CHAPTER 11 - ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HE THINKS HE’S GONNA GET YA
CHYNA
I make my way back upstairs as quietly as I can. I decide to go with a note approach. After a quick scribble, I pin it to the door and make my way out. I will change the code when I come back, but right now I am going to sleep the sleep of a smug Cupid!
SAUNA
JUSTIN
“I, I mean, we really need to stop.” I pant as I pull my lips reluctantly away and smile at his moue of disappointment. “No, seriously, we’re naked and kissing and need to...wrapping your legs around me is not helping.”
“Wasn’t aware I was supposed to be helping.” He murmurs. “Besides, you are nice and sweaty and slippery enough to slide down and out from my grasp...but if you wanted to take a stop on the way, I wouldn’t complain.”
I narrow my eyes at him, ready to be annoyed, when I see the little light of laughter in his and relax.
“Are you always this quick to see the bad in people?” He frowns.
“Yeah, a bit. When you do what I do, you are always wary.” I reply, resting my chin on my folded arms, which are on his chest.
“Me too. But you have your bullshit filter and detector in Daph, like I do in Cynthia. And besides, we are naked having a conversation, albeit a slightly hungover one, in a sauna. With some added teasing and that’s all it is. I’m teasing you. Trust me, I don’t do that often.”
“Okay, taking the teasing lead from you. As tempting as that would be, and that is a lot of temptation, I’m pretty sure that Chyna and Sade would be pissed if we got off in here.”
He barks a laugh and then winces...and so do I. “Sorry. But you raise a good point, and when she’s pissed she invents more ways to punish us with planking.” He lowers his legs, but loops his arms around my waist. “So you going to move?”
“Yep.” I slide upwards to lower my head and again he meets me halfway.
DINER - TUESDAY LUNCHTIME
VIC
I’m not laughing. Well, not that he can see anyway. It’s been almost two days since the almost-temperance men were put through their paces, and Michael has only just stopped wincing everytime he moves. Emmett comes through the door, smiling and waving a piece of paper.
“What you got there?” Debs asks, reaching for it but he holds it close to his chest.
“Vic, could you double check these…” He pauses as his phone beeps and so does mine. “...holy mother of...office now!” He orders and virtually drags me in.
“Ouch, Ems! What is it?” I rub my arm.
“Look at your phone!” He squeals, leaping up and down.
“Holy crap!” I exclaim as I look at the picture. “When did that happen?!”
“Well that looks like the sauna room, so am going to go with Sunday.” He is grinning so hugely, I can’t help smiling back. “However, I still think we should proceed with the order switcheroo.”
“Why? Judging by that, they don’t need our help.”
“Oh no! No, they need our help still!” He insists firmly. “This was a hangover kiss; it means nothing. Well not as much as it could. What we have to do is get one of them on the other’s home territory.”
“Okay, Ems. So what do you suggest?” I stop his answer when I hear a creak and swiftly open the door. Michael tumbles inside hitting the side of his head when he lands.
“Well, this ought to be good.” Ems says dryly.
“I was just leaning against the door, doing up my shoelace.” He replies.
“You landed on the side of your head. Does it hurt?” Ems asks, sweetly.
“No, it’s fine.” He looks between the pair of us.
“Was there anything else?” I ask. “Your lace is all done up now.”
“Uh no, well we’re getting a bit busy in there, so Ma wondered if you could come back out.”
“We’re getting busy, did you hear that Ems? I’m so proud! He’s finally coming to work for me. It will keep you busy instead of doing nothing apart from moaning about your exercise pain and moping about the Big Q accident. Now grab an apron and start bussing tables.”
“Oh but my…”
“Ah Michael, there you are.” A haughty voiced man steps uninvited into the office. “I…”
“What are you doing in here?” I demand, walking up to him and causing him to walk back into the hallway. “I do not like people coming into my office uninvited!”
“Uncle Vic, don’t be so rude! David, my…”
“This is David!” Deb shrieks and I have to dig my nails into my hand to avoid bursting out laughing at the mutual pinched expressions on their faces. “Let me see you!” She bustles in and turns him around. “Oh yes, a very handsome man! I’m Debs, Michael’s mother. He’s told me a lot about you.”
