Chapter 5
FIVE
Hartford
“You look fine. I’m sure people at this community munch aren’t going to be dressed in gimp suits.” Paxton smiles at me as we turn into the parking area at Danbury Park in Saint Pierce on a sunny afternoon.
“What’s a gimp suit?” I’m not cut out for this. This term is something I haven’t come across in my searches yet, so I open my black composition notebook, ready to take notes.
“A gimp suit is an all-black leather suit with the mask. Usually the gimp is on a leash.”
“Oh, like in Pulp Fiction.”
Paxton glances at me as he parks his Jeep Rubicon. “The fact you know Pulp Fiction is the reason we’re best friends.”
“That’s the only reason?” I raise an eyebrow. “Not the mutual love of Pad Thai, or our love of all movies? Or the fact that I’m the only person who will put up with your infatuation with rubber duckies.” I point to the line of rubber ducks along his dashboard.
“I like having all my ducks in a row.” He drums his fingers lightly on the steering wheel.
I pluck a pink rubber duck wearing a gold chain, cowgirl hat, and aviator sunglasses from the dash. “This is my favorite.”
“I got that one here in Saint Pierce. At Club Greed.”
I shake my head. “It’s still insane to me how loyal Jeep owners are about this.”
There’s a thing called Jeep Ducking. Jeep owners leave rubber ducks on other Jeep owners’ vehicles when they’re out and about.
Then, the owners put their ducks in a row along their dashboard.
I once tried to put a rubber duck on the dashboard of my Beetle, and Paxton vetoed the action.
Said it could only be done with Jeep owners.
So, I tossed the rubber duck in my glove box, and that is where he remains until this day.
“It’s a Jeep cult.” He shuts off the engine, and we both glance out the windshield to see if we spot any people in gimp outfits outside.
I don’t know how to act. Will people ask Paxton or me about our sex life?
I hop out of the Jeep and start second-guessing my outfit choice when I survey the people.
Since Google wasn’t helpful about what to expect at today’s community munch, I wore what I felt would be appropriate to blend in.
I sneak a peek at my fishnet stockings and consider ditching them, because I’m giving off an emo Britney Spears vibe with my plaid skirt and black cropped top.
I topped off the look with clunky black boots that I bought on a whim years ago.
Because I’m ridiculous, I put my auburn hair in pigtails, but after observing the normalcy of the park, I decide to set my hair free.
“What are you doing?” Paxton asks as I release one pigtail. He walks around his Jeep to meet me on the passenger side.
“I feel weird with the pigtails.”
He tugs at the one still up and smirks. “It’s cute. Like handlebars.”
I smack at him playfully. “You did not just say that about my pigtails.” I take the other one out and comb my hair with my fingers.
We head to the gazebo by the river where the meeting is taking place. On the way there, we receive a few glances from various people. I tell myself it’s because Paxton looks ridiculously handsome in blue jeans and a black Polo shirt, and not because my skirt barely covers my nether regions.
“Are you nervous?” I ask him because I certainly am.
He glances over at me. “I don’t get nervous.”
“That can’t be true. I’m sure you get nervous about some things. Remember the senior play? You were nervous before performing.”
He shakes his head. “I hated that Coach made us perform in Romeo and Juliet. I seriously didn’t want to be in it.”
“You were a phenomenal Friar Laurence.”
He rolls his green eyes playfully. “Yeah, sure. And to answer your question, yes, I remember, and no, I wasn’t nervous.”
“Liar.”
He must have been nervous. I had only a small part as Lady Montague, and I couldn’t stop shaking before the performance.
We draw nearer to the large gazebo at the back of the park, and I spy people sitting at the picnic tables. They all look…normal. Not a gimp suit in sight.
There are two men in button-down dress shirts and black pants talking to a woman in a shirt that says Mom’s Off Duty.
A few other people mingle around the table, all dressed in regular clothing. I’m the only person who looks like something out of Halloween.
“Let’s go back to your Jeep.” I stop walking.
Paxton halts his steps and twines his fingers with mine, his green eyes shining in the sun’s light. “Hart, you’re going to be fine. Where’s your notebook?”
