Project Whores

Chapter 10

Reciprocate. That night, he watched her room from the smoke table that sat adjacent to her building. I can't believe I'm stalking this woman, he thought, shaking his head. At about 2000 she walked out and headed toward the main road. Kyle followed, but stayed several feet behind her. As he was walking, he ran right into Task.

"Where are you heading?" he asked Kyle, falling into step with him. Kyle stopped because he didn't want Task to know he was following Joice, but saw her cross Disney and head to the DFAC.

"I'm starving, man. I've got to get something to eat," Kyle said, picking his pace up again now that she was out of sight. He had to hurry because she would fly through there and he would miss this opportunity. Much to his chagrin, Task said he was hungry also and would join him.

"I'll probably just get a to-go plate and eat in my room," Kyle said, somewhat impatiently.

"Sounds good to me," Task replied.

Kyle rushed into the DFAC and went straight to the self-serve line looking for her. She was not there, so he looked at the coffee machine, still no Joice. He checked both doors, but she was not that far ahead of him that she should already be gone. Then he spotted her; she was sitting alone eating. His heart dipped in his chest. He had not seen Task walk up behind him and was embarrassed when he realized his friend busted him staring at Joice. Kyle went to the self-serve line and put some fried chicken and rice on his plate. Task disappeared, but there was no doubt he would find him. Kyle went to the table where she was seated, and sat across from her. He would just have to risk Task knowing he and Joice were friends, because he was going crazy worrying about the way he'd treated her the last time they were together. She looked at him and Kyle would swear he saw tears in her eyes but she put her head down.

"Joice," he started, but just as he was about to speak, Task joined them and said, "Hey there, girl!"

"Hi Darryl, how have you been?" Joice said, smiling at him, but Kyle saw the sadness in her eyes.

"I told Kyle the other day you and I go way back," he said, loudly. She didn't flinch, but Kyle was sure he would have to explain how her name came into their conversation.

"So, how is my boy?" Darryl asked her, while taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"Dante is fine," she said, "I talked to him just before I came over here." Kyle noticed she did not seem the least bit uncomfortable talking about her so-called boyfriend in front of him. Joice took a sip of her coffee, looked at her friend and said, "So what have you been up to? I haven't seen you in a while." Darryl claimed he had been looking for love in all the wrong places and then laughed and shook his head as though he had someone specific in mind.

"Oh, really now?" Joice teased, with raised eyebrows, "well do tell."

He blushed and said, "That was a figure of speech, Rejoice."

"It was not!" she returned, quickly, "the look on your face was... telling." They argued back and forth for a moment, much to Kyle's amusement, and Task tried to convince her he was talking to a few different women, but definitely nothing serious. He went on to say this environment was toxic as far as real relationships were concerned. "This place is a hotbed of lies and alibis and just about everybody I've been running into out here are project whores," Darryl said, seriously.

Kyle laughed and Rejoice squinted at Darryl and said, "Who or what, is a project whore?"

Her friend cracked up and said, "I can't believe you never heard that term. OK, if you have worked on three or more projects, or have been on one more than 6 or 7 years, then that means you're addicted and you can't stop. These jobs were never meant to be long term, but you just can't get enough. It's too good to ya."

"OK Darryl, I get it," Rejoice said, then laughed.

He laughed too and said, "It's also a play on words."

"How so?" she asked.

"I cannot believe that double entendre is lost on you, sis!" Darryl exclaimed. She just looked at him and shook her head, stumped. "Well, there a lot of people who work on projects just so they can be whores," he said matter-of-factly. "It's just too easy, right?" he continued, refusing to pass up this golden opportunity to lay into Kyle. "I mean, think about it: most of the people on this project have a spouse or some kind of significant other at home. But they get out here and start laying up with everybody who will give them some and it becomes a lifestyle outside of their lifestyle at home. This place is the perfect set-up for people who want to mess around... The scenario I just described has been the death of many marriages and relationships for project ho's," Darryl remarked, with the air of someone who just made a damn good point. He glanced at Kyle.

He had to give it to him; the man was smooth as silk. He just continued to eat his food as though he did not realize he was the subject of that conversation. But regardless, it was obvious to Darryl Task that he had stepped into something involving these two. Kyle looked like a deer caught in headlights and Joice avoided looking at him as though the penalty for doing so would be life or limb. He continued to make small talk, but the tension between the new couple was such that all three of them were uncomfortable.