"You've got a girlfriend?"
"No, not really.... But I have several friends who are girls who I need to talk to about us. But I AM interested!
"I mean Betsy.... You're gorgeous. You're beautiful! Inside and out. You're a freaking genius! You're active and take great care of yourself!" My eyes roved from the top of her black hair to the tip of her cute, painted toes poking into my side still. Red warmth filled my cheeks.
"I've also had one of the most wonderful nights of my life! I mean we talked about so much and it was so effortless. Time slipped by and I almost forgot every last one of my worries.
"Speaking of worries, that's part of what I'm talking about. A couple of my friends might need some help. They're having problems with a... a neighbor."
I looked down at her feet to avoid looking in her eyes as I kinda lied to her. I reached out to gently grasp one of her feet with my hand.
She left it there, against my thigh.
I gently rubbed the ball of her foot with my thumb.
She moaned softly and then asked, "Can't they call the Cops or something?"
"No, I'm afraid they don't have enough evidence of an actual crime. They told the girls to get more evidence."
That was about as close to the truth as I could be, I thought. But now I needed to get to bed. I knew I'd have to work hard not to toss and turn and let my mind run wild worrying about Itzy and Lacie, Foxie, Pixie and Tee.
"So, anyway, I really do need to get to bed. I'll call tomorrow, what's a good time?"
"I'd like that." She said, leaving me for a few seconds to figure out whether it was bed or plans for tomorrow. "How about any time after Nine, before Noon? I'll be settled into the office by then, but I have a class at One and will need to grab lunch."
I knew she was fishing. But I knew I'd be way to antsy and would be very poor company.
"Awesome." I smiled, a genuine one.
Betsy retracted her feet, placing them on the floor of the passenger side. She picked her shoes and purse, turned daintily and opened the car door. As she opened it, she turned to exit. Just as she stood straight, she turned back around and bent forward to look me in the face.
Her tank dark top fell away from her front slightly, revealing the edge of two very willowy looking lace bra cups. They looked to be a very pale pink against her beautiful golden skin. Her wide, but shallow, cleavage disappeared in darkness towards her flat abs, hidden in shadows.
My eyes made it to hers, there was a smile in them. She appreciated the redness in my cheeks at having been caught red handed with a real shit-eating grin.
"Please don't take too long. I am not sure what it is about you...." Her tongue poked out of the corner of her lips in a cute little thoughtful smirk, "But, without trying, you have me ready... to... go."
She winked, smiled, and stood up.
Then, she wiggled her ass and closed the door on my slack-jawed face.
I watched her every step of the way up her front walk, up her front porch, and until the door was closed. Then, I sat there for a few more minutes just staring at the door.
That night was rough. I tossed and turned with images of all six women in my life flashing in and out. I never fully felt settled and woke feeling done in before I'd even gotten halfway through a cup of coffee.
Work was miserable and dragged on and on. I feel asleep during an afternoon meeting of my full department. Luckily, Julie, Howard's Admin, took pity and let me sleep until I need to pay attention near the end of the meeting. I slipped out of the office right after the meeting, claiming oncoming illness. (Little could I claim that the six women in my life were keeping me awake all night! LOL)
I rushed through the house, into hiking clothes, threw some coffee in a thermos and water in my jug. Out the door, down the street and up the hiking path I went. The tiredness of the day began to lessen as I breathed the fresh air and green leaves emerging, the moist ground and rotting leaves of last Fall.
I put a few hundred of yards of a slow jog, catching a second wind. I then began stretching my legs as I climbed a few hills and made the quick turn towards my little meadow. I slipped along the slight game trail and slowed to a walk. Sweat had broken out on my skin, and I was breathing heavily. I calmed myself before approaching the meadow. I knew I was earlier than expected, but I couldn't wait to see my women.
I entered the glade slowly, looking around. I felt something off. But I didn't see anything unusual. Nothing smelled different or sounded different. But the air was different.
I walked quietly, slowly, around the edge of the glen. I reached the stream and caught movement by the trees Itzy always entered through. I looked that way and saw Lacie behind a tree.
She looked tense. She was biting one thumbnail. One foot quietly jigged. Her arms were crossed tightly across her chest. She wore an olive brown hoodie with her black hair peeking out. That was all I could take in before she turned to look out from behind the tree and saw me. Her eyes locked on me and she raised her eyebrows questioningly.
I stepped into the clearing and headed her way in a straight line. By the second step I was running to her as she ran directly at me. She leapt into my arms like a spider monkey.
"Daddy. Oh, Goddesses Daddy. Itzy's hurt!"
I ran for the gateway!
"Tell me, Lacie, baby? What happened?" I asked quietly and as calmly as I possibly could.
"We got there. Everything was fine!" She cried quietly in my ear. I knew she'd held it together until I'd gotten there.
"We checked into the Inn. We went to the Pub next door to get our included dinner and maybe have a drink or two.
"We were missing you, Daddy."
"It's okay, tell Daddy what happened, babydoll."