On A Wing And A Prayer Part 10

Jerri stopped pacing and looked at her friend.

"C'mere, Big Guy ... come keep me company while your wife tortures me ... okay?" Rox asked the angry woman.

Jerri approached the p.r.o.ne woman and laid down on her stomach so she was face to face with Rox. They were both lying there with their arms in front of them, hands overlapped, and chins resting on top of them, faces inches apart, while Nikki worked the salve into the abused skin on Rox's back. Jerri reached out and held Rox's hand as she winced from the pressure of Nikki's hands. Nikki bent over Rox's back and whispered apologies into her friend's ear when she was done, earning her a big smile and a thank you from a grateful Rox. Nikki helped her don her T-shirt once more, tossing the bra aside, then all three women retired to the couch to watch their movie.

Jerri sat on the couch with Nikki in her arms. Rox cuddled with them, laying her head on Nikki's leg as the blonde ran her fingers through her friend's red-gold hair, until she was fast asleep. Looking down on the sleeping woman, Nikki smiled and looked up at her wife. "Poor baby," she said softly.

Jerri just nodded, then leaned in to kiss her wife. "Let's not wake her. She can stay here tonight," she said.

Nikki nodded her agreement as they gently rose from the couch. Retrieving a pillow and blanket, they worked together to make Rox as comfortable as possible before turning out the lights and heading to bed.

Jason picked Ca.s.s up promptly at 6:00 p.m. in a brand new Corvette convertible.

Ca.s.s walked around the cherry red car and whistled. "Wow, Jason. You must be doing very well for yourself ... I'm sure this car didn't cost peanuts!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah, I'm not doing so bad," he said as he held her door open for her.

Sitting next to him in the car, she turned and asked, "So, just what are you doing for work these days?"

"Still working for the old man ... selling used cars," he said.

Ca.s.s turned her face to look out her window and frowned. I didn't know used cars paid so well. He's got to be making a mint to afford a car like this, she thought.

Jason bragged all the way to the restaurant about his a.s.sets ... a beach house in Malibu, stock and bonds, this new car ... If he did indeed own all of these things, he would have to be literally rolling in dough.

"Wow, I guess the used car business is more lucrative than I thought!" she exclaimed after he described his 30 foot yacht to her.

"Oh, it's not just the used cars ... I have become involved in some wise investments and business ventures," he bragged. "That's where the big money is."

"Indeed!" Ca.s.s replied, not knowing what else to say to this blow hard. She was beginning to regret going out with him. If he even suggested she hit the sheets with him, she's kick his a.s.sets good and hard.

Finally, they arrived at the restaurant, a ritzy, high visibility place with $100 dinners on the menu. Ca.s.s raised her eyebrows when he pulled the car up to the valet parking facility. Ca.s.s made good money ... more than most women her age, but never in her wildest dreams would she consider spending $100 on a simple entree, not to mention the $2,000 bottle of wine Jason ordered as soon as they were seated. Ca.s.s felt very uncomfortable all of the sudden, like something was rotten in Denmark. E, where are you when I need you... what's going on here? she asked her alter ego to no avail.

All through dinner, Jason quizzed Ca.s.s subtly about her job. At least he thought he was being subtle. He wanted to know every detail, right down to what her safety check routine was. Finally, sick of the questioning, she basically told him that the answers to most of his questions about flight schedules could be found on the company's web site. Curiously, after she shut down the inquiries, dinner ended rather quickly. The entire dinner came to $2,500, including a $300 tip for the waitress.

Ca.s.s looked at him with disgust when he made a show of tucking the tip into the waitress' cleavage. What a disgusting pig, she thought.

I'll say, Enforcer piped in. The man is a pimp! Why did you agree to go out with him anyway? the alter ego asked.

What??? You're the one who wanted me to jump into the sack with him ... so don't give me any s.h.i.t about this date, you got it!!? Ca.s.s responded.

Hey, I've got needs too, you know ... If you'd only buy those toys I've been bugging you for, I'd back off! Enforcer reminded her.

E, go back into the hole you were hiding in when I needed you a while ago, okay? I can do without this kind of help, she reminded herself.

Finally, Jason and Ca.s.s were back in the Corvette and headed to Ca.s.s' condo. Pulling up in front, he reached over and shut off the engine, then turned in his seat to face her.

"So, when is your next flight?" he asked. "I'd like to take you out again."

Ca.s.s nearly choked on his c.o.c.kiness. "Ah ... ah, I'm kind of booked up for quite a while. I fly to Durango for the next two days, they I have a couple of commercial flights, then....." she tried desperately to come up with excuses.

"How about next week some time?" he asked.

