June, 1986 - Janet & Nick
Fitzgerald
Nick Fitzgerald had never really known a bad day. In college, he had played point guard for University of North Carolina Wilmington, and led them to two conference finals, winning one and losing one when his last second shot was ruled to have been taken after the final buzzer. By his 32nd birthday he had parlayed a little knowledge of the building business and became an overnight sensation as one of Wilmington's foremost developers. The reasons were simple enough: he had gone to high school with many of those in the banking and real estate sectors of New Hanover County, and was more than willing to share his new found wealth with them. The fact that one of the State Senators was his uncle didn't hurt either. The fact that he was bi-sexual, with a slight preference for men, was relatively unknown except for those he actually participated with.
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The phone rang for the sixth time before Janet groggily reached out to grasp the receiver and say, "Lo?" The clock-radio said it was 1 PM.
It was Nick, and he was already leaving a message for her: "Hi, guess you're still recovering from all that gin we poured out last night."
He laughed at the groggy sound she made. "Yes, well I'm sorry about leading you to that particular well, darling. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But if you feel anything like I did on waking up you've got a drum banging away in your head and a mouth as dry as a sandpit. My guess is you shut the damn alarm off. I didn't, that's why I'm calling you instead of the other way around."
"Oh, Nick, thank God it's you."
"Oh, you are there! Wonderful! So, how's your head?"
"Fucked up: hangovers do that to you."
"You really got smashed last night. I shouldn't have let you drive home."
"Well I got it done without incident," she replied.
"Now that you're awake, slap on some make-up. I'll swing by and pick you up in 30 minutes."
"What? No, Nick, I can't go out today. I feel terrible and must look terrible.
I'm just going to go back to bed."
"Bull-shit! I'm not letting you do that. Besides, you have to meet my buddy, Phil. You and he will hit it off from the start."
"Phil? I don't recall you mentioning him."
"I haven't, but get ready; we're picking him up when his flight gets in around five."
"Fine," Janet said, and swung her legs off the bed and onto the floor.
"I know what you need, Janet."
"What's that?"
"You need a new man in your life."
"That's the last thing I need. Besides, I have you."
"Now sweetie, the best way to get over one man is to get under another."
Janet laughed into the phone. "Are you suggesting what I think you are?"
"I haven't suggested anything, darling."
She reflected on the last time she and Nick had sex. One week earlier, he had entered her and moved inside her for several minutes before shriveling and flopping out of her. He had refused to let her try to get him up again.
She felt that she owed him another chance to regain his manhood, and so told him she would be ready when he arrived. They hung up and Janet tottered into the shower and, after vomiting in the basin, tried to make herself presentable.
Phil? Nick and Phil. I've never had two men at once. Of course no one and I mean no one, puts it up my behind. Nick knows that. He'll tell Phil, so no worries there. But is Phil clean? I'll have Nick buy a bunch of rubbers.
Just before letting herself out of her place, Janet looked in the mirror. That was probably a mistake, her hair was tangled and messy; her brown eyes looked dull and lifeless, and her usual glowing complexion was pale with two nice bags under the eyes.
"Oh, Christ!" she swore, and ran to the bathroom and heaved up the toast and coffee she'd had for a quick breakfast.