How To Train Your Girlfriend 10 (Patreon)

Chapter 10: Lisa

~~~

Eight Years Ago: Lisa

~~~

Lisa sat on the sofa, cuddling against her boyfriend. A blanket covered their laps, and the dark single-bed dorm room flickered with laptop lighting at the foot of the bed. On screen, misguided college kids ran from fungus-zombies shambling toward them. Their outstretched arms and pathetic groaning made Lisa giggle. The movie’s lighting looked excellent, but it highlighted its terrible zombie makeup. At least the women seemed to have done their own makeup, and it worked.   

The gorgeous sorority women in skimpy dresses, slutty outfits, and swimsuits had been in the middle of a rager when the zombies showed up. The frat guys tried to fight off the zombies to protect them, leading to clumsy camera angles and terrible choreography. Chaos dominated the screen. One of the fleeing college girls had her bikini top ripped off by a clumsy zombie. She turned to the camera just in time to show off a pair of perfect, natural double-D breasts as she screamed. 

“Damn,” Freddy said, looking at Lisa. He offered her the bag of microwave popcorn so she could take a handful. “This one has more nudity than the one you brought last week. Are you sure this movie isn’t a porno?” 

Lisa chuckled, scooped a handful of popcorn, and munched. “Yeah, well, I figured you’d enjoy it if there were more tits for you to ogle. But no, it’s not a porno. It’s just an independent film. It’s better than last week’s, right?” 

Freddy laughed. It wasn’t a cruel laugh, but a crude one. Freddy had crude manners, with a crude sense of humor and no sense of style. He was slender, with a pretty face when he remembered to shave. Freddy had asked Lisa out one Sunday after church, and the rest was history. She couldn’t remember what she liked about him, but she stayed with him. They were only in the second semester of their freshman year, but they had fun. He was crude and loved the same taboos she enjoyed, so why not? 

“I do love tits,” Freddy said, conceding the point.

“Yeah, you do,” Lisa agreed. 

“I wouldn’t mind seeing more of yours.” He waggled his eyebrows and stared at the blanket she had pulled up to her neck. 

Lisa’s laugh turned dry, but she leaned back, away from him. “Oh, yeah? Who has better breasts? Me or Blonde Coed Number Five?” She cupped her chest through her loose T-shirt to make her point. They weren’t humongous, but they were well-shaped, if she said so herself. Her breasts were wide, not sticking out much, but they had thick, round curves at the bottom, making them a decent handful. 

“Well, Blonde Coed Number Five has bigger breasts, but yours have a better shape. Her tits go off at weird angles. Redhead Number Two, though, well, she’s got you beat,” Freddy said, shrugging. “So far, those are the best tits I’ve ever seen, and I’ve had an internet connection since forever.” 

Lisa punched his shoulder. “Oh, yeah?” she asked. “Can Redhead Number Two do this?” She lifted her shirt, tossing it aside, and unclasped her bra, letting it fall. She squeezed her nipple, hardening it as she watched the screen, where more tops came off as the women ran. 

Freddy had seen her breasts plenty of times before, but he always enjoyed them. He joined in on squeezing them, flicking his eyes between her and the screen. “Damn, still sure this isn’t a porno? Not that I mind. I love the idea of watching porn while we do it.” He sucked on her nipple, biting it and making her wince. 

“Ow! Chill, man. It’s a horror movie,” Lisa said. “But yeah, it has a lot of nudity.” 

Freddy stopped sucking her nipple and kissed the top of her breast as an apology for the bite. “Well, I enjoy yours more than theirs. A boob in the hand is worth two on the screen,” Freddy said as if reciting a wise adage. He cupped her breast and squeezed it to emphasize his point. 

Lisa supposed the saying held some wisdom. She’d seen bodies on screen plenty of times, in movies and in porn, but it was never the same. Still, these movies excited her. She didn’t know why, but they got her motor going. The heat between her legs had shifted toward arousal, and she found her fingers slipping into her shorts, exploring, but not fingering herself yet. If the movie were a porno, she’d have gone further, but she couldn’t deny that parts of the movie were erotic. 

