Hi, it's Julia. You may remember me ... Sheri, Julia? Me, the Cougar taken and turned. Ah, I see you nodding. Good. It's been four glorious years for us. I still blink when I look at her. She's just a wonder ... and she's doing very, very well at work too. (Me: winking) Yeah, the jokes are still lame and the sex is still fabulous.
About a year ago, Sheri was on a trip and had a short, glorious interlude. She's so cute; she called and asked if it was okay. Don't you dare tell her ... I got so goddamn wet I used that little powder room in my office to 'beat back' the fire. I was the queen bitch when she got home ... my Ma'am was very un-Ma'am-ly all weekend, at her pet's beck and call. I did, if you will, beck and call her plenty. Oh yeah sure, I hated every delicious moment of it.
So on and on life went. When Linda told me she and Randi were getting hitched we cried!! Oh what a party that was! My girls, two of my bestest friends!! How happy we were for them. They went to that place where that person did that thing she does -- and they spent two weeks in France, England and Ireland on their honeymoon. La vida loca!!
Life goes on. A business trip was planned; the C.F.O., me, was the leader of the pack. Mrs. C.F.O. was coming. Geez, it's four years later. Has anyone grown up? We had made plans to stay the full weekend after the conference ended and then 'stuff' happened. Someone got fired and, as a parting gift, put a 'bug' in the software. Company-wide. Now software isn't my thing but this was a biggie. Our home office I.T. department went into lockdown. No vacations, no weekends, no nothings till a fix was made ... yesterday kids! Someone needed to be sent to the site. Guess who? Uh huh; plans up in smoke. Mrs. C.F.O. would be in Dallas; her wife would be in Baltimore.
Sheri was the one who made the suggestion. I went nuclear. What was good for the goose was NOT good for this gander, and she damn well knew I was totally cool with her fling. No, no, no! I had what I wanted and no one else would ever do. After she soothed me to and through several blinding orgasms she simply said, "Here's the deal. If. That's all I ask ... is if someone catches your eye, consider it." The lights had cleared out of my head by then and I was sort of capable of making rational decisions so I agreed to that. I wasn't going to look anyway. Moot point.
Anyway, this conference would take place in January in Arizona ... you're welcome people! Too damn much work for me. I wasn't happy about it, especially since there wouldn't be anyone there to keep my bed wet and warm at night. Teresa served us dinner the night before we had to leave and we hustled upstairs for a glorious night of loving. I'd give you chapter and verse but you'd be bored. Yeah, okay, I admit, that hurt -- a lot. You'd line up for my powder room and pay BIG money to use it if I described that night. All of every glorious moment of it. And you know it's true!!
I asked Randi how life was ... she beamed. I suspect there was a lot of that goin' on. Lin beamed a lot too. The window seat next to me in first class, already paid for, was empty. Sigh. Yet another reminder. I would text my honey soon as the plane door opened. Nah, soon as the wheels touched down. Tell her that pussy was sore and baby was happy -- and missed her terribly. She, umm, replied rather graphically that she missed me too! Gawd! We've debated, delightfully, in the Jacuzzi, about which was better: make up sex or I missed you sex. If anyone has an opinion please let us know. Sheri reminded me of her suggestion. No problem! Not happening. Homey don't play dat! Word! The silly C.F.O.
The suite was wonderful. I hated it. No Sheri. Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel -- close to the airport, plenty of rooms, 2 restaurants ... Linda's the best. She beat them to death on the rate and (giggle) told them she had it from a secret source that the President would not be there during the conference. You know who had the bestest suite! Big ole Jacuzzi and I had no one to share it with. So go shop or something girl and quit whining. Yes Ma'am. She nodded; oh god the spend was so good. I miss her terribly. I got out of the shower and put on casual things -- shorts, cotton top, anklet athletic socks, and white tennies. Why did blondie wear tennies? Cuz nineies were too small and elevenies were too big. Grin. Somebody out there laughed! I know you did. Thank you. Yes, it's pathetic ... but the laugh is the thing!
I went down to the "Rimrock Bar and Grill." Seriously? It was fine. I ordered wine and perused the menu. I had tonight to myself before things ramped up tomorrow. So I ordered something 'healthy' and sulked. The place was moderately full for a Thursday. Apparently we weren't the only group booked. I might swim later and work off some of the frustration. When the server brought my food was when I saw her. I think the young man asked if I wanted more wine -- if he'd asked me to sign over my ... I'm 29. What? You really wanna argue? Okay, so it was going to be the 22nd anniversary of my 29th birthday. Soon. (Me: sticking my tongue out at you!) She sorta, kinda looked my age. The two things that caught my eye were the stark, forlorn look on her face and her face. However old she was she is gorgeous. Hair so dark red it was ... I thought for a minute. Ginger? Yeah I think that's it. She sat twisting a glass round and round in her hands with that forlorn look. Like many a redhead, she had a lovely, fair complexion. It was hard to tell her height and build. She was sitting and her shoulders were hunched like she was protecting herself from something -- or someone. Could it have been she was comforting herself?
Her back wasn't to me. Duh! She wasn't facing me, thankfully. So I could kind of keep an eye on her without doing so too obviously. I nibbled on my food, sipped my wine and watched. She pushed the food around ... eating but not really. Way more of whatever she was drinking. I saw her nod to the same server I had. Hmm. I lifted my hand and, when he came to my table, said, "That lady nearby, the one who just ordered whatever ... my tab please. But don't tell her who it's from. And I'll have another of mine." If he was any kind of surprised he hid it. Hotel, restaurant, two singles at two tables. I saw his lips move ... her head look around -- not at me. She shrugged her thanks.
