“Arvin, my self-respect can’t take it right now. Maybe I’m not well-adjusted enough. When we had sex, you had part of my heart, too. You were so dismissive. That hurt me.”
“If I try to be more considerate, would you consider seeing me again? Not dating necessarily, but as friends?”
“Do you mean a hookup, accepting that there is no romantic future? I don’t know if I’m open enough for that, Arvin.”
“What can I do?” he asked, sincerely trying to get her to agree they were free enough to try.
“What do you mean? Like not telling me how beautiful I am when your penis is inside me? Or how no one makes you feel the way I do when we’re doing it? That might help.”
Biting his lip to keep from laughing, Arvin knew exactly what she meant. “I’m not sure I can do that,” he said. “It’s the way I feel at the moment.”
“Ah,” she said. “I see. The stiff dick has no conscience syndrome.”
“That sounds so cruel,” he said. “At the time, that’s what I really feel.”
“And then afterward when you’re satisfied, and I’m not, you can go on your merry way,” she said scathingly. “While I’m left feeling empty and used.”
Embarrassed, he didn’t answer her. After Patricia’s meltdown the previous fall about him not reciprocating, he wasn’t eager to get into a similar discussion on the dance floor with Terry. The way he avoided the issue was to no longer let anyone give him oral sex. Then him not doing it in return wasn’t a problem. It was a nonissue now. But Terry was really good in that regard; she knew exactly what to do to satisfy him. Could he give that up with her?
“Look, I’m sorry about all that,” he said. “I know I have some hangups. If you change your mind and want to get together, let me know. I’m always available for you.”
“Thanks Arvin. If I get lonely enough, I’ll take you up on it,” she said. “Between you, my vibrator, and Russ, my librarian friend, I’ll have all my needs met.”
Bursting out laughing, they held each other closely while they danced with Arvin whispering the words to the song in her ear, accepting that friendships came in all forms. Terry was annoyed that she consented to it, but her casual relationship with Arvin would play an important role in her life for the next few years.
Chapter 8
The honeymoon was incredible.
“I sat next to Larry in a lounge chair on the beach, so close to the water that we had to keep moving our chairs back when the tide came in,” Brenda said, sighing. “I fell asleep out there every morning. At noon, a waiter brought our lunch. It never varied - seafood, fried or fresh in a salad; potato salad; chips; and a diet Coke. I gained five pounds the first week.”
“Oh, that does sound good,” Corinne said, Terry and Margery listening.
They were sitting in the employee lounge, with rapt attention to every detail.
“It was wonderful.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Can you believe how blond I got? Larry’s is even lighter. His tan is amazing. He won’t have to go to the tanning booth for a month. He’s talking about getting a beach house with Arvin so we can go down the shore every weekend. But the Jersey shore is not the Caribbean, as much as I love it.”
“What did you do while you were there?” Margery asked, and the others looked at her and smirked. “Well, besides the obvious. Did you snorkel or go parasailing?”
“We did it all,” Brenda said. “One day we went horseback riding on the beach. Another, we rented Jet Skies. That was the most fun.
“At night we went to the dining room for out-of-this-world food, seafood again most of the time, and then we danced. Larry is such a fabulous dancer. I’m not that great, but anyone dancing with him would look good.”
“We’ve seen you dance,” Terry said. “Remember the reception. You do pretty good yourself.”
“Thanks. Well, this was so romantic; we would go back to the room every night and have wild sex. I think we wore ourselves out because since we’ve been home, nothing.”
“You’ve only been home for two days,” Terry said, frowning. “Give the man a break.”
“She’s right,” Margery said. “Listen to Terry. Larry’s no spring chicken.”
“He’ll bounce back,” Corinne said. “It’s probably jet lag.”
“Well, I hope he gets over it because I need his attention. I’m afraid this is marriage,” Brenda said. “You hear how they change right away, like a switch is flipped.”
“Ugh, that’s a horrible portrayal of marriage. I hope it’s BS in your case,” Terry said, worried for her friend.