She didn’t agree with the exploitation, unfair practices, or treatment of the women in the films. Still, she appreciated old, cheesy sexploitation horror flicks. Even the cheap stuff. Was it wrong to enjoy them so much? Well, it wasn’t real, so that helped. Like porn, the plot only worked if she turned her brain off and enjoyed herself. Alien mold escaped its ship after it crash-landed and infected the nearest couple, who were parking in the woods for a romp in their truck bed. 

The almost pornographic nude scene, intercut with the crash landing, bordered on hilarious when you added wooden acting and atrocious writing. She swore; it was as if virgins wrote these scenes. They always made them say the most ridiculous things during the act. Or the writers made the dialogue terrible on purpose, for comedic effect.

Lisa had never boasted about how great Freddy’s cock felt while they fucked. She shut up, closed her eyes, and enjoyed herself. So did he. In her experience, talking ruined the mood. Dirty talk might help, but only during foreplay. Not during the act itself.

And who thought a blanket in a truck bed was comfortable? She’d be riding cowgirl if that was the only comfort between her and the pickup bed.  

“I swear, watching these movies with you, you’re gonna give me a complex, or a kink,” Freddy said, groping her breast. “I’d be more turned on if they screamed less, used less fake blood, and had fewer zombies groaning. Every time I get hard from the tits, they cut to an ugly zombie fucker.” 

“So you don’t want me to suck you off?” Lisa asked. “Fine.” 

“Hey, I didn’t say that,” Freddy said, reaching under the blanket for her. 

“Nope, too late,” Lisa said, smacking his hand. “No blowjob for you.” 

“Oh, yeah?” Freddy asked. He snatched her shirt away, and her bra, which she had discarded. “Get under the blanket and do a good job, or walk back to your dorm without your top.”  

Lisa arched an eyebrow. Her shorts were simple relay shorts. They were cheeky and easy to pull aside or off, and made her feel sexy. She counted on her T-shirt to cover them. Without it, she might as well be in a pair of panties if she wore any. 

“Too much?” Freddy asked. 

“Don’t be an asshole,” Lisa said. “Give me my shirt back.” 

“Earn it,” Freddy said. 

Lisa sighed. She didn’t think Freddy would go through with his threat. He was just playing around. The movie had her pretty worked up, so she slipped under the covers. She pushed his sweats down and straddled his chest, pushing him into a lying position. If she was sucking him off, then he was eating her out—Fair’s fair. 

Freddy didn’t protest or pause the movie. He pulled the loose fabric of her shorts aside from between her legs and brushed his fingers against her as she licked him. She opened for him, her eyes still on the topless sorority women banding together with makeshift weapons from the campus athletic center to fight the zombie horde. She had a pretty good view of the laptop once she lifted the covers.

“Warn me,” Lisa said. 

“Yeah, yeah,” Freddy said. “Now stop being a tease.” 

“I’m waiting for you to get started,” Lisa said, wiggling her hips for him. 

Freddy sighed and rubbed her with his thumb before pushing his finger inside her. It wasn’t what she’d hoped for, but it was good enough. Lisa swallowed his cock, taking him into her throat in one shove. She had no gag reflex, and Freddy had said that he loved that about her more than he’d told her he loved her. 

Lisa bobbed her head, enjoying herself as if he continued fingering her. She imagined it wasn’t Freddy at all, but a coed in the movie playing with her, and that made her nice and wet for his fingers. He was correct: the redhead had the best pair of breasts, but the blonde must’ve been the director’s favorite. She became the focus, using a metal baseball bat as a weapon as she and the others defended themselves. 

The movie wasn’t as violent as the scenario made it seem. For all their brandishing and readiness, it wasn’t as if they had the budget for realistic violence. Instead, the women fortified themselves inside, huddling in the gym for emotional support, rubbing shoulders and hugging in the shadows. 

Darkness hid their nudity, but emphasized it in certain ways. Any woman standing in profile had nipples hard enough to see in her shadow. The strips of light from the blinds emphasized the nudity in ways that made Lisa’s mouth water. She wanted to press her lips to their skin, and slide her tongue between the pussy lips of the redhead. Instead, she was sucking dick. 

