Note: This was written long before "The Girls in the Band" and doesn't have the same kind of character development, but I hope it's kind of a fun read anyway. Special hugs to the two people for whom it was originally written.
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They were so alike in so many ways. They shared the same birthday, the same deep-down decency that was a joy to discover, the same ill-defined sense that that they didn't quite have a right to what they wanted. And Jocelyn loved them both. She also knew that both Josh and Annie deserved everything they wanted -- and more, so much more. Tonight, she would make sure they got it.
When she had invited them weeks ago for a joint birthday dinner, Jocelyn knew in her heart that she wanted to give them more than just one of the special feasts she had learned to prepare during her stint at the Culinary Academy. There were other skills she possessed that she wanted to share with them. But a simple seduction seemed so out of place.
Sure, they had flirted with each other. And there was some obvious physical attraction. But it had been put off too long, she thought. Now it would be awkward and possibly jeopardize the friendship that meant so much to them all.
And with Annie, of course, there was the other issue. While Jocelyn's golden-haired neighbor from downstairs talked openly about a sexual appetite that seemed nearly out of place with her scrubbed-clean good looks, she had often made it clear that her partners of choice shared one trait: they were male.
It was while pondering that problem that Jocelyn's plan was born. "Remember, this isn't about you," she reminded herself. "Try to think about someone else for a change." And once those thoughts began, they took on a life of their own.
* * * * *
As the three friends drained the last drop from the second bottle of Muscat Blanc, Josh sighed contentedly and asked, "So when do we get to unwrap our presents?" "It's ... it's, well, it's kinda the other way around," Jocelyn replied. Josh and Annie looked at each other before turning their heads simultaneously to stare quizzically at Jocelyn.
"I thought us blondes were supposed to be the vague ones," Annie finally said. "What's this about?"
"I took a little chance here," Jocelyn explained. "If I made a mistake, I want you to be honest and tell me, OK? But ... listen, how about I shut up and just show you what I got you for your birthdays? Come with me."
Intrigued by the mystery, Josh and Annie followed Jocelyn out her front door and down the narrow hallway. When they reached the end of it, Jocelyn knocked lightly on the door of another apartment, which was quickly opened by a diminutive young Asian woman covered only by a bath towel. She giggled at the shocked look on the faces of her visitors before gazing at Josh and saying, "Happy birthday, I'm Lin and I'm your present ... or part of it anyway. Come in and meet the rest." Shifting her eyes to Annie, Lin hastily added, "Both of you."
There was a hint of fear in Annie's eyes, but before she could voice it the door opened wider, revealing a tall, slender man "dressed" the same as Lin. "Don't worry, gorgeous," he said with a smile, "Joc isn't out to convert you."
Josh and Annie stared at each other and murmured as one, "What the fuck?"
Barely suppressing a giggle, Jocelyn blurted, "Now you've got it! Fuck is the operative word tonight -- and you both are gonna get as much as you want. From Lin and Greg and from ..."
"The rest of your presents," said a sultry voice that barely preceded a dark-eyed brunette into the front hall. "I'm Sonja," said the voice, which belonged to a woman whose towel was tied low enough to display breasts that defined the word spectacular. "And this is Antonio" she added with a nod over her shoulder toward a serious-looking Mediterranean whose misplaced towel revealed his greatest asset.
"They're yours ... all yours," Jocelyn said to her friends. "And unless I hear a 'no' out of one of you in the next ten seconds ..." she added, dangling fours strips of velvet provocatively.