Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 >The Pool Girl by Leto Armitage

   Chapter 53

   It was Sunday night at about 7 PM and I was far from home.  I was in my
suit the girls picked out for me in Miami.  A maitre d -(TM) looked at me.

    -Reservation? -

    -Yes, uh, - I realized I couldn -(TM)t remember her new last name.  
-I just realized I don -(TM)t know her current last name but I -(TM)m
meeting someone here.  We -(TM)re old, - I almost said  -~friends -(TM)
but instead said,  -acquaintances.  She is in her mid-thirties and this
tall. - I held out my hand about a head -(TM)s height beneath my own.  
-Sorry, I haven -(TM)t seen her in a while. -

    -Would you like to look around, sir? -

    -Please. - I stepped into the restaurant and almost instantly saw a
hand waving at me.  I turned to the maitre d -(TM) and indicated that I saw
her.  I walked over and the blonde stood to greet me.  She wore a little
black dress and her hair was a little past her shoulders with cute glasses.

    -Robert. -

    -Jordyn. -

   We sat.  It had started twelve hours earlier at the breakfast table.

   I was putting masses of scrambled eggs, potatoes, and onions on plates
while Lavi put out the bagels and Mellie made morning tea for everyone. 
Mellie tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.  She didn -(TM)t look
at me but asked,  -So, did you hear back? -

   I had emailed Jordyn as soon as we left the club.  I walked to the sink
and put water in the pan before putting it back on the stove.  I -(TM)d
wash it after breakfast.  I pulled the phone out of my pocket and handed it
to Melissa.

   She took it.  Her eyes narrowed and her jaw set firmly.  Wordlessly she
gave it to Lavi.

   Lavi was not wordless.   -Fuck no. -

   Melissa was so quiet she was hard to hear.   -Are you going to?  I
mean, fly out to her. -

    -I can get a flight this afternoon. -

    -Where, - Lavi asked.

    -Tacoma, Washington. -

   They looked at each other.  They had practice this afternoon and both
had exams tomorrow.

    -I can guess what you -(TM)re both thinking, - I said.

   Lavi sat down but didn -(TM)t pick up her fork.   -You don -(TM)t need
to guess.  Bitch can -(TM)t just answer your question?  She has to talk to
you in person?  This is fucking bullshit and you -(TM)re not flying out
there by yourself. -

   I sat and took a bite of potato while she talked.  Melissa distributed
the tea and sat too.

    -Lavi, my lioness, I -(TM)d much rather have you interposed between
her and us but I -(TM)m a big boy, I can take care of myself. - I tried to
sound casual.

   Melissa looked at me.   -I don -(TM)t like it.  Why? -

    -I don -(TM)t know.  Maybe she wants to finally put everything behind
us. -

    -Or, - Lavi said,  -she -(TM)s a fucking evil cunt who either wants
to roast your balls or manipulate you.  I -(TM)m not happy either way.  Why
now? -

    -Time.  We -(TM)re on a clock.  The people who do the forensics on
those waterlogged papers are going to be expensive.  You know that and you
know that until we prove otherwise the judge is saying the contract exists
and that we -(TM)ve been paying is proof. -

    -It -(TM)s still bullshit. - Lavi tore the bagel into bits like a
predator tearing up a kill.  I -(TM)d never felt sorry for a bagel before.

   I continued.   -Look, I know she -(TM)s playing a game but I -(TM)m the
one asking for something.  At least she is being civil so far.  And, well,
even if we waited I still don -(TM)t know if you two should go. - There I
said it.

   Lavi looked at me,  -Robert Christopher -

    -No, he -(TM)s right. - Melissa was sipping her tea with her eyes
closed.   -She -(TM)s doing this because she wants some control.  You show
up with us, it -(TM)s like starting the gunfight with machine guns.  Your
best chance of getting in and out is to keep it simple. -

   I nodded in agreement.   -Right. -

    -It is also, - Melissa continued,  -her best shot to accomplish
whatever she wants. -

    -Exactly! - Lavi said.

    -Have any concerns? - I asked.   -I mean beyond the general. -

   Melissa opened her eyes and looked at me.   -You loved her. -

    -Yeah. - I couldn -(TM)t deny it.

    -You wouldn -(TM)t have loved her without reason.  That -(TM)s
something she can use against you. -

    -That -(TM)s not what you -(TM)re worried about though. -

   She sighed.   -No, it -(TM)s not. -

    -She -(TM)s my past.  You two are my future. -

   Lavi,  -She was good at manipulating you wasn -(TM)t she? -

    -Yeah.  Guilt and anger especially. -

    -And other stuff, - Melissa said.

    -That other stuff was not good for me, not where she wanted to take
it. -

   Melissa breathed the steam from her tea.   -That -(TM)s what worries
me. It still worked. -

    -I -(TM)m not going to fuck her. -

   She looked at me again.   -I don -(TM)t care if you fuck her, baby.  I
care about where your head would be if you did. - I saw fear in her eyes.
Lavi got up and went upstairs.  We ate in silence.

   At the restaurant, Jordyn and I sat.  She was older, her hair was still
blonde and her eyes were the same.  She had put on a few pounds but not
much.  The years were visible but I -(TM)ve known women who aged far worse.

    -You look good, - I said.  And it was true, her body was in excellent
shape.

    -Well I -(TM)m not in my 20 -(TM)s anymore but I think I -(TM)ve done
all right. - She put arms under her cleavage and pushed them up.   -These
haven -(TM)t gotten smaller at least though I gained and lost weight over
the years. -

   I couldn -(TM)t help but smile.   -Still a double D? -

   She grinned.   -Still a tit man? -

    -Still a man. -

    -Yes, you are. - She let her lips curve a bit at that.

   I was saved by the waiter who arrived to ask us for our drink requests.

    -What is your house wine? - I asked.

    -Right now we have a lovely sauvignon blanc, sir. -

    -French? -

    -Let me call over our sommelier sir. - He motioned and a cute young
brunette woman appeared wearing a feminine suit.

    -Yes, Josh, may I help? -

    -The gentleman had some questions about the house wine. -

   I looked at her.   -I was asking if it is French, I assume not. -

    -No.  It is a New Zealand grape and it was overstock so we took it off
our distributor -(TM)s hands. -

    -That sounds lovely, I -(TM)ve had a number of wonderful New Zealand
wines.  And it will go well with the mushroom risotto I saw on the daily
chef -(TM)s menu. -

    -Exactly why he put it there sir.  Would you like to taste it? -

    -Absolutely. - In a few moments, she brought a dash of it in two
glasses.  I lightly swirled the glass and tested it.   -Refreshing, light.
Very good.  It definitely improves with air though. -

   She smiled.   -You have a good palate.  I will make sure to decant your
glasses myself. -

    -You are very kind. -

    -It is my pleasure.  Should I get the bottle ready? - I said yes and
she departed.

   The waiter turned towards Jordyn.   -And you ma -(TM)am. -

   She had her hands in her lap and looked into my eyes.   -He can order
for me. -

   Bitch.  I knew this game but went along.   -She will enjoy the blanc as
well.  Go ahead and get me the risotto and she will have the shrimp
linguine. -

   He took our menus and left.  She ran a finger over the edge of her water
glass.   -I don -(TM)t remember you knowing so much about wine. -

    -I saw a sommelier on the menu.  A place that has their own sommelier
can sometimes have a nice house wine. -

    -What happened to the guy who made Kraft mac n -(TM) cheese with
hotdogs for lunch? -

   I shrugged slightly.   -I make it with fresh cream and cheddar from
scratch and use sausages from a local farm but I still like it. -

    -Did you ever go back and finish your degree? -

    -No, I holed up and learned to cook and kept reading. -

    -You and those damn books were always in piles everywhere. -

    -I did get bookshelves eventually. -

    -I left and you got cultured. -

    -I still leave my clothes around on the floor. -

   A little smile.   -Some things don -(TM)t change I guess.  You don
-(TM)t look much different.  Men are lucky though, they get distinguished,
women just get older. -

    -I don -(TM)t think so.  You -(TM)re beautiful, you always were. -

   She blushed slightly.   -Thank you.  I ...  I haven -(TM)t had anyone
say that for a long time. -

    -Mary didn -(TM)t tell me anything about how you were doing.  No
relationship? -

    -I -(TM)m married actually, my second since us. -

    -Oh. -

    -You? -

    -I live with two women right now. -

   She looked surprised.   -Roommates? -

    -Well, they live in my room so I suppose so. - I tried to grin.

    -You dog. - She sounded wistful.   -I -(TM)m happy for you.  They
know you are here or is it not like that? -

    -They know.  They aren -(TM)t thrilled but ...  it is what it is. -

    -Hmmm. -

    -Your husband? -

    -What about him? -

    -Does he know you -(TM)re here? -

   She snorted.   -Oh, he -(TM)s off fucking his mistress.  His ex-wife is
his mistress.  He was fucking me when he was married to her so now I guess
things have come around.  They have a kid together.  Maybe that -(TM)s why.
She -(TM)s a fat cow but maybe the kid bonds them.  Have you knocked either
of these roommates up? -

    -No. -

    -Turns out I can -(TM)t have kids, even with really expensive
treatments. -

   I didn -(TM)t know what to say so I defaulted.   -I -(TM)m sorry. -

   I was again saved from her reply by the waiter who left us our wine
glasses and fresh bread with a balsamic and olive oil dipping sauce.