The shore house materialized, and the first weekend in July, Brenda, Larry, Arvin and Terry headed down together, very much the vacationers with a cooler strapped to the back of Arvin’s rented luxury SUV, and a beach umbrella sticking out the back window.
“I’m so excited!” Brenda exclaimed, sitting in the backseat with Larry who already had his bathing suit on. “This is a childhood dream of mine. We always did day trips in the summer, but to have a beach house I can go to after work and every weekend? Pure fantasy.”
“I might commute,” Arvin said. “You’re both welcome to come back and forth with me.”
“That sounds exhausting, bro,” Larry said, turning to kiss Brenda. He pushed her back in the seat, the first of many public displays of affection, some almost crossing the line of indecency.
“I guess he’s finished talking,” Arvin said to Terry, and they had to stifle their laughter, as Brenda’s foot hit him in the back of the head.
“Larry, back off,” Brenda complained. “Arvin, I’m so sorry. My husband has a problem with exhibitionism.”
“I see that,” Arvin said, looking in the rearview mirror. “Wait until I can watch without killing us, okay?”
The causeway to the island loomed just ahead, and Terry rolled down her window, the air warm and tropical. “I can smell the salt,” she said, closing her eyes.
Gulls called, and the sound of waves hitting the sand completed the total transformation. They were no longer in the city.
“Oh, thank you so much for bringing me along,” Terry said, giddy.
“I told Arvin there would be no deal if he brought anyone else,” Brenda said.
“Ugh,” Terry moaned, but laughed. “I wondered what the sudden attraction was.”
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Arvin said. “I’m happy you agreed to come along.”
“He can’t have other women here if I’m here,” Brenda said. “That’s the deal.”
“You probably don’t plan on coming every weekend, then, correct?” Arvin asked, teasing, with the others laughing. “Because I know Terry won’t want to come every weekend.”
“I might,” she said. “If the house is decent, I might take you up on living down here and commuting into the city.”
“You would?” he asked, turning to her, sorry he’d mentioned it. The last thing Arvin intended was having the same woman at the beach all summer.
“Absolutely,” Terry said, her eyes shining. “It would be like Brenda said; a fantasy.”
“This is it,” Larry said, leaning forward, pointing to a big gray shingled cottage, with gables and a widow’s walk and a massive stone chimney along the side.
“Wow! It’s fabulous,” Brenda said.
“Good job, Larry,” Arvin said, truly impressed. “This looks more like the Hamptons than the Jersey shore.”
“I wouldn’t know. I moved from Warsaw to Philadelphia. This is the first time I’ve been out of PA,” Larry said.
“I’m afraid to ask what it cost for the summer,” Arvin said. “Since I said I’d pay my share.”
“It’s the down payment for Brenda’s former new car,” Larry said, chuckling.
“I’d rather have this and drive a junker,” she said, bouncing in her seat.
Arvin pulled into the driveway in back of the house which faced the ocean, right on the beach, only a narrow band of dune grasses separating it from high tide.
> “I wonder what it’s like during a storm,” Arvin said. He’d parked the car and looked out over the beach and water in awe.
“The owner said there’s a piece of lumber nailed to the kitchen wall that shows the high-water mark during hurricanes over the years. Evidently, the house has been gutted several times.”
“Let’s go see it,” Terry said.
A small concrete porch led to the front door. “I wonder why it’s not up on pilings.” Brenda said.
“Not my problem,” Arvin said, putting his arm around her shoulder. “Your job is to enjoy the ride, not inspect the vehicle.”
“Who said that?” she asked, frowning.
“God,” he said.
“He did not,” Brenda replied.
“The care of the horse is in the hands of the rider, but safety is in the hands of God,” Arvin said.
“That’s not a Christian scripture, is it?” she asked, frowning.
“It is. Proverbs, I believe. I’m Muslim but the missionaries forced that stuff down my throat, too.”
