Almost Blinded to Love Page 4

  "I'm sorry. Honest. I, uh, didn't mean anything. Please forgive me," I pleaded, sorry that I had caused her so much discomfort.

  It was more than discomfort. As I looked at her, I saw the beginnings of tears being barely held at bay.

  "You made me feel so funny. Why? What were you looking for, you were so far away?" Cali said, her voice quavering slightly.

  I really felt bad now. I had to make it right. Whatever it was that made her get so spooked so easily was not my fault, but I was rude, to be sure.

  "Listen, I didn't mean anything by it. I just got to noticing your face, its features, and I got lost in it. I truly didn't mean to scare you, or make you uncomfortable."

  "Why were you studying my face?" Cali asked, her curiosity taking hold of her.

  "I'm an artist. Part time, but an artist, and I guess I just got lost in looking at your facial features. It’s an occupational hazard, I guess. Jeez, I'm really sorry. That was rude of me. Forgive me?" I begged gently, hoping my apology would be accepted. She was a nice person, and I would have hated myself if I caused her a problem so soon after giving her all that friends talk.

  Cali's face had relaxed, and was almost back to normal. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

  "Yes. I'm sorry. You were just so lost, and you seemed to be staring so deeply at me. It did scare me a bit. I guess it shouldn't have. I'm sorry," she ended it.

  "Hey, I'm the culprit, not you. You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm the big bad meanie and very rude, too, remember?" I asked, and laughed lightly.

  Cali laughed quietly.

  "You're not a meanie," she said. "Are you really an artist?"

  She was back to being just a young and inquisitive new friend.

  "Yes. I paint portraits part time. I love painting, but don't feel good enough about it to leave my regular job."

  "That sounds so nice," she said, whatever she had been frightened of before being completely gone.

  We went back to being new friends getting to know each other, had our lunch, then we shopped for a while, gabbing as if we were old friends, then went to a movie—a silly inane one that was so forgettable that I’d already forgotten it—then shopped some more, and still bought nothing. It was a nice afternoon, and now it was nearly six.

  "Cali, I have some friends who are having little get together with some other friends. We do that often, rather they do, and I was thinking of going to it. It's at my best friend's house, and I thought you might like to go to it with me. It's nothing wild, or anything like that. Many of them are couples, and I promise you that there's nothing to worry about with any of them. Would you like to go with me? I think you'll like it, and I'm sure everyone will like you. How about it?"

  Cali's face had worry lines all over it, and I could see them about to be voiced. I asked her to go in part to make up for the scare I gave her, and in part because I did like her, and wanted us to be friends.

  "Carole, my best friend, whose house it's at, said to bring you if you wanted, so it's okay. Honest, it's fine with her. We often meet there with them, just bringing them a bottle or two of wine for them. We talk, dance, and have some fun, but no funny business. Promise."

  Cali looked hopefully at me now, wondering, I'm sure, if she should believe me. I'd given her no reasons to be disbelieving of anything I told her, and I saw that wanting to go winning out in her.

  "Are you sure it's okay?" Cali asked, her voice being less uncertain.

  "Absolutely. I had coffee with Carole this morning, and she did ask that I bring you. You only have to watch out because she may try to be a matchmaker. She and her partner, Jessi, are fabulous, and Carole feels everybody should have a partner the way she does."

  I looked at her, and saw her about to talk herself into saying yes.

  "If you're sure, I guess it's okay. Am I dressed okay like this?"

  "All excepting going in with the wine. We can't expect them to provide everything, though they always have plenty of food and snacks. Okay?"

  "Yes. Okay," Cali said fairly certainly.

  "Good. Now let's get that wine," I said.

  She seemed fine as we went to get the wine, and even helped pick it out, though she seemed unsure about what kind to buy.

  "Uh, there's just one thing I need to prepare you for," I said, thinking of Jessi, as we started to drive again. Cali deserved a warning, especially the way she reacted to me studying her face. She looked at me with that worried look again.

