Page 8 of Towles

“I always wondered why you married that stick-in-the-mud of a man. And don’t even ask me where he has another stick stuck.” She took the joint and took a drag. “Leave the fucker and hit the clubs with me. I’ll show you the way like a Baptist preacher shows his flock.” She giggled and looked at the joint. “Damn, this shit is good.”

“I need to leave Paul because of Paul. Because of who and what he is. I’m not the right woman for him any more than he’s the right man for me.” I needed to get the other part out before Jasmine figured it out. I wasn’t quick enough.

“Who is he? An attorney? Some politician who hit on you at one of Paul’s socials?” She finished the joint without sharing again and held up a hand, nails freshly manicured. “Are you fucking his friend, the mayor?”

“Gross!”

Bikes rumbled outside, and I looked back.

“Oh shit,” Jasmine said. “You’re going to hell. A biker? That’s gross!”

I rolled my eyes. People had difficulty believing we were all different and desired different things. “Well,” I said as if I were going hide.

“Wait. You have that school-girl look in your eyes.” She flicked the end of the joint out the window. “Have you slept with one of those?”

“One of those?” I questioned. “I saw ‘one of those’ yesterday. I’ve never had a man weaken my knees like he did.”

“What did he say?” Jasmine shook her head when I paused. “Damn. You didn’t talk to the man. You undressed him in your head and imaginarily fucked him.”

Kendra knocked on the door, and I told her to enter. “Bob. Dr. Clark was in a car accident on the north side of town. He’s not going to make it for his appointment at two. He wants you to take it.”

“That’s the biker appointment,” I said. My lips pursued. “Do you know which biker it is?”

Jasmine turned to Kendra, waiting for an answer. She looked at me.

Kendra loved drama. She’d post on Instagram as soon as the biker walked into the office. “He didn’t say. Said the sheriff wanted someone who specialized in anger management. That’s you.”

“Thanks, Kendra.” She stood at the door longer than she should have, sniffing the air. She and Jasmine made eye contact, and she quickly closed the door.

“Bitch doesn’t like weed, but sometimes I see her sniffing like a hunting dog. Surprised her upper lip isn’t white when she returns from lunch every day.” Jasmine waved a hand. “Instead of a horse, your knight’s riding in on a chrome monster, wearing leather instead of armor. Watch yourself, and stay off his dick while you’re in the office.”

“It fucking sends me into a tizzy every time I think about him. Shit! What if it’s him?”

“No way. There are probably fifty of those motherfuckers. Chances are slim to none.” Jasmine stood and walked to the door. “If it is him, see if they like dark meat.”

“You want ‘one of those?’”

“If the dick is the right size.” Jasmine left me alone to wonder. Paul or man-child? No, it wasn’t about one or the other. It was about taking my life back.

Paul called, and his face appeared on the screen. For the first time in our marriage, I didn’t answer. Minutes later, Kendra came to the door again.

“Paul’s on line one.” A commotion out in the lobby drew her attention. When she looked back at me, her eyes were wide and excited. “He’s here!”

“Paul?” I asked teasingly. It went right over her head.

“Your two o’clock is here!” She looked down the hall again. “Oh shit, he’s huge!” She held her hand next to her mouth so only I could hear what she was saying. “You can see the outline of his dick through his jeans! I want to be a fly on your wall!”

“Go do your job, Kendra.” There were days she wore me out more than clients. Eventually, Bob would knock her up like the last receptionist, and she’d leave, only to be replaced by another fresh, out-of-college youngster looking to make a name. I decided Bob needed to go right along with Paul. Stick a fork in me. I was done with it all.

I stayed at my desk, not wanting to add to the circus growing in the lobby. Someone had to be professional. Like always, I had to be the adult. Jasmine showed up at the door, adding to the chaos.

“I definitely want ‘one of those’!” Her eyes moved, but her head didn’t. “Kendra’s bringing him down the hall. I hope you brought a change of panties.”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “You’re supposed to bring maturity to this crowd.” I got up and adjusted my skirt and blouse.

“Fuck!” Jasmine whispered. She stepped back and pressed herself against the far wall, her nipples pressing relentlessly against her white blouse. She needed to lay off the weed.

“Nice to meet you,” the deep, god-like voice said in the hallway. I saw a large hand reach for Jasmine. Her hand practically disappeared in his, the tanned skin a shade lighter than hers. Her pearly whites shifted to me, and she covered her mouth with her other hand. So much for leading by example.

---