“What does that have to do with this house being on pilings?” Terry asked.
“Think about it,” Arvin answered. “You’re an attorney, you figure it out.”
“Children, no fighting,” Larry said. “I’m getting out on the beach right now.”
“I’m right behind you,” Brenda said, frowning at Arvin as she walked away.
“Where’s the umbrella?” Arvin asked. “I don’t need to get any darker than I am.”
“I’m staying undercover, too,” Terry said. “I’ll just get more freckles if I go in the sun.”
Larry pointed out where the bedrooms were, a larger, master bedroom near the front of the house that he and Brenda would take, and a slightly smaller room with a bathroom nearby for Arvin and Terry.
“You’re sharing with me. Is that okay?” Arvin asked.
“Okay,” she answered, knowing she probably shouldn’t, but it had been a long time, and she longed for a man’s arms around her.
Taking her suit into the bathroom, she’d give herself a few more hours of privacy before exposing herself to Arvin. However, she’d forgotten how small her suit was. It was one piece, but the bottom was high cut so her fanny hung out of the sides. Big breasts filled the top, the low V that traveled almost to her waist exposing a large amount of her.
Although Arvin preferred a leaner body, Terry’s voluptuous body was made for sex, and in a bathing suit, nothing was hidden. He had trouble keeping his eyes from her crotch, too, which stunned him. It was not usually a place where he ever looked.
“Do you still not shave down there?” he asked.
“Why? Is something hanging out?” she asked, looking down.
“No,” he said, laughing. “I’m remembering.”
“I don’t care for that bald, anatomical look,” she said. “I know some men like it.”
“Would you shave if I asked you to?” he asked.
“Probably not,” she said, getting into the lounge chair.
They set the umbrella up close to the house, while Brenda and Larry went farther down the beach, closer to the water’s edge.
“I’m warning you,” Arvin whispered, pointing to her breasts, unable to take his eyes off her. “You might have trouble with Larry if he starts drinking.”
He leaned over and in spite of her protests, slid his hand into her bathing suit, squeezing her right nipple while she pulled away.
“That’s a crock,” Terry snapped, pushing him off. “You’ve said yourself he’s crazy about Brenda and loyal to boot. Look at them now.”
The newlyweds had squeezed onto the same lounge chair, facing each other, kissing, Brenda’s leg thrown over Larry’s hips. Passersby couldn’t help but look at them in shock.
“Yikes, I wonder if they’re doing it,” Terry said, sitting up a little bit when thrusting hips got her attention. “He’s humping her!”
“He’s getting up,” Arvin said excitedly. “Look at the size of that boner!”
“Where?” she asked, stretching to see, while Arvin put his hands across her eyes.
They continued giving a play-by-play narrative of what was going on at the water’s edge, laughing, Terry batting Arvin’s hands away from her face.
“Are they coming inside?” Terry asked watching them get up, Larry tugging at his trunks.
“Looks like it,” Arvin said. “Close your eyes. We’ll pretend we’re napping.”
“Nap time,” Brenda announced when they passed by, Larry holding a beach towel in front of his hips.
“If the tide gets any higher, your chairs are going out to sea,” Arvin said, stretching.
“Bring them up then, would you buddy?” Larry asked, following Brenda inside.
“Their window is right there, and it’s open,” Terry whispered, hearing them enter the room, shutting the door.
“Oh God, Larry!” Brenda moaned, her voice echoing through the window.
“Oh baby,” Larry said. “Take your pants off right now.”
Brenda yelped, then a stream of laughter filtered out from the house.
“Try not to listen,” Arvin said laughing, getting up, fully intending to listen. He crept to the window, and hunched over right under the sill, waving Terry over. “Come here. Maybe I can find a chair for us to stand on. We can watch.”
“I can’t,” Terry said. “She’s my friend. We should walk down the beach and give them privacy.”
“You’re no fun,” Arvin said. “I’m ready to get on a stool and peep in.”
