An adult stories – PUNKS Ch. 28: The Temptress by dadadadiox,
dadadadiox Joe is in the final turn, looking at the home stretch. This is my longest chapter thus far. It’s a transition piece with new characters that will help this story to the finish line.
March 1996
— The Wee Hours —
Joe’s phone rang at 10:40 PM, just as he was climbing into bed with a book. He let it ring, fluffing his pillow, and pulling the linen up. His machine answered.
“Hi, Joe. It’s Tina. I just wanted to talk. I feel…
Joe picked up, “Hi, T.”
“Are you screening calls?”
“If I am, you should be pleased you made the cut; but no, I don’t screen. What’s up?” He looked at the clock, “It’s 1:41 AM there. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, just not sleeping and I wanted to talk to you.”
“Anything particular on your mind?”
“There’s a lot of drama. I feel like I’m living in a Boadway production. He won’t let this go. Every night is a new scene.”
“You can tell your husband that I have no business in New York in the foreseeable future. He’s safe from further humiliation.”
“I told him that two weeks ago, and again last week. He just can’t get past it.”
“This Broadway play you’re living in, is it a tragedy or a comedy, or is there intrigue?”
“Well, since we got busted on the big screen, it’s not a mystery. It’s just how people are reacting. All his buddies are talking. He’s the butt of their jokes, and he’s miserable, being a baby. I guess I would call this a tragic comedy because some people are laughing.”
“It must suck to have shitty friends.”
“That’s what I tell him. It’s not my fault he has garbage friends.” Tina laughed. “My bother is loving this. April thinks it’s romantic…”
“As she rolls her eyes at us.” Joe laughed.
“Yes! She said it was so cliche and predictable but she loved it. You know they don’t love Troy, right?”
“Yes, because he doesn’t love them. That’s how they see it.”
“Jack and April aren’t wrong.”
“Ya know, T. I have to say something you may not like,” Joe said, then paused… and paused.
“Since when do you think twice about saying what I don’t want to hear?” Tina said impatiently. “What is it?”
“I don’t want to defend your husband. I think he’s a dick and he’s probably a crook. I can understand how he feels. If I were in his shoes I’d probably be upset too.”
“Three weeks after the fact?”
“I think you should cut him some slack.”
“Do you feel bad about this?”
“No, not at all. I would kiss you on stage for all to see again and again with no regret.”
“Okay. I’m glad we both feel that way.”
“I’m just saying you could consider his feelings.”
Tina didn’t reply for a moment. This version of Joe with empathy for her husband was off-putting. She didn’t know what to think so she didn’t know what to say.
“The thing is, T. Troy has a legimate grievance and if he had any self-respect, he’d file for divorce over this public humiliation and be done with you. Then you could be with me, the man you kissed for all New York to see.”
“I get it now.” Tina chuckled, “You support my husband because if he took it to the extreme…”
“He makes my dream come true.”
“I knew you were working an angle. I hated that you defended him. I’m relieved you’re just being a jerk. I can deal with that.”
Since that final show in February, Joe hadn’t done much in LA except adjust to retired life. He wasn’t retired from his business, but he was retired from B minus level celebrity and the grind of touring. Life was simple again, on the outside.
On the inside, Joe was lost and aimless. There was no special woman in his life. He was feeling alone. After a night of drinking, he was tempted to reach out to Jasmine for a booty call. It was one of the things they did, but he snapped out of his delusion. That would be a dick move. He was thinky drunk that night, not stupid drunk.
Before Tina phoned him on this late night in early March to update him on the aftermath of the big screen kiss, they had already started a new but familiar phase of this cross country-long term-dysfunctional-extramarital relationship. They were talking again, two or three times a week, every Monday for her lunch break, keeping a long tradition alive, and in the wee hours when T couldn’t sleep. Tina whispered at times, calling from her guestroom.
“What are you doing all day?” she asked after Joe said was just bumming around.
“I have described my life here before. You know my routine.”
“Humor me.”
Joe sighed, “I get up around seven, jog and run the boardwalk, grab a coffee and a bite at my friend’s cafe. I might chat with my neighbors over coffee. Then I start my day with whatever’s on the agenda. Lately, it’s been quiet, so I’m tending the bar at The Surfside to help Larry. He owns the place and is having surgery. He needs someone to cover his day shift, so I do a few shifts per week.”
“You went from playing Madison Square Garden to part-time bartending?”
“And I’m not getting paid. It’s volunteer work. My tips go to Larry, but that’s not much. The day drinkers are fucking tightwads.”
“What if you’re not bartending? What else do you do?”
“I play basketball. I used to play a lot, but then the band got big so it was on and off. I’m getting back into that. If I have work I’m never really off the clock here. I do studio work at night. The shop just isn’t busy this month because I was on tour and didn’t book any sessions.”
“Do you ever just hang on the beach, alone, laying on a blanket?”
“Sometimes, but there are usually people I know on the beach so I can always join a party. I’m not alone when I go out, even when I go out alone.”
“I would love to see your life for one day.”
“My Venice invitation stands.”
“I know, Joe. And Jenna has the same Joe Rewards Club offer. So it’s not such an exclusive deal.”
“I never said it was. The first woman from New York City to cash in her semi-exclusive California VIP rewards may not want to go back. My home is yours, or Jenna’s.”
“Oh, is that the deal? Are we in a race to California? Does Jenna know?”
“No. I’m just teasing you.” Joe reflected for a moment. “Ya know, T. In the past, I would have let you wonder if that was the deal, you versus Jenna. I don’t play that game anymore.”
“I appreciate that. You make Venice sound like a special place, but I’ve heard it’s kinda rough.”
“It’s where the city of Los Angeles meets the ocean. We have all the city’s problems. I like that it’s not perfect. It keeps the perfect people out.”
“Someday I hope you can show me.”
“I’m not holding my breath, but you’re welcome any time.”
“If I came out you could show me your famous California King. I think it’s hilarious you wrote a song about your bed.”
“I know, and it’s a minor hit. People can relate to that song. Who doesn’t love their bed?”
“Me.”
“That’s not your bed’s fault. I was in your bed, T. It was warm and wonderful. You’re just sharing it with the wrong…” Joe stopped himself, trying to be nice.
“It was warm and wonderful that day.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Now that I think of it,” Tina said. “I shared my bed with you. I think you owe me a tour of your famous bed.”
“Get your ass to LA and I’ll take care of you.”
“Someday, Joe. Someday.”