This story is the seventh of a series that stands at seven stories. The series began with
A Knee, A Rub, A Beer and A Babe
, and continued with similarly titled stories.
Jake entered his favorite pub one Friday evening and met the gorgeous, red-haired Suz. They clicked and Suz gave Jake a pleasant surprise at the far end of a slightly darkened bar. As Jake and Suz were about leave for more advanced activities at Jake's home, Suz's incredible, dark-haired, and longtime lover, Michele, the bartender, asked to join them. How could Jake and Suz possibly turn her down? After a late evening romp, the trio fell asleep in their own little mouth-to-groin triangle.
Later, during the wee hours of Saturday morning, long before the sun poked its bright orange face above the horizon, Michele awakened and seduced Jake. Michele might have dropped the "L" word during their encounter.
Still later that morning, during another three-way romp-in-the-hay, Suz and Michele revealed to Jake that although they viewed themselves as lesbians, they were seeking a "mate" to join them on their "journey through life." Jake, of course, wondered if they'd chosen him, but the women were a bit cryptic on that point.
There's more sex and more talk Saturday afternoon and evening, including dinner with one of Suz's clients who turns out to be a long-time friend, and a once-upon-a-time lover, of Jake's. Throughout it all, Jake, Suz and Michele discover they really do like each other. Independently they wonder about the future.
This seventh story begins Sunday morning. Jake awakens and finds the women gone, but...
I offer both public tribute and my deepest appreciation to adetaildiva for her invaluable assistance as a volunteer editor. She's fixed my grammar, placed my commas, answered my many, silly questions, suggested words and thoughts here and there, and generally "rattled" [her word] at me when I was completely off base.
* * *
Oh no, where are they?
That singular thought flew through my brain only seconds before my alarm buzzed me into full awareness of my surroundings. My bed was empty, except for a small silver thong placed on the far left pillow. I chuckled to myself and called downstairs, but received no response. I climbed out of bed, wandered to the bathroom window, the one overlooking my driveway, and peered out, but saw no cars. The lightly tanned, wild-red-haired woman and the dark complected, long-dark-haired woman were gone, vanished to parts unknown.
I quickly did my early morning business, then pulled on skivvies, compression shorts, tennis shorts, a tee-shirt, socks, and tennis shoes, before wandering downstairs and into the kitchen.
The half-full coffee pot's bright red eye told me two things: the coffee was hot, and the women vacated my home less than an hour ago. I filled an unused cup left next to the pot. As my brain registered its first hit of morning caffeine, I picked up an envelope left next to the cup. I walked around the kitchen's island to the table on the far side. Someone had taken the time to lay out a blue cloth place mat, a white plate on which was centered a leftover cinnamon raisin bagel, a small tub of apple cinnamon cream cheese, and a butter knife. A newspaper was refolded and laid on the table next to the place mat.
I sat and pulled the envelope to my nose. No doubt about it, Michele. I'd know that strong womanly scent anywhere.
I used the knife to slit the envelope's seal and pulled out two pages of my personal, bright-white letterhead. My fingers drew the paper across my nostrils. My nose detected the clear and lighter fragrance of Suz.
I opened the letter with great curiosity, and read.
"Jake:
"We remembered that you're playing tennis this morning, so we decided to leave you to your games while we took our own leave and returned to Michele's home. Beat up those old men with whom you play and if any of them give you any guff about your inexplicable hair loss down there, you have our permission to dangle Michele's silver thong under their sad noses. We trust you found it on her pillow.
"Normally, I'd be leaving for Chicago sometime this afternoon or evening, but as fortune has it, I have an appointment in Grand Rapids tomorrow morning, so I'll be spending the night with Michele. I'll drive to GR in the morning and fly back to Chicago after my appointment. I'll be in Chicago all week and then back here next weekend.
"Michele says she's cooking tonight and that you're invited, say five-ish. Bring nothing, Jake, and I do mean nothing: no wine, no food, no dessert, no flowers and no candy. But, our dear man, please bring yourself. Michele will send the address, directions and other important data to the email address above.
"Friday evening and all day and all night yesterday were incredible for us, Jake. We hope they were for you as well.
"We didn't know you knew Anna before our conversation yesterday. We each shed a tear last night when she told us to be nice for you. She must think you're special as do we.
"Can you handle us, Jake? We'd like to talk some more.
"Suz
"Yeah, Jake. What she said.
"Michele"
And now I'm supposed to play tennis? I grinned to myself.
Well, what else am I going to between now and 5-ish?
