by Davis, SJ
"I'm beat." Russell dropped his computer case. "I hope Lauren's okay."
"She probably got caught on a call." He pointed toward the direction of the bedroom. "Dry clothes are that way." They had no time for Russell to wait for Lauren's tie untying. Somehow Russell took longer than Lauren to get ready, and Jason had a full night planned, dinner out, a trip down to the club where some of their friends of friends were playing some tunes, and then home for a little triple play.
"At six thirty?" Russell dug his cell phone out of his pocket and walked away.
"What?" He turned toward the clock. Last time he checked it was 4:30. He was in his studio and decided he needed to clear his mind, got ready and turned on the music to wait for his other halves. Well, other thirds. He returned to the couch to find his phone in the cushion. A pair of headlights glowed through the shade right as he went to call Laurie.
He threw his phone aside, opened the door and waved her in. "Come on it's raining."
A blur of black bulges trudged to the door, it didn't say hello to him or brush his bangs away. It only passed by, dropping a handbag, a coat and a tote bag on their tile entryway.
"Where have you been?" Russell returned and tossed Lauren a towel.
"Why are you in sweats?" Jason waved at him. Weather or not, his friend wasn't getting out of going out.
"Three hours to get home." She caught the towel.
"I had a feeling. Why didn't you answer your phone?" Russell took the towel from her and began drying her hair.
"It slipped under my seat, and I was having such a hard time seeing I didn't want to reach for it." Her voice came out muffled by Russell's ministrations. "You made me promise not to mess with the phone."
"Why aren't you dressed?" Jason slammed the door and joined Russell in Lauren's hair drying. At least their woman listened to them about the phone.
"I am dressed." Russell peeled Lauren out of her sweater. "She's soaked and needs to change."
Jason licked his lips at the sight of Lauren in her beige work bra. He went to remove that as well. Maybe they could forgo dinner, help Lauren warm up and then go out.
"I'm dying." She trembled. "I think I'm dying."
"Go get into something not wet, and I'll pour some drinks." Russell rubbed her back.
"Can I put on your eagle sweatshirt and the blue pants?" She looked up at him.
"If that will make you happy." Russell bent down, kissed her nose and wrapped the towel around her neck.
"It will help." She kissed Russell in return and dashed off.
"Why did you tell her to get into erection killing clothes?" Jason crossed his arms. He didn't even get his bangs tended to and he purposely wore them in his eyes. "Speaking of which, why are you in erection hiding clothes. We have plans."
Russell held her sweater. "If our plans consist of dinner delivery, work and bill paying then I think these clothes will do fine. I am behind on everything, this is the perfect time to catch up."
"Just wait for Lauren, she will talk you into it."
"Talk who into what?" On queue, Lauren returned in the oversized under sexy outfit.
"The Degenerates are playing in the valley, I thought we would grab that German food you love out there." No doubt the promise of apple strudel would persuade her. "It's that or bills and business in sweats." He inhaled getting ready to watch her grab Russell's arm to drag him back to the bedroom to get in something more appropriate. Heck, he would help them change.
"Can we get spaghetti and cannolis from DaVinci's?" She wrapped her arms around herself and her hands disappeared inside the sleeves. "Then maybe after we settle our financial affairs we can cuddle and watch our show in the bedroom. They're having a marathon tonight."
"That sounds like a deal." Russell high-fived her.
A marathon of reality television and takeout trumped the night he planned? Not even their normal rush home, eat and have sex? "No, there is no deal. That is not the game we are playing."
"We cannot go out tonight." Russell shook his head.
Jason was no stranger to his tone. If Russell decreed they weren't leaving, they weren't leaving. He didn't even have Lauren to back him up. Now she was wiping her face and yawning. Once he got them going they would be fine. "You guys just need a second wind."
"The wind blew away with the rain and the lightning." Russell crossed his arms.
"Fine." He tried his plan and it failed. They would never go out together. Screw this, he would go out alone. He sat around all day waiting for them while they were out, now it was his turn. "I think I'll call Steve, you guys are exhausted and I'm wound up." Maybe he didn't need them to go out, maybe he just needed some air. Maybe with the threat of leaving they would come.
"I'll call DaVinci's, I left my phone in the bedroom. See you later." She glanced at him, then Russell, and left.
Without making any eye contact, Russell reached around him to get his computer case. "I have work to do."
Great, now he had the great walk away without looking at him. "You're pissed." Jason checked his pocket for his wallet.
"Why would I be pissed?"
He ground his teeth together. The sheer question meant Russ was pissed, and now stupid Jason had to decipher some great esoteric reason. "We don't all have to be together every second."
"No, we don't." Russell answered too fast as he put his bag on the back of the couch and pulled out some papers.
Lauren may be freezing, but heat overtook him. "You're a jerk. We could all just go, but you have to send everyone to change into a pajama party!"
"I'm a jerk?" Russell threw his bag aside. "How exactly am I a jerk when I work a ten hour day, drive over an hour to go less than six miles to get home, and I still have shit to do?"
"I just wanted to go out with the two of you." He fought the urge to grab Russell and shake him.
