The Phoenix Accord Pt. 02

Author's note:

See Pt. 1 for blurb. Also, if you haven't already read Part 1, I strongly recommend doing so before proceeding.

All sensuality (on page or otherwise) takes place between characters who are eighteen or older.

Fourteen

"What are you doing?" John questioned reflexively upon reaching the top of the stairs.

Hazel, who had been softly padding down the hallway while wrapped in a towel, yelped in surprise and whirled to face him. This action proved too great a burden to bear for her decorative, but not very large, improvised coverup. They both watched the article in question slide unceremoniously to the floor dumbly, neither reacting immediately.

At length, Hazel said, "What are you doing here?"

"I live here."

"I meant... why aren't you at work?"

"Because it's Saturday?" he replied slowly, suddenly wondering if it was he who was confused about the calendar.

"Oh shit," she whispered as she glanced in the direction of Lena's room before adding, "Are you sure?"

"Um... I think so..." John stammered, as he found it increasingly difficult to ignore the fact that she was both completely nude and less than a meter from him.

He somehow managed to keep his eyes on hers and she nonchalantly asked, "So... what are you up to today?"

"Our plans are still a little fluid, but I was going to start with not having Lena wonder why her neighbor is standing naked in her hallway."

"Oh, shit," Hazel muttered, as she bent to retrieve her towel and wrap it around herself. "Sorry. I forgot to take something to change into when I showered. I guess I'd gotten out of the habit of wearing clothes around the house, especially when Thomas is out of town. And I tried to cover up with a towel, but I'm too fat..."

"You're not fat," John corrected gently. "How could you ever think such a thing?"

"I'm not stupid, John. Nor am I blind and deaf." He opened his mouth to object further, but she added, "I'll go get dressed before Lena gets up. Sorry about this."

"It's no big deal," he replied after she closed the door, his powers of speech up until that point having been robbed by the sight of the bottom of her ass peeking out beneath her towel.

He stood dumbly in the hall for several moments trying to make sense of Hazel's baffling comments. The more he had spoken to her since what he now thought of as 'The Incident' (when she had propositioned him), the more he became convinced that things had been very broken with her marriage long before Katherine had decided to grace Thomas with her body. It went easily along with the self-reflection he had been engaged in ever since Katherine admitted the affair, wondering what he had done to drive her into the arms of another man.

John finally remembered his reason for coming upstairs in the first place and went to Lena's room to wake her up. His daughter had reacted to Hazel's presence with a decided lack of interest, which had taken him quite by surprise. Their neighbors were certainly not strangers, but it was not as if they had been overly friendly either. John suspected the total word count Lena had spoken to Hazel in her life prior to the latter's reintroduction at breakfast earlier that week could be counted on a single person's fingers without the need to call the thumbs into service.

Lena rose as reluctantly as always, but he managed to perk her up with a promise of made-to-order smoothies. Hazel descended the stairs as Lena was putting the finishing touches on a concoction made from coconut, blueberries, and pomegranate which looked not unlike the results one would expect when trying to use a blender to conceal an unfortunate incident with a pet hamster.

"Morning Ms. Hazel," Lena said brightly after taking her first sip of the murder smoothie. "What do you like in your smoothie?"

"Oh, I'm fine. I shouldn't eat breakfast."

"That's what Daddy always says, but he's just grumpy. But you're really pretty, so you should always have breakfast. My teacher said it's the most important meal of the day. Besides... I really want to make another one and Daddy won't let it go to waste."

Hazel looked at John helplessly, but he just said, "Go ahead. It'll make her morning."

She sighed and said, "Ok. But a small one. Preferably with lots of healthy stuff in it."

"I know just what to do," Lena declared confidently.

She spent the next ten minutes rummaging around in every conceivable orifice which could store food in a modern house. When she was finished, the mound of materials was more than sufficient to make a few dozen smoothies. Hazel's eyes had widened significantly throughout the process, but she was driven to speak as Lena triumphantly held up the final item.

"I don't think chocolate syrup is very healthy."

Lena fixed Hazel with a judgmental glare and huffed, "It's there to balance out the astringency of the lemon zest."

Hazel looked to John in wide-eyed wonder, to which he responded, "She loves watching cooking videos. One day she'll no doubt be a head chef at a five-star restaurant. Or run a food truck."

"Both have their benefits," Hazel replied lightly.

By the time they returned their attention to Lena, the blender was most of the way full and she showed no signs of slowing.

"She said small, sweetheart," John chided gently.

"Then you can have some, Daddy."

John swooped in when it came time to lid up the blender and turn it on and soon the motley assortment of ingredients was homogenized. Lena proudly filled two pint-glasses to the brim and sat back expectantly. John and Hazel shared a glance as they lifted the concoction to their lips, both silently daring the other to go first. Hazel finally smiled and took a sip. Her eyes widened significantly, but she had no other outward reaction. John steeled his resolve and took his own sip. He managed to keep from reacting in any way despite the taste which could best be described as what one would expect were Buddy the Elf to be consulted when making a Waldorf salad.

"Do I taste apples?"

"I told you it was healthy," Lena crowed proudly.

"Indeed. It's very... unique."

Lena preened at the perceived compliment and carried her own beverage into the breakfast room.

John whispered, "You obviously don't have to drink that."

"It's not that bad. Besides, what kind of guest would I be if I attempted to mislead her about her cooking?"

"A wise one," John replied sagely, but he continued to sip at his own smoothie.

"Are there any plans I should be aware of?"

"Just working around here. Maybe going out to dinner later. You're welcome to do whatever, obviously."

"Would it be ok if I did yoga outside before it gets too hot?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" he asked in genuine bafflement.

"I just didn't want you to think I was taking advantage of your hospitality."

"Why would I think that?"

"Never mind," she sighed.

"No, really," he pressed.

"I didn't want you to think I was trying to," she dropped her voice to a whisper, "seduce you again." She shook her head and said, "I'm extremely grateful for your hospitality. I just don't want to be a bad guest."

"Don't worry about it, Hazel. I really am sorry I got so mad at you over the whole... I guess affair isn't the right word. In any case, I was upset with myself and I took it out on you. Then Katherine and Lord Fuckhead said, 'hold my beer' and escalated things dramatically. I know it sounds trite, and disingenuous, to say things should go back to the way they were considering how much was going on of which I was unaware. But I really want us to be friends again. And that means you not having to tiptoe around on eggshells."

She nodded solemnly and said, "I'd like that too." She took a final sip of her drink and said, "I'll go get changed then."

"Sounds good." He raised his voice and said, "I'm heading outside, sweetheart. I'll be in the backyard if you need me."

"Ok, Daddy," came her unnecessarily loud reply.

He smiled and shook his head before heading for the back door.

***

"Is this right?" Lena yelped frantically.

John glanced over to see his daughter striking a pose which looked like an Olympic diver had been hit with a super villain's freeze ray just as they had entered the water. He had always felt whatever benefits yoga might unlock for adults was completely lost on children. Their combination of natural flexibility and a high musculature to weigh ratio meant they could do effortlessly what would take someone his age years to achieve.

His idle musings vanished however when Hazel said, "Close, but you're not arching your back enough."

The pose which had been whimsical, bordering on absurd, when attempted by Lena became something altogether when Hazel demonstrated the proper form. She had taken his 'mi casa, su casa' insistence to heart and was wearing a typical yoga outfit of leggings and a sports bra, but there was nothing typical about the way she filled out the skin-tight material. Just a glimpse at her would have led Helen of Troy to have a reality television star level meltdown over being upstaged.

She was standing with her feet about a meter apart and was bent at the waist to the point where the tip of her ponytail grazed her mat beneath her. The fact that her breasts had not yet escaped the bonding of her top stood in contravention to all known laws of science as they had swelled to the point where they both touched her chin. The clear outline of her vulva was outlined by her leggings, as was the curve of her spectacular ass. John had sudden visions of sinking into her in this pose, taking her eagerly until he filled her with his essence. At the thought of their coupling in this fashion, and of the lascivious fantasy of his essence dripping from her creamy pussy and onto her waiting tongue below, he lost focus on his activities outside the fantasy realm. The wheelbarrow he was pushing clipped on a low stone wall around a flower bed and came to a sudden stop. His hands slipped from the handles and his engorged cock connected with the back of the bucket. He doubled over in pain, tumbling into the labor-saving device awkwardly.

Hazel's shouted, "Are you ok?" echoed across the yard.

He looked up to see her racing in his direction, his daughter only steps behind. She reached his side and knelt to examine him. He stayed doubled over, both due to the pain and out of embarrassment for his sub-equatorial distention.

"John?" Hazel asked worriedly. "What happened?"

He groaned loudly and whispered, "I just... slipped..."

"You what? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine."

"Then why are you still laying there like that. Here, let me help you up."

He turned toward her in hopes of pleading for reprieve. Unfortunately, this coincided with her bending down to help him up. The combination of the two unrelated, and unplanned, actions resulted in him burying his face in her glistening cleavage. A renewed surge of blood poured into his abused groin, eliciting another groan of pain.

"Woops," Hazel grunted as she backed up slightly, upgrading her breasts from 'suffocating' to 'close enough that he could see the pebbling of her areola through her sports bra'.

She attempted to grip his hand to help him stand, but he still retained enough of his wits to remember that Lena was nearby. He stammered, "I'm fine," and looked up at her pleadingly.

Her gaze remained suspicious until he glanced quickly down at his crotch, at which point her eyes widened and the corners of her mouth turned up in the first hint of a smile. She turned to Lena and said, "I think maybe he needs a glass of water."

Lena said, "Ok, Ms. Hazel," and scampered into the house.

Hazel helped John sit on the grass next to the wheelbarrow and then knelt on the ground beside him. After a pregnant pause, she said morosely, "I'm going to go inside and get cleaned up."

He could only groan in pain as he watched the alluring swish of her backside as she walked sensually toward the house.

Fifteen

"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!" John's phone wailed insistently late the following afternoon, interrupting his disassembly of a broiler fryer chicken in preparation for dinner.

"Um... what was that?" Hazel asked with a worried expression on her face from where she sat at the breakfast room table tapping away at her laptop.

"It's my app for the doorbell thingee. The default one wasn't unique enough, so I changed it." He glanced down at his slimy hands and said, "Do you mind getting it?"

"What if its Katherine?" she asked with a tremor in her voice.

"She wouldn't ring the doorbell. If it would make you feel better, you could come take a peek at my phone first."

She crossed the kitchen and reached into his shorts, at which point he quickly realized he should have specified which pocket contained his phone. Her fingertips grazed the head of his cock through the thin lining of his pocket, causing his hips to spasm reflexively.

"That's not it," she mumbled softly after a breathy sigh escaped her lips.

"Right side, back," he stammered as he thrust his hips into the counter to hide his gallant reflex.

She pulled the phone out and, after pointing it at his face to unlock it, studied the app connected to the front-door camera. After a moment, she turned the phone back to him. Standing on the front porch was a well-dressed, notably attractive woman in her late twenties. John could only shrug and say, "Who knows. Can you just see what she wants while I finish this? Or you could bring her in here."

"Sure," Hazel replied quickly.

John finished quartering the chicken and, after scrubbing his hands, covered it with a liberal dusting of his closely held rub recipe. He slid the tray into the cold oven to let the flavors meld and then turned to face his guest.

"Cordelia Cavalli," the woman said brightly as she extended her hand.

"John," he replied carefully. Then after waiting a sufficient interval for further explanation, he sighed and said, "Can I help you?"

"As I explained to your nanny, Katherine scheduled an estimate to remodel your kitchen."

"Katherine's out of state. Perhaps we should..."

"Oh, that's ok. She doesn't have to be here for this part. I just need to take measurements and really get a feel for what we're working with here."

"When did she schedule this?"

"She called me a few days ago, but we've been talking about her finally getting this project done for what feels like months."

"Talking where, exactly?"

"At the club," Cordelia replied brightly, as though it were perfectly obvious.

"Right. Well... ok, do what you gotta do, I guess," John replied weakly.

He had just pulled the items from the refrigerator to assemble a salad when she said, "This house is incredible! How long have you lived here?"

"Seven years. Why?"

"That's amazing. Katherine told me that you insisted that you be allowed to buy this house for her, even though she could have probably bought it just based on the interest from her trust fund. It's incredible that you could afford something like this when you were so young."

"She told you that, did she?" John drawled while inwardly remarking that his recollection of their selection and purchase of the house differed in several important aspects.

"My ex-husband thought he was successful, but he won't be able to afford a place like this until his folks kick the bucket. You should be very proud."

John merely shrugged and turned back to his food prep. He nearly severed his thumb, however, when he felt fingertips sliding along his backside. He whirled to find Cordelia standing just behind him with a hungry look in her eyes.

"I know Katherine has opened your marriage, John," she whispered sultrily. "She told me she'd be fine with us having a little fun."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Lena," Hazel's voice called out as she entered the kitchen. "What did you say you wanted for a snack?"

John could only gape at her thanks to the fact that she had changed from the leggings and baggy t-shirt she had been wearing into a form-fitting sundress which magnificently highlighted her staggering curves.

"Cheese stick!" Lena's shouted reply came from the direction of the basement.

"Can you come show me where they are?"

"Sure."

A thundering sounded throughout the house proceeding Lena's arrival. She raced across the kitchen and started rummaging through the fridge.

Hazel turned to John and said, "You'd better get going if you're going to get to the store before starting dinner." She gestured pointedly in the direction of the garage to make her point while Cordelia continued to stare directly at her boobs.

"You're the... nanny," the designer finally stammered.

"I'm a friend," Hazel replied confidently.

Cordelia's eyes widened and she said, "Oh... I get it."

"No, I don't think you do. John's my friend, and I respect him and his devotion to Katherine. As I'm sure you do..." The silence in the kitchen quickly became oppressive, especially after Lena gaily skipped back toward the basement. At length, she added, "Get going, John. I'll keep an eye on things here."

Despite his complete lack of understanding of the motivations of everyone involved, including himself, John nodded dumbly and headed for the garage.

***

For want of something better to do, John actually did do a drive-by on the grocery store while he was avoiding Cordelia. He was just checking out when he finally got the all-clear text from Hazel, which also included an array of emojis which left little doubt as to her opinion of the stubborn wannabe remodeler.

He arrived home twenty minutes later and entered the kitchen loaded down like a stevedore with sufficient supplies to prepare at least a week's worth of meals. He had just started putting his haul away when Hazel entered the room.

She sat down with a flourish and said, "That was an adventure. That woman is starving for a double-d, and I'm not sure she cares how she gets it."

"A what?" John asked, his mutinous eyes drifting briefly down at her breasts.

"Oh, not these," she replied with a glance down at her chest. "I wish they were just double-D's. I meant a," she glanced in the direction of the hall before whispering, "deep dicking."

John nodded lamely and said, "I knew that."

"Sure, you did," she retorted with a chuckle. "Cordelia said she's been divorced for over a year, and apparently she's been having a lot more trouble than she thought she would finding someone to, pardon the expression, fill the void."

"Can't imagine why," John observed with a wry smile. "Considering the predatory look in her eyes and the decision-making rubric which seems to start and end with a ruthless combination of a guy's net worth and earning potential."

"What makes you say that?"

"She was hitting on me, of all people. You could throw a rock in this neighborhood and hit guys with more of all of that. And they don't look like they got locked in a super-villain's rapid aging machine with nothing but a double-dozen pizzas to keep them company."

"You think too little of yourself, sir," she replied demurely.

"Speaking of," he began pointedly, "what's with you always denigrating your own looks?"

"What do you mean?" she asked with a shaky voice.

"You know damn well what I mean. The put-downs about your weight, or your looks, or just... you. You must know that's all bullshit, Hazel. I know you do because you've always been so... how can I say this... free of modesty."

"I know," she sighed. "You're not the first one to point out that I should be more considerate to those around me when I choose what to wear. Or, especially, when I get it in my fool head to wear nothing, as I'm sure you remember from a few weeks back."

John stared at her dumbfoundedly for several moments before he was able to form a reply. "Ever since the day I met him, your husband's been a smarmy asshole, but I was able to ignore it in the interest of being a good neighbor. When he started fucking my wife, I didn't even spend a moment thinking about him. Instead, I just treated this as something between Katherine and myself. Almost as if he were powerless to resist her charms. It was not until this moment that I truly hated your husband."

"But... why?"

"Because he's evil. How else could he have convinced you that you're anything other than beautiful?"

"But you turned me down," she replied softly.

He gazed up at the ceiling and groaned in frustration before saying, "Forgive how insulting this sounds, but that had nothing to do with you and everything to do with me. I would have turned down anyone, no matter how good of a person they are." He returned his gaze to her and stared into her eyes before adding, "No matter if she is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

He could see moisture pooling at the edge of her eyes, so he pulled out a handkerchief and handed it over. She dabbed her tears unselfconsciously as she said, "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."

"I'm so sorry."

"Why on earth would you be sorry?"

"On a scale of one-to-ten, that rates no better than a six for compliments one can offer a lady. So, I'm sorry none of the men in your life who should have done better did so. I should also apologize for not seeing your plight sooner."

"What was there to see?" she huffed dejectedly. "Thomas is an asshole. It's not like he's hiding it. He's just one of those guys who people know immediately is a jerk, but they like him anyway. I should know. He called me fat the first time we met. Ten minutes later," she paused to glance around furtively before whispering, "I had his dick in my mouth."

"I still feel terrible that I wasn't a better friend to you."

"I'm the one who should apologize for ever letting him wrangle me into his and Katherine's scheme."

"I knew it," he muttered.

"Knew what?"

"That they somehow tricked you into propositioning me."

She nodded grimly and said, "They did indeed. Or, at least, he did. It started off small, just him suggesting I tease you a little. I went with it because, honestly, I just like being naked. Always have. And I knew you were attracted to me, thanks to all the glances you probably thought you hid."

"I really am sorry about all the leering. This whole damn thing was my fault. If I hadn't led you on..."

"Can it," she barked softly. "You needn't apologize for looking, John. And you certainly never made me feel uncomfortable. It was just a way we could have a bit of fun together. You got to check out a woman you were attracted to, and I got to scratch my exhibitionist itch. It was a win-win.

"But then Thomas started upping the pressure. By the time I propositioned you, Thomas had me, mostly, convinced that he'd developed a kink of his own. One where he got off on me being with another man."

"I would believe many things about that man, but it's hard to imagine him being a cuckhold."

