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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid9312239 The Ugly One}{\insrsid13918637
}{\insrsid9312239 by be287m
Chapter Five
I awoke early. Summer\rquote s breathing was still steady beside me. After a moment, it became clear I wasn\rquote t going to be able to get back to sleep. I heard some soft noises from the main room. Slowly}{\insrsid15562326 ,}{\insrsid9312239
I edged out of the bed. I managed to find }{\insrsid1521277 my glasses and }{\insrsid9312239 my bag and put on a clean pair of boxers without too much fumbling around. }{\insrsid9842891 My shirt didn\rquote t seem to be
in my bag though. After poking around for it, I gave up. }{\insrsid9312239 Summer was still sleeping soundly as I slipped out the door.
}{\insrsid9059230
}{\insrsid11474544 In the main room, }{\insrsid9059230 Tamara was drinking coffee, }{\insrsid11626534 and }{\insrsid9059230 reading a book. One hand held a highlighter, which she occasionally dipped down to
mark the page. She looked up and gave me a warm smile.
\'93I didn\rquote t expect to see you up this early,\'94 she mused. I sheepishly grinned. \'93I\rquote m surprised she didn\rquote t wear you out.\'94
\'93Oh, she tried,\'94 I replied. \'93I think she was a little tired from the skiing though.\'94 Tamara chuckled at that.
\'93You should see her when she\rquote s rested,\'94 she commented.
\'93I\rquote m not sure I could survive that.\'94
\'93Few people can. She\rquote s insatiable sometimes.\'94 I laughed and got my own mug, filling it with coffee. Tamara watched me for a moment.
\'93So, are you glad you came?\'94 she asked.
\'93Pun noted,\'94 I replied, to which she winced. \'93Yeah, I\rquote m glad I came skiing. I\rquote m surprised though. I haven\rquote t had this good of a time in a while.\'94
\'93Even compared to playing with Billy?\'94
\'93That\rquote s different . . .\'94 I trailed off. Was it really? \'93Well, maybe not too different. Though I\rquote m not going to go }{\insrsid139099 to }{\insrsid9059230 bed with Billy.\'94
Tamara snorted. \'93I would hope not!\'94 I felt a little embarrassed for making the comment, }{\insrsid9059230\charrsid11474544 but let it }{\insrsid11474544 go}{\insrsid9059230 .}{\insrsid11474544 Tamara returned to her book.
I sat nearby and watched her for a while. When she turned the page, she noticed me and smiled inquisitively.}{\insrsid9059230
}{\insrsid6644145
\'93Yes, John?\'94
\'93Uh, nothing really.\'94
\'93Nothing?\'94
}{\insrsid10380305 \'93Oh, I was just thinking about last night.\'94
Tamara grinned. \'93You sound like you\rquote ve}{\insrsid11626534 never had sex like that before,}{\insrsid10380305 \'94}{\insrsid11626534 she teased.}{\insrsid10380305
I blushed. I hadn\rquote t, or at least not more than one other time. As she well knew.
\'93Actually, I was thinking about the bar,\'94 I commented.
}{\insrsid15029279
\'93Yeah,\'94 she nodded. \'93That was fun.\'94
\'93Fun wasn\rquote t the word I was going to use,\'94 I quipped. She raised her eyebrows, looking at me.
\'93Exhilarating, different, surprising,\'94 I replied.
\'93See, you can have fun dancing,\'94 she }{\insrsid11626534 jok}{\insrsid15029279 ed.
\'93I was thinking about the kisses,\'94 I admitted. \'93Two beautiful women in five minutes. Wow.\'94
Tamara nodded her head, still smiling. Then her eyes returned to her book.
\'93That was fun too,\'94 she commented as she highlighted another academic passage}{\insrsid7092889 , never looking up}{\insrsid15029279 . I didn\rquote t know what to say to that. I just watched Tamara read for a while, slowly sipping my coffee.
Behind me, a door opened. Summer came out. She looked a little groggy and was completely nude. I watched her walk over and get her own coffee. She was neither self-conscious nor oblivious to my stares. She turned and smiled at me,
drawing my eyes up to her face. I tried to resist the temptation to flick my eyes lower.
\'93So,\'94 Tamara asked of our newcomer, \'93have a good evening?\'94
Summer grinned. Once again there was mischief in her eyes.
\'93Oh yes. John has the makings of a good lover. You should train him, Lynn.\'94
Tamara/Lynn snorted. \'93That\rquote s because he\rquote s not arrogant.\'94
\'93You think Dennis is?\'94 Summer shot back.