Lisa moaned as Freddy’s tongue found her clit. She sucked harder, rewarding his efforts. Her fingers fondled his balls while she sucked, playing with them. Sucking dick was far from her favorite activity, but she was good at it, and Freddy enjoyed it. Moreover, it was the only way he ever went down on her. It’d be better if his face were smoother. The rough five-o’clock shadow was as harsh as sandpaper, catching her off-guard, but it soon softened into silk as her arousal spread. 

She moaned as Blondie and Red hugged each other, topless and naked except for their bikini bottoms, just as the zombies burst in. The makeshift flamethrowers the girls had made with lighters and hairspray battled the zombies. The firelight illuminated so many naked breasts that Lisa forgot she was sucking on a dick until Freddy smacked her ass in impatience.

She pushed herself against him, insisting he get better at eating her out. He smacked her ass again, and she took her mouth off his dick. 

“What is your problem?” Lisa asked. 

“You’re getting distracted,” Freddy said. “Come on, you’re not doing anything. Should we pause the movie?” 

“I’d rather pause blowing you so I can watch the movie,” Lisa said. “You’re the one who demanded I do this.” 

“Well, you can’t stop now,” Freddy said, gesturing at his balls. “But if we pause it, maybe you can pay attention to your goddamn duties for five fucking minutes.” 

“My duties?!” Lisa recoiled from Freddy, moving off the bed and away from him as she adjusted her shorts and covered her breasts. Fury bloomed on her face, not embarrassment. “Fuck you, I’m going home.” She pressed the button on the laptop, popped out the DVD, grabbed it, and shoved it into her binder of horror flicks. 

“What the fuck? Are you serious?” Freddy asked, sitting up in bed. “You can’t leave me like this!” He gestured to his dick. 

“Like what?” Lisa asked, knowing what he meant, but knowing it wasn’t her responsibility. “You know how to take care of yourself, don’t you? Now, give me my shirt.” 

“Fuck you,” Freddy said. “You want to leave? Leave! But everyone on campus will know you’re a fucking freak who gets off on these stupid horror flicks.” 

“Give me my shirt,” Lisa said. Anger didn’t cover the emotions rising through her as Freddy held his hand behind his back and made no move to give her the shirt. 

“No,” Freddy said, obstinate as ever. “Get back in bed and stop being such a bitch, Lisa. You always do this. You always ruin everything over nothing.” 

“Oh, fuck you,” Lisa said. She clutched her DVD binder to her chest, grabbed her purse, and left. Not looking back despite Freddy’s many cries that he was kidding. He didn’t chase after her once she made it through the lobby. 

The run back to her dorm wasn’t long, but it was cold outside. She wasn’t alone for most of the flight from Freddy’s dorm either. People noticed, and a few grabbed photos before she disappeared. 

“I’m never dating another man again,” Lisa said, covering her chest with her arms as she cried and ran. “They’re the absolute worst.”  

~~~

Monday Morning: Lisa

~~~

“So, how was your weekend?” Sandy asked as she pulled off her shirt, leaving her in a purple bra, which she unsnapped. 

Lisa put on her sports bra, trying her best not to ogle Sandy. The Latina’s sculpted physique invited envy when she compared it to her own lithe frame. Sandy never seemed to mind, but she’d tease Lisa if she caught her gawking. Besides, the gym locker room wasn’t the place to ogle her friends. The whole point of a women-only gym was to avoid that objectification. 

“It was weird and frustrating,” Lisa said, sighing. She pulled on her gym shorts, letting the tight yoga shorts roll over her hips and thighs until they settled. She tied her gym sneakers, propping her foot on the bench. 

“Oh?” Sandy asked, confused. “What happened?” She adjusted her bra until it fit snugly. 

“I had a date,” Lisa explained, knowing she couldn’t say who. “And it was weird.” 

“Spill,” Sandy said, unable to hide her interest. “My love life has been so boring. The men on these apps are the worst.” 