“He has.” David smirks and stands up straighter.
“Yes, lots. So what are you doing here? Have you come to see Michael?”
“Yes, I have. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Debs, wasn't it? I’d love to stay and chat, but if you’ll excuse me, I just wanted to discuss our routine for…”
“Not here!” Michael hisses. David is not impressed with being hissed at. “We’re supposed to have an air of mystery.”
“Not with each other!” He replies as tightly. “Besides, I was merely going to suggest that we practice a bit more. We wouldn’t want a repeat of that embarrassing concussion causing incident, now would we?”
Michael goes pink and glares at him. “I wouldn’t have slipped if someone had been holding me correctly.” He grinds out, always quick to shift blame as usual.
“Boys, let’s not have a lover’s tiff right now.” Debs interrupts.
“Lover’s tiff?! Hardly!” David scoffs, but then catches the look on Debs’s face. “We haven’t even had a first date yet!”
“Then let’s remedy that now. Michael’s free this evening. In fact, he’s free most evenings and only uses Babylon and the class to occupy him. Maybe you could change that?”
“Ma!” Michael shrieks, blushing. “David, I am so sorry! I…”
“What for? I think it’s a nice idea.” He smiles at him.
“You do?” Michael looks surprised and then pleased. “Okay, then. When?”
“How about Wednesday?”
“As in tomorrow?!” Debs gasps. “Where will you go? Is that enough time to book somewhere nice?”
“If he’s available, yes, and yes, it will be enough time. So, Michael, what do you say? Do we have a date?”
“Yes, we do.” He grins.
“That’s just great but, um, can you leave my office now, please? I really do need to speak to Emmett in private as I was before Michael eaves...interrupted.”
When we are alone once more, we have to stuff our fists in our mouths to muffle our laughter. It takes a good few minutes for us to calm down. “So what do you think David’s up to?” I ask Ems, who had been very quiet during this exchange.
“Well judging by the text Chyna sent me, she’s been doing some digging and has found out who he’s tipping his hat at.”
“Oh, who’s that?”
“Brian.”
“Brian as in Brian?! He doesn’t even like the man!”
“I know and according to Daph, during Saturday evening, there was a marked degree of annoyance when Michael was complimenting Brian about his prowess on the list.” Ems frowns and then grins slowly. “I take it judging by her reaction, you are wanting David for Michael, and have dripped a word in Debs’s ear?”
“Yes.” I say cautiously.
“Try and find out where they are going tomorrow. Leave the rest to me.” He beams and with a kiss to my cheek, sweeps out to do some romantic and not so romantic meddling.
I shake my head at the exit of my dear friend and take out my phone to quickly dial Chyna’s number. “Hey there, sweetheart. We need to do something about Tight End and the Quarterback. Can you do exactly what it was you did to get everyone talking about Desperado and the Eagle but a little bit of a pre-dance surprise? We need to give the vultures something else to feast on. Thanks, darling. Bye.”
KINNETIC - LATE AFTERNOON
BRIAN’S OFFICE
CYNTHIA
It isn’t often I get to see Brian squirm and he is definitely squirming. Ted and I are waiting for his explanation about his exploits on Sunday.
“So?” I prompt as he continues to stare at the picture.
“Where did you get this, again?” He tries to stall.
“This does not look like your first kissing rodeo.” Ted observes, looking at his phone with a cheeky smirk.
“Still in probationary period, Schmidt.” He growls, although, he too is smirking.
“Aha! When was the first one?!” I squeal.
He stares at us for a few seconds before he hands me back my phone. “First, can you send that to me? And secondly, in the forest by a waterfall when I took him home after the first class.”
“And...this is where you provide details.” I kick his desk.
“That was details.” He responds quietly and I frown.
“It was?” Ted looks at me for confirmation and I nod.
“Right, go back to work then. I don’t pay you to gawk or talk about my lo...pers...stuff.”
As we file out, I can’t help but smile. He always tells me everything about his life. The fact he’s giving bare details is promising, very promising!
