Chapter 27

Denise sat in her living room, trying to collect herself.

Tom. He'd made love to her - no, he'd fucked her, skilfully, but it 
wasn't making love. So he'd fucked her and then he'd left.

Denise walked slowly, a little carefully, up the stairs to her room. She 
put on her bathrobe, and sat on the edge of the bed.

Denise began to cry, softly at first, then with increasingly loud and 
violent sobs, as she threw herself onto her bed, grabbing a pillow and 
howling into it.  Her mother hadn't raised an idiot. Denise knew 
without the need for further proof that Tom had played her beautifully. 
He must have been overjoyed when she'd thrown herself at him like 
that.

He'd made her feel good, she'd been willing and had taken her full 
part, she reflected once the crying jag had finished. She actually felt a 
tingle in her belly when she thought back to the physical act, but 
Denise knew there was no relationship there. 'At least he'd used a 
condom,' she thought.

Denise sat up, wiped her eyes and considered. 'Maybe after a bath, I'll 
feel better.'

So, she ran a bath, put in some bath oil as the last of the water was 
entering and lit a scented candle by the side. Denise eased in and 
sighed, luxuriating in the hot water. For a while she simply lay there, 
not thinking, just feeling the tension run out of her body as she lay in 
the water.

Finally she refocused her mind. Tom. What to do about him?

'He's skilful, he got me off fine,' she thought, one hand idly playing 
with her pubic hair under the water. 'What was it he said? I can do 
more than just casual. Then he just about made me explode, and ran 
off... what do I do now?'

'Why'd he run off? Just some sorta I don't do after sex cuddles 
reaction?' she wondered. 'Could there be more to it? Was it just I've 
had what I wanted, now I'm outta here!' the thought continued.

Well. In theory, she had another date with him, she remembered. She 
could keep the date, and see how it went from there.

But in her heart, unacknowledged but there, she knew. Tom was a 
mistake. Now, she had to get to the stage of admitting it to herself.

- - - - - - - - - -

The following morning Anne drove Stan to work, and they walked 
through into reception together. Elaine was there, as usual, and she 
smiled when she saw the couple walk in together.

"Hi you two! Seems like you're really over your troubles!"

Anne glanced at her hand, fingers entwined in Stan's, and then looked 
up and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"I decided that he was wrong, he agreed with me, now we're okay!" 
she told the blonde receptionist with a smile. Elaine giggled and told 
her "Well, he's a slow learner, but I'm sure you'll have him trained 
soon!"

"Humph! I've got better places to go to be insulted than here..." 
grinned Stan. "You lot gang up on a poor fellow like that, he doesn't 
stand a chance!"

"You better believe it, buddy!" called Elaine as Stan left for his office 
after giving Anne a final peck on the cheek.

Once in the office he was a little surprised not to see Elizabeth, but 
was reassured by the fact that her PC was switched on. Stan turned on 
his own machine and went to get coffee.

On his return he found Elizabeth just coming back into the office from 
the test area with a sample of devices. She saw Stan, took in his 
bright, sunny expression - so different from last week - and exclaimed 
"Oh! You and Anne?"

Stan couldn't help but smile. "Yes, we're over that patch. We each 
know we love the other, and that's the main thing, all else fades in 
comparison."

Stan sat and thought for a moment, smiling a little. Elizabeth watched 
and waited for him to continue, a slight smile on her own lips.

"Have you ever danced the Tango, Elizabeth?"

"No. Remember? I told you before, my Mum & Dad did, but I never 
learned ballroom."

"Well," he said, his smile widening, "let's just say that, knowing you, 
you'd have enjoyed it. It gets the juices flowing..." he said with a wink.

"Oh, I can believe it - but I do believe that some good Rock'n'Roll can 
have the same effect, Stan!"

"Now," she went on in a more serious voice, "about these test 
results..."

The two got on with their work.

- - - - - - - - - -

At lunchtime, Elizabeth and Denise once again ate together. Denise 
had been looking forward to being able to talk to her older friend. She 
felt she needed to talk through her situation.

At first however, she was somehow reluctant to start. Elizabeth, 
sensing that there was something on the younger woman's mind, 
waited while the remaining salad disappeared from their plates, as she 
obviously thought through what to say.

Finally, Elizabeth's patience ran out.

"Denise? You obviously want to say something, but not a word...?"