}{\insrsid9842891 \'93You}{\insrsid15029279 were the one complaining about him,\'94 Tamara replied. Summer made a face but kept quiet. I was totally confused.
Tamara must have noticed. \'93Dennis is the one that }{\insrsid11626534 backed out of}{\insrsid15029279 coming out to Colorado with Summer,\'94 she explained. \'93He thought he was God\rquote s gift to women.\'94
\'93With some cause,\'94 Summer interjected.
\'93What cause?\'94 I asked. \'93If he was a bad lover, I mean.}{\insrsid5275271 Why would a woman want to be with him?}{\insrsid13852085 \'94}{\insrsid5275271
}{\insrsid11226424 \'93Because he\rquote s . . .\'94 Summer began. She stopped short and}{\insrsid15029279 paled. She looked at me, really looked at me, her eyes flicking down to the scars on my abdomen and then back to
my face. I held my expression firm}{\insrsid5275271 , but my stomach was churning and I could feel it start to wrench inside.}{\insrsid6819393 I could see her struggling for the words. She was saved by Tamara.
}{\insrsid3300217
\'93Why would she want to be with him? For some of the same reasons a guy wants to walk into a bar with me or Summer on his arm.\'94
}{\insrsid5247070
Ouch. I winced at Tamara\rquote s words, and Summer\rquote s expression softened as she looked at me.
}{\insrsid4876368
\'93John,\'94 Summer began, \'93besides being a nicer guy, you are already better in bed than Dennis.}{\insrsid9056905 He didn\rquote t know what to do when he got there, and he didn\rquote t care about getting better.\'94}{\insrsid4876368
}{\insrsid9056905
\'93Maybe,\'94 I replied}{\insrsid15562326 moodily}{\insrsid9056905 , \'93but what does it matter if he\rquote s not as good when he gets there? He gets }{\insrsid5714112 there a lot more often than me.
}{\insrsid11226424
}{\insrsid11015997 \'93So?\'94 asked Tamara. \'93Why does his sex life matter to you?\'94}{\insrsid11226424
}{\insrsid11015997
\'93}{\insrsid5714112 He also gets there w}{\insrsid9056905 ithout paying for it.\'94}{\insrsid5714112
\'93You didn\rquote t pay for it last night,\'94 Tamara pointed out. She looked pointedly at Summer, who nodded in confirmation}{\insrsid11015997 and seemed to be recovering her composure}{\insrsid5714112 .}{\insrsid9842891 Then Summer\rquote
s face lit up,}{\insrsid3678384 followed by an evil grin.
\'93And you\rquote re not going to pay for it now,\'94 she purred. She began to saunter over to me. I couldn\rquote t tear my eyes off the swaying of her breasts. She stopped about a foot in front of where I was sitting.
\'93Ummm. . .\'94 I started to object.
}{\insrsid6970639 \'93Shhhh,}{\insrsid3678384 \'94
Summer replied. She placed her finger on my lips to emphasize her shushing. I shut my mouth and stared at her. She began trailing her finger down my chest and then my stomach. When she reached the top of my boxers, her hand jumped t
o the bottom of my crotch and slowly slipped upwards. I was hard instantly as she gently cupped me in her fingers.}{\insrsid11015997 Then she knelt down.}{\insrsid5714112
}{\insrsid11015997
I glanced over at Tamara. She looked amused. She closed her book and leaned in to get a better view.
Meanwhile, Su
mmer has freed my cock from my shorts. She was stroking me lightly, using one hand to caress my scrotum, while the other slid up and down my shaft. When I looked down she grinned back at me. Never breaking eye contact, she opened her mouth and slowly l
eaned forward, engulfing me.}{\insrsid7544375
I gasped as she sucked and swirled her tongue around the head. Her eyes twinkled as she slowly sank down, taking my entire cock into her mouth. Then, just as agonizingly slowly, she pulled back and let her tongue caress my shaft as it left her lips.}{
\insrsid11015997
}{\insrsid7544375
I glanced back at Tamara. She }{\insrsid4133842 was focused on Summer, her smile relaxed}{\insrsid7544375 .
