Friday, got up late, cleaned the house, did a little food shopping, pretended to read. I finally went to the bar around 5, figuring I'd be early and wait at the bar. I was dreading talking to Jack, but Alexis was already in the booth, on her laptop. I got a beer, sat down across from her.
"Howdy, I wasn't expecting anyone to be here yet. No need to entertain me, but I didn't want to be rude either."
"Just a minuteβ¦" She worked another 5 minutes or so, really concentrating, and then, with a flourish, closed her laptop. "We're not meeting til 6, but I'd hoped you'd show early. How's your week been?"
"Honestly, a little nerve racking. I'm not used to being summoned."
"Ha, it's not like that. We've been talking and some of us -other than Izzy - she let us know about the name change - thought maybe we should include you. You have nothing to fear."
"Here's to that" we clinked glasses, "but I'm not sure how reassured I feel. Thanks for trying though."
"Don't be extra."
"Sorry, but I don't speak emoji or current slang."
"What do you have to worry about? I mean, you got 4 drip women. Sit back and relax."
"Are you trying to confuse me even more?"
She laughed. "Just having a little fun. Look, when Izzy started telling us about you, we were a little sus." I looked at her questioningly "You know, suspect - but now that we've met you, seen the pics, we know you understand the assignment. You got riz, playa." Again, raised eyebrows. "Wow, you really are a boomer. You've got game? Know what you're doing?"
"Ah, got it. Thanks."
"You're welcome. Anyway, everyone else has gotten a taste of your time, but not me. So, I thought I would be here early." She smiled and slid over to sit next to me.
"You're a bit of a mystery - what should I know?"
"I'm quieter than they are in public, and mostly chill. I don't need to be a main character like Izzy, or the smartest one in the room like Olivia. Don't get me wrong, I love all of them, but have you noticed?"
"You are all different and appealing in your own ways."
"Oh, so I'm appealing then?"
"You have to ask? I'm not blind or an idiot - just old."
She slid closer and whispered in my ear "I wasn't sure how you felt about me. But I'm glad." She took a sip. "My proclivities are a little different but, like them, I have trouble finding boys who are up to the challenge. I'm looking forward to seeing if you're the whole package." She was still smiling, but with a devious look I hadn't seen from the others.
"Ok, I'll bite- what are your interests?"
"You got one of them - I like to bite and be bitten. Based on Izzy and Katie's reports, I'm looking for something a little more intense, rougher. I'm small and like to be tossed around, manhandled a bit. The bro's are always pretending their down, but turn out to be posers." She looked right at me, "Are you a poser?"
"I probably was one once, but now I'm just who I am. And I think I can help you out - if that is what you really want."
She got very close to me - almost nose to nose - "I am looking forward to it." Then she leaned in and bit my nose. Wasn't prepared for that. Startled but enticed, I reached under the table and pinched the inside of her thigh. Her eyes wide open, smiling, she was about to say something when we heard "Am I interrupting something? I thought tonight was for all of us to talk?"
Olivia, wearing her usual all black but with her midriff exposed between a crop top and short skirt, sat down.
"Well, the rest of you had your time - I wanted mine."
"Don't let me stop you - I'm happy to watch" she said taking a sip of her drink, slouching into the banquette with an evil smile. "Please continue."
"Continue what?" asked Katie as she and Izzy came over. I now had two on either side of me - no way to escape.
"Oh, just Alex doing that nose biting thing," said Olivia. They all laughed, as if it was old hat.
After a few minutes of general catching up Olivia dove in. "Well, since I am clearly the most impartial one of us, I'll start us off." Katie protested weakly but after some head nodding and talk, no one objected. "David, all of us are busy with school and too tired to play games with the kids round here. We've struggled with relationships and are looking for a way to concentrate on work while not missing out on extra-curricular activities. Izzy has been suggesting you as a solution to our collective problems, but we were unconvinced until your exhibition here a few weeks ago. And when Katie shared pictures, it was agreed that Izzy had been right all along...."
Izzy stood up and took a bow "Thank you, thank you."
"...so, we have a proposition for you. None of us want to date right now but were also not interested in celibacy. We're tired of clingy or incompetent hookups, neither of which apply to you. So, we're going to share you. Not all at once - though one of us" glancing at Alex "suggested that. As you've probably figured out, we basically have no secrets and know what's going on in each other's lives. Do you have a problem with any of that?"
"I'd be a fool if I did. I'm guessing you've already organized yourselves?"
"Yup. We'll let each other know when we want your time, agree who gets first dibs on any given date, and then check with you. Your arrangement with 'Chloe' remains as-is, but the rest of us are not looking to get or give compensation. Cool?"