  "It's not bad," I said. "Honest, it’s not, but you need to know about Carole's partner, Jessi. She's a sexy bombshell, and she knows it, but she's so friendly, it may take you by surprise. She's a tease, but a nice one. Jessi likes people, at least those she approves of, and I'm sure she'll approve of you, and is spontaneous with everyone, including teasing mercilessly. I don't know how Carole puts up with it, but she does. Besides, Jessi never tries anything with anyone else. She belongs to Carole, and Carole belongs to her. They're beautiful. You'll see."

  Cali seemed to mull that over, but accepting it for now, I thought.

  * * * *

  "Hey, Mimi," Carole greeted me, and hugged me and kissed my cheek. "I'm glad you made it. And is this Cali?"

  I nodded.

  "Cali, this is Carole," I said.

  "Hello, and welcome, Cali," Carole said, surprising Cali by giving her a short hug and kiss on the cheek.

  "Hi. Nice to meet you," Cali said, still a bit shocked at the nice reception. She did seem short on friends, by the way she didn’t expect Carole’s hug and kiss.

  "Come on in, and make your self at home. Mimi will introduce you to everyone, and there's some food in the kitchen, and elsewhere. Oh, have you warned her about Jessi?" Carole asked, but not with any trepidation, only with a knowing smile.

  "Yep! Duly warned," I said.

  "She's harmless. Jessi is a dear, and if she teases you, it's because she approves of you, but she doesn't mean a thing by her playfulness. Enjoy yourself, and thanks for coming," Carole said to Cali, making her feel warm, if somewhat wary.

  We got a glass of wine, then I introduced Cali to a few of the others, then we danced a while. Sitting for a moment, we heard a voice.

  "Hi, gorgeous," Jessi's sultry voice said, a hand extended to Cali.

  "Hi," Cali said, doubtless expecting Jessi to introduce herself by name, or ask for Cali's name.

  Jessi didn't. Instead she pulled Cali up to where she had to stand.

  "Dance with me. Please," Jessi said, smiling, but her voice unchanged, much like a spider inviting a fly to dinner in her web.

  Cali was ultra confused, and looked at me dumbfounded. I shrugged my shoulders.

  "That's Jessi," I said, smiling as sweetly as I could, and wondering how to keep from showing my enjoyment at Jessi's antics. "It's okay, Cali. It is," I said, and nodded.

  "She's right," Jessi said. "Come on, doll, let's show them how to dance."

  Cali went with Jessi, though more than somewhat reluctantly. Whew, Jessi really got Cali in a turmoil right away. As I said, Jessi is something else. She's pure sex with a personality that's designed to win anyone over. Cali's confusion was added to by Jessi's sweet demeanor, her dancing and provocative dress and manners notwithstanding.

  As they danced, Jessi wiggled, swayed, slithered, and all but drove Cali insane. Jessi was like a snake with a dancer's rhythm, waters fluidity, and a burlesque queen's appeal, as well as her too lovely smile. Soon, Cali was dancing better than she had with me. I got up to get us another drink, and then thought we should also eat something.

  "I like her," Carole pronounced as I stepped to where she watched. "Jessi sure messed with her head for a moment, didn't she?" she asked, grinning.

  "Doesn’t she always, the brat? Why don't you teach her some manners?" I kidded with Carole.

  "What, and spoil everyone's fun? Blasphemy!" she said, still grinning.

  "Yeah, that would be rough on our social structure, wouldn't it?"

  "She's beautiful, Mimi. I hope you br
ing her again. She's such a sweet, delicate thing. Be careful with her. Don't let her get hurt," Carole said, her voice very serious in her too sudden concern.

  "I'm not going to do anything with her. She's just a new friend, that's all."

  Carole looked at me peculiarly, as if wondering if I had lost my senses, or if I was really serious.

  "If you don't, you're nuts," she said.

  "She's not my type. You know that, Carole."

  "Sure she's not. She should be."

  "Too skinny," I said plainly, that being a well-known fact about me.

  "Hmm! You know, if I didn't know you, after hearing that, I'd wonder who it was that painted Jessi and me. That, or you're getting blind much too soon. She's slender, but I bet if you see her out of those slacks you'll step on your tongue."

  She wasn't grinning, nor even smiling slightly. She was serious. I just looked at Carole, and mentally scratched my head.

  "Oh, damn, Mimi. I love you so much, but you're so fucking hard-headed sometimes. Christ, don't fuck this up. That girl is yours, whether she's told that to herself or not yet."

