A Modern Love

by M. Glenn Aldridge

  Chapter 21

  Amy Helmer doesn't soon forget; nor does she soon forgive. She especially seeks revenge when something interferes with her sleep, and the whole Jennifer and David thing was so doing.

  After much thought and weighing of options Amy settled on a plan to interfere with the Dennifer or Javid (Dennifer is best she thought) romance. Amy wasn't sure how it was blossoming but didn't really care, it had to be stopped; or better yet ruined.

  To carry out this process Amy would have to create a rift between the Dennifer parties and make it stick. Not an easy thing to do really, but Amy's an expert at such sabotage. What Amy planned out was an encounter with David where Jennifer could see them together and believe David was cheating on her. Amy realized this was plausible because virtually every girl she knew worried her boyfriend was cheating if they saw him talking to her. Amy, being so attractive, naturally put that fear in other girls. Amy loves that.

  Timing is the real key, thought Amy. I mean a passionate kiss is all it really takes, no problem there, but timing ? Jennifer has to see the kiss in order for the plan to work ? she has to see it and believe David didn't know she saw it ? Jennifer has to see it and David not know she saw it. All these things must fall into place.

  So, Amy did some reconnaissance to gather information of when David and Jennifer came and went, where they crossed paths and most importantly where they were in eye shot of each other but were not completely aware of it. Dennifer had to be observed keenly.

  What Amy discovered was that there was a time virtually every day (just after work), when David and Jennifer both passed by the pool in the courtyard and said hello before moving on to their respective apartments. That David usually arrived slightly early and seemed to wait by one or the other of the book end gazebos so he could say hi to Jennifer when she entered The Villa's courtyard from the parking lot. Amy thought this a perfect opportunity to approach David while he was alone waiting, stage the scene, then Jennifer would walk into the courtyard and see them. Amy thought carefully ? that Jennifer being so polite and all wouldn't walk up and confront Amy or David, rather choosing to avoid confrontation and probably slink off without being seen. Amy was counting on this.

  Amy's not much of a planner, or thinker really, but when it comes to dirty deeds she seems to summon the brain power to get it done. Doesn't she? Well, Amy began to put her plan into motion by picking out the appropriate attire. The less the better! She chose a tiny, tiny bathing suit that eyes could not ignore, a giant beach towel, a book (any book will do really), and two beers (one for me and one to make it look like David is having one with me, she thought). Everything was well thought out, at least as far as Amy is capable.

  Now I have to admit Amy worked out quite a diabolical scheme. Not full proof by any means, but the odds where in her favor to create havoc. Whether Jennifer trusted David or not it would still give her pause to see Amy and David embracing. I know I'm biased and all, but I sure think Amy is behaving like a royal wench at this point.

  Anyways ? on the fateful day Amy decided to put her plans into action the sun was out and it was a beautiful time to be outdoors; just as Amy needed. Changing into her bathing suit, she enjoyed her form in the large mirror she had in her bedroom. She admired the top set appropriately across the firmness of her youthful breasts, glanced at her thin but fit thighs, turned round and slid each index finger down the inside of the bottoms to straighten what material there was in that suit across her tight back side. She spent several more minutes applying makeup and such and then just spending some more time appreciating herself. She said out loud, "irresistible" as she slinked out of her bedroom and into the kitchen.

  The book, beach towel and two beers lie on the kitchen table while Amy decided to grease the wheels a little bit with her trusty whiskey. One after another, four is better than three she thought, but five is best for this show. Five it was.

  Once the creature kicked in a bit Amy threw the beach towel over one shoulder and picked up her things and made for the front door. As the warmth of the whiskey hit her belly she felt ten feet tall and bullet proof. This will be quite fun she mused.

  As Amy stepped slowly towards the pool, passing the closest gazebo, she couldn't help but glance around to see if anyone was watching her strut. Even with her mind on the task at hand she still had the appetite to impress all, to be watched, desired, wanted, needed; for her feminine wiles. She didn't see anyone but she could feel eyes upon her, and she liked that.

  As she lay the beach towel down, and sat the beers and book down as well, she leaned forward and again straightened her bikini bottom with her index fingers. As she dipped her big toe in the pool to check the water she thought to herself: all set.

