Unstoppable Erica

Beyond Sexy.

I feel the night explode, when we're together.
Emotion overload, in the heat of pleasure.

Take me, I'm yours, into your arms, never let me go.
Tonight, I really need to know.

Tell It To My Heart, tell me I'm the only one.
Is this really love, or just a game?
Tell it to my heart, I can feel my body rock.
Every time you call my name.
Taylor Dayne.

March 1985

Since the new year began, I had only dated women outside of work. Tracy had briefly returned, and we went on a horrid date. She had angered when I admitted under duress, that I only tried to fuck her because I was horny. Tracy had screamed, cried, and even assaulted me, while I slumped helpless in the passenger seat of her car. I didn't expect to ever see her again.

Because Erica had started going out with Samuel in February, Anna had resumed her matchmaking duties, and set me up with a customer. Like at least half of my dates, we had zero romantic connection, and I abruptly left her at the bar. The small satisfaction I gained from being rude to her didn't match the money I had spent, but it helped. Being a jerk to people I didn't care about allowed me to be kind to the ones I liked.

Such as Wendy.

She sat with me on my porch couch, and as usual, had her foot on my thigh to receive the foot massage she loved so much. "God, can you believe it, Ray? Samuel said he still loves me, and wants to get back together. I've told him so many times, he's not right for me."

I never asked why she broke up with Samuel, even though Wendy had interrogated me about what happened with Alice. "He still loves you? So, Erica is just a temporary thing for him?"

"I don't know. She's... I don't think Erica and Samuel are going to be together very long."

Leaning down to flip the Muddy Waters LP on the garage sale portable record player, I asked, "Why do you say that?"

Wendy blushed. "I can't really tell you. You'll have to trust me."

I wanted to press her on it. I also wanted to fuck her. Both of those seemed to be bad ideas, so I let it go.

"Wendy, Erica still flirts with me."

Why did I say that?

Wendy stood up from the couch. "Listen, Ray. All the women you've been with, have they been good people?"

I pondered it. "For the most part, they were wonderful. Like you. There were a few who were awful, but I didn't care. It was just sex."

Wendy smiled at the compliment, cracked open a beer, and lit a cigarette. She rarely smoked, but the stress of her mother's illness had obviously become worse. I took a sympathetic drag, which amused her. "Yeah, I thought so. This is going to sound horrible coming from me, but be careful with Erica. You don't see... all of her."

I objected, "Wendy, I don't think we are..."

She cut me off. "Oh please. You and Erica are going to happen. Everyone knows it. The way you look at each other, how you talk to her while inches apart, the way she touches you. Everything."