two trips—to the laundry room and back, she probably wouldn’t do irreparable harm to the slipper soles.
Difficult decisions made, she padded into the bathroom, brushed her teeth and ran a comb through her hair. She loved the chin length bob but hated how often she had to get it trimmed so it would hold its shape. Maybe she should let it grow out and save on haircuts? Something to consider, but not this early in the morning.
She put on her black framed geeky glasses and shuddered. She looked like 1 or 2 miles of bad road. It could have been worse, she supposed... she could look like 5 miles of bad road.
Back in the kitchen she poured her coffee into a grown up sippy cup and took her first swig. She held still, enjoying the warm rush. O-kaaaayyyy....
In the living room, she looked around for something to read while she waited for her laundry. Yesterday, she’d splurged on a new menage anthology. She was too shy to read it in public, since the cover showed two men and a woman, having... fun? But, again, no one would be around so, what the hell?
That final decision made, she gathered up her rolling hamper, loaded the laundry soap on top of the clothes, added the book so she’d have a hand free for her sippy cup and headed out the door.
As she wheeled her laundry across the parking lot, she thought she saw a curtain flutter in an apartment window on the other side. She didn’t know anyone in that building, it was a large complex, but she had noticed that was where the blond hunk lived.
Yes, she was shallow, she admitted it. She’d seen him move in recently and had fallen hard, suffering from what she recognized was a strong case of love at first sight. The minute her eyes met his, her heart started beating and her libido sat up and said, “It’s him. He’s the one.”
That had never, ever, come close to happening to her. She didn’t believe in love at first sight.
Ever the pragmatist, she also had a wager going with herself that he was gay. She bet that he wasn’t, herself bet that he was, and the loser was going to provide a pint of Haagen Dazs Creme Brulee Ice Cream. None of the grocery stores nearby carried that flavor so it would entail a trip to the other side of the city. Either way, Barb was looking forward to the outcome of the bet.
*****
S he was loading the second washer when she heard the laundry room door swing open behind. Knowing her reaction couldn’t be seen, she made a face and kept working. She slid the coins in and started the washer, then turned to see... him. The blond hunk from across the parking lot. OMG.
She told herself to act casual. She managed a small, shy smile, grabbed her book and went to sit in one of the uncomfortable chairs.
He answered with a grin, making him more attractive, if that was possible. He took the washer next to hers, filled it up and started it.
There were a lot of empty chairs, but... he took a seat next to her. As he sat, he smiled again and said “Hi.”
She mumbled a quick “Hi.” He tilted his head so that he could see the cover on her trade paperback.
She hadn’t expected to run into anyone, when she’d decided to bring her new menage anthology. She was very aware that it had three very attractive, nearly naked people on the front. While it was tasteful, if you knew what you were looking at, it was clear there was a girl sandwich involved. He took a long slow look, smiled, then asked her if she was enjoying it.
She felt the color bloom in her cheeks and mumbled a quick, “Yes”, opened the book and pretended to read.
She was aware that he was looking her over, slowly and carefully, head to toe. When he got to her footwear — the Moose on her left foot and the Squirrel on her right, he grinned, yet again.
“I’m betting that you have a matching pair of slippers at home?” Amusement colored his voice.
Should she explain? “I like Rocky and Bullwinkle. Equally.”
He stared at her still smiling but raised his eyebrows, encouraging her
Courtney Nuckels, Rebecca Gober