BeForeplay by Josie Charles Page A

do have some
single friends but I don't know your taste in women so you’ll have
to judge for yourselves tomorrow.” They high five each other and
move on to another group of people. "So I assume the rest of you
all have girlfriends since you didn't ask about any single friends,
please extend the invitation to them as well. The more the
better."
    Jeremy says, "I think Misty will be off work
by then. I'm sure she'd like to come. Thanks, Sidney."
    “You’re welcome.”
    This time Jesse speaks up. "Well, I don't
have a girlfriend because I have a boyfriend. I don't know what
Jacob's excuse is." He flashes a big smile when he's done
speaking.
    Jacob scoffs at him. "I haven’t had the time,
dickhead."
    I look at Jesse and put my hand on his
forearm so he knows I mean it. "I'm sorry if I offended you,
Jesse." I give his arm a light squeeze. "You're welcome to bring
your boyfriend."
    He puts his hand over mine and gives me a
squeeze back with a smile and tells me, “I took no offense.” I
never would have thought he had a boyfriend. I know it's wrong but
you just don't think of big tattooed guy as being gay. Oooh! I
wonder what his boyfriend looks like.
    I like these guys. They seem genuine. I can't
wait to hang out with them some more. I’m not good at guessing ages
so I ask, "How old are you guys?"
    Sam answers for everyone, "Jacob is the old
man he’s 28, Jeremy and I are 26, Jesse is 24 and Josh and Joel are
21. How old are you?"
    "I'll be 24 in a few months. I need to tell
you about a rule I have for my parties." They all look at me
curiously so I continue. "If you're going to be drinking at my
house you have to have a designated driver, call a cab or stay the
night. I have plenty of room but it depends on how many people stay
if you get a room or not. Some wind up on air mattresses and the
couches. If you do stay you get a big breakfast in the morning." I
lean in like I'm telling a secret, they all lean in too. I say in a
low voice, "I think that's why everybody likes to stay." I
straighten up again. "Well, I've got to be up early tomorrow so I'm
heading home for the night. It was nice to meet you all, see ya
tomorrow. I'm the house on the left side if you're facing Danny's.
Just remember my mailbox is the cement dolphin." I give a little
wave while starting to walk backwards and telling them
goodnight.
    Sam says, "I'll walk ya home, Sid."
    I stop walking. "You don't have to. Did you
forget this is a gated community?” I laugh. “I think I'll be safe
getting home. If not I know self-defense!" I turn and start walking
away again. I hate when people think I'm weak.
    As I'm walking I start thinking back over the
night, maybe Sam was asking me on a date to the beach. I turn him
down and then invite his family over for DPV (drunk pool
volleyball). Was he trying to get me alone by asking to walk me
home? What do I do, laugh and tell him I know self-defense. I’m
such a dork! How embarrassing. Oh well, Tash said he's a manwhore
and I'm not looking for that. He also leaves in two weeks. I'm
ready for a relationship. I wouldn't mind going out with Jacob but
he said he doesn't have time for a girlfriend. That’s really too
bad because I wouldn’t mind climbing that hunk of a man.

SAM
    "Damn dude you just got shut down by a
stripper!" Jacob seems to be the fucking comedian tonight. Bastard .
    Tasha walks up with a smirk on her face and
asks me, “Who's the stripper.”
    I am so busted, fuck! “Sidney.” She throws
her head back laughing, howling like a fucking wolf. She's laughing
so hard everybody else joins her. She's bent over from her antics
and wiping tears from her face. What the fuck is so damn funny?
Nothing, that's what. They're all on my shit list now. Me, Sam Fucking Jericho, getting turned down by a stripper is NOT funny.
    "Wh....wh...wh...why would you think Sidney's
a stripper? Oh god!" She can barely catch her breath.
    "I heard the guy at the liquor store call her
Cherry and ask if she was going to the