Getting Closer 1
written by:
jwdoney

This is a work of fiction describing a mother and daughter scenario with no chaos, drama or nonsense, and is my first attempt to tell a truly straight forward shared man story. If this subject offends you, please stop reading or send me feedback explaining why, but I have had a number of readers request that I tell a story like this WITHOUT chaos or drama. At risk of seeming rude, this is not open for debate or discussion as to whether this could occur, this is a reader requested story with a reader requested scenario MINUS the usual drama and chaos. At times, the pace of this story will be slower, other times frantic and rushed... that is intentional.

Any people, places, names, products or events mentioned or inferred are done so without permission or endorsement, this is a work of fiction.

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My name is Jack and I am 30 with short brown hair, stand 5' 11" with a strong, muscular frame, and I have a nice smile and an easy going, friendly personality. I live alone after a bad breakup with my girlfriend of 5 years and after a couple of years being mostly single, have only begun to think about dating. Every good story starts with a moment that something happened, something changed... this was my something. I am a ghost writer and editor and work from home and for obvious reasons cannot discuss who I write for or what I write, it's as simple as that. As for the editing, I read what other writers have written, then suggest edits, changes, alternate content or possibly deleting something altogether. The neighborhood I live in is nice, quiet, family oriented, and tucked away from the main streets and traffic. There is nothing that can compare to sitting on the front porch and enjoying the soft breeze and watching children play, families out for a walk or riding bikes. Practically the day I moved in, my next door neighbor Stephanie introduced herself and her daughter Hailey, and we have been friends since. Even though she just turned 40, Stephanie looks 30 and is in great shape. She runs, works out, does all the yard and house work, volunteers for practically everything, all while raising an active teenage daughter. Stephanie's husband ran around and she divorced him years ago and in the 3 years I've been her friend and neighbor, I have never seen him.

Stephanie is tall for a girl, about 5' 10" and like I mentioned is in great shape with short black hair, is very attractive, has an amazing body, a full, firm 34D chest, and an incredible smile. There is no way to describe our relationship because we don't have one. For the last year or so, 3 or 4 nights a week we have sex and sleep together, at least once a week we go out to dinner or see a movie, but Stephanie refuses to call it a relationship. In her words, we can't break up if we never go out. So that turning point, the moment that changed everything? Stephanie is a nurse and works all kinds of crazy hours, but her daughter Hailey was raised right, is trusted, and knows she can count on and ask me for whatever she needs if her mom is busy or at work. I was writing in my office when Stephanie came in still in her scrubs and kissed me, then asked "You have time for me?" I smiled and said "Always" and we went to the bedroom, simple as that. Nearly 3 years of being friends, over a year of being together, regardless of what Stephanie doesn't call it, and I still catch my breath when she undresses. Stephanie is beautiful in every way and I tell her that every day. We got onto the bed naked and kissed slowly as Stephanie pulled me to her and asked "How's the book coming?" I told her and she smiled and said "My boyfriend is going to be a famous author, that's so cool". I gasped and said "You have a boyfriend? Can I meet him?"

Stephanie narrowed her eyes and said "You see him in the mirror everyday" but now she seemed irritated. I kissed her softly and Stephanie said "I just don't want all this to end. I mean how perfect is it? You live next door, your killer handsome, sweet and honest, great in bed, and you put up with me". I said "Steph, you can call it what you want or you can pretend it's casual, but from the very beginning you have been my girlfriend". Stephanie sighed and pulled at me until I entered her warm, wet, snug pussy and slid slowly inside. We kissed slowly as I began to stroke inside her and then she asked quietly "Is that what you want? You want us to be official?" I kissed her lips then said "It won't change anything, except maybe make you more confident, I'm not going anywhere, aside from a trip to a jewelry store pretty soon". Stephanie tensed and her hands held my hips firmly causing me to stop moving inside her. She stared into my eyes and said "You know how I feel about that". I said "I do, but I also know I'm not him, I have never disappointed you, and I will never hurt you or Hailey". Stephanie shifted and let me resume making love to her and she was doing some serious thinking as we continued. We did it for a while, no rush, no conversation, just me stroking slowly into her body and her thinking about who knew all what.

