Hot Check Part 2

aOne of those rocker magazines. Spin, Slime, something like that. Dora showed us an article on her.a aUs? Who the h.e.l.l is us?a aDora, Marge, and Lola. Weare all worried about you.a Alice was too angry to eat or say much of anything else. She caught a glimpse of a white jacket draped over an arm and looked up quickly. A vivid memory of Ricky in a ruffled white s.h.i.+rt and nothing else made her stop and take a deep breath. Somewhere in the distance Alice could vaguely hear Christine talking.

Chapter Five.

Friday evening Alice bought a Hot Check CD at the mall, hurried home to change clothes, and packed a bag for the weekend. She played the CD twice on the way to Austin. Hearing Rickyas voice was a rush, but it was nothing compared to the thought of seeing her again. Having spent the last three years on nothing but making a success of the Restaurant Division of Collins Enterprises, Aliceas work had become her pa.s.sion. There hadnat been time for anything else, and her father expected that type of commitment from her. Until now Alice hadnat realized how much she had missed having a real life, but Ricky had changed all that in less than a week.

Once Alice arrived at Sugar Daddyas, Ricky spotted her and motioned toward a clean, empty table near the stage. The music was deafening, but Alice could see everything that was going on and had the best seat in the house.

Ricky was behind the keyboard, just a few feet from where Alice was sitting. She wore faded jeans torn at the knee, white sneakers, and a blue denim s.h.i.+rt with the top three b.u.t.tons undone. Her voice was powerful, and the music fast and pulsating. The dance floor was filled with young, sweaty bodies as the Friday night crowd kept flowing into the club. Ricky changed instruments when that particular song was over and played guitar for the second half of a set. The band finally took a break about thirty minutes later.

Ricky jumped down from the stage and slipped into the leather jacket Stan gave to her. She leaned over and whispered in Aliceas ear, aCome with me while I change clothes.a Alice gave her the small suitcase sitting in a chair and followed her down a hallway to an office in the back. Ricky found the light switch, locked the door behind them, and put her arms around Alice. Their first kiss in five days was a slow, deep exchange of tongues.

aItas better than I remembered,a Ricky whispered. aHowas that possible?a Kisses moved down Aliceas throat to the top of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and renewed the fluttering in Aliceas stomach. Alice wanted to feel more of her and searched for Rickyas mouth again as she pulled her closer.

aMy clothes are all wet,a Ricky said.

Alice chuckled and kissed her on the forehead. aMine are wet in a few places too. As a matter of fact, I donat think Iave had dry underwear since I met you.a Ricky stripped and then tugged on black leather pants and a white s.h.i.+rt. She stuffed her wet clothes in the suitcase and ran a towel through her damp hair. aIall give you a key to my apartment and draw a map for you,a Ricky said. aItas easy to find from here.a Alice leaned against the door and watched her get dressed, remembering how that body had felt on top of her last weekend. aIad rather stay here at the club with you,a Alice said.

Ricky looked over at her as she b.u.t.toned up her s.h.i.+rt. aItas so loud and smoky. Besides, you worked all day. Arenat you tired?a She smiled and tucked her s.h.i.+rttail in. aTrust me. Youall need your rest for later.a Alice liked the sound of that. aIave been resting for five long days.a She was a lot of things at the momenta"excited, thrilled, h.o.r.n.ya"but tired wasnat one of them.

Ricky stopped running the towel through her hair and draped it around her neck. Their eyes met and Alice whispered, aCome here.a Ricky was in her arms again, kissing her throat and giving Alice just a mere sample of how good it would be when they finally got out of there later. They didnat break away from each other until Joe pounded on the door.

After Hot Check finished their last song for the night, the house lights came up and Ricky jumped down from the stage with her leather jacket already halfway on. aI need to change clothes again before we go.a aIad better wait for you here,a Alice said. She handed over the small suitcase and lowered her voice. aThe next time I touch you I wonat be able to stop.a Alice and the three other band members watched Ricky gracefully weave her way around tables, chairs, and straggling customers. Alice heard the snap of a guitar case closing before Joe came over to the table.

aAre you sure you know what youare doing?a he grumbled.

aPositive,a Alice said.

aShe plays for keeps. Just donat f.u.c.k her up.a Heas worried about her, Alice thought as they continued glaring at each other.

aI helped put her back together once,a he said. aIam sure I can do it again if I have to.a He picked up his guitar and walked out the door.

