Chapter 10: An Invitation

Weeks went by and the kiss she’d shared with Ben faded from Mallory’s everyday thoughts. She settled back into her non-exclusive routine with Ian. She banished all thoughts of actual romance from her mind. It was too much hassle, too much pain. She was convinced she’d given herself an ulcer worrying about such things.

Not that Ian didn’t give her romance. He was plenty romantic. When he was with her he was with her fully. He treated her like a queen, if only to show her that he wasn’t just using her for sex. Some nights they would go out drinking with friends and end up back at his bed. Other nights they’d rent a movie and watch it at her place, always ending up in her bed. Every now and then they’d go out to dinner and end up somewhere, as always, having sex.

They made a stunning couple. Everywhere they went together people noticed them. If a person didn’t know better they’d think the two of them had been together for years. They were comfortable with each other and it showed. But of course Ian’s eyes would always wander. And Mallory always worried that some day he would wander away for good.

One Saturday, after the pair engaged in a particularly aerobic sexual romp around Mallory’s living room, she received a call from Stevie. Ian excused himself to the kitchen to make a sandwich.

“You’re coming with me Kansas City next weekend,” Stevie said excitedly. “We’re going to see Mad Ben Stein.”

“Steves,” Mallory replied, “I can’t afford to fly to Kansas City. I probably can’t even afford the concert tickets.” Her emotions were mixed. She desperately wanted to see Ben again, but in reality she knew it was financially impossible.

“It’s covered.” Stevie squealed a little, as if she had more to say but was holding it back for effect.

“What do you mean?”

Ian came back from the kitchen. “Babe, do you have any soda? All I see is water.”

“Who’s there with you?” Stevie was now confused on top of being a little bit perturbed.

“Nobody. Forget it.” Mallory shooed Ian away. He turned from her and she slapped him on his round, firm backside. Oh, how she loved his backside. “Stevie, what’s going on?”

“Meet me at the bar later and I’ll tell you. I gotta go.”

Several hours later Mallory was sitting at a bar waiting for Stevie. She’d just ordered a pitcher of beer when a clearly intoxicated man sat down next to her. He could have been a few years her junior, but it was hard to tell. Obviously the bar scene was taking its toll on him. Mallory did her best to ignore his presence. But he was sitting next to her on a stool, facing her with his arm on the bar.

“Let me pay for that,” said Creepy Guy, motioning to the pitcher.

“No thanks. I’m good.” Seriously. Was she going to swoon over free beer?

“Are you waiting for somebody?”

“Yes, my friend.”

“What’s your friend’s name?”

“Stevie.”

“Oh.” He drew the vowel out like he didn’t really believe her. “Well let me buy you a beer while you wait for Stevie.”

Really? She just said she was waiting for someone he could only assume is a man and he still can’t stop hitting on her. Mallory wondered if it had ever worked for him.

“No thanks. I have a pitcher.”

At that moment Stevie walked in. She bounded up to Mallory and planted a kiss on her cheek.

“Who’s your friend,” she asked as she poured herself a drink.

Creepy Guy jutted his hand across Mallory, nearly grazing her breasts. “Hi, I’m Nate. What’s your name?”

“I’m Stevie.” She obviously didn’t know any better.

Mallory turned to her and, without caring that he could hear her, blurted out, “I don’t know this guy.” Stevie laughed.

“So,” Stevie started. She didn’t waste any time getting to the point. “You’re coming with me to Kansas City. Jake wants to fly us out there. He’ll pay for the room, comp us tickets, everything.” She was practically jumping up and down on her stool. Her enthusiasm was unmistakable.

“What exactly is going on with you and Jake?”

Stevie giggled. Her voice now was sheepish. “We’ve been chatting online and talking on the phone. It got kind of hot a couple of times.”

“You mean like phone sex?”

Nate leaned in as if he was part of the conversation. Mallory waved him away like a pesky insect.

Stevie giggled again, like a school girl. “Sort of. But not all raunchy, you know. Just a little bit of fun. And he wants to see me again. I told him I wouldn’t come without you. So he offered to fly us both to their next show which is this weekend in Kansas City.”

“Wait, so you want me to get on a plane and go with you so you can have sex with Jake?”

“No. I didn’t say I was going to have sex with him. I didn’t even say I’d consider it.”

“But you didn’t say you wouldn’t.”

“Not exactly. But he knows.”

“You know what that makes you.” As Mallory said it Nate nodded his head at her, knowing what she was going to say next. She pushed him away this time, knocking him off his stool.

“What?” Stevie tried to sound as if she didn’t have a clue.

“A hooker.”

“SHUT UP!” Stevie screamed so loud everyone in the bar could hear her. Mallory laughed hysterically at their friend’s embarrassment.

“I’m not going to sleep with Jake,” Stevie insisted. “We’re still getting to know each other.”

“I bet you are,” Nate blurted out. How was he back? Couldn’t he take a hint?

 “So you have to go,” Stevie begged.

“Okay, I’ll go.” In reality, Mallory wanted to jump for joy. She couldn’t wait to see Ben again, if only to test the waters. Would he ignore her, pretend nothing ever happened? Or would he be happy to see her? Would he want a second chance? Mallory was hoping for the latter.

“And I’m not a hooker?”

“No, Stevie. You’re not a hooker.”

Nate waved an obnoxious hand in the bartender’s face. “Shots for my friends,” he shouted. Stevie and Mallory shrugged at each other. Free shots. No complaints.

Two shots and three beers later they were both raging drunk. Mallory balanced herself on the barstool. The room around her was fuzzy and thick. Everything was in slow motion, yet somehow going so fast. And loud. Her head was spinning. Stevie was also spinning. She had begun twirling wildly all by herself on the dance floor. She crumpled down into a pile of drunken giggles. It was time to go. The bartender called a cab.

Stevie was dropped off first. Mallory immediately pulled her phone out of her purse and searched for Ian’s number. It was two in the morning. She was sure he was up. But was he alone?

The phone rang a few times before he picked up. He sounded groggy.

“Ian,” she shouted. The gallons of alcohol made it difficult to regulate the volume of her voice. “What are you doing?”

“I’m sleeping.”

“What?” She screeched into the phone. How could he be asleep with so much life left in the night? “Okay. I’ll just go home. All alone.”

“No,” he sighed. “Don’t”

Mallory summoned her teasing, girly voice. “No? What should I do then?”

“Get your ass over here.”