"No, he didn't want to be present or watch it on video. He said it was just the knowledge that I was with another man which would excite him. But, to your point, I never really bought it. I've known men who are into things like that, and they couldn't be more different from Thomas. By that point, I also knew he was having an affair and I called him on it. His response was... not what I was expecting."

"He said he'd divorce you if you didn't seduce me," John guessed.

"Nailed it," she sang softly. "But you're missing one critical component, John."

"How so? It seems pretty cut and dried to me. I hardly blame you for your part in it. You were trying to save your marriage, and I'd certainly abandoned the moral high ground with all the peeping. I nearly fell off a ladder invading your privacy."

"Can it, squared," she snapped. "Obviously you knew I saw you. I looked right at you and smiled before I started," again she glanced at the hall before lowering her voice, "started touching myself. I wanted you to watch." She sighed before adding, "I wanted you. I'm not saying that to seduce you. I'm just telling you what happened."

"But... why?"

She quirked an eyebrow at him and said, "What? Do you not think my motivations match Cordelia's?"

"No," he answered quickly. He then pondered for a moment before adding, "But that doesn't mean I'm any closer to the truth."

"I..." Hazel began, but at that moment Lena burst into the room shrieking about a bee which had somehow gotten into her room. John leapt into action and spent the next thirty minutes trying to first find, then eradicate the wasp. Once he finally finished bravely defeating a creature one-thousandth his size, it was time for him to begin dinner prep. By the time he had a moment to himself, he discovered that Hazel had retired for the evening, leaving him to wonder what she had been about to say.

Sixteen

"Mr. Logan?" John's admin, a nineteen-year-old Korean woman majoring in business information systems at a local community college, asked quietly from the door to his office.

"Yes?" he mumbled without glancing up.

"There's someone here to see you. She's not with the company, or any company as far as I can tell. I'm not sure how this happened, but she has an appointment."

"Huh?" John replied as he belatedly looked away from his computer.

"It's on your calendar. But I didn't put it there."

"Neither did I. I checked this morning I'm quite certain I had nothing after eleven."

"Nevertheless, it's there. Is it possible someone from upstairs put it there?"

"Anything's possible," John retorted darkly. "Is there any description?"

"Just a name. Elaine Meade."

"Interesting. Well... send her in, I guess. I can always tell her to take a hike if she's yet another business development newbie who thinks that CIA-style tactics are the way to make your commission goals."

Moments later, a striking woman with long black hair and a slim build walked into his office. She gave him a lengthy once over before saying in a sultry contralto voice, "You should ask me to lunch."

"Pardon?"

"Lunch? The meal between coffee and cocktails? Sometimes involving sensitive conversations."

Her emphasis on the final two words piqued his interest, as did her surname. He decided this, plus the grumbling in his stomach, thanks to him thus far only offering it coffee, was worth risking a potentially awkward meal.

"Why not? Do you like Mexican?"

She smiled warmly and said, "I have been known to enjoy a Mexican dish, from time to time."

He waved toward the door and said, "After you."

She led him confidently toward the elevator. On the way, he noticed not a few of his subordinates leaning over their monitors to watch her passage. He could not deny that she was an attractive woman, but his attention was focused on her reason for meeting with him in the first place (to say nothing of how she had ended up on his calendar).

They walked across the courtyard of his office complex to a surprisingly passable restaurant located at the top of the opposing tower. Once they were seated and had placed their orders, John took the time to study her more closely. She looked to be several years younger than him, but he knew guessing age with women was a fraught proposition at best. She was of average height and was slim for her height despite a full bust. Her blue eyes had a piercing quality, as though she could see right through him.

She proved this point at once by remarking, "Do I meet with your approval?"

He realized that she spoke with a hint of an accent. His mind suggested French, but he knew he was ignorant on such things, and she could just as easily have been from Bulgaria. He smiled and said, "You have obviously piqued my interest."

"How so?" she asked playfully.

"You made your way onto my calendar without either myself or my admin knowing anything about it. That, plus your name, suggests my wife's involvement."

"Very perceptive."

"So, what does the Lady Katherine wish us to speak about?"

"I am unconcerned with the desires of either Thomas or your wife, but I am not above putting their, shall we say, self-interested scheming to my own uses. They wish me to help convince you to assuage their, or should I say her, guilt."

"And what do you want?"

"Let us set that aside for now," she replied easily.

"Then what shall we talk about?" John asked with a small smile as he recognized that he was very much enjoying their verbal repartee.

"Are you a history buff, John Logan?"

"I used to be, when I had the time to study it."

"How about personal history? For instance, what do you really know about the man with whom your wife is conducting this affair?"

"He's about my age. He made his money young, but I'm not sure how. Now he sits on several boards of directors. He's also a raging asshole who managed to give his wife an inferiority complex which, confusingly, makes me much angrier than the fact that he's schtupping my wife."

"Very good," she said with a regal nod.

"And you're... what... his sister? Perhaps a cousin?"

"I'm his ex-wife."

"Interesting. He never mentioned having been married before."

"His second ex-wife... of three. Soon to be four, now that I think about it."

"Wow. That's a lot of weddings."

"I'm also the mother of his son."

"Gracious," John exclaimed. "How is it I've never seen you, or him, come by the house?"

"He prefers to keep his lives separate, when he graces us with his presence at all."

"Let me guess," John said darkly. "That miserable bastard doesn't pay child support."

"Oh, he pays. Just not as much, or as often, as he should."

"But... why? He's swimming in money. He took my wife to New York on a private jet, for God's sake. I think he's trying to impress her."

"Is not your wife from the kind of wealth that typically looks down their noses at the newly rich?"

"Sure," he agreed. "I didn't say it would work. I think she's just in it for his looks. This is all about appearances for her. But that doesn't explain why you're here."

"Thomas believes I am here because he promised to pay the back child support he owes if I agreed to this... charade."

John shook his head and said, "Katherine's really got him wrapped around her finger."

"For now," she agreed cuttingly. "Thomas can be very charming when he believes it to be in his interest."

He took a sip of his water and said, "I assume the task with which they charged you was to convince me to sleep with Cordelia?"

"I heard she was very... focused... on her desires."

"You're very well informed."

"Let us dispense with the tete-a-tete, as enjoyable as it is. It is true that Katherine, and hence Thomas, greatly desire that you have sexual relations with... anyone. All that matters is that she be relieved of the guilt for having committed adultery."

"Let's get one thing straight," John said pointedly. "This isn't about guilt. It's about appearances. She believes that if I'm being unfaithful to her, then no one can judge her for what she's doing."

"A rather infantile viewpoint."

"Also likely a correct one, at least in the circles whose opinion she values. Namely her family and those vapid fem-bots at her tennis club."

"Like Cordelia," Elaine provided.

"Precisely. She wanted Thomas, so rather than examining that desire or discussing it with me, she found a way to make her actions, at least in her mind, wholly defensible."

"In that case, and please forgive my asking but you brought it up, why would she not just leave you?"

"Because she wants both. She wants the father and the provider that she can bring to holiday get-togethers; and she wants the eye candy which will make her sisters green with envy."

"I'm beginning to suspect that your wife might not be a paragon of this country's upper class."

"She surely is emblematic of them, though." He pushed his plate back before saying, "You still haven't told me why you're here."

"She wasn't party to their plan, John."

"Who?"

"Hazel, of course."

"I had guessed as much. He forced her into it. And then, after she debased herself by trying to seduce me, the miserable prick is going to divorce her anyway."

"He was always going to divorce her. Had I known about her before they were married, I would have done anything to warn her off. Thomas enjoys only the finest things in life. Hazel is a stunningly beautiful woman, as you well know. But whereas the fashion industry celebrated curvy women four years ago, now they have reverted to their baseline and once again declared that slenderness is next to godliness."

"She said he demeans her about her weight."

"He does that and more. He does not allow carbs in any form to exist in the house, and he accused her of disobeying him when she did not develop the body of a thirteen-year-old."

"What a dick," John grumbled. "Is that why she went along with this? Because she felt so trapped that only the creepy neighbor seemed like a reasonable escape?"

"She does not think you're creepy, as you well know. She'll likely be furious with me for telling you this, but she has spoken glowingly of you almost since we met."

"What on earth for? I'm no catch."

"Au contraire," she replied sultrily. "You have what all women want, at least all real women. I cannot speak for those who will never know hunger, or despair, or helplessness. But for the rest of us," she allowed her eyes to scan over his body, "what's not to appreciate? You're handsome; you're a dedicated father; you're obviously a faithful husband; you're a wonderful provider; you grow angrier over a man calling a woman fat than you do over him sleeping with your wife; you take in my good friend, even though you believed at the time that she was an accomplice in the plan to destroy your marriage. No, John Logan, I believe I'd have to agree with my friend and say you're quite the catch."

"I don't know how to respond to that."

"Make her happy. Not because your wife wants you to, but because you want to. And because you know how she feels about you."

"How could you know that?"

Elaine smiled and said, "Because of the face you made when I mentioned her name. I understand the honor which you feel binds you, but that type of commitment cannot work in only one direction. Clinging stubbornly to the claim that you are being faithful to your wife when she's flaunting her infidelity in your face can only lead to madness. Just as no marriage can survive when one partner is expected to shoulder all of the responsibility while the other clings only to the illusion of authority. It is possible that such an arrangement can endure under certain circumstances, such as when children are involved, but any hint of love will be extinguished."

"Is that what you think is happening with Katherine and I?" John asked with a twinge of bitterness.

"I don't believe you're a weak man, but no man could continue in your situation forever. If you do, you will grow to resent and eventually despise your wife."

"If I may ask, is that what happened with you and Thomas?"

"No. Our relationship was a brief one, all things considered."

John regarded her intently for a moment, taking in her calm demeanor and her elegant, almost regal, posture. She smiled slightly upon noticing his gaze, her deep red lipstick standing in stark contrast to her pale skin.

"Pardon my asking," he began delicately, "but I'd have expected you to harbor more resentment. Especially if he's being a dick about child support."

"I frequently find myself disappointed, even angry, with Thomas. But I have never regretted my time with him."

"Why not?"

"He gave me Nick," she replied proudly.

"How old is he?"

"He'll be eighteen in the fall."

"Wow."

"What?" she replied with a twinkle in her eye.

"You can't possibly be more than mid-to-late-twenties. How can you possibly have a son old enough to drive."

She laughed throatily and said, "I'm older than you are, sir. But I will take the compliment in the spirit in which it was intended."

"Has Hazel met him?"

"Of course. They are quite close. She bought him his favorite guitar."

"He's a musician?"

"He's a profoundly gifted artist. I admit my biases, but even strangers who hear him play say he's quite good."

"You guys should come by the house sometime."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," she replied gently. "But I'm sure we'll meet up again soon. Think about what I've said, John. You and Hazel both deserve better than this situation. You can let it destroy you, or you can make the best of it."

"I wish it was that simple," he said with a weary sigh.

"What's so complicated about love? There's never enough of it in the world. It would be a shame to deny it when it is offered."

Seventeen

"How was New York?" John asked with feigned enthusiasm.

Katherine regarded him with a suspicious gaze before sighing and saying, "Fun. How have things been here?"

"Surprisingly normal, considering," he offered with a shrug.

"This doesn't have to be weird, John. If you'd just..."

"Jesus, Katherine. Do you honestly think that would have made a bit of difference to Lena? Her mother disappeared for nearly two weeks without a word. I've tried to keep her busy, but you can't think she hasn't noticed that something is going on."

Katherine leaned back in her chair and stared out the window for a moment. John took the opportunity to look around as well, remarking inwardly that he was starting to feel like a crime lord with all the meetings he was having in random restaurants. His wife had notified him of her return by sending him a text at ten minutes after twelve informing him that they would be having lunch together at one.

He had arrived prepared for anything from a tearful apology to being handed divorce papers, but he had been caught off guard by her marked nonchalance. She had alternated between casually ignoring his presence in favor of chatting with the waiter at her club, and grousing about the latest choices made by the executive chef. John had checked his watch several times before he had finally broken the ice by matching her disregard of the eight-hundred-pound gorilla in the room.

She interrupted his ruminations by saying, "I plan to spend the entire weekend with her."

"That's great," he responded genuinely. "Where?"

"We're going up to the lake house, if you must know."

"I see."

She sighed and said, "I don't wish to create any conflict, John. Obviously, I know Hazel is staying with you..."

"With us," he interrupted.

"Whatever. I'm just trying to do what's best for everyone."

"You mean on account of Dickhead divorcing her and kicking her out?"

"Thomas didn't kick her out," Katherine retorted angrily.

"Perhaps not, but he certainly went out of his way to make her feel unwelcome."

"I had nothing to do with that. I only wanted us all to have some fun."

"Is that what he wants?"

She gazed around the room, seemingly looking everywhere but at him. He took the opportunity to take a few bites of his filet and people watch. He had always found it remarkable how similar Katherine's fellow club members were in appearance. The phenomenon did not quite reach the level where one would expect cloning was involved, but no reasonable person would have refused to believe that all of the women in the room in which they sat were related in some way.

"He asked me to marry him," Katherine whispered at last.

"What did you say?" he replied casually.

"You honestly expect me to believe you don't care about this?"

He offered her a smirk which was phonier than a politician's promise and said, "You've been very clear on the point that my opinion has no bearing on what you do. I'm merely curious as an affected party."

"I told him it's too early for such conversations." He merely replied with an amused grunt. She glared at him angrily and said, "What?"

"I find it instructive that you did not refuse him outright."

"I've been very clear on how I want this to go, John. I have no qualms with you. You're a good husband; and a great father. I don't understand why you're forcing me to choose."

"Because that's the deal. 'You and no other'... that was the vow."

"Strictly speaking, that was your vow," she replied snippily. "You'll recall we wrote our own vows. I can show you the ones I wrote for myself in our wedding album. Or you could check the film, as they say in sports."

He made to get up, keeping his eyes from meeting hers in an attempt to depart before he said something the gentler parts of his soul would regret later. But she halted his progress with a gentle touch on his arm.

She gently said, "I wasn't trying to hurt you, John. Not with any of this. I was merely pointing out the facts." He resumed his seat, but he did not allow himself to meet her gaze. She slid her hand down his arm and laced her fingers with his. He spared a moment waiting to feel any sort of connection with his wife of nearly a decade, but no sensation came. It was as if he were holding hands with a stranger at one of the religious functions he had attended in his youth before he discovered the power of the written word and opened his mind to the universe of critical thinking.

"What have you told your mother?" he asked evenly.

"Only what she needs to know. That I went to New York with a friend."

'And your sisters?"

A wicked grin stole across her features before she whispered, "Quite a bit more. Alexandra is quite envious, and Olivia is furious."

"Why? Because you one-upped her by both keeping your husband and fucking a billionaire?"

"Don't forget that he's... well..."

"What?" he grumbled. "Beautiful?"

"I was going to say devastatingly handsome, but close enough."

"You really hit the jackpot, Katherine." He glanced around furtively before adding in a coarse whisper, "It'd be a shame if it all got ruined."

She took a leisurely sip of her drink before asking, "Are you threatening me?"

He shrugged before saying, "Since this whole shitshow started, you've only talked about what you wanted."

She toyed with her glass momentarily before saying, "Well... what is it you want then? Obviously, it isn't Hazel."

"Leave her out of this. You said you weren't a party to Thomas's abuse of her, but that's hard to believe considering your continued attempts to manipulate her into being your unwitting pawn."

"Agreed," she replied somberly. "I assume that isn't it."

"I want Lena."

"You spent the last two weeks with her."

"I mean I want custody when this whole thing ultimately collapses under its own weight."

"You mean to divorce me?" she asked wickedly. "Need I remind you of the terms of the prenup?"

"I could give a damn about your money, Katherine. I signed that prenup without a moment's hesitation, because that wasn't why I married you."

She sighed wearily before softly saying, "I know. That's why this has been so frustrating. You're an almost offensively good man, John. This would have been so much simpler if you were a douche-nozzle like Wyatt."

"Or a raging asshole like Thomas, but without his movie star good looks?"

She frowned and said, "Don't fish for compliments. You're plenty handsome. I'm not with Thomas because there's anything wrong with you, per se. He can just provide things you can't."

He bit back the retort to her rebuke which sprang to his lips and instead said, "I'm serious Katherine. I won't fight you on anything except Lena. I won't be shuffled out of her life just because you decided to start a harem."

"I'm pretty sure the term harem only applies when it's a collection of women."

"Guy harem, then... or reverse harem. Speaking of which, and I'm only mentioning this to prevent any awkwardness in the future, I'll be your husband until the day you divorce me... but as long as you're with him, we're no longer lovers."

"I figured as much," she grumbled.

"I can't believe you're honestly disappointed by that."

"A girl can dream, can't she."

"I suppose," he replied evenly.

A pregnant pause stretched between them, with neither party breaking eye contact. At length, she groaned and said, "Fine. I promise we'll do shared custody if I decide to divorce you."

"Not good enough."

"You're hardly in a position to negotiate."

"Perhaps... perhaps not. But I know very well the way your mother operates. The longer I'm not around, the more insistent her questions will become. Say what you will about her, but that woman is like a bloodhound when she thinks someone's hiding something from her."

"What of it? If she gets too nosy, I'll just introduce her to Thomas."

"I'm sure that'll go over swimmingly."

She glared at him and said, "Why wouldn't it?"

"Do you not remember the first time I met your mother? Or the tenth time? Or the hundredth? She spent the first five minutes interrogating me. Then, once she worked out that I wasn't rich, she started treating me like something she'd found on the bottom of her shoe. I put up with it because of how I felt about you. But you know goddamned well Thomas won't put up with that shit."

"Why would she treat him the same way? After all, he's quite well-off."

"Is he, though? He made a pile of money a long time ago, but his lifestyle isn't exactly restrained. Would you honestly be surprised to discover he's way out over his skis, and either burning through his nest egg at a frightening rate or, even worse, subsidizing his lifestyle on debt which will likely come due just as you two walk down the aisle. Besides, he's 'new rich', which is hardly better than a peasant in your mother's eyes. But all of that pales next to the thing that will really go over like a turd in the punch bowl."

"How eloquent" she quipped.

"Do you really think that Thomas will knuckle under when your mother starts in on him? Is there a single thing you've observed about him which suggests he'd be willing to swallow his own pride for the good of someone else? Or is it more likely that he'd counter-attack like a cornered rat? Just imagine Thanksgiving dinner with the two of them shouting at each other."

"Mother never shouts."