I could feel her body change and knew she was getting close as her eyes were less serious now while she held my sides and stared into my eyes. Stephanie exhaled and seemed to shudder then said "I'll be your girlfriend Jack, no more walls, no more pushing you away". Nearly as soon as she had said it, Stephanie began to writhe and moan and I could feel her body tense and tighten around my cock. She was breathing deeply and raked her nails along my back and sides as her orgasm washed over her and she started with a moan and finished with a low scream. I stroked a few more times and then it just overwhelmed me as I throbbed then exploded deep inside Stephanie with a blinding climax that took my breath away. I pumped into Stephanie with all my energy and then lay gently atop her as she held me and said "I love you". She didn't say it everyday, but she did say it, and I knew after her turbulent marriage, if she said anything endearing to me, she meant it. We were laying there, me still atop her and her holding me when Hailey called from the hallway "Are you decent?" I pulled out of Stephanie, grabbed my t-shirt and wiped up with it, handed it to Steph and said "I am, your mom hasn't been since she met me". Stephanie smacked my arm then gasped "Asshole. What do you need baby?" Hailey is 19 years old, 5' 9", on summer break from college, and an absolute heartbreaker.

Where Stephanie has short black hair and usually styles it, Hailey has long blonde hair and mostly wears it down. Her body is that of an athletic teenager with all the right curves, no fat, and she is very attractive. To be crystal clear from the very beginning, there is no secret, illicit affair going on with Hailey and I, no lusting after my girlfriend's daughter, and it's taken me almost the entire 3 years to get used to how open Stephanie and Hailey are. With the covers pulled up, Hailey came in wearing shorts and a tank top and asked "Can I use the pool?" I shook my head and asked "Why do you do this? You know you can have anything you want, drive my truck, use the pool, you're killing me kid". Hailey climbed onto the bed, pushed between us and said "Mom may not realize how lucky she is, but I do, have you asked her yet?" Stephanie sucked in a deep breath and asked "Jack? My daughter knows before I do?" I shrugged and said "Steph, instead of getting upset, realize that all I have wanted from the beginning is you. Hailey has gone with me to look at rings, she helps me pick out flowers, most of the jewelry I buy you she picked out, she's like the daughter I always wanted". Hailey clung to me for a huge hug and Stephanie said "Uh, be careful, we're close to some awkward boundaries at the moment". I was still covered and Stephanie and Hailey didn't seem to mind seeing each other undressed, I've even seen Hailey naked a few times, in fact... the two of them were actually quite liberated... or maybe uninhibited.

Hailey let go of me and said "Mom, you said I could see, did you lie to me?" Stephanie exhaled and said "Not today. My mind is full with girlfriend and fiancee thoughts. Besides, we talked about this. Jack may not understand how we think, so not today". I touched Hailey's face and asked "Are you sure this is what you want? This could confuse everything?" Hailey looked at her mom who sat there naked with the covers up to her waist and said "You opened the bottle baby... now's as good a time as any". Hailey spun to face me, crowded me, and asked "Why not? No one would know but us, why not? I want you to marry mom and spend time with me. We don't need anyone else but you Jack". I looked past Hailey at Stephanie who smiled and said "This is up to you, we're fine either way". I shifted on the bed and didn't care that my cock was exposed as I asked Stephanie "So you'll marry me?" She blushed and looked away then stared at me and asked "Can you maybe ask nicer than that?" I felt warm fingers on my cock and I was getting hard as Stephanie and I both looked to see Hailey slowly stroking me. Stephanie said "I shouldn't have to say this, but you can never hurt her, she's the only person besides you that I really care about". I took Hailey's hand off my cock and held it, then said "If this is what you want, you... we have to do the same thing your mom and I did. Go on dates first, then sex". Hailey sighed and said "I'm okay if we skip all of that, we already know each other". I said "Okay, a compromise then. Two days. We need to wait two days before anything happens. Time for you to be sure, your mom to make sure it's okay, and time for me to get used to this radical change to our dynamic".

