So, Here I Am

Chapter Six The Day Out 1

After the dance ended, and Laurent had kissed her, Maggie didn't quite know what to do.  

"Whew, it's hot in here ! " Maggie exclaimed, fanning herself with her hands.   She excused herself from Laurent, found Soraya, asked Larry if she could borrow her for a moment.   They were both smiling at her like bloody Cheshire cats.   She took Raya by the hand, and they marched to the bathroom in Maggie's bedroom, she wanted some privacy for this chat.

"Shit !" Soraya was impressed

"I know !" shouted Maggie, like they were two teenage girls.

"Everyone was staring at you two, and just smiling !   You did make a great looking couple, Maggie.    You could FEEL you two !  Goddamn !   Thanks for the song, by the way " she said sarcastically.

"Shit, shut up, Raya.  Shit.  Just shit, I don't know what else to say" she was beaming at Soraya now, her expression said it all, making any further comments moot.

"Sooooo, how do you feel about hiiimmm..."

"I don't know, I barely know the man, but he is delicious, isn't he ?"

"Sex on a stick" said Soraya, laughing, and that made Maggie laugh, too.

"I really don't know, he's so ....so .....french.....and charming........ and smart ......... and funny .......and damn, he smells good ...."

She was starting to sound like a teenage valley girl, and she didn't like it, very immature.

-- Calm down, calm down, deep breath --

Soraya "A.J. didn't like it one bit, I could see his eyes boring a hole into Laurent's back while he was holding you like that.   Only natural, I guess"

Changing the subject

"Larry's into you .....feelings ?"

Soraya "He's very cute, sweet, boyfriend material ? Nah, I don't think so.  But fuck buddies ?Absolutely, yes !! "

"Tell me how you REALLY feel, Raya !" they both laughed at her absolute honesty, and returned to the party.

A.J. caught Maggie on her way to get a drink.

"What the fuck was that ?"

"That, my darling, was a very enjoyable dance, with a very sexy man"

"Don't you think you're a bit old to be throwing yourself at MUCH younger men ?" he was smiling as he said it, but he knew what his mother was like, her dating and relationship history, but Maggie could sense ...not jealousy ....but something......in his voice when he said it.

The party was winding down now, and Larry and Laurent were stood, saying goodbye to as many people as Maggie was.   A.J. and Soraya were sat, heads close together, in a quiet, intimate conversation that only they were privy to.

Larry wanted to know the history there, if there was anything he should know before trying to make any moves towards Soraya.                                                                                                                      

"Larry, remember what I warned you about before ?  As much as I love Raya, it literally broke A.J. in two when they broke up.   She did what I said she would do to you, sweetie.  She left his heart in the rubble to die an agonising death.   And by doing that, she broke my heart, too.  She is a lovely girl, but be careful, O.K. ?   Guard your heart".

As the last of the guests were leaving, emails and numbers had been exchanged, and promises of meetings and get togethers between the various charities were made.   It was a successful day, all around.   The caterers were almost done cleaning up, and, like they had never been there in the first place, they left the kitchen spotless.

"There's plenty of leftovers in the fridge, Larry, if you want anything ?!"

" Ooohhhh, really ?!" Everyone laughed at his enthusiasm at the thought of more to eat.

"How is he not the size of a house ?  Oh, OK, just registered.   Dancing and sex, no ?" Maggie was looking at Laurent trying not to laugh at that, but nodding his head in reply.   A.J. had to go, he had a conference call early in the morning, so he said his farewells, Maggie walked him to the door, and they gave each other a kiss and a hug.

"Don't be a stranger" she said, kissing him on the cheek

"How long are the Boojee boys here for?"

"That's mean spirited, darling ? It's not jealousy I hear, it's ... I dunno, enlighten me" she said, tilting her head to one side, trying to figure out what was going on in that pretty little head of his.

"I don't know, either, mumma, but it's Laurent, I can't seem to like him, and I don't know why"

"Well, I do, so for now, you'll have to deal with it, sunshine" she said, patting his backside as he left, blowing him a kiss on his way out the door.

Maggie returned to the others sat on the sofa.   Soraya had an impish grin on her face, and the boys were trying their best not to smile.

"What's going on?" she was smiling too, it couldn't be that bad, could it?

"We were just talking, "

"Ugghh, never a good sign, Soraya, " she said laughing.

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, we were talking, and as the guys are only here for a couple of days, and have never really seen much of London, and if you're free tomorrow, whadga say we spend the day together tomorrow, all four of us ?"

"We have an interview in the morning, but we'll be done by 11" says Laurent, looking straight at Maggie, with an impish grin all his own. Larry,  his mouth stuffed full of food, just nodded, smiling as best he could.

"It appears I have had any authority I may have in the matter usurped" says Maggie, knowing they probably have a vague idea that she just said,

Yes, O.K.

Yes. O.K.   A whole day with, already, three of her favourite people.