By Rachel Torrent

Julie forced herself up off the sofa and walked over to the loft elevator’s intercom. Roger was out doing “guy” things, and she had seized the afternoon to watch a mushy video that she knew he wouldn’t enjoy. He would have tolerated her watching it, of course, because he’d be otherwise occupied with a book or something. Next to her, yes, even allowing her to recline on his body. But lost in his book.

She paused the movie and pressed the speaker button on the wall. “Yes?”

“Hey, you! You mind some company?” It was Earl Ray Michaels, of all people.

“Not at all. C’mon up.”

She didn’t explain how he needed to get into the elevator when it opened. He already knew. He’d been friends with Roger (in the pre-divorce days) long before she had, and he was quite familiar with this loft. But, she realized as she waited for him, he hadn’t been there in months. Not since she and Roger had become more than “friends.”

When he stepped out of the elevator, Julie caught herself grinning at him. He was easier on the eyes than her sentimental melodrama video. He practically glowed.

I love Roger with all my being, she thought. I adore his shadowy aloofness and his cool reserve. It thrills me that I, singularly and exclusively, stoke those latent, smoldering fires inside him.

But Earl Ray, standing before her now, outshone everything else in the room with his radiant aura and devastating countenance. He made people feel instantly warm in ways Roger would not do even if he knew how.

“Hey there…………You look great,” she said to him.

He blushed under his new tan. “So do you……….as usual…………You’re not busy, are ya? I don’t wanna interrupt a nice day off,” he said.

“Don’t be silly. I’m just watching a sappy movie. C’mon and sit down. I’ll turn it off.” Julie led him into the den, and they sat down.

“Roger stopped by the shooting range while I was there, but he didn’t see me. So I thought I’d drop in and say hello…………..while you were alone.”

Julie could sense already that his little surprise visit wasn’t totally unintentional. “I’m glad you two aren’t at each other’s throats anymore. Thanks, Earl Ray.”

He smiled a cute little smile, one she remembered sweetly from times gone by. “Well…………..we ain’t best friends or anything like that.”

“But things are better than they were, right?”

Earl Ray was looking around the room. “You can actually tell now that a human lives in this cave. You’ve warmed it up in here, sweetheart. Good job.” Then his lively eyes settled back on her, warmly.

“Roger lets me have my way mosta the time. He’s not fussy. And I just added a few little things,” Julie said.

“Life being one of ‘em.” Earl Ray smiled. “Ya still gonna tie the knot with ‘im?”

Suddenly conscious of her beloved ring, she looked down at it on her finger. “Absolutely. I just don’t know when……………….He said to just pick a date and a place and let him know what time to show up.”

“He’s a real charmer, Julie.”

“He was just kidding, Earl Ray. He’s really more affectionate and caring than most people realize,” she said.

“That’s because, sugar, nobody sees that side of him but you………….So take it and run with it. Like away from the rest of us.”

She ignored yet another wiseass remark. “Not to change the subject or anything, but how was the beach house?”

Earl Ray’s eyes riveted back to her face. He’d been checking the place out again. “It was………….Paradise. Sahndra loved it.”

Julie drew her legs up under her. “I knew she would. I’ll miss that place.”

“Oh, Jeannie and Ed said you’re still welcome to use it too. Just give ‘em a call. Unless you think Roger will dissolve in the hot sun or melt in the salt water.”

“Cut it out now……………….Hey, ya look like you got some sun………….Didya take Sahndra out to that little alcove?” Julie asked him.

He looked down and reddened again, enhancing his tanned face. “We didn’t……………have time.”

“Oh………….I see.” She chuckled. “Well, I’m sure she enjoyed all the sites she DID get to see.”

Now he faced her. “Julie………….We’re…………..gonna get hitched…………I asked her.”

She stared at him for a moment, only blinking. Unexpected news. Something she hadn’t foreseen.

Then she grinned. Sincerely. “Get your ass up and give me a big hug.”

They both instantly stood up and embraced. While holding him, Julie said, “I’m so happy for you, sweetheart…………..that you decided to try it one more time……….that I didn’t damage you for good.”

He patted her back. “I love her, honey. And I don’t wanna be alone.”

They separated and looked at each other. Julie’s eyes were full of tears. “You two will be good for each other………….This is wonderful.”

“I wanted to tell ya myself……….ya know.”

“Thanks, Earl Ray, for being so considerate of me and my feelings. Still.”

He smiled a little sadly. “Ya know I won’t stop loving you, don’tcha? Deep down inside me somewhere…………”

“I know, honey. And I’m in the same boat ‘bout you…………..But we both got other fish to fry now, don’t we?” Julie touched his arm and wiped her eyes.

