‘Dopey?’
‘Adoration. Lovestruck.’
I could feel the heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck.
‘Don’t be embarrassed. I’m used to it.’
‘Are you and Adam …?’
‘Not really. We were once. It didn’t work out.’
I felt myself nod at that, like some reporter amassing information.
‘Do you often go with women?’ I asked.
‘Sometimes, but … it’s just that there is no ultimate reward, you know,’ and she pressed her splayed fingers to the silky fabric that concealed her sex to emphasise her point, or lack thereof. ‘But you were good. I enjoyed it with you.’ Was she trying to appease me? ‘Adam enjoyed you too. He came hard, and he’s cooking for you.’
I didn’t say anything. She watched me, quiet. I watched my feet and thought about the last hour.
‘Do you often go with men?’
‘No,’ I said.
‘You seemed to like it.’ Her eyes bore into me.
‘It was probably the coke.’
‘Adam is good. He likes women.’
‘And you? Do you like women?’ I knew I was pressing her, but I had the evidence of her pleasure still glistening on my lips and thighs.
‘Not particularly. I brought you for Adam.’
‘I see.’ What could I to say to that?
Adam was back with a tray heavy with two plates of eggs scrambled with spicy sausage, toast, orange juice and coffee. He pushed Lira’s feet off the table and set the things out. It smelled good, hot buttered bread, pica spices and fresh-brewed coffee.
I dug in. He plopped down on the floor and followed suit. Lira sipped her Pepsi.
‘So, Ada, what do you do?’ Adam asked after swallowing.
‘I sell books.’
‘Books?’ That from Lira. He cast her a shushing look.
‘What kind of books?’ Adam asked.
‘I own a used bookstore.’
‘How long have you owned it?’
‘Nearly five years now. I bought it off a friend. She needed money for medical expenses. I was just going to run it for her, hold her place so to speak, and then she didn’t need it any more.’ The eggs were good. I wondered where he bought his chorizo.
‘You don’t like it?’ I knew he meant the store and not the eggs. He had to see the way I was gobbling them down.
‘Sometimes I love it, but the hours are long. Do you like being a broker?’
‘Sometimes. It pays well. Do you have a woman, a lover?’ Whatever happened to transitions? I chewed more slowly. Lira watched me. Adam took a large swallow of coffee and then another forkful of eggs, but I felt him waiting for my answer.
I swallowed. ‘No.’
‘No woman?’ He ate some toast.
‘No.’
‘A man?’
‘No.’
‘How long?’
‘How long what?’
‘How long since you had a lover?’
‘Why?’
‘I like you. I like the way you feel.’
‘This was fun, but it was a one-time-only event.’
‘It doesn’t have to be. You like Lira. You like me?’ He sipped from his coffee cup, his eyes watching me over the brim.
‘Lira doesn’t like women.’
‘Lira? Where did that come from?’
‘She said so.’
‘It’s just that I have a lover, a husband actually,’ Lira inserted.
‘Then why are you here with us?’ I didn’t believe her or I didn’t want to, and, even though I knew it was irrational, I was angry. ‘If you’re so content with this husband, why were you at Jack’s party without him?’ I didn’t like that they had been working together to manipulate me. And worse, I didn’t like that I had been so needy and that it had been so obvious.
‘I told Adam I’d help him find someone. He doesn’t like the bar scene. He’s quite picky and he picked you. We picked you,’ she said easily.
‘Why me? Because you figured I’d be easy prey?’
‘Because I like the way you wear your clothes, the loose fit of your trousers, the way they hang on your hips, the way your breasts push against the fabric of your blouse, the cut of your hair, the way it hugs your head accentuating your cheekbones.’ Adam watched me, his eyes on my face, as he spoke and then he took a sip from his coffee cup and was silent.
I wondered where he’d been when we were at Jack’s, how he’d been able to watch like that, without me seeing him.
‘I like that you fit just under my chin, that your body just slides into place. I could put my chin on top of your head without bending my knees – if you’d let me. Do you like anything about me?’
I didn’t even have to think about it. ‘The eggs are perfect,’ I said, looking directly at him so that he could see the honesty in my face and the limits I was setting. He laughed anyway. Lira pursed her lips.
‘Anything else?’ His voice was strong, the same dusty baritone, and there was no whine, but the words felt like need. I thought about it, running through the last few hours, beginning with his hand under Lira’s dress.
‘Lira says you like women,’ I offered.
‘I do,’ he confirmed.
‘I believe you,’ I said remembering how he’d stroked my clit to make sure I came before him and that he’d thought to bring me a robe afterwards. And that he hadn’t pressed his advantage when he was behind me. Not fully, not this time anyway. I sipped my juice and watched him eat. Lira leaned over and tore off a piece of his toast.
‘I liked the way you looked at Lira,’ he continued as though there hadn’t been a lull in the conversation. ‘As though you wanted to swallow her whole. It made me jealous and I had to have you. Now that I have, I find that I want to keep you. At least, for a bit.’
‘I’m not sure whether to be flattered or frightened.’
‘Flattered, definitely,’ he said, finishing his eggs.
Having eaten everything, I pushed my plate away, gathered my clothes into a manageable bundle and made my way to the guest bathroom I’d seen near the entryway. A few minutes later, I was fully clothed and ready to say my farewells. I figured I would shower when I got home. When I came out of the bathroom, Lira rose from her cushions to stand before me. She leaned down, pressed her lips to mine and slid the pointed end of her little tongue along the length of my lower lip.
‘I like you. I really do, but this thing with Charlie is new. It’s like I told Adam, I want to try it out the traditional way, but I can be here for you on occasion. If that’s what you want. Adam likes you.’ She pouted.
‘I’m happy for you.’ I slipped around her and extended my hand to Adam. ‘Nice to meet you.’ He took it in both of his.
‘Encantado,’ he said as he brought the palm of my hand up to his lips. His riposte and the crinkle of skin around his eyes showed that he appreciated the irony of our farewell. Then he pulled a business card from his robe pocket and tucked it into my