"Maybe not, but you know I'm right about him. You think she hated Wyatt? That will seem like a ripple on a pond next to the tsunami of venom she'll unleash every time Mr. Perfect's name comes up."

"Where are you going with all this?" she asked wearily.

He steepled his fingers on the table before him and said, "You suggested that introducing Thomas to your family will extinguish any questions or concerns about my absence. I'm merely offering an alternative viewpoint. I want my time with Lena protected."

"I already agreed to that."

"Forgive me if I'm feeling a little wary of taking you at your word."

"What do you want, then? It's not like you can do a custody prenup. We're already married."

"Cancel the prenup," he replied evenly.

"Screw you," she retorted angrily. "I thought you didn't care about the money."

"I don't. What's more, I think that you genuinely believe that I don't. You've asked me to accept a lot recently. Now I'm asking you to accept this. Cancel the prenup and we'll shake hands on the actual agreement."

"Which is?" she asked slowly.

"If things go the way I fear they must go, and we find ourselves getting divorced, I'll agree to forgo any financial considerations from you in return for your promise of shared custody."

"While you're asking for the moon, why not ask for full custody."

"Because, despite your recent disappearance, I still believe that you're a good... no, check that, great mother. I'd no sooner deprive you two of each other's company than I want my time with her curtailed. I truly wish none of this had ever happened, but I wasn't consulted. I'm an engineer, Katherine. I don't deal with hopes and wishes, I deal with reality and try to find the best solution given the limitations at hand. No matter how hard I tried to prevent Lena from becoming a child of divorce, that is almost certainly what she'll become."

She groaned and said, "Why are you so insistent that we'll get divorced? I told you before, this isn't about forsaking you, John. I'm just pursuing my own happiness. It doesn't have to be either/or."

"Had you come to me before this started, perhaps such an arrangement could have been reached. Perhaps you would be enjoying weekends in New York with Thomas on odd-numbered weeks while Hazel and I used even-numbered weeks to seek our own happiness."

"Darn it, John. I knew you wanted to sleep with her."

"That's hardly relevant anymore, Katherine. Because you didn't come to me. You chose what you wanted because, in your mind, that was all that mattered."

"But we could have..."

"Do you love me?" he asked bitterly, cutting her off.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I thought I knew. We've said the words plenty of times, but do either of us truly live and breathe for the other's happiness?"

"I told you when we first got together that I didn't do codependent."

"Love isn't codependency," he retorted exasperatedly.

"Then, what is it?"

He looked at her sadly and said, "I don't know. I know I love Lena, I know we both do. But I'm not sure I know what romantic love is. I just know that it isn't this," he finished, gesturing to the space between them. "I don't think it's something we lost. I think we never had it. We're fine together, and I think I would have been happy spending the rest of my life with you. But something I've come to realize since you forced me to reassess... well... everything, is that maybe this happened because you felt like something was missing. You couldn't put your finger on what it was, but you felt its absence, nonetheless. Maybe I felt it too, and that's why I couldn't keep my eyes to myself where Hazel was concerned."

"What are you saying?" Katherine asked shakily.

"That I never would have chosen this path for us, but maybe it's for the best. I never wished ill fortune on you, even when you left me for an asshole. And not just because you're the mother of my child. You're, mostly, a good person. And I'm almost always proud to call you my friend. I want you to be happy, even though that means you'll find that happiness with another man."

"Or men," she quipped. "I know it's not your thing, but I just can't help but feel that I'm meant for more than one man can provide."

He smirked and said, "This from a woman who can't even say doggie-style without needing a few hours to recenter herself."

"The right man will know what I need without me having to stoop to using such vulgarities." She stared at him for a few moments before adding, "I never imagined this is how this conversation would go, but I'm glad it did. I want you to be happy too. And I genuinely hope it's with Hazel. Not because I schemed it up that way, but because she deserves to be happy as well. I'll rescind the prenup. And if our destiny is to get divorced, we'll work out the details just like this."

He raised his glass and said, "To Lena... and to our happiness."

She clinked her glass to his and said, "Here, here."

Eighteen

"What on earth are you listening to?" Hazel shouted over the thundering sound of extended dueling solos between a saxophonist and a keyboard player.

Caught by surprise, and feeling not unlike he had been discovered doing something significantly more lurid than watching a concert streamed to the television, John turned to spot her standing in the hallway wearing an oversized t-shirt and, based on the way it clung alluringly to various pleasant bits of her body, nothing else. She had the heavily lidded eyes of someone who had just awoken, but her expression was confused rather than angry.

He immediately muted the stream and shouted, "Sorry!" He then grinned at her sheepishly and lowered the volume of his voice to match the now silent room. "I didn't realize you were home. I didn't see your truck outside."

"That wasn't mine, it was just a rental."

"I wasn't aware you could rent vehicles that..."

"Shitty?" she guessed.

"I was going to say old, but that works too. I'm really sorry about waking you up. I thought I had the house to myself."

"Where's Lena?"

"With Katherine for the weekend."

"They're back?" she asked nervously.

"I haven't the foggiest idea where Dickhead is, but I saw Katherine today while I was at work. That particular experience is becoming something of a regular occurrence, now that I mention it."

"I'm sure that was quite a shock. Did she behave, or do you have a lot of fence mending to do with your team?"

"It wasn't like that, she arranged to have a lunch meeting added to my calendar."

Hazel frowned and said, "It's good to have an in with the head of the company, I guess."

"Indeed. In any case, she told me she was taking Lena to her folks for the weekend."

"So, you guys are just... all right?"

"I guess you could say we reached an accord, after a fashion."

"That sounds mysterious. Care to share any details?"

"I'd love to... on one condition."

"Name it."

He smiled nervously and said, "Have dinner with me."

"You hardly have to place so much build up on a simple meal, John."

"I meant... I want to take you out to dinner."

Her face flushed and she said, "You mean like a... um... I mean... ok."

"Excellent," he enthused.

"Where are we... um... what should I wear?"

"You look amazing in everything, Hazel."

"I thought we agreed that kind of talk could only lead to tears."

He shrugged and said, "In that case I promise to refrain from complimenting your appearance until you ask me to do otherwise. As to your question, I was thinking upscale casual. Perhaps that sundress you wore to our last party?"

She smiled brilliantly and said, "I won't be long."

True to her word, she returned a short time later looking ravishing in the form-fitting dress. She had also somehow managed to both style her hair and apply makeup during that time. John marveled at her efficiency, inwardly remarking that he would have been hard pressed to go from asleep to ready-to-leave in such a short amount of time.

"You didn't have to rush," he pointed out as they walked to the garage.

"Perhaps I'm just hungry."

He gently interposed himself between her and the door so that he could perform his gentlemanly duty. He did the same dance for the car door, for which he received a warm smile in return.

"Sorry about the car," he remarked as they pulled out of the driveway.

"I happen to think it's wonderful that you drive a car like this. It stands in such stark opposition to your home. It announces to the world that you are not a man who wallows in excess because it defines you, but you instead splurge only when necessary. Such as when it relates to the life you provide for the women you love. It reminds us of your profoundly admirable selflessness, and your nobleness."

"I'm not sure that's a word,' he gently chided.

"Of course it is, Sir John."

"Now you've got me thinking about the Beatles."

"What was that you were listening to before, by the way?"

He shrugged and said, "Just some band I came across online. I'm a fan of the guitarist who was guesting with them."

"You're a music lover?"

"Sure, who isn't? After all, music charms the soul."

"That's a lovely way to put it," she remarked warmly. "Although I can't say our tastes necessarily align."

"I wouldn't be so sure. I'm kind of into all types of music. My only rule is that they have to sound good live. I can't stand all the faux musicians on the top-forty charts who couldn't play their hits in front of people if their lives depended on it. I remember just a month or so ago, I came across a performance by a singer-songwriter covering a pop song from the seventies. She had changed it into a minor key and made it soulful rather than poppy. Totally changed the song. I watched it ten times in a row before my eyes started working properly again."

"What was wrong with them?"

He shrugged and said, "Hard to tell, but every time she got to the song's climax this fluid started leaking from them and running down my cheeks. My jaw also clenched up and I had the strangest desire to go into Lena's room and hug her."

She smiled shyly and said, "I'd very much like to hear it."

He tapped his phone, which hung precariously in a clamp attached to one of the car's vents, until the first mournful notes began emanating from the speakers.

"You have it on your phone?"

"Of course. I always download any song that moves me. You never know when you'll need it."

He then fell silent as the song built patiently toward its devastatingly powerful conclusion. He stole a few glances at his companion and was heartened to see she started dabbing the corners of her eyes before the first verse was completed. As they pulled into the restaurant, she was busily trying to fix her makeup. After parking, he waited beside her while she finished her touch up.

She finally turned to him and said, "That was beautiful. Can you imagine having been there that night?"

"Yes," he replied simply. Her eyes widened, prompting him to add, "Not because I was there, but because I've seen so many performances which were just as powerful. It's why I'm so into live music. You never know when a moment will become magical. However, apropos of nothing... and I swear this is just a happy coincidence, she's playing a show in Midtown tomorrow night if you'd like to go."

"That'd be lovely. Can you forward me the info so I can see if I can still get a ticket?"

"I can," he said slowly, "although I must admit I was actually suggesting that we could go together."

"Oh," she replied softly.

He took advantage of the lull in conversation to step from the car and circle around to her door. She gazed up at him demurely and extended her hand. He did not fail to notice the envious gazes of several passersby as the gentle wind rustled the hem of her sundress around her thighs.

"You..." he began, but then fell helplessly silent and, for want of a better idea, led her into the restaurant.

She glanced at him worryingly and said, "What is it?"

He shrugged and said, "I was on the verge of breaking a promise."

"Which promise is that?"

"You look incredible tonight, all right?" he huffed. "I know what I said, but it's a crime against nature to not appreciate beauty when you see it."

She remained silent as they were seated, causing his unease to escalate. By the time the hostess had finished taking their drink orders, he had convinced himself that he had overstepped.

However, as he opened his mouth to apologize, she whispered, "Thank you."

"Huh?"

She raised her voice and said, "Thank you, John. For dinner; for a place to stay; for how amazing you've been; for the wonderful compliments..."

"You're most welcome," he replied with a small bow. "I can't help but notice, however, that you've yet to respond to my invitation for tomorrow."

"I'm just struggling to understand everything."

"I know," he huffed. "I've been kind of a shit to you."

"I wouldn't go that far," she responded coquettishly. "You've just been... inconsistent."

"It hasn't been fair to you, Hazel. I've been accusing you of trying to break up my marriage one minute, and then ogling you the next. You'd be well within your rights to tell me you never want to see me again, much less go on another date with me."

"Is that what this is?" she asked, her eyes glancing around the restaurant.

"This is whatever you want this to be."

"That doesn't help," she grumped. She stared him down and added, "What did Katherine say? Did she finally convince you to bend to her will?" Her eyes moistened before she said, "Are you just being nice to me because she finally wore you down?"

"No," he replied quickly. "I was very clear with her that, as far as she's concerned, nothing would ever happen between you and I."

"Then why are we here?" she asked morosely.

He groaned in frustration and muttered, "I'm so fucking this up." He lifted his eyes to meet hers and said, "What happens, or doesn't happen, between you and I is none of Katherine's business. Or Thomas's. They abdicated the right to weigh in on our affairs when they unilaterally opened our marriages. Whether or not we wished, or wish, to pursue a relationship is no longer their concern because they broke our trust by deceiving us. They then took it a step further by trying to manipulate us into unburdening them of any possible guilt after the fact."

She shook her head in confusion and said, "Are you saying Katherine's ok with us going on a date?"

"I'm saying we have agreed that she is ok with the fact that it doesn't matter if she's ok with it."

"I'm not sure that makes any sense," she retorted with a smirk.

"The fact that you and I might have been totally on board with a simple partner swap is completely irrelevant, because neither of them asked before they acted. They can't put the genie back in the bottle. I mean... hell... Thomas has informed you he's divorcing you."

"Does that mean Katherine is divorcing you? Or vice versa?"

"I told her I can't imagine things not ending up there and that all that mattered to me was protecting my time with Lena."

"I can't imagine she took that very well. I get the impression her true goal wasn't a fling; it was the dopamine rush of having multiple super-desirable men at her beck and call."

"You're not wrong. She as much as admitted that was the case. But despite all that, I don't believe she's a bad person. There's something strangely admirable about a person who can recognize when something's missing and try to go after it before its absence ruins them."

"No matter who's hurt in the process," Hazel muttered bitterly.

"Indeed. But, to her credit, she's constantly advocated for me finding my own happiness since the moment she admitted the affair. I wish Thomas had done the same."

"Same here, but what's done is done. Truth be told, I'm glad to be rid of him." She smiled at him and added, "So... where does that leave us?"

He shrugged and said, "That depends on the answer to the question I posed earlier."

"Which was?"

"Are we having dinner together, or are we on a date? There is also the matter of the concert tomorrow evening. There's no pressure here, Hazel. I'd be a lucky man if all you could offer was your friendship. Plus, despite what all you obviously under-the-influence ladies believe, I'm hardly a catch. I'm kind of a single dad now and I work all the time. Then there's the grey hair..."

"John?" she interrupted playfully.

"Hm?"

"Shut up."

"Ok," he replied quickly.

She smiled coquettishly at him and said, "You've got to pause to take a breath once in a while. It's just how productive conversations work. Besides, if you don't give me a chance to speak, how am I supposed to tell you that you can call this whatever you wish, as long as you make love to me when we get home."

Nineteen

"I've changed my mind," Hazel said suddenly as their appetizers were delivered.

"About what?" John asked, although there was little doubt in his mind as to which decision she was rethinking.

"About making love when we get back to your house."

'Your house' John thought morosely, not 'home'. He nodded and said, "That's completely fine, Hazel. Nothing is more important to me than..."

She gripped his hand and smiled tolerantly before saying, "I didn't mean that, John. I wouldn't toy with you like that."

"Why not? I've done that and worse to you."

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did. I led you on time and again. Add to that the fact that Dickhead and Katherine were telling you I was all for it... what else were you supposed to do. And then I humiliated you when you had the courage to act."

"I've never judged you for your actions. I understand your motivations completely. But that doesn't mean I'm not ecstatic about the change in circumstances."

"I agree. This," he glanced around the quiet restaurant, "is most certainly an improvement. Perhaps it would be more prudent for us to start off by keeping things casual. Go on a few dates, perhaps even to the concert tomorrow night."

"I'd love to go to the concert with you, just as I'd love going on as many dates as you'll put up with me for..."

"But..." he tried to interrupt, but she squeezed his hand to cut him off.

"I want all those things, John." She glanced around furtively before continuing, "And I do want to make love to you... later. Right now, though: I want you to fuck me into oblivion; to do things to me that would make a porn star blush; to feel your cock filling every part of my body; to keep going until one or both of us needs medical attention. I wish you could feel how wet I am right now, if only to save you from even a momentary doubt as to my intentions."

John stared at her agape for a long moment before he looked up and said, "Check please," even though their waiter was nowhere close.

Despite his wishes, it was another ten minutes before they could get out of the restaurant. He had been forced to beckon the waiter closer and give him an abridged version of Hazel's manifesto to convince him the problem did not lie with either the food or the service. The waiter had smiled as understanding bloomed and, within a matter of moments, delivered both their check and their to-go entrees. He had waved them out the door with a knowing smile and a cheerful wish for them to have a good evening.

As John put the car into gear, Hazel said, "We might should stop on the way home for supplies."

"What'd you have in mind? I'm fine either way, but we'll have to head into the city if what you have in mind isn't sold at your typical pharmacy."

She chuckled and said, "Now I'm curious what you think I meant."

"I don't know. I'm not even sure I have a sufficiently flexible imagination for this situation. But if you think I'm ever going to forget that porn star comment, you're out of your goddamned mind."

"I see," she replied playfully. "Well, I wasn't necessarily talking about strap-ons or vibrators. We can save that for the second date."

"You can skip the strap-ons," he retorted with a shudder.

"Not a fan of ass play?"

"I wouldn't think so. But, in the interest of full disclosure, I've never done anything sexual with anyone's ass. Including, and especially, my own."

She was silent for a moment before saying, "That's good to know."

"I know. I've led a horribly sheltered life."

"That's not a bad thing. Although I certainly hope for your sake that you and Katherine had a satisfying sex life before all this started."

"Same here for you and Shithead."

"It was certainly... adventurous. But that's in the past. Does your evasion of my question mean that she neglected your needs?"

"No. It was fine. And not 'fine', fine... just actually fine."

"But vanilla?"

"Not necessarily. I mean, she certainly made it clear early on that anal was off the table. But we weren't an 'only with the lights off, and only missionary' type of couple either. In fact..."

"What?"

"It wouldn't be proper."

"How so?"

"If I tell you about Katherine and I, what's to stop you from thinking I'd kiss and tell on you?"

"Talking with a new lover about their sexual history is an entirely different animal from the proverbial locker-room talk, John. I'm prepared to trust you completely with my body, surely you must know I also trust your discretion. In any case, I'd very much like to know everything about you."

He reached out to take her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing her knuckles gently before saying, "Same here."

She sighed and said, "That feels nice." She took a deep breath pulling his hand toward her and resting it on her breast. "So does that."

The sensation of her soft flesh, separated from his hand by only a few layers of thin fabric, was akin to a religious experience. Far from the last time he had touched her intimately, which had filled him with regret and self-loathing, he now felt nothing but pleasure. His cock, which had been in a steady state of tumescence since the moment she had come downstairs in the alluring sundress, now stood painfully erect within his trousers. He had little doubt he could bring himself to completion doing nothing but caressing her incomparable breasts.

"Honey, you have no idea how good that feels," he finally managed to stammer.

She then moved his hand down to between her thighs, having used the other hand to slide her dress out of the way. She gently encouraged him to touch her by widening her legs, and he gasped when he realized she wasn't wearing panties. Despite the fact that the evidence of her arousal coated her thighs, he was unprepared for how wet she was when he slid a finger along her slit.

Her hips bucked when he grazed her clit and she hissed, "Yes!"

"I have to warn you," he whispered huskily. "I aim to taste you. No, that's not right. I plan to devour you."

"Only if you finish telling me what you were saying about Katherine," she murmured sultrily, her hips still grinding languidly as she rubbed her clit against his fingers.

"The last time we were together, you know... sexually, she asked me to cum on her face."

"How come?"

