was a long time coming, but I’m happy about it too.” Mia replied with a small smile. “I mean some men like that sort of thing, I’d assume.” She added knowing that she’d had a lot men she slept with try to convince her to go on a real date with them afterwards.

“It was.” She nodded and sighed softly. “Some do, apparently not the ones I’ve gotten with” She rolled her eyes. “For them I’m just.....a placeholder....but then again that’s how I’ve been most of my life” she toyed with the ends of her hair before clearing her throat. “Sorry, sorry...this is not what you came to hang out with me for” She plastered on a smile and looked around. “Let’s get something to drink yeah?”