Hailey said "You're such a writer. Compromise huh? Fine, but you have to spend time with me, kiss me, talk to me, and no pushing me away. Promise?" Stephanie nodded and I said "I promise" and then Hailey pounced on me and kissed me furiously while Stephanie giggled. Hailey was atop me and between her stroking me, her hot little body and her furious kisses, I was rock hard when she crawled off me. She smiled and said "You're the dummy who wants to wait two days. I'll have you begging me for it long before that" and then she got off the bed. Stephanie said "Go get in the pool so I can talk to Jack" and Hailey smiled and said "I love you" and left the room. Stephanie pulled me to her and I was inside her instantly as she said "You're taking this rather well". I stroked slow and deep and asked "Is this for real? She's your daughter". Stephanie moaned and parted her legs for me, granting me deeper access to her perfect body. She stared into my eyes and said "If this were some lurid movie or XXX novel, it would be a huge deal, but Hailey and I have talked about this for months and I would rather share you that worry about her messing around and fumbling about trying to seduce you or steal you". I kissed Stephanie then asked "Months? That explains all the lingerie, the bikinis, all the times she didn't seem to care if I saw her naked".

Stephanie said "As long as nothing changes, you can have it all, and I will be expecting a proper proposal by the way". I stroked faster and Stephanie's eyes lit up as she held my sides and purred. I asked "What happened to not wanting a relationship?" Stephanie said "I think I have always wanted one, I was just worried about losing you". I said "That will never happen" and Stephanie kissed me then settled back in to enjoy the sex. I stroked faster and deeper and she held me as we got closer to the finish. At this point, our bodies were tuned to each other, and I could tell that Stephanie was getting close. She was breathing deeply, moaning softly, and her fingers flexed against my skin. Not since Carly left me 3 years ago have I cared for someone like I do Stephanie, and this surprise with Hailey didn't deter me, I plan to ask Stephanie to marry me. Stephanie was shifting beneath me, her breathing was raspy, and her body seemed to vibrate while my cock ached and throbbed and I was very close myself. Stephanie opened her eyes, stared into mine, and then she gripped me, closed her eyes and moaned long and loud through a second orgasm. My entire body tingled, my cock tensed, and then I exploded deep inside Stephanie in a powerful climax that washed over me like warm electricity.

I pumped and thrust into Stephanie until I was finished and spent and then lay atop her as she held me and stared into my eyes. I knew she loved me, I've known for a while, but something happened today and she realized it. I waited until we had cooled down, waited until we got into the shower, then I asked "What changed?" Stephanie stood there with the body wash and said "The girls at work were all talking about their lives and vacations and families and I realized I had you but I didn't. I realized everytime you tried to get closer, I pushed you away, just far enough that we were friends and lovers, but never anything more". We washed up and Stephanie said "Now everything's changed though. I don't want to sleep separately, I don't need anymore space, I'm all in Jack, I hope this is what you wanted". I held Stephanie and said "You are everything I have ever wanted and even though you didn't know it, we've been dating for 3 years. I have never talked to or done anything with anyone else. I wanted you and I stood by and waited because you are worth it". Stephanie sighed and said "I will give you anything you want, just promise never to hurt me or Hailey". I kissed Stephanie and said "You know me better than that" and Steph said "I do, and that's why I trust you with the two most important things I have, my heart and my only daughter".

Stephanie could see my confliction and touched my face as she said "You have me, I will sleep in your bed tonight. It took alot for Hailey to tell you what she wanted and you sort of blew her off. I need you to go pay attention to her so she knows everything is okay. I'll fix dinner for all of us over here while you do something with her, I don't care what it is. Will you do that for me?" I rinsed off and said "I would do anything for you Steph, you have my heart". Stephanie rinsed her hair and said "And you have mine. I love you Jack, I don't say it enough, but I will because I feel it, I think it, I love you". We got out and were drying off when Stephanie asked "Are you serious about the 2 day thing?" I said "Steph, it's a huge deal, she's your daughter and all of it could blow up. I don't think you realize how much I love you and don't want to lose you". Stephanie leaned back against the sink naked and said "I don't think you realize the amount of trust, love and confidence in us as a couple that I have to allow you to be with Hailey. Because of you I'm not insecure or unsure of myself or us. Don't overthink this because this is not a trick, a test, or a phase, Hailey and I have discussed this in detail and we both want this. Stop worrying about why it shouldn't happen or what people might think and just make us both happy".

