Watching Natalie Cheat

By KT Morrison

Nelson and Natalie Stacks are settling in for the night to spend some together-time. It’s been a long week of work and they’ve got one night together before they have to spend some time apart.

One night alone, that’s all Nelson wanted. But it seems fate has other plans . . .

Soon, there’s a knock on the door . . . behind it a ghost from the past . . .

They let him in—it’s freezing outside. And even though Natalie has never been a fan of Nelson’s old college housemate, she’s ready to let the bad of the past remain buried.

Besides, it seems like he’s brought quite the gift . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: KT Morrison
• Release date: Jan 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463305508

KT Morrison

KT Morrison writes stories about women who fall in love with sexy men who aren't their husband, and loving relationships that go too far—couples who open a mysterious door, then struggle to get it closed as trouble pushes through the threshold.

Book preview

Chapter 1

NELSON

The big, beaming face of Frosty the Snowman had been paused on their screen—mouth frozen mid–happy birthday—for almost twelve minutes now. Nelson Stacks lay on the floor of the family room propped up on one elbow while his wife still jabbered on the phone. Natalie lay next to him, back propped up on pillows, her head resting against the front face of their couch seat, talking on the phone to her new friend from work, Jenny.

It was December 15th, a Friday night after a long week of work for both of them. He had to work on Saturday, some bogus system administration stuff that needed to be done before Christmas break, and Nat was going to spend two days with her sister in Kingston, leaving on Sunday morning, so tonight was the night the two of them had decided they would celebrate Christmas with an enormous long-running marathon of Christmas TV specials. They arranged pillows and blankets on the floor over top of a camping pad, moved the coffee table aside, and began with the classic Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer.

Natalie baked brownies, and Nelson picked up a tray of Christmas cookies from the bakery. They had eggnog with lots of rum and lay on the floor together cuddling and watching shows and movies from their childhood. Then, eleven o’clock at night if you could believe it, Jenny called and Nelson lay next to Natalie wondering how long this was going to go on.

What? Oh, yeah … No, I know … He did?—seriously, that guy is such an asshole … uh-huh … And what did you say? … You did not … Shut up, you’re such a liar … Right … No, that makes sense …

Natalie Taylor, now Stacks—with that shiny ring on her finger—attended the MacKenzie School Of Engineering at the University where a young Nelson would pine for her from a distance. While their areas of study were separate, they overlapped two classes. It took a whole semester for him to work his way to a coveted seat next to one of the prettiest girls on campus (if you asked him—or some of his other lecherous mates). Once they were friends, he had his hooks in, and while she occasionally dated (bitch!), he was always there and by the time they were in third-year they were a couple. He was off-campus then, sharing a house on Baker Street with six other dudes, and in fourth-year they had to have a sit down with him about her maybe kicking in rent because she was there all the time. That was Warren though—resident bureaucrat. The other guys showed up for the meeting just because they thought the idea was funny.

Now they were married, and they had their own home. No roommates. Just two young people with promising jobs and a mortgage. The adventure of their youth was preserved in their choice of neighborhood: Market West. Their old stomping grounds. A section of the city that catered to them when they were twenty. Market Street, with its coffee shops, the tattoo parlor, weirdo bookshops, and a half-dozen music venues, had, for now, still managed to stave off gentrification and preserve that charm that had attracted them when they were emerging adults. Though there was a rumor there might be a Starbucks going in at the corner of Market and Tate.

He is totally one bad word away from getting a call to HR … Right … Super-gross … Ha, yeah, but not in his own mind … What did Jake say? … No way—you didn’t tell him? Why not? … Uh-huh …

Jenny was the same age as Natalie—actually maybe even a year older—but she seemed so immature in comparison. Though, Natalie reveled in the inane gossip that Jenny always delivered; but Jenny wasn’t married yet, and maybe that’s where the distinction lay: two similar girls, one with responsibility and one without. Jenny still lived much like Nat and Nelson had when they were still in school.

No, I’d love to … I would … I told you, me and the dude are settled in … No, I know it’s not late … It’s … Yeah? … It’s family time …

Nelson hung his head again, pretending he fell asleep while he waited for her. This time he leaned forward and rolled so he collapsed on her, settling his head on her tummy, his ear right over the red nose of an airbrushed reindeer. He bought her a sleep shirt down at the market for tonight to be festive; just a regular T-shirt but purchased in size XXL so it came down to her knees. She wore only that, a pair of cotton panties, and some warm colorful socks, bunched up at her ankles. He cranked the furnace for tonight, keeping them toasty while it was -10 outside and snow gently fell in fat, wet flakes.

Now he rolled to his back, his head resting in the cup of her navel, eyes looking up to the ceiling; the blinking lights of their Christmas tree on his left periphery, Natalie’s face on the right. She smiled at him, Jenny’s tinny voice emanating from the gold iPhone pressed to an ear. He smiled too, even though he grew frustrated. Natalie’s glossy chestnut hair hung down the sides of her long neck, held back from her beautiful face by a hairband with a set of fuzzy cartoon antlers that branched out from the top of her head. She continued to smile warmly.

Uh-huh … Yeah, no, I know … Sure … Where? …

Nelson groaned, and she smiled wider, her fingertips coming to scratch through his hair then tug at his locks and wind them around a finger.

Chapter 2

NATALIE

Nelson pretended to sleep, and she feathered her fingertips over his eyelashes making him wince and shake with quiet laughter.

I’ll see you after Christmas, Jenny, have fun, she said and ended the call.

Nelson snored.

Sorry, buddy, sorry, sorry, sorry, she said, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his forehead over and over. His fingers scratched at her back, pretending to wrestle underneath her like he couldn’t breathe, and she pulled herself on top of him.

He heaved her over so they lay side-by-side and he said, You’re wrecking our Christmas …

She kissed the point of his nose and said, No, I’m not.

He said, Jenny is.

No, she isn’t … Come on now.

What did she want?—calling so late at night …

It’s only eleven. On a Friday night … Dad.

He laughed, turning away and looking up at the ceiling scratching his own chest. Dad?

She called to invite us to go out if you want to know. She was watching a band around the corner at Tripoli and now they want to go dancing.

Tripoli?

Yeah, Tripoli. You know, the place where we always used to go. The place in the neighborhood we moved into? … Because it was nearby …

We used to do that, didn’t we? But it’s our Christmas tonight …

I told her that. I don’t want to go out. I want to stay and watch Christmas shows with you. I really do.

Is it weird that’s where we’re at now?

Jenny called us lame.

He smiled and his eyes darted toward hers. Do you think we’re lame?

She thought about it, wasn’t sure. She guessed they were kinda lame … but it felt right. She said, I’m having fun.

I am too, he said.

They stared at each other a long while without saying anything and Nelson slowly leaned to her and kissed her shoulder. He said, You want some more eggnog?

Yes. I do. She kissed him again, this time on the point of his chin. She said, You’re making them strong.

I still know how to have a good time.

We are having a good time, aren’t we?

You don’t have to ask me. I know I am. I’m here with you.

You’re such a sweet talker.

I’m full of eggnog.

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