   She ate a little.   -It is really good. -

    -It is. -

    -I -(TM)m in therapy. -

    -Is that a good thing? -

    -Maybe.  I don -(TM)t know.  I go and he tries to make me think about
my life.  I asked him last week why all the men I care about leave me.  He
said I determine my reality by what I focus on.  So I asked, what if the
pain is the only thing there is? -

    -What did he say? -

    -Something about deflecting. - She sighed.   -Do you remember when I
left? -

    -Not much. - I looked at her.  She seemed to be waiting.   -I
remember sitting on the bed as you screamed at me.  You left.  I went and
bought new locks. -

    -I considered breaking the windows when I came back and found the
place locked. -

    -I was prepared to call the police. -

   She laughed mirthlessly.   -I met them anyway.  I was crying and
driving crazy fast and they pulled me over. -

   I pushed bread around for a bit.   -I understand you met someone new
pretty quickly. -

    -A few actually.  I fucked Mary -(TM)s ex for a while.  Remember him?
-

    -Him!?  That..., uh -

    -I think I wanted him to kill me. -

    -Jordyn... -

    -Don -(TM)t. - She waved a hand.   -It wasn -(TM)t your fault. 
Well, maybe it was.  It was our fault but my life and my choice and my
responsibility. -

    -What happened? -

    -I met another guy.  European, funny, charming.  I thought he would be
like you.  It didn -(TM)t last.  He was intense until he became bored of
me. -

    -Sorry. - Why did I say that?  I wasn -(TM)t sorry, fuck!

    -Do you know why I left that night? - She seemed to be trying to look
into my eyes.

    -We were fighting, - I said.

    -I loved our fights.  We were passionate!  That night you were so
quiet and I was so angry.  I never felt as alone in my life as I did right
then. -

    -I was tired. -

   She stared past me.   -I know and I know that I drove you off.  I
wanted you to fight for me.  I know I wasn -(TM)t worth fighting for but I
was hoping you -(TM)d prove me wrong. -

    -Worth it?! - I wanted to scream but kept my tone level.   -I fought
for you, with you, every goddamn day. -

    -But there was a limit, wasn -(TM)t there? -

    -There -(TM)s a limit to human flesh and sanity, yes.  I -(TM)m not
going to apologize for that. -

    -I -(TM)m not asking you to, - she said.  Fuck, I was already done
with this.  I drank some more wine.  We had silence for a moment and our
main courses arrived.  We tried bites and I found myself trying a bite off
of her plate as I do with Lavi and Melissa.  I was going to stop but I was
already halfway across the table.

    -Want to try my risotto? -

    -Sure. - I gave her some and made an appreciative noise.

   When I didn -(TM)t say anything she continued.   -I -(TM)ve never
stopped loving you. -

    -I never stopped loving you either, - I said.

    -That wasn -(TM)t enough for you to not abandon me. - Knife, twist. I
heard Lavi -(TM)s voice in my head spitting the word  -~bitch -(TM) out.

   I took a breath.   -I care about you, I still do, but our relationship
had more trenches and razor wire than a European campaign. -

    -I missed how you talk. - She leaned forward.   -That was passion.
-

    -You wanted constant escalation, new highs to keep you from feeling
anything else.  I tried to tell you all the things to reassure you and make
you feel better but it was never enough. -

    -You sound like my therapist.  He says it is junkie behavior.  You
were my drug. -

   I thought about it.  I liked that metaphor but it was a lie.   -No, not
a drug.  I had agency, I made choices, bad ones.  I could have been a
better boyfriend, hell a better person. -

    -You wanted the same things I did.  You just didn -(TM)t have the
balls. -

   I felt my blood boil.   -Once upon a time I would have told you to
watch your mouth saying that. -

    -That was when you had some steel in you. -

    -I wanted to make you happy but... -

    -You weren -(TM)t responsible for my happiness. -

    -I know that now. - I took another spoonful.

    -You let me think you accepted me.  But it wasn -(TM)t your fault, I
always want too much. -

    -You wanted to hurt people, - I said.

    -So did you!  You told me so! -

    -Fantasies. -

    -Always fantasies. - Her fingers tensed.   -People never...   -. 
She sighed.   -Screw it.  No point going over it again. -

    -I -(TM)m sorry.  I should have done more. -

    -Like what? -

    -I don -(TM)t know but I did nothing instead. -

   She looked at me again.   -Figuring that out now? -

    -Long time ago actually.  It dominated my thoughts for ages. -

   Her lip turned up.   -How long was that?  Days?  Weeks? - She sneered.

    -Years. -

    -Yeah, right.  Funniest thing I -(TM)ve heard in ages.  Is that
supposed to impress me?  You sat around and watched me meltdown and now I
-(TM)m supposed to be impressed by how sorry you felt?  I left for you and
I paid the price. -

    -I didn -(TM)t know. -

    -You didn -(TM)t care. -

    -Maybe I should leave. - I started to stand.

    -No! - She yelled.  Everyone stared but I sat back down.  She ignored
them and after a moment they turned back to their meals.   -No, no, fuck,
sit. - I saw the maitre d -(TM) wander nearby and I waved him over.

    -Can we get the lady another water? -

   He looked at her.  Her water glass was mostly full.   -Of course, sir.
-

   She took deep breaths, measured, slowly in and out.  After she got her
new water and sipped it I said,  -I don -(TM)t mean to open wounds. -

    -But here you are anyway. -

    -You asked me to fly here. -

   She pushed her plate away from herself.   -I know, I -(TM)m being a
bitch. -

    -I am sorry though.  Sorry, I froze, sorry I didn -(TM)t try harder.
Maybe I would have still failed.  God knows we fought plenty when I did
talk.  I hit a point where I figured it didn -(TM)t matter what I said. -

    -I just wanted you to say something.  You didn -(TM)t even when I
walked out. -

    -I was afraid. -

    -Of what? -

    -Of... - you, you staying but I didn -(TM)t say it.  We fought so
much and I -(TM)d thought about it for years but it was only right there
that I really knew what I had been afraid of.  I had been afraid of being
responsible, for her and even myself.  The chicken shit thing is I couldn
-(TM)t make myself say it out loud so I just said,  -I don -(TM)t know. 
So, I let you self-destruct instead.  I thought you leaving would be good.
-

   She sighed.   -Don -(TM)t give yourself too much credit.  I don -(TM)t
like myself.  What you say doesn -(TM)t change that. -

    -Is that why every other day was a new battle? -

    -Like you cared.  You just liked shoving your cock into anything
female.  I was a good fuck though wasn -(TM)t I? - She smiled warmly. 
Fuck, she was still crazy.

    -Very good.  The sex was the best thing between us. -

   She waved a hand absently.   -I never complained about that.  Oddly, I
knew I wouldn -(TM)t end up with you.  I knew something would happen and
you would move on from me, maybe that -(TM)s why I was always so angry. -

    -Not so angry these days? -

    -I -(TM)m socially compliant through medication.  That -(TM)s what my
husband says.  That would have made it easier for you wouldn -(TM)t it,
compliant Jordyn instead of the bratty one? -

    -I thought you liked being bratty. -

    -I liked it when you got angry and raped me. -

    -It wasn -(TM)t rape. -

   She smiled again and crossed her arms leaning forward.   -I never said
yes, I fought you. -

    -You told me you liked it like that. -

    -I did.  I liked getting raped.  I want you to do it again. -

   I put my own spoon down.   -That is not going to happen. -

    -What? -

    -You and I.  We -(TM)re both with others now. -

    -You have a cock and I have a pussy and we are in the same place, what
else matters? -

    -I -(TM)m not playing this game. -

   In response, she carefully picked up her napkin and it disappeared under
the table.  I saw her shift as if spreading her legs and then she tossed
the napkin to me.  It reeked of her sex.

    -I -(TM)m not wearing underwear.  If you tell me to spread my legs
right here you can fuck me in front of everyone. -

    -I -(TM)m not getting arrested. -

    -I assumed not but I -(TM)m still yours. -

   I shouldn -(TM)t have but my hand acted on its own and lifted the napkin
to my face and I breathed it in.  I was already on edge and the signals
went straight from my brain to my dick.

   She smiled.   -Your eyes are doing that thing they do.  Is your cock
hard? -

   I realized it was.  I ate more risotto.  I couldn -(TM)t taste it so I
put the spoon down again.