}{\insrsid4133842
Summer took advantage of my momentary distraction to plunge down my shaft again. I groaned as she began bobbing back and forth. Despite her speed, her mouth was tight around my cock}{\insrsid3163248
, sending shivers from each inch of my shaft as her lips slid past. I started gasping for breath. Summer paused to concentrate on the head of my cock. First she ran her tongue all around and then she covered it with kisses, th
e whole time continuing to pump me with her hands. I could feel myself beginning to boil. With a quick smirking glance up, Summer once again lowered her head, taking in all of me. She sucked just a little harder and it was enough. With a }{
\insrsid7092889 strangled gasp, I began cumming.}{\insrsid3163248 Summe}{\insrsid7092889 r never let up or slowed}{\insrsid3163248
down. I began bucking forward as my orgasm shook me. Summer disengaged then, letting some of my semen dribble out of her mouth and down her breasts. She ignored it, just smiling up at me.
\'93How was that?\'94 she asked. I gasped and shook my head, still not ready for words, though none were really necessary. I leaned back, letting the loopy smile cover my face. Tamara came up behind Summer with a dampened towel}{\insrsid811660
, smiling at me. Summer thanked her for the towel and used it to clean me up, and then herself. }{\insrsid15562326 The towel }{\insrsid811660 was warm, I realized.
I smiled at Tamara who grinned back.
\'93See what can happen when you\rquote re not arrogant?\'94 she }{\insrsid7092889 commente}{\insrsid811660 d. I nodded my head and then }{\insrsid15562326 looked}{\insrsid811660 down at Summer.
\'93Thank you,\'94 I said, not knowing what else was appropriate.
\'93You\rquote re welcome,\'94 she replied. \'93Call it an early Christmas present.\'94
Christmas. That }{\insrsid4863906 thought came back to me later}{\insrsid811660 . }{\insrsid4863906 Once I\rquote d caught my breath, Tamara pointed out that we\rquote d have to get going soon. T}{\insrsid811660
he three of us found our showers, packed, and made the trip back to }{\insrsid4863906 Denver}{\insrsid811660 . At Tamara\rquote s door, Summer gave me a passionate kiss goodbye with murmured thanks, but no hint of any future encounters. That was okay}{
\insrsid11626534 , I realized. }{\insrsid811660 Tamara }{\insrsid11626534 and I agreed to get together at the usual time }{\insrsid811660 the following week.}{\insrsid4863906 I walked away wondering what to get her for Christmas.}{\insrsid16526698
I }{\insrsid8419300 was still wondering when Thursday arrived. Billy was bouncing off the walls with excitement about Christmas. I had to grin, wondering how much more enthusiastic he\rquote
d get in the coming weeks. I realized that I needed to get Billy a present too. He was rattling off all the toys he wanted over dinner. I imagined him walking down the toy aisle, pointing at everything he saw. That gave me an idea.}{\insrsid16526698
}{\insrsid8419300
\'93So,\'94 I began, once Tamara and I were settled on the couch and Billy was up to his elbows in soap suds, \'93how about if I take Billy Christmas shopping next Saturday? You\rquote ll be studying for finals and could probably use the quiet time.\'94
I watched Tamara consider it. Then she smiled and nodded her head.
\'93That would be nice,\'94 she replied. \'93Just don\rquote t buy him any toys to play with immediately. He can be pretty relentless at times,\'94 she cautioned. I had to grin in agreement.
}{\insrsid9196663
And of course Billy was relentless. I did manage to haul him out of the toy store after an hour by appealing to his stomach. I was very glad we\rquote d made the stop before lunch. }{\insrsid16724538 After we\rquote d eaten, we wandered}{
\insrsid15562326 the mall}{\insrsid16724538 , ostensibly looking for something to get his mom. Billy kept pointing out other stuff he liked, but slowed down as I continually drew his attention to things Tamara might enjoy. He didn\rquote
t get enthused about any }{\insrsid9842891 of them, even telling me \'93nah, M}{\insrsid16724538 om won\rquote t like that\'94 on one occasion. We found our salvation in the book store.}{\insrsid9196663
}{\insrsid16724538
I was browsing science fiction to see what new titles were out when Billy slipped away for a moment. He came back with a hardback novel by a mystery writer I didn\rquote t recognize.
\'93Mom reads these when she\rquote s not studying,\'94 he said. I glanced inside at the list of other titles and saw this was the latest in a series. It also looked like it had just been released.