Stan came over to the table, winding up the cord to his ba.s.s. His beard was full and had a reddish tint to it. He looked down at Alice and chuckled, aJoey there donat like you much.a Alice briefly inspected her watery drink and drained it. aReally?a He pulled out a chair and sat down. aYeah, really. He hates it when he canat get Rickyas full attention. He likes her mind stayina on her work.a He laughed and checked the contents of two beer bottles on the table. aBut heall come around once he sees youare serious.a He glanced over at her and scratched his beard. aYou are serious, arenat you?a Alice decided that his approach was a little smoother than Joeas, but Stan was out to accomplish the same thing. These two guys were like a pair of big brothers checking out a new suitor. In its own archaic way, it was almost sweet.

Ricky was already on her way back, having changed into black corduroy pants, a gray Hot Check T-s.h.i.+rt, and her black leather jacket. Alice was amazed at how good she could look in something so simple.

aWhereas Joe?a Ricky asked.

aOutside pouting.a Stan looked up at her and grinned. aLet me guess. No rehearsal tomorrow.a aRight. We worked hard all week. We deserve it.a To Alice she said, aYou ready?a Ricky threw Kyle, the drummer, a kiss and then reached over and tugged on Stanas beard. aIall be here at seven forty-five tomorrow night. Try to have him in a better mood please.a Stan shrugged, aMaybe we can get him laid.a Alice followed Ricky to her apartment, which was indeed not far from Sugar Daddyas. The first thing she noticed when they arrived was a pleasant vanilla scent in the living room. At a glance Alice saw new black and white furniture, all tastefully futuristic. The apartment was big and neat, and Alice immediately felt comfortable there.

She slid her palms over the front of that soft leather jacket while Ricky kissed her throat and neck, leaving Alice almost too weak to stand on her own. She touched Aliceas ear with the tip of her tongue before taking it into her warm, wet mouth. Aliceas back was pressed against the door, and Rickyas hand had worked its way under her s.h.i.+rt to rub her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

They helped each other out of their clothes. Rickyas jacket tumbled to the floor, and Alice pulled the T-s.h.i.+rt over her head. They quickly became a naked tangle of arms and legs on the carpet by the door.

aI need to touch you,a Ricky whispered huskily. Her hand started at Aliceas knee and slowly moved up her thigh. Ricky slipped two fingers inside her and teased Aliceas nipples with a shake of her hair.

Deep feverish kisses resumed as Alice unconsciously raised her hips to meet the stroking. Rickyas tongue was in Aliceas mouth matching the movements of her fingers, and she kissed Aliceas neck and the side of her face moments before urging, whispering the words, aHelp me make it good for you.a Alice could hear moaning and finally recognized it as her own. The kiss turned desperate as she sucked on Rickyas tongue and thrashed around, her body demanding more as the inevitable drew closer. She finally squeezed her legs together, trapping Rickyas fingers inside, wrenching the last ounce of pleasure from her hand. Alice pulled her mouth away and rubbed her cheek against the side of Rickyas face.

After a moment, Ricky leaned over and propped herself up on an elbow. aYou sound so good when you come.a Alice pushed her gently to the carpet and rolled on top of her, settling easily on Rickyas body. Their mutual longing and desire was evident as Alice moved against her. Theyad both waited all week for this.

The next morning the telephone woke them up. Ricky reached for it on the nightstand and mumbled something into the receiver. Alice pulled at the blanket to cover Ricky better and kissed her cheek before heading for the bathroom. Just as she got back, Ricky set the phone down.

aThat was Joe checking to see if you were still here,a she said. Her early-morning voice was hoa.r.s.e and huskier than usual. Hearing it made Alice smile.