"Lauren drove three hours in the rain!" Russell faced him. "Didn't you see how tired she was? She's going to be asleep after a half of a cannoli and the second episode in her epic marathon. She's been out since before you got up, but I'm assuming you still expect her to perform acrobatics tonight."
"Don't say you don't want that." He backed toward the door.
"See you later." Russell plopped down on the couch.
"Later." He was allowed to leave the house if he wanted.
Russell started flipping through his mail.
Jason opened the door, the rain fell hard enough to cause water to pool up the first step of the porch. He spied his car. It looked like paint dripped down, distorting his image of his vehicle. It would be a bitch to get to the club. Los Angeles fell apart in the rain, it was as if the inhabitants of the city couldn't believe that the forces that be would allow water to fall from the sky. Lauren drove home from the north valley in this? "You know, I was in the house all day."
"Then you should go out." Russell tore an envelope open.
"Are you sure you don't want to go?" He grabbed the doorjamb.
"I wasn't in the house all day. I'm exhausted. I may not even make it through my whole cannoli before I crash." Russell unfolded a paper. "Do you have your stack of bills on the desk?"
"I can get it." He turned to go back inside.
"Don't bother." Out of nowhere Russell brushed the mail aside and stood. "I think I'm going to take the night off."
"Maybe we can take a rain check for tomorrow night." He needed something from his best friend, any sign he would be seen with them.
Russell only stared at him.
"I'll be back." He inched toward the door.
Without another word, Russell raised his hand and went toward the kitchen.
Jason walked into the rain.
***
"Hey!" Steve waved and made his way through the crowd to Jason's table.
Jason lifted his chin and shook his friend's hand as they both sat. "How's it going?"
"This rain is insane." Steve pulled off his jacket. "I was happy for the pit stop."
"I thought we would
go over to the valley and see the band." His voice washed away like his enthusiasm for this night.
The drive six blocks away took him twenty-five minutes. Even with his wipers in high gear, visibility was low, or more like nonexistent. The image of Lauren and Russell driving in this made him itch as if he were about to break out in hives. Then again, him thinking how tired they were and how he hoped they were okay turned the hives into blisters. What happened to seeing what would happen? Doing this because they needed to and to open his creative mind?
Steve narrowed his eyes. "You want to go to the Valley?"
No. "Yes." He downed the rest of his beer.
"Dude that's going to take forever, not to mention we'll probably get killed driving over the hill, not to mention I got to get home." Steve motioned for a waitress and pointed at Jason's drink.
"What do you have to get home for?" He strummed his fingers on the table. They were both artists and set their own schedules.
"You know, the usual, work, bills, all that." Steve took his drink from the waitress.
Was Friday night bills and boring night? "What did you do all day?"
"I went to a gallery to set up a show, I did some work in my studio."
Jason chewed on his lip while he considered Steve's answer. "That's it?"
"What did you do all day?" Steve returned the question.
What did he to all day? Watched TV, took a shower, listened to music, made a can of soup, stared at the studio, took a nap. He sat up. Hold on, there had to be more. "I worked on some concepts. I got some offers for contract work." He couldn't even get the words out without the sting of vomit threatening the back of his throat.
Steve laughed. "So you did nothing?"
Not wanting to see what was in front of him, he shut his eyes. It wasn't Steve, it was the fact that he did nothing all day. If he rewound the last few days, they were all the same. He didn't even pay his own bills. Russell managed them.
A high-pitched beep caused him to open his eyes.
Steve lifted his phone. "Dude, I hate to cut this short." He stopped talking to type something.
"What?" Jason reached for his own phone, nothing. No wonder he wasn't tired or rain weary.
"This girl wants to know if I want to get out of the rain and watch some reality show marathon with her." He grinned. "You understand."
"A girl?" Now the reality show marathon sounded amazing. Warm, dry, Lauren, Russell. This whole going to the club thing lost its luster right around the time Lauren looked up at him with those big, weary eyes.
"Well, I had to move on once your Lauren dissed me." He shoved his phone back in his pocket. "Speaking of Lauren."
Jason stared straight ahead. If he had done something, anything, rather than nothing, he would have been tired tonight too. Instead of running into the rain, he could have been licking cannoli cream off of Lauren's fingers, not sitting here having a soda in sub artic temperatures.
She came home looking like a wet puppy. As always, Russell stepped in and took care of the situation. Warm clothes, towel-dried hair. He wanted to do that as well. Tonight he should have been the one rushing around to get them comfortable. They worked all day. Them? They? He put his hand to his forehead.
Steve snapped his fingers.
"I thought you were leaving." How did fun and experiments turn into warm clothes and cuddles? His stomach bottomed out. The other night when Lauren went fishing she wanted to hear they were together, the same night he realized Russell wouldn't be seen in public with both of them.
"After I get an answer."
"Fine." Jason looked inside his soda glass. If he took one more sip he may chuck the whole thing up. Were she and Russell together now eating in bed and watching that show? Were they sleeping? Where they paying bills? Maybe they decided to forget all of that and make love without him. He pounded his fist to the table. "What?"
