Chapter 6
There was a strange mixture of extreme friendliness, extreme coldness, running hot and cold from Linda. I didn't understand it. I felt sure my heart told me she had no idea. The only thing she could base her suspicions on were the cigarettes in the bedroom, and it was completely possible that it happened just the way I said it did.
I was confident ... comfortable in my, new role as Gil's mistress. I felt good. Felt like I was the center of attraction of the boys I was with, and I loved every minute of it.
I caught Gill staring at me several times as we got things ready and at last moved out of the apartment into Bob's convertible and took off for the beach.
There was hardly no traffic and we made great time on the highway. From time to time I would glance into the rear-view mirror and catch Linda or Gil's eyes-or both of them at the same time. I was tremendously pleased with myself. I would simply smile or turn around and say something noncommittal. In my head, I was turning into a real bitch.
I knew, though if I wanted to keep my role up, if I wanted to be convincing, I had better start paying a lot more attention to Bob.
It would serve two purposes. First and foremost, Gil would burn with jealousy, and second, it would spur Bob on to be more attentive to me.
The hot afternoon sun was blaring down into the convertible and I smiled at Bob. "It's a little chilly today. Maybe your arm could keep me warmer," I said, moving in even closer to him and nestling my head on his shoulders.
As he put his arm around me, I reached up and grabbed hold of his bicep.
"You're really built like a man should be," I said, loud enough for the pair in the back to hear me. "You're not so bad, yourself."
"You insinuating I'm built like a man?" I said, affecting mock injury.
"Are you kidding? You're built better than any woman I've seen!"
"Hey! I resent that!" Linda chimed in from the back seat.
"I've never seen you nude," Bob went on, smiling ... into the rear view mirror.
"And it'll be a hot day in hell before you do," she said. "Isn't that so, Gil?"
"You better believe it!" he answered.
Then the whole car seemed to drop into a dead silence. I knew what Gil and I were thinking about, but I wondered what was going through Linda's and Bob's minds.
It didn't take me long to find out ... at least so far as Bob was concerned.
"I'll bet you all thought we were going to one of the public beaches?"
"Aren't we?" I asked.
"No siree! Nothing is too good for my friends," he went on.
"Well? Where to, then?"
"My aunt has a house down here. The beach is real private with stockade fencing all around the private beach. And when I say private, I mean there's not another house or person around for miles."
"That's fun," I said. "What are we going to do there?"
"How about playing house?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Simple. You and Linda can be the mommies and Gil and I will be the daddies."
"You mean, one big, happy family?" I said, distaste clearly-showing in my voice.
"Don't be silly! We'll make believe it's a two-family house."
Again there was silence. I wondered if the two in the back seat had heard, and what their reaction was. If they did, they were going for the idea. I knew Gil couldn't say anything to negate it. And Linda certainly wouldn't want to.
Bob turned the car into a very expensive looking tudor style house and drove up the fifty or so yards to the front door and parked in the driveway.
"Is anybody here?" I asked, expecting servants or something.
"Nope. She only uses the place a couple weeks a year, now that her husband died."
"How convenient," I said, as Bob jumped out of the car.
I went to reach for the door handle, but decided to play the game to the hilt and waited until he got around to the other side and opened the door for me.
"Look who wants to be a lady," Linda giggled from the back seat.
"I'm just starting," I said, my tone half serious. "Wait 'til you see me in full swing," I went on, already planning ... scheming what I was going to do. " Bob opened the front door and we all went in.
Gil let out a low, smooth whistle as he looked around and took in the posh furnishings. Everything in this place reeked of money. It was so fantastically elaborate that it even impressed me, even though my own parents had enough money to buy and sell a place like this ten times over.
"I certainly wouldn't call this cozy," I said, looking around the stark, formal rooms.
"To some people, it's home," Bob countered.
"I guess so," I said, moving into the living room.
"Oh, a hi-fi," I said. "How nice. Do you have any records around here?"
"Records? I thought we'd get out to the beach."
"We will ... as soon as you make me a drink."
"Sure," he said. "Anybody else?"
Everyone agreed and Gil went to help him mix the drinks.
"What the hell's with you?" Linda asked, as soon as we were along.
"What do you mean?" I asked, affecting an air of innocence.
