Constructive criticism and comments encouraged. This is the 'almost' end to the Jenny and Mike story. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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Begin Jenny Pt. 6
Jenny awoke to the smell of fresh coffee and bile. At some time during the night, Mike had gotten sick in the short space between the bed and the bathroom hall. She avoided the mess, pulled on a robe, and headed downstairs. Dave had just started to fry some bacon.
"Quite some night you boys had. You seem better off than Mike, at least."
"Good morning, Jenny. I drink, but I don't allow myself to get drunk. It's a control issue with me." He poured her a cup of coffee.
"What happened to Ken?" she asked , as she sipped the black nectar. Dave must have gone out for the coffee beans, because this wasn't the normal homebrew they kept in the house.
"He went home with a barfly. He called me this morning to have us meet him at the lighthouse for lunch, if he isn't back before that, and we could leave from there."
"Good coffee." Jenny thought she would ask what else happened last night, but changed her mind.
She went back upstairs to check on Mike. He started to show signs of life, which was good, and eventually pulled himself out of bed. She took a quick shower and dressed in shorts and t-shirt for the warm weather that had moved in overnight.
While she dressed, she heard Ken's jeep pull up outside, followed by the slam of the screen door as he came inside.
"Breakfast is ready!" called Dave from downstairs. Jenny and Mike made their appearance a few moments later. Dave had gone all out with the supplies available: cheese omelet, cinnamon buns, and fried bacon. Jenny noticed that Ken was staring at her. "Good morning, Ken. Something wrong?"
"Nope." he said, and a knowing smirk crossed his face. "just happy it's Wednesday. Big day today." Jenny heard something under the table, as if Mike was trying to kick Ken.
"Oh? And how's that?"
He shot a smirk at Mike, but cleared it from his face before he turned back to Jenny.
"I got a call this morning. Last minute, I know, but have an interview tomorrow. I thought Dave and I could hit a surf shop this morning, and then meet you two at the lighthouse. We'll head out from there."
"Congratulations. Best of luck." She actually got that out with a modicum of sincerity. She had taken a definite dislike to surfer-boy.
"Besides, Dave and I feel like he proverbial fifth wheels around here. We'd hate to think we were inhibiting you two lovebirds. Right, Dave?"
Dave gave him a look like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck. There was a long pause, and then Dave spoke up. "Yeah, right, Ken. Jenny? If it's alright, I, I mean we, I mean Ken and I would like to treat you two to lunch at the lighthouse restaurant. As a way of thanking you for putting us up last night."
"That's sweet of you, Dave. We really only put one of you up, but I think we can accept. Mike, do we have anything planned for lunch today?" She knew they didn't but had to keep appearances.
"No, Jenny. I don't think so." She could tell by the way he was picking at his food that his hangover was really hitting his stomach hard. He paid little attention to the conversation.
When Jenny finished, she excused herself and went upstairs. Dave cleaned up the breakfast dishes, and Mike and Ken moved outside. When Jenny got upstairs, she caught the tail end of their conversation from the upper balcony.
"Stop being such a fucking wimp, for god's sake." That was Ken.
"Leave me alone."
"No, I won't. You can't let her rule your life. I don't care if she is the best lay in the world, man, if she carries your balls around in her purse, it isn't worth it. Be a man for once."
"Who says I'm not?" Mike's anger was overriding his hangover.
"I know what happened last night with Charlene. Either you put your foot down now and get that thing off, or I'll do it for you."
"I think Jenny might be the real deal, Ken. I know she is special. She may just be the best thing that has ever happened to me, despite the weirdness. You screw this up for me, Ken, and so help me I'll kill you. "
"Yeah, yeah. Maybe if you found somebody that still had a set of balls to back you up."
Jenny moved back into the bedroom and slipped her cel phone into her pocket. For some reason, she now thought she might be getting a phone call today.
She looked at the wet spot on the carpet as she went to the bathroom. At least he had cleaned up the vomit.
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The lunch was cordial, at best. They talked about the ride home, the weather, what looked good on the menu, so on and so forth. Jenny waited for the inevitable blowup between Ken and Mike. After their food had arrived, she pardoned herself and went to the bathroom to freshen up. She knew that they waited until she was out of earshot before the subject was changed.
Jenny watched the three men when she exited the bathroom. Mike and Ken were arguing about something, and it looked like Dave was siding with Mike, at least in part. The morning had been filled with tension. Something had happened last night between Ken and Mike, she figured, and it came down to her relationship with Mike. Dave had witnessed it, but thought Mike was in the right. On a whim, Jenny checked the cel phone to make sure that it was on, but really hoped that she wouldn't need it.
Dave stood as Jenny approached, and pulled out her chair for her. Mike started up a moment too late, realized he was on the wrong side of the table anyway, and sat down again. The three men were quiet.
"So, what did I miss? I'm going to get a paranoia complex if conversation shuts down every time I enter a room."
"It was nothing, Jenny. Ken and I had a difference of opinion about a football team we both like."
"Yeah," Ken said. "I think the coach is insane, and that the quarterback should be calling the plays, not the coach."
"You think differently, Mike?" she asked.
"Yes." He stared at Ken. "I think that a coach knows better than the players what needs to happen. He preps the team, he knows the action, and so he should be calling the plays."
It was obvious to her that they were substituting football as an analogy for her and Mike's relationship. "Oh. I'm not one much for football, but it sounds interesting. Tell me, who calls the plays on most teams? The coach, isn't it?"
Ken stabbed a piece of steak. "Sometimes. But if the players don't have the ability to make decisions on the field, it breaks down. People start to think that the coach is arrogant and full of himself, especially if the quarterback looks like a complete idiot on the field."
Jenny turned to Dave. "You've been pretty quiet, Dave. Tell me, who's right? Should the coach call the plays? Or the players on the field?"
Dave was caught off guard. She had talked very little to him since he arrived. He had the feeling that she was watching him the entire time, like a cat might watch a mouse hole, and it made him uncomfortable. "Um, I think there has to a compromise. The coach should be in charge, but if the quarterback sees something the coach doesn't, then he should be able to make adjustments."
Ken snorted derisively, and stuffed some potato in his mouth. "Typical."
Jenny turned to Mike. "Sounds reasonable to me. Mike, is that where you were heading with your point of view?"
