11. After Sex Muffin

Chapter 11: After Sex Muffin

Allen

"Somebody had a good night."

I rolled my eyes at Melissa's comment as I made my way past her desk and into my office. I was hoping she wouldn't follow me, but she did, just like every morning.

"I'm glad you finally found someone to help you move on, Allen."

I stopped next to my desk and faced her. "What?" She couldn't possibly know about Mika and me. That only just happened, literally a matter of hours ago.

"It's pretty obvious what you were doing last night, Allen. I mean, you can't just walk in here with that and not have us assume you had sex."

Immediately, my hand was on my neck, trying to hide the spot that I was pretty sure I didn't see before I left this morning. Mika mostly left them all on my chest, not my neck, so I didn't think I'd have a problem today. Apparently not.

Melissa started laughing. "So it's true, isn't it, Allen? You had sex last night?" I nodded my head, completely embarrassed. How could I have not noticed it? I should have asked Mika if he could see any before I left, but then again, he might have let me deal with it. It was his mark after all. Maybe he did this on purpose. "There's no mark, Allen. Don't worry about that."

I lowered my hand, but went behind my desk to check my reflection in the black computer monitor. From what I could tell, she was right, there wasn't anything visible. "How?"

"Because I know you, Allen. I also could always tell when you and Sarah were together. Then there was nothing this past year. It's good to see you happy again."

I sighed, placing everything I was holding on my desk before shrugging off my jacket and sitting down. Was I really that obvious? I never thought I was. "Seriously, how did you know?" I didn't want to broadcast how often I have sex with my office. What I did in my personal time was my business, not theirs.

She pointed at the bag containing a blueberry muffin that I had placed on the desk in front of me. "You always buy yourself something from the bakery the morning after. I put it together shortly after I started working here, Allen. It was quite obvious."

I sighed. I've never thought about it before. I passed by the bakery this morning and realized I haven't been in a while. There was no other thought process behind it. Unless there was an unconscious one.

"So who is she, Allen? Is this an official thing you have with her?"

I rolled my eyes, turning on my computer. Why did she have to be so nosy? "Who said it was a girl?" I wasn't sure why that is what came out of my mouth. Maybe it was because I didn't care. What difference did it make if I dated a man or a woman? It shouldn't matter.

I realized Melissa was being uncharacteristically quiet, so I looked up at her, only somewhat worried about her thoughts. I had no idea what her viewpoint was on homosexual relationships.

Melissa was staring down at the tablet in her hand, urgently tapping away. I don't even think she was paying attention to me any more. So I waited until she finished up a minute later.

"Sorry, Allen. You were saying? When are you going to bring her by? I'd love to meet her; the woman who was finally able to melt the ice around your heart."

"It wasn't frozen," I mumbled, not sure what to make of that. Sure, I haven't been with anyone since Sarah left, but that didn't mean my heart was cold. Guarded, maybe, but not cold.

Melissa rolled her eyes. "Allen, you haven't been yourself recently. Honestly, between you and me, some of these people were complaining about how you've turned into such a - excuse my language - hardass ever since she left you. Hopefully this new woman will lighten you up again, Allen. You, especially, need a break from all that heartache."

I shook my head. "No. You're wrong." She cocked her head to the side, opening her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. "There is no woman."

"I've never pegged you for a person to have a one-night stand, Allen. When did this start happening?"

I shook my head again. "I don't do that."

"But-"

"I asked him to be my boyfriend this morning and he agreed."

Melissa's mouth dropped open to form a little 'o'. It was at that moment that I realized she was the first person to know that I was even interested in a man. I hadn't even thought about how other people would react, but I guess it doesn't matter what they think. It's my life, not theirs.

"Good for you, Allen," Melissa said after a moment, smiling. "Maybe this change will be good for you." She left after that, closing the door behind her.

I sighed, shifting my gaze from the door to my computer screen, which was prompting me to enter my password. Hovering my fingers over the keyboard, I realized just how much I relied on Sarah as a stable rock in my life. My password was her name, for crying out loud!

I needed to change that. She was gone - she's been gone for over a year - and yet I was still clinging to her. I started moving on this morning, taking down all the pictures I had up of her at home. I needed to do that here, too, or else she was never going to leave my mind.

As I waited for my computer to let me in after typing in my password, I picked up one of two the pictures of her on my desk. It was one that I took of her when she was baking one day. She had no idea I was standing in the doorway, watching her go, humming to herself while ultimately getting herself and the kitchen covered in flour. I had taken out my phone to capture the moment, and that's when she looked up at me, smiling widely. I loved that picture so much. But it was time to put them both away.

I placed both frames into my bag with my work to bring home. I had some pretty good pictures of Sam at home that I'll swap them out for. Right now I'd much rather have Sam on my desk than Sarah.

There was an idea. Returning my attention to my computer, I went over to the settings to change my password. In the new password box, I typed in Sam's name and his birthday, a name and date that I'll never in my life forget.

The rest of the day went by pretty quickly. With the amount of work I had to do, I was barely thinking of anything else, and before I knew it, it was time to head out.

I didn't realize until I was packing up that I never even touched the blueberry muffin this morning. The muffin that started the conversation with Melissa this morning. The muffin that made me change my password on my computer. The muffin that made me decide to swap out pictures of Sarah for Sam. The muffin that reminded me of Mika.

I sighed, placing the bag with the rest of my stuff before leaving my office. I didn't know what I was going to do with it right now.