"You know damned well what I mean, Rosalie. What's this high-falutin air of yours, all of a sudden, this cheap, two-bit tavern whore jazz? What's come over you?"
"I don't know," I said, honestly. "I just don't know. I'm just so confused."
"I'll say you are. Look, Rosalie. I'm your friend, and I'm telling you right now, you're gonna drive Bob so far away if you don't come back down to earth."
"You're right. I know you're right. And I'll try, hard. It's just that I'm scared ... really. I don't know how to act with him. Don't forget ... it's the first guy I ever put out for, Linda."
"I understand, kid. But look, try, will ya?"
"Yes. I will," I promised, meaning it Realizing that not only would I drive Bob away, but Gil as well, if I didn't watch my step.
"Let's go see if we can help with the drinks."
"That's more like it," she said. The two of us went running out of the living room toward the kitchen.
"Hey, guys," I called, "How about a little help?"
"Sure. We can always do with a little help," Bob said, smiling broadly.
"After all, if we're playing house and Linda and I are the mommies, we should be in the kitchen. Now you two get out of her."
"Sure thing. Just as soon as we find the booze."
"Silly. In a house like this you don't look for it in the kitchen. She must have a bar someplace."
"That's right!" Bob said. "The living room! By the bookcases. You're so smart sometimes, Ros."
"That's just the beginning, I laughed. "Wait 'til you see what a whiz I am at gin rummy."
We all laughed, and for the first time since we'd been together, the atmosphere was relaxed.
I could almost see Gil's face light up with relief. I guess he was afraid I would snap ... and blow the whole scene.
Linda moved out of the kitchen first. Bob followed. For an instant, I stole a glance at Gil and he smiled at me.
"That's my girl," he whispered.
"I love you." I mouthed the words silently.
"I love you, too." he smiled. And then the two of us followed Linda and Bob.
"Now then," I said, "What the hell are we drinking. I forgot."
"Surprise us," Linda said, moving toward the stereo. "Can we get some good music on here?" she asked. "I don't see why not"
"Hey! That was my idea," I said. "And now, I don't feel like staying inside any longer. What say we take our drinks outside and have them on the beach ... the way grown-ups do."
"Suits me," Linda said. "But let me give you a hand. We're gonna be out there for a while, so we might as well make a couple of pitchers."
"That's a laugh," I went on. "Three drinks and I've had it You know my limit"
"But I, on the other hand," she cackled, "am a really practiced lush. And you know that!"
"I know," I said, hesitatingly. It was true. Linda had a drinking problem. When she started, she couldn't stop, sometimes.
I saw the disappointment in Gil's face; saw the pain closing in over all his expression ... and I knew that he did really care about Linda. I was surprised; I didn't feel jealousy; didn't feel anything but sorry for the both of them.
"What do you say we mix four drinks and take them out?" Gill said.
"Don't be silly," Linda went on. "I've been with mama and papa for a whole weekend, and now it's time for little 'darling" Linda to have some fun." Now it's time for her to be the one who was bitching.
"Hey. Come on," I said. "Enough of this. We'll all get smashed," and I broke into an almost hysterical laughter; almost uncontrollable. That's what I wanted to do ... All of us get smashed; stoned to the gills and then all of us end up in bed, together. And I was going to do everything humanly possible to make it work this way.
I had to face the facts. I had to realize that before the four of us left here today, we were all going to end up in bed, one way or the other. Whether it was Gil and Linda and Bob and I, or the four of us together; it was going to happen. It was inevitable, and there was no way around it.
We'd made the drinks and were moving out toward the gorgeous, expansive beach. Linda, who was carrying the pitcher was already sipping from it
"Hey, this is great for me ... but what are the rest of you guys gonna drink?" she smiled.
"I almost believe you're serious, young lady," I said, smiling back at her.
"Damned straight, I am."
"Well, don't you worry about that. As soon as that's gone, I'll mix us another batch ... stronger ... "
"Okay," Bob said. "Here we go, into wonderland."
"Always ready for that," I answered, moving out the door.
It was breathtakingly beautiful. Private. The perfect spot for my plan; the perfect place to have a group session ... an orgy! But my mind ... my body ... would only respond to one touch-Gil's.