“I think she likes the ring. I guess I did okay with it.”

“Oh, I gotta see it. I’ll call her when you leave.”

Just then the elevator door slowly opened again, and, as if from the depths of Hades itself, Roger sauntered into the room. When he coolly glanced over and saw the two of them, he stopped dead still, expressionless, summing up the scene.

Julie didn’t give him a chance to display his renown mastery in the skills of sarcasm. “Hey, honey. Earl Ray has some news……….excellent news.”

Roger turned and walked over, slowly, while Julie lovingly scrutinized every tiny twitch of his muscles’ movements. “How’s it going, Earl Ray?” He was quiet, but his voice seemed to echo. Probably only in my head, she thought.

“Okay, man. Did ya have the same damn hangover of death I had after that drunk we pulled a coupla weeks ago?” This was their first meeting since the girls’ revenge triple date.

Roger squinted up his whole face with the memory. “Hell, yes. And this one only made it worse with her banging around and yelling at me and shit.” He nodded his head at Julie, and she snickered.

“Too damn tough. Bad boys havta be punished,” she said.

“Yeah, yeah. So what’s the big news?” Roger addressed Earl Ray who beamed at the question.

“I’m getting married again.”

Roger raised his eyebrows quickly. “Really now? To Sahndra? The bi—”

Julie slapped his arm. “Stop it, Roger. Of course, to Sahndra.” He laughed quietly. He knew what he’d almost said and that he wasn’t supposed to say it around Earl Ray. Julie shot him a stop-being- naughty-or-I’ll-spank-your-butt glance.

Earl Ray chuckled. He either hadn’t heard what Roger almost said, or he’d chosen to ignore it. “She’s the only one left who’ll have me.”

“That’s not true, Earl Ray. YOU stop it too.” Julie felt like the only adult around them once again.

“Congratulations, man.” Roger didn’t go as far as extending his hand. But he did smile faintly at Earl Ray.

“Thanks………….and same to ya.”

Earl Ray watched Roger with a tiny smile. It was a step forward for him to congratulate them. This was a conversation Julie never thought she’d hear.

“Thanks. I can’t get this one to set a date, though. I think she’s getting cold feet.” Roger had walked around behind her now and put his arm around her neck. A pretend choke-hold.

Julie laughed and grabbed at his arm. “I don’t think so. I just hate all that planning and shit. And stop calling me ‘this one.’”

“We’re gonna do it right away. Sahndra’s anxious,” Earl Ray said, watching them.

“Ya wanna beer, Earl Ray?” Roger asked him. Julie was busy untangling herself from his make- believe grip on her.

“No. Thanks, man. I gotta go. I just stopped by to tell Julie in person.”

After Earl Ray left, the remaining couple sat together on the sofa. Tangled up again. Roger had gotten a bottled beer from the fridge and then sat down next to Julie. She had then stretched out and put her legs across his lap. His hand resting between her thighs was heating her up.

As Julie watched his face, she was thinking: “His beauty has always maddened me. I think I idealize him in my mind when I’m not with him, but then when I see him again, I’m overcome.”

“So do ya think Sahndra’s knocked up?” Roger interrupted her reverie and took a drink of his beer. Even that simple movement was sultry to her.

“No! Why do ya ask that, Roger?”

“Well…………They wanna get right to it, don’t they?”

“They’re just in love and eager,” Julie said. “Leave ‘em alone………………And I can’t believe you almost said ‘biker chick’ in front of Earl Ray! Why you gotta be an asshole? You know he wouldn’t like that!”

“If he wouldn’t like it so damn much, then why’s she always over here asking me for rides? Hmm?”

“Roger, have a little class, why don’tcha? He’s just now not hating you so much, and he wouldn’t be amused even a little if he found out that Sahndra enjoys riding on your motorcycle and that you have nicknames for her,” Julie told him.

“So I ask again: Why does she do it? It ain’t MY damn fault!”

“All right. It’s a little secret we keep for her, okay? At least until he gets used to the idea. Is that so hard to understand?”

His laugh died out into the space around them. He was massaging her inner leg, leisurely and rhythmically. “It didn’t bother you any? Hearing that news today?”

“No, Roger. It didn’t. I’m happy for them. Okay?” His touch was effectively zapping her concentration. As usual.

“I just know how you let things get to ya, baby. Only trying to head it off early.”

“Well, actually……….It’s just that I can’t think of much else with your hand between my legs.” Julie was breathing laboriously.

