The Cruiserweight by L. Anne Carrington

called her the next
morning.
    “ No. I’m planning to show him that
he isn’t the only one who’s capable of pulling off surprises. I’d
planned to take the train, but once I had a taste of first-class
flying, I may spring for another.”
    “Does this mean you’re not afraid of planes
anymore?”
    “I wouldn’t say that just yet. I think it’s
time to face and conquer my fears.”
    “I never thought you‘d say such a
thing.”
    “How’s everything at the office?”
    “Great. I think the boss misses
you.”
    “I should be home late this afternoon. Brett
and I went to breakfast and sightseeing. If I didn’t know any
better, I’d think he was working on convincing me to move
here.”
    “Would you?”
    “Not quite. I’ve been in Pittsburgh all of my
life, have a good job and friends there. I’d miss the excitement of
football season and, weird as it sounds, the snow every winter.
L.A.’s a nice place to visit, but it’s good to come back to
familiar ground. Even Brett returns to Olympia once in
awhile.”
    “Not that I‘m nosy, but has he made a move on
you yet?”
    “Uh … you could
say that.”
    “Why do I have the feeling that something else
happened?”
    “There are still some of us in this world who
don’t kiss and tell.”
    “Karen Jean Montgomery, you slept with a younger man! Was he any good? Is that bulge in his
Speedo the real deal?”
    “Phoebe!”
    “You did have mind-blowing sex, didn’t
you? I’ve heard of some athletes being great in bed, and some say a
guy who’s well-endowed does a better job of … you know … making women … ”
    “Have orgasms. Brett‘s … very gifted in both aspects, and that’s all I’m
saying on the subject. Don’t you dare breathe a word to anyone
else.”
    “I won‘t. It‘s no one‘s business anyway. I
could almost imagine the guys if they knew, since most men I know
are filthy-minded pigs.”
    “Another reason I’d like my relationship with
Brett to be kept quiet for the time being.”
    “I hoped you two would get together. I always
thought you’d make a charming couple, age difference and
all.”
    Phoebe, you’re such a romantic sap. “I need to get back to packing and check out if
I’m going to make my plane. I’ll call you or Eddie when I get back
to Pittsburgh.”
     
     
    *****
     
    “Hey, my man, why did you blow Pat and me off
last night?” Dillard asked. “He had a bitch fit like a woman who’d
been stood up on a blind date.”
    “Sorry about the last minute change of plans,
bro, but Karen and I got caught up in each other’s company,” Brett
said. “I didn’t want to be a rude host to her, so better to call
you two than run late.”
    “So that’s it!” Dillard began to laugh. “Wait
until Pat hears about this shit!”
    “What?”
    “You got laid! Fess up, Kerrigan, I’ve
known you long enough to figure out when you’ve had a piece of
ass.”
    Brett felt crimson creeping up from his neck
and settling on his cheeks. “Um … it
kind of just happened, yeah.”
    “I can tell you scored by the sound of your
voice and your eyes gleaming. So how was she?”
    “Dude, come on! I’m not like Patrick, who goes
around bragging about every woman he’s bagged. Ever hear of
treating ladies with respect? If you must know, it was quite
good, thank you.”
    “Wow, Karen must be something special for you
to keep quiet. You and Patrick compared notes after you‘d fucked
Kyra Dimes.”
    “We were ‘friends with benefits’ and she did
Pat a couple of times too. One night she did both of us. Happy
now?”
    “Who hasn‘t fucked that
chick?”
    “You, for one. Don’t talk shit about Kyra.
She’s been good to me, and as of tonight, we’re cutting down on the
‘with benefits’ part of our friendship for the time being. She’s
going to work out things with her husband, and I’m in a
relationship with Karen.”
    “Wow, you are serious.”
    “Yeah. I don’t think I’ve had a woman like
Karen in my entire life.