“You go on,” she said morosely. “I’ll shower when you’re done.”
“You probably won’t get any hot water,” I warned. “You’re welcome to join me, though. I promise I’ll behave.”
She shrugged. “Cold water’s fine. It’s my penance.”
Arguing with her wouldn’t do any good, so I headed to the bathroom, where I turned on the shower and waited for the water to heat up. It barely reached tepid, and I realized that Trip and Wren must have just finished their own shower.
“Serves you right,” I said to my flagging erection.
What’d I do? he groused. Then, She was right there, man! All you had to do was poke her a couple of times, and—
“Just for that…” I turned the water to full cold and pulled the diverter.
Hey, whoa! Be reasonable!
I opened the shower curtain.
No, don’t, please! I beg you!
The water hit me with a shock that took my breath away. The little head did his best, but it was a fight he couldn’t win.
Fine. Have it your way, he muttered.
I will, I replied, unperturbed. Well, unperturbed except for the cold water sluicing down my back and legs. I lathered my hair with shampoo and rinsed as quickly as I could. Then the bathroom door opened and closed. I heard Christy moving around. The shower curtain moved.
“Don’t—” I warned, but it was too late.
“Oh my gosh!” She retreated to the far end of the tub. “That’s freezing.”
“I tried to warn you.”
“Try harder next time.” Then she gave me a suspicious look. “What’re you doing?”
“I wanted you to have some hot water.”
“So you’re taking a cold shower?”
“Well… yeah.”
“Don’t be silly. Turn it off.”
“Just hop out,” I said. “I’ll be finished in a minute.”
“I don’t want to hop out. I want you to turn it off.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think? I came to make up with you.”
My eyebrows flew up.
“Please, turn it off.”
I reached back and turned off the water.
“Thank you.” She moved into my arms. “Oh my gosh, you’re freezing!”
The little head nudged her hopefully, although he was probably interested in her warmth more than anything else.
“Treacherous organ,” she said with a fond laugh. Then she pulled back and looked at him. “Did mean old Paul try to freeze you? He did?” She shook her head sadly. “What’re we going to do with him?”
“He has a few suggestion,” I said hopefully.
She heard the singular and laughed as she sank to her knees. “He does?”
“Yeah.” I pretended to stutter, “F-f-f-fellatio.”
She laughed again and kissed him. “Mmm, I like him when he’s like this. I can get him in my throat easier.”
* * *
Christy’s attitude improved a little after she finished me off, although she wasn’t in the mood for me to return the favor.
“Let’s just get ready,” she said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
I turned on the shower. The water heater had done its job, so we didn’t have to rush. Unfortunately, Christy’s good mood turned to thoughtful and then distracted as we finished getting ready.
“Hey, I’m the one who’s supposed to brood,” I teased. “Remember?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“Eh, it’s okay. You have a lot on your mind.”
“No. Only one thing.”
“You wanna talk about it?”
“Not really.” She forced a smile. “I’ll be okay.”
We headed out and joined the flow of students walking to campus. Then a familiar voice called to us from behind.
“Hey,” Terri said as she caught up with us. “I thought that was you.”
“Yep, it’s us,” I said. “Morning.”
“Morning.” She smiled. “You look nice.”
“Thanks. You too.”
She glanced at Christy. “You— Uh… is everything all right?”
Christy shrugged.
Terri glanced at me, but I shook my head to warn her off.
I changed the subject and asked, “Where’re you headed? To campus, duh. But are you going to class or teaching one?”
“I’m done with classes,” she said. “I just have to finish my dissertation and then defend it.”
“When will you do that?”
“Sometime in the fall. I’m scheduled to graduate in December.”
“Then you’ll be Doctor Cortez?”
“You can still call me Terri.” We shared a grin. “What about you? Where’re you going?”
“Structural and Mechanical for me—”
“Sounds interesting.”
“—and the studio for the little one here.”
“Hey, watch who you’re calling little,” Terri warned playfully. “We might have to gang up on you. Then you’ll be sorry.” She grinned and nudged Christy.
“I suppose,” she said.
Terri shot me a look of concern.
“She has a lot on her mind,” I explained. “Big project and an exhibition to get ready for.”
Terri knew it was a fib but went along with it. “Oh? When is it?”
“The end of the month. You should come. Christy’ll be the star of the show.”
“I’d like that,” Terri said.
“And tomorrow’s her birthday,” I added.
“Oh, wow. Congratulations!”
Christy smiled politely.
I decided that I had to do something, so I made up a party on the spot. We hadn’t planned one, only a special dinner with Trip and Wren, but it seemed like a good idea.
“We’re having a little get-together,” I told Terri. “Nothing fancy, just a few friends. Would you like to come?”
She glanced at Christy. “Is that all right?”
“What? Oh, sure, of course.”
“Then… yeah,” Terri said. She looked at me and added warmly, “I’d love it.”
“You know where we live?” I said.
“The big old house next to the other big old house?”
“That’s the one,” I laughed. “Eight o’clock?”
“I’ll be there. What should I bring?”
“Wine, beer, whatever. We have plenty,” I added, “but bring anything special you want.”
“Perfect,” she said. Then she touched Christy’s arm. “Hey, cheer up, okay?”
“Thanks. I’ll try.”
“All right,” Terri said. “This is where I leave you.” She veered toward the Sports Bubble and called back cheerfully, “See you in class.”
“Yep. See you.” I glanced down at Christy and added, “I hope you don’t mind. That I just decided to have a party.”
She shrugged indifferently.
“Remind me to tell Wren and Trip.”
She nodded.
“Who do you want to invite?”
“No one special.”
“What about Freddie and Rosemary? The more the merrier.”
“Yeah, thanks,” she said. “And thanks for trying to cheer me up.”
I put my arm around her and hugged her. “We’ll get through this.”
“You might,” she sulked.
“You will too.”
“But will my beliefs?”
“God knows what’s in your heart,” I said.
“Then He must be really confused.”
“We all are. It’s the human condition.”
* * *
Christy was in a better mood by the time we saw Terri again for dance class. And she actually seemed to enjoy herself at ballroom practice. She and Roberto rehearsed a new routine with five other couples. They were planning to visit local dance studios, and Christy had been picked for the demonstration team.
Terri and I and several others watched from the sidelines as they whirled through a complicated Viennese. Christy glided along effortlessly, and I found myself jealous of Roberto’s confidence in the lead.
“Uh-oh,” Terri teased. “I know that look.”
“What? Oh, no,” I said, “I’m jealous of his ability. I wish I could dance like that.”
“You’ll get there.”
“Eventually.”
She looked around and then tugged me toward the back wall, away from the others.