\'93Well then let\rquote s get it! You can tell he}{\insrsid1311670 r you picked it out yourself!\'94
}{\insrsid16724538 Billy looked pleased with that last comment and we headed up to the register. He also insisted on paying for it himself, extracting some money I didn\rquote
t know he had from his pocket. I stepped back and watched as he very seriously executed the transaction with the patient clerk.}{\insrsid2187312 Afterwards, we wandered back out into the mall, Billy constantly looking into his bag.}{\insrsid16724538
}{\insrsid2187312
That\rquote s when I saw the banners. One of the mall jewelry stores was offering quarter carat diamond earrings for $100. I was surprised at the price, so I steered Billy over. They were simple studs, with a sparkling multi-fa
ceted cut. Of course, I had no way of estimating the quality of the stones. Billy was starting to walk down the row of cases, looking at the other gems. I tried to remember if Tamara\rquote s ears were pierced. They were. I realized the}{
\insrsid9842891 earrings would}{\insrsid2187312 look beautiful on her. I reached for my wallet.
Bags in hand, we continued to wander the mall. Outside of one of the entrances, they\rquote d cleared part of the parking lot and made a mini ice rink. Bales of hay lined the sides, with a simple fence of 2x4\rquote s and a
shack where skates could be rented. Billy saw it at once and his eyes lit up.
\'93John! Let\rquote s go skating! Let\rquote s go skating, John!\'94 I smiled. After }{\insrsid9842891 Billy\rquote s relentlessness in}{\insrsid2187312 the toy store, this was something I was willing to give into.
}{\insrsid3560257
We had some trouble finding skates that fit me even partially well. By the time I got them on, Billy was already out, pushing tentatively across the ice. He wobbled some, trying to find his balance. Neither of us had bee}{\insrsid11626534
n on skates often, I realized. We pushed and }{\insrsid142043 shuffled}{\insrsid11626534 our way around the outer edge in a circle. We made two complete circuits before Billy fell.
\'93You hurt?\'94 I asked, a}{\insrsid1311670 s I made a wobbly stop nearby.}{\insrsid11626534
\'93}{\insrsid15562326 No!\'94 he called}{\insrsid15415650 , slowly sitting up. I extended a hand, which he took. Unfortunately, I wasn\rquote
t too steady on my feet and instead of me pulling him up, he pulled me down. I managed to not land on top of him by twisting at the last minute, but the ice knocked the wind out of me.}{\insrsid11626534
}{\insrsid15415650
\'93John! John! Are you hurt?\'94 Billy called. I managed to shake my head no.
\'93Then let\rquote s get up! Let\rquote s go around again!\'94
I slowly shifted to sitting. It felt like I\rquote d bruised something near my hip. Meanwhile Billy was already on his feet, pushing forward around the rink again. I wanted to crawl to the edge and sit it o
ut, but I realized he had the right idea. With a groan and a lot of careful balancing, I managed to get my skates under me and get to my feet.
Billy was halfway around the rink, looking }{\insrsid15562326 over}{\insrsid15415650 at me. I
waved at him and he waved back. He broke from his circle and started cutting across the middle, still waving. I pushed towards the middle and kept waving as well. W}{\insrsid1311670 e managed to avoid colliding }{\insrsid15415650
by hooking elbows and swinging each other around. A do-si-do on ice. We probably looked silly. When we broke apart, I looked around.
}{\insrsid16526698 A group of teen}{\insrsid4214304 agers}{\insrsid16526698 were standing at one end of the rink. They were watching and laughing at me. No, they were watching and laughing at us.
Billy was oblivious. \'93Jingle Bell Rock\'94 }{\insrsid15415650 had started}{\insrsid16526698 blaring out of the speakers and he was dancing to it. At least dancing as much as he could without moving his feet. He didn\rquote
t look ready for another fall.
He did look like he was having fun. Dancing. I skated }{\insrsid15562326 a little }{\insrsid16526698 closer to him and managed a stop.
\'93Dance with me}{\insrsid9842891 ,}{\insrsid16526698 John!\'94 he called out.}{\insrsid4789540 I shook my head no}{\insrsid15415650 an}{\insrsid13852085 d his face turned into a pout.}{\insrsid15415650
\'93Dance with me!\'94 he }{\insrsid7822198 called again. Was I ready to disappoint him because of an audience?}{\insrsid16526698
I looked over at the teenagers. I looked at Billy. He was still smiling and flapping his arms. I took a deep breath and began to dance. As much as I could without moving my feet.
Billy laughed and I smiled. Slowly I pried my awareness away from our observers. I was just beginning to really re}{\insrsid9842891 lax when the song changed to \'93}{\insrsid16526698 White Christmas.\'94 Billy and I stopped our gyrations and shuffled}
{\insrsid12025658 towards the side of the rink. Billy was still grinning. I was getting tired. I sat on the side and watched as he did a couple more circuits of the rink and then waved him over.}{\insrsid16526698
}{\insrsid12025658
\'93Ready to go?\'94 I asked. Instead of the expected pout, he nodded. We shuffled over to return our skates and headed home.