She spruced up the bed while Ricky was in the bathroom. If these sheets could talk, Alice thought as she smoothed the blanket and fluffed pillows. Glancing around, she noticed a picture of the band near the telephone and picked it up. Ricky was standing between Kyle and Stan, with Joe behind them. Ricky looked the same, but the other three band members were much younger. Stan didnat have a beard in the picture, and Kyle and Joe were thinner with much longer hair.

Ricky came out of the bathroom and crawled back into bed, pulling Alice in beside her. aMunich five years ago,a she said. aOur first world tour when we opened for Cosmic Blue. A nice little German man took it for us.a aCosmic Blue,a Alice said. She couldnat say for sure what songs Cosmic Blue sang, but shead certainly heard of them. She reached over to put the picture back and smiled as Ricky moved into her arms.

aDid he really call to see if I was still here?a Alice asked, giving her a hug and kissing the top of her head.

aIgnore him,a Ricky said. aHeas just being an a.s.shole.a She tucked the blanket in around them. aCan I ask you something?a Her hand moved slowly back and forth across Aliceas bare stomach, just below her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. aYou donat have to answer since itas really none of my business.a aAsk away.a Ricky chuckled and then cleared her throat. aAre you seeing anyone else right now?a Alice shook her head. aNo. What about you?a aIam so available itas almost embarra.s.sing,a she whispered. aI couldnat help but notice the women you were with the other night.a aTheyare just friends.a Ricky raised up a little and pushed her pillow under her head. aIam glad to hear that. Can I ask you something else?a Not bothering to wait for a reply, she quietly asked, aYou know that little thing you do on the edge of the bed sometimes? Who taught you how to do that?a Alice turned on her side and propped her head up with her own pillow. aI dated a jock in college for a while. She taught me a lot of things.a aThank her for me if you ever see her again.a Alice smiled. aIall be sure and add a note in her Christmas card this year.a aCome here and let me hold you,a Ricky said.

They rearranged the pillows and the blanket and got comfortable again.

aI have a bazillion questions to ask you,a Ricky said as she slowly ran a finger along Aliceas arm. aIad like to know everything about you. I can already picture you as a kid. You probably had this little briefcase that you carried to day care.a Alice raised an eyebrow. aPutting my crayons in a backpack seemed tacky even then.a She answered each of Rickyas questions thoughtfully and found herself talking about an array of things, including her parents, Collins Enterprises, and restaurant management. An hour later over orange juice, coffee, and Pop-Tarts, they were still talking in the middle of the bed when the phone rang again.

aThatas probably Stan,a Ricky said. She handed Alice her empty gla.s.s and reached over to answer it. aYes, sheas still here,a Ricky said without any further telephone etiquette. aWeare having breakfast, and whatever it is you have to say right now can wait until I see you later.a She hung up and squeezed Aliceas hand. She held it and lightly traced a line on Aliceas palm with a fingertip. aSo tell me, Ms. Collins,a Ricky whispered. aHow old were you the first time you really carried a briefcase?a Alice soon lived for weekends, and driving to and from Austin at all hours was certainly worth the inconvenience. Ricky had quickly become the center of Aliceas entire life, and arranging time to be with her was a number one priority.

In addition to all the traveling Alice was doing, Ricky had the bandas schedule adjusted so theyad be in San Antonio several times a month. Alice, in turn, juggled her own schedule to ensure that she could be in town on those days.

One Wednesday night at Muldoonas a few weeks later, Joe came over to Aliceas table while Ricky was off changing clothes. Hot Check had just finished their first set.

aYouare back,a he said, and sat down next to her. aWhy am I still surprised?a Alice smiled at him innocently and said, aBecause youare a jerk?a Shock registered on his thin, handsome face before he laughed. aThatas a Ricky Conrad word. Whatas she been saying about me?a aThat I should give you a little time to get used to this.a He leaned back in his chair. aSince it doesnat look like youare going away, I donat have much of a choice, do I?a Stan came over with a round of drinks, gave Joe a beer, and set a gin and tonic down in front of Alice. With a slight grin he mumbled, aRicky says we gotta be nice to you.a He took a swig of his beer and then looked over several heads in the direction that Ricky should be coming from at any minute. aThereas some guys waitina for her by the dressing room,a he said. aKyle might need some help with aem.a Alice and Joe watched him leave, and for the first time she realized that the bandas breaks had a definite routine. Part of that routine included watching out for Ricky.