"Mmm? Oh! Oh, yes. Um." Denise drew a deep breath.

"It's Tom. Last night we made love, well after the dance we were 
sort've fired up, you know?" Elizabeth nodded, thinking of Stan that 
morning, but letting Denise continue.

"Well, one thing lead to another last night, and it happened. He's 
pretty darn persuasive, and he certainly knows his way around a 
woman's body, but when we finished he... he just simply got up and 
left, after telling me we had a date on Friday.

"I mean, I really enjoyed myself with him, he's got plenty of skill, and 
is obviously experienced. No coercion or anything, we knew what we 
were doing, but that thing of just leaving... I just don't think he's in it 
for the long term."

"Well, it's not a good sign, Denise, is it? I suppose there could have 
been other reasons - did he say he had to be somewhere else, or 
anything?" Elizabeth answered.

"No. He just got dressed and left."

"He told you that you had a date on Friday?"

"Well," considered Denise, "it wasn't quite like that. He asked, but in a 
way that made it sound like I'd already agreed."

"Are you going to meet him, then"

"I don't honestly know, Elizabeth. I just don't honestly know."

Denise took a sip of her fruit juice, then continued, soberly, "But 
probably yes. If only physically, he made me feel good." She smiled at 
Elizabeth and finished with a saucy grin, "Tingly."

"Well, if he thinks he can use you, he may find that the tables are 
turned, then!" answered Elizabeth with a widening smile.

The two giggled and finished their meal.

- - - - - - - - - -

After her lunch, Denise went to see Elaine in reception.

"Howdy!" she said to the younger blonde.

"Hello Denise - how are you getting on?" asked Elaine.

"Oh, I'm fine, fine. I'm just mulling over man problems."

"I don't have those!" grinned Elaine.

"No, but you have to put up with your own hormones and those of 
another woman!" giggled Denise. They both laughed - it had been a 
constant refrain between them while they'd been together, how it was 
either twice the fun or...

"So, what's the man problem then - aside from acute testosterone 
poisoning?" asked Elaine.

Denise outlined the night before to Elaine, in the same way that she 
had to Elizabeth.

"So, I've got a date on Friday. He's coming to pick me up - unless I 
cancel him," she finished.

Elaine was quiet for a moment or two. The she said "Well, you can use 
him to scratch your itch for the time being, but it seems to me that 
you've already made up your mind that he's not going to do for you in 
the longer term."

"You're right, of course."

"Actually, I think you need to be thinking hard about whether you 
want to see him at all. What do you know about him?"

"Only that he goes to the dance classes, he's funny, charming, 
experienced and skilful in bed - though we never actually got to bed! - 
and not that much else."

"Just be careful, Denise. That's all I'll say. I don't know him at all, but 
the impression you give is that you trust him as far as you can throw 
him. Make sure that if you're going to keep seeing him, it's on your 
terms."

"Oh, I will, Elaine, I will!"

Just then the phone rang, and Elaine had to answer it. Denise went 
back to her office and prepared to get back to work.

- - - - - - - - - -

Denise had made good progress on the documentation project, and 
now needed to show Stan the early working prototype of the interface 
she'd developed. She noticed that Stan was less nervous around her 
than before, and also that she felt more at ease around him. She 
wasn't sure why, but perhaps it was to do with his protectiveness, and 
the way she now felt about Tom?

They'd been working quietly together for about half an hour when 
Denise heard a soft sound as someone coughed gently behind her. She 
looked back, to find Anne standing there, with a slight smile on her 
face.

"Don't mind me, I just wanted to check something with Stan," she told 
Denise. "Stan, d'you fancy some Sea Bass tonight? I thought it would 
make a change."

Stan had turned in his seat, and answered, "Yes, I'd like that. Round 
yours?"

Anne had tilted her head back a little and laughed, "Yes, Stan, unless 
you fancy cooking? Actually, strike that... I don't fancy your cooking!" 

She'd looked back at Denise. "He's a really rotten cook you know. 
Hopeless in the kitchen!"

"Really? He seems so... competent. What other little faults have you 
been hiding, Stan?" Denise asked with raised eyebrows.

"Well, let's just say it's a good job you haven't asked me to maintain 
your car, shall we?" Stan grinned.

"Hey! You never told me about that one!" cried Anne.

"Well, it's not in my contract..."

"What contact!" she'd cried, louder.