“Let me just see ‘bout that,” he whispered. He slipped his hand inside her sweatpants, and she gasped.

After a little fondling on his part and a lot of writhing on her part, Roger said to her, “Ya don’t seem bothered to me.”

“Why don’t you bother me some?”

Needless to say, Julie never got to finish her mushy movie. And Roger’s beer sat on the coffee table and got warm. But neither of them much minded.

* * *

Sahndra was walking down the street toward the Army/Navy store the next day. Merrily walking. Because she WAS merry. And she’d be even merrier when she surprised her husband-to-be with the cinnamon buns she’d spent all morning baking for him. If he was the cook at their house, then she was definitely the pastry chef.

As she held the little, handled bag containing sweets for her sweetheart, Scottie startled the bejesus out of her by whipping his shiny, black Porsche into the parking space right next to her. For Scottie, the element of surprise was a top priority.

“Sweet cheeks! How’s tricks!” The car’s convertible top was off.

Astounded as usual by Scottie breezing dramatically into her life, Sahndra said, “Hi, Scottie! You scared me.”

“Yeah, I scare a lot of people…………….Get in for a minute and chat with me.” It was a request, not a command. But is sounded like the opposite way around.

Sahndra tentatively walked over toward the expensive automobile. What if Earl Ray walked out of his store just down the block and saw her? Would he misunderstand?

Scottie reached over and opened the passenger side door for her, and she sat down on the soft dark leather. “It smells like cigarettes in here, Scottie. Gross.”

“Stop nagging already. What’s in the bag?” His tone and attitude with her were as familiar as if they were still married.

“Cinnamon buns. I made ‘em for Earl Ray.” Sahndra wasn’t hesitant whatsoever to volunteer this bit of information.

“Well, now isn’t that the most precious thing I’ve heard all damn day! You never made ME cinnamon buns, darling.”

“Yes, I did, Scottie. You were just never home to enjoy them.” Sahndra didn’t like the way this conversation was going.

“Can I enjoy one now?” he asked.

She looked over at him and felt a tiny trigger of nostalgia. He looked beautiful – as lively and unpredictable as he’d always been. He wore a light blue dress shirt, dark blue pants, and a tweed sport coat. His eyes, she noticed immediately, twinkled in the sunshine. And he was smiling.

She couldn’t refuse him anything. “Of course. I’ll get ya one.”

As she opened up the small bag and reached into it with her right hand, Scottie let out a loud whistle of admiration and grabbed her left hand.

“Lordgodalmighty! What’s this on your finger, baby? The sun of some small intergalactic planet?”

Sahndra laughed out loud. She’d temporarily forgotten about the recent addition to her jewelry portfolio. “Oh, that.” She looked into his twinkling eyes. “I’ll be a married lady again soon. I was gonna tell ya.”

“Whewwww! Nice piece of rock, I must say! When did this happen?”

“Over the weekend. He surprised me completely. The wedding won’t be for several months,” Sahndra said.

He smiled at her. “Well, congrats, sweetheart. I know he’s made you a happy woman.”

“He has, Scottie...........I still can't believe it yet."

“Earl Ray’s a good guy. You’d expect him to do the decent thing. Can I come to the wedding?”

Sahndra was startled by him again. He was just so point-blank. “I don’t see why not……………And bring Christine too.”

He snorted out a laugh. “Yeah. I don’t see why not…………..Well, look……….I’ve sidetracked you long enough. Give me that sweet roll, sweet cheeks, and get on with what you were doing.”

She handed him the bun. “How IS Christine?” She hadn’t been able to judge from his words or tone.

With his mouth full, he said, “She’s terrific. We’re cool. I’ll tell her ya said hello.” He bit into the bun again.

Sahndra watched him eat with relish. “I’ll swing by her store and show her the ring.”

“Don’t go giving her any ideas now.” Scottie smiled at her. “Earl Ray’s the good guy. Not me.”

She smiled too. “Yeah, I know…………..Scottie……….And I really would like you at the wedding.”

He snorted another laugh. “Oh, I’ll be there, babe. You can bet on that. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

“I’ll see ya, Scottie.”

“See ya, doll. I’m really happy for ya. “

Sahndra got out of the car, and Scottie sped off as quickly as he’d zoomed up. While she resumed her walk down the sidewalk toward her future husband, Sahndra believed that her ex-husband was, in fact, happy for her. And she could hardly wait to see the future one, his lovely smile and his open, welcoming arms. The smile and arms, along with the rest of the amazing package, that would be hers for the rest of her life.