aIs she having trouble with fans?a Alice asked.

aA few months ago she was practically mobbed at a club in Houston,a he said.

aMobbed? What happened?a aFive or six guys with too much to drink caught her outside the dressing room. One of them wanted to dance with her and the others just wanted to talk, but they were very persistent. By the time Kyle got there, Ricky was surrounded by a snuff-toting gaggle of testosterone.a Joe smiled. aHer words, not mine.a He shrugged. aRicky didnat give it much thought, but it really shook up the rest of us.a Alice scanned the crowd and zeroed in on the direction Stan had gone. The club and its patrons didnat seem quite as friendly any longer.

aWe need to make sure sheas careful,a Alice said. aIall talk to her about it.a Joe perked up a bit. aThanks. Maybe sheall listen to you.a He had a little smirk on his face as he took another sip of his beer. aIave been giving her a hard time about skipping rehearsals on weekends. I reminded her that sheas never put a chick ahead of work before.a Alice bristled at the word chick. She hadnat heard the term used that way since junior high. Christ, do guys still talk like that?

aAnd what did Ricky say?a Alice asked.

Joe turned in his chair and propped his arm up on the back of it. aShe told me never to call you a chick again.a He chuckled and picked up his beer. aWe can either use your name or refer to you as her lover. Not her friend and not her girlfriend. Her lover.a He took another slow drink and said, aNot only do we have to watch out for the usual PC bulls.h.i.+t she insists on, but now weave gotta stay on top of these gay terms too.a Alice managed a smirk of her own. aShe referred to me as her lover?a Just saying the word excited her.

aYeah,a he said seriously. aSo far youare in a league all your own with that one. Sheas a babe in the woods when it comes to stuff like this, Alice. She might look like experience is her middle name, but thatas not the case. Just donat screw her up. Thatas all Iam asking.a It was a simple request, and Alice could see that it was made by someone who truly cared about Ricky.

aHere she comes,a he said. aAs long as Ricky likes you, thatas good enough for us. Believe me. When sheas not happy, n.o.bodyas happy.a

Chapter Six.

A week later early Sat.u.r.day morning it was two-fifteen before Alice and Ricky left Sugar Daddyas. Theyad been seeing each other for almost two months, and Alice was just as ready for her now as shead been their first night together.

Ricky unlocked her apartment door and set her guitar down in the corner. She switched on a light that uncovered the chaos of the room; boxes were stacked everywhere, and the entertainment set that had been filled with stereo equipment and books the weekend before was gone.

aWhatas all this?a Alice asked in surprise. She glanced around more carefully, noticing the bare wall where the huge Joan Jett picture had previously hung. Ricky took her by the hand and led her to the bedroom. More boxes were stacked in a corner, and what little furniture was usually in the room was now moved against the wall.

Ricky kissed her on the neck and nibbled at her ear, but Alice was distracted by all the confusion.

aWhy the boxes? Are you painting the apartment?a aNo,a Ricky whispered as her mouth worked its way down Aliceas throat. aIam moving the band to San Antonio next week.a Aliceas eyes flew open. aYouare what?a Ricky began unb.u.t.toning Aliceas s.h.i.+rt. aIam moving.a Alice took Rickyas face in her hands and brushed thick hair away from her eyes. aWhy didnat you tell me?a Ricky avoided looking at her and shrugged. aI didnat know how youad feel about it. And nothing could happen anyway until Joe found us a permanent gig there.a aHas he done that?a Theyad stopped undressing each other. Alice took Ricky by the hand and led her to the edge of the bed.

aFriday and Sat.u.r.day nights at a club called Sneakers,a Ricky said. aWe start in two weeks. Heas working on a few other things too.a Weall finally be together! She wanted to grab her and hug her, but Rickyas lack of enthusiasm held her back.