"Sorry, I make weekly trips to Mexico every Monday ... domestic flights, sometimes on Wednesdays, Guatemala on Thursdays ... I'm really very busy," she said.

"All right then, I'll leave my business card with you. Why don't you call me when you're free, okay?" he said, handing her his card from his father's used car business.

Ca.s.s gave him a nervous smile and simply nodded. Thanking him for dinner, she reached for the door handle to get out of the car. He grabbed her arm.

Looking over at Jason, Ca.s.s raised her eyebrows and said, "Is there a problem?"

"Can't a guy get a kiss from his date ... especially after dropping $2,500 on dinner?" he said smugly.

Ca.s.s leaned in to him so that her nose was a mere inch away from his. "You seem to have forgotten that I'm gay, Jason, and that I have a black belt in Taekwondo. Now I suggest you take your hand off me immediately - capishe!!?" she said vehemently.

Jason cringed at her words, quickly removing his hand.

Ca.s.s was out of the car in two seconds and heading to her condo as she heard Jason peal away from the curb.

"Neanderthal a.s.shole," she muttered under her breath as she let herself into her home.

CHAPTER XII.

ROX ROSE THE next morning around 9:00 a.m., not really knowing where she was. Opening her eyes, she looked around and finally realized she was on Nikki and Jerri's living room couch. She also realized that she smelled coffee. Sitting up, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and rose to her feet, stretching as far as her bruised body would allow.

"First stop, bathroom," she said under her breath as she padded in that direction.

The aroma of French Roast coffee called to her as she made her way into the kitchen. That's when she saw the note on the table. Picking it up, she read ...

Hey Sleeping Beauty,

Some of us work for a living and can't sleep all day ... (Rox smiled)

Help yourself to coffee and whatever you can find for breakfast. If anything in the refrigerator looks like a science project, or snaps at you when you touch it, it would be wise to leave it alone.

I'll give you a call later this morning. Please don't leave. I'll be home for lunch, so I'll drop you off at home on my way back to work ... okay?

We love you, Chickie,

Talk to you soon,

MQ.

PS, I shared your new story idea with Jer ... she likes the idea of being the alien ... she especially likes the dominatrix costume. You are a nasty, wicked woman, my friend - don't ever change, we love you just the way you are! N.

Rox smiled at her friend's easy banter, then sighed enviously. Will I ever have a relationship like theirs? she asked herself. She could only hope so. Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she sat down at the kitchen table and crossed her legs at the ankles under her chair. Leaning on her elbows, and holding her coffee cup suspended in front of her, she thought about the intense, loving relationship her friends shared. They were true soulmates ... a blind man could see it. Nikki was a nurse and Jerri, an EMT on an ambulance crew. She recalled stories about how they would sneak kisses on the elevator, or meet secretly on the loading dock to make out. They were like teenagers in love, constantly touching, caressing, and expressing their love for each other. Rox so longed for that level of intimacy with someone ... someone she could call her soulmate.

Taking a deep sigh, she thought of her own relationship with Chris. Things had started out really good. Chris was very attractive to say the least. Rox was immediately attracted to the unkempt blonde hair and deep brown eyes. Rox had commissioned Chris' company to build her deck and remodel her office s.p.a.ce and Chris was appointed foreman for the job. It wasn't long before they began 'seeing' each other ... an occasional dinner or movie, or just a quiet walk, hand in hand, along the beach. Rox was quite smitten.

Rox absentmindedly lifted the cup to her lips and sipped the flavorful brew. Closing her eyes, she recalled the first kiss she had shared with the blonde foreman. They had been walking along the beach at night. Rox had her bikini on, with a T-shirt thrown over the top. Chris was wearing rolled up blue-jeans and a a muscle T-shirt. They were both barefoot, walking along in the surf, the moon very bright overhead in a starless sky, a slight breeze blowing her then, long hair, around her face. As they were walking along hand in hand, Chris stopped abruptly and pulled Rox close. Placing callused hands on both sides of her face and lifting it skyward, lips met lips and tongues invaded moist crevices as Rox melted into a puddle at Chris' feet. That was the first night they had made love. Soon after, Chris moved in.

Things had been fine for the first year and a half that they lived together, although, it didn't take long for them to fall into a routine where Rox was taking care of Chris rather than being a partner. Between housework, laundry, meals, and being on call for Chris' affections, she was finding it harder and harder to make time for her writing. She found herself rising early in the morning to at least outline her ideas for the day, and then rushed through her housework in the morning to make time for writing in the afternoon. She knew her home was suffering from lack of attention, but she had deadlines to meet with her literary agent, so it had to be done. Unfortunately, Chris also noticed the degrade in their living environment, and was quick to call her on it, however, not quick to help improve it.