  It wasn't long before David made his way into the courtyard, leaving Amy thinking the plan is going well, he's right on time. As he entered she saw a look of startle on his face, then his face turned the slightest bit red. Amy also noticed that his gate slowed up a bit, but then went back to normal. She could tell he was uncomfortable and that was good, he would be vulnerable then.

  "Hi David," Amy said as she lay seductively on the beach towel.

  "Hi Amy, how are you?" David had a business like tone in his voice, not at all a friendly tone. But she also noticed his tone was as much uncertain, so she was sure she could bring him around.

  "Oh, I'm fine hon, how've you been?" Amy began to slowly get up from ground and let David watch her provide him with a sultry glance at the front of his work pants. A long look that she knew had an impact on men's thoughts.

  "Umm ? ahh ? pretty good," David had lost his train of thought with Amy's seductive actions.

  While Amy was working her magic with David, she was also thinking about the time she needed to stall before the kiss, to ensure Jennifer would come into the courtyard and see them.

  "Why don't you come and sit down with me by the pool for a little while, we can ? talk," Amy's tone sounded more like she was inviting him to her bedroom than to sit down by the pool for a chit chat.

  "Oh, I'd probably better be gettin' on home, I mean to my apartment; I'm kind of tired," David didn't sound too convincing. He was quite flustered for some reason he couldn't figure out, so much so he didn't even consider that Jennifer might come into the courtyard and see him talking with the nearly naked Amy; didn't even cross his mind.

  Amy walked slowly over to David with a soft smile and licked her lips. She reached out and grabbed his belt and began fidgeting with the buckle, not trying to undo it, just playing with it. David was taken aback but didn't back up. His head began to spin a little as Amy was coming on strong.

  "Oh now David, surely I can convince you to sit and chat with me for just a little while," Amy whispered this in David's ear by leaning in while still holding onto his belt with one hand and letting her other hand graze the front of his trousers. Amy thought to herself, now what man could resist my invitation. She was right, as David stuttered out an agreement almost immediately. He didn't stand a chance now did he?

  "Good," said Amy as she took him by the hand and led him over to the beach towel. As they reached the beach towel, while David was standing, Amy bent down on both knees and with her face directly even with the front of his trousers she looked him directly in the eye and wets her lips, she then looked down and said "let's get those shoes off and dip our feet in the nice water". She did this as well as rolled up his pant legs, removed his socks, and they sat on the edge of the pool with their feet dangling in the water.

  Shortly after sitting down on the edge of the pool, and just as Amy had planned, Jennifer strolled into the courtyard. As this occurred Amy strategically reached over, putting her hand high on David's thigh and passionately kissed him. Jennifer saw this and immediately stopped just inside the courtyard; she then took two swift backward steps as her heart jumped up into her throat.

  Jennifer stood there for only a moment but in that moment she could tell that not only was A
my passionately kissing David, but that David was kissing Jennifer; it was mutual. Indeed it was. David was under Amy's spell and had lost himself in the moment. All Jennifer knew is that they were sitting romantically by the pool with their toes in the water, with two beers, her hand on his upper leg and he was kissing her; really kissing her, the kind of kiss where people jokingly say "get a room". Jennifer is crushed and turns around without being seen by David (though Amy certainly saw her as she was kissing with her eyes open and looking directly at Jennifer) and returns to The Villa's parking lot.

  Once Jennifer disappeared from the courtyard Amy felt very happy. She had accomplished her goal; carried out her plan splendidly. It couldn't have gone any better, thought Amy. She let David kiss her a while longer and then slowly pulled away from him. Always leave them wanting more, she thought.

  "Well its sure good to see you David," Amy had a formal tone in her voice for some reason. She had that tone people get when they are trying to end a phone conversation.

  "You too Amy," David's head was a whirl.

  "Well I've got to be going now, got things to do ya know," Amy quickly gathered her things and left David sitting by the pool.

  "Ok," David said with an uncertain cadence to his voice.

  Amy didn't say another word, but she did look back to ensure David was watching her walk back to her apartment. Yes he was and this made her feel extra successful; powerful really. Amy had in mind a celebration for her hard work; whiskey for celebration!

