“Not for a few days but I have some prep work to do first,” Jeff said.
Another guy walked into the bathroom, looked at Jeff and Suzie and turned and walked out.
“We better get out of here before we get into trouble,” Suzie said, then hesitated and finally forced herself to say it. “Don’t say anything to Jared about what happened last weekend.”
“What happened last weekend?” Jeff asked and he raised an eyebrow. His stance shifted and he leaned into her a little.
It was enough that she could smell him, earthy, cologne free. “In the studio…Anyway, just don’t say anything.” Suzie felt flustered.
“I already told you not to tell anyone about me painting. It didn’t happen,” Jeff said.
“None of it happened.” Suzie looked him directly in the eyes.
Jeff leaned in as close as he could without touching her and he whispered, “Then why are you talking about it.”
Following him out the door, Suzie was silent. Laura met them in the hallway to the bathroom. She was in line.
“Hey, follow me,” Jeff said to Laura. “I will help you skip the line.” And he and Laura went into the men’s room. Suzie went back to the table.
“Now I have got you all to myself,” Jared said as she sat down beside him.
She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. Closing her eyes and taking a breath she said, “Yes I like it. It is quieter.”
Jeff came back to the table with Laura giggling beside him. By the time they were all ready to leave, Suzie’s buzz had turned into a headache. Jared rubbed her neck.
“We better get you home. We all work tomorrow,” Jared declared.
“Yeah, early morning,” Jeff said in agreement.
On their way home, Jared reminded Suzie he had stuff at her place and she asked him, not caring who heard, if he was staying over. He asked her to come stay with him instead as he had to drive Jeff to work in the morning.
“No, that’s alright,” Suzie said. “I will let you boys have your little sleep over.”
Suzie enjoyed some time to herself and fell asleep quickly. Hours later, she woke before her alarm feeling aroused. A hazy dream was trying to replay itself in her mind. She remembered lying naked on a cold surface but feeling warm and wet. It was coming back to her and Suzie moaned remembering the pleasure of the dream. She slipped back into the dream state and the haze lifted. She saw Jeff painting her. He was shirtless. And he carefully examined her body before putting brush to canvas.
/> This time it was the alarm that woke Suzie up and she shook the dream out of her head. In her conscious mind, she lied to herself that it had been Jared painting her. And on top of that lie, she told herself that she couldn’t really remember the dream at all.
Ignoring it and moving on with her day, Suzie was pleased to work most of the day on her own. Not stopping long enough to consider current attractions, she kept herself busy enough that work was always at hand. Jared and half the office were out of town for a one-day seminar so the office was quiet.
Towards the end of the day, Suzie received a text from Jared explaining that he would be home late and asking her to pick up Jeff from work. No, she said to herself. Yes, she wrote back. Jared told her to get Jeff and meet him back at his apartment. He would bring supper.
When Suzie arrived to pick up Jeff, he was surprised to see her and looked at her quizzically. Climbing into the passenger seat he smelled like sweat and his tight shirt clung to him. Fumbling through his pockets for his phone, his shirt tugged upwards revealing his rippled abs.
“We can go whenever you are done staring,” Jeff said.
Sputtering in embarrassment, Suzie drove off. Jeff found his phone and learned Jared was late. They walked into the apartment in silence. Suzie paced around checking her phone to hear an update from Jared. Suzie sat on the couch trying to relax.
“I’m going to shower,” Jeff said. Suzie nodded in acknowledgement.
In the meantime, the phone rang and it was the restaurant saying their food was ready. She arranged for it to be delivered and called Jared. Unfortunately, there was more bad news and he would be two hours still. He asked her to wait for him.
“I am pretty tired. I might be asleep before you get here,” Jane said quietly.
“So go crawl into my bed and sleep. I miss you and really want you there when I get home. Please,” Jared asked sweetly.
As Suzie agreed to stay, Jeff came out with a towel wrapped around his waist. Walking over to the couch, he stood in front of her. As she choked a goodbye to Jared she envisioned pulling the towel off Jeff. Just a quick tug was all it would take.
“What are you doing?” she asked him.