Dropping off Casey

As you walk through building Elsie hovers near you, clearly worried about you. With calm looks and affirming body language you signal to her that you were okay now. Indeed you were, there wasn’t a hint of the pain from earlier anymore. You prayed it was simply your body adapting to the new you and not a permanent problem. Only time would tell. Elsie is placated for the moment but you knew she’d want to talk about it once the prying ears of your friends were no longer present. The four of you go to your car, Zoey and Elsie piling in the rear seat as you and Casey get in up front.

The drive to Casey’s house is…weird. In the back seat the mood was still ebullient, with Zoey and El even smooching a bit then tittering about it afterward. It wasn’t a romantic dynamic, just a fun one. Another friends with benefits connection had been born. In the front however the energy was taut and awkward. Casey had been the least drunk of the girls and was sobering up fast. She was clearly embarrassed by what had happened and possibly even regretful. She wouldn’t meet your gaze and every attempt at conversation is clipped off by an over brief response. By the time you are pulling up to the cozy little house she shared with her roomie Felix you were genuinely starting to worry your good yet still fledgling friendship with her was at risk. You park and turn to talk to her but she cuts you off.

“Thank you everyone for a wonderful night.” And just like that she gets out of the car and hurries for her front door.

“Bye Casey!” Elsie and Zoey call after her a bit puzzled. They hadn’t been privy the mood in the front so to them the sudden departure had come out of nowhere.

Scrambling you get out and slam your door closed as you run to catch up to her. “Hey!” You say just as she is reaching her front step. She stops but doesn’t look back as you trot up beside her. “Hey, what’s up?”

She glances up to your face and you see total humiliation in her wounded expression. “What must you think of me?”

“Think of you?” You say softly. “After coming out for El’s party. After everything…I think you’re wonderful Casey!”

“Thank you for saying so.” She says. There is silence but you could tell she wanted to say more. You give her time and space to do so. A cool night breeze blows between you her green eyes glimmering in the darkness. At last she whispers. “Besides Felix you were my one friend who never looked at me differently. You never judged me. You don’t know how attractive that is Jesse.” She sighs, forlorn. “You’ll never look at me the same again. When you look at me you’ll only see that floozy you saw back there.” Her face flinches. “I should never have let this happen.”

You step closer and whisper back. “You’re right, I’ll never see you the same again.”

“And how could you?” Her head drops. “How could you respect a woman who…acted like that.”

“Do you know what I see when I look at you Casey Devlin?”

She looks up, tears in her eyes, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

“I see a lady. A lady of class, of humor, of intelligence. An open minded and imaginative lady who lives life on her own terms.” You say. “I see a woman who I could only dream about being good enough for. And after tonight…” You pause. “…after tonight I see a vivacious sensual woman who…I’d very much like to get to know a little bit better.”

“Jesse, don’t say things you don’t mean. Don’t do this to me.”

“Casey.” You step closer and take her hands in yours. “I think you came out tonight, you did the things you did, because you want to get to know me a bit more too.”

Her silence speaks volumes, her soft hands very subtly gripping yours tighter. Eventually she mutters. “But Allison…”

“Never mind Allison. Hey. Did you have fun tonight?” You ask, bringing some levity back into your voice.

She nods. “It was…different. Exciting. Yes, I had fun.”

“Good.” You smile. “I did too.” Glancing back at the car you see Zoey and Elsie with their faces up against the window watching the pair of you, then duck down when they see you looking. “I think they had fun too.” You chuckle.

“Jesse…are you and Allie like…polyamorous or…?” Her voice drifts off.

“Never mind Allison.” You say again, really leaning into the weight of those words to make their meaning crystal clear.

“I don’t want to cause trouble.”

“Some trouble is worth causing.” You retort. She is wary but she does not put up a fight. “And as for polyamory…let’s just say I’m experimenting with some things right now. Trying some new stuff. Making changes in my life.” You say with playful guilt in your pouty hound dog expression. “I hope that’s not too weird.”

“Oh my God! That look! That’s how Elsie convinced us to strip for you! I swear you Bailey’s are wicked!” She laughs, it is a laugh of relief and the easing of tension with a healthy dose of desire sprinkled in. “No, not weird. New, different, maybe a little…exhilarating, but not weird.” After a beat she adds. “Well, maybe a little weird. But I don’t mind a little weird.”

“Well I can certainly be that. If you’re willing to keep an open mind…” You bring her hands to your mouth and kiss them. “…I really would like to get to know you better.”

“I just let my friend’s little sister talk me into a strip tease turned orgy, I just let a stranger eat my ass while an audience watched, and I just let said sister go down on me while she stared over at her big brother half the time.” Casey jests, a twinkle in her emerald eyes. “Yes, I’ll keep an open mind. We Devlin’s can be a bit wicked too.”

The tension evaporates completely as the pair of you laugh and come together for a none too innocent hug. She smelled so good, she felt so good, you could not wait to be with her. Had you not had people waiting for you, and had you not had a half working dick that hit you with crippling pain when it became aroused, you might have tried to invite yourself in. You kiss her, a long tender lingering kiss, then make plans to meet soon. She slips from your arms, a teasing glance back over her shoulder as if to say “follow me if you dare” before disappearing inside her house. You stand a moment and just…sigh.

Turning back toward the car you can hear Elsie and Zoey burst into laughter. As you sit back down in the driver’s seat they both let out a loud. “Ooooooooo!”

“What was that about?” Elsie says gleefully.

“Nothing.” You play it cool. “Just saying good night.”

“Suuuure ya were.” She teases, then adds more seriously. “She’s nice. I like her.”

“Yeah.” You smile. “Me too.”