}{\insrsid3961595 Tamara met us at the door. She looked relaxed as we tumbled in and Billy started shedding his jacket.}{\insrsid12025658
}{\insrsid3961595
\'93Get some good studying in?\'94 I asked.
\'93Yes. Thank you.\'94
}{\insrsid12008879 \'93You\rquote re welcome,\'94 I replied. }{\insrsid3961595 Tamara\rquote s smile was soft in response.
\'93While you two were out,\'94 she }{\insrsid12008879 began}{\insrsid3961595 , \'93my classmate Barb called. She\rquote s having a Christmas party. I\rquote d like you to come with us.\'94
\'93Uhhh,\'94 I could feel the panic starting.
\'93It\rquote ll be good for you}{\insrsid1310958 ,}{\insrsid3961595 John. Please.\'94
}{\insrsid12008879 \'93Well, tha}{\insrsid3961595 t\rquote s the last weekend before Christmas. I was kind of hoping we\rquote d}{\insrsid1310958 }{\insrsid3961595 exchange Christmas gifts }{\insrsid4214304 then}{\insrsid15562326 .\'94
I had a suspicion}{\insrsid1310958 she\rquote d be working much of the winter break}{\insrsid12008879 after that weekend}{\insrsid1310958 , but I didn\rquote t want to ask.}{\insrsid3961595
}{\insrsid1310958
\'93Sure! We can do that before we leave for the party.\'94 That wasn\rquote t what I had in mind, but I didn\rquote t see any way to say so, so I just nodded.
}{\insrsid16526698
}{\insrsid5844594 Which led to me sitting on the couch the following week with a gift bag containing the small box with the earrings. Billy had loved the new MechWarrior I\rquote
d gotten him and was already putting him together. Tamara had insisted on going next and had given me a new shirt. It was smooth and a deep blue. }{\insrsid9842891 It felt soft.}{\insrsid5844594
\'93I picked it to match your eyes,\'94 Tamara informed me. \'93Since I had your measurements from fixing your Halloween costume, I }{\insrsid9842891 went ahead and tailored it for you}{\insrsid5844594 .\'94 I looked at her, surprised.
\'93Thank you.\'94
\'93Go put it on,\'94 she urged. I nodded and headed to the bathroom, substituting it for the old gr}{\insrsid12008879 ay}{\insrsid5844594 one I had on. A quick glance in the mirror told me it was a good fit, but I didn\rquote
t look at myself long enough to check }{\insrsid15562326 whether it matched}{\insrsid5844594 my eyes.
\'93Looks great!\'94 Tamara exclaimed when I returned. Billy glanced up, but was too engrossed in his t}{\insrsid12729581 oy}{\insrsid5844594 to say anything. I nodded and sat down.
\'93My turn,\'94 I said. I could feel my hands start to tremble a little as I handed her the bag. Tamara extracted the box and carefully removed the wrapping paper. She let out a whoosh when she opened the box.
}{\insrsid16526698
\'93Oh John! You shouldn\rquote t have!\'94 They\rquote re too much!\'94
\'93They weren\rquote t that much,\'94 I demurred. \'93They were on sale.\'94
\'93But still, this is a big gift for a friend}{\insrsid16338538 .\'94 My heart sank with her words.}{\insrsid16526698
}{\insrsid13852085 \'93Well . . . I . . .\'94}{\insrsid16526698
Tamara could see }{\insrsid13852085 the disappointment in my eyes.}{\insrsid16526698
\'93I know you mean well,\'94 she}{\insrsid4133842 }{\insrsid16526698 interrupted. \'93So I\rquote ll accept them in that spirit.\'94}{\insrsid16338538 I nodded and tried to smile, though I know it didn\rquote t come out well.}{\insrsid4133842
}{\insrsid16338538
\'93Thank you,\'94 she said. \'93I\rquote m going to go put these in my room and then we\rquote ll head over to the party.\'94
I was pretty silent on the trip over. If I didn\rquote t talk, I couldn\rquote t get choked up. I thought about the kiss, Thanksgiving weekend. And the one before that. I remembered her touching my scars. Friends. Why just friends?
