Amberley organised Jodi's birthday at our house. I was concerned that I was about to host a rock 'n' roll drug fuelled orgy from hell, but Jodi spoke sternly to her and Amber turned out to be a good listener. To a point.
She came to my office just before lunch one day, wearing a very short summer dress with tiny straps that showed her body off, made a big scene of trying to find my office before dragging me off to a nearby cafe.
'You didn't think of just ringing me and arranging to meet me here?'
'What and miss the chance to get the office tongues wagging?' Amber winked and shook her head. 'Besides, I was hoping maybe you could point out one of the hot young things that are up and coming that might be rich and want a trophy wife?'
'Male or female?' I asked, trying to keep a straight face.
'No, sorry Dave, I'd only marry cock.' Amber's voice was loud enough that the two older dears and the next table looked startled and glanced our way.
'Sorry...' I started to say.
'Well didn't both of you?' Amber asked with her most winning smile. The look of shook on both their faces softened as they were won over by Amber's effusive personality.
'God Amber, you can be...'
'Charming? Sexy? So embarrassment?'
'All three,' I admitted. We ordered a light lunch and she chatted away about some photo shoots that she had done recently, how she enjoyed it but also enjoyed helping her mother run the agency and that she was thinking of enrolling in an MBA. When our plates had been cleared and my coffee arrived, Amber put on her serious face.
'Okay, I've got acceptances from the twenty I was allowed to invite. DJ is booked, cake is booked, booze is ordered and now I want to know if I can test this little girlfriend of yours?'
'What? Test, how?'
'That's my surprise. She's been telling me what an...education,' Amber smirked, 'you've been giving her.'
'Oh,' I raised my eyebrows.
'I can just imagine, you filthy old man.' She laughed as she said it and I smirked back.
'I'm not that fuckin' old you know!'
'Too old for Jodi though, aren't you?' The smile disappeared and in an instant her expression was serious again and her eyes seemed to be probing through mine as though searching to read my mind.
'Why would you say that?'
'Because Jodi's my friend and I don't want her hurt.'
'I'm not going to hurt her Amber.'
'You have to say that though don't you? You'd hardly tell me that you were going to hurt her, would you? And besides, I know that you're too nice to hurt her deliberately, but Dave...it's gotta end badly.'
'Why? Because I'm twice her age? Because I have kids? Why the fuck does it have to end badly?' My voice rose a little as I spoke and the elderly duo at the table next to me looked over at us again.
'I dunno,' Amber shrugged and turned away. She smiled at our neighbours who went back to their strudels. 'I can't see...I dunno.' She looked at me and I could see a tear in her eye. I reached over and took her hand in mine.
'What's this about Amber? You?'
'Yeah probably,' she sniffed. 'I took Jodes in off the street pretty much, I thought I could show her a way through life's fucked up bits. Instead I'm still living life like an idiot and she's found a fuckin' prince with a ready made family. Fuck!'
'Amber,' I said in shock. 'You're twenty three, not forty three. If anything, the thing that is gunna end Jodes and me will be when she realises that she hasn't seen anything of the world. She's too young to be settlin' down with a bloke and ready made family...' I stopped, not wanting to follow that particular train of thought. 'So are you.'
'Yeah, yeah, I know,' she shot back. She'd regained control of her emotions and the cheeky smile was back. She was truly beautiful when she smiled. 'A moment of jealous madness that's all. And really, why would I want to have to give up having all those men chasing me anyway!?'
'No idea, and if you like I'll chase you round the living room on Friday night just so you realise how slow dirty old men are!'
She smiled broadly at that.
'So what's this test about?'
'A bit of fun,' she replied a glint in her eye.
'I'll go with the flow, but I ain't takin' the blame if it goes wrong. Unless you want to tell me what you're planning?'
'Nah I don't.' We stood and before I could reach for my wallet she'd paid in cash. 'Actually the party was a cover to talk to you about Jodi,' she said as we reached my office. 'I'm happy for her, I really am. She wouldn't've done better with some of the dicks I set her up with...or tried to. Look after her, okay?'
'I will Amber.' She kissed me on the cheek and disappeared into the crowd.
***
The party rocked. It was loud, fun and relaxed. Jodi was having a ball and we were both appreciating Amber's efforts at being the centre of attention. It came naturally to her and there was no hint of the insecurity I had seen in the cafe. We cut the cake at midnight and shortly thereafter Amber announced we should hit the pool. The thirty odd people who had turned up seemed to suddenly be in swimmers and crowding into and around my pool. Thirty arrivals from twenty acceptances was apparently an all time low for one of Amber's parties, Jodi had assured me.
There was young nubile flesh on display everywhere. I suddenly felt old and a little overweight. But I had been made to feel part of the gang and a number of the young women had come up and told me that they thought Jodi had done alright for herself. My ego had been suitably inflated.
At 1.30 the doorbell rang. I answered it to find a policeman there. I was about to apologise for the loud music when Amber elbowed me out of the way and dragged him inside. It was then I realised he was wearing an LAPD badge, was tanned, muscled and not at all cop like. The DJ changed the music and Jodi found herself the centre of attention on a chair in the outdoor area beside the pool as Mr Muscles began to dance vigorously and remove his uniform. The catcalling and cheering was deafening and Jodi laughed continuously in embarrassment. He stripped to the clichΓ© leopard skin thong, got Jodi to slap his oiled, hairless buttocks, along with most of the other women in the crowd, shook his package at her, then took a bow and disappeared.
'So that was the test?' I inquired after Amber and I had closed the door behind him.
'No,' she winked at me. The party had divided between those who returned upstairs for a dance and a sit, and those who hit the pool again. Downstairs was a little quieter. Amberley took my hand and dragged me into the bathroom, closing the door and blocking out almost all the music. With a deft movement she flicked off her bikini top, revealing her perfect B cup breasts to me. Again.
'Fuck me, right now, right here. Make up for leaving me high and dry on your birthday.' She pressed herself against me as I backed up to the basin. 'I won't tell a soul.' She breathed onto my mouth and stared with desire into my eyes. I wanted to, I really did. I hardened against her and I saw the flash of victory in her stare as she felt me lengthen. Then I pushed her gently away.
'If Jodi dumps me, I'll call you...promise.' I meant it too.
'What?' Amber took a step back, put one hand on her hips and stared at me. 'You knockin' me back a second time.'
'With great regret.' My smile was rueful.
'Don't tell me you're in love with her?' She feigned shock but made no move to cover up.
'I am.' The admission came as something of a shock to me, and the feigned expression on Amber's face became genuine.
'Fuck, you haven't told her that though have you?' She seemed to become aware of her state of undress and with an equally deft move slipped the top back into place.
'No, and I don't think I'd really admitted it to myself, until just now.'
'You gonna tell her?'