Here we were on the road again. Four months into a six month tour. Another non-descript, cheap hotel, somewhere east of I-5 in California. One day left to go in the week, and we were over it. We had three shows the next day and were really looking forward to the spending the weekend in San Francisco. I was lucky on this two man show. Andy was a good guy, and for the amount of time we spent with each other, we didn't get on each others nerves too much. He was from Ohio, I was from New York. He was gay, I was straight. So there could have been some conflict. Fortunately, it didn't play out that way.
It had already been a long drive, and all I wanted was a cold beer, and a good nights sleep. After we checked in, we were driving around the complex looking for our room, when we drove past two girls in cutoffs and bikini tops up on the balcony outside what I assumed to be their room. They were each drinking a beer, and looked pretty good, though both were wearing sunglasses. I slowed down to look for our room number, and not to lie here, check out the girls as well.
"Hey! One yelled. Up here. You guys want a cold beer?"
"Nah, thanks. I shouted back. We're just trying to find our room and get settled in. Thanks for the invite though."
"No problem, the bold one said. But if you change your mind, we'll be here"
I noticed that her silent friend gave her a push on the arm to get her to stop talking to us, but her pal just laughed her off and waved as Andy and I pulled away.
We finally found our room on the other side of the hotel, grabbed our stuff, and tried to settle in. Andy took the window, which meant I got the shower first. Good trade off ,as I was sticky and nasty. When I got out of the bathroom, I found Andy asleep on his bed, dead to the world. The shower reinvigorated me and I decided to go see if I could find the two girls and the free beer.
I strolled around to the other side of the complex searching in vain for the open door and the two girls. I was going to give up and go back to my room, but decided to go to the second floor and see if I could luck out. I walked slowly past a few rooms that had their blinds open, trying to take a quick peek in the windows without being too obvious. No luck.
But then from behind me a voice yelled, "You! Peeping Tom. We're over here."
I turned around, and from three doors back the girl who had shouted at me earlier, was on the balcony, posing, beer in one hand, and the other on her hip. She looked good, and I made my way back, hoping for the best.
I walked over to the room, stuck out my hand and introduced myself as Bob. She returned the favor and said her name was Nikki.
"Come on in. She said, waving me into their room. This is Toni. Introducing her friend. Let me get you that beer."
With that, she popped a Coors light and handed it to me with a big smile on her face. I took a long pull from the can, wiped my mouth with my hand, and gave a satisfying sigh.
"Mind if I sit? I asked. It's been a really long week, and I'm pretty wiped out."
"Not at all. Nikki said, gesturing toward one of the two chairs in the room. Relax and enjoy the brew."
I flopped down, truly happy to be sitting. Toni was in the other chair, and Nikki threw herself on the unmade bed. Nikki was really curious as to why Andy and I were in their dusty old town, and when I explained to them that we were touring the west coast doing a kids show, they were really interested in all the experiences we had had, and how we liked the travel, and being away from home for that long a period of time. I talked more about the adventure of it rather than the drag it was of living out of a suitcase.
Eventually, they opened up a bit more about themselves and told me they were both married with two kids each and had been best friends since they were little kids. When I asked about why they were hanging out in the hotel rather than at one of their houses, Toni got quiet again, and Nikki looked really uncomfortable.
Nikki turned to Toni and asked her, "Do you mind if I tell him?"
Toni shook her head no, but I noticed she teared up as Nikki explained to me that Toni's husband had been cheating on her, and evidently it had been going on for quite a while. I got really uncomfortable, not knowing what to say, when Toni broke down in tears, and Nikki jumped off the bed to comfort her.
"Maybe I'd better go." I said. And with that I got up from the chair and headed toward the door. Before I left, I turned to Toni and I said, "Look, It's none of my business, but if my wife looked as good as you do, the last thing I would do is cheat on her. As a matter of fact you can't even tell you've had a couple of kids. You deserve way better than that."
Now to describe Toni, she had curly blond hair down to her shoulders, more dirty blond than light blond. She had full breasts about the size of oranges with slightly erect nipples that her bikini top did nothing to hide. Nice butt, a little bigger than her frame but not sloppy at all. Nikki, on the other hand was an ash blond with straight hair, a really tiny butt and chest, but was really gorgeous, She looked like she was 16 years old, but was actually in her early thirties.
I grabbed the handle to the door and started to turn it when Toni surprised me by asking if I really thought she looked good? I told her "Of course. I don't give compliments unless I really mean it."
"Thanks. Toni said with a sigh. I haven't heard that from a man in a long time. It sounds really good to me."
"Well you should be told that more often, and if your husband had a brain in his head, he would tell you every day." I told her. "I don't care how long you are in a relationship, you should never be taken for granted."
With that, I walked back into the room and took the chair again, and grabbed another beer. They both seemed genuinely glad that I did, and I handed them each another. We talked for a bit, and I asked Toni what she was going to do going forward? She really didn't know, but she did say that since there were two kids involved that she probably would go home tomorrow and try to work it out. She felt she didn't have too many choices. I told her there were always choices and that she needed to really think it through before she made any final decisions.
All of a sudden Nikki looked at her watch and jumped up and exclaimed, "Oh, God. Tom is going to be home in fifteen minutes. I've got to grab the kids from the sitter and get my ass home." She turned to Toni and said, "Sorry babe, I have to. Are you going to be all right?"
Toni looked at her with sad eyes and said, "Sure, I'll be fine. Don't worry."
And with that Nikki gave Toni a big hug, and started for the door, telling her she would call her later. She looked at me expectantly, and I stood up to leave as well. Toni surprised me by asking me to stay, telling me she would like to talk some more, and that I was a good listener. Nikki gave her a sideways look, but Toni told her again that she would be fine. At that point, Nikki hugged me as well, and I assured her that I would be leaving in a few minutes. Then she left, leaving the door open behind her.