LOVE or LUST

23rd Birthday

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

LaDawn jumped awake. What the?

It's Cookie, her mother. Great.

"How did you even get into my apartment mom!?" asks LaDawn as she springs out of bed to quickly hide her battery powered boyfriend and glances into the mirror.

Her red curls frazzled and yesterday's eyeliner smudged around her blue eyes.

"you wouldn't need that if you would go out on a date once in a while" says Cookie

great she definitely saw that

LaDawn scoffs

"oh God mom, don't start harassing me before I've even had my coffee"

Cookie shoves a to-go coffee cup in LaDawn's hand

"there you go, now get dressed!"

"no no no I'm not going anywhere" LaDawn says while drastically wagging her finger

Cookie always tried to do this to LaDawn on her birthday. To force her to go on a shopping trip, grab lunch and then get all dolled up to go out to a club. Who wants to go clubbing with their divorced mom?

Cookie rolls her eyes

"we aren't going shopping or to lunch or to the darn club" she says with a sigh

"REALLY?" LaDawn asks, maybe a little to excitedly.

"yes, really. Your father is in town and has someone he wants you to meet. He says some guy wants to help you with that book deal you've been trying..."

LaDawn stops listening to what her mother is saying.

My father is in town? He has someone with him who wants to sign me for a book deal?

What strings are attached?

Nate, LaDawn's father was a very straight to business guy. He never had time for senseless things, like playing teaparty when she was a child. That never changed as LaDawn got older.

"How did you get in here mom?" LaDawn asks again, purposely changing the topic of conversation

"oh, your spare key, sweets" Cookie replies with a smile while spinning the key on her finger.

LaDawn scowls.

Clearly seeing that LaDawn is not in the mood for her shenanigans Cookie turns on her heal to the front door.

"well, I love you. Give your dad a call and I'll see you at the house at 7."

"Thanks for the coffee mom" LaDawn reluctantly says as Cookie puts the key on the kitchen counter

"you're welcome my birthday beauty" Cookie replies with a blown kiss on the way out the door

Alone again. LaDawn liked it that way. Cookie was a bubbly people person and never understood how her youngest daughter was nothing like that. LaDawn would rather come home after a long day to work on her Novel while eating Chinese takeout.

Being a receptionist at their towns College library was enough interaction with people for her.

LaDawn begrudgingly walks to the bathroom and starts the shower.

Might as well get ready for the day

she thinks to herself with an internal eye roll.

While standing in the steam of the shower LaDawn can't help but think of her dreams the night before.

Was it the naughty nature of her novel that she was writing that caused it? She wasn't sure. Who was that man? The way he touched her. Caressed and appreciated every inch of her body. All while looking deep into her eyes. His eyes. Apart from remembering how her body tingled when he touched her she remembered his eyes. Deep brown with gold flakes. They seemed so familiar.

The water turns cold and LaDawn is back to reality. Maybe a cold shower is what she needed to get her out of her spicy thoughts. After all, that's not the headspace she wants to be in when she calls Nate.