I tried to fake my way through the party. }{\insrsid12133858 Billy took off immediately to the basement where the other kids were. }{\insrsid16338538 Once again, Tamara took me around, introducing me to people and reminding me when they were someone I
\rquote d met at Halloween. Since she was watching, I made an effort to be involved in the conversations and to remember names. But it was too much. I quickly drained my drink and told Tamara I needed more. She nodded and I escaped to the kitchen.
}{\insrsid8913166
I was reaching into the fridge for a beer when }{\insrsid1076828 someone came up}{\insrsid8913166 behind me.
\'93Can you get one for me too, please?\'94 }{\insrsid1076828 a feminine voice}{\insrsid8913166 asked. I grabbed }{\insrsid7291845 a second }{\insrsid8913166 one and turned around to see smiling eyes. Angie.
\'93}{\insrsid7498827 Hi there,\'94 I }{\insrsid3673385 said}{\insrsid7498827 .}{\insrsid8913166
}{\insrsid7498827
\'93Hi John! }{\insrsid3673385 Good to see you again!\'94}{\insrsid7498827
}{\insrsid3673385
\'93Really?\'94 I blurted o}{\insrsid7291845 ut. Then tried to hide my wince at what I\rquote d said}{\insrsid3673385 .
\'93}{\insrsid7291845 Well, ye}{\insrsid15562326 s}{\insrsid7291845 .\'94}{\insrsid3673385 Angie replied. }{\insrsid7291845 It was her turn to look embarrassed. \'93It\rquote s not every day that Little John comes to Robin Hood\rquote }{
\insrsid15562326 s rescue by persuading all the K}{\insrsid7291845 ing\rquote s men to change sides.\'94}{\insrsid3673385
}{\insrsid7291845
I didn\rquote t quite follow why that meant it was good to see me, but didn\rquote t know how to ask. We fell into a silence. Not too uncomfortable, actually.
}{\insrsid16526698
}{\insrsid7291845 As we stood, m}{\insrsid16526698 y eyes were drawn to her lips. They were redder and fuller than I\rquote d remembered. Then I realized she hadn\rquote t worn }{\insrsid7291845 any }{\insrsid16526698 makeup at the Halloween party.}{
\insrsid7498827 I pulled back and looked her over, head to toe. She was prettier than I remembered too\emdash dressed nicely }{\insrsid9842891 at not at all}{\insrsid7498827 mousy }{\insrsid9842891 like}{\insrsid7498827 I\rquote
d tagged her earlier. }{\insrsid7291845 Not as beautiful as Tamara, but who was? }{\insrsid3673385 She caught me looking and gave a wan smile\emdash halfway between pleased and nervous. I met her eyes.}{\insrsid16526698
}{\insrsid3673385
\'93You}{\insrsid7291845 look nice,\'94 I said. She flushed and looked away for a moment, before looking back. The nervousness was gone from her smile.}{\insrsid3673385
}{\insrsid7291845
\'93Thanks. You look pretty good too.\'94 I rolled my eyes.
\'93You\rquote re kind for saying so,\'94 I told her.
\'93You do. That shirt goes really well with your eyes.\'94 Now it was my turn to flush and look away.
}{\insrsid4794236
\'93So }{\insrsid14238794 Lynn}{\insrsid4794236 and Billy are here?\'94 she asked.
\'93Yeah. Billy\rquote s playing somewhere an}{\insrsid13852085 d }{\insrsid14238794 Lynn}{\insrsid13852085 \rquote s in the living room.\'94}{\insrsid4794236
Angie nodded. \'93Ashley\rquote s with her dad this weekend.\'94
\'93You\rquote re divorced?\'94 I asked.
She nodded and seem}{\insrsid3569846 ed to choke up for a moment. \'93About a year and a half}{\insrsid4794236 , now.\'94
\'93I\rquote m sorry to hear that.\'94
\'93That\rquote s okay. It\rquote s better this way.\'94 I didn\rquote t know what to say to that and an awkward pause started to settle again. Angie sensed it to}{\insrsid15562326 o}{\insrsid4794236
and she shook her shoulders, as if pushing the cobwebs away.
\'93What about you and Lynn? How\rquote s that going?\'94 she asked. I winced. Gritting my teeth, I forced a smile.
\'93We\rquote re just friends,\'94 I replied. I immediately took a sip of the beer in my hands.
\'93Oh,\'94 Angie said. \'93Barb says you\rquote re the only guy that Lynn\rquote s ever mentioned, so I just kind of assumed. . .\'94
\'93That\rquote s okay,\'94 I said. I needed to change the subject.
\'93So, you\rquote re good friends with Barb?\'94 I asked.
