The Game by Jeanne Barrack Read Free Book Online Page B

common theme for our reasons.” Frank’s suggestion made sense and he picked up the first one and passed it around the circle.
    “Too commercial. I mean, two kids and a dog?” Dave sniffed.
    “But see, the dog’s a rescue dog and there’s the blurred image of a bombed-out building in the background,” Shari pointed out.
    “No. I see Dave’s point. The subject’s been done to death. Too hokey.” Marcie took the picture from Frank and turned it facedown. She chose another one. “How about this?”
    “Oh, I like this one.” Shari grinned. “It is so wicked.”
    Marcie smiled. “I took this one at a friend’s engagement shower. We hired two male strippers for her. Only problem was, I hired one and her sister-in-law to be hired another. They both showed up at the same time. A cop and a fireman. The fireman comes in all his gear, says there’s been a report of a gas leak and he’s looking to see if it’s from her gas fireplace. He takes off his yellow slicker and he’s wearing these tight pants and when he kneels to examine the fireplace, they split. Well, just then, Lorraine ushers into the room the cop stripper she hired, he sees the fireman’s thong-clad butt and goes nuts. Seems they work for the same agency, have a grudge going—some relationship gone wrong—and they start fighting, ripping each other’s costumes and, well, I almost peed my panties. See, I took this just after they’d made up. They left with their hands down each other’s banana slings and their tongues down their throats. But it’s the looks on the faces of the girls at the party I really like. They ranged the gamut from horror to envy.” Marcie nodded. “It’s good.” She grinned. “It shows my manic side.” She placed it on the second pile. “Let’s keep going. You guys make a great sounding board.”
    The shadows had deepened before Marcie glanced at her watch and gasped.
    “Jeez, I didn’t realize how long we’ve been at this! Thanks, guys. I think the ones that will be in the show are the best ones I’ve done.” Marcie rubbed the back of her neck. “How about we take a break and do something wild and crazy?”
    Three pairs of eyes looked at her in shock.
    “What? I wasn’t going to suggest we go out hiking in the snowdrifts. I thought maybe we’d play strip- dreidel a little earlier. I could use a little relaxation.” She licked her lips. “And then we can play again tonight. There’s no rule that says we can only spin once a day. Come on.” She sauntered over to the door to the living room and paused. “Well? Any takers?”
    Frank stood up. “Sure, why not. Gotta do it sooner or later—play, I mean.”
    Dave shrugged. “Fine by me.”
    * * * *
    Frank watched as the top teetered on its tip. He didn’t know whether to be happy or afraid. No, strike that. He knew he was afraid. Would he be lucky or not? Right now he was down to his boxers. One more spin and he’d be naked—the winner in this crazy game. He knew Marcie was hoping he’d hold off telling Dave. She really cared for his feelings and feared Dave’s reaction, but he knew his friend didn’t have a bigoted bone in his body. He wouldn’t hate the fact he was gay, just that he’d kept it a secret all these years. No, he hoped Dave would forgive his lack of trust, his lack of guts. But would he forgive him for falling in love with him?
    “ Shin , Frank. Take it off, bro. Let’s show the ladies the difference between a man and a pencil dick.” Dave’s gleeful joking brought a groan from Marcie and Shari.
    “Look, man ,” Marcie shot back. “I think the term you’re looking for Frank is mighty sword .”
    Shari giggled. “How about massive club ?”
    “How about Dave and I leave you two little girls to play Xena and Gabrielle?” Frank got up and dropped his drawers. “Souvenir, ladies. Don’t fight over it. Come on, Dave. We’ll go over what you’ll need to do to get the cabin ready to be rented.” He turned and left the room,