Strictly In The Bedroom 2

Chapter 7 Yellow Mini Dress

M A L L O R Y

“You what?!” Max and Gia asked at the same time with their eyes widened at me.

“He asked me out for some drinks tonight, and I… Well, I could not say no.” I groaned, feeling frustrated that maybe I had done something wrong. “He was just so alluring.”

“Are you sure he is not even a stalker at this point?” Gia asked, as she was fixing her hair and her makeup.

“I do not think so.” I answered.

“How old is he again?” Max questioned, while spraying the perfume on him all over.

“Ugh, older than 18?” I answered, sounding absolutely unsure, not even knowing how old he truly was.

They immediately stopped from what they were doing and right away looked back at me as if I had made the biggest mistake in my entire life. “Do not even look at me like that.” I stated right away, blinking at him.

I knew that Gia was actually feeling worried about the age difference between me, as her childhood friend, and this younger man that I was meeting tonight from some ‘platonic night out’. I knew that she may have been concerned about the potential power imbalance that could arise from such an age gap between this stranger and I, and the difference in life experience that could potentially affect me.

But I did not really care too much about it at all. I know that she must have been worried that I, as her childhood friend, would be taken advantage of, manipulated, or exploited in some way despite the fact that I was a bit older than Liz. Moreover, I may have been particularly worried given that I was her childhood friend, and was still going through a difficult time, and was not in the best headspace to make clear and level-headed decisions about my relationships.

“He is young young.” Gia pointed.

“So?” Max chimed while laughing under his throat. “Who cares about that? He knows Mal’s age which means that he likes older women. No?”

“Yeah right, for his s****l fantasy.” Gia mocked.

“Who cares? It is Lisbon! We are on a freaking vacation. I am probably going to have s*x tonight, and maybe you will too. Who cares? When we go back to the U.S, we get back with our reality anyway.” Max stated a real fact before adding, “And besides, he was the one who threw himself at Mal. Moreover, as long as he is older than eighteen, he is okay. He is safe”

“He is a child.” Gia pointed out.

“He is of legal age.” Max countered.

“She is 35.” Gia pointed out and gestured at me with her hands at me. “I do not want people to think that she was a sugar momma or someone who was a groomer.”

“Gee.” I hollered.

“What??? Just saying?” She responded while shrugging her shoulders.

“You are overreacting.” Max chirped in as he added, “Do not listen to her, Mal. Whatever happens tonight will not happen anymore in the future. When we leave Libson, we leave the memories here. Mal will go back to the U.S. and will go back to her reality, so she obviously needs this night out more than we do.”

“With a guy who was 18 years old???” Gia pointed out intensely.

Max sighed heavily, “Gia, we do not even know if he is actually eighteen.”

“So you are saying he was sixteen?” Gia chimed, making the situation even much worse for me.

“Oh my goodness God, can you two please just stop it?” I interrupted their conversation as they were now staring sat me. I added, “You are already making me feel more disgusted with myself that I agreed with a younger man. I do not want to think that he was younger than eighteen, as he said he was studying business administration and double majoring in business administration. So can we just stop it? I am 35, and I can decide what I want to do,”

Max pointed at Gia.

Gia smacked him.

Max pointed out while sighing, “Nine years. Tommy had cheated on Mal with Kiara, or maybe the course of their relationship with whoever women he wanted to hook up with and I am so sorry for Mallory to be going through something like that but Gia, Mallory needs this more than ever.”

Gia sighed heavily, “I know. I know that, damn it. I just… I just do not want her to get all dramatic and fall in love with this random stranger.”

“Fall in love?” I snorted while laughing. “I will definitely not.” I insisted, as I knew that I would never really fall in love with him since I was also leaving for Lisbon tomorrow afternoon. I was determined to let her know that I was not going to because I knew I would not. “Even if I end up having a one night stand with him, we will be leaving tomorrow, so it would be the best way to go out before we go home, right? There is no way I would love him.”

I could not help but laugh at the thought of it.

But I knew that going out and socializing, having fun, and having s*x on my trip would provide me a good way to let go of my feelings and relieve whatever tension I had been holding onto since Tommy. Although s*x was not really necessary, but then, if it happens, then it will happen.