"Are you and Lauren…" Steve gave him a toothy grin. "I mean it’s about time, but…"
"But what?" But, he wasn't good enough for her. But, he left her to come to this stupid diner. But, he did nothing all day.
"I always thought it would be Russell, but…"
"But what?" There were too many buts in this conversation, and he was an ass.
"The night of my exhibit I could have sworn it looked like both of you…" Steve raised his eyebrows. "Is it a duo or a trio?"
Wait. This was what he wanted. What he waited for, the questions, the speculation, the rumors. He looked down at the table. This is why he wanted to go out. Not only to get Russell out of his shell, but to see what would happen. "What do you think it is?" He fought the need to shake his head at himself.
"I know what I hope it is." Steve laughed. "Though I always thought two girls would be better."
He was about to tell him not to knock it until he tried it, but Steve filled in the blanks.
"But if you really liked the girl, watching her get it from someone else would be hot."
Hot wasn't the word for it. Beyond hot, a scorching volcano that turned rocks into liquid in its path. This was the type of conversation he should be having. "Have you ever done it?"
"No." Steve scooted his chair closer to the table. "I always knew Lauren was wild. Does she come with both of you?"
Sometimes more. Her orgasms seemed different with each of them and he wondered if they felt different. With him she screamed, with Russell she tended to grab him. He rubbed his chin.
"Holy crap you are both doing her." Steve slid his glass aside. "Do you do each other too?"
Jason was still back on the question about her coming for both of them.
"It's okay if that’s how you swing, I always thought so." Steve's voice became low. "I've experimented with that."
Jason swallowed. This may be more than he bargained for.
"You know erotic art is hot. It is what’s in. Sex literally does sell, and it seems as if you have a whole canvas in front of you." Steve licked his lips. "Have you taken it there?"
Visions of Steve's exhibit flashed before him. The show was packed, people clamoring to see the work. Erotic art was indeed gathering a ton of attention right now. Yes, Russell and Lauren were inspiration. Their situation was opening up his mind. He did a little sketching, but never with thoughts of doing anything further. His mouth dried out. What would his other two thirds think?
"Maybe that's what you need to get you out of your slump." Steve hit the table.
Jason grabbed the arms of the chair. Erotic art, but truly erotic. Three times as erotic. A hit.
Exposing them like that would be a violation in every way.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure." Jason struggled to get the word out.
"Where are Lauren and Russell now?"
"Home."
"Oh." Steve turned away.
"What's that for?"
"Do you guys go for twosomes too? Like are they home now doing each other without you?"
Up until a few minutes ago, he never considered Lauren and Russell together without him. It was the unspoken rule they did this together, or so he thought. Actually, the only rule was they made the rules up as they went along. He crossed his arms. "You know, I'm free to go out if I want to." Rules denoted a relationship, not fun, not art. Nothing erotic.
"Dude, as long as you're cool with it." Steve shrugged his shoulders. "So what are you going to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're sleeping with your two best friends, its obviously more than some grand experiment or you would be spewing your guts right now. How do you go out? What's it like?"
Steve voiced every one of his, Lauren's and Russell's questions. He didn't realize he stood until he stared down at his friend. Maybe it was also the unwritten rule they hung together and he left. Could it also be the unwritten or written rule that he do something other than sit all day? "Don't you have some marathon to watch?"
"That I do." Steve stood and tossed some bills on the table. "I got this, I couldn't rent your k
ind of entertainment."
Entertainment, art, creativity. Life was a lump of clay waiting to be molded. "I have to go." He stepped away from the table.
Steve caught him. "If you need a fourth let me know."
"Thanks for the drink." He left with a little more than he planned for his grand artistic work.
***
"You're not watching." Lauren poked Russell's shoulder.
"I'm not sure this is something you have to watch. You sort of absorb it, like poison or smog." Russell gave in and decided to pay the bills, but he did it in bed with Lauren, spaghetti and a drink. He was fun personified.
"You know you like it." She put her plate on the nightstand.
"All they do is argue, and the producers put them in situations so they fight. It makes me thankful you are not one of them." He shook his head. "On the other hand, they could go film in my family's house and get the same result."
"We could be a reality show," she whispered. "An x-rated one, but a reality show."
"Hey." He moved his laptop aside and took her hand. "You okay?" Since Jason left she barely spoke unless it was about the television show.
She nodded.
Her lack of words told him she wasn't okay. "I think this situation is just going to take some getting used to."
"Is that how you feel?"
He stared at her. If he honestly thought about it, since this started he wondered what it would be like if it were just the two of them. He thought it would be better, but now he would have to admit he felt as if something was missing. The house was too quiet, the sizzle in the air dialed down to a simmer, and the magic vanished. There had to be something wrong with him. "Come here." He pulled her to him not wanting to give her any more details.
She scooted over and studied him, her eyes darting to different parts of his face.
"What is it?"
She removed his glasses and smiled.
He blinked her into focus. "Now, what is it?"
She tilted her head left then right. "I'm not sure if I like you better with or without your glasses."