\'93Pretty good friends. We\rquote ve known each other a long time. Though with school and such, she\rquote s rather busy and we don\rquote t get together much.\'94
I nodded. \'93I know what you mean. I probably see my college roommate three or four times a year. }{\insrsid10125278 As a result,}{\insrsid9842891 we just spend the evening catching up instead of doing stuff like going to movies.}{\insrsid3632938
\'94}{\insrsid4794236
}{\insrsid3632938
\'93Tell me about it,\'94 Angie agreed. \'93I want to go see \lquote The Return of the King\rquote but Ashley\rquote s too young and Barb\rquote s too busy. I\rquote ll probably end up going alone.\'94
\'93I know what that\rquote s like. Most of the movies I\rquote ve seen have been by myself. It\rquote s not too bad, but sometimes it sucks.\'94
}{\insrsid6830962 \'93Yes, sometimes it does,}{\insrsid3632938 \'94}{\insrsid6830962 she said.}{\insrsid3632938 We settled into another silence. I was trying to think of other possible topics of conversation when Tamara walked into the room.
\'93I\rquote d wondered where you\rquote d gone,\'94 she playfully admonished me, before seeing Angie.
\'93Angie! How are you doing?\'94 }{\insrsid13852085 Tamara asked. }{\insrsid3632938 Angie just shrugged her shoulders.
\'93Okay. Pretty busy these days.\'94
\'93Tell me about it! How\rquote s the store?\'94}{\insrsid683433
}{\insrsid3632938 With a nod from Tamara, I reached into the fridge to get her a beer. As I did, I listened to the women talk. Angie was apparently the junior partner in a small cl
othing boutique. It was too small for her to be a manager per se, but she did seem to be the owner\rquote s right hand man, or woman. I realized that I\rquote d probably already }{\insrsid6830962 have }{\insrsid3632938 know}{\insrsid6830962 n}{
\insrsid3632938 this if I\rquote d paid attention on the porch at the Halloween party. That made my gut tighten. }{\insrsid683433 Looking at Tamara standing so close made it tighten }{\insrsid15301370 for a different reason}{\insrsid683433
and I started drumming my fingers on my thigh. When I realized that, I forced myself to look at Angie instead. She kept glancing my way while she talked.
\'93. . . so even though, I}{\insrsid6830962 \rquote m}{\insrsid683433 busy, I\rquote m not as busy as you and Barb. I was just telling John that she\rquote s too busy to go see \lquote Return of the King\rquote with me.\'94
\'93Really?\'94 Tamara asked. \'93That\rquote s one that John\rquote s been looking forward to. He\rquote s a big Tolkien fan.\'94 They both looked over at me with that.
\'93Well, yeah. I read }{\insrsid12133858 \lquote }{\insrsid683433 The Hobbit}{\insrsid12133858 \rquote }{\insrsid683433 when I was Billy\rquote s age. I\rquote ve loved the whole series ever since. As for the movies, I\rquote
ve really been enjoying the extended versions}{\insrsid15562326 on DVD}{\insrsid683433 .\'94
\'93}{\insrsid11410283 What do they add?\'94 Angie asked. She looked genuinely interested.}{\insrsid3632938
}{\insrsid11410283
\'93Well,\'94}{\insrsid3569846 I began, \'93the}{\insrsid12133858 y}{\insrsid3569846 extended some scenes, which actually made some of the plot clearer. Like with Galadriel. You realize she\rquote s holding one of the Elvish rings.\'94}{
\insrsid11410283
}{\insrsid3569846
\'93Really? }{\insrsid15562326 What else?}{\insrsid3569846 \'94 Angie asked. With
that, I just opened up, talking about Tolkien. Angie turned out to not be a fan of fantasy so much as of movies. She seemed to know more about cinematography than I, which led to me asking her questions about some of the shots in the earlier films. Wh
en we wound down the discussion and hit another pause, I realized Tamara had slipped away.
\'93Um, I better go see how Tamara\rquote s doing,\'94 I said.
\'93Okay,\'94 Angie nodded. \'93It\rquote s been nice talking to you, John.\'94 She smiled, but seemed a little sad, almost disappointed.
\'93It\rquote s been nice talking with you too,\'94 I said. It ha}{\insrsid6830962 d been, I}{\insrsid3569846 realized.
I found Tamara sitting in the living room, a guy I didn\rquote t recognize bending in real low to talk with her. She saw me and made some excuse to the guy and met}{\insrsid13852085 me in the middle of the room.}{\insrsid3569846
\'93It sounded like you were having a good time talking with Angie!\'94 she exclaimed. I }{\insrsid15562326 nodd}{\insrsid3569846 ed sheepishly.