*

Opening the door to the house, I noticed how quiet it was. Usually when I'd come home the TV would be on or I'd hear Sam giggling and babbling. But today there was nothing.

"Mika?" I called out, dropping my stuff on the kitchen table. No answer. Rounding the corner into the hallway, I called out his name again but cut myself off halfway through his name when I saw him.

He was sprawled on the couch, fast asleep. His left arm was thrown over his face while his right hand gently rested on Sam's side, keeping him from falling off Mika's stomach where he sat.

I silently chuckled as Sam looked up at me with a toothless grin. He reached out his arms to me, saying a single syllable that could have meant anything in baby language, but was probably something along the lines of 'hold me'.

Walking over, I carefully moved Mika's hand and picked up Sam, so as to not wake him up. Sam nuzzled his face against my neck, immediately getting comfortable in my arms as I left the room.

In the nursery, I changed Sam's diaper, which needed to be done. I wasn't sure how long Mika had been asleep for, but I didn't blame him for being so exhausted after the night we had. I actually could go for a nap myself, but that wasn't going to happen today.

"Sammy?" I heard Mika say from the other room. Looks like someone's awake. "Sam? Where'd you go?" Suddenly, Mika appeared in the doorway, looking slightly panicked. As soon as his eyes landed on Sam and me, he let out a long breath, leaning his back against the wall.

I couldn't help but smile at his concern. It was cute. "Did you think he just up and walked away from you?" I asked. "He can barely even crawl."

Mika shook his head. "He learns quick. You never know." He paused for a moment. "Sorry I fell asleep. I guess I needed the sleep."

I chuckled, walking over towards him with Sam on my hip. "I don't doubt it. After last night?"

"It was worth it," he said with a smirk. "After all, I had sex with Allen Carr, the rich, extremely handsome CEO of the GHS Associated Accountant Firm. That's like, every person's dream, if they've ever met you that is."

I definitely liked hearing him say that. So much so that I leaned over and kissed him. Because I could.

I pulled back after a second because he wasn't reacting to the kiss at all. He stood there with a weird look on his face, so I asked, "What's wrong?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, just..." He sighed. "Not expecting that. But it's fine."

"You weren't expecting me to kiss my boyfriend?"

Mika shrugged, turning and walking out of the room. I followed him all the way down the hall, neither of us saying anything until we entered the kitchen.

He plopped himself down in one of the chairs at the table. "Honestly, Allen? I've never had a boyfriend before. I don't know what to expect."

I knew he said he didn't date, but I didn't think he's never dated before. But that was fine by me. We'd go at his pace. No matter how backwards this relationship started.

"Just let me know if you don't want me to randomly kiss you like that again," I said, placing Sam in his highchair. "I'll back off. We'll do this whatever way makes you comfortable."

He nodded his head, but didn't say anything else, so I pointed to the bakery bag that I had left on the table. "There's a blueberry muffin in there if you want it."

He eyed it cautiously while I moved around the kitchen getting Sam's dinner ready. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"You had sex with me." I hadn't meant to actually say that out loud. Sure, I was thinking it because it was kind of true. The only reason I bought the thing was because I had sex last night.

He raised an eyebrow at me, that smirk on his face. "So if we have sex again, say, tonight, would I get another baked good tomorrow? Is this the way this boyfriend thing is going to go? I get a prize for having sex with you? Or is it a reward?"

I handed Sam his bottle before taking the seat next to him. I looked across the table at Mika, who was still smirking at me. "No. That came out wrong. According to my secretary, I buy myself something from this bakery after a night of sex. I didn't realize I did it until she pointed it out."

He held back a laugh, holding the back of his hand up to his mouth to stifle it. "So it is an after sex muffin, just a reward for yourself." He shook his head. "And you didn't even eat it."

"I don't really care for blueberry all that much. Don't know why I even bought it. I usually go for the banana-nut."

Mika lowered his hand to reveal his smirk again. "Maybe you knew it was my favorite." He grabbed the muffin out of the bag and took a bite off the top. "Mm. This is really good. Thanks."

Then, after he swallowed that bite, he stood up from the chair and came over to give me a quick kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow at six."

He was just going to go? Now? I just got home! "You're leaving already?" I asked just before he bent down to put on his shoes.

He nodded. "I've been wearing these clothes for two days. I need to go home and change. And you know, maybe actually get some sleep."

"Let me drive you then," I suggested, because I could tell there would be no arguing with him now. "Stay until he's done eating, and then I'll drop you off. It's already getting dark."

"No. Definitely not."

Was it something I said? I didn't understand why he was so defensive all of a sudden.

He must have sensed my confusion. "It's too dangerous of a place to bring Sam or that fancy-ass car you have. Besides, I've been taking care of myself for years, Allen. I don't need you to make sure I have a ride home at night because it got dark. I am more than capable of walking there without getting myself into some sort of trouble. So back off, okay?"

I sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overstep."

He looked like he was about to say more, but then shook his head and proceeded to pull on his worn sneakers.

"What are you thinking?" I asked him gently. "I can tell you want to say something."

"It's stupid."

"Nothing you say could ever be stupid."

Mika smirked again and held up the muffin with the single bite taken out of it. "It's stupid that you buy yourself an after sex muffin. I mean, who does that?"

With that, he gave me another kiss before ducking out of the door, leaving me with my son, who, at that moment, decided he was done eating and flung the bottle over his shoulder. I sighed as the milk started leaking out onto the floor. Great. Just great.

A/N: As always, please vote and comment! I really appreciate them! Thanks :)