Angela took the card, hesitantly. "But....they're not gonna let me use your credit card, AJ."
"Sure they will." AJ pulled out his wallet and handed her his driver's license. "Here. This'll help."
Angela looked at the driver's license and back at AJ. "Yeah, but if I were to steal your wallet, wouldn't it have credit cards AND a driver's license?"
"I don't know, man." AJ said, annoyed. "If they give you any shit, just come and get us. Don't they know you around here?"
"Well, yeah, but..." She glanced at the card again and then over at Sandra for her silent opinion. Sandra shrugged as if to say "What the hell," so she quit arguing. "Okay, sure. Just us, right?"
"Yes," AJ said smiling at her. "Nick can't go this time.
Angela rolled her eyes. "So why are YOU buying them anyway?" Brian laughed audibly, yet stifled and it made her even more curious.
"Long story," AJ said, brushing her off. "But you'd better get going so we can get to that bowling alley on time. I need a break."
"Yes, AJ, you've worked SO hard today," Angela quipped.
"Hey, chickie, I helped clean the bathroom. I don't recall you doing anything specific." AJ raised his eyebrows and held them there, looking at her blankly.
"Hey," she replied, "I'm the one who TOLD you to clean the bathroom."
Kevin walked over, smiling. "I'd like to argue that point. I'M the one who told them to clean the bathroom."
"Okay, sergeant Kevin," Angela replied, saluting. "Project sleeping bags is on its way."
"Whatever," Kevin responded, looking tired. "Just don't dilly dally around, okay?"
"Yes, Kenneth," she replied and got a sharp look. "Oh, I mean Kevin."
Sandra and Angela started towards the back door, but Kim Ann hung back. "Hey, wait a minute, you guys. What exactly are we buying here?"
"Well, we need sleeping bags, pillows, blankets..." Howie said, pausing to look over at AJ to see if he was omitting something.
"Just be creative, okay?" AJ said to Kim Ann. "And Angela? Don't get crazy with my card, babe. I don't mind you getting stuff, just don't go crazy."
"Like AJ," added Howie, laughing.
"Yeah, like me," AJ agreed.
"Okay..." Angela said, almost warning him that he shouldn't have left it wide open. She turned to Kim Ann and said, "Let's go shopping," and they headed out.
-------------------------
Angela drove Kim Ann's car and Sandra sat in the passenger seat. Kim Ann was in the back seat, unusually quiet. After they were clear of the house and on their way down the road, she leaned forward and said, "I can't believe you, Angela."
"What?" Angela said, surprised. "What did I do?"
"I don't know.....I haven't figured it out yet." Kim Ann said thoughtfully. "All I know, is you've just been handed AJ McLean's credit card with the simple instructions of 'don't go crazy'. Now to ME, that's a very broad definition to shop by, don't you think?"
"I'm NOT buying a bunch of crap, Kim Ann," Angela replied. "Sleeping bags, pillows and blankets. That's it."
Sandra spoke up. "I don't think he'd mind if we bought something else. I mean, as long as it was relevant. He DID say he didn't know for sure. I mean, you don't want to limit it, necessarily."
"Are you turning Kim Ann on me, Sandy?" Angela teased, getting a dig in at Kimmy. Kim Ann was infamous for her exorbitant shopping habits.
"No," Sandra said laughing at Angela's unusual boldness. "I just think he was hinting that he trusted us....well, YOU, and that he wouldn't mind if we bought whatever, as long as we didn't max out his card. That's all."
"Yeah," Kim Ann added. "And what's up with you and the guys, huh?"
"Yeah," Sandra said. "What IS up with you and the guys? What happened before we got here?"
"What do you mean?" Angela asked, confused.
"Well....where do I start?" Kim Ann asked, sarcastically. "First of all, Howie's like 'Oh, Nick's Angela's favorite' -- you TOLD him that? How did he know that?"
"I don't know..." Angela said, seeing no relevance.
"And then there's Kevin...." Kim Ann continued. "I mean, he's all over ME about 'no sex, no sex, no sex' and stuff and he doesn't even KNOW me. If I'D have been caught in that car by him making out with Howie? I'D have been sent to Sergeant Richardson's bootcamp.....but you?" Angela could see Kim Ann shaking her head in disbelief in the rearview mirror. "He sees you and Nick going at it and it's a 'special moment'. What the hell is up with THAT?"
Angela started to defend herself, but Kim Ann wouldn't let her say anything. "And another thing....What the hell did you do to Nick in the few hours you've known him to get him pussy whipped?"
"Whaaaaat?" Angela said, smirking. "He's far from pussy whipped. Pussy whipping usually involves a pussy, Kim Ann."
"Yeah, well, you didn't see him run after you when he realized you heard him cutting on you," Kim Ann said. "He ran after you like a big puppy dog." She held up her hands by her chin imitating dog paws and panted. Sandra started laughing.
