He looks at the paper that she gave him, sitting there on his kitchen counter with his keys. It's been a week he thinks, is that long enough? What is protocol here about things of this nature? He's met ex-girlfriends before, but he used to have a rule about getting back together with them. This is just a date, right? He thinks calmly, as he picks up the paper and scans it for her number. He picks up his phone slowly. He starts to touch the numbers and he is sweating. Why am I sweating so much? I have never sweated this much in my life, he thinks to himself. He's nervous about this and he knows it. He calls her.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Brenda?"
"Hi, Corbin?"
"Yeah, it's me. I was wondering if you wanted to go out, say Saturday night?"
"Sure, you know I've been waiting for you to call, I figured you were nervous, and I don't blame you, cause I am a little, too."
"Why? You seem so confident."
"Well, it's been awhile since we saw each other, and we didn't break up on any good terms."
"We didn't break on bad terms, either. I am just surprised to find out that you are doing what you are doing now."
'Well, that's a long story."
"Hey, I got time."
"Well, let me make it short. My last boyfriend was a fucking loser; you know, at first he was a great guy. Then he changed; he started using me for money and a place to stay. He had another girlfriend besides me. He treated my son like shit. He put me in debt. So, I had to come up with something to pay off those debts."
"I'm sorry. I know I say that a lot, but how long were you with that guy?"
"Almost a year to the day I broke it off with him. He would call and come over, but I wouldn't answer the phone or the door. He started getting pissed off, leaving horrible voice mails and texts, until I had no choice but to bring the police in."
"Wow, I don't know what to say, but I am sorry."
"Now don't start that. When was your last relationship?"
"About 5 months ago, give or take, it just didn't work out."
"Why? If I may ask."
"No, its fine. She wasn't cheating or anything. I didn't push her away. She is a good person, but there was just, something. She was, in short, a prude. I mean, I don't want sex everyday, but she never seemed to be interested in it. So I left her. We had a good break and I run into her once in awhile. She told me in an email that we never seemed to fit right, on any level."
"Did we?"
"You tell me?"
"Well, you do know how to give me 6 orgasms in one night. I remember how great our sex was. You do know how to please a lady."
"I knew how to please you. Anyway, but I should let you go..."
"Why?"
"I have to work in the morning and, if I remember right, you do, too."
"Yea, you're right."
"Night Brenda."
"Good night, baby"
Corbin stops cold and thinks; did she just call me 'baby'? It's been awhile since he had heard her voice say those words. Corbin had realized, mid conversation with her, that he had to fight the urge to call her by his favorite pet name for her. I guess some habits die hard, he thought.
He wanted tomorrow to be Saturday. He wanted to see her. Why does the thought of her make me sweat? He wondered.
Its 6 o'clock Friday night, he went straight home after work, even though his friends had been bugging him to go out all week. As he walks into his place, his phone rings. God, Calvin, he thinks, just leave me alone. He answers it with out looking at the caller I.D.
"Hello? Calvin, I am not going with you, ok?"
"Well, baby, if that's the way you want it, but this isn't him."
"Brenda? Oh, I'm sorry, my friends were begging me to go out with them tonight, sorry. Anyway, what's up?"
"Well, I'm working tonight and it's a special night, since it's going to be my last."
"Why's that?"
"Well, my debts are all paid off and tonight I make money for myself. I just wanted to know if you wanted to help me get kicked out?" She laughed softly.
"That's funny. I'll be there. So, does this mean you are canceling our date tomorrow?"
"Not at all. In fact, I am moving the time to 7:30 at the bar tonight. Does that work for you, being short notice and all?"
"No, it's fine. I'll be there."
"Ok, baby, see you then."
"See you in a few, Tigress."
He arrives at the Lick and Scratch at 7. He checks to see if he stills smells good and walks in. He gets his I.D. checked and pays the woman the cover charge. He scans the room and picks a spot away from the stage. He thinks, God, they must think I'm a pervert, coming here by myself like this. He takes his seat.
The announcer guy comes over the sound system,
"Gentleman, welcome to the stage, Lena."
He looks towards the stage at a deathly skinny, shorthaired blond as she starts to dance. When she dances, she's the definition of someone without rhythm. She tries to look sexy, but it doesn't seem to work. Corbin is convinced that it must be her first night. The girl looks around and decides to get off the stage. The announcer comes over the speakers again, "Lena, gentleman. In her last performance. Now welcome to the stage, Amber."
Corbin and the rest of the room see the big breasted, slightly taller and heavier woman take the stage. She is good looking and a contrast to the previous performer. Amber moves with the grace and style of a classically trained professional dancer. Sensuously, slowly, she scans the room. Not like she is looking for something, but seeing if it's looking for her. Corbin thinks, maybe I should have invited my friends.
Just then, a pair of lips flank him on his left cheek. Brenda whispers, just into his ear, "Baby, are you enjoying the show? Amber's hot. If you want, we can have her join us."
Corbin looks stunned, but intrigued by the offer.
His face becomes more relaxed as he tells her, "I'm afraid that I am a one woman man, but if you want to, I can't stop you."