    -I want your dick hard the way it was when you -(TM)d climb on top of
me and punish your little girl for sleeping in by raping my ass until I
cried.  Do you know I still wake up sometimes, my throat horny for you?  My
husband says he doesn -(TM)t want me to suck him off, that I -(TM)m too
needy when I do and take too long.  My last one said fucking my ass was too
impersonal.  I want a man that will fill all my holes.  There is a hotel
across the street.  We could go there right now.  You can go home right
after but I want to feel something again.  You owe me that. -

    -No. -

    -Yes. -

   She motioned for the waiter and paid the bill.  Thoughts raced through
my head.  The girls wouldn -(TM)t care about the sex, not really, that part
they -(TM)d understand.  I wouldn -(TM)t lie but they didn -(TM)t have to
know necessarily.

   We left, or rather she did and I started after her.  Outside the door, I
grabbed her arm.  She turned to me.  I asked,  -What happens after this?
We just go our separate ways? -

    -You admit it, that -(TM)s what!  You fuck me and you admit I -(TM)m
yours! - She softened her voice.   -I -(TM)ll be here, you can come fuck
me when you want.  I won -(TM)t say anything. - She reached out and found
my hard cock with her hand, caressing it through my slacks.  I started to
push her hand away but stopped.  Memories flooded through me.

   It came out softer and less sure than I would have liked.   -That
-(TM)s absurd, an insane fantasy.  You -(TM)d never be happy with that. -

    -Then give me that fantasy one last time.  You might be surprised what
I would settle for now. -

    -I don -(TM)t trust you. -

    -Then just come beat me, I still won -(TM)t say anything, beat me
until you know I -(TM)m telling the truth. - Her eyes were wide with
excitement.

    -You said that you had something to give me about the HOA. -

    -I do.  It -(TM)s in the room.  I had hoped that HOA fees would be
tax-deductible.  They weren -(TM)t but I -(TM)d thought they would be so I
kept the bills they sent us which say it was an existing bill for the
property.  I also recorded a short video saying that I never joined any
HOA. -

    -Is it the truth? -

    -Yes. -

    -And these are in your room? -

   Her hands traveled up and she ran her fingers under my jacket, over my
chest through my shirt.   -I can feel your heart beating.  I -(TM)ll blow
you right here in the street if you want.  Do you know I get so horny I
want to cut my cunt?  I lay in bed and imagine you fucking me.  You can
-(TM)t tell me that you -(TM)re real with whoever you are with now.  No one
else will accept that ugly part of you that I love.  The part of you that
said you wanted me to tie up men so you could rape their wives. -

   It was manipulative bullshit but something in me screamed to go to her
hotel room and punish her for it.   -As a fantasy, arranged with another
couple, - I said.

    -That -(TM)s not what I said.  I said I -(TM)d fuck dogs for you,
prostitute myself, anything for you and I meant it. -

    -It took me a long time to realize that -(TM)s what you meant. -

   She smiled, sweetly.   -I don -(TM)t believe you.  I think you said
what you thought would keep me quiet hoping somehow things would work out
without you paying a price. -

   I was angry.   -I was hoping you -(TM)d learn to be happy!  And if I
was so horrible and you knew it then why didn -(TM)t you say something! -

    -I did and when you didn -(TM)t say anything I left. -

   Fuck.  She was right and I had been too cowardly to face it.

   I searched her eyes.   -Then why would you want to start this again? -

    -I was never happier. -

   I turned to the right and walked quickly.  My head was full of chaos so
it was less of a decision than me just running away.

   I heard rapid steps behind me, heels on the pavement.   -Leaving again?
- She was pleading.

    -Yes. -

   I felt her right behind me and I wanted to turn around and slap her and
pull her in an alley and fuck her.  She tapped my shoulder and I turned
around, taking measured breaths.  From her purse, she brought out an
envelope.  I took it and felt a thumb drive shift around some papers in it.

    -Thank you, - I said.

   She looked down.   -I ...  I wouldn -(TM)t have kept it from you. -

    -You shouldn -(TM)t have tried to make me think you would. -

    -I just need you to know, when you -(TM)d use me, laying there
afterward, it -(TM)s the only peace I ever knew. -

   I should have said something about finding happiness but she didn -(TM)t
need it from me.   -Mary said I was bad for you.  She was right.  And I
don -(TM)t think I could be any better this time. -

    -You -(TM)re wrong, you -(TM)re the best thing that ever happened to
me!  I just want to feel that again.  Why can -(TM)t I? -

    -Because I -(TM)m leaving. - And I did.  I didn -(TM)t have the
courage to look behind me until I was far away.  She wasn -(TM)t there.  I
walked for blocks until I stopped and called a taxi service.  On the ride
to the airport, I went through a laundry list of actions.  I got a late
return flight home.  I reviewed what was on the thumb drive and sent off a
copy to my lawyer.  I called the girls.  They were thrilled to have me
already done and had a thousand questions.  I confirmed that Jordyn had
tried something but I walked away.

   When I got home I told them almost everything.  The only thing I left
out was that when I turned to walk away I honestly don -(TM)t know why,
what instinct among the jumbled emotions made me move and I wasn -(TM)t
sure it wasn -(TM)t simply pride.



   Chapter 54

    -WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU -(TM)RE DOING!? -

    -Sitting, - I said.  It had been a week since I -(TM)d gotten back
from my trip.  The result had been a string of meetings with lawyers.  I
was now in the community hall and meeting place of the homeowner -(TM)s
association while my neighbor Fred Benson, president of the HOA, yelled a
question at me.  Melissa and Lavi flanked me in fold out metal chairs, each
crossing their legs.  Lavi had gone for white pants and a grey fleece top
that covered her arms but not midriff.  Her faith in the buttons that held
her cleavage in was impressive.  Melissa wore a black tank top and black
jeans.

   Anyway, as I said, Fred was yelling at me.   -I mean, - he said,
leaning forward on the podium.   -What do you think you -(TM)re doing at
this meeting?! -

   I was still sitting in the metal fold up chair.   -The HOA is meeting
to take a vote and I -(TM)m a member. -

    -YOU ARE -

   A man in a charcoal suit stood from the table facing the audience and
coughed into his hand.  He walked over and spoke quietly to Fred.  Things
were violently whispered.  I recognized him as the HOA lawyer.  I suspect
he was reminding Fred that this was a public meeting.

    -Don -(TM)t worry, - I yelled.   -I -(TM)ll abstain from voting on
that item since there is a conflict of interest. -

   Melissa -(TM)s mother, Linda, sat immediately in front of us.   -I will
be voting though. -

   Fred scowled.  It suited him.  A woman turned to look at us.  Her face
reminded me of a barracuda.   -I just can -(TM)t believe some people. -

   Melissa stared at her down.   -Mr.  Fearn not here?  Is he still going
by street corners seeing if any girls need rides to parties?  I hear they
-(TM)re going to name a crosswalk after him for all he sits with his engine
idling in front of them. -

   She turned around in a huff.  Lavi gave Melissa a fist bump.  Shortly
after that the boring stuff started.  Fred avoided looking at me so much I
could have had semaphore flags and he wouldn -(TM)t have seen me.  I voted
once on a matter about painting curbs just to annoy him.

   Finally we arrived at the matter that brought me to my first HOA meeting
ever.  Linda had warned me that a typical meeting had about forty people
and they tended to agree on everything.  There were closer to 200 people
crammed in this time with people standing when they ran out of seats.  I
wasn -(TM)t sure the building was even fire coded for this many people. 
Fred took his time shuffling papers on the podium before beginning.

    -Our final business on the agenda is Mr.  Carlo -(TM)s lawsuit against
the HOA.  Our attorney has prepared a document on the matter. - As he
switched places at the podium with the attorney, volunteers began
distributing a sheet of paper to each person.  They tried to skip us but
Lavi deftly grabbed several and gave one each to Melissa and I.

   As the sheets got distributed the attorney spoke up.   -I -(TM)d like
everyone to take a careful look at the cost analysis of this suit.  I have
provided a current billing of my hours along with potential payouts.  If we
settle right now Mr.  Carlo is asking for three things.  One, this year
-(TM)s fees he has paid, to be paid back to him.  Two, acknowledge that he
has never been a member of the HOA and the HOA will refrain from attempting
to claim his property -(TM)s membership regardless of future circumstance
while he or any of his beneficiaries own the property. -

   Fred felt a need to speak up,  -It should be noted that living where he
does, Mr.  Carlo -(TM)s property would continue to gain many of the
benefits of the membership of our homeowners association if we did this. -

   The attorney continued,  -That is true.  Finally, he is requesting his
lawyer -(TM)s fees and court costs which are to date substantial but not
unreasonable. -

   Fred,  -However, if we win the case we can request our fees paid. -
The lawyer -(TM)s eyes flickered toward Fred as if wanting to snap at him
but he focused on the crowd.