  David sat by the pool for sometime thinking through what had just occurred. He didn't have a clue really, what all this meant. He didn't know if Amy even knew about Jennifer and him and couldn't help but feel sexually attracted to Amy (in his confusion), but Jennifer is great and he wouldn't want to mess that up. David worried about being in some sort of triangle.

  Jennifer and I have an unmistakable attraction, thought David. But ? Amy is ? well she's; just so much. It's hard not to be spellbound by her, she's so seductive.

  David was not making much sense of his thoughts. He was caught off guard by Amy, put in a trance by her sexual innuendos towards his ? well his area, if you know what I mean. Long glances, playing with his belt buckle, grazing, hand high on thigh, and the passionate kiss! What was I supposed to do, thought David? Why did she take off so fast after the kiss?

  In his confusion David forgot all about bumping into Jennifer in the courtyard as he normally does. He simply got up and, looking like a zombie, walked to his apartment. He closed his front door behind him and stutter stepped into the kitchen. He knew it was a bad idea, but he opened the refrigerator and pulled out a beer. As he popped the top and downed the whole thing in one drink he sought escape from the pressures of decisions; even if just for a few minutes.

  David came to his senses after his third beer and stopped before he got in too far. It was a waste of energy because his mind was still racing. As with most folks, David found alcohol to be a very short-term fix and of course it never eliminates problems; they're still there lingering when you put down the last beer, or whiskey bottle. Often the problems are worse than when you started drinking.

  Now from my perspective wisdom and intelligence are so completely different that it's hard to use them in the same sentence. Although I just did I guess. Anyways, no matter how smart you are I've found that you will make those youthful mistakes that you only realize are mistakes after enough time has gone by for you to gain the life experience and wisdom in their regard. Oh, how youth is wasted on the young.

  David is quite intelligent but he just doesn't have the life experience, the wisdom, yet to make good decisions as to the pickle he has found himself in. Instead he sits and thinks about the pros and cons of Jennifer and Amy and weighs them vigorously. A wise man would simply recognize who and "what" Amy is and put her out of his mind, using his energy to court the more loyal and respectable Jennifer. But then if you think about it for a minute, a wise man with life experience would have to be much older than David; and therefore would most likely not be dating twenty something gals anyways. Well some older fellows would, but not most I think you'd agree. It's very much a catch 22 at David's stage of wisdom. He has to make a wise decision to maintain and then grow his relationship with Jennifer but lacking such wisdom he's forced to use his intelligence to weed out the Jennifer and Amy issue. Young men can be so silly about matters of the heart. They should know that women are the only works of art. But ? they don't, and anyone who has loved and lost knows that using intelligence (that is your brain) is not a very successful thing to do with matters of love. The heart is the best thing to follow. Often right and wrong don't apply. All's fair in love and war they say, right? Ah, to hell with that. David needs to stop thinking with a certain part of his anatomy and grow up a bit. We'll see ?

  Now I once read this book, actually if I think about it Elizabeth gave it to me, maybe she was trying to tell me something. Anyway ? I once read this book and while I can't recall the name off hand the gist of it was how men and women are so different. So different, and they should celebrate those difference and come together as one. Two parts of a whole so to speak.

  I remember there was this one chapter near the beginning of the book that went into great detail about how men and women meet and start a romantic relationship. It gave an example about how if a man and woman pass on the street the woman knows if she's interested in the man within about thirty feet or so from him. If she's interested she'll smile and make eye contact, if she's not she'll look away and act as if the man doesn't even exist, even if he says good afternoon or something. The moral of the story here is that the woman picks the man, even though in the world we live in the man likes to think he hunts down and conquers the woman and wins her over; it's actually the other way around and much more subtle.

  The chapter went into even more detail by explaining that men are like dogs or something (it didn't actually say dogs, but you get my point) because they will look and then run after a woman on the street if he finds her attractive ? far less subtle than the woman's eye contact with a smile. But, in the end if the woman's not interested, nothing happens, because the man is completely ignored. No matter what the man wants the decision to spark up a relationship comes from the woman to the man, not the other way around. That women are so subtle and the men so overbearing in aspects of the heart that even though the women are making all (or at least most) of the decisions the men feel like they've won the day.

  Now I really don't know about all that but I kind of see the point the book was trying to make. I also think that book must have been written by a woman. And ? I really do think Elizabeth was trying to tell me something. Don't you?