“Let’s go,” she said, getting out of the chair. “You’ll thank me someday.”
“I’m not walking around with your boobs hanging out like that,” Arvin said.
Terry looked down at her chest, sticking it out a little further to get his attention. “Get over it, Arvin. This is the beach. I’m covered.”
“I don’t want to see other men looking at you,” he said honestly, appraising her. “Here, put this on.” Throwing a T-shirt to her, Arvin nodded. “Humor me. Put it on.”
“You’re not making any sense, Arvin,” she said. “A minute ago, you wanted to watch our best friends having sex. Now, you don’t want other men to look at my tits. What’s going on?”
“Just put it on,” he said. “Come on. If we’re going to go let’s go, or I’m getting back under the window.”
“Jeesh, give it a rest, Arvin,” she said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her along. “What’s your hurry?”
“You wanted to walk on the beach, so let’s walk.”
Fortunately, Terry had long legs and Arvin wasn’t that much taller than she was, so keeping up with him at the pace he was striding wasn’t difficult. But it irritated her. “Arvin, slow the hell down,” she said. “This is not fun.”
“Sorry,” he said, trying to slow down.
A crowd of people up ahead caught their attention. They were standing in a cluster, pointing out to sea.
“What’s going on?” Terry asked, her curiosity roused.
They slowed down as they approached the group and followed the pointing fingers. Someone was in distress, a cluster of people crying for help.
“They got caught in the undertow,” someone yelled.
“Oh my God! Someone’s drowning!” Terry cried.
“I don’t swim,” Arvin said. “Does anyone swim?”
A young man stepped forward and got in the surf, swimming toward the person who was clearly struggling to keep his companion above the water.
“Let’s make a human chain!” Terry called out. “It will make it easier for him to bring the swimmer back to shore. I saw a group who did it on the news.”
People got into the water and formed a life-saving chain and before long, they reached the swimmers and the drowning man’s rescuer.
“He’s not breathing!” the rescuer cried out, out of breath.
They dragged him back to the beach and Arvin quickly jumped into action, assessing the victim. Arvin began doing rescue
breathing while someone called 911.
“It’s odd there are no lifeguards around this stretch of beach,” someone said.
“It’s just this town,” another explained.
Soon, a Jeep pulled up to the group and two lifeguards got out with equipment. “Do you have oxygen?” Arvin asked.
“He’s an emergency room doctor,” Terry explained, and Arvin introduced himself.
They had oxygen and were able to begin administering it to the young man, really a boy, until the EMT’s got there.
Watching Arvin work, how calm he was, never hesitating to care for the stranger, Terry developed a new respect for him. He was a lifesaver for all his shortcomings.
They stood back as the EMTs loaded the stretcher into their vehicle, shook Arvin’s hand, and drove off to the hospital. The crowd dispersed.
“Do you think our friends are finished screwing yet?” Arvin asked. “I need a drink.”
“You are really something,” Terry said, taking his hand.
Without a word Arvin reached for her and they embraced on the beach. “I’m not sure he’s going to be okay,” Arvin said about the victim. “He wasn’t breathing on his own. I’ll call later on tonight and see if I can find anything out about his condition.”
“Let’s go back. At least I understand now why you were in such a hurry to get down there. Your subconscious must have known there was someone in trouble.”
“I don’t believe any of that crap,” he said. “I was pissed off because your boobs hung out of that suit and I’m just weird about it.”
“I know you hate when I say this, but it’s cultural. Women wear veils in your country. That’s what you’re used to.”
“I don’t believe that, either,” he said. “I’ve been here for ten years. I’m an American now. I have the citizenship papers to prove it.”
“Our upbringing plays an important role in who we become,” she said. “Don’t ignore it.”
“Are you done lecturing me? Because if you are, go inside and make me a drink. Vodka and tonic with lime.”
“Why don’t you go get it yourself?” she asked, needling him.
Bittersweets - Brenda and Larry: Steamy Romance Page 9