"Precisely!"

All three had burst into laughter.

- - - - - - - - - -

While working together the next day, talk had come around to going 
out that evening.

"Anne and I are going to Tennants tonight. We felt like eating out."

"You mean, she didn't feel like cooking all the time, because you're too 
lazy to cook, don't you!?" replied Denise.

"Believe me, Denise, you don't want to eat my cooking unless you're 
really hungry!" he'd told her.

"Oh, you poor, helpless man, you!" she'd said. Then she patted him on 
the shoulder. She went on, "I guess I ought to go to the Mitre, and 
meet up with Susan and Elaine. It's been a while since I've had a 
Wednesday night there."

"I think that's a good idea - you look like you need to relax a little."

"Huh? You stopped passing out the compliments and begun on the 
insults, now?" she'd asked, archly.

"Um. Can I have another go at that? Please?"

Denise had then, with great and exaggerated dignity, nodded assent.

"I meant that, despite the fact that you and I are getting along better 
than we have since, well, since your holiday," he'd said, tactfully not 
using the word 'Anne', "You seem a little, well, edgy at times. A night 
out and a drink would probably do you good."

"Well done Mr. I-can-see-the-bleedin-obvious," she told him a little 
more heatedly than she'd intended. She went on more gently, "Sorry. 
I guess I'm a little distracted."

"Um. Is it the-subject-that-shall-not-be-mentioned?"

"Probably!" she told him, now smiling. "So let's not mention it any 
more, or we'll get into trouble again. Now, Let's get back to business. 
You asked for access to the system from from outside the company..."

'Back to work,' groaned Stan, inwardly.

- - - - - - - - - -

That evening Denise, wearing a quite sexy low-cut white top and a 
fairly short matching skirt, entered the Mitre and looked around. Sure 
enough, Elaine was there with Susan.

Susan spotted her first, and waved her over. Denise nodded, and 
indicated the bar with a questioning look. Susan mouthed "Cider, Two" 
and Denise nodded.

She bought the drinks, including a bitter lemon for herself - driving - 
and went over to sit with her friends.

Elaine was feeding peanuts to Susan, teasing her with them. The two 
girls were giggling and obviously enjoying themselves. Denise joined 
in, and the three of them were tossing peanuts, feeding each other 
drinks and generally having great, but slightly messy fun with each 
other. Denise was pleased as punch to see her friends relaxed and 
having fun this way.

Elaine giggled.

"Knock-knock!"

"Who's there?" chorused Susan and Denise, wide grins plastered on 
their faces.

"Abby!"

Denise was already groaning, but she and Susan looked at each other 
and, together, said "Abby Who?"

Denise sang, "Abby birthday to yoooouuu!"

The other two both threw peanuts at her.

"Your turn!" she said, pointing at Denise, who frowned a moment, the 
came up with one.

"Knock Knock!"

"Who's there!" the two lovers said, looking at each other.

"General Lee!"

"General Lee who?"

"Generally, I don't tell jokes!" Denise finished, with a punch in the air.

"And we can see why!" laughed Susan, with a pronounced groan. 
"Why do we tell knock-knock jokes, they're all awful!"

"Oh, because as bad as they are, they're fun, too!" said Elaine.

Susan said, "What did King Kong say when he got a wrong number?"

Denise and Elaine said together, "I don't know, what did he say?"

"King Kong Ring Wrong!" Susan announced, and Denise hurled a 
napkin at her while Elaine pounced on her and told her to "Stop, stop, 
please stop, I'll do anything, but make the pain go away!"

"Okay, I know how to do that," smiled Susan. Elaine looked at her 
lustfully, but Susan told "Later, you naughty girl. I meant drinks! 
Denise?"

"Just a bitter lemon please, Susan," Denise answered. "I've got to 
drive."

Just then Denise looked towards the bar where she saw a new arrival 
and his date. His back was to her, but he looked familiar...

"TOM!"

The man turned, and yes, it was indeed Tom. His eyes widened in 
recognition at the same time as the slender brunette on his arm 
turned to look in her direction.

Denise was moving. She hadn't even noticed she'd stood, and just 
barely heard a buzz in her ears from those around her. She came 
towards Tom, who was smoothly trying to talk to the brunette while 
moving away from the bar, but a crowd had walked in behind him, and 
he had difficulty getting away.