aWhen can you move?a Alice asked.

aThis week.a Ricky pulled off a brown suede boot and dropped it on the floor. aIave called on a few apartments already, but the boys are looking for a house somewhere outside of town. We need a place to rehea.r.s.e.a She wants her own apartment, Alice thought, her heart sinking. The other boot hit the floor, and Ricky gently pushed Alice back on the bed.

aYouare getting your own apartment?a Alice said. She was hurt and didnat care whether or not Ricky heard it in her voice.

aYes. My own apartment. I certainly canat live with the boys. Theyare pigs.a She leaned over Alice and began unb.u.t.toning the rest of her s.h.i.+rt. Their eyes met, and Alice detected a flicker of vulnerability, a moment of fear etched in her expression. aAnd I certainly canat live with you,a Ricky said.

aWhy not?a Alice whispered.

Rickyas hand stopped moving along Aliceas warm, bare skin. aBecause youave never asked me to,a she said huskily. She moved on top of her, straddling Aliceas body, causing that familiar roller-coaster tumbling to start all over again in Aliceas stomach.

Alice reached up and finished unb.u.t.toning Rickyas s.h.i.+rt and slowly ran her palms over cool, soft flesh. She was afraid of sounding too needy or desperate, but the thought of having Ricky with her in San Antonio on a permanent basis was thrilling.

aMe not asking you is only a technicality,a Alice said.

Rickyas s.h.i.+rt came off and was tossed somewhere on the other side of the room. That s.h.a.ggy hair fell to her bare shoulders, and those blue eyes settled on Alice easily. She took Aliceas hands and laced their fingers together.

aBut a very important technicality,a Ricky said. aYou mean more to me than just a good f.u.c.k, so donat even dream of suggesting that we live together unless itas what you really want.a Alice took Rickyas firm nipples between her fingers and rubbed them slowly with her thumbs. aOh, I want it all right. Iam in love with you. I thought you knew that.a aOh, Jesus,a Ricky said, her smile radiant. aIam in love with you too. How did that happen?a She leaned over and kissed her, and then nuzzled Aliceas neck playfully.

Alice pulled her closer and whispered, aAm I really a good f.u.c.k?a Rickyas low chuckle certainly made Alice want to be.

Aliceas place wasnat big enough for two, so she found them a huge condo on the north side of town and helped coordinate Rickyas part of the move first.

aI havenat had a vacation in five years,a Ricky said as she began unpacking boxes. The band had a week off before their new gig started. Alice helped her get things settled before her own part of the move began. It was exciting as well as exhausting, but they both seemed determined to get some sort of order back into their lives.

aWhen do I get to see where the boys live?a Alice asked one Sat.u.r.day morning in early November. Theyad just finished taking a shower together and briefly discussed whether or not to go out for breakfast. aDonat you have a rehearsal later?a aAt eleven,a Ricky said. Her voice was little more than a croak. Alice liked the way it sounded when she first woke up.

They pulled on huge Hot Check T-s.h.i.+rts and padded to the kitchen to see if there was anything to eat.

aLooks like weare having French toast and sausage if we stay home,a Ricky said. aOh, and thereas some leftover fettuccine alfredo from the other night.a aSounds great,a Alice said. aLetas fix it all.a Shead already decided against breakfast out. aIall get the coffee going. Thereas orange juice in the freezer.a Fifteen minutes later breakfast was ready; the fettuccine tasted better than it had the first time around.

aCan I go with you today?a Alice asked. aIave never been to a rehearsal before.a aItas pretty boring,a Ricky said. aWe may be working on the same song all day.a aIs that a no? I promise to be quiet. You wonat even know Iam there.a Ricky tilted her head and looked at her. aYou really wanna go? Sometimes I yell a lot. It might not be pretty.a aMmm. I like forceful women. You didnat answer my question. Can I go? Will the boys mind if Iam there?a aNo, they wonat mind.a Ricky picked up their breakfast dishes and took them to the kitchen. aMaybe you should take your car in case you change your mind once youare there.a Not only did Alice stay for the entire rehearsal, but she spent at least an hour talking to Stan and Kyle about the bandas new gig at Sneakers and Rickyas two new songs they were working on. Alice could hear Joeas guitar in the other room and Ricky on keyboards going over a riff she wasnat happy with. Stan and Kyle were taking a break until they were needed again.