Angela couldn't believe what she was hearing. "That is so insane, Kim Ann. You're nuts."
Sandra looked at Angela and said, "No, she's not. He was freaking out, Angela."
"He was NOT!" Angela said, wanting more information.
"Yes....he was." Sandra repeated. "He was like 'Oh shit, she heard that? Oh, shit," and then bitched Kimmy out and took off."
"He didn't 'bitch me out' Sandra," Kim Ann said, defensively. He just cracked on me a little."
"Same difference...." Sandra argued.
"No, it's not." Kim Ann said.
Things were quiet momentarily and Angela was wondering how Nick could be so concerned one minute and be so aloof the next....
"So, what was he yelling at you about?" Sandra said, curiously.
"He wasn't 'yelling' at me," Angela replied. It felt odd to be the one on this side of the fence in their girl-talk conversations. Although it made her uncomfortable talking about such things, it also made her feel vindicated, especially with Kim Ann. Kim Ann had always been the life of the party. Both her AND Sandra. And now, here they were, asking her about her love life. How ironic......
"He was yelling," Kim Ann stated, matter of factly. "AJ and I saw it from the window."
"Yeah," agreed Sandra. "AJ was gonna kick his ass. AJ was pissed." She pointed at Angela for emphasis.
"AJ was gonna kick Nick's ass?" Angela asked, laughing at the thought. They obviously hadn't witnessed the fight earlier.
"Well," Sandra added...."Until Kevin realized you guys were making out."
"We weren't making out, you guys, we were kissing." Angela didn't like the term "making out." It sounded so impersonal.
"No....no...." Kim Ann said, angry that Angela even tried to lessen what she'd seen. "You guys were going at it hot and heavy. He was practically LAYING on you, Angela. That..." she paused and leaned back in the seat, shaking her head continuously, "is called MAKING OUT."
Angela giggled and looked over at Sandra. Sandra added, "Making out," while nodding her head.
"Okay," replied Angela, laughing. "So what if we WERE making out. What does it matter?"
Kim Ann lunged forward and leaned into the front until she could look Angela in the eyes. "Don't even act like you don't give a shit, Angela. I'm not buying it."
Angela grinned, hinting for the first time that it WAS a big deal. "What's your point, Kimmy?"
"Sandra, can you help me out here?" Kim Ann said, exasperated, falling back in frustration.
"He's hot, Angela." Sandra said, nonchalantly.
Kim Ann lunged forward once again. "Hot?!" She said in incredulously.
"HOT?!" She repeated, louder, more urgently. "He's hot all right. He's FUCKING hot."
Sandra laughed and said. "Yeah, he's FUCKING hot." She looked over at Angela to see what her reaction was to all of this. Her smile was wide and her face was glowing from embarrassment and self-assurance. It made her want to slide over and hug her in relief. Sandra had always secretly wondered if Angela would ever be interested enough in a guy to actually pursue it. Usually she would talk herself out of it. There were all kinds of excuses. He's not very smart, he's TOO smart, he's not very funny, he's TOO funny, he's too wild, he's not wild enough. Any reason you could imagine NOT to go out with a guy, Angela had it.
Angela couldn't stop smiling as she replied. "So....he's FUCKING hot."
"No... no..." Kim Ann said, shaking her head again in disagreement. "He is PURE hotness."
"Okay!" Angela said loudly. "We've established the fact that YOU think Nick is hot, Kim Ann. What...is...your....point?!"
"Oh, don't even turn this on me, Angie. Don't even GO there." Kim Ann said, shoving her hand in Angela's face. "Don't even tell me that YOU don't think he's hot."
Angela smiled widely again. "Yeah....I think he's hot. Why do I even have to say it?"
"Because....." Kim Ann replied. "I want details. If I can't have him, then I will have to settle for details. And YOU don't want to give it up."
"Details?" Angela exclaimed, shocked that Kim Ann would even ask for them. "It's private, Kim Ann."
Sandra looked at Angela threateningly. "We ALWAYS give YOU details, Angie.....Always."
"Yeah," Angela argued, "Because I've never HAD any to GIVE.....Besides, you SAW it all in the first place."
"I'm not worried about the car thing...." said Kim Ann.
"Then, WHAT is your POINT?!" Angela yelled at her.
"I want details tomorrow MORNING," said Kim Ann slowly, firmly, and deliberately. She felt secure again as the familiar self-doubt crept back into Angela's eyes.
Angela sat quietly, thinking about the impending evening and all the possibilities....then she remembered the "respect" conversation with Nick and the hints and allegations that had entailed.
"Well?" Sandra prodded, smiling at Angela. "Will we get 'em or not?"
Angela smiled back. "To be honest, you guys, I don't know WHAT's gonna happen. I mean, I don't think I can sleep with him or anything. I've only known him for a day. That would be awful slutty, wouldn't it?"
"No," inserted Kim Ann, "It falls under the 'special exception' rule."