   The attorney,  -In exchange he will drop the lawsuit against the HOA
including the joint lawsuit for harassment. -

   A middle aged man towards the front raised his hand.   -Excuse me, I
hadn -(TM)t heard about -

   Fred cut him off.   -We will recognize speakers later, Mr.  Hamms. -

   The attorney continued.   -You will notice a group of columns entitled
-~Potential Risks. -(TM) This includes an estimate of ongoing attorney fees
from Mr.  Carlo. - He looked at me and I nodded in response.  It looked
fair to me.   -Also, the estimate from the forensics company. - It was
the same number I had.   -Also, he will sue for the entire past ten years
of his HOA dues, listed in column F, as well as his ongoing fees, column G.
Low and high range potential punitive penalties from the court for the
harassment suit which the HOA is named in are in columns H and I. - I saw
several eyes bug out.  Juries have a lot of leeway in assigning those kinds
of judgements.

    -Now, - Fred raised his voice,  -that is only if we lose the case
and the worst case isn -(TM)t likely. -

   One voice yelled out.   -The small number still ain -(TM)t that small.
-

   Several people began asking questions at once and Fred raised his hands.
 -All right, all right, settle down, the board will now recognize
speakers. - He pointed and named out several people who had started to
speak.  I raised my hand.  He ignored it.

    -Excuse me. - I spoke loudly.   -I -(TM)d like to speak too. -

   Fred looked at me levely.   -The board does not recognize Mr.  Carlo.
The board allows speakers purely at its own discretion. -

   So it began.  For the next half hour I listened to a dozen variations on
the same few questions and Fred tried to reassure everyone.  Everything was
explained in detail including how the HOA contracts only existed because
the firefighters had managed to bring them out in water logged filing
cabinets.  Usually when all the contracts are gone you have to dissolve and
reform but, inconveniently, the judge back then had ruled that the
contracts technically still existed even if they would be hard to read.  It
was rubbish but the current judge had upheld it.  I forgot the Latin but it
was basically double jeopardy.  The issue had already been ruled on and I
couldn -(TM)t fight it just because I, or even the judge, didn -(TM)t like
it.

   Fred -(TM)s voice droned on.  I was ignoring him at this point because I
knew he wouldn -(TM)t give up so I wasn -(TM)t holding out hope that this
meeting would change anything.  I was resigned to fighting it out in court
but the judge had already put a stay on my having to vacate the house so I
could fight it at leisure.  A voice drew my attention though.  It was the
old lady who lived next to me who gave me the car.  I felt bad because I
could never remember her name, something Melissa chided me for.

    -So, I -(TM)ve been hearing a lot of questions about why and such
stuff but it all seems to dance around one critical point. -

   Someone in front of her said,  -What do you care, you -(TM)re moving.
-

    -You -(TM)re talking fool again, Stella.  I -(TM)m movin -(TM) but I
gotta sell too.  This is a lot of money and if the HOA dissolves that
affects my house -(TM)s value.  So, yeah, I care.  Now, I -(TM)ve paid off
my house here.  How many of you would end up upside down if your property
value goes down? - A strained quiet settled over the room.  This just got
real for people.  She looked at the skinny fellow on the board.   -You,
Paul, if we had to pay this big number what would that do to us. -

   He didn -(TM)t look thrilled to be asked to speak.   -Uh, it would
bankrupt us.  There is no way we could pay it. -

    -Now, now, - Fred said,  -We have plenty of time, it will take years
for this to go through court.  We can do fundraisers and, if we had to,
raise dues and that would just be in case... - He said more but after 
-~raise dues -(TM) the mood shifted.

   My neighbor waved her hand.   -Hush! - Fred looked like he wanted to
say more but she gave him a withering look.   -You like to talk about your
rules of order Fred but as I follow it I still have the floor and I read
over our rules and they say we can give our time to someone else so I
-(TM)d like to hear from Mr.  Carlo now and I will cede my time to him if
he can answer one question: how likely are you to win this case? -

   I nodded and stood.  I looked around the room making eye contact with as
many as possible.   -My chances of losing this case are zero.  My property
was never a part of the HOA and no prior owner ever joined.  I have
testimony, I have paperwork, I have everything and no contract will be
found.  Heck, even if it was in there they tell me a bit will probably be
unsavable which legally is just as good - no contract.  I -(TM)d gamble on
those odds if I had to but I don -(TM)t have to.  It doesn -(TM)t exist. -
I scanned the room.   -You want to drag out the case, you -(TM)ll just be
increasing what you have to pay your lawyer and mine plus whatever the jury
gives me.  It -(TM)s that simple. - I looked to the lawyer.

   He nodded agreement.  He said,  -I have advised the board to accept the
offer. -

   Fred exploded,  -HOLD ON, that is board business and we didn -(TM)t
vote to share it!  And this vote is purely informational!  Only the board
vote is binding. - He looked smug.

   A middle aged woman yelled from the sidelines,  -Since you -(TM)re
named in this harassment suit, you shouldn -(TM)t even have a vote in this!
It is a conflict of interest. -

   Fred was turning red.   -I was acting as the president of the board! -

    -That remains to be seen. - That voice was Linda -(TM)s.   -In
court. If you were acting on personal interest using your office that is a
problem. - Ice couldn -(TM)t have melted on her tongue.  God, she was a
glorious bitch, at least when it wasn -(TM)t pointed at me.

   Fred was trying to get people to be quiet but a dozen conversations
broke out.  It was a woman I later learned was named Harriet that got
everyone -(TM)s attention.  She was Asian with a French accent.   -So, let
me make sure I understand this, if the document people or whatever they
are, go through all these papers they will set aside and scan everything
that is readable, right? -

   I replied,  -Yes. -

    -And if mine isn -(TM)t in there I don -(TM)t have to pay dues
anymore? -

   I gestured with my eyes to the HOA -(TM)s lawyer and she looked at him.
He fidgeted slightly but said,  -If there is no contract then that is
true. Now presumably you have a copy of the contract yourself. -

    -But, - she looked thoughtful,  -let -(TM)s say I didn -(TM)t. -

    -Well, then, in that theoretical circumstance - you can -(TM)t enforce
a contract if it doesn -(TM)t exist to reference it. -

    -Thank you. -

   A voice I didn -(TM)t know, a man -(TM)s, asked,  -Mr.  Carlo.  What
did you say that rate was?  For recovery? -

    -They told me 30-60% will be recoverable. - I didn -(TM)t look at the
man asking the question.  I stared at Fred.  The HOA membership could drop
by as much as 70%.

   One man near the front looked up to the board and with a strained voice
asked,  -Has this been evaluated by the board? -

   Fred looked to the lawyer.  The lawyer said,  -That estimate was also
shared with me by the recovery company and they are absolutely
professional. I have advised the board of this in full. -

   Linda stood.   -I -(TM)m looking to sell my house too and these matters
materially affect us in every way possible.  I -(TM)m wondering if I should
speak with an attorney about suing the HOA. -

    -I can recommend someone, - I said.

   I tried not to smirk.  Lavi looked as happy as I was and her leg was
bouncing.  Melissa was missing.  I wanted to find her but my attention was
drawn to the conversation again.

   Linda spoke up again.   -Since the board had this information and as a
board of a non-profit with members, and the mission includes looking after
our property values, I -(TM)m thinking we have serious issues here to
address. -

   The skinny man, the treasurer, stood suddenly and yelled at Fred, 
-GODDAMMIT!  I TOLD YOU WE HAD TO TELL EVERYONE!  I quit. - And with that
he walked off the stage and stood against the wall among the audience while
rubbing his temple.

   Linda,  -I move to vote on no-confidence of the board immediately. -

   Fred was livid.   -You need at least 20% of the HOA to call the vote
and 70% to pass it. -

   At the board table a man and woman were whispering.  She stood, looked
around and scurried out of the room.   -Uh, no she doesn -(TM)t Fred, -
the man said standing.   -We resign too.  That -(TM)s most of the board
gone.  With the board vacated by all but one the bylaws call for immediate
re-elections with a temporary board called until new regular elections can
be called. -

   Chatter about bylaws started up and since I had a moment I looked for
Melissa.  I found her at the back with her phone held up, recording
everything.  Bless her, I was going to want to watch this again later.  I
got comfortable.

   The three of us walked home in high spirits.  As we approached home I
didn -(TM)t say anything but thought about the last few months.  We had
been through a lot of shit and all we had won was the right to live our
lives, or at least would once everything was over but I was confidant it
would be.  Maybe that wouldn -(TM)t seem like much to some but as I felt
their hands in mine I thought it was a hell of a lot.  We turned the corner
into our cul-de-sac and a blue car half in front of my house and half Fred
-(TM)s turned on it -(TM)s lights and slowly left.  I tried to look inside
it as it passed but the inside of the car was too dark.  I had seen a blue
car too many times recently.  I thought about asking the girls but they
were completely absorbed with each other and chatted about upcoming
competitions.  Lavi was going to do her first chess tournament and Melissa
we were headed out Thursday for the first dance competition.

   I was probably being paranoid so I kept my mouth shut.  Once we got in
the house Lavi stretched, said  -I -(TM)m tired - and removed her top
throwing it on the couch.  Melissa did the same.