“I don’t disagree,” Lisa said, rolling her eyes. Sandy was straight, undeniably so, but Lisa still suggested everyone try women at least once. For her, it had changed her life. She’d realized there was a better way than dealing with assholes. 

“Well, of course you don’t,” Sandy said. “You hate men.” She stepped into her yoga pants. 

“I don’t hate men,” Lisa said, annoyed at having to defend herself. Of course, the derision and defensiveness in her voice didn’t help her case. “I just think there’s a better way.” 

Sandy gave her a look of disbelief, but she didn’t challenge her. She pulled on a T-shirt and sat on the bench to tie her shoes. “You hate men,” she said. “But that’s okay, more for me. I’ll find a good one, someone worth more than a disappointing night in their apartment.” 

Lisa rolled her eyes. “Well, good luck with that.” Her mind jumped to Henry and their group date on Saturday night. It hadn’t gone to plan. 

“So, who was your date?” Sandy asked after several moments of silence. She stood beside the locker room door, waiting for Lisa. “And what made it weird?” 

Lisa sighed. She grabbed her phone and water bottle, locked her locker, and followed Sandy onto the gym floor. The gym was a constant battle of sensory inputs. Cool air pumped in from the ceiling and washed over the sweaty bodies. Here, at least, the dense miasma of man-sweat didn’t exist. The tangy odor of cleaning products, steel, and powdery rose-and-jasmine deodorant replaced it. The hum of treadmills, the clank of weights, and the occasional soft music through headphones created an ambiance beneath the gym chatter. 

“You won’t tell me?” Sandy asked as they reached the yoga mats for their warm-up. “Did you meet her here? Do I know her?” She looked around, as if someone might leap up and claim she was the culprit. 

“It was with a girl I met at the bookstore a long time ago,” Lisa said. She didn’t remember if Sandy knew how she and Vicky met, but she’d met plenty of people at the bookstore. “What made it weird was that it was a double date with a hetero couple. They’re in, like, a polycule, or looking to form one.” 

Sandy raised both eyebrows as she started her plyometric warm-up routine. “A polycule?” She asked, running in place. 

“Both girls are dating the guy. And the girls are dating each other, I guess,” Lisa said. “It’s polyamory.” 

“It’s polygamy if there’s only one guy,” Sandy said. “Is this a cult? Cult leaders are always trying to recruit more women and fuck them.” The cross around her neck was a constant reminder of Sandy’s Catholic faith, but she was nowhere near as messed up with her religion as Mary was. She did, however, watch too many cult documentaries. 

“It’s not a cult,” Lisa said. “But it was weird.” 

“Who asked who out?” Sandy asked. 

“I asked her,” Lisa said. “This girl, um, Nicki, with an I, I met her a while ago. We ran into each other at the library on Saturday, and I figured, why not shoot my shot, you know?” 

“Adorable,” Sandy said. “Did you help her find her books or something?” 

“Well, yes,” Lisa said. 

“And she agreed to go on a date?” Sandy asked. “Did she tell you she was poly, or did she spring it on you?” 

“Well, she told me this couple had asked her out,” Lisa said, realizing she’d known about the poly situation since before she asked Vicky out. “But I didn’t expect them to join our date.” 

“Yeah,” Sandy said. “That’s weird, right?” 

“Yeah,” Lisa agreed. “It was weird. They were nice about it, but Nicki wanted them to come.” 

“So it wasn’t a surprise,” Sandy said. “And you went?” 

“I’ve wanted to date her for a while,” Lisa said. “She’s so hot.” 

“Tell me everything,” Sandy said. “What’s she like?” 

“She’s a gamer,” Lisa said. “Her taste in music is everywhere, but she enjoys watching old horror movies. She’s smart, but more witty than bookish; she reads romances, but she diversifies.” 

“Sounds like she and Vicky would get along great,” Sandy said. “You should keep them away from each other. Vicky might steal her from you. Heh, Nicki, Vicky, Sandy.” She pointed to herself. “You hang out with a lot of people whose names end in y-sounds. Mary, too. Oh! You should invite Nicki to book club! We’ll wing-woman you, and I’ll be a buffer between her and Vicky.” 