"And what rule is that?" asked Angela.
"The fly-boy rule. It's the pure-hormonal thing. It's only fair that you allow yourself a night of debauchery if a god offers his services," Kim Ann elaborated, matter of factly.
"And YOU have one of these rules, Sandra?" Angela asked. She couldn't recall Sandra ever having a night of debauchery with someone she'd just met.
"Oh, I have the rule. I just haven't ran across a god, yet." Sandra said, seriously. "But if I were YOU?" She blushed and looked out the window. "God help him."
"Hmmm," Angela sighed. She was amazed at how Kim Ann and Sandra were so concerned about her having sex with Nick. "I don't think I can do it, you guys. That's just not me."
"You see?" Kim Ann growled at Sandra. "This is bullshit. I'm DYING here, Angela. If you're not gonna screw him, then let ME have him."
Angela furrowed her brow and squinted her eyes. "You have Howie, Kim Ann."
"I know...." Kim Ann said, sounding almost depressed about it. "Howie's good looking and everything ....he's just so....."
"So....what?" Angela asked.
"......small." Kim Ann replied softly.
"Small?!?" Angela asked, unsure of what she meant. "You mean, short?"
"Well....." Kim Ann replied, cracking a smile. "Yeah, short. But...... pre-sume-ab-ly.....small, if you know what I mean."
"Kim Ann!" Angela hollered. "My Gawd! I can't beLIEVE you!" She swerved as she looked back at Kim Ann, laughing and Sandra grabbed the wheel.
"Hey!" Sandra exclaimed. "Watch the road!"
"You don't know that Howie's small," Angela added, giggling.
"Yeah, but the odds are better in YOUR favor that Nick is hung like a dinosaur." Kim Ann answered, giggling as well. "You could go to Jurassic Park tonight, Angela, just think about it."
All three burst out laughing and Angela swerved again. "Whoops," she said as she swerved back into her lane. "I don't know," she replied in between laughs. "Jurassic Park was a big flop, if you followed the movie at all."
"Not in mother nature's eyes, Angela," Sandra pointed out. "You have mother nature on your side on this one."
"You guys!" Angela shouted, abruptly. "I hate to disappoint you, but I'm not promising you anything. I mean, that's a big STEP for me. It may not seem like a big deal to you two, but it IS to me."
"Okay....okay..." Kim Ann said, holding her hands up in surrender. "If you don't wanna do him, then let's compromise."
"What do you mean, 'compromise'?" Angela asked, dreading what it would be.
"Yeah, what DO you mean?" asked Sandra, curious as well.
"Well....." Kim Ann paused and smiled wickedly. "Could you at least cop a feel?"
"WHAT?" Angela asked, mortified at what she was hearing.
Sandra couldn't say anything because she was laughing and pounding on the dash, completely amused by Kim Ann's request.
"You know...." Kim Ann continued without even hinting at a laugh. "You're making out....you're getting all hot and bothered, he's getting all hot and bothered, and when you FEEL it getting power-charged, you reach down and do an exploratory grope for me."
Angela and Sandra were both hysterical by this time and Angela pulled off to the side of the road to gain composure. "I can't drive, man. I can't." She wiped the tears from her eyes and turned to Kim Ann. "You mean, YOU want ME to grab Nick's....Nick's....."
"Dick." Kim Ann said, half-smiling.
Sandra was holding her stomach and hadn't stopped laughing from the first outburst. "Stop!" she said. "Stop! I'm dying! I'm freakin' dying!"
"I can't believe you said that, Kim Ann!" Angela scolded. "I can't freakin' believe you just SAID that."
Sandra had calmed down to a mellow whine but was still laughing quietly.
"What?" asked Kimmy. "Dick?"
Sandra lost it again and Angela joined in, reluctantly. "YES! I can't believe you want me to grab his...." She started laughing again and couldn't finish the sentence.
"DICK!" Kim Ann said again. "I know you can say it, Angie. Just try it. It even rhyme's...NICK's dick. "
"Okay, okay, that's enough," said Angela, trying to bring herself back under control. "I'm NOT grabbing NICK's dick. I'm not....AND, furthermore, if I DID grab NICK's dick, then I certainly wouldn't tell YOU about it."
"Yes you would." Kim Ann said confidently.
"No, I wouldn't." Angela argued.
"Yes...you would." Kim Ann said again.
"Well.....I'm NOT, so there. End of discussion." Angela said firmly.
"Yes you will." Kim Ann pushed. "I KNOW you will. The curiosity will outweigh the fear."
"Whatever," Angela said, wanting to end the conversation.
"Whatever," Kim Ann agreed, cockily.
Sandra just sat there quietly, her body still shaking from the laughs she was suppressing. Angela pulled the car out of 'park' and pulled back out onto the road in her quest for sleeping bags, and Kim Ann sat back and smiled to herself, thinking “She'll do it.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Six
Story Index
