You're Always You

Chapter Twenty-Seven

David Minett

David wasn't surprised that the warden had said no, to be honest.

Which set him back again.

But he was surprised that Lydia had invited him to her and Monica's little museum trip. Technically Monica had already asked him to go, purely because both girls were strippers, even though Moni wasn't anymore, and she was afraid to be recognized. But when Lydia asked too?

Well, that just made his night, really.

It meant she felt comfortable enough with him to invite him. That were becoming close again. Not nearly as close as before, David wasn't even allowed to look at her boobs, never mind touch them, but closer.

He was getting there.

That he was making progress with Lydie was enough to tide him over from the fact that he wasn't making any with Brett.

Damn it, Brett. Why'd you have to go and be a thug?

In any case, he was very happy to be here with them. It reminded him of the first time he'd taken Lydie to a museum, on their first date, and she'd been so surprised and excited that of all the things he could've chosen, it was one of her favorites.

He didn't know why she was surprised, because they'd been friends for a good week or two before he'd asked her out and she told him she loved museums, but....He hadn't complained. Extra points were always good.

Her standards for boys had apparently been pretty low before she had him.

And even though she was twenty-nine instead of seventeen, it was just as adorable now as it had been then, watching her practically bounce off the walls in happiness.

It made the line between this Lydia and his wife Lydia that much more blurrier to him. Which, was the goal to be fair, but it wasn't that blurry for her. David still needed to be careful not to act too...familiar.

....It hurt.

But it was true.

"I never get to come to these," she said wistfully as they started off their adventure, Lydia doing most of the leading, naturally. This was more for her than it was for either of the other two. However, hearing that she didn't get to go to museums anymore made David frown.

"Why not?" he questioned, just barely biting his tongue from admitting he knew she loved museums.

She shrugged sadly, looking back at him. "...Richie never lets me go," she said. "Sad, but. Y'know."

"You shouldn't need him to let you go anywh—" he started, about go off about Dick again, but Monica was the one to swivel her hand beneath her chin to stop him. He had half a mind to tell her to fuck off and finish his sentence, but....

It was the expression on Lydia's face that stopped him.

This was about her, not Dick.

"Idea," Monica spoke up. "Let's not talk about Richie or stripping ever again outside of the club. Yeah? Cool."

"...Good idea," David begrudgingly agreed, thoughtlessly placing a hand on Lydia's back, in a rather reflex gesture of his to comfort her. He realized soon after that he should not have done so, and removed his hand.

She didn't mention it, so neither did he.

And thankfully, being in a museum gave her boundless spirit, and she brightened back up pretty quickly.

Phew.

For the most part, David's enjoyment of museums was pretty passive. He wasn't bored, definitely not, he found this stuff just as interesting, but the girls had much more energy for it than he did, and he just...stood back somewhat while they bounced around like little girls. It was cute, and to some degree it reminded him too achingly of their reality to be able to join in.

At least, without also doing something stupid and husband-y with Lydia.

Sigh.

God, he missed her. She was right in front of him, but he'd never missed her so much in his life.

If he could tell her who she used to be to him, he would. But...that would not go over well.

At one point, while he was standing apart from them, he got the distinct feeling they were talking about him, judging from their suddenly suspicious glances in his direction, and Monica's stifled laughter. "God, no," he heard her say, to which Lydia frantically shushed her.

....

"What's so funny?" David asked as he decided to step back towards them, raising a brow.

"She thought you—" Monica started, giggling, but Lydie smacked her arm and cut her off.

"You had a crush on me?"

....

Now it was David's turn to be embarrassed, and he glared at his sister. She gave a sheepish shrug, still grinning. Blushing, Dave shook his head. "...In high school," he said, despite that not being...the entire truth. "That was, y'know...forever ago. Monica, why would say something?"

"I'm sorry!" she cried. "She thought you were—"

"How come you didn't say anything?" Lydia spoke over Monica again.

Well....David didn't know the answer to that question. In his life, he had said something. In his life, they were high school sweethearts. He didn't...know what "this" David had done. Or rather, why he hadn't done what he should've.

So he just...shrugged, and let his alternate reality brain pick the words that fell out. "...You were out of my league, I guess."

Which, to be fair, wasn't all that far from the truth. Sure, maybe Lydia hadn't been the sexiest girl in school at the time, because she was a lot more modest then, but that hadn't stopped David from feeling like she was over his head. Because...she was amazing regardless of what she looked like.

Though, he would readily admit seeing her naked for the first time was pretty dope.

Cough.

"Really?" Lydia said in disbelief. She looked to Monica and added, "Oh my god, he's not gay," before continuing at David. "Do you not think I'm attractive anymore? Because I swear you avoid looking at me at all at the club."

"I avoid looking at everyone equally," Dave said, crossing his arms somewhat. "I can't look at you that way when you're not, y'know...with me. That's...rude. Your eyes are up there."

....Then it caught up to him.

"And I already told you I wasn't gay!"

Lydia laughed and shook her head, stepping towards him. "Thanks for having class, I suppose," she said, patting his side. "But if it counts, I'm sure you'll get a wonderful girl someday. I'm not sure anyone can ignore what eleven years in the military does to you," she commented, glancing rather obviously at his arms.

....

Who says I don't already, he wanted to say, but that would just fuck everything up. Lydia already expressed that she didn't have plans to cheat on Dickie—even though Davie was quite confident Dick was probably cheating on her—so it was highly doubtful she'd even think of getting involved with him if she thought he was already with somebody.

....Even though that somebody was her.

"Yeah yeah, he's swole, let's go," Monica complained, and the other two followed, chuckling.