“You’re still trying to fuck him, even though he’s made it clear it’s not good for him?”
“It’s good for him, Jen. He’s just thinking too much. He needs to chill and have fun.”
“Jesus Christ,” Jen said loudly. “You’ve swapped roles. That’s what he said back when you shut him off. He was trying to fuck you and that messed with your head. You were confused and torn. Now you’re the temptress and he’s…”
“Confused and needs exactly what I’m offering, just like I did when he was pursuing me.”
“Okay,” Jen said, exasperated. “Good talk. I have to get back to work.”
Jenna stood up and glared at Tina, annoyed that she was putting her needs and lust for Joe ahead of his well-being. Tina needed Joe in her life to feel whole, but she wasn’t willing to go all the way… divorce. Instead, she messed with Joe’s head. As Jenna walked out, she took a shot at T.
“Ya know. I haven’t taken a vacation in two years. Maybe a trip to California would do me good.”
— Rewards Club —
Joe’s phone rang at 10:55 PM. After a month of phone calls, Joe was now accustomed to these late-night rings. He knew the call would come between ten and midnight his time. He fell asleep a few nights hoping she’d call. He knew this was bad news for him. Joe was right back in it with Tina. The thing is, he was alone in LA and he felt he needed her right now. He ignored the red flags.
“Hey, T. How are you?”
“Not sleepy.”
“What’s on your mind this time?”
“What’s not on my mind?”
“For you to call, it’s usually something specific, like a question that’s bugging you.”
Tina hated that he was spot on, but it didn’t stop her from asking. “What would happen if Jenna flew out there to visit you?”
“Are we back on the Rewards Club offer?”
“I’m just wondering how you imagine that week would go down. You’d pick her up at the airport, take her to your place, and then what?”
“You know what would happen. If Jen flew here I would assume she wants to sleep in my famous bed. So that would be the first order of business once she unpacked.”
“Of course. And you said whichever of us New York chicks showed up, we probably wouldn’t want to go back. What if Jenna decided to stay there?”
“That would be an interesting development in my life.”
“What would you do?”
“I don’t know. Why are you asking? Did Jen say she was coming out?”
“We talked about your offer, and how much fun that would be. We both think about it.”
“Interesting. So there is a race, in your twisted little female minds.”
“It’s not a race!” Tina said too loud.
“Hey, calm down. We don’t want to wake Mister Moneypants.”
“He’s in a coma.”
“So you’re not at all worried Troy will pick up the other receiver or walk in on you whispering like a teenage girl up past her bedtime?
“Nope. Not worried. He sleeps like a bear in hibernation. Troy has this bedtime regime. He does a facial skin treatment, brushes, and flosses, then he takes vitamins and melatonin, sometimes a sleeping pill. He puts a mask on his face and goes to bed. Once he’s asleep, a fire alarm won’t wake him. I wish I could sleep half as soundly as he does.”
“And this is the guy facing federal prison time, sleeping like a baby?”
“I know. Isn’t that messed up? Meanwhile, I’m an insomniac worrying enough for both of us dragging my ass to the office every day on three hours of sleep, on a good day.”
“Talking to me at 2 AM is not helping you get your beauty sleep.”
“You don’t get it, Joe. If I wasn’t talking to you I’d be staring at the ceiling with a dozen thoughts bouncing around my head like bumper cars at Coney Island.”
“I like that, T. Good metaphor. Did you make that up?”
“I think so.”
“Nice.”
Tina sighed. “Your voice calms me. Right now, I’m thinking of this conversation and nothing else. I love listening to your stories and hearing about people you know. I like that you listen to me. I get to share my thoughts with someone who will…” Tina paused. “I’ve said this before. You always know what to say to make me feel better. You have points of view I never considered. It’s incredible sometimes.”
“I’m glad I can do that for you?”
“Are these talks helping you? Is this good for you?”
Joe exhaled and paused, “Yes and no. I love talking to you. T. You’re my favorite person in the world. I want this, but it reminds me of how good we are together and that can hurt. It does hurt, because I can’t have you.”
“You don’t have to do this?”
“I want to. I will always take your calls. T. I want to be a friend you can count on, even when things are shitty for me.”
“Are things bad for you now?”
“I don’t want to overstate it. I’m okay, but it’s not great being alone at a time when I thought I’d be moving forward with a new life. It all happened so fast, Jasmine, Jenna, my performing career ending. I wasn’t prepared to be alone.”
“I’m here for you,” Tina said softly. “Just as you’re here for me.”
“Thanks, T. That means a lot. It really does.”
There was silence, neither had a word to say. Finally, Tina got back on topic.
“Did you give Casey the offer to visit California?”
Joe laughed, “You’re really stuck on this, aren’t you? We just had a sweet moment and you took it right back to your crazy obsessive shit. You want to know how many competitors you have?”
“No. I’m just wondering how unremarkable that offer is. Half the women in Europe are probably in your Joe Rewards Club.”
“We might have a few European members and maybe one in South America.”
“Did you offer Casey a place to stay in LA?”
“I did not.”
“Why?”
“Because that girl would have been on the next flight.”
Tina laughed, “I think you’re right. I should have thought of that.”
“If you need to know how many women I’ve recently invited to California, I will tell you.”
Joe said nothing because he wanted Tina to ask. She knew this and didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. He waited. She waited. He waited.
“Okay,” Tina flinched first. “How many?”
“Hang on, I’m counting.”
“Oh, fuck you. You’re just busting my ass.”
“The truth is, there are three women with that offer fresh in hand. You, Jenna, and one other.”
“Who would that be?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
“So you are still a dick. This sensitive nice guy thing is bullshit?”
“No. You don’t have to worry about this woman. I recently declined a business meeting in New York. I had no interest in doing his thing. Just to be nice, and to end our conversation, I invited her to LA to meet me. That’s never gonna happen. So, it’s a bullshit offer.”
“I see. Is this someone I know?”
“It’s someone you know of, I’m sure.”
“And you won’t tell me.”
“Nope.”
“But it’s just business?”
“Yup.”
“Okay.”
— The Girls Are Back —
Cheri spun on her bar stool, pulling her knees to her chest. Joe noticed her pussy pressing against her bikini bottom. She smiled, wanting him to look at her body. Cheri didn’t care if a couple of old-timers got a glimpse too. “What are you doing after work, Joe? Do you wanna cruise up the walk?”
Deena rolled her eyes, tired of her best friend’s flirting game. Joe smiled at Deena, “I know. It can be a bit much sometimes.” He looked at Cheri, a gorgeous young lady with a long mane of curly blonde hair. Joe had known her since she was a freshman in high school. Cheri and Deena were skater chicks from the neighborhood.