   They approached the stairs.  Two bras were draped over the railing as
they kept walking.  They turned the corner and I couldn -(TM)t see them
anymore.   -Did you two plan this? -

    -Uh huh, - their simultaneous reply came.

   I started up the stairs taking two at a time.

   I woke to light through the bedroom window.  I slept late and it was
Sunday again.  I tried not to think about a week ago.  I shook my head and
focused, pushing Jordyn out of my thoughts.  I still hadn -(TM)t treated
her well in the end.

   I stretched in bed and tried to focus on today.  I needed to get the
outside patio heater out of storage since it was turning chilly.  And this
year I might need a second one given I had a lot more people around.  I
reached for my phone and felt ...  paper.  It was the shape of my phone.  I
looked at it and for reasons I could not fathom, my phone was wrapped up in
a sheet of notebook paper.

   I got up and found the bedroom door shut with another piece of paper on
it that said  -look at your phone. - It was Melissa -(TM)s handwriting.
Every day with two wives is an adventure.  I pulled the paper off the phone
to read it.

    -Good morning love.  Zahra came over last night and is in the guest
bedroom.  Headed to church, love, M. -

   Mellie had been going to this Christain / Buddhist thing.  I didn -(TM)t
get it but it made her happy.  We had a house guest so I put on sweatpants
and a t-shirt rather than leaving it at boxers and went to find Lavi.  I
had discovered a love for the convenience of sweatpants while recuperating.
Music came from the kitchen and I found the television over the sink
playing a music video with a group of girls dancing and singing  -I got
the feels for you, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah -.

   Lavi was at the table, her shoulders going up and down as she sang
along. She was in her silk robe I had bought her for her birthday and her
sketchpad was in use.  An anatomy book was open using one of my cookbook
holders.  She smiled at me and I leaned over to kiss her.  She opened her
lips.  She tasted of coffee and cream.  My tongue barely touched her tongue
and we pulled back, our lips sucking at each other -(TM)s for a split
second.  Her hand caressed my hip and reached around to squeeze my ass.

    -Hands, - I asked, looking down at the sketchpad.

   She grinned.   -Yeah, stupid hard to get just right.  Biscuits in the
oven. -

   I grunted, having exhausted my pre-caffeine language skills.  A
discarded can for pre-made biscuit dough was in the trash and an unwashed
pan used to cook eggs on the sink.  I washed the pan.  Lavi would have done
it later but I hated dirty dishes sitting around.  My next priority was
coffee.  Just the smell was helping my brain wake up.  I added a lot of
cream, feeling indulgent, and then a splash of vanilla extract.  Finally I
opened the oven and took out two buttered biscuits with a slice of egg
between them.

    -Fruit? - I asked.

    -Sure, - came Lavi -(TM)s reply as she made small soft strokes with
the pencil.  I cut up half a cantaloupe into big slices and was at the
table next to her in just a few minutes.  As I sat I felt a foot work its
way into my lap.  I reached down to rub it absentmindedly as I ate and
looked at the news on my phone.  Eventually neurons started firing in
significant numbers.

    -What was up with the paper around my phone? -

   Lavi didn -(TM)t look up from her sketching but rubbed her toes against
my crotch.  I stiffened slightly and she was pleased.  She still liked
teasing me and I hoped she always would.   -Melissa said that if we didn
-(TM)t make sure you knew that you -(TM)d end up walking in on Zahra in a
shower or something. -

   I switched to Instagram and started looking at the food people I
followed.   -I think even through a shower door I would know the
difference between Zhara -(TM)s shape and either of you. -

    -Still, you know Mellie. -

    -Yeah. - I was still scrolling.  This woman in Alaska had a deer and
had butchered it and was grilling big strips of meat.  I showed it to Lavi.

   She shrugged.   -Deer is kosher. -

    -I was thinking of the grilling part. -

    -Want to grill out today? -

    -Maybe, I have an idea to setup in the front yard and cook burgers for
the neighborhood as another fuck you to Fred. -

   She didn -(TM)t look up.   -A, it is chilly and B, they are the same
people who voted to kick us out. -

    -True.  By the way, why is Zhara? -

   Lavi grabbed a big rubber eraser.   -I was wondering why you didn
-(TM)t ask that earlier. -

    -I figured if it was really bad stuff Mellie wouldn -(TM)t have gone
to church. -

    -I don -(TM)t know the details, just that Zahra asked for a favor and
that her dad didn -(TM)t want to wake you up so he sent you an email. -

   I checked my email and sure enough there it was.

    -Robert, please forgive this informal communication but I do it only
trusting that you will grant absolution for my abruptness.  I have an
unexpected family matter to attend to and must take an international flight
immediately with my wife.  I can not pull Zahra out of school and would
normally ask a male relative to manage her affairs in my absence but my son
is still too young himself so I ask you as her ammu and my brother for you
and your wives to care for her as if she was your own. -

   This barely sounded like Yussef but I noticed that among the CCs were
several emails I did not recognize as well as Zahra -(TM)s.  I had a
feeling I was not the main audience for this.

    -Where is the Z-girl? - Lavi used her toes to stroke my dick as I
massaged her foot.  It was nice and comfortable.

    -Right here, - Zahara said.  She came in, her hair in an elaborate
towel and in washed out jeans and a black t-shirt.  At first I thought it
was a shirt of the old parental advisory stickers on CDs but it was purple
and instead said,  -~Warning: May Suddenly Talk About Anime. -(TM) She
grinned.   -I -(TM)d say eyes are up here but you -(TM)re used to Lavi and
Mellie.  In comparison I don -(TM)t have anything to stare at. -

   I felt myself turn a little pink.   -I was reading your shirt.  And you
are very worth staring at. -

    -Awww. - She headed to get a cup and make her own coffee.   -Did you
read Pops -(TM) email? -

    -Yeah, who was that for?  I mean you -(TM)re always welcome here of
course. -

    -He figured.  It was for the brown Stepford mom.  Me staying with you
would be a big no-no but saying you -(TM)re my uncle -

   Lavi interrupted,  -Uncle? -

   Zahra had her coffee ready since she drank her -(TM)s black.   -Ammu,
technically like my dad -(TM)s brother but here it is more like, I guess,
friend of the family, so close you are family.  At least that -(TM)s how I
think of it. -

   Lavi raised an eyebrow,  -You don -(TM)t know? -

   Zahra shrugged.   -I -(TM)ve lived here more than there. - Lavi nodded
understanding and I was sure she did.  She had told me how disorienting
moving to the United States had been.

    -Still, - I said,  -you don -(TM)t really need a guardian do you? -

    -No, not really but that is the culture thing, right?  Pops doesn
-(TM)t want to upset his first wife by looking improper.  My half brother
is younger than I am but it would probably fall to him. -

    -And that -(TM)s a problem?  You once said he was creepy? -

    -Understatement of the century, - Zahra said,  -that boy watches way
too much step-family porn and is way too interested in being the man in
charge.  If I had to stay alone with him I was going to lock my door and
sleep with a knife. -

   I wanted to chuckle but she wasn -(TM)t smiling.   -Well, you are
welcome here.  Do you know how long they -(TM)ll be gone? -

    -No idea.  They didn -(TM)t even tell me what was going on, which
means it -(TM)s probably something embarrassing and FW, - I later learned
this meant First Wife,  -was mad as hell so I -(TM)m guessing her golden
boy is in the shit. -

    -You don -(TM)t seem torn up, - Lavi said.

   Zahra shrugged again,  -He -(TM)s a half brother but also mostly a
stranger. -

    -Well, we will treat you as an honored guest, - I said.

    -No you don -(TM)t, - Zahra raised a hand,  -you are family, heck
closer than most of mine.  So I don -(TM)t want to cause you any grief.  I
can help out around here, just let me know what you need.  Just live your
normal life like I wasn -(TM)t here. -

   Lavi laughed,  -Well you are and I -(TM)m not going to give Robert a
blow job at the table with you here. -

   Zahra gave her side eye.   -LIke you -(TM)d care. -

   Lavi closed her sketchbook and took up her own coffee.   -Oh, I care.
Mellie would kill me. -

    -That -(TM)s because Mellie is the adult among you three. -

    -What about me? - I said.  I felt a bit stung.

    -Nah, you -(TM)re like my dad. - I decided to not follow that line of
thought and returned to my phone.

   Lavi filled the silence.   -So, let -(TM)s return to the blowjob
scenario. - Zahra snorted into her coffee and gave Lavi a dirty look as
she got a paper towel and cleaned some coffee off her shirt.   -I can
-(TM)t ignore that you are a guest.  I mean if I went to blow Robert, you
-(TM)d leave.  If I -(TM)m running you out of a room I -(TM)m a bad host.
-

    -The point is, - Zahra said,  -is that it -(TM)s your house. -

    -And you -(TM)re a guest.  I mean, do you know what my rabbi would
think of that? -

    -What, with giving your husband a blowjob? -

   Lavi made a dismissive gesture.   -No, he -(TM)s sex positive,  - she
paused,  -I mean he really doesn -(TM)t talk about poly houses but I think
he -(TM)d be cool with it. -

   Zahra looked thoughtful.   -I get where you -(TM)re going.  Hosting is
a big deal in my dad -(TM)s culture too.  Fine, so, let -(TM)s get all on
the same legal pad here: you do what you want and I just will be like, it
-(TM)s all cool.  I won -(TM)t leave unless I would have anyway. -

   I looked up.   -On the same legal pad? -

   Zahra nodded.   -Pages, lined. - I only partially followed that but
nodded.  The Zahran language was still a bit of a mystery to me.

