Once I was fully awake I took back Bridget’s hand and kissed her palm before placing it back on my face to nuzzle it. “Good Morning.” I said to her dreamily.
“You look cute with bedhead Professor.” She ruffled my hair and I blushed.
“I don’t like it. You know I like things neat and orderly, that includes my hair.” I shuffled my legs over the edge of the bed keeping the sheet around my waist as I tried to smooth over my messy hair.
“Luckily you have me. I love making a mess of things. As you well remember last night.” She sat in my lap and wrapped her arms around me. I couldn’t help but smile at her.
“Well, I suppose some clutter could be charming every now and then.” We kissed. We relished in each other’s embrace for a few moments before I decided it was time to prepare for the day. “Ah yes, have you brought more of your father’s clothes? I’ll need something to wear…ouch!” Bridget pinched my nipple.
“Dummy, did you already forget your arrangement with my mother? Ingrid is picking your clothes today.”
I groaned into Bridget’s shoulder as the memory came crashing back. “That’s right. I’m going to have to wear Ingrid’s grotesque wardrobe today…Yeouch!” Bridget bit my ear, hard, then slapped my back causing the sheet to slip off my backside. My butt was totally out in the open right now.
“Hey, she might be famous one day, you should feel lucky to be among the first to advertise her products.”
“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes “so where is this outfit?”
“I left it on the chair over there.” She pointed to a small chair next to her vanity table as she moved off my lap.
I sighed as I braced myself for the inevitable. I pulled the sheet off my body and strode naked over to Bridget’s vanity mirror. My girlfriend drank in the sight of my backside illuminated by the morning light pouring from her window as I leaned over her chair to inspect the outfit.
“What!? Are you kidding me? I have to wear this!?”
I swear Ingrid must be out to get me. A bullseye would be less conspicuous. She simply left a pair of neon-green briefs with large purple lettering across the crotch and the back that said, “GRAB!!” I gritted my teeth at this indignity (though I have been through a lot) and clenched the garment in my hand.
“No way in hell am I wearing this! I have always preferred boxers. Not to mention there should be more clothes to these ‘clothes’! Is this really all she left me to wear?” I turned to Bridget waving them around.
She shrugged, “She figured you wouldn’t need much since today you are modelling again.”
Another log to my hellfire.
I was not looking forward to going back to being naked in front of a football field full of of women who wanted to draw the most private parts of my body. But alas…
I shook my head, “I am absolutely not going to put on this…”
The door flew open and right there appeared Dr Bernard.
I was stunned for a moment as Bridget’s door flung open and before me appeared her mother. Contradicting everything I just said, I hastily jumped into the briefs Ingrid left for me in order to have some form of covering in front of Dr. Bernard. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe as I dressed. When I finally pulled up the waistband around my hips, Bridget came over with my glasses. She seemed to be holding on to them this whole time for me. I didn’t pay much thought to it since the moment I put them on, I could see the striking figure of Bridget’s mother staring at me in just my underwear. Now that I could see her face more clearly, that only made my situation more embarrassing.
My face reddened as I nervously scratched the back of my head, “Oh! Um…good morning Dr. Bernard. You are are looking splendid today.”
“As are you Professor Finn.” She nodded. Did I detect a hint of a smile in her tone? It was hard to be sure, her expression is usually so stoic. “I was under the impression you were sleeping downstairs?”
My pulse quickened at her statement. Even if she weren’t my girlfriend’s mother I desperately wanted to impress this woman. She she was classy, well-educated, and had an air of authority about her that tells you she knows how to get her way. Yet I slipped into her daughter’s bedroom to have myself a good romp despite what I said to her last night. I struggled for a good excuse.
“I finally managed to get him upstairs,” Bridget chimed in “truth be told I didn’t like the fact that my boyfriend deliberately chose to sleep downstairs after you so graciously gave him permission to stay with me. I felt so ugly and lonely knowing that my Avery would rather take the couch rather than please his lady.”
I waved my arms, “W-Wait! That’s not true!” Did I honestly offend Bridget that much by staying downstairs last night? Did she want to be with me that badly? I never wanted to hurt Bridget. I just wanted to come off as noble to her parents.