I exhaled, closed my eyes and thought about everything, then inhaled slowly, exhaled and said "I love you Stephanie. Swear to me right now that no matter what happens, we stay together and work through everything". Stephanie said "You wanted a relationship, I gave it to you, you want me all in full time, you got it, now... all you have to do is love my daughter like you do me, be discreet about it, and you can have it all and no one will ever change how I feel about you". I asked "How do you feel about me?" Stephanie exhaled, smiled, then said "I feel like there should be a ring on this finger and we should sell one of these houses and become a family and until Hailey gets bored or finds a boyfriend, you should enjoy the benefits of what we have to offer". I said "The three of us need to have that discussion Steph. This house means nothing to me but yours has always been Hailey's home". Stephanie touched my face, slid her fingers down to my chest, then pushed by me to go into the bedroom. She kept clothes here, I had a few things at her place, it didn't matter that our houses were separated by a driveway. Stephanie slipped on yellow panties and said "My house is paid off, you have a mortgage, it's an easy decision" and she held a bra in her hands but smiled at me and asked "Are we going anywhere?" I shook my head and said "Not unless you want to".

Stephanie put on one of my t-shirts then slipped on shorts and sat on the bed smiling at me while I got dressed. We went to the living room where Hailey sat playing Xbox in her blue and white bikini. Stephanie said "I'm going over to get something, I'll be right back". I sat next to Hailey and her bikini was intended for tanning and attention, not swimming, and it did not cover any more than it had to. I sighed and said "You might as well be naked, you realize that". Hailey stared at me, paused her game, then asked "I thought you wanted to wait a couple of days?" I smiled and said "I can still appreciate perfection" and Hailey smiled and said "Wow, that was nice. Do you actually mean that?" I asked "Hailey, have I ever lied to you?" She shifted to face me and said "No, so don't start now. Are you hitting on me? I thought you weren't sure about this?" I took her hand and asked "Do you really want this? And what would this be?" Hailey said "No offense, but it would just be sex and messing around, my mom is major in love with you". Stephanie came back in, smiled at me, then started moving around the kitchen as I said "I feel the same way, I love her completely". Hailey said "Then this can work because all I really want is to have sex without drama, and I already love you and think your hot, so it's like it's supposed to happen".

Wow. Try arguing that point.

Hailey had a look on her face as she said "Mom, how long before dinner is ready?" Stephanie said "Uhmm... about 40 minutes honey". Hailey said "Okay, Jack and I are going to go talk privately, will you let us know when dinner is ready if we get distracted?" Stephanie stood there smiling and said "Of course baby, I love you". Hailey stood and her bikini defied logic and gravity as it somehow stayed on her young, shapely body. I went over to Stephanie and she grinned and said "Don't worry about me" as we kissed softly. I whispered "Swear to me right now this is okay, not some crazy dream, and you're okay with it". Stephanie exhaled, stood tall, looked past me and said "Hailey, I don't care when, how often or why you sleep with him, but he's mine at bedtime, okay baby?" Hailey said "Okay mom" and then Stephanie asked "Will that work?" I nodded and Stephanie smiled and said "Get going, I want to watch HELL'S KITCHEN in peace". It may be my house on paper, but over the last couple of years, the two houses had basically become one large home separated by a driveway. Stephanie and Hailey both had keys to my house, I had a key to theirs, and depending on Steph's mood, we would stay at either house when we slept together. There were more of their shows on my DVR than there were of mine.

Hailey took me to her room, the room she had here, and we were barely in the room when she said "Whoops" and just like that she was naked and her bikini was on the floor. I chuckled and said "Could happen to anyone" and Hailey smiled and said "I know right?" Her body was flawless, a perfectly shaped and toned younger version of her mother, but there was something exciting about her being just barely 19 and so uninhibited. Hailey said "I think you need to rethink the two day thing". I moved closer and touched her full chest, her breasts filled my hands and they were warm and soft. I looked Hailey in her eyes as I rubbed and pinched her nipples softly saying "You need to be sure you want this". Hailey moaned and kissed me feverishly as her body poured against mine during the kiss. Hailey pushed me away from her and seemed furious as she said "You don't get to do that. That's not fair. If you want me you can have me but you can't get me excited then act like your not interested". I scooped Hailey up and she gasped as I put her on the bed and pulled my shirt off. She stared at me intently while I took my shorts off and stood there in my underwear. I said "There's no going back from this Hailey" She nodded and said "I know" and pulled at me to get on the bed with her.

