Who Gets the Friends?

by Tim Smith

  He stayed in position, but kept moving slower, enjoying the afterglow of satisfying sex. This really was making love, not just having sex. Feeling something special for Jessica just makes it better.

  “Jessica, you’re fantastic,” he panted. “So hot and wet.”

  She purred. “So are you. What a tongue!”

  He lowered himself and planted wet kisses along her cheek and neck. Jessica wrapped her legs around his, then pulled his lips to hers, driving her tongue into his mouth.

  “You’re an animal,” she whispered.

  Tom wrapped his arms around her, then rolled onto his back, keeping them locked as one. Jessica rested her palms on his chest and sat up, looking down at him. Even in the darkness her eyes emitted the soft glow of satisfaction.

  “So we’re friends again?” she teased.

  Tom tweaked her firm nipples. “We never stopped.”

  Tom slid into bed, handed Jessica her glass of wine, then pulled the covers over them. She curled up next to him and sighed.

  “This is nice. Too bad you don’t have a fireplace. I really like cuddling in front of a fire.”

  “So do I.”

  She took a sip. “So you survived Thanksgiving with your family?”

  “Barely. You were right about well-intentioned but misplaced sympathy.” He shook his head. “When I got home my face was tired from maintaining a perpetual smile.”

  Jessica laughed. “I know what you mean. I went to Cincinnati after work and had to do the same thing. And how many times do you think I had someone hug me and say You poor thing!?”

  “I don’t want to think about it.”

  She took another drink, then cradled her glass. “But that’s all in the past. What’s your favorite thing to do around the holidays?”

  Tom thought for a moment. “I like to go downtown and look at the old Christmas window display from Rike’s department store. You know, the one they rescued and restored a few years ago, depicting Santa’s toy shop?”

  She smiled. “Yeah, I always liked that, too. I like driving through neighborhoods and seeing the light displays. Some people really put a lot of time into those things. What about going to one of the malls?”

  Tom took a long swallow. “Only during the week. You won’t catch me there on a weekend.”

  “Me either.” She paused. “What would you like to find under the tree this year?”

  He turned her face to his, then kissed her. “What was under it earlier this evening.”

  She gave a seductive chuckle. “Kind of hard to wrap.”

  “Yeah, but it’d be fun unwrapping it.”

  She laughed. “You’re a nut!”

  Tom’s laughter subsided. “What would you like Santa to bring you?”

  She peered into his eyes and lightly stroked his cheek. “Someone like you.”

  Chapter Nine

  Jessica entered her apartment the following evening and noticed that she had a little extra spring in her step. She’d had a silly smile all day, one that had her co-workers wondering what she had been up to. The only one who had the faintest clue was Peggy, who needled her about it.

  She tossed her coat on the sofa, then looked through her mail. She had received a couple of Christmas cards. Her smile faded when she saw the return address on one of them. Brad’s parents. Damn! I didn’t expect to get a card from them. She opened it and read the holiday greeting, followed by the words “I know this is a difficult time for you, as it is for us. Let’s get together over the holidays.”

  She dropped the card on the table and tried to get her emotions under control. Come on, keep it together. You wanted to move on. You can’t do that if every little thing gets to you.

  She was startled by the ringing telephone.

  “Hi, Jessica, it’s Tom. How are you?”

  She smiled. “I’m pretty good. You?”

  “Great, actually. I wanted to thank you again for coming over last night.”

  “You’re welcome. I had fun.”

  “So did I. Your pics turned out great, by the way.”

  She laughed. “I’m trusting you that those won’t show up on some website.”

  “Not a chance. Private stock.” He paused. “But I have to tell you that was fun, too.”

  She sat on the sofa. “See what happens when you combine two things you like to do? In case I didn’t tell, you’re very good at both of them.”

  “Thank you, and so are you.”

  She sighed. “I thought about that all day. It made everyone wonder what I was smiling about.”

  “Funny, but I got the same reaction at work.” He paused. “In fact, just thinking about it now is producing a reaction.”

  She grinned. “You mean I’m not the only one getting hot?”

  “No, you’re not. Maybe I need to take a cold shower.”

  “I’d like to join you.”

  “Wouldn’t be cold very long.”

  Jessica giggled. “We should change the subject. I’ve been thinking about something you said last night. Are you busy every night this week?”

  “Not every night. What did you have in mind?”

  “Why don’t we go downtown and look at the window displays like we talked about? I haven’t done that in years.”

  “That sounds like fun. On Thursday evenings they have live music on Courthouse Square. What time would you like me to pick you up?”

  “Why don’t I pick you up?”

  “I love a woman who takes charge. How about seven?”

  “I’ll come by for you then. Have a good couple of days, Tom.”

  Jessica hung up but couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.

  * * * *

  Tom was getting a refill of coffee when he was approached by Karly.

  “Hey, Marathon Man,” she teased. “You got away from me at the party. Hope it wasn’t something I said.”

  He smiled. Not that you’d remember after a couple dozen Jello shots. “No, and thanks for inviting me. I had a great time.”

