ALEXA: I bought new lingerie today and I need your opinion on whether it’s cute or not…
She was a local, no-strings friend with benefits, though if I was being honest, it was just about the benefits. I really didn’t know that much about her. I was pretty sure she was a physical therapist, but that might have been Elle, another woman I hooked up with from time to time.
“Louie, bring me the ball!” I yelled. “C’mon, boy. Bring it back!”
He looked over at me for a second and then took off across my backyard in the other direction. He loved chasing the ball, but I could never get him to bring it back.
Another text alert came through on my phone and I looked down to see a photo from Alexa. She was kneeling on her bed, wearing string bikini panties and a bra so tiny that her tits were spilling over the cups.
She was obviously angling for a hookup. Our casual arrangement had worked well for around eight months now. If we were both free, we got together about once a month, and if we were busy, no hard feelings.
And on the hard note, my dick had stiffened in my pants at the sight of her photo. It was basic biology though rather than any connection I had with her; it had been too long since I’d gotten laid and Alexa was always a sure thing.
Another text alert flashed on my phone screen just as I was about to text Alexa back.
SARIAH: Why am I such a horny senior citizen magnet?
Grinning at the screen, I pulled up my text thread with Sariah and responded.
NASH: First I need to understand the question. Are you horny AND a senior citizen magnet, or are you a magnet for horny senior citizens? Fingers crossed you answer this one right.
SARIAH: Ha! Definitely the second. I could have worded that better, right? Horny old men gravitate toward me. I just got a note from an old guy when I went to clear his table. It said: Why would I give you just the tip when I can give you so much more? He also made sure to include his phone number…
NASH: Grandpa’s got game!
SARIAH: He looked at least seventy. I read that note and immediately wanted to take a scalding hot shower.
NASH: Did he seriously not tip you and just leave that note?
SARIAH: He seriously did.
NASH: That’s fucking crazy!
ALEXA: Hellloooo? Are you leaving me on read???
Shit. I’d forgotten all about Alexa once Sariah had texted.
SARIAH: I hope I never have to waitress again. I’m going to give this new job everything I’ve got.
Athena and Louie had been chasing after his ball together. She finally stole it away from him and ran over to me, dropping it at my feet and looking up at me expectantly. This was a game they always played when the dogs played fetch together.
“Good girl,” I said, rubbing her head.
I threw the ball across the yard and she and Louie took off after it. Then I typed out a quick response to Alexa.
NASH: Hey, sorry. Busy tonight.
I was neither sorry nor busy—I just wasn’t feeling it. How many times had I had sex with a woman I didn’t know all that well?
More than I’d ever care to admit, and it had been fun most of the time, but also…predictable.
I switched back to my text thread with Sariah again.
NASH: Remind me where the new job is?
SARIAH: If you knew everything about me, the mystery would be gone. What fun would that be?
NASH: Depends. I think it could be a lot of fun ;)
SARIAH: You aren’t doing much for my faith in your sex.
NASH: I’m just teasing. Flirting is my second language. Or maybe it’s my first?
SARIAH: I’m terrible at flirting.
NASH: Want some lessons?
SARIAH: Would it involve pretending to like photos of your dong?
I laughed as Athena brought me the ball and waited for me to throw it again. It had only taken her a few minutes to steal it this time from Louie, who was keeping his eye on it from nearby.
Sariah wasn’t like other women. The more I found out about her, the more she intrigued me. I threw the ball for the dogs again and looked back down at my phone.
NASH: Nope.
SARIAH: You’re sweet to offer, but I don’t want to get better at batting my eyelashes and laughing at jokes that aren’t funny. If a man doesn’t like me as I am, he needs to find someone else.
NASH: That’s refreshing.
SARIAH: My break is over. Thanks for keeping me company.
NASH: Anytime. Hope you have better luck with customers the rest of the night.
SARIAH: Thanks. I’ll settle for getting hit on by guys who aren’t on Medicare.
I set my phone down just as Archie waddled over to me and flopped down at my feet.