Hailey was staring past me and I turned to see Stephanie watching us from the doorway and my heart froze. Was this a test? Did I fail? I panicked and Stephanie realized it and hurried over to hold me saying "No baby, I just wanted to see the two of you together". I held Stephanie and I was shaking as she snuggled me and said "I told you this was okay and I meant it, don't worry". I found Stephanie's mouth and kissed her furiously and she held me and returned the passion. We kissed several times and then Stephanie eased back and said to Hailey "He's not ready yet. Give him time and he'll realize this is all okay. I'm sorry baby, it was too much all at once". Hailey sighed and I got onto the bed with her and held her. My cock ached I was so hard and it strained and bulged my underwear. There was no doubt I was excited and Hailey was beyond sexy and gorgeous, it just felt... wrong. I mean she was Stephanie's daughter. Hailey seemed confused and sad and Stephanie had this look I've only seen once... that night, that first night where we went from friends and neighbors to lovers. That night she got that look and the next thing I knew we were in her bed and I was inside her. It's been nothing but love and passion ever since. Now with me rock hard laying on the bed holding Hailey, Stephanie had that look and somehow I knew what was about to happen. Stephanie came closer, kissed me softly, then asked quietly "You know I love you right?" I nodded and Steph pulled at my underwear until my cock came free and then she tugged them down and off. Hailey slipped her fingers around my hard shaft as Stephanie dropped my underwear to the floor and said "When your done, dinner should be ready. I love you both".

Then Stephanie just shut the door and left the room.

Hailey touched my face and said "I know you said we should date and kiss and stuff, but we can skip all of that and do this, it's really okay". I said "You need to understand something Hailey, once we start having sex, there will be kissing and stuff, to me that's part of it". Hailey was suddenly a teenager and she beamed and practically giggled "I hope so". She pushed me down onto the bed and crawled atop me but I grabbed her and flipped her onto her back. Her hair flew and she let out a "Whoop" as I moved between her tanned legs and kissed her flat stomach. Hailey was playing with my hair and asked "Do you think I have a nice body?" I sighed and said "I mean, it's okay... I've seen better". Hailey flared instantly, clamped her legs shut, and shoved me away from her. I was grinning but she was pissed and said "You're an asshole, what a jerk". I grabbed Hailey and she struggled and said "Get off me you jerk" as I kissed her everywhere I could reach. Hailey struggled and called me a jerk several times until I found her weakness quite accidentally by kissing her neck. All struggle and fight drained from Hailey as she moaned softly and pulled at me. I kissed her neck slowly and she moaned louder and pulled at me until I was between her legs and pressing against her warm, wet entrance. Hailey pulled me into a long, warm kiss then said "I forgive you, I know it was joke" and I said "Your body is like you, perfect, amazing and exciting" and Hailey gasped and kissed me again.

I poked inside her warm pussy and Hailey was tight like I expected she would be. She moaned and panted as I slid slowly inside until I was all the way in and her pussy felt like it was hugging my cock. All confusion and uncertainty of sleeping with Hailey, of having sex with my girlfriend's daughter was gone. Now I just wanted to make love to her and with any luck, it could happen everyday. Hailey was quiet and focused as I moved inside her while her hands held my sides firmly. I stroked slow and deep and Hailey stared into my eyes and sighed. If I was right, she had wanted this to happen, but never actually thought it would. Part of me didn't understand why Stephanie was so open but I also knew that Steph didn't play games, didn't say right when she meant left. Society might not understand a mother daughter relationship, but I had heard of them, I knew they existed, mostly so the mom knew the daughter wasn't running off with the guy. Hailey shifted beneath me after several minutes and it was like I could stroke deeper inside her fit body. My cock ached and I knew this was gonna be an intense climax, the truth was I had quietly stared at Hailey the last couple of years watching her blossom into a gorgeous young woman. Her excitement and lust for life were intoxicating, her looks were gorgeous and her body flawless, she really was a younger version of Stephanie.