I glance back at the vehicles in the lot. “Oh, I left it in the Jeep.”
“I’ll run back and get it. Go save us a seat.” He drops my hand and takes off for his Jeep.
Before I can sprint after him, a feminine voice says, “He’s cute,” from behind me.
I spin around and spot a brunette with big blue eyes.
“Is he your boyfriend?” she asks.
I shake my head, but I don’t want her to think Paxton is available to do BDSM activities with her.
One thing Google said about community munches is this is a place where people meet to perform BDSM scenes with.
It’s also a place for like minded folk to meet and discuss BDSM.
“He’s with me, yes.” There. I didn’t lie.
She holds out her hand. “I’m Natalie. Is this your first munch?”
I visibly relax. “Yes, I’m quite nervous.”
She pushes her black-rimmed glasses further up her nose with a sweet smile. “Oh, don’t be. We don’t bite,” she leans closer, “unless you want us to.” She winks and walks off toward the gazebo.
I don’t want to draw attention to myself by standing here rooted to the grass, so I follow her and take a seat at an empty picnic table.
Most days, I hate peopling, but I need to put that aside and be friendly to learn all I can about this lifestyle.
If I could do some interviews that would also be a big help too.
Thankfully, I don’t have to people alone because Paxton returns. He settles in next to me and places my composition notebook and pen in front of me.
I open the book to the first page and write Community Munch at the top. “I’m ready.”
“You’re so cute,” Paxton says. “It’s like we’re in high school English class all over again and you’re ready to take notes on Beowulf.”
“And just like in English class, you can copy my notes later.”
“I was never good with poetry.”
“I’m surprised you remember Beowulf is a poem.”
He offers a quick burst of laughter. “Oh, is it? I was just guessing.” Paxton smiles at me, and then focuses his attention on a man in a suit with dark hair who sits across from us.
“Do you know him?”
Paxton shakes his head. “No, but I don’t like the way he’s looking at you. It’s like you’re on his menu and he wants to gobble you up.”
I glance at the man in a suit. “I don’t think he’s looking at me.” I can literally see the man’s eyeballs fixed on Natalie.
“Not right now, but he was. If he does it again, I might go over there and punch him.”
My jaw drops. “Paxton, you can’t do that.”
Paxton shifts and a scowl replaces his smile from earlier. “Watch me.”
I place my hand on his arm. “You can’t go around punching people.”
“Well, he better not look at you again.”
A warm and fuzzy feeling spreads throughout me from Paxton’s possessiveness. I’m sure I wouldn’t be feeling this way if he got up and punched the man in his face, but I know Paxton and I know he wouldn’t do that. At least, I hope he won't.
“Hi,” an older man with blond hair says. “I’m Woody Davies, one of the organizers here today. Are you Hartford?”
“Yes, I am,” I say, breathing a sigh of relief. “I called the organizer before coming,” I say to Paxton. I shake Woody’s hand and feel instantly better about being here. You know how you can just tell somebody’s a good person when you meet them? I instantly get a good feeling about this man.
“I’m happy you two could join us today. We’re a very informal bunch, and we love meeting new people. We’ve got food coming, and you can just hang around, talk to anyone. If you need anything, just let me know.”
Paxton nods. “We appreciate that.”
“Can I ask what kinks you’re both into and I can point you in that direction?”
I blink. “Kinks?”
“Usually how these things go is that niches within the community sit at the same table so they can meet people who are into the same things.”
“Oh, right.” I nod like I know what’s going on.
“We’re pretty open to whatever the lifestyle offers,” Paxton says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
“No pain though,” I add on.
Woody nods. “I get it. Let me introduce you to Natalie. She’s into a lot of different things, and I’m sure she can be a big help to the both of you.”
“Okay, thanks. I met her earlier.”
Paxton raises a brow at me. “Lead the way,” he says, returning his attention back to Woody.
I hesitate for a moment because I’m slightly jealous of having Paxton anywhere near Natalie. But then I remember he’s just my friend, nothing more.
This is all so new to me, and I can’t believe I’m here. I hug my notebook closer to my chest as Woody drags us over to a table with Natalie and a few other people.
Time to pretend I know what I’m doing.
Good luck with that.