About six months ago, Rox noticed a change in Chris' behavior. How could she NOT notice it -- she wore the evidence of it on her face, neck and back that very morning. Suddenly, angry rages resulted from late meals or unfolded laundry. Soon, the hitting began. It had gone steadily downhill from there. Thank G.o.d for Nikki and Jerri, Rox thought to herself as she remembered the numerous times over the past six months when she had called her friends for comfort after Chris had beaten her and then left to hit the bars with the guys from work. So far, Chris hadn't hurt her badly enough to require medical attention, but Rox knew it was only a matter of time. Lowering her head to her chest, she allowed a tear to fall onto the table. Life was so unfair. Here she was, trapped in an abusive relationship, and the only thing that would free her from it was her father's death. Life sucks, she thought as she hardened her heart to her circ.u.mstances and rose to refill her coffee cup.

Ca.s.s rose bright and early as usual on Thursday morning, going first to check e-mail before starting her workout, only to be disappointed to find that Rox had not replied to her previous post. She sat there in her chair, shoulders rounded forward in defeat. d.a.m.n, she thought. I hope I didn't scare her away with that last post. Ca.s.s, you're such an idiot ... telling the woman she enchanted you. You know she's probably married with a bunch a kids. Why are you wasting your time here? she admonished herself. Go ahead and say "I told you so", E, go ahead ... she added.

Not necessary, Enforcer replied. You're doing a good job of beating yourself up -- you don't need my help.

Yeah, well, you'd think I know better than to form new relationships, after what happened with Patti. Ca.s.s said.

Turning back to the keyboard, she made a decision. "Okay Roxanne Ward, one more note then I'll leave you alone," she said out loud as she selected 'New Message'.

"Hi Rox,

Look, I'm sorry I was so forward in my last post. I don't want to push you into a relationship you don't want. It's just that I have never felt such an instant connection with anyone before like I did with you, and I was hoping that you felt the same way. I'm sorry if I have overstepped my bounds. You are probably involved in a loving relationship already. I certainly don't want to interfere with your happiness.

Please forgive me?

Ca.s.s"

After sending the note, Ca.s.s powered down the computer and headed to her treadmill. With a heavy heart, she powered up the machine and started working her anger and disappointment out. As usual, Enforcer was right there to keep her company.

What are you going to do if she brushes you off, Ca.s.s? Enforcer asked as she jogged along at an easy pace.

Throw the computer out the window, she responded.

Throw it out the window?! What will that accomplish? It's not the computer's fault you've got bad taste in women, Enforcer said bluntly.

Ca.s.s sighed deeply. G.o.d d.a.m.n it, E. I don't have bad taste in women ... I've just been unlucky in love. My taste in women is just fine thank you very much! Tell me you don't think Rox is beautiful.

Wellllllll, maybe you're right -- yeah, she is very beautiful ... Patti was quite a looker too. Too bad she was a psycho b.i.t.c.h. Enforcer agreed.

Demon b.i.t.c.h from h.e.l.l is more like it, E. If I had only been smart enough to see that she was into steroids and drugs ... maybe I could have helped her ... maybe I could have prevented her death, Ca.s.s surmised.

So, you're finally starting to realize that you weren't the cause of her death, huh? It's about time you lose that guilt and move on, Ca.s.s. It will interfere in all future relationships if you don't, Enforcer encouraged.

E, I can't help it. I will never forget how it felt to be so helpless at her hands. I will never allow myself to be so dependent and vulnerable again, and I will never forget how devastated she was when I left her, she vowed.

Not everyone is like Patti, Ca.s.s. If you keep looking behind you, you're going to stumble on what's in front of you ... get over it and move on ... it's been almost three years, Enforcer reminded her.

Ca.s.s reached over and shut off the treadmill, then stood there on the belt, leaning over the control panel, breathing deeply, sweat covering her overheated body. After several long moments of regaining her composure, she lifted her head and grabbed her towel. Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she reached for the water bottle and drank half it's contents before heading toward the bathroom.

Ca.s.s ... stop ignoring me. You know I'm right, Enforcer said.

Ca.s.s stripped off her spandex aerobics wear as she entered the bathroom, throwing it in the hamper by the sink. Reaching in, she turned the shower on, then stood in front of the sink and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

d.a.m.n it, Ca.s.s! Wake up and smell the coffee, E scolded. Look, we haven't been laid in eons ... I have needs too you know. That little episode of self gratification in the shower yesterday was not enough ... we need tenderness. We need to be held and caressed and told that we are loved. Ca.s.s ... if the cute little red head rejects you, find out why. A few well placed questions will determine if she's married. s.h.i.t, woman ... you don't even know if she's into chicks yet! You've got a lot of homework to do, my friend, and these polite little notes you've been sending are not going to get you anywhere ... capishe?