“Can’t wait to hear,” I chuckled.
“I dodged a bullet with Jack. He had gone out with an old college buddy, got drunk, and he and his buddy were both passed out in the living room when I got home so he didn’t even know that I was gone. I wouldn’t have lied to him if he asked me where I was, but I see no reason to volunteer the information since he thinks that I was home last night.”
I chuckled again.
“Next, I told Brie that I convinced you to re-evaluate, but didn’t give her any expectations. She really wants to talk to you; as a favor to me could you?”
“After last night I would probably do anything you asked me to – except reconcile with her. I will talk to her; now, what about us?”
“I have to get over the euphoria of last night and think logically about it. Give me some time, and while I’m thinking about it you should reconsider whether you want to be with a woman six years older than your twenty nine, and if you’d get bored with my bland personality.”
This time I out-and-out laughed. “I’ve always liked you and it will be impossible to be bored with you. I’m ready to jettison the ‘excitement’ provided by the Jenkins sisters. As I said last night, the ball’s in your court.”
Then we mutually terminated the call.
*************
As I promised Michelle I would, I did meet with Brie. All she had to share was happy horseshit and trite excuses. I demanded that she show me the photos that Brenda allegedly took of her and the male stripper; from her body language and stuttering I knew that the blackmail story was horseshit. I continued with the divorce action and even expedited it.
I talked with Michelle on the phone at least every other day; some of the conversations were long and revealing – to both of us. We didn’t meet in person because we knew what would happen – namely a repeat of the best night of my life, and I guess neither of us was ready for that at that particular time.
Things progressed at work and I got a promotion with a significant bump in salary – which my company was happy to withhold until my divorce was final.
The worst thing during this period – I had no sexual encounters, except with my own hand. I really was interested in only one person, and I wasn’t going to “cheat” on her unless she made a decision not to get together. Brenda actually showed up one night with only a trench coat on – I laughed at her while closing the door in her face, but was embarrassed when I beat my meat after she left.
Roughly six weeks after my sexual encounter with Michelle she called at 8:00 a. m. and got right to the point. “We need to meet in person; someplace public but where you can’t ravage me if your libido gets too high.”
I was a little taken back. “How about at Grant Park; near the carousel?” I replied.
“When??” was her retort.
“Today at noon?”
“Make it 12:30 and I’ll see you there,” she responded, then terminated the call.
I was perplexed; maybe she had come to a decision and it wasn’t a favorable one. I tried to put it out of my mind and work on my most recent project.