The straightforward question caught John off guard, having expected she would either be repulsed or excited by the idea. He said, "We were talking about our wedding night as we were making love. We didn't have sex for a while leading up to the wedding. Her idea. She wanted to make our wedding night... explosive. Some kind of incomprehensible game of one-upmanship with her sisters. In any case, the combination of the dry spell and how she was teasing me as she took off her dress caused me to go off like a Roman candle the second she touched me."

"All over her face," Hazel finished.

"Yup. But she wasn't angry. It gave her the story she wanted to brag to her sisters, and it was something we could look back on fondly."

"Is that something you're into? Finishing in certain ways?"

"I'm into shared happiness, regardless of position or anything else. I got snipped after Lena was born, so the actual finishing part became something we'd just let happen organically. So, I guess that's the other thing I'm into, spontaneity. Just two people who care about each other's happiness taking things as they come, no pun intended, and making each other feel good."

"I got tested after I found out about Thomas and Katherine."

"Ok," John replied slowly.

"I'm saying that to say I know we're all clean, because he had been with me after he was with her. So, if you're snipped, then I'm all for skipping the condoms if you're comfortable with it." She moaned loudly as he slid a finger inside her velvety heat. "I'll take that as a yes." She reached over and stroked his cock through his trousers before adding, "This delightful cock can cum wherever he wants. To answer your prior question, that also cuts down on the supplies we need. But we should still stop for some lube if you're going to fuck me in the ass tonight."

"We don't have to..."

"I'm not saying I'll let you fuck my ass, John. I'm saying I'm desperate for you to fuck it. Same with every other part of my body. Oh, fuck..." she finished, reacting to the second finger he had slid inside her pussy. "You're going to make me cum."

She leaned her seat back and put a foot up on the dash to give him maximum access. He thrust his fingers into her eagerly as he used his thumb to stroke her clit. Her hips bucked as her orgasm built within her. He stole a glance in her direction despite the heavy traffic and marveled at the way her breasts heaved even when restrained by so much clothing. But the way her tits moved, magnificent as it was, paled in comparison to the look of rapturous bliss on her face.

"John," she whispered moments before her essence geysered from her core as her orgasm consumed her. Her hips shuddered as he continued to fuck her with his fingers, each tiny movement of his hand answered by a moan from her lips.

She relaxed into the seat with a chattering sigh, her muscles as one losing their tension. She tugged his hand up to her lips and libidinously lapped her liquid pleasure from his fingers.

"I wanted to do that," he mock-pouted.

She sighed and slid her own hand down to the junction of her thighs to slide through her soaked pussy. She lifted it to his lips, and he greedily sucked her arousal from her fingers.

"Sorry I squirted all over your car," she mumbled woozily.

"I'm not. That was incredible."

"That doesn't typically happen."

"I'll take it as a compliment."

"Oh, you most definitely should," she replied sultrily, her energy returning after the massive orgasm. "That release has been building for months."

"I promise to never make you wait so long again."

"You'd better not. You realize this means you'll have to go into the pharmacy on your own. This dress might be ruined, along with your car."

"We'll get both cleaned in the morning."

"I can just imagine you pulling into the car detailing place with a car which reeks of sex. Are you going to tell them what happened, or just let their imaginations run wild?"

"Likely the latter, unless the former would excite you."

She shrugged and raised her seat back up before saying, "You excite me. And, speaking of excitement, I've got a little work to do before you can go out in public."

"How so?" he asked playfully, his imagination informing him quite vividly what she likely meant.

"You've got a massive hard-on, John. What will people think if you go into the pharmacy looking for lube with your pants tented?"

"They'll be insanely jealous over the fact that I'm about to make love to a staggeringly beautiful woman?"

She smiled warmly and said, "That's very sweet, but wouldn't you rather cum in my mouth to take the edge off?"

"You don't have to..."

"John," she interrupted gently. "I want that to be the last time you behave as though anything we do together sexually is in any way a chore for me. If I didn't want to go down on you, I wouldn't have offered. I suspect there will be things you wish to do that I might refuse, either at the time or in general, but that is not a rebuke. It is rather me stating a preference, similar to your comment about pegging."

"Fair enough."

"So please know that when I suggest that you fuck my mouth until you cum down my throat, I do so because it is something I want. The fact that I know it excites you only adds to the enjoyment. I think that pharmacy up on the right will do nicely. There is a dark corner in the parking lot."

"My God, woman," he breathed as he hastened to follow her instructions.

She had him unzipped before the car came to a stop, having already unbuckled her seatbelt and knelt in her seat. The sensation of her hot breath on his manhood nearly caused him to forget to engage the parking brake. He only realized his mistake when the car started rolling.

"Careful," she murmured coyly before taking him to the root.

The sensation of the entrance to her throat massaging the head of his cock caused him to gasp, "Jesus fuck, that feels good."

She moved up his body to whisper in his ear, "Don't try to last, babe. Unless you intend for this to be the only time I deepthroat you."

"Hardly," he stammered as she took him once more into the heated heaven of her mouth.

The pleasure she was imparting upon him was complete: her tongue massaging his length, her throat stroking his sensitive tip; her hand fondling his balls. He felt his pleasure building like a thunderclap within him. Reaching beneath her, he boldly groped her breast, causing her to lean into him with a happy moan.

His release arrived so quickly, he failed to warn her before exploding down her throat. She coaxed countless eruptions of his molten release with her eager stroking and sucking. He felt the head of his manhood slip from her throat and watched her cheeks balloon as he filled her mouth. He could never remember such an extended orgasm and groaned in pleasure as he felt his essence stream down the sides of his cock. She took him to the root once more, lapping up his essence around his still spasming shaft.

She released him reluctantly, her busy tongue caressing each centimeter as her lips traveled up his member. Her brilliant smile after she released him with an audible pop could have lit up downtown. She swiped her hand along her chin before licking her fingers lasciviously. She then dropped back into her seat and said, "Feel better?"

Twenty

"I'll just be a moment," Hazel whispered coquettishly as she proceeded him into the house with her still damp dress clinging to her awkwardly.

"I look forward to it," John replied breathlessly.

Once she was out of sight, he shook his head to clear the lust-induced fog and hurried into the kitchen. After stowing their entrées, he filled two glasses of water and, after a momentary pause, grabbed a few items from the fridge. He hurried upstairs and started the process of changing the sheets on his bed. He was just finishing placing the various accoutrement on the two bedside tables when he heard Hazel quietly clear her throat from the doorway.

He turned to face her and was glad that he had started the process of complimenting her looks before he laid eyes on her, otherwise it would have taken him several long moments to say, "Wow."

She was wearing a dark blue negligee which had likely been marketed as a nightie, but which had been built with only one purpose in mind: consuming the mind of the beholder with lust. It had an A-line cut, flaring from beneath her breasts and terminating at the exact point where he could just see the pouty lips of her pussy beneath the hem. Her tits were covered with a material so shear that, even from across the room, he could clearly make out the shape of her pale areola and her jaw-droppingly alluring inverted nipples. She was wearing her hair down so that it cascaded around her shoulders and tickled the top of her cleavage. Her brown eyes twinkled under his inspection, and she briefly struck the pose which had been turning horny men into babbling morons since the dawn of time.

"You like?"

He stalked slowly toward her, whispering, "No. I fucking love it. You're so goddamned beautiful, honey."

She stopped him with an outstretched finger to the sternum and said, "We'll have none of this worshipping. Not this time. I told you to fuck me into unconsciousness, and I meant it."

He bowed at the waist and said, "I am yours to command, but could I perhaps request a single indulgence before we commence with the festivities?"

She smirked at his formality and nodded regally before saying, "Of course, Sir John."

"I want everything you want, honey. Every single sweaty second. But if I go another moment without kissing you, I'm going to explode."

She lifted a finger to her chin thoughtfully and coyly pondered, "I should deny you, considering that I'm intimately familiar with exactly how spectacular it is when you explode. But, on this occasion, I'll allow it. You'd better make it good." Her affectionate gaze belied her playful words, telling him she was just as desperate as he was for their first kiss.

He approached her quickly, tenderly taking her face in his hands as he bent to meet her lips. The moment their lips met, he felt as though he had been struck by lightning, frozen in carbonite, and carried bodily into heaven all at once. She groaned into him as her tongue hungrily invaded his mouth. The lustful battling of their tongues continued as they struggled for breath, neither willing to break the kiss. Her hands threaded in his hair, pulling him closer as they swallowed each other's moans.

Their kiss ended with a gasp as he felt her hand dive into his pants to grip his shaft. He regarded her with a hungry gleam in his eyes and said, "I wasn't finished."

"You can kiss me for the rest of time," she panted. "As long as you put your cock in me first."

She shoved his pants and boxers to the floor and gripped his shaft tightly. He grinned and said, "Does that mean I can only kiss you when we're..."

She cut him off by tugging him closer by his manhood and muttering, "Less talking, more fucking."

He glanced around quickly before pushing her back against the wall and lifting one of her legs. She reached between them to line him up with her soaked entrance. He sank into her molten core with a single eager thrust.

"Fuck," they hissed as one.

In all of his, admittedly limited, experience with women (Hazel being the fourth woman with whom he had shared carnal knowledge), he had never before felt such a sense of undeniable ecstasy when joining intimately with a partner. The feeling of her inner walls pulsating along his member nearly brought him to immediate completion, only the hunger in her eyes helped him maintain control. The surge of her liquid pleasure along his length, coating him with her essence as her body pleaded for his release, told him the experience was just as profound for her as it was for him.

He claimed her lips again as he pumped into her, savoring the way her breasts surged between them. It was not long until both of their legs began to shake violently, thanks to the awkward position, especially for Hazel as she balanced on one leg like the world's sexiest flamingo.

John recognized her plight and withdrew before dragging her in the direction of the bed. She pulled the straps of her negligee from her shoulders, exposing her breasts, and leaned back against the edge of the bed.

She pressed her tits together and said, "I want you to fuck them."

He slid his throbbing manhood, still slick with her arousal, into her cavernous cleavage and groaned in contentment.

"God damn," he gasped. "It feels even better than I'd dreamed."

"I couldn't have said it better myself, babe. You have a magnificent cock, by the way."

"You are magnificent, honey."

She rubbed her tits along his cock for a few more moments before sultrily whispering, "If I promise to let you fuck my tits later until you explode all over me, will you fuck me again now?"

"I'll do so without any such promises," he murmured adoringly.

He helped her slide up onto the bed. As soon as her ass hit the mattress, he lifted her knees until she was laying back and sank into her in a single motion.

"God, you feel good," she panted.

"Give me your hands."

She reached toward his chest, but he pushed her hands beneath her thighs and laced his fingers with hers. He took her with eager thrusts, causing her delectably curvy body to jiggle lewdly beneath him. Every inch of her seemed to quiver for his hungry eyes, and she was helpless to prevent his inspection as he gripped her hands firmly.

The spasming of her inner walls heralded the impending arrival of her orgasm. He sped up his thrusts to magnify her pleasure.

"I want you to cum for me, honey," he gasped breathlessly.

"Oh, fuck," she panted. "I'm so close."

"Give it to me," he demanded firmly.

She moaned loudly as her orgasm consumed her like wildfire. Her velvety channel clamped down on him like a vise, but this only served to strengthen his resolve. She had asked him, pleaded with him, to show no mercy, so the sight of her writhing in pleasure beneath him only drove him to fuck her harder, and faster.

"Yes," she whispered as one orgasm gave way to another.

He released her hands to grip her thighs, and she responded by helplessly flailing for any part of him to pull him even deeper into her silken embrace. He released one thigh to grip her bunched up negligee, wrapping it around his fist to pull her into him. This caused her to stare up at him worryingly, which resulted in him instantly stopping.

"What's wrong?" he asked at the edge of panic.

"N... nothing. I just wondered if you were ready for my ass."

"You're sure?"

"Of course, silly. It will be amazing."

"I meant... you're sure nothing's wrong."

She leaned up and kissed him thoroughly before saying, "Things have never been more right, Sir John. You are completely perfect in every way. Now... where's the lube?"

He made a long arm for the bottle which had gone to great lengths with its labeling to suggest that it was for something other than sex. She rose from the bed and relieved him of the bottle. She squirted a liberal amount into her palm and thoroughly coated his manhood. She climbed onto the bed, presenting herself for him as she teased her asshole with her slicked fingers.

She glanced at him over her shoulder and said, "What are you waiting for?"

He climbed onto the bed and positioned himself at her puckered star. He whispered, "I'll go slow."

He slid his tip around her slippery entrance, probing her gently as he savored the sight of her luscious curves offered to him without reservation for their mutual pleasure.

"Stop teasing me," she murmured into a pillow she had grabbed.

He lined himself up again and slowly increased the pressure until the head of his manhood slipped inside her forbidden entrance.

"Jesus, that's tight," he gasped as he watched himself disappear a millimeter at a time into her spectacular ass.

"Fuck, that's big," she whispered. He immediately halted his advance, to which she laughingly added, "That's not a bad thing, babe. You feel incredible."

"You have no idea how good you feel, honey."

"Then fuck me like you mean it."

Needing no further encouragement, he gripped her hips and began thrusting eagerly into her impossible tightness. Their combined moans filled the room as he felt his orgasm building deep within him.

"Harder," she grunted desperately.

He reached forward to gather her hair into one hand and pulled it toward him. She obligingly arched her back, allowing him to drive even deeper into her. He cupped one of her spectacular tits in his hand, groping it libidinously and he lost himself in the eager passion of their coupling.

"Cum for me, John," she panted. "Cum in my ass. Fucking fill me up."

"Jesus, Hazel," was all he could gasp before he exploded deep within her exquisite ass. She slammed against him at the sensation of his orgasm filling her and he felt her clench around him as she joined him in release. Like a runaway chain reaction, their orgasms fed off each other, pushing them to heretofore unknown levels of bliss. With each thrust of their hips, another eruption of his creamy load filled her.

"Fuck," she whispered hoarsely. "How are you still cumming?"

All he could do was moan in response. He pulled out with a gasp and watched in amazement as a molten river of his cum flowed from her gaping asshole. He continued to cum, covering her pussy with countless geysers of his release as his body spasmed in sensuous agony.

His pleasure had just started to recede when he watched her reach down and swipe her hand across her creamy pussy before finger fucking herself using his essence as lube.

"It's so fucking warm," she murmured contentedly.

"Fuck, that's hot," he rasped as he collapsed onto the bed.

She crawled toward him until she was on all fours above him. She grinned at him crookedly and said, "How 'bout a shower?"

"How could you possibly stand after that?"

"I'm not sure, but I have to risk it. Some amazing guy frosted me like a donut and if I don't clean up, I'll be stuck in whatever position I sleep in, like a mosquito caught in amber."

"I should apologize for defiling you."

"Don't you fucking dare apologize to me for giving me the best fuck of my entire fucking life."

"I said I should apologize, not that I would. Same goes for me, with the best fuck etcetera, times a fubugazillion."

She snickered and said, "That sounds like a lot. By the way, the answer to the question you posed earlier is no, you don't have to put your cock in me before you kiss me. I mean, I prefer it, but it's no longer required."

He kissed her briefly before saying, "I appreciate the clarification."

They kissed again unhurriedly, neither much caring about the fact that time seemed to stop as they lost themselves in each other. He felt as though he could feel her thoughts, and smiled into her lips at the fact that they so perfectly mirrored his own.

He smiled as their lips parted and said somberly, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Save the day Lena was born, this has been the best day of my life. And it's all because of you. You're amazing in every way, honey. And I'm honored that you chose to spend the evening with me."

She sniffled softly before saying, "Same here, handsome. Now let's go take that shower before we're stuck together permanently."

He shrugged and stood. As he helped her up, he said, "I can think of far worse fates."

Twenty-One

"I think you're the only non-lesbian here," Hazel whispered in John's ear as they waited for the concert to begin.

"Objection, your honor," he called softly. "Contains facts not in evidence."

She guffawed and said, "It was more of a hobby than a passion. I guess my technical sexual orientation is bisexual, but I certainly prefer John Logan's."

"Not men, but me specifically?"

"Too soon?" she asked somberly.

He shook his head and said, "Not at all. I certainly prefer Hazel..." he chuckled and added, "I don't know your maiden name."

"Stone, but I'm not much more a fan of that than I am of Meade."

"What happened?" he asked gently.

"Nothing at all. I love my family. I just think Stone is a particularly uninteresting name. I was just toying with the idea of changing my surname to something new altogether when the divorce is finalized."

"When will that be?"

She shrugged and said, "Whenever Thomas decides to finalize it."

"Seems like you should get a say."

"You haven't seen our prenup. Can't get much more ironclad than 'the wife shall be entitled to the percentage of either gains or losses recognized between the date of union and the date of separation based upon the material assets she brought to the union'. Plus the usual prohibitions against seeking alimony, regardless of reason."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"Each of our net worth's were calculated on the day of our wedding to establish our percentage of our net assets, like shares. Meaning I owned zero point zero zero six percent of our net assets. But Thomas has already informed me that his accountants can show a significant net loss over the course of the marriage. So, according to him, I owe him money based on the money I withdrew to cover my expenses since I moved out."

"That mother fucker!"

"I wouldn't put it past him. He gently suggested that he'd be willing to forgo any repayment if I keep quiet and let him proceed at his own pace."

"That can't be legal, honey."

"I signed it."

"Did you have a lawyer look at it first?"

She regarded him condescendingly and said, "What do you think? I thought I was in love."

"What about his exes?"

"How'd you know about that?"

"Your friend told me."

"Which friend?"

"Elaine."

Hazel's face went rapidly through a vast assortment of expressions before she finally landed on disappointment. "She told you to sleep with me."

John reached over to wrap an arm around her and pull her close. She was rigid at first, but shortly relaxed into him. He whispered, "You can't think anything that's happened over the last twenty-four hours between us was in any way faked or done at someone's behest. Elaine merely helped me see what I should have known from the start, that you could never be a party to the conspiracy to deceive me. You're an amazing person, Hazel. A large part of me always knew that. Elaine just helped the tiny sceptic within my addled brain see the larger truth."

"How in the hell did I end up with a best friend who's my husband's... you know what, strike that. This makes way more sense now that my best friend and I have the same ex-husband."

"What about the other two? You guys could form a club. Make up t-shirts and have a slogan."

"Unfortunately, they're morons. Elaine and I are pretty sure Thomas is still acting like a sugar daddy to them. You know, giving them money every once in a while in exchange for a quick fuck when he's in town. One of them lives in New York and the other in LA. I wonder if he introduced Katherine to the New York one when he was there."

