"I can't believe this rain," I said to Elaine as we found shelter in the market. We were both soaked through, water dripping from our hair.
"London, if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes," she responded, laughing.
I took out my cigarettes from my bag and pulled one out, lifting it to my mouth.
"Those things will kill you," Elaine said, gesturing to it.
"I'm soaked through and freezing cold," I responded smiling, "I'm likely to get pneumonia and die anyway, I may as well die doing something I enjoy."
Elaine laughed shaking her head, it was nice to be joking about it, rather than the judgment that normally comes from others,
"My place is not from here," I said, "we could get a taxi and head there."
"Sounds like a good plan," Elaine responded.
We made a mad dash to where a taxi was stopped and jumped in. The driver looked back.
"Bloody hell girls, is it raining out there?"
"Just a bit," Elaine responded.
"Where ya heading, I'd suggest Majorca," the driver said, reaching across to start the meter.
I gave him my address, and off we went. It was nice to be in a cocoon of dryness as we drove through the south of the city. The streets are always a little quieter here, but the rain prevented us from seeing much. The driver's windscreen wipers were working overtime to try and keep up.
I started to have some doubts about showing Elaine where I lived. Compared to her luxurious apartment, mine looked like something out of a third world country.
I paid the taxi, insisting that Elaine had already been more than generous. We rushed to the large blue wooden door that was the entrance to my building. As always, the key jammed and was being a pain. Finally, with a bit of shoulder and grunt, I managed to open the door, and we rushed in.
"Just up the stairs," I said, panting a little as we gathered up our shopping.
I watched Elaine walk up the stairs, her denim clad bum catching my attention, not for the first time today.
I followed her up, smiled at her, a little rosy-cheeked, and opened the door to my apartment.
"Oh, wow," Elaine said, "It feels so good to be out of that rain."
"I know, right?" I responded, peeling off my coat, and hanging it up. I then took Elaine's from her and placed it beside mine. I looked at them hanging there for a moment; thinking how cute they looked together.
"I'll put the kettle on," I said, "tea or coffee?"
"Coffee would be great thanks," she said, looking around, "if you can Irish it up a bit, that would be better."
I smiled as I stood there, opening the cupboard and pulling out the Jamesons that Ginny had bought and left for me on her last visit.
"A woman out of my own heart," I responded, trying to put on an Irish accent and failing miserably.
I put together two pretty damn good Irish Coffees and took them out. Elaine was stood up, admiring my bookcase.
"You have quite the collection," she said.
"I try to read a bit," I said, "But a lot of them have been given to me by friends, self-help books, people trying to give me guidance."
"The well-meaning masses," she said as she moved to the pictures on my sideboard. "Jon and Ginny?" she asked, smiling as she picked up a photograph.
"Yes," I smiled, walking over to her, "they are still together, still strong, and about to become parents."
"Jon, a parent," Elaine said, "and they say there are no miracles."
We both laughed, Elaine, putting the picture down.
We sat at the dining table, not wanting to get the sofa wet, and chatted in our wet clothes while drinking our coffee.
"You should change before you get ill," Elaine said.
"If you will excuse me," I said, "that sounds like a great idea."
I walked to my bedroom, the door just off the single room where Elaine sat. At first, I hesitated but then decided that closing the door was the best approach.
The cold, wet clothes came off me with a bit of a struggle. It was like they were glued to me. My body a little stiff from the cold. I picked up an old towel from a chair I kept in my room for drying towels. I was partway through wrapping it around my naked body when the door opened.
"Wow," I said, turning around surprised to see Elaine stood there, "knocking really isn't your thing is it?"
She closed the door behind her, her eyes locked on mine. "I knock when I need to," she said, a smile on her face as she walked over to me.
I held the towel around me, my hair wet, hanging down over my bare shoulders. My skin covered in goosebumps from the cold, I watched her move closer, my heart beating echoing through my head.
"I need to get out of my wet clothes as well," she said, her fingers stroking a little of my hair from my face, "do you mind if I do it in here?"
I stayed silent, freezing for a moment, my lips quivered, my eyes wide, slowly, I nodded.
Elaine smiled and took a step back. I watched, frozen in place, standing, towel held to me, trembling as much with the cold as nervousness. I watched the attractive woman undress in front of me. My mind rushing. I'd watched women undress in front of me before, at the gym, when friends stayed over; but this felt different, this was making my stomach knot a little; this was making my blood rush through me; this was making my heart race.
As she slid her jeans down her long legs, my lower lip found itself between my teeth. My skin was starting to feel warm. As she peeled off her underwear, her body statuesque, perfection, I felt a lust I hadn't felt in my life.
"See Joanne sweety," Elaine said, doing a little turn for me, "not one of us is perfect, we all have things that we are not happy about."
"You are beautiful," I said, stammering a little, swallowing as I looked her up and down, still clutching my towel tight to me.