aSheas been comina up with some d.a.m.n good stuff lately,a Kyle said. It was the longest sentence Alice had ever heard him say. He pulled at the end of his bushy mustache and shook his head. aSome d.a.m.n good stuff.a aWeare two songs away from another alb.u.m,a Stan informed her. aSheas crankina it out faster than we can put it together.a aYou mean her work has gotten better since she fell in love with me?a Alice asked innocently.

Kyle and Stan both cut their eyes over at her. Kyle threw his head back and laughed while Stan mumbled, aYeah, somethina like that.a A while later, the music in the living room stopped, and Joe came to the door and motioned for the other two. Alice followed Stan and Kyle into the other room and waved at Ricky, who was behind the keyboard. Stretching out on the couch where shead been earlier in the day, Alice adjusted her position to give her the best view of Ricky.

aYouare still here,a Ricky said. Alice could tell by her smile that she was glad to see her.

aIave been hanging out with the band,a Alice said.

aThe really boring partas coming up,a Ricky warned. aLetas take it from the top.a She pointed to Kyle. aCome in with that boom-chucka beat again. I think itall work in the beginning too. I liked it earlier.a As Alice listened to her and watched Rickyas hands move over the keyboard, she felt a familiar stirring between her legs. Theyad made love that morning in the shower, but Alice wanted her again already, as though it had been weeks instead of hours since theyad been together. Watching her play does this to me, Alice realized for the first time. My hormones start tap dancing the minute she touches the keyboard.

Seeing her play and listening to Ricky give the boys instructions had such an overwhelmingly erotic effect on her. As she continued to watch and listen, Alice was even more aware of just how powerful Rickyas hold on her was. She plays a note and Iam ready to drag her off to bed, Alice thought. She orders three guys around and Iam squirming on a strangeras sofa. Whatas the deal here?

Alice quietly took it all in as Ricky helped them shape the song into something that only she had been able to hear before. By three-thirty that afternoon, the rough edges were gone and a finished product was well on its way.

aDo we have lyrics yet?a Kyle asked. He twirled a drumstick through long, nimble fingers and flipped the switch on Joeas amplifier.

aYeah,a Ricky said. aWeall run through the whole thing tomorrow.a She reached for Aliceas hand and brought it to her lips for a kiss. aYou either didnat get bored or you lost your car keys. Which is it?a Alice pulled her key ring from her khaki shorts and held it up for inspection.

aIt was kinda nice having you here today,a Stan said to Alice. aRicky didnat yell as much. Come back any time.a One Monday evening Alice came home to cla.s.sical music on the stereo and a savory pot roast for dinner only minutes away from being ready. She found Ricky in the kitchen putting the finis.h.i.+ng touches on two stuffed baked potatoes. The ends of her hair were still damp from her shower.

aIt smells good in here,a Alice said as she slipped her arms around her. The strawberry scent of Rickyas hair almost made her forget how hungry she was.

aDo we have plans for Thanksgiving?a Ricky asked after they sat down at the table. aItas this week, you know.a aI usually spend it with Dora and Marge. Weare both invited this year.a aMy father expects me to go to Austin,a Ricky said, abut Iam not ready to deal with him yet. I was wondering if we could have something here. Just me, you, and the boys.a aThe turkey and everything?a Alice asked. The ha.s.sle of a big dinner didnat appeal to her at all. aI guess we could have it catered. Or I can get my chef downtown to--a Rickyas laughter caught her by surprise. aIall do all the work,a Ricky said. aItall be fun. Weall go shopping for all the stuff tomorrow. How about it? Can we invite the boys over?a She scooped another helping of corn on her plate and waited patiently for Aliceas reply. aOr we can spend Thanksgiving with Dora and Marge. Either wayas fine. Itas your Thanksgiving too.a This is important to her, Alice thought. And sheas probably righta"it might even be fun.