"I doubt it," John replied mirthfully. "We would have seen mention of the explosion on the news."

"She should be more open minded, especially if she aims to add more men to her rotation."

"You really think she'll pull that off?"

She shrugged and said, "Probably, although I can't imagine Thomas being a party to it. He'd be much more likely to go the other way."

He shuddered and said, "I just can't imagine it in any fashion."

"Why not? Tell me you wouldn't like some variety in your sex life. You could fuck me on Mondays and Thursdays and your other two concubines on Tuesday-Friday and Wednesday-Saturday, respectively. Then, on Sunday, we'd all share you. I just can't figure out who else we'd add besides Elaine."

"Whoa... whoa... whoa..."

"Come on, admit it. You wanted to fuck her as soon as you heard that hint of a French accent."

"She's very beautiful, but I'm a one-woman man."

"Is that what I am now, your woman?"

"I would never presume such a thing, but I'd be all for it if you're willing. I like you a lot, Hazel. You make me happy, no matter what we're doing."

He glanced over at her worryingly, but his fears dissolved as she pulled him close for a passionate kiss.

When their lips parted, she smiled dazzlingly and said, "I'll take the job. Does it come with benefits?"

"Depends on your meaning. You get exclusive access to me, save that you must understand Lena will always come first."

"Obviously. Although, speaking of her, what do you intend to tell her?"

"You'll think I'm nuts when I say this, but I'm going to talk to Katherine."

"That's not crazy at all," Hazel interjected. "She's your co-parent. It would be far better if you were aligned. Although your situations are not identical unless she is living with Thomas."

"No. She said she hasn't been with him when she had Lena, and she intends to keep it like that for a while. When the weekend is over, she'll stay at her place in Midtown for a while. But I'll still chat with her about us and take her feelings into account before deciding what to tell Lena."

"Fair enough. So... we've established that I'm now your concubine."

"Girlfriend. Concubine denotes you have a lower social standing than I do."

"Seems a fair assessment of our situation, but we'll go with your term. I'm proud to be your girlfriend, sir."

He kissed her again and sat back as the band started to filter onto the stage. He hoped her silence meant she had dismissed the insane notion of more women, but she dispelled that wish with a single comment just before the feature performer came onto the stage.

"We'll talk later about the best way to add Elaine to our...."

It sounded to John's ears like she said, 'sex commune', but her words were drowned out by the band.

***

"You're joking," John shouted in disbelief.

"Take your earplugs out," Hazel shouted back, pointing to her ears for emphasis.

He pulled them out and crammed them in his pocket before saying, much quieter, "Sorry." She smiled in response, so he continued, "I could have sworn you said you wanted to go to a strip club."

"That's exactly what I said. Why, do you not want to?"

"That's a hard question to answer. If you'd asked me my top sixteen hundred things I wanted to do tonight, that wouldn't have made the list. But I find myself quite eager to do anything my captivating, wonderful, intelligent, beautiful, insightful, sexy-as-fuck girlfriend desires."

"You forgot sex crazed. Or have you forgotten breakfast?"

The image of Hazel deepthroating him as he desperately tried to prepare bacon without burning either of them sprang immediately to his mind, followed quickly by the image of his cum streaming down her thighs as she lay panting bent over the breakfast room table after they had eaten.

He pulled her close and nipped her ear before saying, "I'll take the unvarnished memory of breakfast this morning to my grave."

"Wait until tonight. You might decide this morning was pedestrian by comparison."

"That's it. I've decided. You're definitely trying to fuck me to death." He glanced behind her playfully, not failing to appreciate the way her full ass filled out her designer jeans while he was at it, before adding, "Are you a succubus? I don't see any wings or a tail."

"I can neither confirm nor deny those events, Senator," she replied sonorously. She then stared at him sternly and said, "I'm serious, John. We should go to a strip club. I assume you've been before. At least for your bachelor party."

"Yes, I've been to one. But it wasn't for my bachelor party. It was a buddy of mine who got married when I was still in school."

"Well, there you go. How come you didn't go to one when you got hitched?"

"Just felt... scummy. The whole titillating thing made me feel dirty."

"How come? After all, that's basically how our relationship started."

"Sure, but we actually like each other. And that came before I started leering at you."

She interjected, "Before I started bending over backwards to capture your attention. Up to and including quote/unquote losing my top when I knew only you were looking."

"You're making my point for me, honey. You wanted me, likely as much as a one-millionth as much as I wanted you."

"A million times as much."

"Perhaps we could agree that we both wanted each other more than any normal rational mind could comprehend."

"Fine," she huffed cheerfully.

"Strippers don't want me; they just want money. I don't begrudge them their desires; it just ruins the supposedly sexual experience to know how much the thought of touching me must repulse them."

"I get where you're coming from more than you could ever know."

"How so?"

"What do you think I did for money in college?" She gripped her tits luridly and added, "These puppies got me through graduate school without taking out a single loan."

"Holy shit."

"I know. Gross, right?"

"Fuck, no. It's brilliant, assuming, that is, that you managed to avoid any scary situations."

"Mostly. There were a few close calls, but I worked in a high-class club. The one just down the street, in fact. Best perk of the job was that the dancers had a gated underground parking lot that was heavily guarded. And you're certainly not wrong about the interpersonal part of the exchange between stripper and mark being a unique one. We're meant to act like we want to fuck the guy, or girl, but it's obviously all an act. The better you are at acting, the more you make. Smiles get bigger tips than big tits or a sweet ass."

"So why would you want to go?"

"Because it can be a lot of fun if you're in the right mindset, and especially if you're enjoying the show with the person you want to fuck. It takes the whole fantasy part out of it, and we're just left with enjoying watching a pretty girl take her clothes off for us. On slow nights, I used to always seek out couples so I could just sit and hang out with them. Maybe we'll get some fun ideas for costumes you want me to wear for you. Or maybe there will be a girl there who looks like Elaine."

"Come on, honey. I told you I'm a..."

"One-woman man. I heard you. But let me ask you this. How many times have you heard someone complain that they regretted having a second child because they're no longer capable of loving their eldest?"

"That's not a fair comparison."

"Why on earth not? Why would love be additive in one application but reductive in another?"

"Children aren't jealous of each other."

"And... now I know you're an only child."

He smiled and said, "As a matter of fact, I have an older brother."

"You should ask him sometime if he can honestly claim he never felt a shred of jealousy when beautiful baby John came along."

"He's actually a decade older than me, but I concede that perhaps sometimes older children feel jealousy."

"And in those very common situations, the solution isn't that the parents regret having a second. They just realize the amount of love they feel has multiplied and all that jealousy melts away once they demonstrate that everyone is loved more, not less."

"That's still different."

"Why? Why is it different?"

"Why are you pushing this?" he demanded. "We just started dating. Why are you suddenly anxious to push me into another woman's bed?"

"Because Elaine is my best friend, and she's been alone for so long. She'd never put herself out there to start dating, but I know you made an impression on her."

"How? You just found out I spoke to her a few minutes ago."

"Because I know you, and I know her. You're a unicorn, babe. A good man who's willing and eager to sacrifice his own happiness for the women he loves, to say nothing of the fact that you're a Renaissance master when it comes to fucking."

"That was all you, honey."

"It couldn't be, because I've never come even close to feeling like I did last night. Ergo: it was all your doing, and I won't hear arguments to the contrary." She sighed before adding, "I won't keep hounding you about Elaine, but we'll see her next weekend at the Memorial Day party. Just keep an open mind. I just want everyone I care about to be happy."

He kissed her temple and said, "I care about you too, honey. Quite a bit."

She smiled shyly at him before asking, "I know you'll call me a filthy tease, but would you mind if we skipped the strip club tonight?"

"It was your idea, honey. I'm easy."

"Good. I promise I'll take you to one sometime, and I promise you'll have a blast. But tonight, I just want you to take me home and make love to me."

He pulled her in for a scorching kiss before murmuring, "As you wish."

Twenty-One

"John!" Thomas boomed jubilantly as he strode in John's direction with a thousand-watt smile on his face and his hand outstretched. "How's life treating you?"

"Thomas," John replied evenly as he offered his hand.

He expected his neighbor to allow that to be the end of their interaction. He and Katherine had spent his entire commute the day before on the phone coming up with a game plan for the party, and that game plan most certainly did not include small talk with the man who was going out of his way to make Hazel miserable.

"Really appreciate you stepping up to the plate, by the way," Thomas muttered as he continued to shake John's hand.

"Pardon?"

"With Hazel. You're really doing me a solid."

John muttered, "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about."

Thomas glanced around furtively before saying, "Obviously you didn't want to fuck her. I mean... who would? So, I'm just thanking..."

"I'm going to stop you right there," John seethed, "because if you say another fucking word, all anyone's going to say about your party is that they can't believe your neighbor knocked you the fuck out. Little piece of advice? Don't ever fucking talk to me again."

Without another word, John stalked away.

"Great catching up," Thomas called out to his back, but he did not trust himself to look. He knew if he spotted Thomas's triumphant expression, someone would end up in handcuffs. He stalked across the wide lawn until the pool was between himself and his nemesis. The urge to seek out Hazel was nearly overwhelming, but part of the agreement with Katherine was that they would limit any contact with their new lovers. His wife was currently seated on the upper deck with several of the neighborhood's other well-to-do women and his girlfriend had joined Elaine and a young man he could only presume was the latter's son at a table near the pool. He was intrigued to spot that her son, who looked to be a few years' shy of graduation from high school, had brought a guitar along.

He looked away before his eyes could betray him. The outfit Hazel was wearing was, by any objective measure, tasteful and demure. But on her impossibly curvy body, the white shorts and wine-colored blouse were nothing short of agonizing for him to behold. The barest hint of her cleavage was enough to turn his dick to steel inside his shorts, and the way her blonde hair shone in the sunshine was liable to cause him to profess his love for her in front of God and everyone.

Had he been surveyed immediately following his fateful lunch meeting with Katherine ten days prior as to the best-case scenario for his near future, his estimate would have fallen far short of reality. Hazel was, in every possible way, a breath of fresh air in his life. She was helpful without being disruptive; kind without being condescending; supportive without being judgmental. She had effortlessly navigated the potentially thorny issue of being both a guest under the roof he shared with his young daughter and his lover, always doting on Lena while simultaneously never letting an opportunity for a quick bit of grab-ass or fondle-tit or stroke-cock go to waste. He had been genuinely shocked on returning from work to discover that her innocent greeting of 'how was work?' was a sincere request for information. This shock, however, paled in comparison to his complete bafflement when she had offered to help him with his work. Her edits to the remarks he was scheduled to give at the upcoming quarterly review for the executive leadership team had been a lifesaver, not to mention that it allowed him to spend the evening in bed with her rather than in his office.

A single thought had pervaded his thoughts for the last week, like a song that got stuck so firmly in one's head that serious thoughts were given to purging it with a liter of bourbon. His first thought each morning, and his last thought before he fell asleep, was that he could not possibly love Hazel. Not yet. It was too soon. Sure, he reasoned inwardly, they had known each other for years, and they had been quite friendly for much of that time. Viewed dispassionately, she was inarguably one of his very best friends, and she had assured him the same was true in reverse. Yet the fact remained that it was obviously far too early for him to believe that her happiness was now inextricably linked to his own.

They had spent the evening a few days prior just lounging on the couch watching a documentary about a band which had risen to stardom long before either of them were born. John had had a particularly trying day at work, having approved the termination of an employee who had been credibly accused of sexual harassment. The decision had been an easy one, but John never found it easy to fire someone, no matter how justified. The former employee had been understandably distraught and had made sure to point out just how difficult things would be for him and his also un-employed girlfriend. Hazel had listened to him recount his day patiently and known instinctively that what he needed was a comfortable night of normalcy. They had not even made love that evening, but it had never been harder for him to bid her good evening so she could return to her own room.

"It's just too early," he muttered as he shook his head. "I can't love her already."

"Love who, Daddy?" Lena asked innocently, having materialized by his side as though she had been beamed there.

"Oh... uh... nothing, sweetheart. Are you enjoying the party?"

"No," she grumped. "Why can't we swim?"

"The Meade's want everyone to wait until later to swim. And you'll have to wear a lifejacket."

"Why?" she demanded angrily. "I'm a good swimmer."

"I know, but it's going to be dark, except for the lights in the pool."

"Why?"

"Because they're doing a dive-in movie. It's one of your favorites. The one about the heroine who is being forced to marry the evil prince, before she gets saved by the hero who she instantly falls in love with."

"Oh, like Hazel?"

"What?" he gaped.

"It's ok, Daddy," she stage-whispered. "Mommy told me everything."

"She did?"

"Uh huh. That's why she's staying with us now, right?"

"Listen, honey. Can you stay over here by the table? I've got to go find... um... a bathroom. Yeah, that's it... a... um... bathroom."

"Sure, Daddy," she replied companionably as she plopped down onto a chair and began devouring a bowl of fruit.

John stalked across the party, heedless of who noticed the fiery expression on his face. When he reached Katherine, he managed to hold his tongue, merely glaring at her dangerously before spitting out, "I need a moment of your time."

"Oh, ok," she stammered. She turned to her companions and said, "Be back in a moment."

She followed John across the party and into Thomas's house. The moment the door closed behind them, he whirled and hissed, "How dare you tell Lena."

"Pardon me?"

"She just fucking told me, Katherine. You spilled the beans about Hazel and I."

"Keep your voice down."

"What the fuck for? You've already told the one person on the planet who I wanted to keep in the dark about this."

She studied him for a moment before saying, "I didn't tell her, John. And I don't appreciate the insinuation, or your tone."

"Fuck my tone," he snapped. "She just told me you, quote, told her all about Hazel and I falling in love, unquote."

"Is that what's happened?" she asked without a hint of rancor.

"Stop changing the subject."

"What, exactly, did she say?"

"I told her about tonight's movie, with the down-on-her luck girl who's being tormented by a complete dick-faced asshole and gets saved, and falls in love, with the dashing hero."

"Thomas doesn't have a dick face."

"That's not the fucking point and you fucking know it. When I told her about the movie, she said, 'oh, like Hazel?' as though it was the most natural thing in the world to say. Now how exactly in the name of fuck did she come up with that if it wasn't from you? She even told me you told her, Katherine."

"If you don't dial down your tone, sir, you'll find out exactly how uncomfortable I can make things for you, both at work and at home."

"But..."

"But nothing," she said firmly. "I said nothing to her about anything even remotely related to either of our sex lives. How could you possibly think otherwise? I'm not a monster, John, regardless of what you may think of me. Besides, something like that would hurt her far more than it would hurt you."

"I know," he snapped. "That's why I'm so mad."

"Look at me, John," she said softly.

For the first time since they had shared lunch together and reached their accord, he truly looked at the woman he had been married to for nearly a decade. In their time together, he had seen nearly every possible emotion reflected on her face. This included the recent additions of deception and lies. Yet all he saw in that moment was confusion. No snide jubilation at having won some incomprehensible game of self-serving one-upmanship, no fearful regret over having only at this moment realized she had overstepped. Only the puzzled expression of a woman trying to figure out the logical explanation for their daughter's words.

"I swear I didn't tell her anything about what's changed between us. Not a freaking word."

He knew at once that he believed her, and all of the anger and rage he had stored up evaporated like a deflating balloon. He sighed and softly said, "I believe you, and I'm sorry for how I behaved. You didn't deserve that."

"I appreciate that," she replied solemnly. "As for the rest, who can say how I would have reacted had the tables been turned. Likely much as you did. Without all the profanity, of course."

"Of course," he concurred gently.

"I think we should talk to her. Together."

"I agree. Let's all three head back to the house. We should still be back in time for the movie."

"Sounds like a plan," she agreed firmly before looping her arm through his.

***

The talk with Lena was long on words but short on content, as so many conversations with six-year-olds tend to go. It was nearly twenty minutes before John and Katherine ascertained that she had been referring to the 'woman gets away from evil man' part of the plot, it being an article of faith to her innocent mind that finding one's soul mate was only slightly more complicated than driving a car.

John had found the time rewarding because it was the first time he and Katherine had spent together with Lena since everything had blown up. He found the lack of awkwardness heartening, reinforcing his deeply held hope that they could, and would, successfully co-parent their precious daughter.

They had returned to the party happily swinging a gaily giggling Lena between them just moments before the movie was scheduled to begin. Any sense of merriment in John's mind was gone in an instant, however, when he spotted an obviously sobbing Hazel fleeing from the party. He glanced in Katherine's direction and was once again reminded that Katherine was, and likely would always remain, a true friend to him.

"Go," she said softly with a firm nod in Hazel's direction. "I've got Lena."

"Thank you," he whispered before racing toward the street.

However, as he arrived, he saw an unfamiliar car racing away. He pulled his phone from his pocket and quickly called Hazel, but the call went to voicemail. He called her thrice more before he resorted to texting her pleading for an explanation. He felt a momentary urge to chase after her, but knew she was long lost in the ever-present traffic of the suburbs.

Feeling utterly helpless, he returned to the party in hopes of finding an explanation for her departure. As he entered the backyard, he scanned across the nearly one hundred people in attendance. At first, he spotted nothing which clued him in to Hazel's disappearance. Then he saw movement inside the house and noticed Thomas and Elaine facing off in what appeared to be a very heated exchange.

As he entered, he heard Elaine say, "... always were a miserable bastard."

"How can you talk to your son's father like that?" Thomas asked innocently.

"Because my son's father is a self-absorbed asshole. My biggest fear in life is that he'll turn out just like you."

"Fat chance of that. He's a whiny pussy."

"He's ten times the man you'll ever be," Elaine seethed. She poked him in the chest hard enough that John could see Thomas recoil and added, "Stay away from him, and stay away from Hazel."

Thomas smiled in a way which only truly gifted actors, or genuine sociopaths, could ever manage and said, "Why would you ever tell a man to stay away from his wife, Elaine?"

"You lost the right to call her that when you served her with divorce papers."

"Nothing's official yet. I might still decide to take her back, assuming she makes some changes, of course."

"It's too late," Elaine declared triumphantly. She smiled and said, "You fool. You drove her right into the arms of the man who's everything you could never be."

Thomas scoffed and looked around in mock confusion. It was at this point that he spotted John staring at them in stunned silence. He said, "Well there he is, the man of the hour. Tell me, John, what do you have that I don't have? It isn't money, that's all Katherine's. It isn't Katherine, she's all mine now. What's that leave?"

