The explanation / justification for my having the nerve to write a sequel to 'Roomers' is summarized at the beginning of Ch. 01. I hope I've slipped in enough back-story so that you don't have to have read the first series to enjoy this follow-up. On the other hand, if you're a 'Roomers' virgin, it would certainly help to scroll through it quickly.
Two points: remember to vote and remember I respond to non-anonymous feedback.
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'How come you spend so much time lookin' outa that dam' window?' Jeez, what a dumb question.
My comfort zone, Annie. Guess it's where I do my thinkin'. You gotta go already?' She was dressed, hair still damp from the shower, looked exactly like a well-fucked woman. Fact is, she looked almost exactly like the first time I saw her. Older, sure, but she was handling it pretty good. Still gave the best BJ's in the fuckin' universe too. I was kinda glad ol' Ray was mostly out of her system.
'You're getting' too set in your ways, Doug. You wanna come eat with us? Kids been askin' about you some.' Women don't always appreciate I like being set in my goddam ways. I shrugged and wriggled my toes in the rug.
I kinda enjoy lookin' out the window, kid. You know that already. Spring's on the way, and it's always sorta pretty this time of year. What's the plan?' She snorted.
'Girls in spring clothes are sorta pretty, I guess you mean. What we'll do is pick up the kids from Maria's, hit the mini mart for beer, seein' as you're visitin', start cookin', thank God it's Sunday.' Sounded real dull to me
'How about pick the kids up, eat at Daisy's Diner, catch their early bird special? Easier for you, more fun for the kids.' She looked at me and grinned.
'And you won't be stuck waitin' for me to finish cookin'. Right?' Busted. I nodded and grinned back.
'That too. Use the truck, bring y'all back here after?'
'Jeez, Doug, I'm still kinda excited havin' a car and you won't even let me drive ya round town. Your way, I guess, less you're worried 'bout lookin' too much like a regular family.' Good point, but a good cause.
'Guess I'll risk it this time.' She looked sorta pleased when I said that, followed me out to the truck without any more moaning. I fired it up and we rolled. She was sitting quiet, looking pretty happy, and I gotta say she had reason. Five months since the shop opened and she reckoned she'd be showing a profit any minute. That made me feel pretty good too. Smug as well, you want me to be totally honest. Entrepreneur Doug.
Fact is, entrepreneur ain't quite the word. Venture capitalist is nearer the mark, you wanna be picky. Any college town has a fixed proportion of hippy wannabes, and this one's no different. And Annie sure knew how to sell bongs and stuff so the kids thought they were getting advice from the horse's mouth. Which they were, come to think of it: woman was a goddam expert when it came to smoking out. Seemed like I'd done myself a real good turn too. I mean, I was gonna get my money back, plus some tax breaks, plus someone one hundred ten percent on my side, no questions; always useful. Guess I made that point already, but it sure is an important one. Sex was OK too. Regular occasional, getting better every time; I wasn't pushing any: making warm and sensitive, biding my time is all. You lose your husband in a real unpleasant way, you gotta right to a little space. Guess I'd called it right this time. Found that out the first evening I went round to the new shop. She'd smiled when I walked in.
'You know Kirsty came round, told me she was splittin' for a coupla weeks?' I'd nodded.
'Told her right at the beginnin' it was friends with privileges, no more no less. Might even have said it a little firm.' Snort from Annie.
'She still thinks the sun shines out of your selfish goddam ass. I kinda like her though. Awful young, but she's been real good with the kids, and she thinks stuff through some. I kinda admire her for that. Told me how she and you got together too. Thought I was gonna shit tryin' not to laugh.' I let that one slide.
'You give her any good advice?' She'd shrugged.
'What I told her before. You're red hot in the sack, you're a helluva lot of fun, and you're cold as fuckin' ice when you want something bad. Let her talk about you a little, told her she was smart enough to handle it. She's still hopin', but she ain't gonna collapse when she realizes it ain't gonna happen.' One of the things Annie does real good, she knows how women think.
'Cold as fuckin' ice? That's kinda hard, ain't it?' She'd smiled then.
'This is Annie, Doug. Knew you when you were a smartass freshman, and all that's happened since then is you got smarter. But when you're coverin' your smart ass, you're cold enough for fuckin' Frostbite City.' Mebbe she had a point.
'So what's next?' She'd faced me, grabbed my ears and hauled my face down to hers,
'Kids are asleep, I've finished here and it's about time we said 'hi' properly. Reckon you can do that stuff with your tongue if I crank you up first? That big ol' bed you bought needs christening.' Way to go.
That had been prime time. Felt to me like there was some gratitude hiding behind the enthusiasm, but hell, her mouth was God's gift to a hungry man and I didn't call her on it. Since then she'd gotten more relaxed, happier to be persuaded, and the times she wasn't, well, like I said, pushing a widow is kinda impolite. Worth hanging on for the times she was up for it, and that's for sure. Delayed gratification Doug, and I ain't kidding.
*************
We pulled up outside Maria's, and two minutes later the cab of the truck was invaded by flying arms and legs. Goddam kids were all over me like white on rice and it took a while to clear them away, get 'em settled. Turned out tickling them was the best way, and it wasn't till that was finished, I noticed Annie standing watching, looking kinda dreamy. Hmmph.
'You wanna eat, you better hop in. Daisy's meatloaf is callin' me.' She shooed the kids into the back, checked their seatbelts, we headed off for food, me thinking hard that there was gonna be a balancing act for a while till she settled down, realized she was first among equals and not an inch more. I caught her glancing sideways at me.
'Stop lookin' worried, Doug. What you gotta do is remember who I fuckin' am. Don't want all of you: not any more. Look at it this way: you know about computers an' stuff right?' What's that got to do with anything?'
'Annie, you're gonna have to explain that.' She chuckled and dug me in the ribs.
'Think default setting. Shit, we both know you're never gonna settle, and I sure ain't lookin' to get hitched again. You said it in the kitchen the first morning after that Kirsty came back, right before you went and screwed her with the door open so's I could hear ya. You remember?' Jesus, what did I say six months ago?