  "Come on, Carole, you just met her, and said hello, and not much else. In fact, I just met her too."

  "Oh, yeah. Make you a bet about that."

  "What?"

  "If I'm right, and she nuts about you, you paint her like we all love for you to paint us, then we get to see you lick at the juices on her painting," she said, her face too serious to be taken lightly.

  It was a bet I thought I should take, and thought of what I'd get when she was proven wrong. As I began to ponder that, some sixth, or seventh sense hit me, and I backed away, and wondered about it. What was I missing?

  "No. I'd have to bet you something similar, and I don't want to embarrass you. Friends are too hard to come by to alienate the best friend in the world. I love you too, and you know it. I'm not about to lose you on a silly bet."

  "Smart girl, but for the wrong reasons. Jeez, look at her. At first she didn't seem to know how to dance."

  "She really didn't, I don't think, but you're right, Jessi is good for her dancing."

  "Yeah," Carole said, and nearly doubled over laughing, "and for making her horny. She may jump you tonight whether you want her or not."

  "Damn sex-pot you hooked up with. She'd make anyone want to jump something, or someone. Maybe you should reconsider teaching her some manners," I said, but smiled too much to be believed.

  "No. God, I love her so much. I'd die if she changed, or I lost her."

  "Yeah, we all know how you feel about her, and the way she feels about you, too, despite the slut shows she puts on. Hell, I don't blame you. Either of you is my style. If anything happens to either of you, I'll jump in and claim you."

  "Hmm, like 'em built, eh? You always have. That's how you got hooked on Myra. Sorry," she said, once more feeling the need to apologize.

  "It's okay. It's the truth. God, she was built like Jessi in so many ways, or like you, too. Damn, I missed her like crazy that first night."

  "First night? What about the next one. You never said. Come on, girl, what gives? You didn't say anything about it this morning, and I didn't want to push you."

  "I don't know. Maybe I had the right idea for therapy. Maybe I really did know that it was all sex with Myra. Anyway, I relaxed in the tub, and then in bed. Cali was good for me. It was a good thing for me, listening to someone else's problems.”

  "She's got problems?"

  "Don't we all? Sure she does, but they're workable, I think. Mostly, she’s new in town, and yesterday was the first go at being what she is. She's got a good head on her shoulders, at least that's how it seems. But, yeah, she is delicate."

  I told Carole about how I freaked Cali out staring at her as my mind wandered on her facial features.

  "I guess that would freak anyone out. Holy shit, look at that, will you," Carole suddenly said.

  She was watching Jessi wiggle around Cali, and Cali responding, and quite well, too. They were dancing superbly. Cali was smiling, but not panting like she should have been with that oversexed Jessi wiggling those tits and ass as she was. Cali wasn't moving like Jessi by any means, but her responses were rather innovative. Still, Jessi was dressed in a fairly short skirt and blouse with enough buttons undone so that her jiggling tits were very visible to all of us, and were they ever bouncing around. One more button, and she'd have been showing the way Myra always did. Jessi's hips were more than saucily swaying, and her gorgeous ass more than inviting, yet Cali was handling herself well in spite of Jessi's considerable gyrations.

  "I think I like her even more. Anyone that timid that can take on Jessi like that has to have some marvelous goodies in her. Snatch her up, Mimi, or someone else will, I guarantee it."

  As she said that, they broke, and Jessi hugged Cali happily, then took her by the hand and led her to us.

  "Thanks, gorgeous," Jessi told her, but kissed her cheek before putting Cali's hand out for me to take.

  Cali blushed happily, and looked at me and smiled. I swear there was gratitude in her eyes as she looked at me, yet lowered her eyes shyly after a quick moment.

  "Thank you, Jessi. That was nice, I think," she said, blushed, and looked quickly at me again.

  "You looked great," Carole said, taking whatever tension might have been there away.

  "Thanks," Cali told her. "She's a great dancer just like Mimi said."

  "Hmpf! I bet the bitch warned you about me too, huh?" Jessi said, as if miffed, but smiled too quickly. "Thanks for bringing her, babe. She's a doll."

  "Come on, let's get a bite to eat," I said.