“Sure, maybe,” Lisa said, trying to sound agreeable but not committal. Hiding Vicky and Mary’s identities in the story had complicated matters, but it wasn’t her place to out her friends to her friends. She would have this conversation again with her therapist. She could be honest with the names in that conversation. 

Sandy took her statement as a yes, and didn’t bring it up again as they worked out. The exercises were familiar, the same ones she did every Monday, but Sandy made her increase the weights, so she couldn’t take it easy. 

“So, are you going on a second date?” Sandy asked. 

“I don’t know,” Lisa confessed. “I might not be built for poly.” 

“And she wants a polycule?” Sandy asked. 

Lisa nodded, grunting with effort as she racked the weighted barbell and sat on the bench between sets. “Yeah, she’s bisexual and doesn’t want to ditch the guy. It sounds like whether or not I join, they’re forming a polycule.” 

“So you can either join in, or lose out,” Sandy summarized. “That sucks. Do you have to date the other two to get with her?” 

“No,” Lisa said after a moment’s consideration. “They said we’d be metamours.” She resumed lifting as Sandy googled the term. 

“So you can date her, but you’re worried about the future?” Sandy asked. 

“Exactly,” Lisa said. “She said she’s not even into marriage, so if I date her, I’m agreeing to be casual for the rest of my life.” 

“That’s not the same thing,” Sandy said. “But I get you. My parents would flip out if I dated a guy who refused to marry me, but they’re Catholic. They have expectations.” 

“How do they handle your one-night boyfriends?” Lisa asked. 

“Are you kidding?” Sandy asked. She and Lisa switched places. “I don’t tell my parents shit. As far as they know, I’m a nun. My older sister is the favorite with her husband of ten years and her four kids. My younger sister is the black sheep of the family, with no husband and a kid from her wild partying days. I’m right in the middle, invisible, kid-free and drama-free. Never married, never partied, and free to do whatever I want.” 

“Um, you’ve partied,” Lisa said, not believing her ears. 

Sandy laughed. “Well, sure, but they don’t know that. I was smart about it and never got into any trouble they needed to bail me out of, unlike my sister.” 

Lisa nodded, understanding.

“So, are you joining the polycule? Or holding out for a gal who wants to marry you someday?” Sandy asked. 

Lisa considered the question. When she thought about where her desire for marriage came from, it was just a holdover from how her parents raised her. Henry couldn’t marry Vicky and Mary, and Vicky didn’t want marriage. In the long term, there was no reason she and Vicky couldn’t work out. 

“What are your feelings on marriage, Sandy?” Lisa asked. 

“Oh my, this is all so sudden,” Sandy said, fanning herself and joking. 

Lisa frowned as Sandy laughed at her expression. She grunted as she dropped the weights. 

“You said you’re looking for a good guy, right? You want to find someone to marry one day?” Lisa asked. 

“I don’t know,” Sandy said, weighing her hands on either side of her now that she’d finished her set. “I’d at least like a partner, someone who adds to my life, that I can count on. Stability and having someone to share my experiences with would be nice.” 

When she put it that way, that was what Lisa wanted. She considered Vicky, picturing the two of them together later in life, sharing their experiences. Mary popped into her head, too. Even Henry. She pictured the four of them sitting on the porch overlooking a garden, sharing stories from the day’s work. That arrangement didn’t have to be just one person, did it? 

“This is so confusing,” Lisa said, sighing. 

“What’s confusing?” Sandy asked. She moved to the next machine. 

“I just don’t know if I want to date a guy,” Lisa said. “I swore I’d never date another guy.”

“The guy who wants to form a poly-whatever with you, Nicki, and another girl?” Sandy asked. 

“Yeah,” Lisa said. 

“Is he good-looking?” Sandy asked. 

Lisa pondered the question, which surprised Sandy. Lisa should’ve said no, but she didn’t. Henry had an appeal to him. He was handsome, and he took good care of himself. Her taste in men veered toward pretty boys, while Henry was more rugged, but he had pretty eyes. His manners and wit were attractive, too, but he was still a guy. 