   Lavi smiled.   -You -(TM)re on. -

   Zahra cocked a hip.   -You -(TM)re on?  This isn -(TM)t a dare ho, I
-(TM)m being polite. -

    -So you -(TM)re saying you can -(TM)t take it?  Fact, I pull out his
dick right now and you -(TM)d be embarrassed. -

    -You do your thing and I -(TM)ll do mine, that -(TM)s all I -(TM)m
saying. -

    -Fine, - Lavi retorted.

    -Double fine. -

   During this I was reading about how to grow your own mushrooms on logs.
I felt Lavi -(TM)s foot leave my lap and suddenly she was behind my chair,
pulled me back from the table and knelt in front of me.  I smacked her hand
when she reached for my sweat pants and she smacked mine back.

    -Lavi... - I tried to sound authoritative.

    -Robert... -.  She mirrored my tone.

    -This is inappropriate. -

   Zahra chewed on a piece of fruit.   -It -(TM)s cool.  I -(TM)m not
going to dial Pops or anything.  I really want to be like a ghost, someone
you don -(TM)t have to think about being here. -

   This whole time Lavi had been rubbing me through my pants.  Fuck it. 
Everyone here was an adult.  I lifted my ass enough to push pants down and
pulled my dick out from my boxers.  Lavi pulled on the sweats and helped. I
spread my legs and she immediately sucked one of my balls into her mouth
and moaned around it.  I glanced at Zahra who was facing her phone but I
saw her eyes dart away from us.  Lavi fisted my shaft and looked at it. 
Her hand moved slowly up and down and she spit on it.  She pulled her top
down to get one tit out and slapped my dick against it.

    -You like that baby? - She asked.

   I tried to growl out a response but instead laughed saying,  -That is a
stupid fucking question. -

   She laughed too,  -Good.  I -(TM)m enjoying it too. - She then went
down and deep throated me.

   Zhara apparently forgot that she was a ghost,  -Why do women ask that?
I mean, your Johnson in her throat and she -(TM)s giving head, of course it
feels good, right? -

    -Yeah, but affirmation is still good, - I said.   -It -(TM)s like
telling someone you love them.  Just because they -(TM)ve heard it before
doesn -(TM)t mean she doesn -(TM)t want to hear it again. -

   Lavi lifted off my dick and licked at my head with spit dribbling out of
her mouth.  She stroked my dick again and looked at Zahra.   -I like
giving him pleasure and I like to be appreciated. -

    -And you are, you are, - I said as I ran my fingers through her hair
and pulled her back to her task.

   She giggled.   -Tell me you need me baby. -

    -It was June when you came / The first time to me / And my first look
in your eyes / Was like my first look at the burning sea. -

   She went back down, this time with something to prove.  I like to think
that Sara Teasdale would appreciate the motivation for my minor
alterations.  -Jesus Fucking Christ! - From the corner of my eye I saw
Zahra tense at the blasphemy.  I tried to smile,  -Trust me it -(TM)s a
compliment. - She just shook her head but smiled.  I suspected that was
going on a list of things she would never tell her family about.

   It only took a few moments and I emptied myself into Lavi -(TM)s mouth.
She looked at me and fisted my still hard dick.   -Stay hard baby, I
-(TM)ve got round two ready for you. -

   I felt at peace with the world.  Zahra stood and headed to the door
saying,  -I gotta dry my hair. - She walked out more slowly than she had
to.  Lavi stood and took my hand, pulling me to the garden where we often
screwed on Sunday mornings.

    -It -(TM)s getting chilly out there. -

    -Silly man, I got the heater out of the shed and got fresh propane
tanks while you were still asleep. -

    -I was thinking I should get a second one. -

    -Definitely. -

   I grinned back at her and let her lead the way.   -What do I know of
love -(TM)s lonely and austere offices? -

   She shook her wide hips at me and I liked how her curly hair vibrated. 
-You -(TM)re about to find out, poetry boy. -

   By noon I was making donuts when Melissa got home.  More accurately I
was letting them cool while I made caramel for the topping.  She greeted me
by hugging me from behind as I was watching the pot.

    -How -(TM)s it going? -

    -A little too dark. -

    -The caramel?  Looks fine to me. -

    -There is a thin line between caramel and toffee. -

    -Well, it looks delish.  Need help with lunch still? -

    -I had plans to make skirt steak but then Ji showed up. -

    -Huh? -

    -Apparently her sis and mom are fighting.  Her dad declared it a, - I
plundered my memory,  -changzheng. -

    -What -(TM)s that? -

    -From how she talked about it, it was code to get out.  He went
golfing and dropped her off here.  Anyway, she -(TM)s making her mushroom
and potato garlic pizza in the brick oven. -

    -Fuckin rad, I -(TM)m down. -

    -Yeah, I figured my plans could wait. -

   Melissa took a spoon and stole a tiny bit of the still forming caramel.
Licking the spoon appreciatively.

   She leaned against the counter and eyed me suggestively.   -So did Lavi
wear you out this morning? -

    -I wouldn -(TM)t say that. - Actually the caramel wasn -(TM)t
thickening too much.  I think I had it.

    -Good.  I want you, - Mellie said.

    -Horny? -

    -Very. -

   I looked over.   -Your top looks a little tight. -

   She giggled.   -Yeah, I -(TM)m bloating a bit. -

    -Well, Lavi and I had a good time, - Mellie smiled at that,  -but
even if she had tired me out in that way I -(TM)d take care of you. -

   She pouted.   -I know, - it came out in a whine,  -but at this time
of month, having you cum in me feels so good. - She was a little flushed.
She laughed.   -I -(TM)m pitiful, I sound like some bimbo bitch in heat.
-

   I turned off the range.  One day I would make caramel effortlessly.  I
pulled her to me and drew her into a kiss.  After our lips broke apart I
said,  -You sound adorable but you need food in your stomach first. -

   Her eyes twinkled,  -Yes sir. -

   I slapped her on the butt.   -Get pizza and I -(TM)ll be out with
dessert in a few -

    -Hmmm I promise to be good if you do that again. -

    -Smack your butt? -

    -Uh huh. - She suddenly undid the buttons on her jeans and pushed
them down.   -Like that though. - She was still standing so that her face
was next to mine.  I looked over her shoulder and Lavi, Ji and Zahra were
all watching.

    -You are an exhibitionist slut. -

   She breathed out.   -Only for you. -

   I smacked her, once on each cheek.   -Now go, before my pan cools too
much. -

    -As you wish. - Her eyes were delighted as she pulled her jeans back
up and went outside to the cheering of her wife and friends.

   I decorated the donuts and then went upstairs to use the bathroom.  I
returned and through the glass doors I heard music.  Selena Gomez sang 
-careful when you come through my way / my body already know how to play.
- Lavi, Melissa, Zahra and Ji were all dancing around barefoot. 
Additionally, the three who weren -(TM)t Zahra were topless.

   I took the tray outside.   -What did I miss? -

   Lavi pointed at Zahra.   -She tried critiquing my oral skills. -

    -As in... -

    -Exactly.  I don -(TM)t tell her how to be a virgin. -

   Zahra giggled.   -Well, I don -(TM)t need help with that. -

   Melissa,  -Then Lavi talked us into dancing. -

    -Topless, - I noted.   -I wasn -(TM)t in the bathroom that long. -

    -But too long, - Lavi said.   -We could have started without you. -

   Lavi and Melissa came up and grabbed me in a big hug on both sides.

    -Are we having a party? - I asked.

    -Hell yes! - Lavi yelled.  I felt Ji behind me.

    -Well, - Melissa ran her hand under my shirt.   -We have something
to celebrate. -

    -Yes, we do. - I grinned.  They removed my shirt.

   Wine bottles appeared and soon everyone was drinking, mostly from the
bottles and dancing continued.  Girls danced with apple donuts in hand.  I
moved with the music but it couldn -(TM)t be called dancing.  Several times
the girls broke into routines for the competition, which made sense as it
was less than a week away now.  Work did not dominate the mood though.

   Ji made a show of getting crumbs on Lavi and having to clean them up
with her tongue.  Real food was eaten as well.  Ji had made multiple pizzas
and everyone had a few slices.  The dancing offset the alcohol a little and
we danced close together in the radius of the outdoor heater.  The girls
rubbed against each other and against me.  As I watched Zahra with Ji I
noticed that Zahra lacked the same intensity that the others had.  She was
dancing, not flirting.  At least that was what I thought.