  She gave an impish grin. “Funny, that’s the same thing Rashida said. I didn’t see much of her that night, either.”

  “Really?”

  “Uh-huh.” She ran her fingertip along his cheek. “I haven’t seen you around the gym.”

  “I’ve been kinda busy, getting my place in order. You know how it is when you move into someplace new.”

  “Yeah, I know. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  He watched her sway down the hall. What did I say before about her avoiding me after I told her I was a free agent?

  Tom proceeded down the hall toward his office but stopped when he reached Doug’s lair. He sat in one of the chairs, then propped his feet on the edge of the desk.

  “What’s up?” Doug asked.

  “Just taking a coffee break. Those year-end reports are making me cross-eyed.” He sipped his coffee. “I just had the strangest conversation with Karly with a k.”

  “About what?”

  “She was teasing me about that party she invited me to a couple of weeks ago.”

  “How did that go?”

  Tom tried to hide the grin that crossed his face.

  Doug rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you and Karly did the horizontal mambo!”

  “No, she was glued to some guy who looked like he stepped off a horse ranch.”

  “Ah, the rugged bad boy type. I know ‘em well. So why the shit-eating grin?”

  Tom paused. “I hit it off with a friend of hers.”

  Doug chuckled. “Ol’ Tom got back in the saddle in a hurry.”

  “That isn’t why I’m here. What I really wanted to tell you was thanks for arranging for Jessica and me to get back together.”

  Doug eyed him for a moment. “Is that working out?”

  “Seems to be. She came over the other night and tonight we’re going downtown to take in the sights.”

  He sat back in his chair and propped one leg on the other. “Good for you. I have to t
ell you, I wasn’t sure about doing that, but Peg insisted.”

  “Why?”

  Doug hesitated. “Because after that faux pas at her place the first time you went out, Jessica was pretty upset with herself. She told Peg that she really wanted to see you again, at least so she could apologize.”

  Tom took another sip. Guess I misread the signals. “Thanks again.”

  “You’re welcome. Hey, Christmas is next week. Have you two made any plans?”

  It’s a little soon to be planning holidays together. “I don’t know what she’s doing. She said before that she usually works the holidays, but I haven’t asked her yet.”

  “If you want someplace to go, our door’s always open.”

  Tom stood. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

  He proceeded down the corridor to his office. What Karly said about Rashida made me think of something. We had a great time and she’s a sex machine, but when I made love to Jessica that’s more what it was—making love, not just having sex. Maybe it’s because I really feel something for Jessica, something on a deeper level. She’s an animal in bed but that just made me want to please her even more. Maybe I’m not as shallow as I thought I was.

  Chapter Ten

  Tom climbed into the passenger side of Jessica’s car that evening. She leaned over and kissed him, then plotted a course for downtown.

  “How was your day?” she asked.

  “Tiring. We’re doing year-end account summaries and I think I’m going blind from staring at my computer all day. How was yours?”

  “Same as the others—busy.” She grinned at him. “But thinking about seeing you tonight somehow made it tolerable.”

  “It did for me, too.” He settled into his seat. “What do you have planned for Christmas?”

  “I volunteered to work for one of the other nurses.” She glanced at him. “But that was before we got together and I didn’t think I’d be doing anything else.”

  “I wasn’t fishing, just curious.”

  “What will you do?”

  “Probably visit my folks. They don’t live too far away and there are no more kids at home.”

  “That’s nice of you to do that.”

  Jessica took a detour down a side street, then slowed in front of a couple of houses with light displays.

  “People really put a lot of effort into these, don’t they?” she asked.

  “Yeah, and it really puts you in a festive mood.”

  They continued on their way until they found space in a public parking lot. They walked a few blocks to join the throng of families looking at the window display depicting Santa’s workshop. Tom glanced at some kids watching the animated figures in awe, their faces pressed against the glass.

  He nudged Jessica, then gestured at the kids. “Remember doing that when we were kids?”

  She laughed. “Yeah. This was an annual family tradition for us when we were growing up.”

  He linked his arm with hers, then they strolled along the street. They crossed to Courthouse Square, where a tall tree was illuminated from top to bottom with white lights.

  “Don’t get me wrong,” Tom began, “but I never cared for all white Christmas lights. I like the colors.”

  “Me, too. Seems to make it more festive.”

  Tom guided her to a spot near the courthouse steps where a brass quintet was playing Christmas carols to a small crowd. The musicians were decked out in seasonal stocking caps of red trimmed with white. They stopped and listened to the music for a few minutes.

  Tom wrapped his arm around Jessica’s waist and pulled her close. She snuggled against him, put her arm around his waist and rested her head against his arm. When the song was over they applauded.

  “Getting a little chilly out here,” Tom observed. “Would you like some hot chocolate?”

  “I’d love it.”

  He got them two cups from a vendor, then they moved off to the side, out of the mainstream. They found an empty bench and sat.

  Jessica looked at the crowd. “It’s nice to see so many families taking advantage of something like this. Kind of renews your spirit.”