Denise reached him, looked him in the eye, then glanced briefly aside 
at the brunette.

"So, long-term for you is all of two days, is it?" she asked him.

Tom ignored the jibe. "Denise, how nice to see you. This is Samantha. 
Samantha, Denise."

"Er, Tom, who is..." the girl started to ask him.

Denise, having reached the bar, with scarcely a glance picked up a 
drink that the barman had just placed there and threw it in Tom's face, 
then calmly replaced the glass back on the counter. She turned back 
to the tall brunette and her spluttering escort, now with fury contorting 
her face. She told her, "I'm just the girl he had SEX with Monday 
night, that's ALL!" and slapped him around the head. Tom's head 
snapped to one side under the blow. Denise's face was a furious mask, 
but then it broke and she started to cry, slapping at Tom's arms with 
both hands.

"You bastard! You even made a date with me for Friday! You fuckin' 
bastard!"

Elaine and Susan had reached her at this point. Samantha took one 
more look at her, looked at Tom and hissed "Goodbye, Tom!" and then 
turned on her heel and left. Susan took one arm, Elaine the other, and 
they held her. Tom, with a pint of beer all down the front of his shirt 
and staining his jacket and trousers, with a clear mark on one cheek 
and an expression of utter bewilderment on his face, turned and fled.

Elaine looked at the barman who'd started to replace the pint, and 
said, "I'll get that." The guy who's beer it had been told her "No, that's 
fine, I think it qualifies as a good cause!" and Elaine nodded, 
gratefully. Between them Susan and she steered the now sobbing 
Denise back to their table.

Elaine looked a question at Susan, who nodded assent, and she 
scooted around and sat next to Denise, holding the girl's head against 
her shoulder as she cried. Susan looked a little shocked, Denise was 
inconsolable, but Elaine was furious.

"Bastards like that make me glad I don't fancy men!" she snapped at 
Susan. Susan, however, though shocked still kept her equilibrium a 
little better.

"There's some in the sisterhood just as bad, Laney," she lamented. 
"We both know that."

"Yeah, well, I'm right about him being a bastard, though!" Elaine 
countered, rubbing Denise's shoulder as the redhead wept. This went 
on some time.

Denise pulled herself together... finally. She sat up, looked at Elaine, 
then across at Susan. Both ladies looked at their friend with concern in 
their eyes. Denise's face was puffy and red and her cheeks were wet. 
There was what Susan thought was a cute little bubble on her nose.

Denise sniffed a couple of times, and then said, "God, I must look a 
mess. I'm going to the ladies to freshen up. I'll be back in a minute."

Elaine offered to go with her. Susan said she'd stay and watch the 
drinks. They were gone a while before Susan saw them coming back. 
Denise looked a little better, at least she was smiling, but Elaine was 
obviously concerned about something.

She asked Susan, "Suze, Denny asked me something, and I said she'd 
better ask you. I said I couldn't decide this one for you. Denise?"

Denise looked embarrassed. Susan couldn't quite work out what 
about, plus there was something else behind her eyes that she 
couldn't identify.

"Susan, can I come over and stay with you guys tonight? And maybe 
longer? I really don't want to stay alone in my house."

Susan focussed on Denise, her face becoming neutral.

"Stay with?"

"Spare room, or even on the couch. I just don't want to be alone, is 
all."

Susan looked at Elaine, whose face was carefully schooled into as 
neutral an expression as she could manage. Nonetheless, she could 
see that Elaine wanted her to say yes.

"Okay, Denise. You know where?"

"Not really, I know you live on the Waterwood estate, but not your 
address."

Elaine had moved in with Susan after Denise had split with her. Denise 
knew the phone number, and had Elaine's cell number, but had never 
learned exactly where she lived.

"Right. Well, let's go. You can drive us to your house and pick up some 
overnight stuff, and then we'll direct you to our place." Finally her 
expression softened, and she looked at both of the other women in 
turn. "You, Elaine, will be the death of me, I swear. And you, Denise, 
are welcome into my house. You can have the spare room and we'll 
sort everything else out later. Okay? Both of you?"

Elaine gave Susan a tight hug, and a kiss. Denise watched, seeing the 
two women embrace. She still felt angry and betrayed by Tom, but at 
least, she thought, 'I can get through this. One night at a time. 

'I can do this... one night at a time.'

- - - - - - - - - -