“Good thinking. And number two, who’s a member of the book club?”
She gave him a puzzled look. “I am.”
“And who drew the card?”
“I did.”
“So,” he said, “don’t forget this challenge is about YOU. Although it’s your party, it’s still about the challenge, and you’re the center of that. All these people are here to help with your challenge. Just like at the Daughters of Jezebel club, you’re the main event, okay.” He gave her a big smile.
“Thanks for reminding me,” Cecily answered as Mitch gave her butt two pats and walked away.
She was thankful for that reminder. She had slowly moved from preparing for her challenge to being a party manager. The party needed to be planned, but with the thought that it was about her and the others were there to make that happen … and to have some fun as well, put things into perspective. She had planned what she hoped would be fun and wondered how things would go with an age range of twenty-one to about forty. Added to that was the fact that she knew Mitch, Galina, and Jess, but none of the others. This would be a very new experience for her, and she was telling her mind to forget that and just … just, whatever.
Cecily was up early getting things ready, and both she and Mitch made several trips to the Waterman’s backyard. Two tables were ready for the “get acquainted” time, i.e., quick games of strip poker. She’d told everyone to dress as casually as possible, which she hoped they’d understand meant as few clothes as possible, so the get acquainted would move along quickly. The beer was on ice, and the wine was in the small refrigerator Mitch had carried over and plugged in on the Waterman’s patio. All the instruction and punishment cards were in labeled envelopes, and the games and equipment were ready as well.
Jess and Galina Leroy were the first to arrive. It had been a while since Cecily had seen them.
“How have you guys been?”
“Great,” Galina said. “With Anna Lea off to college, we’re kind of empty nesters now.” She chuckled. “It’s probably a good thing she’s away, or she’d have insisted on coming with us. She’s a little wild — I guess she inherited that from me.”
“Yeah, you should have seen Galina light up when she got your call,” Jess said, poking his wife. “She’s ready.”
“Well, there are a couple of twenty-something boys here too, so you may have to train them,” Cecily teased.
“Honey, this is your chance.”
“Jess, we’d better take it a little slowly,” she said to her shiny-headed husband.
“Here they come now,” Galina said, waving toward the gate.
Cecily watched the two young ladies heading toward her, a curly-haired redhead and a tall, slender blond with a pretty face. All were introduced, and Cecily knew that the redhead with the warm and enchanting brogue would command Mitch’s attention most of the day. Having Akala as a name didn’t hurt either. She suspected the two young guys, who hadn’t appeared yet, might have some interest there as well.
In just a few minutes, it was Mitch’s turn to do the introductions. His work cohort and wife arrived. Mitch had neglected to tell her that Heath had to be a leading man of some sort, and May looked like a Victoria’s Secret model. Mitch had said Heath liked to brag about his wife, and it didn’t seem he’d been exaggerating. Her platinum blond hair, tied in a party-appropriate ponytail, went nicely with Heath’s currently stylish two-day growth of beard.
The two young guys appeared, laughing and punching each other. They quickly settled down, ready for introductions, and Edie obliged. Colin’s heritage was Irish, but it hadn’t been a major part of his life. He wore glasses and looked scholarly, not like someone you’d expect at this party. Calvin was a blue-eyed wrestler and looked the part. Surprisingly, he was soft-spoken and constantly smiling.
Everyone was there, and after a few minutes of laughing and getting acquainted, more like sizing up the strangers, everyone was ready to begin, some a touch more nervous than others, including Cecily.
“Pick your drinks,” Cecily began, “beer in the tubs and wine in the little fridge. Then go to the two tables, five at each, and split three and two at each. Cards are on the table, and I’m sure you know what happens in this game. And kick your shoes and socks off.”
Lots of laughs and grins as the ten divided and sat. Cecily was in the spirit of the day, wearing only shorts and a tank top, her signature outfit as of late. She could tell that most of the others had on a few more items.
Cecily was at a table with May, Jess, Colin, and Calvin. She planned to have some changing of places partway through the game. She had played poker only once in her life and quickly lost the first hand. She had two choices — the tank top came off over her head. Colin and Calvin tried to act cool but had probably never seen a pair of thirty-year-old tits before, particularly none as nice as Cecily’s.
The boys each lost a shirt, as did May. Cecily lost hand number five, and the others were treated to a view of her bare mons and an inch of puffy labia. She waited a few seconds before sitting down, the C-boys holding their drool. May had some bad luck and was down to a thong. If the boys thought Cecily’s tits were nice, they had to think May’s were semi-spectacular, hardened nipples included.