To be honest, it would be something that would help me get over the agony and just forget, even if it was only temporarily. I would have the opportunity to venture outside my comfort zone, broaden my perspectives about life, and engage in novel experiences that have eluded me throughout the last nine years. In addition, I would be able to let loose and explore my wild side, my femininity and my sexuality for a change from the more steady and established parts of my relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who likely cheated on me for the whole nine years that we were together.

For a woman like me, who was actually thirty-five, I was single after Tommy left me and I was likely feeling the need to put myself out there in the dating world again even if Liz suggestively did not want to date me which I was thankful for. I felt as if I needed to get out, have fun, and explore my options in order to feel fulfilled and content with my life before getting older and regretting not doing things I have wanted to do. I could view this vacation as an opportunity to enjoy and explore life without being tied down by commitments or obligations. It was truly a chance for me to enjoy myself, meet new people of all ages, and possibly even find some romantic or s****l connection with someone.

I was 35 years old and free to pursue my interests, no matter what they were, even just for tonight. I was more than content to visit Lisbon as a single lady and have a one-night stand, and that was going to be okay. As long as I was not hurting someone and that I was not offending anyone, then having a one night stand was okay in a foreign land. I did not mind that at all. I was happy to have the chance to engage in some lighthearted fun and little less to nothing when it comes to romance as I had been in a romantic relationship for nine years where I was only cheated on.

I was at a place in my life where I was content to be on my own and thought there was nothing wrong with enjoying myself with someone I was sexually attracted to. Since I had no responsibilities or commitments to worry about, I felt that returning to my own life when I get home would be the ideal opportunity to let free and explore without any constraints, even just for tonight.

“You are so lucky that I brought this dress with me for this trip. My gut feeling was telling me to do so. Although it will be a bit too tight on you,” Gia informed me as she handed me her dress from her luggage. “It will be fine. You know how I like my mini dresses hugging me so tight like it is sucking the air out of me.”

I stared at the yellow mini dress, “Holy, is this even… going to fit me?” I questioned as I examined the dress.

“It is stretchable, do not worry.” Gia reassured me, pulling another dress which was in lavender and had straps.

“Remember, we do not need hangovers, our flight is four o’clock in the afternoon tomorrow.” Max reminded us.

“Yeah, you should remind yourself of that, heavy drinker.” Gia chirped as we were both laughing.

“Offended, but also proud.” Max playfully answered before asking, “Where are you meeting him again, Mal?”

“Luxx. He said to meet around eleven.” I responded casually.

“Perfect, the same place that male tourist from the tour wanted to meet me.” Max chimed in as a response while he was fixing his brows and brushing them in place with his spoolie brush, “Are you sure that he is even going to be there?” He worriedly asked.

I nodded my head, “He said so.”

“What if he will not be there?” Gia questioned.

“Do not be a pessimist.” Max barked back playfully.

“I am not. Just pointing it out.” Gia answered right away.

“You are just being a cockblocker.” Max chuckled as he was spraying some setting spray on his face.

“We still have to reassure his age. I do not want to go to jail for corrupting a minor.” Gia responded playfully.

“Oh boo-hoo cockblocker.” Max snickered.

I grunted a bit as I was busy putting on the very skimpy dress while Gia was helping me.

“Ew! Boobs!” Max exclaimed as soon as he saw us struggling with the dress.

I could not help but laugh and so did Gia. “You are so overly dramatic as per usual. As if you do not have them either.” Gia sarcastically responded.

“Golly, this dress is really sucking out the life out of me.” I grunted as soon as it was on me.

Gia sighed exhaustedly, “Yeah, that college boy will most definitely have a hard time taking this off you.”

I laughed a throaty one as she smiled at me and added, “Let us do your hair then makeup.”

“Have you shaved?” Max asked while fixing his hair in front of the mirror, “I meant down there.”

“Of course!” I chirped, in a tone which sounded like what-kind-of-question-is-that.

“Oooh, she ready.” Max commented which made us all laugh.

I smiled at Max’s teasing, as Gia was fixing my hair giving the ends of my waist length light brown hair big curls while she was fixing my curtain bangs for me. “If he is not going to show up, then we will just have fun. I want to have fun.” I smiled happily.

“As you should!” Max and Gia chimed in together loudly while all shared laughs and smiles.