"Let's see," Elaine began. "He stuck around to raise his child; he provides for his family; he makes the people in his life happy. He's more man than you'll ever be."

"Whatever," Thomas huffed dismissively as he headed for the door. "Feel free to skip the next party, Elaine. John, have you seen Katherine around? I just heard back from the young woman who will be joining us in bed tonight and I wanted to give her the good news."

"I'm really starting to hate you," John muttered darkly to Thomas's retreating back.

Twenty-Two

"Where's Hazel?" John demanded of Elaine the moment the door closed behind Thomas. "What happened?"

"Thomas happened. I suspect he saw her laughing and having a good time. This combined with the fact that she was pointedly ignoring him no doubt drove him to act."

"What did he do?"

"I'm not sure. One moment we were chatting pleasantly, the next he was leading her inside by the arm. I gave them their privacy, because she seemed to be giving him a well-deserved piece of her mind. But then I could see that things took a turn. She went from lecturing him to stoic before finally arriving at obviously doing everything in her power to keep from crying in front of him. I stepped inside and handed her my keys, telling her to get out of here, before I turned my attention on our most ungracious host."

"I have to find her. I tried calling, but she didn't answer."

"She mentioned earlier this evening that she left her phone at your house."

"Damnit," John groaned.

She regarded him intently and said, "What's wrong?"

"I have no idea where Hazel is, or what happened to her, or if she needs me. I thought you two were friends."

"Oh, we are. She is unquestionably my very best friend. I was just curious why you were so worked up."

"Because I luh... um..." He sighed and said, "Look, I just care about her happiness. Is that so wrong?"

"Of course not," Elaine replied with a jubilant smile.

"I can't understand how you're so comfortable with her being missing, especially considering we have no way to contact her."

"I never said we had no way to contact her."

"But you said she left her phone at the house."

"We could always try calling my phone, which is sitting in the cupholder of my car."

"Why didn't you say something earlier?" John exclaimed animatedly.

"This is hardly the first time my ex has driven my friend to tears. I'm not excusing him, just pointing out that I know she's likely just driving around, blowing off steam while she listens to heavy metal turned all the way up."

"She likes heavy metal?" he asked in shocked amazement.

"Loves it. Shall we call her?"

"Yes! What's your number?"

"We should call her from Nick's phone. That way she'll know it's me calling."

John followed her out and through the party until they came upon her son. Seeing him up close, John took in the sight of the rail-thin young man with long hair pulled back in a ponytail and the kind of wispy soul patch that only a mid-teens male could ever manage (or would ever tolerate). He was quietly strumming his guitar, but John did a double take upon realizing that, rather than just randomly noodling away on an acoustic guitar standard, he was patiently working on, apparently from memory, the bridge to an obscure progressive rock song from the nineties.

"Nick?" Elaine said softly. "Can I borrow your phone?"

"Sure," he replied in an unexpectedly deep voice. "It's in my case."

"Thanks, honey," she replied warmly. "It sounds like you've almost got that one licked."

He merely nodded in reply and Elaine pulled out a battered smart phone from the guitar case and started the call.

"Hazel?" Elaine asked haltingly. "Can you turn down the music?"

"What?"

"No, he's right here."

"I don't know where Katherine is. We're just trying to find out if you're ok, honey."

"What?"

"I don't know what you mean. All I can tell you is that he's right beside me and he's very worried about you."

"Don't be preposterous! Of course, he hasn't."

"Yes, I'm certain that's what he'd want. Why don't you just meet us there?"

"What?"

"Oh, definitely."

"Ok. See you soon."

She hung up and looked suspiciously at John for several moments before she said, "Is there anything I should know about? Perhaps with you and Katherine?"

"What?" he repeated. "No! I mean, we walked Lena over to the house to talk with her a bit, but it's just regular co-parenting stuff."

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean," she retorted quietly with a worried glance in her son's direction. She sighed and added, "Hazel is meeting us at your house after she makes a stop for, quote, supplies, unquote."

"That's no problem. Let me just go tell Katherine what's up so she can bring Lena home when she's ready to head out for whatever bullshit Thomas was talking about trying to arrange for tonight."

She nodded regally and said, "I'll see you there."

***

John opened the door as Elaine and her son reached the top of his porch steps and said, "I'm John," offering his hand to the guitar-case wielding young man.

The youth looked somewhat surprised, but dutifully shook and mumbled, "Thomas."

John frowned and said, "I could have sworn I heard your mother call you Nick."

"That's my middle name. I was named after my father, and he expects me to use that name when I meet his friends."

"I'm not sure that label applies to me," John offered gently. "Which name do you prefer?"

"Nick," he replied gratefully.

"That guitar is a beaut. Feel free to play anywhere you like. Or, if you want, you could use the music room downstairs. There's soda and tea in the fridge and snacks in the pantry."

"Thanks," Nick said with a smile before heading to the rear of the house.

John turned to Elaine and said, "He seems like a fine young man."

"He's my pride and joy," she sighed. "Thank you for being so welcoming."

"Don't mention it. I honestly hope I can hear him play more later. He's very talented."

"How could you possibly..."

"That song he was playing earlier was no mindless pop tune. That's some really advanced music and he's playing it with ease."

"Do you play?"

He shook his head and said, "I wish. I have a few guitars left over from my youth before I found better uses for disposable income, but I never got beyond the simple stuff."

"Yet you have a music room?"

"Call it a father's closely held, and likely futile, hope that Lena will decide she is consumed with the need to make music once she gets a little older. Can I get you something to drink?"

"I'd love a glass of wine..."

"Coming right up," John interjected. "Red or white?"

"I said I'd love one, not that I can have one. I still have to drive us home."

"You're always welcome to stay here."

"Surely you jest. You hardly know me."

"You're Hazel's friend. That's enough for me. Add to that the conversation we had the day we met and you're basically family. Plus, we've got the room. You could take the second guest room and Nick could grab a couch somewhere."

"You have two guest rooms?"

"Absurd, I know. But we bought the house thinking we'd have two or three kids. Katherine rethought that once she had Lena."

"I can't say I blame her, although she at the very least had you at her side every step of the way."

John leaned against the kitchen counter and said, "You still haven't said if you'll stay. I really wish you would, I know it'll make Hazel feel much better."

Elaine smiled warmly and nodded. "You care about her very much, don't you."

He tamped down the urge to deflect and answered honestly. "Of course. She's amazing." He held up a bottle of white wine and said, "This ok?"

She nodded and said, "It warms my heart to hear you say that. She deserves the whole world."

He delivered her drink and said, "She says the same about you."

"That doesn't surprise me. She's truly a great friend."

He took a sip of his own wine before saying, "What makes you think I was such a good husband when Katherine was pregnant?"

"I've known many men in my life John. A woman in my position learns to quickly spot the difference between the good ones and the ones who are nothing but trouble."

"And?"

"Don't fish for compliments, sir," she replied with a raised eyebrow. "It is unbecoming."

"What? I'm honestly asking."

"Tell me this, Mr. Humble. Is there a single woman in your life who doesn't loudly attest to your remarkable level of decency and nobility?"

"Well... maybe not 'loudly'."

"Then you have your answer. Goodness in a man is as easy to see as it is rare."

"If I was such a rockstar, I would have been there for Hazel tonight."

"Don't be stupid," she huffed.

Any reply he had in mind evaporated at the sound of the front door opening. He rushed in that direction to find Hazel entering carrying several paper bags. He relieved her of them automatically as he asked, "Are you ok?"

She shrugged morosely and headed toward the kitchen without meeting his eyes. He hurried after her and dropped the heavy sacks on the counter before turning to face her and saying, "What's wrong honey. What did he do to you?"

She glanced over at Elaine before saying, "We should discuss this later."

"No!" he retorted loudly. "Tell me what he did, or I'll just go over there and knock him out for good measure."

"I saw you with Katherine, John," Hazel murmured quietly, still not meeting his eyes.

"Huh?"

"Don't try to deny it. I know you two left together, and I didn't need Thomas to tell me what you were doing."

"We left with Lena, honey," John said with far more serenity than he felt. "To talk to her away from all the party's distractions. Lena and I were talking about the movie tonight and she said something which led me to believe that Katherine had outed our relationship. I confronted Katherine, angrily, but she convinced me that she hadn't said anything. So, we took Lena next door to find out what she meant. That was it." He tentatively crossed the kitchen to take Hazel's hand and said, "Katherine is my friend, and my daughter's mother. But that's it. You're the one I want to share my life with, honey."

"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered as she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.

"I texted you so you wouldn't wonder where I'd gone, but we agreed earlier that we'd keep our distance tonight for appearance's sake."

She sobbed and said, "Oh, babe," and flowed into his arms.

He hugged her tightly, as grateful for the comfort he could provide as he was frustrated with the fact that she needed comfort in the first place. He whispered, "I'm so sorry, honey."

She sniffed and looked up at him, whispering, "I'm sorry I didn't trust you."

He shook his head and said, "You've got nothing to apologize for. I should have made sure you were ok."

"No, you shouldn't," she huffed. "I should never have let Thomas put that poison in my ear. He just pushed all my buttons. Then, when I was at my most vulnerable, he tossed in a quip about you and Katherine sneaking off so you could be with someone you didn't have to find creative ways of convincing to keep her clothes on while you fucked her."

"That contemptible bastard," Elaine grumbled softly.

Hazel glanced in her direction and said, "I should know better than to let him get to me."

John waited patiently for Hazel to look back in his direction before saying, "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Not just bits and pieces, but every magnificent centimeter. You're a goddess, honey."

Hazel sniffed again and burrowed into him as Elaine said, "I told you."

"Told me what?" Hazel's muffled voice asked.

"I was actually talking to John, but I've certainly told you a time or thousand that you're completely gorgeous and any man would be lucky to have you."

"Indeed," John murmured. "I still can't believe how lucky I am."

"What did you tell John?" Hazel persisted.

"That he's one of the best men I've ever met." She set her half-full glass down and said, "I think we're going to head home. Before you ask, I'm fine to drive. Besides, I think you two need some alone time. We'll catch up soon."

Hazel crossed the room and hugged Elaine tightly. As John watched, they exchanged a few whispered words. Not wanting to invade their privacy, he took the opportunity to fill a lidded cup with ice-water for Elaine before heading off in search of Nick.

When they returned, Hazel had mostly regained her composure and the two women were seated at the breakfast room table. They stood as he approached, and Hazel hugged Nick as Elaine embraced John tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered softly.

"For what?"

"For being the man my friend deserves, and for loving her."

"But," he began.

"Don't worry," Elaine interrupted quietly. "I didn't spill your secret."

"Oh... um..." John stammered.

"Go make her happy, John."

He released her and took a step back before noticing that Elaine's eyes were misty. He glanced worryingly at Hazel before whispering to Elaine, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she deflected. "I'm just happy for my friend."

As John and Hazel saw their guests out, he fixed the still teary Elaine with a suspicious look and said, "You're sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine. You two have a good evening."

They were gone in moments, leaving the couple standing on the porch, arm-in-arm. He looked down and said, "What do you think was wrong with her? Those didn't look like happy tears."

"She's my best friend, John," Hazel replied after a moment's pause. "She's just having trouble dealing with the fact that she's jealous."

"What on Earth for?"

"Because I found the perfect man; the man she always wanted but told herself she could never have. And because she refuses to believe that just because I found you first doesn't mean she can't have you too."

"Not this again."

"I'll never stop wanting her to be just as happy as I am, babe. But that's for another day since neither of you are ready yet. Besides, I think I would call dibs tonight in any case, because I really need my man to take me to bed and show me how wrong my asshole ex-husband truly is."

As he leaned down to claim her lips, he whispered, "With pleasure, beautiful."

Twenty-Three

Their kiss on the front porch lingered until a particularly loud bark of laughter from the party next door reminded them of how public their display of affection truly was. John took Hazel's hand and led her back through the front door with a hungry gleam in his eye. The moment the door closed behind them, he attacked her lips again, pressing her against the front door as he deepened their kiss. Her hands desperately clung to him, pulling him closer as she ground her core on his thigh.

"I need you inside me," she growled as their lips parted.

"Where?" he asked breathlessly.

"You can put your amazing cock anywhere you like," she whispered throatily. "My body is yours to do with as you please. And you can do it wherever, and whenever, you desire."

"That's a bold statement," he joked.

She stared at him lustily and said, "I'm serious, John. You can take me next door and fuck me in the ass for everyone to see." She then blushed and added, "Well... Lena should obviously be taken home first."

"Obviously."

"But, after that, fuck away. You can even go ass to mouth and cum down my throat while everyone pretends to be horrified but is actually recording on their phones so they can jerk off to it later."

"I would never do that to you," he said gently.

"Why not? I just need to do a little prep first. A quick enema and we're good to go. Or does it ruin the mood if you know too much about my pre-game ritual."

"There's literally nothing I don't want to know about you, honey. In any case, I thought we had already established that our sex life will never be about either of us doing something for the other which makes us uncomfortable."

"It doesn't make me uncomfortable, babe. I think its fucking hot."

"And that goes double for anything demeaning," he continued undeterred. "Including, and most especially, objectifying you in any way."

"It's not objectification if I ask for it, babe."

He kissed her briefly and said, "Well, then you can rest assured that I'll never ask for you to do that." She pouted coquettishly, prompting him to add, "in public."

"Better," she murmured before capturing his lips again.

As their kiss deepened, he felt her hand struggling to relieve his throbbing erection from his shorts. He had just heard the telltale sound of a zipper when he felt the vibrations through the floor that typically heralded a visitor at the front door.

"Hang on a second, honey."

"I just want to taste you," she whispered eagerly.

"I think someone's here."

"Fuck," she whispered before reluctantly zipping him back up.

He turned to the door just in time for it to open and he found himself facing a surprised-looking Katherine and a sleepy-looking Lena.

Katherine glanced between them before shrugging apologetically and saying, "I should have called first."

"It's fine," John and Hazel said in unison.

"She's been swimming laps for the last hour. I'm sure she'll pass out the second her head hits the pillow."

"Mmm not tired," Lena mumbled.

Katherine knelt down and kissed Lena's cheek before saying, "Goodnight, sweetie. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Night, Mommy."

"I love you."

"Wub you too."

Katherine stood and said, "I told her I'd take her to brunch in the morning. Does ten work for you?"

"It's no problem. Just text me what you want her to wear."

"Oh, it's nothing formal, so whatever she's comfortable with will work as long as it isn't that horrid yellow monstrosity."

"No problem," John replied with a chuckle at the thought of Lena's favorite dress, which started life as an Easter outfit but had forever been reclassified as at-home-only after she had decided to improve it with a Sharpie.

"Well, good night to you both then. And I'm sorry for interrupting."

"Good night," Hazel replied softly as John said, "It's not a problem, Katherine."

They watched her pull out of the driveway in her luxury SUV before John felt Lena bump into his thigh and looked down to see that she was nearly unconscious.

"I'm going to get her in bed," he whispered.

"I'll be waiting," Hazel responded sultrily.

John helped Lena quickly shower to get the chlorine out of her hair before putting her to bed. He was amazed she managed to remain standing through the whole process, considering she was swaying like a pine tree in a thunderstorm due to fatigue. The effort to get her clean also had the side effect of waking her up, so he spent a few minutes lying in bed with her discussing the movie's finer points and planning out what she would order for brunch in the morning.

A glance at his watch when she finally drifted off to sleep told him twenty-five minutes had passed since she had arrived home. He glanced through the open door to Hazel's room but saw no sign of her, so he proceeded to his own room.

As he closed the door, he said, "Sorry that took so..."

Further speech was stolen from him as his eyes fell on Hazel. She was wearing a frilly white dress beneath a leather corset. Sleeves covered her upper arms but left her shoulders and the tops of her breasts bare. The dress was slit up the front of both thighs to her hips, causing the material to gather over the apex of her thighs. She had taken the time to braid her hair and it rested along her left shoulder tantalizingly.

"Christ, you're beautiful," he breathed reverently.

She curtsied and said, "Thank you."

She crossed the room and flowed easily into his arms. After accepting his offered kiss, she murmured, "You don't need to apologize for being a dad, John. Everything ok with Lena?"

"She's great," he replied softly. "More importantly, she's asleep."

"Oh, and why is that so important?"

"Because I plan to pleasure you with my tongue until you scream my name."

"Unh," she grunted as she slumped against him.

He ducked and hooked his arm beneath her knees and picked her up.

"What are you doing?" she yelped in genuine fright.

"Carrying my meal to the table," he whispered in her ear playfully. "Just like they taught us in school."

"But you'll drop me!"

"Not bloody likely, beautiful. That would be like dropping a Rodin masterpiece."

"Please put me down," she pleaded.

"As you wish," he replied gently as he placed her reverently on the bed.

"I can't believe you did that!"

Several retorts sprang into his mind, but he ultimately chose one without words. He quickly shed his clothes and knelt beside the bed to slowly slide her dress up along her creamy thighs. His breath caught in his throat when the fabric rose high enough to reveal her naked pussy with the proof of her arousal evident on her hairless mons.

"God damn! You're beautiful."

"I'm happy you think so," she whispered as she gazed down at him fondly.

"I know so, Princess."

"Is that what this outfit reminds you of?" she asked coyly as she pulled her top down to reveal her breasts.

"Maybe, but there's no going back now. You're my princess from now on."

"You're ridiculous."

He grinned at her wickedly and said, "No, Princess. I'm hungry."

Any response she might have given was lost in the wordless moan which escaped her lips as he daintily ran his tongue along her seam.

"Fuck, you taste good," he murmured before delving his tongue into her soaked entrance.

He savored her with languid thrusts of his tongue into the heart of her femininity. He could barely believe how eagerly she responded to him. Even the slightest action on the part of his tongue, lips or fingers was met with moans of pleasure or shudders of bliss, and through it all was the loving look in her soulful brown eyes as she gazed down at him. He drew the tip of his tongue along her slit until her hips bucked of their own accord when he reached her clit.

"Oh, babe," she sighed. "You're so good at this."

"I could do this forever."

Her mewling encouragement turned into moaning praise as he began alternating between teasing her clit and long licks along the length of her sex. His saliva mixed with her arousal until she was soaked in their shared excitement. He lengthened the strokes of his tongue to include her puckered star and she thrust her hips into him.

"I'm so close," she whispered.

He pushed her knees further apart and quickened his tongue, focusing on her clit as her release built within her. He took her bundle of nerves between his lips and teased it with the tip of his tongue until he felt her muscles lock.