Goddamn you Sheri ... you put the bug in my ear. No, Julia, not goddamn Sheri! This is on you. SFTU and say thank you Ma'am. Thank you Ma'am. A little smirk -- yeah, still me. Now go talk to Ginger. Yes Ma'am. Am I married or what?
I stood, walked to her table, and said softly, "I, umm, hope I didn't offend by putting that last drink on my tab." My best smile. Her head turned; she stared. Her eyes took me in. No honey, I'm not a serial killer! Just a girl; well, no, not so much anymore. Whatever!
She smiled, "It did catch me by surprise; thank you. Would you like to sit down?" Oh honey!
"Thanks, yes." I did. Smooth as ever, "I'm Julia."
"Hi Julia, I'm Emily, nice to meet you." Gawd! Brilliant smile. "What brings you to the desert in January?" We laughed.
"Oh, the usual ... winter, business, the swimming pool, a chance meeting with a beautiful woman." That last? Inside voice.
She nodded. "He left me for a blonde. It was a text and the locks were changed and my ... umm, our ... all ... the accounts had zero balances. Mother fucker -- no, strike that, child fuc ..." That was when the tears started. I waited for a bit, then reached out and covered her hand with mine as she cried. The phrase flitted through: "Behind every successful man is a woman, cheering him on, helping lift him to ever higher peaks and we hope it's his wife." I just shook my head and empathized.
She dabbed at ... goodness, they may be puffy and red but they're so very blue. Okay, I confess, I took a gander at her. Nice! Her casual dress did nothing to hide a lush, very feminine figure. "Sooo, if I may, are you from this area?"
The question seemed to startle her from whatever she was thinking. She looked at me as if for the first time. Oh dear lord. The smile was -- sweet. She didn't have much makeup on; her lips were full, very kissable. (shush!) "No, I'm from Dayton, Ohio. I'm here on business and to ..." she shook her head. Shut up Julia and let the woman speak. "To ... I don't know ... I guess to try and figure out the rest of my life." Good for you Ginger, you got it out!
I lifted my glass, we clinked, and I said, "Here's to the rest of our lives, Emily!" I smiled, hers was faint. She took a wee bit of a sip. I saw her eyes tear -- again.
"Julia is it?" I nodded. "This ... it's not how my life was supposed to go. We would ride off into the sunset together -- the pwince and his pwincess." I smiled at her pwonunciation. (Yeah -- mickey soft hates it!) It was so innocent, so cute, and I kissed her. EEK! No, you didn't really! Umm, yeah, I did -- really. Maybe she wouldn't notice. Fat chance ya goof. Oh my god, now what.
She giggled. "Did you really just do that?" What a gorgeous smile! Sheri!! Help! She laughed at me. You're on your own wifey!! Geez!! So I did it again. You did what? Uh huh, and I liked it; so did she!
Do you know of hair that isn't a mop of tight curls but sorta hangs in glorious, endless loopy things? Ya huh, I knew you would. That was Emily. Her face was thin ... It's perfect for her. I got a bit of a glimpse of her smile when she giggled. It lit up her face. She was sooo sad that it was hard to find a smile in the sorrow.
"Hey!" She looked at me. "If you've had enough whatever wanna go for a walk? Just do something other than think about whatever it is you're thinking about? It doesn't ... sorry, seem to be bringing you a lot of ... umm ... joy or whatever." Smooth, Julia.
She stared for a moment, asked the glass what to do (apparently) then nodded slowly. "Yeah, what the hell." So we each paid our bills, stood and wandered out. To where? Hmm. I took her hand in mine and we walked through the front door. We wandered with no purpose and no destination other than my bed. Oh god! I didn't just say that. Sheri smirked. Bitch! UGH! I giggled; Emily asked, "What was that about?" I blushed. I had to tell her -- now? Yeah!
"I'm, very, very married Emily and I was thinking of my wife and ..." She stopped on a dime, turned, stared, very pale. Her blues bore into mine. I stood up to it. I nodded, and said, "Yup, very, very gay. And very blissfully married. I love her with every last bit of my being and she, basically, told me that IF someone happened to cross my path I should ..." I let the rest of it drift. She stared. I shrugged.
Her voice was a razor sharp hiss; her eyes blazed as she angrily spat the words. "Are you fucking kidding me? You're gay, married, and on the prowl? You spotted me, clearly wounded, and figured I was low hanging fruit?" Her eyes still blazed; she slapped me. It was hard enough to rock me on my heels. I took it. I let the anger ... whatever anger does; dissipate, I guess.
"Emily, I'm so completely not on the prowl you can't begin to imagine. That I told you I'm married might, if not for your understandable fury, make some sort of sense. Yeah, I'm happily married and comfortable being me. I ... I saw a woman forlorn and reached out. The kiss was ...geez ... I don't know, it was just a kiss. You're gorgeous, he's an idiot and yes, I want you desperately." FUCK! Why on earth? She stared - more in shock. "I'm so sorry Emily. I really have no idea why or excuse for saying that. It ... the words just fell out of my mouth and I just don't ..." I have no idea anymore. Did I ever? I didn't want this to happen ... no goddamn way. But I said it, right? So something must have been in there? What? I was about two seconds from just turning and going back to my room.