   At one point we moved to a song with a steady dance rhythm but it was a
bit slower and Zahra surprised me by turning around and rubbing against me,
her ass pushing against my dick.  She seemed to realize what she did and
turned around, red faced.  She danced away though not before giving me a
grin to show she didn -(TM)t totally regret it.  I decided to sit down and
have a bit more wine.  I encountered Ji already sitting the song out.  I
sat on the edge of her seat and she ran her hands over my back.

    -I can barely see the scars now, - she said.   -Are you still doing
your exercises? -

    -Yes ma -(TM)am. -

    -Planning to exercise with Zahra later? -

    -Saw that huh? -

    -I -(TM)m not surprised, she is like the last one hundred percent
straight girl in America.  Or at least high school. -

    -You -(TM)re exaggerating. -

    -Not really.  Every girl I know is at least bi-curious, except her.  I
-(TM)ve seen her porn.  It -(TM)s penis plus vagina, that -(TM)s it.  The
dirtiest thing she has is a few male/male/female threesomes. -

    -So, what? - Maybe it was the wine but I really was a bit confused.

   She sighed, clearly annoyed at having to explain something obvious.  
-I brought it up because you -(TM)re friends with her father. -

    -Right, which is why nothing will happen. -

    -I -(TM)m just reminding you. -

    -Why? -

    -You -(TM)re so used to Lavi and Melissa -(TM)s auras I -(TM)m just
concerned that you don -(TM)t get that if Zahra was watching, she was
watching you. - I found myself suddenly stricken a bit mute.   -Hadn
-(TM)t thought about it like that? -

   I found my voice.   -It -(TM)s not like that though, right?  I mean,
she was just curious and people have sex in front of you that will be
exciting right? -

   Ji put her forehead to my back and I felt her nipple piercings press
against me.   -Robert, I can tell you that Zahra is a healthy young woman
who normally has zero sexual interest in the boys at our school.  She
derides them as immature.  She once told me that she wanted a man like her
father, not actually him, but someone like him who would make her feel
safe. -

    -I -(TM)m not... - and I stopped myself.  Fuck.

    -Just be careful, is what I -(TM)m saying. -

    -Well, I appreciate you looking out for me. -

   She giggled.   -Well if an angry dad cuts your little Gojira off that
-(TM)s bad for me too. -

    -Little? -

   Ji never got a chance to respond to my mock outrage.  Lavi wandered by
and grabbed the wine bottle,  -We should rent a bouncy house and fuck in
it! -

   Ji,  -Maybe not that but we do need to kick things up a notch.  Party,
this is not. -

   Lavi jumped up and down,  -We need peeps! - She picked up her phone.

   Zahra pointed at Lavi.   -Grace, for sure. -

    -Naturally.  Owen too. -

   Mellie chimed in,  -Haley, the redhead on the cheer team.  We -(TM)ve
been chatting. -

   Lavi eyed her.   -Isn -(TM)t that Xin -(TM)s friend? -

   Ji,  -Nah, you -(TM)re thinking of Emma.  Haley has the super dark red
hair. -

   Mellie looked at Lavi and sighed,  -You had figure drawing with her
last year? -

    -Huh, I did? -

    -You did. -

    -Awesome, zap me her info.  Oh, how about Anne? - Ji looked
suspiciously at Lavi.   -Hey, if you say she -(TM)s cool, she -(TM)s cool.
-

   Ji,  -All right, I -(TM)ll call her. -

   Lavi,  -Who else? -

    -Amber, - Mellie added.

    -Any chance of her leaving the Dark Side? - Lavi asked.

    -She wants to cheer not dance but she has always been bae, - Zahra
replied.  The girls looked like they understood that so I didn -(TM)t ask.

   I stood up.   -My contribution will be molten. - It was nice to see
them confused for a change.

   I jogged inside and started rummaging around the bottom of the pantry
where some unused items had ended up.  Within fifteen minutes, aided by Ji
and Lavi, I had set up two fondue fountains with cheese and chocolate. 
Spearing forks were laid out along with things to dip in them.

   Melissa stopped the music and after a brief silence Vicki Robinson
started yelling to turn the beat around.  Melissa was eating bread dipped
in chocolate and holding it up so that it cooled and dripped onto her
chest. She approached me and we danced close, rubbing chests as we moved.
The song shifted to Dancing Queen and she bent down to lick the smeared
chocolate from my chest.  I stiffened immediately.

   Melissa was definitely horny.   -Baby, - she said,  -you better fuck
me right now. -

    -What about Zahra? -

   Lavi interjected,  -I told Mellie about earlier. - Melissa nodded in
agreement and right now didn -(TM)t care.  I reclined on a lounger and let
things happen.

   Mellie pulled my sweat pants down and found Ji -(TM)s hands in the way.
The small Chinese girl had taken a seat on the ground to watch.   -Let me,
you don -(TM)t want milk chocolate in your hooha. -

   Melissa obeyed.  Ji gave me a quick lick and the same for Melissa -(TM)s
snatch and then guided us together.  Meanwhile Melissa -(TM)s chocolate
smeared hands made an even worse mess of my chest.

   Melissa ground herself against my hips.   -You feel good filling me up,
you always have. -

   I grinned.   -I -(TM)ll fill you up some more. - I ran my hands up her
sides, caressing her.

    -You better. - With that she leaned in and went to work.  With her
weight on me she worked our joined bodies like a piston using her muscular
thighs.  I lay there, basically a fuck toy for her.  Her juices dropped
onto me as she fucked me through three small orgasms until I couldn -(TM)t
hold it any longer.

   With a grunt I said,  -Coming, now! - She slammed down onto me and I
pushed up.  I filled her and tried to push as if I could pour myself into
her.

   She stopped and gyrated gently on top of me.   -Thank you. -

    -My pleasure. -

   She leaned down and kissed me.  I was about to comment that we should
get cleaned up before any guests showed up but I suddenly realized that it
was very quiet.  Turning my head to the side I saw Grace in the kitchen
doorway with Coraline.  Coraline was red faced and turned away quickly
moving towards the living room.

   Melissa jumped up and put panties on.   -I -(TM)ve been kind of dodging
her, - she said and rushed towards the retreating brunette.

   Grace got out of the way and by way of explanation said,  -Uh, she was
with me when I got the invite, I figured it would be fine.  We were close
anyway. - Behind her Owen was trying to unsuccessfully disappear into the
background and a redhead was staring at me.  Ji took her own discarded
blouse and covered my exposed crotch with it.  It was red with spaghetti
straps and had bared her midriff which meant it didn -(TM)t even cover my
balls.  After several unsuccessful attempts to shift it to cover me more,
and additionally stimulating me while doing it, she gave up.

   Lavi meanwhile opened a new bottle of wine and said,  -We have fondue!
- Owen moved past Grace and went for the cheese.

   I had been hiding in my office, taking in the quiet.  I was exhausted. I
loved the girls but they had a crowd of friends and energy.  I knew they
needed to let off steam and this was how they unwound but it was using up
all I had to keep pace with them.

   I was headed back to the patio when I found a rough looking Coraline
sitting at the kitchen table.  Melissa had returned to the party after
talking with Coraline.  Cors glared at me.  She looked pitiful.  I decided
I could wait to join the crowd for a few more minutes.  No, I wasn -(TM)t
dragging my feet, not me.  I pulled out a chair.

    -Here with sage old-man advice, - she asked.

    -Just going to ask if you want a glass of wine, - I asked.

    -I -(TM)m only seventeen. -

    -It will be a small one and if you promise to not drive anywhere and I
won -(TM)t say anything. -

    -Sure. - Her response was deadpan.

   I poured her a small glass of a sweet white.   -Want me to fuck off? 
Maybe set myself on fire? -

    -Yes.  No but kinda. -

    -Seems reasonable but it -(TM)s my house. - I sat.  I kept my mouth
shut while she drank.  It seemed like a long time in the quiet but she
eventually spoke.

    -I knew something was up, I -(TM)m not stupid. -

    -Never thought you were. - I had an idea of what Melissa would have
said.

    -Did she tell you what we talked about? -

    -I have a rough idea but she wouldn -(TM)t tell me particulars. 
Private stuff. -

    -She said that? -

    -I know she would, so I don -(TM)t ask, - I said.  God, why was I
talking to a teenage girl about her love life?  Not even love life maybe,
sex life, sex life with my wife.  I was tired and this was surreal.

    -I asked her about having a threesome with my boyfriend and I offered
to sleep with you.  I thought that would put it all out in the open and be
fair.  She said it wasn -(TM)t about being fair. - I didn -(TM)t say
anything but sipped my own wine.   -Would you want to fuck me? -

    -Want can be a loaded word. -

   Coraline didn -(TM)t respond to that.  Instead she pointed outside.  
-Look at her out there, dancing. -

   Just a dozen feet from us on the other side of the glass door the party
was happening and Melissa was dancing.  Of the newcomers everyone had been
convinced to take off their tops except Anne.  I was enjoying new boobies.
Haley -(TM)s were small but had huge nipples.  Amber -(TM)s we -(TM)re as
big as Melissa -(TM)s though Lavi shared with me that they were realistic
and expensive implants.  They were a sweet sixteen present from her mom.