"Oh, John," she groaned loudly as her pleasure crested within her and her thighs clenched around his head. He rode out her orgasm, continuing to pleasure her as she spasmed beneath him, until she hoarsely murmured, "It's too much."

He begrudgingly released her and made his way up her body until he was positioned between her thighs with his throbbing manhood poised at her entrance. He smiled and said, "What's too much?"

"You are, you perfect man."

A twitch of his hips nestled the head of his member in her feminine folds. "So, is this also too much?"

"Fuck no," she murmured, gripping his shaft and wantonly pulling him into her core.

He sank into her, and they groaned in unison.

"Is it too coarse if I say you, my dear, happen to be in possession of the world's most perfect pussy?"

"Maybe, but I love it. Just like I love your spectacular, amazing, incredible, delectable, magnificent cock."

He lifted her knees so he could go even deeper into her silken embrace. This had the effect of heightening the movement of her incomparable body each time he thrust into her. The corset's constraint caused her breasts to gently slap her chin each time he drove into her, and the sight nearly cost him his control. She saw where his eyes were focused and gripped one of her tits so she could suck on her nipple.

"Fuck," he rasped. "How is it possible for one woman to be this sexy?"

"I want to be on top."

He reluctantly pulled from her molten core and stepped back to stand beside the bed so she could rise up to her knees. He took her spot on the bed and watched in awe as she bent to take his throbbing manhood into the heaven that was her mouth. The entrance of her throat massaged the head of his cock tantalizingly as her tongue bathed his balls.

She pulled off him and gulped in a breath before saying, "I fucking love sucking your cock when you taste like me, babe."

John's hips bucked of their own accord at her words, and it was all he could do to resist the siren song of her throat desperately begging for his release. He whispered, "Princess... I couldn't have said it any better myself."

She released him from her lips with a playful pop and climbed up his body. Pulling her dress to the side, she lined him up with her entrance and sank onto his steel-hard member. His hands were drawn to her breasts like bees to honey, and she smiled brilliantly down at him as he lasciviously groped her magnificent tits.

As she rode him, her dress frequently threatened to hinder their progress until it inevitably wrapped around his shaft and started to chafe. He slid his hands down to her corset and tried to work out how to remove it.

This caused her to still above him and she said, "Wait. I can just tuck it in."

She bunched up the dress and stuffed it beneath the bottom of the corset before resuming the movement of her hips.

"But I want to see you."

"No, you don't," she murmured before anxiously disengaging and turning around to ride him reverse cowgirl.

Just as she sank onto him, he softly spoke, "Hazel?" She ignored him and continued to ride, but he was insistent and kept quietly calling her name until she stilled. He could feel the tension radiating off her as she remained statue-still above him while still impaled on his manhood. He leaned up and wrapped his arms around her midsection and pulled her back onto his chest.

"I'm going to smoosh you," she objected softly as she struggled to free herself from his grasp.

"Hazel?" he repeated gently until she finally relaxed, albeit only slightly.

"What?" she finally huffed.

"Why won't you let me see you? Don't you believe me when I tell you how beautiful you are?"

"I don't think you're intentionally trying to deceive me." He rolled to his side and placed her on the bed so he could look into her eyes. He was gutted to spot the moisture there as she tried, and ultimately failed, to hold back her tears. She looked away and said, "Please don't think this is a reflection on how amazing you are, John. You're perfect. But that doesn't change the fact that I'm not blind. Unfortunately. I know very well how fat I am."

"Oh, honey," he gushed. "No, you most certainly are not. You're stunning. You're flawless. You're perfect. I love your curves, and I want to worship every square centimeter of your perfect body."

"I believe you, babe. But that doesn't change how I see myself. It's just so hard to get in the mood when I don't feel sexy."

"But you're always sexy, Princess. No matter what you're doing."

"You're just saying that because we're dating. You have to say that."

He sighed and brushed an errant strand of hair from her face before saying, "We both know that's not true."

"You're right. Thomas never passed up an opportunity to remind me how disgusting I am."

"He sees his own ugliness reflected in you, my love. But you could ask any random person on the street, and they'd unhesitatingly tell you that you're beautiful."

"Why did you say that?" she whispered with a stunned expression.

"Because it's true. Anyone can see that you're completely gorgeous."

"I meant the other thing."

"What other thing?" he asked with a perplexed expression.

"You called me 'my...', you know what? Never mind."

He felt the weight of the moment bearing down on him, knowing instinctively that his future would be irrevocably altered, for good or for ill, by his next words. Anxiety spiked within him as he imagined every possible outcome from the choice he was making. Then he looked at her hopeful expression and everything was tranquil once more.

"I called you 'my love', because that's what you are. You're the woman I love."

"You don't have to say that babe," she replied sniffling.

"Yes, I do. Because it's the truth. And because it's been killing me not to say it. I love you, Hazel. I know we've only been dating for a little while, but we've known each other for years. You're one of the best people I've ever known. You're kind; and giving; and nurturing; and sweet; and loving. You're also the sexiest woman on the whole fucking planet. And I'm never truly happy when you're not with me." He took a deep breath as he tried to discern her tearful, yet shocked expression. He smiled wanly and said, "As I said, it's only been a little while. I don't want to pressure you into anything. I just had to let you know how I felt. Feel. How I feel. About you. Being that I loved you. Love you. Fuck."

"John?" she whispered softly.

"I know, I'm rambling."

"I love you more."

He released a breath he was unaware he had been holding and claimed her lips greedily before pulling back and murmuring, "Impossible."

"I've loved you for as long as I can remember. I knew you were my person at the first neighborhood party after we moved in when you bumped into a lit grill after you saw the dress I was wearing and then, later, spent an hour hoisting kids out of the pool to use the water slide because you didn't think it was safe for them to climb all over each other using the ladder."

"Well, it wasn't. Those dumb bastards should have hired a lifeguard."

"I spent the last two years worried I'd never get to tell you I love you."

"Well then I'm happy for both our sakes you got the chance." He pulled her close before adding, "I love everything about you, honey. That includes every cell of your magnificent body. I never want you to be uncomfortable, so I won't pressure you anymore to show it to me. Just know that if you decide to trust me with it, I would rather die than abuse that trust."

"I do trust you, babe. With my life. And I do want to share all that I am with you, just as I hope you'd do the same."

She started working at the clasps of her corset. There were, however, quite a few so he shortly got to work as well. Even with both of their efforts, it was still a lengthy process and they were both giggling by the time the last clasp was released. She rolled over on top of him and flipped the corset onto the floor before pulling her dress over her head and giving him his first truly unobstructed view of her body since the fateful day on the ladder. It was true they had shared a shower several times, but that was a wholly different experience than allowing his eyes to drink in her heavenly curves as she straddled him.

"You're magnificent, honey. A work of fucking art. I want to spend the next ten years doing nothing but licking your body."

"I'm not sure that's the most efficient use of your time, my love. But I'll never say no to a few hours here and there. As long as I get to return the favor."

She rose up slightly to align his rapidly hardening cock with her entrance and sank down onto him with tantalizing slowness. "I love how you fill me up."

"I love how your pussy feels like it was made for me."

"It was," she agreed with a smile. "No one has ever filled me up like you do. I love how you're looking at me."

"I love your smile," he whispered, causing the object of his affection to grow even wider.

"You should. You're the reason it exists." She sank on to him firmly and said, "Oh, God. John, what are you doing to me?"

He smiled and said, "I'm loving you."

She bent forward and captured his lips eagerly without slowing the movement of her gloriously rounded hips. His hands roamed over her spectacular body, savoring every curvy centimeter. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled them over so he could rise above her and gaze down at her magnificence. He thrust into her with long, languid strokes and delighted in the alluring way her body moved beneath him.

She started to wrap her arms around herself to restrain her breasts, but he whispered, "Don't. I want to see."

She smiled and raised her hands above her, gripping the headboard as her build-for-sex body jiggled for his grateful gaze.

"I'm close, honey," he rasped hoarsely.

"So am I. I want you to cum inside me."

A final deep thrust into her molten core was all it took before his release consumed him and he erupted deep within her.

"Oh my God," she gasped as she felt his essence filling her womb. "I'm cumming."

Seemingly endless surges of his cum burst forth from his pulsing cock until he felt the warmth of their combined release coating his balls. Beneath him, Hazel's body spasmed in pleasure with each thrust of his hips. Her eyes were shut tight but the crooked smile on her face told him all he needed to know.

When he was spent, he leaned down to kiss her tenderly. She wrapped him in a lover's embrace, encircling him in every way she could.

As their lips parted, he whispered, "Stay."

"But what about Lena?"

"I'll set an alarm, but I want you in my bed."

"I'll stay tonight," she agreed.

"You'll stay every night," he growled softly.

"As you wish."

Twenty-Four

"She looks very happy," Elaine observed quietly to John as they walked a few meters behind Hazel and Lena, who were walking hand-in-hand through the throngs of people at the music festival in Midtown Atlanta.

John smiled and said, "Then that's mission accomplished for me."

"Have you told her yet that you love her?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. Week before last. The night of Dickhead's party. She didn't tell you?"

"We discuss nearly everything, but she's very protective of you."

"That surprises me."

"Why is that?"

"That's a far more complicated question than you'd imagine," he replied carefully.

Elaine was content to walk quietly beside him as the foursome followed behind an eager Nick who was leading them toward a stage where an obscure fusion jazz band was scheduled to perform.

John had had his eye on the music festival ever since his evening with Lena when she had so obviously enjoyed the spectacle of live music. When he had gone to purchase tickets, he had immediately thought of Nick's love of music and had reached out to Elaine to see if they might be interested in joining them. Her response had surprised him, not because she had accepted but because she had behaved as though his invitation was such an unbelievable act on his part. She had repeatedly insisted on reimbursing him, and he had consistently developed selective hearing loss each time she had brought it up.

Hazel was walking with Lena because John knew he would surely slip up and do something his daughter would find suspicious otherwise. Few challenges in his life stacked up against the constant desire to be in physical contact with his incredible girlfriend, and they had taken to instituting extraordinary measures when Lena was nearby to prevent inadvertently revealing their relationship status. He had had several conversations with Katherine on the matter, but they had yet to decide on the best strategy. This effort was hampered somewhat, at least in John's mind, by the fact that Katherine's relationship with Thomas seemed somewhat strained (although he was loath to broach that subject with her).

It did not take John long to realize the risk, for want of a better term, in pairing off as they had. It was true that he had an easier time keeping his hands, and lips, off Hazel when he was instead walking next to Elaine, but it put him in the position of spending the day talking to, and looking at, a woman who gave his love a run for her money in the beauty department. She wore her long black hair up in deference to the blistering heat and humidity. But rather than being made miserable by the weather, she was radiant with her pale skin glistening in the bright sunlight thanks to a tantalizing sheen of sweat. She was wearing a billowing cream-colored romper which left her arms and nearly the entirety of her legs bare and constantly hinted at her voluptuousness each time the wind picked up.

"You're being quiet all of a sudden," she remarked as they came to a halt before one of the festival's smaller stages.

"Hazel has some funny ideas about relationships, is all."

"That sounds like it could be interesting. Lemme guess, she poops with the door open?"

He guffawed and said, "Nothing like that."

"What?" she asked with a smile. "I've always found her to be a very open kind of person. She's never pooped in front of me, but I can't tell you how many times it was just the two of us spending time together, and all of a sudden she's got her boobs out."

"Was she trying to seduce you?"

"Nothing like that. I know she's bisexual, but this wasn't about sex. She knows I'm firmly hetero. She was just getting comfortable."

"So, it didn't bother you that she was just hanging out topless?"

"Why would it? Nudity doesn't have to mean sex. Sometimes I was right there with her. I can't tell you how many times I'd join her at Thomas's house while Nick was in school so we could sunbathe au natural on her private terrace. I was raised by first generation Americans who had what many of your neighbors would consider to be shocking views on topics like modesty."

"Wow," John breathed reverently.

"And you missed it," she added playfully, her delight at his reaction evident. She regarded him for a moment longer before adding, "You still haven't told me what you meant about Hazel and relationships."

"She just takes an... unconventional stance on monogamy."

"You say this because she propositioned you while you were both married?"

"No, although I supposed that would also qualify. But I made my stance on that subject quite clear. And she has respected that, in her own fashion." He looked over at her for a moment before saying, "You don't want to hear this."

She chuckled coyly and said, "I assure you; you could not be more wrong."

"Fine, but just remember you asked for it. She's been trying to convince me to seduce you." Elaine was quiet for several moments, and John felt the awkwardness ballooning between them. He shook his head angrily at his bad judgement for allowing their conversation to take this turn and likely ruin what had been shaping up to be a glorious day. "I'm sorry I brought it up."

"Why?"

"Because I recognize how preposterous the whole thing is! She's making so many assumptions with this silly crusade of hers: that I'd ever cheat on her; that she'd actually be ok with it when it came to the moment of truth; that it wouldn't completely crater things with Katherine and, to a lesser extent, Thomas. And that's to say nothing of what is most obviously the most important obstacle in her silly little plan."

"And what is that?"

"The fact that you clearly think this idea is just as ridiculous as I do. Likely more so, considering."

"At the risk of sounding like a broken record, considering what?"

"Because you're gorgeous, and I'm... me. You're also an extremely admirable single mom and a loyal friend. I get that Hazel just wants you to be happy, and I respect that, but her presumption that you'd be even remotely interested in her little scheme is, at best, farfetched."

"I suspected she might try something like this. I suppose I should have warned you when we first met. As often as not when she'd sing your praises, she'd mention her belief that I would be just as taken with you as she was. And very apparently is."

"Again, I appreciate how much she cares for your happiness..."

"John?" Elaine interjected coquettishly.

"... but forget I said anything. We'll just chalk this up to too much sun and forget about it."

"John?"

"I mean, clearly it's the most fantastical notion since trickle-down economics and..."

"She's not wrong," Elaine declared softly.

"I mean, honestly, who could ever be so foolish as to think the rich would... wait... what?"

"I think you're a wonderful man. I've told you as much on several occasions."

"Right, but that's similar to how I announced that Denise Richards was the most beautiful woman in the world after seeing Wild Things on cable when I was in middle school, and I'd hear no word of dissent."

She laughed throatily and said, "How is that the same?"

"There's a wide gulf between feeling an abstract attraction to someone from a distance, someone you'd never in a million years ever think something could happen with due to either, in my case, them being a celebrity and me being an acne faced fifteen-year-old or, in your case, me being in a committed relationship."

"Fair enough," she allowed with a smile.

"Besides, I'm pleased to hear your opinion of me as a person matches mine of you. But there's a world of difference between saying 'I like this person', or 'I want to be friends with this person', or even 'I find this person attractive' and desiring a relationship with them."

"I wouldn't be opposed," she offered with a wink before turning toward the stage and saying, "Looks like the band is about to get started."

***

"Thank you again for taking me today," Hazel whispered after they had dropped Elaine and Nick off at their apartment.

John glanced in the rearview mirror to confirm Lena was still sleeping before reaching out to take Hazel's hand and kissing her knuckles tenderly. "Where I go, you go. I could never exclude you from something like this."

"I appreciate that. It was so much fun. I could never have imagined seeing so many different types of music in one day."

"We even got in a bit of metal for you."

"I'm not really a metal-head," she retorted playfully. "It just helps when I'm... keyed up."

"To each, their own. Besides, metal shows can be some of the most amazing experiences out there. Have I ever showed you a video of Iron Maiden playing in South America?"

"I don't think so. Aren't they the ones that worship the devil?"

"Hardly. They wrote a song called The Number of the Beast, but it's just about a dream the bassist had about how gullible people are with respect to religion. But they are an epic live band. They'll play in front of a couple hundred thousand people in soccer stadiums in Brazil or Argentina and every person there is hanging on every note. The guys tonight were pretty good as well. I think there's just something about that kind of music that really draws the crowd in."

"It really was incredible. I can't believe Lena was so into it."

"I think we've unlocked a new facet of her personality."

Hazel smiled and said, "I think she just takes after her Daddy."

"Perhaps?" he allowed with a wide smile.

"She really is amazing, John. You and Katherine have done such a wonderful job with her. And she really seems to be taking all the recent upheaval well."

"I sometimes wonder. I know Katherine and I are getting along fine, but Lena certainly notices how much has changed. I know school getting out right around the time things came to a head helped mask it somewhat. It's just... how could she not wonder why her mom doesn't live with her anymore? Spending three or four nights a week with her, either at her place in Midtown or with her folks, is great. But..."

"But, what?"

"I just wish we could figure out a way to talk to her about this. I feel like I'm lying to her about you and I, to say nothing of whatever Katherine's up to. Obviously, she doesn't need to know all the details, but we should be talking to her about what's coming."

"Is Katherine reluctant because she thinks things will go back to the way they were?"

John sighed and said, "I think maybe that was it in the beginning, but I get the impression recently that she's come around."

"Same here."

"Pardon?"

Hazel shrugged and said, "She invited me to lunch next week. She said she knows how close you and I have become and wants things between all of us to, quote, not be weird, unquote."

"I think that's a great idea."

"As do I, but please remember that I'm not putting any pressure on you to do anything with respect to Lena. She is, and must always remain, your priority."

"I know. I just want to get our relationship out of the shadows so I can stop pretending around her."

"That would be nice, but there's no rush. Besides, our ruse allowed you to spend what looked like some genuine quality time with Elaine. I was jealous. That outfit she was wearing today should have come with a warning label."

"It was very nice to spend time with her."

"But?" Hazel prompted.

"I screwed up. I told her about your insane plan in the hopes that she'd agree how bonkers, not to mention risky, it is."

"But she's interested, isn't she."

"She failed to agree with my assessment," John confirmed.

"I told you. You're amazing, and she doesn't need me singing your praises to know that. You're the whole package. And now that you've broached the subject, it won't be weird for me to tell her what a gifted lover you are."

"Hazel, please. I don't think I can go through this again."

"What? I'm not pulling a Katherine here, John. I'm being completely open and honest with you. What's more, if you're truly opposed to this, you know I'll drop it. But that's just not true, is it?"

"I..." he began, but his denial tasted like ash in his mouth as he realized that literally the only thing holding him back was fear. Fear that Hazel would change her mind and resent him; fear that he would somehow upset Lena; fear that Katherine would use this against him. Nothing about the thought of actually becoming close to Elaine seemed anything other than a goodness.

"She needs you, John. More than you could possibly ever know."