I gulped the coffee, went back upstairs, threw a post shower change of clothes into my racquet bag, and left, taking the bagel with me for the road. Tennis lasted until noon. Upstairs with the guys in the lounge with more coffee and some talk lasted another hour. A steam and a shower took another half hour. I was dried, dressed, shaved and back home just in time to catch the second half of Detroit's football Lions again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
I re-read Suz's letter, several times. I opened Michele's email, noting the names, addresses, phone numbers, birthdays and other important stuff she'd included. I entered it all in my computer and transferred it to my cell.
I decided I needed to put both our talk yesterday and this note into perspective.
What did I know about these two women that was important? They were in love with each other. I was certain of that. They thought of themselves as lesbians. I was certain of that. They missed a man in their lives. That's what they claimed anyway.
Well, if a man joins them, many within the lesbian community are likely to reject them as lesbians anyway. They'd be branded as bi. They must know that. So what they're doing carries risk for them. Risk shows importance.
What do they miss about a man: Sex? Some sort of comfort? A different view of life? All of those? Maybe I need to ask them some "why" questions.
What of the four "Ls?" I "like" the women; I'm in strong "lust" with them, but what of our "lifestyles" and could I actually fall in "love" with them? Of course, the little head says "yes," but the larger head is preaching caution. Besides, what am I even doing thinking about being monogamous with an entity called "them?"
Sometimes they like to lead in our sexual activities, but sometimes they like me to take the reins. They must have consented to my having one-on-one sex with each of them because they'd each arranged to be alone with me. They'd apparently been pleased with our three-way activities. I could enjoy those rules.
They'd called it all "a journey." They'd said they didn't know where it would lead. They'd each cited sensual based initial motivations for wanting me, but then they'd shed a tear over Anna's words from yesterday evening. Anna wouldn't have spoken to them that way if she didn't like them and if she likes them, they must be good people.
My life's pretty comfortable right now. Living alone has its advantages. I suppose I've become selfish. I can pursue tennis and golf whenever I want. I can play my internet games anytime, day or night. On the other hand, there's no one to be selfish from. All of that would be different; I'd have others to consider. In exchange, I'd get way more sex than I ever dreamed of, but more importantly, I'd get their company and their companionship. Sometimes alone is lonely.
They're interesting and bright, not to mention attractive, but would they fit in with me socially. What would my friends and acquaintances think when I show up with two women? I might lose a few, but those probably aren't particularly important in my life anyway. I suppose my potential losses are no different than theirs.
Would I fit with them socially? Last night was great, but I knew one of their friends both longer and better than they did. How would it be when I knew no one? I wonder what they even like to do socially. All we did this weekend was sex and dinner last night.
There'd be more conversation. There'd be someone to hold. There'd be someone to wake up with in the morning. All of that would be nice.
We all could manage living here. There're two bedrooms in the basement and it's a walkout, so it's pretty nice down there. We could convert those bedrooms to offices, or whatever space they want. We could move in whatever of their furniture as they needed and store any extra of either theirs or mine.
It seems like lifestyle, could work out. What about the last "L", love? They're already in love with each other. Could they include me? Could I fall in love with them? It's been a long time since I've even been tempted toward love. Maybe I've finally found the opportunity. Don't blow it by being self-centered and narrow-minded, Jake.
I felt better. I knew I was leaning to the "yes" side of the equation. Their note sounded like they wanted to do it. I knew I wouldn't find out until tonight. I also knew that if they wanted me, I could make a decision.
Their note said not to bring anything. That's not happening. I know exactly what to bring.
I wandered to the living area and spied what I needed: my old, twelve inch tall, green vase, the one I filled with fresh flowers yesterday. I immediately called my florist, hoping they were open on Sunday. I got lucky when Jackie, the owner, picked up. She was surprised to hear from me since she knew I'd been in the day before. I told her something which potentially could be good was about to happen, and I needed happy flowers. I could hear her smile over the phone line. She knew my vase well, having sold it to me fifteen years earlier, on the day I was divorced. Jackie had filled it weekly ever since. She'd know exactly what to put in it. A man should not be without fresh flowers in his own home.
I focused on the vase. At first, it had symbolized my beginning a new life. Over time that changed and it now reminds me of the beauty of life.
I didn't know what was going to become of Suz and Michele, but I did know that whether or not I returned home later this evening, the vase was remaining with Michele. Sometimes life's road is easy and man's brain should not get in the way.
It was time to leave.
I threw a hopeful suit, shirt, tie, business shoes and a small bag into the Jeep. At five-ish I rang Michele's bell, clothing, bag, and the green vase filled with flowers in hand. Suz answered, fully clothed in jeans and a sweatshirt. She smiled at the flowers, gave me a peck on the cheek, took the flowers, and yelled, "Hey you randy little cunt, he's already disobeying us. Come here and see what Jake brought."