Finally, Friday night arrived

I waited outside Nia's workplace as she finished her final shift. Basking in the cool night air, I sifted through my mental checklist one more time to make sure things were in order. Not that the plans Rina and I had made were anything particularly complicated; it was just that, like all things sexual, it took a degree of timing and consideration to execute effectively.

Nia emerged after some time, pushing open the door as she waved goodbye to her co-workers, and, undoubtedly, brushed away their thanks. She looked a little worse for wear, her smile in particular holding wearily, but her eyes still shined as brightly as they ever had. Seeing Nia this way gave me heart that things were off to a good start.

I closed in as soon as we saw each other, jogging over in quick order and giving her the biggest hug I possibly could.

Emery: Good job hun, you made it through!

She hugged me back even tighter and buried her face in my hair, even going so far as to pick me up off my feet and shaking me around as she squeezed.

Ooof, I nearly forgot how strong she was! She may not have been as big or muscular as Rina, but Nia’s body unquestionably belonged to an athlete. Normally I might have chafed at her manhandling me like this, but tonight I appreciated it more than anything. It was so very Nia — an intimate conveyance of feelings that resonated with her most naturally.

I wheezed as I tried to speak through my compression.

Emery: I’m proud of you love, I know that must have been really hard.

Nia: …Yeah, it was rough. Thanks for meeting me here.

She set me down, but didn’t let go, opting to continue holding me for as long as I’d allow. I obliged, of course, and we stayed like that for a good while; simply enjoying the first real, free taste of affection we’ve had from each other this week.

As nice as it was, however, we were sadly unable to keep it up indefinitely. The night was only so long, and we had other places to be.

I unearthed myself from her embrace and took her hands in mine, giving them a comforting knead as I looked in her eyes. Nia fluttered as I massaged her, sighing in relief as her body started to unwind.

Nia: Oooh thanks Em, that feels great. I’m so fucking stiff from all the busywork… This week sucked so fucking hard, man.

Emery: Yeah? Tell me about it.

I swapped to focusing on one hand as we slowly began walking side by side.

Nia: God, where do I even start? Working the back and service to fill in for Kent — the sonofabitch I told you about who just stopped showing up — was a fucking nightmare. Yenessa kept putting the mop by the door too, so I almost tripped coming out of the kitchen like 50 times! The tablets are still pieces of crap since Jen is too cheap to get new ones, so I have to keep tapping them over and over so they’ll actually fucking work!

I migrated one hand to her forearm and the other to her neck through her tirade, trying to make sure she didn’t get too twisted up while venting. She momentarily halted my work as it reached her shoulder; trapping my hand between it and her cheek, and nuzzling against it.

Nia: Haah...and if that weren’t all bad enough, this annoying couple keeps coming in lately. Every other night they're getting drunk 'n talking mad shit about all the people they know.

Emery: I thought hearing drama was part of what you liked about the job.

Nia: Normally yeah, but these girls are really damn catty.…like always going on and on about petty shit. And like, they just won’t shut up! S’like, c’mon man, I enjoy a lil bit of tea spillage here and there, but there’s a time and place. They’re drama hounds, it’s all I ever hear them talk about...and they don’t tip well!

Ahh, so that’s what was really pissing her off. Well I couldn’t blame her. Relying on the tips was bad enough without listening to people be nasty whole time. The whole affair sounded incredibly tiring.

I swapped to the other side of her body as we went on, hoping to alleviate all the pent up stress she'd accumulated.

Emery: Well I’m sorry hun, that sucks.

Nia: Mhmm — oh right there, yep, the spot under my pointer finger — but yeah, I’ll live. We have a few newbies coming in on Monday and Tuesday, so hopefully one of them will stick around long enough to learn the ropes.

Emery: Hopefully.

With the majority of Nia's woes seemingly untangled, we fell into a comfortable silence. The sparse sounds that did occur between us were mostly Nia’s groans of satisfaction, as well as the occasional request to knead one of her many sore spots.