Hailey was clinging to me, breathing deeply, and her head was lolling on the pillows, her hair strewn everywhere. I tried to hold back and then it hit me... could I cum inside her? I gasped "Hailey... are you... on the pill?" Hailey blinked and nodded, then it hit her what I was asking and she gripped me tighter so that I knew no matter what she wanted me to finish inside her. I was having trouble thinking and it was difficult to breathe and then Hailey tensed and rammed her face into my neck and shoulder and screamed as her body shook and vibrated beneath me. I lost it and exploded deep inside Hailey with a white flash and a numbing climax that cause my entire body to tingle. I pumped into Hailey and she clung to me even after I was finished and held me as I lay atop her trying to catch my breath. Hailey stared at me for a long time in silence and refused to let go of me, even when she began to kiss me softly. We were making out when she abruptly stopped and said "You know I love you Jack, but it's not like a cool dad or my mom's awesome boyfriend anymore. Now I love you". I said "I love you too Hailey, both ways, and all I ask is don't let me break your heart. If you decide we're done, tell me, don't keep things going unless you want them to". Hailey touched my face and asked "Please ask my mom to marry you... please?" I said "I plan to, and your going to help me find the perfect ring".

Hailey hugged me so tightly I lost my breath and when she let go she said "Okay, so there's no confusion and because you like to think everything down to the last letter, I need to tell you something". I kissed Hailey softly and said "Go ahead". Hailey shifted and asked "You're still hard?" I nodded and said "Of course, your an absolute Goddess". Hailey moved her hips and I got the hint and began to stroke long and slow into her shapely body. Hailey sighed then said "Mom doesn't want any of this to be complicated, so here's what we came up with. She's your girlfriend... finally, and she wants you in her bed, or yours, every night. You and I can mess around during the day or when she's at work, and if she works screwy shifts, I can sleep with you. It's not that confusing really". I sighed, kept stroking into Hailey, then asked "How long have you and your mother been talking about this?" Hailey blushed, something she rarely does, and she said "For a while. Last night we decided it was time to talk to you about all of this then coincidentally the other nurses at work were talking about their happy lives and mom decided no more casual". I said "Hailey, I have thought you were beautiful for a long time, but I shut that door in my mind because you were Stephanie's daughter. I just want you to know that I noticed you and felt an attraction, I just didn't let you know". Hailey moaned and then she closed her eyes and gasped "I'm real close..."

I stroked faster, there was no way I could cum so soon after finishing moments ago, but Hailey was clearly about to achieve lift off. Her body vibrated and Hailey sucked in deep breaths and then she screamed and lay there staring blankly at the ceiling as I slowed then eased out of her. I was sitting beside her wiping up with my t-shirt when Stephanie came in and said "I'm assuming you two are all set? Dinner is ready and I miss you". I blew Stephanie a kiss as Hailey mumbled "I'm gonna need a minute". I kissed Hailey's lips and she smiled then said "I just need... a minute..." I leaned closer and nibbled her left nipple and Hailey's eyes crossed and she gasped "Asshole". I grabbed my clothes and Stephanie crowded me all the way to my... to our bedroom then asked "You okay with all of this?" I pulled on underwear, then my shorts and a clean t-shirt then said "It depends, are you going to marry me?" Stephanie gasped and said "Yes, when you ask me holding a ring. I think you already know that". I said "When you're ready, we go look at rings, and you pick out what you want, money is not an option, your happiness is, and we can keep both houses if you like, Hailey is not going to want to live with us forever. Also, her car is shit, we should think about getting her something better. I have money and could care less, what I want is you... both of you".

Stephanie dragged me to the bed and was all over me and I had to fend her off saying "I need to recharge baby, I'm spent". Stephanie was wild eyed and excited and she gasped "You are so getting laid after dinner, plan on it". We went into the kitchen and Stephanie was all over me and it was exciting and made me so happy. Hailey came out to the kitchen and she looked rumpled and got mad when we laughed. She glared at us and said "Stop, I can't even think right now". I went over and held Hailey and she slipped her arms around me and said "That's gonna take some getting used to. My last boyfriend was done before I realized we had started". Stephanie said "TMI little girl" and Hailey said "Right, but sharing Jack is okay". We were all silent and then Stephanie exhaled and said "Baby, you can't blurt stuff like that out, what if we were in public?" Hailey said "Sorry mom" then kissed me softly and asked "What's for dinner?" I asked Hailey "If we chose one house and rented or sold the other, which one would you prefer?" Hailey said "Duh? This one, it has a pool, plus my room over here is nicer". Stephanie exhaled and I held her and whispered "Let it go". Stephanie kissed me softly then asked "You know I love you right?" I looked over at Hailey staring into the fridge apparently hoping something would appear and said "Yeah, I would say you made that very clear today".

...................... To be continued...