Lunch at Little Dom's

Little Dom's was a moderately popular spot for lunch and dinner, and when Beth arrived, Lindsay was already seated. She was talking and laughing with Jake, the waiter, when Beth walked up and joined her. Jake was good looking: fit, young, slender and well groomed, with short cropped hair, a narrow face and strong jaw. He was funny, good at his job, and seemed to dig on Lindsay. Beth was sure that Lindsay wasn't shopping for a sugar daddy: a waiter at even a popular, mid-range Italian place was not her mark. No, she probably wanted dick: Lindsay's favorite phrase was "Alpha fucks, Beta bucks." {if Formation = 1
} She sometimes wondered if Lindsay said stuff like that just to needle at her inexperience and naivete. {elseif Formation = 5
}There was a time when Beth herself had been warm to that philosophy, but no more. She told herself that. Every day.
After getting a drink order, Jake left the table and the two girls got to talking. {endif
}
{if Career = 1
}"I'm so glad you could make it out! I know you have to work soon, and we can't hang out all day, but I'm glad you came out." Lindsay had a thousand watt smile, and was always genuinely happy to see her. Beth liked that.
"Yeah... another night of fun with Seth..." Beth tried not to sound sour.
"Girl, is he still....?" Beth nodded.
"He doesn't....do...anything. But it's obvious. And he schedules us to close together every night I work. I kind of want to say something to the GM, but...the money's good."
"I told you...you should come try out at the club. Horace would give his firstborn for a dancer with your body."
"Lindsay...." {if Formation = 1
}Beth shook her head incredulously. She could...NEVER....her face was getting red just thinking about it.
"Little Miss Prude, still? Come on, girl, you're a grown woman now, you've had some cock... don't act like a blushing teen.{elseif Formation = 4
}Beth shook her head. Strip clubs...they were a nexus for **** and a hive for the kind of guys she was trying to put in her past. "You know why I can't do that."
Lindsay scoffed. "You're stronger than that, babe.{elseif Formation = 5
}Her deepest inclinations were tickled by the possibilities...the attention... the temptations. Which is why she knew she could never do it. "You know how risky that would be for me. I'm trying to be good."
Lindsaysnorted. "Being bad's half the fun, Beth. {else
} Beth shook her head.
"{endif
}Money's good and you wouldn't have to wait tables five nights a week. You can dance two and make more money." Despite her words, Lindsay had no real heat in her arguments: she knew Beth, knew what she would and could do. And what she wouldn't or couldn't.
"Even if I wanted to, you know Brian wouldn't go for it."
"Brian..." Lindsay's voice flattened and her eyes narrowed a little.
{elseif Career = 4
}"I'm telling you, girl. Quitting over that sleazeball at the restaurant was the best decision you ever made."Lindsay was always on her side. "Now we get to just do whatever we want all day."
"Well... until I get a new job."
"Why? Isn't that workaholic you're marrying going to be Mr. Moneybags?" Lindsay's voice couldn't conceal a sneer of contempt. {else
}"How are you doing, girl! Sore feet today?"
Beth shook her head. "No dancing last night. I had a shoot."
"Ooooh. With that stud... what's his name?"
"Damien."
"Damien.... even his name is sexy. {if Formation = 5
} So... sore knees, then?" Lindsay stuck out her tongue.
"Lindsay! I'm getting married! I don't...anymore."
"you aren't married yet, girl...and I'm sure he wants it. No guy who feasts his eyes on that body as much as he does can't be not thinking about it."
Beth gave an exasperated shake of her head. "Well I don't care if he is. It's not for him." {else
} He's probably got money... does he need some company?"
"You're the worst." Beth laughed{if Formation = 3
}, and had to fight down a twinge of...jealousy? That couldn't be. Over Damien? She shook it off and smiled at her friend.{else
}.{endif
} Lindsay would never change.
"You love me."
"I do." {endif
}
"Still saving all your loving for that man of yours, then? The one with no time for it?" Lindsay's voice had a touch of sneer in it. {endif
}
Beth gave a long-suffering sigh. Lindsay was her best friend, and she loved her{if Formation = 1
} even though she was her sexual opposite. {elseif Formation = 5
} for the dirty slut she was. {else
}.{endif
} But Lindsay did not think highly of Brian, especially not since she had told her about the new normal of their relationship. Lindsay didn't think Brian deserved Beth; she was pleasant enough when it was the three of them together, but she got the feeling that Lindsay was frosty to Brian whenever she left them alone together.
"I didn't come to lunch to talk about Brian."