\'93I was.}{\insrsid275970 I think she\rquote ll enjoy \lquote Return of the King\rquote .\'94
\'93So when are you taking her?\'94 Tamara asked.
\'93What?}{\insrsid6830962 ?}{\insrsid275970 \'94 I stammered.
\'93Good grief, John. She said she didn\rquote t have anyone to go with. You two had a great conversation. She was practically begging you for a date.\'94
\'93No way!\'94
\'93She was, John. Go ask her out.\'94 My palms started to get clammy. I resisted drumming my fingers on my thigh, but couldn\rquote t meet Tamara\rquote s eyes.
\'93Why would she want to go out with me?\'94 I asked.
\'93Because she likes you?\'94 Tamara replied.
\'93How do you know?\'94 I retorted.
\'93I know. But you won\rquote t know until you ask.\'94 I nodded at that statement. Tamara stepped in closer and dropped her voice so that no one }{\insrsid3413216 else }{\insrsid275970 could hear.
\'93I\rquote ll tell you what, John. If you ask her out, and she says no, I\rquote ll make it up to you when we get home.\'94 }{\insrsid11812656 Her voice was husky with innuendo.}{\insrsid275970 My nervousness fled in the face of the rising hormones.
}{\insrsid12133858 \'93That makes it win-win}{\insrsid275970 for you}{\insrsid12133858 ,}{\insrsid275970 John,\'94 Tamara purred. \'93Go ask her out.\'94
I took a deep breath and nodded, then stepped back and turned around. I stopped in the bathroom to give myself a chance to calm down.
I found Angie still in the kitchen talking to Barb. They broke off their conversation as I approached.
\'93Uh . . . look, uh. . . Angie. You mentioned you didn\rquote t have anyone to go see \lquote The Return of the King\rquote with. Would you like to go with me?\'94
Angie smiled, brightening the room. \'93I\rquote d like that,}{\insrsid1642358 \'94}{\insrsid275970 she said.}{\insrsid1642358 She said she\rquote d like th}{\insrsid15562326 at!}{\insrsid1642358
\'93Next weekend?\'94 I asked.
\'93Sure,\'94 she said. \'93Though I\rquote ll need to check my calendar when I get home.\'94
\'93How about if I call you tomorrow?\'94
\'93That would be wonderful,\'94 she replied. Heart still pounding, we managed to exchange phone numbers. Barb was smiling at me, no}{\insrsid12133858 ,}{\insrsid1642358 us, the whole time. Afterwards, I didn\rquote
t know what to say so I excused myself, with a comment that we needed to go.
When I got back to the living room, the overbearing guy was once again monopolizing Tamara\rquote s time. I marched straight up and he glowered at me, but backed }{\insrsid15562326 off}{\insrsid1642358 a step.
\'93She said yes!\'94 I exclaimed. I was still surprised and instead of }{\insrsid13852085 a }{\insrsid1642358 wrenching inside I felt butterflies.
\'93Great!\'94 Tamara replied. \'93I knew you\rquote d be glad you asked!\'94
\'93Well,\'94 I admitted, \'93you did offer a good incentive}{\insrsid10125278 .\'94 She grinned back at me}{\insrsid1642358 . Overbearing Guy just looked confused.
\'93Did you get her phone number?\'94 Tamara asked. I nodded. \'93Then I suppose it\rquote s time for us to be going.\'94 I nodded again. She said a few words to Mr. Overbearing but I didn\rquote t hear them}{\insrsid1589007 as I was still thinking a
}{\insrsid10125278 bout Angie\rquote s words. \'93Wonderful,}{\insrsid1589007 \'94 she }{\insrsid13852085 had }{\insrsid1589007 said.
We managed to gather up Billy }{\insrsid12133858 from his games with the other kids }{\insrsid1589007 without too much protestation on his part. Then we were on our way home. }{\insrsid9254560 For the most part, I was giddy and nervous simultaneously}{
\insrsid7347155 . Occasionally, I wondered what }{\insrsid15562326 would have happened with Tamara if}{\insrsid7347155 Angie had said no. But mostly I didn\rquote t. }{\insrsid10492790 Angie gave me plenty to}{\insrsid1787958 wonder about as it was}{
\insrsid7347155 .
}{\insrsid13852085 --E}{\insrsid7347155 nd Chapter Five--
\'a9 Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.}{\insrsid275970
}