Twenty-Five

"Why am I so nervous about this?" Hazel asked anxiously. "We've known each other for years. Hell, we've had lunch tons of times before."

"You shouldn't be," John replied. "But it's completely understandable that you are. What has popular culture ever taught us about this situation other than the likelihood that Katherine will try to gouge your eyes out for stealing her man."

"Thanks," Hazel huffed.

"But you know that isn't the case here. Katherine did everything but break out the handcuffs to get us together. To say nothing of the fact that her and Dickhead took the infidelity beach long before we did. It seems wildly improbable, but I genuinely believe she wants to be your friend."

"I know. I just wish I wasn't so freaked out."

"It's going to be fine," John predicted confidently. "Listen, I've got to run to a meeting. I'll call you later to find out how great it went."

"Ok, babe. I love you."

He smiled and said, "I love you more," before hanging up.

It was several moments before John rose to head to the aforementioned meeting. At Hazel's urging he had instituted some changes in his professional life. This included mundane things like limiting his workday to ten hours, absent an earth-shattering calamity, and more liberal use of do-not-disturb mode on his phone when not at the office. These changes were certainly helpful, but he felt that other objectively smaller changes, such as recognizing the inherent inefficiency of task-switching and using those formerly lost minutes doing the micro-tasks (such as paying bills) he used to do late at night, were even more impactful.

He had chosen to use the five-minute time block in question to finish a bit of shopping for a gift he intended to give Hazel on their one-month anniversary. As he did, he smiled to himself at the thought of it having been so little time.

'One month', he thought in amazement, 'and we're already living together and head-over-heels in love'.

He had just clicked order on the necklace and was assembling his effects for his next meeting when his phone rang again. A quick glance at his phone informed him that it was Elaine calling so he picked up immediately. "Hey, I'm just running to a meeting."

"Damn," she muttered. "Ok, never mind. I'll let you go."

"And ruin the rest of my day as I wonder what's wrong? Not bloody likely."

"But you have a meeting."

"Indeed, and the sooner you tell me what's wrong, the sooner I can get to it."

"I just wanted to see how your day was going."

"Worse, now that you've just tried to deceive me for the first time."

"It's nothing, John."

"Second time," he observed pointedly.

"Fine. My stupid car broke down."

"Where are you?" John asked, no longer in the mood for joking.

"On the Perimeter," she replied, referring to Atlanta's infamously busy bypass highway which encircled the city between downtown and the suburbs, and where drivers routinely jockeyed with tractor trailers whilst traveling well in excess of one-hundred-ten kilometers per hour.

"Are you ok? Are you still in the car?"

"Yes. We're fine. We managed to pull off on a wide shoulder just past the river."

"We?"

"I was taking Nick to his audition for the UGA school of music."

John had started typing furiously the moment she mentioned breaking down. Having finished his messages to several subordinates, he stood and said, "Stay in the car. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"You don't need to..." Elaine started to reply, but he had already hung up in advance of rushing to the car park.

***

Just a tad over seventeen minutes later, John dropped out of Atlanta traffic's version of hyper speed and pulled off on the shoulder behind Elaine's pitifully steaming minivan. Before he had even come to a stop, she was out of her car and stalking toward him.

As he opened his door, she shouted, "What are you doing here?"

"I would think the answer to that would be obvious. I'm helping my friend."

"You're a profoundly infuriating man."

He shrugged and said, "Perhaps," before extending his keys to her.

"What is that?"

"My car keys," he replied with a smirk.

"I know that they are car keys, you jerk. I meant why are you offering them to me?"

"We're switching cars. I assume you can drive stick?"

"Of course, I can. And no, we most certainly are not switching cars."

He sighed and said, "When's Nick's audition?"

"In," she glanced at her watch, "an hour and forty-one minutes."

"Then you're taking my car, and you're doing it right now or you're sure to be late."

"And what will you do?"

"I'll wait here with your car until the tow truck gets here. Do you know how much longer they'll be?" She deflated in defeat and whispered something which was lost to the sound of passing cars. He kept his gaze on her and said, "What was that?"

"I haven't called one!" she shouted. He waited for her to elaborate, and she eventually added, "I can't afford it anyway."

"Then I'll take care of it."

"John! I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't," he pointed out. "I offered."

"Why?"

"Because you're my friend, Elaine. And because I know how important this audition is to Nick. And because I can."

"What about your meeting?"

"It's handled," he reassured her before waggling his keys. "You really need to get going."

"Fine," she snatched the keys out of his hand. "Thank you. Truly, thank you. I'll find a way to make this up to you."

"Get Nick to his audition on time and we're even."

"I mean it, John," she insisted as her eyes grew misty. "I won't forget this."

He pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her before saying, "I'm so glad I could help. Now go."

Nick smiled at him gratefully as he moved his equipment between cars and John was soon left alone on the side of the noisy highway. He climbed into her van and began leafing through her maintenance receipts in the glove box to find several that included a warning that both her fuel and electrical systems were on their last leg and that several thousand dollars' worth of repairs were critically recommended. He did a few minutes' worth of research before he started making calls. Once the arrangements had been made, he pulled out his laptop and got back to work.

By the time the tow truck arrived, John's shirt was soaked through with sweat thanks to the sweltering June weather. He had managed to attend a handful of meetings in the sauna of the van's interior. He had been forced by the road noise to keep the windows closed, and the same fault which had sent Elaine to the side of the road also prevented him from taking any comfort from the vehicle's air conditioning.

The tow truck's interior provided little relief, the choking cigarette smoke overwhelming the relatively cooler air. He was thankful when they finally reached the dealership, especially considering that he had arranged via a delivery app for a fresh shirt to await him there. Once changed he sought out a thoughtfully provided desk and got back to work. If any of his subordinates thought it odd that he was leading the meeting remotely from a busy waiting room, none of them mentioned it.

He had just completed a task and was giving thought to lunch when a voice called his name over the loudspeaker. He made his way to the service desk and was shortly ushered into an office by a young woman who looked barely old enough to drive.

He took a seat and said, "What's the damage?"

She started rattling off a list of all that would have to be repaired, or replaced, but he held up a hand to cut her off and said, "Let's start with the bad news."

"Forty-nine hundred dollars," she replied quickly.

"Gracious."

"But that doesn't include several items which we recommend also be repaired."

"So, the five grand is just to get it running, but she'll need more repairs soon or this will happen again?"

"Yes. The remaining recommended repairs would be another twenty-seven hundred."

"Cripes. Sounds like the damn thing is falling apart."

"I'm afraid so. Two thousand and six wasn't a great year for that manufacturer."

"It was better than two thousand ten," John replied, referring to the year the car maker had been sacrificed by its corporate overlord in the name of being granted an unprecedented government bailout.

"What's it worth, as is?"

"Strictly speaking, its totaled. Unfortunately, blue book on it before it broke down was only three grand, tops, even with the low mileage," she replied quickly, clearly having anticipated this question.

"What's your policy on replacement?"

"If you buy today, we'll give you full blue book."

"Alrighty. I guess I'm going car shopping."

***

"I need some advice," John huffed as he leaned against the door to the office upon returning home.

"What's up?" Hazel replied as she turned to face him. "I like that shirt. Is it new?"

"Yeah. Thanks. So... I did something that's likely to make someone I care about pretty angry."

"I could never be angry at you babe."

"I seriously doubt that," he replied with a smirk. "But I wasn't talking about you, or Lena," he added in advance of the anticipated question.

"You're reading my thoughts now?" she inquired coquettishly.

"It's Elaine," he evaded. "She called me this afternoon broken down by the side of the highway."

"Nick's audition!"

"Yup," he agreed. "I went to meet her, and convinced her to take my car so he'd make it on time."

"Oh, babe. Thank you. I can't tell you how much this meant to them. I know she likely made a big deal about it, but I'm sure she's nothing but incredibly appreciative."

"That wasn't the thing I did. At least not the thing which is most likely to make her furious with me."

"Oh," was the only reply she could manage.

"I got her van towed and it was irrevocably fucked. It would have cost a ton more to fix it than it was worth. So... I replaced it."

"Oh, John," she breathed.

"I know," he huffed. "She's going to kill me."

"I meant 'Oh, John I want to tear your clothes off and fuck you into unconsciousness because I can't believe how amazing you are', not 'Oh, John, I can't believe how foolish you are'."

"But she's definitely going to kill me. This is way too much for a friend."

"It isn't, though. Because it was what she most needed and you were in a position to provide it. Don't get me wrong, she'll be powerfully upset when she finds out. But she's an almost offensively logical and reasonable person. She'll quickly realize you had little choice. Would it be accurate to say you spent less on the new one than the repairs for the old one would have cost?"

"Not exactly," he allowed. "But perhaps when you take into account the likely upcoming repairs on the old one. This way, she's got piece of mind."

Hazel rose and kissed John thoroughly before saying, "I'm very proud of you, my love. I shouldn't be surprised at the wonderful things you do, but it still happens occasionally. We're both very lucky to have you."

"Come off it. She's my friend, obviously, but what's happened today will undoubtedly spell the death knell for any hopes you had for adding her to our family."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because she'll feel indebted to me now, honey." She frowned at this response, prompting him to add, "You know I'm right. She's an amazing person, Hazel. And part of that is the undeniable truth that she is a proud woman. It's what makes her such an amazing mom and friend. She'll never forgive me for placing her in a position where she feels like she owes me something. And no amount of either of us insisting she's wrong will change that."

Twenty-Six

"Elaine," John complained with a strained voice. "You didn't need to bring all this stuff."

She whirled to face him and said, "Don't you say one fucking word about what I do, or don't, need to do." She waved her hand frantically toward her new van and added, "Ever!"

He nodded solemnly and said, "Fine."

"I found the papers in the glove box. You likely thought you'd been quite clever removing everything which mentioned how much you paid for this, but it's listed on the registration as well."

"Can I carry the cake for you?" he lamely deflected.

"Fourteen and a half thousand dollars?" she shouted. "After trade-in?"

"I thought it was a pretty good deal, considering the mileage. If not the cake, then I could carry all the sodas."

"Fuck the sodas!"

"Anatomically unlikely, especially in their present state."

"I should make you do it anyway," she seethed. "Getting your precious penis stuck in a soda bottle like the worst possible version of a Chinese finger trap would be no more than you deserve."

"Can I suggest we carry all the perishables inside before we decide on optimal torture methods?"

"I'm serious, John!"

"Listen," he replied gently. "I truly am sorry. I knew this was wildly unfair to you, and I did it anyway. But I only made the decision I did because it was the best choice available to me. I couldn't allow you to continue to depend on that hunk of junk you were driving without spending at least seven or eight grand on it, and that would have just gotten you back to driving a wildly unreliable car that something else would have gone wrong with sooner rather than later."

"But why didn't you ask me first?"

"Because you'd have said no way, obviously. Again, I recognize how shitty it was and readily accept whatever punishment you decide to impose."

"I will pay you back."

"I wish you wouldn't, Elaine."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He sighed before saying, "I don't suppose we could just skip right to the punishment portion of the program?"

"To quote a one-time friend of mine, not bloody likely."

"Ouch."

"Out with it."

"You said by the side of the road you couldn't afford to fix it. Again, I freely admit how awful of a friend I am for imposing this on you. Doesn't mean I regret it, just that I admit my sin and accept the consequences."

She stabbed him in the chest with her index finger and hissed, "You are a thoroughly infuriating man, John Logan," before grabbing the sheet cake and stomping into the house.

He hefted the sodas and followed at a reasonable distance, wishing he could think of a solution to the problem her wretched vehicle had caused. He had been raised in a lower-middle class household and had thus had both the value of the dollar and the crushing burden of debt infused into his DNA. He had even worked a full-time job while going to school rather than taking out student loans. In fact, the first time in his life he had owed anyone more than the cost of a meal was when he had signed the mortgage on his house. He knew better than most how Elaine felt, how tempted she had likely been on multiple occasions to do anything possible to relieve herself of the debt (even if it meant going without a car). His attempts to explain this to Hazel had been fraught, as she could not see past his generosity to the larger issue of imposed obligation. But his attempts to find a solution to the conundrum had all ended in failure because the one piece of information he lacked was linked to the one question he could never ask: why had she acted as though her lack of money to fix the car was unexpected?

Upon reaching the back deck, he heard the sounds of merriment coming from the pool. What had started as a desire to spend a Saturday at home had happily bloomed into an intimate pool party. Hazel had invited Elaine, since John suspected an invitation coming from him would be ignored outright. Nick had then texted Hazel asking if he could invite a few friends, which John suspected had angered Elaine to no end.

All told, seven high schoolers had shown up along with several of Lena's friends. Elaine had made the executive decision that she would provide refreshments and, judging by the rear of her van, had dropped hundreds of dollars at the grocery store, likely buying everything she spotted which had even a passing affiliation with the concept of a party. John was particularly fond of the birthday cake she had purchased, considering no one in attendance was celebrating such an event.

John quickly found himself relegated to the grill while Hazel and Elaine watched the children swim. He did not mind the break from Elaine's intense glare and contented himself with acting as a tertiary lifeguard as he tried to determine which of the three girls Nick had invited was the most likely to be the object of his affection. He thought it a testament to Elaine's skill as a parent that the young man treated all his guests with equal deference and respect.

Once the food was ready, all the youngsters were ordered from the pool. John watched in amazement as they descended on the food and made quick work of the lavish spread. He went from wondering where he would put all the leftovers to hoping there would be enough left for Hazel and Elaine. In the end, the adults were each able to get a burger and a few chips and they gathered together at one of the tables next to the pool.

"That was incredible," John whispered as he took his seat.

"Ah, to be young and have the metabolism of a hummingbird again," Hazel agreed with a chuckle.

"Thank you again, Elaine, for taking care of all the food," John offered gently.

"Thank you for cooking," she replied evenly.

"Would you stop?" Hazel barked in Elaine's direction. Elaine glared at Hazel in response, prompting the latter to add, "Tell me honestly. If your situations had been reversed, what would you have done in his shoes?"

"I would have spoken to him..."

"I said honestly, Elaine. I swear, you are two peas in a pod. Both so damned noble and decent that you can't get out of your own way. It's frankly amazing you two haven't hooked up yet."

"Hey," John objected, his eyes darting around the pool deck anxiously.

"They couldn't hear a helicopter if it was landing on Thomas's big, dumb gazebo with as loud as they're talking," Hazel deflected. "I mean it. You both just need to get over it." She turned to Elaine and said, "You needed help, and he provided it. And I for one refuse to believe you'd be this upset about it if you two weren't so thoroughly consumed by how much you want in each other's pants. Or if you'd already done the deed, for that matter."

"That is not happening," John and Elaine said as one.

"Sure. You keep telling yourselves that," Hazel replied brightly before she looked around for a moment. She looked back at her companions and said, "I'll be right back."

She rose and walked purposefully toward the house, a sight which John never failed to appreciate. Once Hazel entered the house, he turned to Elaine to see her regarding him severely.

She sighed and said, "I don't know how to let this go, John. It's too big."

"I know. I've been wracking my brain to come up with something which could balance the scales, not because I feel I'm owed but because I know you'll never rest until that's done."

"You make me sound like I'm insane."

"Then I apologize. That was not my intent, nor do I believe that. I fully understand your unease with this situation."

Her eyes held his for several long moments before she glanced away. As she did, her gaze drifted to Thomas's house and she groaned in frustration before grumbling, "None of this would have happened if he wasn't such a fucking asshole."

"I knew it," John hissed in scarcely disguised rage. "That piece of shit is why this happened, isn't he?"

"He certainly didn't help," Elaine evaded before slouching back in her chair.

"Tell me," John pleaded. "You shouldn't have to bear this burden alone."

"He decided that my, quote, interference, unquote, at the Memorial Day party constituted a breach of our agreement. He was already late on the April and May payments, but he had been trying to play that off as some financial bullshit. Something about waiting for a valuation of a company to complete so he could free up some capital. It's happened before and in the past he always paid. But this time he said he's done. That my behavior gets him off the hook."

"I can't imagine any court would agree."

"You'd be surprised," she replied wearily. "I was young and ignorant when I found out I was pregnant. I can't honestly say I got much further than the part of the divorce decree where he said he pays seventy-five hundred a month in child support. Turns out there's a lot more to it than that."

"Wait a minute," John interjected with barely restrained fury. "Are you telling me he divorced you before Nick was born?"

"He served me when I was at seven weeks, three days after he found out."

"How did you not rip his sack off like a paper towel?"

"As horrible as it sounds in hindsight, I felt like I needed him. Besides, we'd been married for a few years and the bloom was already off the rose. He'd cheated on me three times that I knew about, not that that mattered thanks to that insane prenup. I was fine with being rid of him. When he dangled that money under my nose, I jumped at it happily. Being a single mom who could afford to not work versus raising a child who grew up like Thomas? That's no contest."

"He should still be fed his cock and balls with a side of spoiled milk," John muttered darkly.

"Are we talking about Thomas?" Hazel inquired brightly as she returned to the table carrying a tray filled with glasses.

"What clued you in?" John answered gruffly.

Elaine turned to him and said, "My money troubles are frustrating, but they hardly justify me being such a bitch to you."

"I could never think that of you," he corrected gently. "I felt terrible about the burden I imposed upon you, and that was before I had any idea of all you were dealing with."

"It was just a lot at once, and I'm not used to people, men really, being nice to me without an ulterior motive. I will pay you back, John. But I'll also do my best to stop treating you like you're an asshole when the reality is that you're responsible for the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me."

"Second nicest," he corrected.

"Pardon?" Elaine replied in confusion.

"I once had a friend whose husband was a legitimate nightmare. Drank; smoked; cheated on her all the time; ran up a bunch of debt that she had to pay off; flaked on taking care of the kids constantly. It sometimes seemed like he spent his time when she was at work looking for new ways to be a wretched person. But as much as she loathed him, she always maintained that he wasn't all bad because he fathered her kids. She said she couldn't truly hate him when he was responsible for the best thing that ever happened to her. A bit misguided, perhaps, but I always found talking to her to be quite refreshing. Especially after she finally decided her kids were old enough and kicked that deadbeat's ass to the curb. She's now married to a man who treats her like a queen, and I couldn't be happier for her."

"Here, here for men treating their women like queens," Hazel declared, holding a glass high.

Elaine reached over to pluck a glass filled with cucumber and limes (not to mention a staggering amount of gin) and echoed Hazel's toast, her eyes locked on John.

Copyright © 2023 Jake Lazarus

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