Seeds of Tomorrow

Thirteen

The conference felt like it had drug far longer than it actually did, Atira had been relieved when it ended, eager to get her massage in. Afterward, Jillian suggested they go to the restaurant bar for a drink or two before dinner, sounded like a good time so she agreed.

"I can't believe you have been with the same man for over a decade now," Jillian asked, swirling her Sex on the Beach with the straw as she eyed a handsome younger guy across the way. She lowered her voice, "You've never wanted some strange?"

Atira took a sip of her Cosmopolitan shaking her head, "No, never," she admitted.

"I guess that's why I could never get married," Jillian laughed, "I'd get bored of the same ole, same old."

"Eh, you just got to learn to spice things up and experiment," Atira told her friend, "Krist and I still have an amazing sex life. He has actually learned to finish me faster than I can even do it myself."

Jillian raised her eyebrows, "Ah, gotcha. I guess I haven't been that lucky," she laughed.

Atira glanced at her phone, Audrey had texted to tell her the boys were eating unhealthy food and that Dad was "using that big glass thing" to smoke his pot. Sighing, she replied to let her know it was fine and that she missed her.

"Everything alright?" Jillian asked.

Atira smiled, "Oh yeah, Audrey just likes to give me updates when I go out of town. Apparently the guys are eating shitty food and Krist is using a bong," she rolled her eyes.

"Fun! Isn't Krist too old for that?"

"If it makes him happy and keeps him from being a stress-case, I really don't care. Same reason I like a drink after work," she laughed.

Before Jillian could respond, the man she'd been eyeballing slid over to their table, flashing the two women a grin, "How 'bout I buy you ladies a drink?"

Atira toyed with the ring on her finger hoping he'd take a hint, "Oh, we are good, thank you," she replied.

Jillian flashed him a glossy smile, "I'd love one."

He winked at her, "What's your poison?"

Barf.

"Surprise me," she replied.

As he left to order, Jillian smiled mischievously, "If you want to go back to the room, I wouldn't be offended."

Atira hesitated, not wanting to leave her friend with a strange man but also didn't want to be a third wheel to her hookup.

"Well, if you need me, call," she replied, hugging her.

"I'm a big girl, I'll be fine."

Atira chewed her bottom lip anxiously, "If you leave with him, can you send an address or room number?"

"You worry too much," Jillian laughed.

Atira wanted to tell her that maybe she needed to worry more, she didn't know this man, and going anywhere with him, intoxicated, seemed like a bad idea. For all they knew, he was a rapist or murderer...ugh. Maybe it was because she had always liked long-term committed relationships that she couldn't understand hookup culture but being alone and vulnerable with a complete stranger seemed like a bad idea. And it seemed silly to be middle-aged, still living like a college girl.

She returned to her room, took a quick shower, and collapsed into bed, thinking about her husband. It wasn't even nine yet so she knew he would be up and decided to FaceTime him.

"What's up, baby?" He asked, a smile on his handsome face.

"Oh nothing, just laying here," she told him, "How's everything going at home?"

Krist rested his head on his forearm, "It's good, kids are all in their rooms for the night. They got their homework done and shit though, house looks like shit though," he laughed, "We been lazy."

"So I heard," she smiled.

"Lemme guess, Audrey?"

"Always," Atira replied, "My little second in command."

"I miss you, baby," he told her wistfully.

"I miss you too," she replied, "I'm going to be home tomorrow evening though. When you pick me up, we should stop at Golden Corral on the way back. I know you and the kids love it there."

Krist clicked his tongue against his teeth, "We can do that, f'sure," he said, "Where's homegirl at?"

"Jillian?" Atira groaned, rolling her eyes, "Still down at the bar."

"Picking up married men again?" Krist said in a joking but not joking kind of way.

"Married, not married, whatever," she told him, "I felt bad leaving her alone but she said she was fine.

"She grown," Krist told her, "So you just came up there to talk to me?"

Atira smiled, "I did, I couldn't stop thinking about you."

"Mm, is that right?" He asked, his eyes glazing over lustfully, "What were you thinking about?"

"That it's fucked up that you got Baskin Robbins and didn't even save me any," she teased playfully.

"Damn, you're fucked up, had me going there for a moment," he replied, licking his lips, "What you got on over there?"

"What am I wearing?" She asked.

"Mmhmm," he told her, his eyes low and a dopey smirk on his lips.

Atira pointed the camera down to show her tank top and matching shorts, "Same thing I always wear to bed, dork."

"You wearing panties?" He wanted to know, voice becoming husky.

She laughed, "Maybe, maybe not. What are you wearing?"

He panned the phone downward, showing his bare abdomen and grey sweats.

"Your lingerie," she teased. It was a running joke between them that his grey sweats were lingerie since they showed off his goods so well.

"Mmhmm," he said, tightening his sweats around his cock so she could see the outline, "You got me hella bricked up right now."

"I mean, it doesn't take much for you to be," Atira laughed.

"You already know," Krist grinned, "Maybe you can show me something to help me sleep good tonight?"

"Krist, you're such a freaking horndog!"

"And that's why you love me," he replied.

After a game of dirty show and tell, both agreed they were done for the night and ready to go to sleep, Krist assuring Atira that what they'd just done was nothing compared to what he was going to do to her when she got home.

As she turned the light off, she got an alert from Jillian who was letting her know she was headed up to room 212 with this man who apparently worked for the same company as they did. Atira made sure to get a first name just in case something went awry and fell asleep.