    -Well, - I said,  -since her hospitalization her pain is her most
private thing. - Another thing she and I had in common.

    -Hospital? -

    -Years back, it was bad. -

   She looked down and didn -(TM)t say anything.  I guessed she didn -(TM)t
know about it.   -So, where is that old man advice? -

    -I have a question. - Did I?  This was my fault for sitting down.

    -Yeah, figures. -

   I hadn -(TM)t been thinking it, but it popped out as a question.   -Do
you love Mellissa? -

   She froze.  For a good five seconds she froze and then exploded.  
-Fuck, I don -(TM)t know! - She threw her hands up.   -I thought we
could just have fun and I really, really like her but I mean, I have a
boyfriend.  Can -(TM)t this just be fun? -

    -Not the way it was heading. -

   She laid her head in her arms on the table.   -I -(TM)m so fucking
stupid. -

   I looked at her.   -Cors, how long have you been with your boyfriend?
-

   She looked up at me.   -Uh, since last year, April I guess. -

    -We haven -(TM)t been together for five months yet.  It feels way
longer but we -(TM)re figuring this out as we go. -

   She looked down again.  The table appeared to be really interesting.  
-I knew that I suppose. - More minutes passed.  The song changed. 
Melissa never looked at us which meant that somehow she was watching us
constantly.  I -(TM)d given up figuring out her magical powers.

    -We -(TM)re just trying to make things work.  You tell me what you
want and maybe I -(TM)ll actually have something to say. -

   Coraline looked like she wanted to break something.   -So I need to
figure out what I want before I ask people for it? -

    -Yeah. -

    -Fuck you.  That is sage. -

    -Don -(TM)t tell Mellie that, it will ruin my rakish charm. - For the
first time she cracked a smile.

   She looked at me.   -So, what do I do? -

    -Today? -

    -Today, -

    -You want to be Mellie -(TM)s friend? -

    -Yeah, of course. -

    -Then you pull up your big girl panties and go out there, party and
figure the rest out another day. -

    -I didn -(TM)t wear any. -

    -I... - I lost my train of thought.   -Hoping to get lucky huh? -

    -I wasn -(TM)t planning to leave it up to luck. - She chugged the
rest of her shallow glass.   -You want to see my tits? -

    -Yes. -

   She took her top off.  Her tits were only B cups but looked larger on
her frame.

    -You are a perv. -

   I shrugged.   -I -(TM)m human and you -(TM)re attractive. -

    -You seem really calm about this. -

    -You mistake the desire to nap for calmness.  It -(TM)s hard to be
excited when you -(TM)re this ready to take a siesta. -

    -You never gave me a straight answer about fucking me. -

   I drank the rest of my wine.   -Ask me that another day.  I have to go
back to the party.  Join me? -

    -That -(TM)s why I -(TM)m topless. -

    -And here I just thought up you want to give me a thrill. -

    -You wish, old man. -

    -Maybe. - I grinned.   -But you do need to get me those revisions.
-

   She was stepping away from her chair.   -After this, you -(TM)re okay
with still editing for me? -

    -Meh, artists are temperamental.  You should have seen Lavi -(TM)s mom
argue with me.  I once thought she was going to stab me with a plastic fork
in the student cafeteria over semicolons. -

   Twenty minutes later a rapid dance beat was giving an excuse for the
topless redhead Haley and Ji to grind against me.  Grinding separately were
Grace and Owen.  Amber danced on her own.  The hot tub had been turned on
with Lavi and Coraline naked while Zahra and Anne were in swimsuits.  Zahra
had apparently decided to bring multiple suits to enjoy the pool and hot
tub while here and had spares to loan out.  Coraline was trying hard to be
grown up which was hard enough for actual grown ups to do.  Mellie was
sitting on a recliner.  As a new song started Owen sat and I decided to do
the same.  She floated over to dance with Amber.

   Mellie -(TM)s breasts stood firm on her chest, barely shifting.  The
advantages of youth.  Her eyes were closed with her golden hair on her
shoulders.  She didn -(TM)t open her eyes but asked,  -going to stare all
day or join me babe? -

   I sat.   -Both probably. - I poured some water.

   Owen took the pitcher of water from me as I finished.   -This heater
really takes the edge off the cold. -

    -Thank Lavi, she set it up this morning. -

   Melissa snickered.  She knew Lavi -(TM)s affection for outside sex on
Sundays.  They may have had separate time with me but no secrets.

   Owen grinned.   -We need more parties like this. -

   I joined him watching the tiny blonde Grace, the statuesque nubian
Amber, the redhead Haley and Chinese Ji dance.  I grinned.   -There is a
little something for everyone to enjoy, isn -(TM)t there? -

    -Hell yeah, - he said.  Mellie didn -(TM)t say anything but she was
grinning.  She opened her eyes and reached over to squeeze my hand.

   Later I was dancing with Amber, Grace and Owen.  Grace had danced with
me which I would have found uncomfortable but Owen was there and didn
-(TM)t care.  The song shifted to an upbeat track and suddenly Grace broke
away from me.  Melissa squealed happily, jumped up and soon the two blondes
and Ji were doing the choreography.  I recognized it from their warmups.

   Amber took my arm and pulled me over to her.  Suddenly, she was
surrounded by Owen and myself.   -You two boys want to keep me warm? -

   The words were flirtatious but her eyes were on the dancing.  The hot
tub crowd was watching too.  Haley wandered over and joined our bundle of
body heat.   -Damn, they -(TM)re good.  They make it look easy. -

    -First competition is next week in Athens, Georgia, - I said.

    -Think there -(TM)s a spot for me? -

   Amber piped up,  -Woah, hold the fuck on, you want to drop cheer? -

    -I can do both. -

    -Yeah, right, like that will go over. -

   The redhead kept watching the dancing,  -I tried out thinking we would
do modern stuff, not this tired ass 70s football cheer shit Richardson has
us on. -

    -Fuck girl, it -(TM)s cheerleading, you knew we -(TM)re signing up to
shake it. - Amber was shaking her head.   -Look, are you serious? -

   I -(TM)m not sure Haley was until that second but apparently challenging
her was the wrong thing to do.   -Yeah, I think so. - She crossed her arm
over her tits.

    -Fuck shit fuck I -(TM)m out then.  Just do me a favor, pretty please?
-

    -Yeah? -

    -If anyone asks, say you didn -(TM)t say anything about this to me.  I
left before you decided this.  I don -(TM)t want to be in the middle of
more drama that isn -(TM)t even mine. -

    -Fair enough. -

   Amber turned back to Owen and me.   -Winter is coming and I -(TM)d like
to, too.  I hope you Boy Scouts care about keeping a lady warm on some
future day. -

   Owen shrugged.   -Talk to Grace. -

    -Talk to Mellie, - I added.

   She was still topless and licked her upper lip.   -She keeps your dance
card? -

    -I -(TM)d want her there to watch. - Amber -(TM)s sex kitten cat act
faltered as she was clearly not sure how to respond but then she smiled and
walked away.

   Owen gave me a gentle bump on the shoulder.   -Bro, that is a dangerous
piece of ass. -

    -Are you saying you wouldn -(TM)t go there? -

    -That is not what I -(TM)m saying, not one bit. -

   Haley looked at us.  I had forgotten she was there for a second.  She
snorted.   -I -(TM)m with Owen. - I looked at her.   -I -(TM)m bohemian,
- she said to the unasked question.

   The song ended and I decided to leave that comment unquestioned.

   Melissa yelled over to the hot tub,  -You two skanks couldn -(TM)t get
up to dance with us? -

   Lavi and Zahra looked at each other for a fraction of a second and in
unison flipped Melissa off, which made Anne and Coraline laugh.  I had
barely said a dozen words to Anne but it had not escaped me that Lavi was
working hard to make her welcome and easier for Coraline to socialize. 
These were things normally that Melissa would do but with Mellie -(TM)s
conflict with Coraline, Lavi had just taken the role over to let Melissa
relax.

   I saw Grace chatting with Amber in the kitchen.  They were hugging and
smiling.  Haley was already talking to Melissa.  It had been a damn good
day.  My phone let out a Godzilla roar.  The customized notification told
me that the books I -(TM)d ordered on raising chickens had arrived.  I put
a shirt on as I made my way through the house and found the delivery box on
the porch.

   What I didn -(TM)t expect was to see Linda, Melissa -(TM)s mom standing
next door talking to my neighbor.  The neighbor was taking down her for
sale sign.  I was walking over before I realized I was doing it.  A cloak
of cold and dread settled over my heart.

    -Hey ladies, uh, what -(TM)s going on? -

   Linda smiled, extended her hand and said,  -Hello neighbor. -

   Fuck.


   55