Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
He felt nervous, as if he was going on his first-ever date.
That he had slept with all four women did nothing to ease the feeling. In fact, it seemed to make it even worse. There was a weight there, a history.
There was expectation.
What if they were different?
What if he was?
What happens on Spring Break stays in Spring Break. They were in the real world now, one where social mores and conventions had more weight, where the rules of interaction were more nuanced than “anything goes”.
He stood outside the restaurant, off to the side, watching the doors.
He was late, he knew that, but he still couldn’t bring himself to walk into the room, to turn the dream into a reality, with all the possible pitfalls that could bring. But he also knew that they wanted this, Stepphy had told him so. And he trusted her above all else. After all, it had been Stepphy who had put all of this into motion, and for that, he would be forever grateful.
“Fuck it,” he said and walked into the restaurant.
“Good evening,” said the ma?tre d'.
“HI, “ said Josh, “I’m looking for…”
“Right this way, sir,” said the ma?tre d', walking into the restaurant.
Josh followed him to the table and as soon as he laid eyes on them, all his doubts and worries faded away.
The ma?tre d' said something but Josh didn’t hear him and he left the table.
Chiho.
Aiko.
Emi.
All three of them were at the table, dolled to the nines.
He had seen them dressed up to go out partying, in bikinis at the beach, seen every inch of them as he explored their bodies with every part of his.
But he had never seen them like this.
“Say hello then,” said Chiho, seriously, before bursting into a grin.
“Hello,” he said weakly, scarcely able to believe they were there in front of him. “You look… you all look… wow.”
“You’ve really got a way with words,” said Emi.
Aiko giggled.
“Sorry,” he said, “you took my breath away.”
“Come, sit,” said Aiko, patting a chair next to her.
He obliged and sat down next to her.
He still couldn’t believe how good they looked, how sophisticated. But still, he knew underneath the refinery and sophistication, there were the three women he had spent two amazing weeks with at Spring Break.
“Sorry I’m late,” said Stepphy as she approached the table.
“No problem,” said Chiho.
“Is something wrong, boss?” she asked.
“Not a damn thing,” he said, watching as she took her seat, her slim body poured into a tight black dress that was the complete opposite of how she usually dressed.
“I’m glad to hear it, now, shall we get the party started?”
As if on command, the table filled with laughter and conversation and jokes and merriment. All the while, Josh sat there in silence, breathing in the atmosphere. He didn’t know what the future held, all he knew was he was going to enjoy this moment with the four of them for as long as he possibly could.