“That’s a yes,” Sandy said, chuckling. “Let me guess: a Tom Hiddleston type?” 

“No,” Lisa said, shaking her head. “But his eyes remind me of Tom’s.” 

“Okay,” Sandy said. “And the other woman? You’re interested in her, too?”

“She’s adorable and hot, but she’s got a lot of baggage and is new to embracing her sexuality, even though I called it years ago,” Lisa said. 

“You knew her before the date?” Sandy asked. 

Lisa blanched, forgetting she’d kept Mary’s identity out of it. The problem with keeping secrets was slips like this, and Sandy wasn’t the type of woman to keep her mouth shut. She loved gossip, and she spread it like wildfire. 

“Yeah, I uh, met her a few years ago at a thing,” Lisa said. 

“Wow, so specific,” Sandy said. “Is she from the gym?” 

“No,” Lisa said. 

“The library?” Sandy asked. “College? Bookstore? Cafe? Movie theater? Book club?” 

“Stop asking, Sandy. It’s not my place to tell you,” Lisa snapped. 

“Oh, Dios! It’s someone from book club?” Sandy asked, grasping at what had made Lisa answer her. “Is it Barbara?” 

“Would you stop?” Lisa asked. 

“Just tell me,” Sandy said. “Which one of our friends is a secret polygamist?” 

“None of them,” Lisa said. “It’s polyamory, not polygamy.” Did she see the irony of defending that? Yes. Was she going to admit it or comment on it? No. 

“So who’s the polyamorist?” Sandy asked. “Is that even a word?” 

Lisa ignored Sandy’s questions, focusing on her workout and pretending that she was too busy struggling to answer. It was only half-pretend. The weights were heavy. Alas, her refusal to answer Sandy’s questions didn’t deter her from theorizing. 

“So it’s not Barbara, you, or me,” Sandy said. “That leaves Karen or Vicky, but Vicky just broke up with her boyfriend, right? So it’s not him trying to form a polycule. Karen’s single, or at least she was, but she’s into that harem fiction stuff. Do you remember that book she had us read? It’s Karen, isn’t it?” Sandy looked to Lisa for confirmation, but Lisa looked away, refusing to confirm or deny her hypothesis. She was only glad Sandy had either forgotten Mary or discounted her because it was Mary. After all, who’d suspect Virgin Mary of being a closeted bisexual polyamorist? 

“So you want to date Nicki, but you’re nervous about dating Karen and this guy she’s brought into the mix?” Sandy asked. 

“That’s not—” Lisa hesitated. If she denied it was Karen, then Mary was the only suspect left. No matter how unbelievable, if Mary were the only choice remaining, Sandy would draw her conclusions. The news would be too salacious to resist. She sighed. “Who they are doesn’t matter. It’s what they want. I need to decide whether I want the same thing. I hate the idea of sharing Nicki with a guy, and it’d be weird.” 

“Why ‘with a guy’?” Sandy asked. “You’re fine sharing her with Karen, but not a guy? Do you just not like him? And why do you keep calling it weird, like it’s a bad thing? Weirdness can be fun and good for you. It’s just outside the routine, right?” 

Lisa paused, considering the question. “He’s fine, I guess, but… the whole thing is weird! Okay?” 

“You keep saying that,” Sandy said. “But if I were in your shoes, I’d be curious to try it. I mean, right? Who hasn’t fantasized about mixing things up? Besides, it’s not that serious yet. You could always try it. If it doesn’t work out, you’re back where you are now, but older and wiser. Possibly less stressed. That’s my philosophy with the apps.” 

Lisa frowned. 

“But if you don’t try, then you’ll never know,” Sandy said. “And you won’t be able to tell your gym buddy, personal trainer, and best straight friend everything about your adventurous lifestyle.” 

“There it is,” Lisa said, chuckling. “My love life is not a freaking soap opera for you to get your kicks. I’m not your telenovela.” 

Sandy laughed. “But you could be if you’d just try! Come on, girl! Give the rest of us hope!” 