  "You looked like you were really enjoying yourself," I said, as we walked away from the others.

  "Was it all right?" the worried look returned to her face.

  "Of course it was. Now why would you worry that it wasn't? It's a party, isn't it?"

  I said it smiling, but wondered about Cali some more.

  "Yes, but I wouldn't want to do anything that..."

  I stopped her.

  "Hey, enjoy yourself. Friends never mind if their friend is having a good time, they're just glad for it, for them. Okay?"

  Cali's face dropped even further, making me wonder about Carole's prediction. Hell, it couldn’t be happening. Christ, we’d just met.

  "It's okay. I told you she would do that, didn't I?"

  "Yes. You did warn me."

  "And I told you that it was okay when Jessi pulled you to dance, right?"

  "Yes, but..." she stopped herself.

  Was she wondering about herself now? My liking of Cali was somehow real, somehow more than substantial. There was something about her that was truly innocent, truly sweet, and I needed to keep that around me, to have good friends, and this one was new, and needed me, and was also the perfect antidote for my problem with Myra leaving, it seemed.

  Cali did need some decent help. What might have happened to her if I hadn't met her? Which of those butches would have caught her unawares in a moment of weakness, and done irreparable harm to her innocent person? There was no lack of them.

  Suddenly I wondered why I was so worried about someone I'd just met. I wasn't a cold person by any means, but I was too concerned about Cali, and I knew it. Maybe I just met her at a time when I was so needy, and translated those needs to her, my worry about my own sorry state and became worried instead for Cali's potentially sorry state. That made sense.

  "No buts. I told you that they were nice people, and I meant it. Carole and Jessi are my best friends. Jessi can't help it if she's such a show off sex-pot. Okay?" I asked, and smiled as sweetly as I could.

  "Okay," Cali said, smiling similarly.

  We ate a bit, and watched Jessi and Carole dance. Whew! They were hot! Where Jessi teased at Cali, but never actually touched her with her breasts, hips, or ass, she had no compunction about touching Carole. Neither did Carole, who easily matched Jessi's more than suggestive moves and very intentional touching. A crowd gathered about them, and
started whopping and clapping for them to do more. They didn't, but why not was a mystery to all of us because they were hotter than hot.

  "They do love each other, don't they?" Cali asked, enchanted with their dancing that culminated in a deep torrid kiss to everyone's applause.

  "They do," I agreed.

  We went out to dance when everything was back to normal, or as normal as it could get after the steamy performance by Jessi and Carole. After the first dance, Cindy came to cut in to dance with Cali. Poor Cali just looked at me quizzically, as if asking if it was okay. I smiled, and nodded lightly that it was okay. Cali took it that way, and enjoyed herself again.

  "Hey, babe, how about me?" Jessi asked. "Will you dance with me too"

  "Just keep it cool, you oversexed witch," I said, and grinned.

  "She's gorgeous, you know?" Jessi started in on me as we danced.

  "Did Carole put you up to this?" I asked a bit testily.

  "Nope. This is on my own. She did tell me about Cali, then when I saw her, and the way she is with you, I thought I'd steer you in the right direction, seeing as how you're probably not seeing straight yet. Hey, that's what friends are for, isn't it?" she asked, a devilish look on her face.

  "Can it, Jessi. You and Carole are up to no good, I can tell. I'll be okay, and Cali doesn't need a wounded soul on top of her other problems.”

  "Mercy, you are hard-headed. Gorgeous, but hard-headed. Myra's gorgeous too, but hey, it wasn't for real with you two, and you know it. Okay, okay, it's too soon to be pushing your buttons, but hey, this one's for real. I don’t know how in the hell you did it, but you're one lucky bitch, you know? The real thing fell right into your lap when you really needed her. Wake up and smell the pussy, babe. She's yours. Don't screw it up, or Carole will be hell to live with the way she worries on you," Jessi ended, her smile turning into a wicked grin.

  "One day is all I’ve known her, and I get this from you? Damned if I know why I love and put up with you two," I said, but had to smile.

  "Yeah, you love us, and we love you, so shut up, and put up with us. Oh, yeah, and listen to common sense too. One day is enough, babe, and sometimes one look will do it too," she said with a grin.