E’S HOUSE OF DELIGHT - AN HOUR LATER
EMS
I am a happy camper, although slightly deaf in one ear as Daph, having been in a client meeting for most of the day, has only just opened the text from Chyna. I am finishing off their first orders and am humming to myself when the door opens and a tangerine dream walks in!
“Emmett Honeycutt?” A voice demands from behind said dream.
“Yes.” I breathe. “A-are those for me?” I stammer. “As in actually me, not a client?”
“Yes. Well, would you like me to read the message?”
“Y-yes please.” I sit down and just stare at them.
“Someone told me that you like tangerine, so I figured I’d start with these. Please choose my return flowers if you wish to take this further. I like purple, red and pink.”
I reach for the pad and start to scroll through while checking that those flowers have not run away. Ten minutes later, I have made my choice. “Are you sure now, Mr Honeycutt?” The delivery guy smiles as yet again, I hover.
“Yes, I’m sure. This is them. Um, my message is: I’d like to meet at Babylon on Saturday night at eleven. Be wearing purple or pink and wink.”
“An excellent choice with an excellent message. I shall ensure he gets it. No sir, the charge is paid for.”
“No, absolutely not! Whoever it is cannot buy their own flowers. It is just not done! I will pay cash and that is an end to it!” I declare and pull out my wallet and wait.
“Fine, sir. That will be $68 plus tax.”
“Thank you kindly. Bye, sweetie.”
BABYLON - HALF AN HOUR LATER
CHYNA
I look up as my delivery man comes in. “What did he pick?” I demand, excitedly.
“These! Aren’t they gorgeous?!” Carey squeals. “So how are you going to do the Quarterback then?”
“Disco Shirt Friday.” I explain. “Naturally, I will be picking the shirt for the Cocks and Asses, failure to wear will result in penalties. Of the exercise kind...on Saturday.”
REMEDY BAR AND RESTAURANT, LAWRENCEVILLE - WEDNESDAY EVENING
DAVID
This has to be one of the most awful places I have ever had the misfortune to have a date in. But in hindsight, it is the perfect place as nobody knows me here!
“So what do you really think of the list?” He asks, moving the appetiser closer to him...again.
“Personally, I think it is a little childish. Are they nice?” I ask pointedly as he starts to eat quickly.
“Hmm. It was a shame that the other places we wanted to book were full…”
“Yes. Such a shame.” I reach across and move the appetisers to the middle of the table and fix him a hard look. “So how well do you know Emmett?”
“He’s one of my friends. Not as much of a friend as he thinks he is, though. I’ve known him for years and to be honest, he’s a little too flaming for me but he serves a purpose. As for Ted, not a fan, at all! He looks down on me. I can’t stand people who do that.” He then pauses and looks across the room. “What the fuck is that guy wearing? He does not have the figure for that top! Some people have no idea about clothes.”
Irony thy name is Michael!
“So how does Brian fit into the group?”
“He’s Ted’s boss and new to the area. He’s bought one of the big mansions out of town.”
“Really?”
“Yeah and he’s just come out of a bad relationship. No offence, David. I mean, you’re nice and all but it’s Brian I want and Brian I am going to get. Nothing is going to get in my way! I am a very resourceful man. If I want something bad enough, I get it and I want him bad. For example, I didn’t want to work anymore, so I fixed it that I didn’t.”
“I see. However, there is the little Justin issue...”
“Who? The Flaky Fairy? What about him? He’s nothing! Just a pretty boy with a fat and most probably, well used ass.”
“I don’t get that vibe off of him.”
“You obviously don’t know how to read people, David. His attempts to sniff around Brian are pathetic and all for naught. I saw the guy that Brian tricked with, and Flaky Fairy is not his type. His type is more... me. I mean, it could be you if you were younger, but you’re not.” He looks at his watch and sighs. “Okay, that’s me done. Let’s go halves on this, shall we? I have a Marvel Marathon to watch. I mean, don’t get me wrong, we are going to win the pole dancing thingy in 3 months. But just so you know, I will be taking Brian with me.”
I am flabbergasted!