  “Yeah, it does.” Tom took a sip, then reached into his coat pocket. “That reminds me. I have something for you.”

  He handed her an envelope. She opened it, withdrew the Christmas card it contained and smiled. When she opened it her eyes widened. There she was, under Tom’s Christmas tree in her red teddy, exposing her breasts. She gasped and clutched the card to her chest.

  “You said those pictures were private stock!” she said in a low, shocked voice.

  Tom grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t show that to anyone else and I thought you’d be flattered.”

  “Flattered? Why?”

  “Because how many other women do you know that were chosen for their very own Christmas card?”

  She smiled slightly. “Okay, you got me. Just don’t pass this around.”

  He placed his hand over his heart. “You have my word.”

  She tucked the card into her purse, then leaned against him. “This is really nice. I’m glad you thought of this.”

  “I didn’t—you did.”

  “Yeah, but you gave me the idea.” She sipped her hot chocolate. “I was really dreading this whole season, but now it doesn’t look so bleak.”

  He turned her face to his, then kissed her. “It’s looking brighter for me, too.” They settled back on the bench and Tom placed his arm around Jessica’s shoulder. I hope it isn’t too soon to be asking this next question. “You said you were working on Christmas, but which shift?”

  “First. I’ll get off around three. Why?”

  “Just wondering. Any plans after you get off work?”

  “Not really. At some point over the holidays I need to go to Cincinnati to visit my folks. What did you have in mind?”

  He was silent for a moment. “I thought you might like to come over to my place that evening so we could spend part of the holiday together.”

  She turned to look into his eyes. “I’d love to. I might even bring my own mistletoe.”

  Tom pulled her close. “Who needs it?”

  They locked in a lingering kiss, oblivious to the people milling about.

  Jessica caressed his cheek. “Have I told you how well you do that?”

  “Not lately.”

  They walked around the square, looking at the decorations and vendors. Tom guided them to a booth where a photographer was taking pictures of kids and families against a seasonal backdrop.

  “It’s a bit cheesy, but it’ll do,” Tom remarked.

  They took their place behind a fake sleigh against a background of snow and fir trees. Tom hugged Jessica and they smiled. He paid the photographer, then gave Jessica the picture.

  “A little keepsake.”

  She smiled at the picture. “Very nice, but I think you could’ve done better.”

  “I think so, too.”

  * * * *

  Jessica hurried to answer her ringing phone with an anticipatory smile. “Hello?” she happily answered.

  “Jessica? This is Brenda Slater.”

  Jessica’s face fell at hearing the voice of her late boyfriend’s mother. Shit! I should’ve checked the caller ID. “Uh—hi, Brenda. How are you?”

  “All right. I wondered how you were getting along and I really wanted to hear your voice. How are you holding up this holiday season?”

  I was doing fine until you called. “I’m okay. How are you and Jack doing?”

  Brenda sighed. “Not very well. We miss Bradley terribly.”

  “Yes, I know.” She paused. “So do I. Thank you for the Christmas card.”

  “You’re welcome. We always thought of you as part of the family.”

  Jessica cradled the phone while pacing. “That’s very nice to hear. I was always fond of both of you, too.”

  “I know you’re busy, but this will be our first Christmas without Bradley and we wanted to invite you to spend the holiday wi
th us. Everyone will be here, his brothers, sisters and nieces. They’d all love to see you.”

  “I appreciate that, but I’m working the holiday for one of the other nurses who wanted the day off.”

  “Oh, I see. What about after work?”

  Jessica paused. “I’m sorry, Brenda, but I’ve already made plans.”

  “Of course, you’ll probably be going to see your family.”

  Jessica glanced at the photo she and Tom had taken when they saw the Christmas display downtown. “Actually, I’m spending the evening with a friend.”

  There was a pause. “A male friend?”

  Jessica’s face blossomed into a smile. “Yeah. He’s a pretty neat guy.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Tom dodged the seemingly endless stream of shoppers, mostly kids, that clogged the Fairfield Commons Mall. Damn, man, it’s Wednesday. A school night. What are all these kids doing here?

  He had selected another Christmas card for Jessica, one that was humorous without being too mushy. I’m not sure we’re ready for sincerity yet, but I think she’ll like it. Now the real question—what do I get her? We didn’t say anything about exchanging gifts but I’d really like to get her something.

  He paused in front of a store that sold a variety of fragrances but stopped himself from going in. Not cologne. Too early in the relationship for something so personal and I don’t know her favorite fragrance. He continued window-shopping but stopped at the display window at Frederick’s of Hollywood. His eyes scanned the mannequins decked out on sexy lingerie. Definitely too soon for anything like that, although the black lace teddy is cute. I wonder how Jessica would look in that?

  Tom found himself wandering into a seasonal store selling holiday keepsake ornaments. He scanned a shelf filled with snow globes, then smiled when he saw one that contained a gold angel holding a harp. He took it from the shelf, shook it, then watched the faux snow settle. Perfect. I didn’t see one like this in her collection.