7
1035 Words
Back at her desk, she emailed the boss the answer to his question, again. Retire faster, she seethed as she hit send. She changed the direct deposit on some payroll items, and it was time for lunch at last. She popped down to the coffee shop and met Marj. Marj enfolded her in a hug that smelled like sugary vanilla perfume.
“That complete dickhead. I could kill him.”
“I picked up a guy.”
“What? WHAT?”
“Sit down and lower your voice. I’m not celebrating. I’m—confessing.”
“Am I supposed to offer you forgiveness? Cause I’m not blessing you till you give me details,” Marj teased.
“He sent me a margarita from the bar after Kevin left me. I went and talked to him, and we ate together, and then we shared a cab to my apartment.”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so proud of you! It’s like my little girl is growing up!” Marj crowed.
“What are you talking about? We’re the same age.”
“But you’re miles behind me in maturity and experience. You never learned that s*x can be fun and relieve stress. You have to make it all so serious.”
“It is serious. It’s very intimate.”
“That’s the point. It’s a game played while naked.”
“It is not a game. Chutes and Ladders is a game.”
“You could play that naked I bet.”
“Marj!” she laughed, feeling better already.
“So what did he look like?”
“Black hair, a little longish, but he’s a guitarist, so that’s to be expected.”
“Guitarist as in good with his hands?”
“Extremely.”
“Better than Kevin?”
“Honey, this napkin would be better than Kevin.”
“Really? I mean he didn’t exactly have stud written all over him, but I didn’t know it was that bad.”
“It was.”
“Then you’re well rid of him. This other guy...what’s his name?”
“I’d rather not say,” she said, biting her lip.
“What else can you tell me about the guitarist?”
“He was funny. He was great in bed...or couch really. We didn’t make it to the bed till later.”
“Oooh...sex on multiple surfaces. This guy gets my stamp of approval. Skinny, fat or muscle-y?”
“Sort of lean muscle-y. Fantastic body but not bulky.”
“Tattoos?”
“One on his wrist.”
“What did I say?”
“I didn’t read it. I just licked it and moved on.”
“Ah, you’re one of us now,” Marj laughed. “So are you seeing him again? Did he give you his number?”
“No and no. I basically kicked him out this morning.”
“Wait, what? He stayed the night?”
“Yeah, it wasn’t planned.
We fell asleep is all.”
“Right. Because being comfortable enough to sleep beside a near stranger you hooked up with is so common? Trust me, it’s not. I can’t even sleep if someone else is breathing too loud in the next room. That’s why no roommate, see.”
“His breathing didn’t bother me. I was all margarita-d and orgasmed out. I fell asleep. He fell asleep. I woke up in a panic and had to get him out of there.”
“Was he so repulsive?”
“No. I didn’t want to miss work.”
“Really?”
“If I’d let him stay sprawled out on my sheets one more minute I would’ve been on top of him. Again,” she sighed, puffing out her bangs when she exhaled.
“Oh, honey, if he’s that great, see him again.”
“No way. I just got out of a relationship last night. I need time to heal and have closure.”
“Closure’s overrated. Get laid instead.”
“I appreciate the support, but I don’t have any wild oats to sow. You’re thinking like you, not like me. I need stability and calm and a standing date to work events.”
“Speaking of work events, have you thrown in on the going away gift for the bastard boss?”
“Not yet.”
“Ten bucks.”
“If I put in twenty will he leave now?”
“Nope. No guarantees. We’re getting him a cake and some cuff links.”
“Sounds more than fair since he’s such a jerk.”
“Did you get the email yet?”
“Which one?”
“The one the boss sent out about his party.”
“I didn’t open it. I figured it was just a thank-you.”
“Nope. He thought it would be fun if we put on skits and musical numbers for him.”
“I assume he expects us to strip? I think not. He’s damn lucky to get a cake.”
“Agreed. Nobody in my department wanted to do skits either. Except for Luke and the one he suggested was about group therapy for assholes so I doubt it would be well received.”
“Not true. I’d like it.”
“So would I but we heard the new boss is coming by so we don’t want to skewer the old one too much in front of him.”
“I’m not looking forward to meeting him.”
“I thought you researched him.”
“I did, but that doesn’t mean that Phillip Fitzsimmons isn’t as rude and chauvinistic as Freeman is.”
“You said he was big into charities, like for children. That’s got to be a good sign.”
“You’d think so, but it’s his public image. I guess I’m cynical because of what it’s been like here, the dirty jokes and the brushing up against the girls and the fact that I know damn well that I was hired because of how I look—I was the only woman who applied.”
“Just hope for the best. It’s about to change for the better.”
- Writer