Bridget pointed at me, “Avery, when given a choice between me and literally anything else, pick ME every time.”
“Um, but I…”
“Avery,” Dr. Bernard waved a finger at me. She used my name to remind me she can call me whatever she wanted “don’t make the same mistake again.”
“Yes?” I answered without certainty.
Was she talking about sneaking into her daughter’s room or refusing to room with her straight from the get-go? I couldn’t be sure but either way, Dr. Bernard seemed to dismiss the matter as she turned away.
“Ah yes, Avery I assume you will be joining us for breakfast this morning?” Dr. Bernard turned her head toward me.
“Oh, no I couldn’t possibly impose any further. You have already been a most generous hostess. I really…”
“No fun if I’m the one cooking?” Her gaze narrowed.
“No! Uh, I mean yes! I would love to join you for breakfast. Be right down.”
Dr. Bernard’s face softened and she proceeded downstairs.
I breathed a sigh of relief as Bridget came to me and hugged my arm. “That was embarrassing.” I said simply.
“Down worry so much Ave. I am quite certain my mother likes you. At the very least, you are fun to mess around with.” Bridget nuzzled my shoulder.
“Like that makes me feel better.” I grumbled. I still wanted her mother to think highly of me. I always felt that way towards people with authority. Like how I was with the dean.
“Come now, Mother doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” Bridget pulled me along towards the kitchen downstairs.
I looked down at the hideous underwear Ingrid left me to wear as we walked and let out another sigh. My face reddened once again remembering I went through a whole conversation looking like this. It appeared I was going to attend another meal at the Bernard residence under-dressed.
********
Bridget swaggered through the kitchen door because why not? This was quite literally her own house. I on the other hand, was practically naked. So I couldn’t help gingerly poking my head through the door to see three plates of omelets set on the table. It seemed absurd to be so shy at this point but I couldn’t help it! Despite the fact that Dr. Bernard has seen me in all my glory I still strive to put on a dignified appearance before her. I want her to think highly of me as I do of her. Of course given my current circumstances that was nigh impossible. I sighed and walked through the door. Both women smiled at me as I sat down, to which I returned with a nervous smile of my own.
For once, could I have a meal with these two while wearing pants?!
“Tell me more about yourself Avery.” Dr. Bernard asked out of the blue.
“Oh, I…well…” I didn’t know how to start. There I was sitting there in my absurd undergarments in front of two attractive fully clothed women while we ate our breakfast like it was the most normal thing in the world. “My life is mostly work, apart from that I have a close group of friends who manage to rope me into their shenanigans. You already know about Santiago, he is a trustworthy fellow. Rorke, less so…but he has some kind of childlike wonder that charms me (never tell him I said that). And last but not least is Jacobee, but we just call him Jack, he would give you his right arm to help out a stranger, he would do even more for the people he cares about.”
“What about your family?”
I rolled my eyes, “What about them?” Dr. Bernard gave me concerned look. I blanched, hoping I didn’t come off as rude. “What I mean is…my parents and I aren’t exactly close. My father wanted me to take over the family business and when I said ‘no’ we had a falling out.”
“Any plans to reconcile?”
I shook my head, “Our problems began long before that. Apparently, being a college professor was not satisfactory. They either wanted me doing what they wanted or making a lot of money. My mother was a ‘pageant mom’, she wanted me to make a living off my looks.”
Dr. Bernard notably shuddered, “Not that she would have been wrong about you becoming a model but I have seen quite a few ‘pageant moms’ in my time as a doctor and you weren’t wrong to leave. I have had women come to the E.R. because they couldn’t stop themselves from pulling each other’s scalps out after a competition.”
I was a little happy at this response. Usually I get an answer like, ‘but you’re still family you should try harder to get along’ or something to that effect. Instead, Dr. Bernard seemed to respect my decision and continued with the flow of conversation, “What about your father’s business? Did it not appeal to you becoming an owner?”
I rolled my eyes, “We call it the ‘business’ but its really just a small bait and tackle shop in the sticks.”
Dr. Bernard actually laughed, “Well, one way or another I am happy you turned it down. Small businesses are charming but I appreciate that we get to have you here for ourselves Avery.”