aJust remember that I donat know anything about turkeys,a Alice said. aOr cooking. If it doesnat come in a box, I canat even fake it.a Wednesday night before Thanksgiving Ricky had Alice and the boys there to help with the preliminaries. They chopped endless bowls of celery, onions, and bell pepper while Ricky baked pan after pan of cornbread. The chatter around the table easily kept Aliceas attention. The band members liked bringing up embarra.s.sing on-stage incidents, but Stan was the first to start with the road stories.

aRickyas got these little rules when weare on the road,a he said to Alice. aWeave gotta stop for turtles on the highway and take turns getting them across to the other side.a aNo matter what the traffic situation is,a Joe said.

aAnd it never fails,a Kyle added. aWhen itas my turn to tote them turtles, those little b.a.s.t.a.r.ds end up p.i.s.sing all over me.a aTurtle p.i.s.s stinks, too,a Joe confirmed. aItas all we can do to let him back in the van.a aAnd sheas got this other rule,a Stan said.

aI think Alice has heard enough by now,a Ricky said. aAnd I canat believe weare sitting here talking about turtle p.i.s.s.a As the night wore on, Aliceas throat began to ache from laughing so much. The band had a history together that they were willing to share with her, and Alice liked being a part of it. By midnight the chopping, baking, slicing, and dicing was all finished.

aTomorrow morning starts the real work,a Ricky said with her hands on her hips. She reached over and slapped Kyle on the back. aYou guys done good. Be back here no later than eleven tomorrow. Weare eating at noon.a Thursday night after two rounds of a turkey dinner, the boys were gone and the last dish was washed. Alice prepared a hot bubble bath for them and convinced Ricky to quit for the evening. Ricky had been up cooking since six that morning, but still seemed to be holding up well.

aFootball all day long,a Ricky said as she slowly sank into the hot, foamy water. aNot just regular football, but college football. Double boring.a She leaned her head back against the edge of the tub and closed her eyes. aThis feels so good itas probably a sin.a Alice could feel Rickyas foot rubbing along her ribs. It was nice just being still for a change. Alice smiled to herself and didnat mind admitting that this was the best Thanksgiving shead ever had. The boys werenat anything like what shead expected.

aKyle taught me a new card game,a Alice said. aItas called Spit.a Rickyas low, husky laughter made Alice smile. She jiggled her foot and splashed bubbles on Rickyas chin. aDonat get sleepy. Iave got plans for you later.a They eventually got out of the tub and wrapped themselves up in huge towels.

aHow many relations.h.i.+ps have you had?a Alice asked as she moved around behind her in the bedroom and kissed Rickyas bare shoulder.

aThree,a Ricky said. aActually, a big one in high school and two one-night stands on the road in Kansas a few summers ago. I donat get out much.a aThree? Thatas it?a aYouare disappointed.a aIam surprised.a She pulled Rickyas towel loose and let it fall to the floor. aTell me about her. The one in high school.a aEmily was older than me,a Ricky said. aAn English teacher my soph.o.m.ore year.a She kissed Aliceas throat and ran her hands over smooth, soft skin.

aYour first lover was a teacher?a Alice said. aDid she seduce you?a aI was a willing partic.i.p.ant. During the summer wead spend all day together,a Ricky said. aIad leave her house at about five and go rehea.r.s.e with the band for a few hours and then go home.a She ran a fingertip over one of Aliceas hard nipples. Alice kissed her on the cheek and felt the heat beginning to smolder between her damp legs.

aOne morning in August just before my senior year, Emily was packing when I got to her house,a Ricky said. aShe claimed to be going to California for a little vacation. Two months later there was a postcard in my mailbox saying she wouldnat be back. That was the last time I ever heard from her.a Alice brushed thick blonde hair away from Rickyas forehead. aThat mustave been rough,a she said. Ricky kissed her and then lowered her head to gently tug on Aliceas nipple with her lips.