Lisa laughed and shook her head, but she reviewed their conversation as they finished their workout, showered, and said goodbye for the day. Sandy made good points. Not about letting Sandy live her vicarious fantasies through her, but about what the others were doing and trying instead of giving up. Not that she could go into it to keep Vicky for herself. But if she opened herself up to trying to make each relationship work, they just might. 

It had no guarantees, but neither did monogamy. So it wasn’t any better or worse than what most people considered normal. 

Lisa sighed as she reached the library. She owed Henry an apology. She’d have to talk to Vicky and Mary, but if they forgave her, she’d be willing to try polyamory.

Unfortunately, Lisa didn’t have time to act during her morning shift. The library wasn’t ‌busy that Monday, but the conversation she wanted to have wasn’t appropriate for text. The persistent silence gave her time to process, and she considered the titles she’d helped Vicky check out. 

She checked in books from the overnight drop-off, re-shelved cartloads of books, helped visitors, and answered questions. Much of her work required minimal active concentration, but it ate up time. She spent most of the morning figuring out what to say, then texted Mary while she ate her lunch. It was short notice, but Mary responded right away. She must’ve been having lunch, too. 

Lisa: Hey, are you, Henry, and Vicky around to talk tonight? I’ve figured out most of what bothered me, and I wanted to discuss it with you guys. 

Mary: Hey! I’m not sure. I’m available, but Henry has plans tonight. I can ask him to reschedule!

Scheduling a meeting with four grown adults proved more difficult than Lisa anticipated. She should have known, given how difficult it was to schedule their book club meetings. How much of polyamory was scheduling? Christ, it was scheduling D&D all over again. 

Lisa considered asking Henry to reschedule his plans, but talking to everyone at once wasn’t a good idea. At the restaurant, Lisa had been one person talking about the future with three other people. They overwhelmed her. One at a time would be better. It’d make the conversation easier to handle in smaller chunks.

They’d ease into it, and she’d make sure no one pressured the others. Henry would probably be the most difficult conversation. Vicky or Mary would be a better starting point, and Mary had the availability. It worked well. If Vicky were available, she’d join them. If not, she could have a second conversation with her and Mary. Saving Henry for last seemed like a good idea, but she was ninety percent sure she wanted to try dating him, too. She might as well go all-in.  

Lisa: Okay. If you’re available, would it be okay if you and I met for dinner, just the two of us?

Mary: Like a date? In public? Just you and me?

Lisa sighed. Mary wasn’t ready to be bisexual if she panicked over being seen on a date with a woman. As much as Lisa wanted to help her, she was over the coming-out phase. She’d helped enough people through it. Besides, Mary’s fear made no sense to Lisa. This was an open-minded city. It wasn’t like they were in Mary’s Hicksville hometown. The chances of them running into someone from her church who might be homophobic were slim. 

Lisa: Don’t panic! Sorry, I didn’t mean it as a date. It’d be as friends to discuss dating, somewhere low-pressure where neither of us has to cook. We could meet after dinner, if that works better.  

Mary: Oh, okay! Not cooking dinner sounds good to me! Where?

A few places sprang to mind, but she had to choose somewhere without a romantic atmosphere. It couldn’t be too loud, and they needed privacy to discuss their plans. She didn’t want a ton of strangers overhearing them. Mary would shut down if too many people hung around within earshot. 

Lisa: How about the Green Lane Pub? It’s casual, and the food is good.

It had private booths in one section where no one would bother them so that they could chat. It wasn’t strict privacy, but the dividers were decent, and she’d never had any trouble there.  

Mary: lol, sure! 

Lisa didn’t know why that warranted an “lol,” but she accepted it. Mary knew the pub, so she didn’t need to send directions. They’d gone there for book club outings once or twice. 

Lisa: See you there around 6:30?

Mary: That’s perfect! 

The rest of Lisa’s shift went normally, but the butterflies in her stomach fluttered faster as quitting time approached. Mary’s first thought was a date. She had to admit she’d thought Mary’s offer to date her was a concession, something Mary offered because Lisa wanted to date Vicky. But did Mary genuinely find Lisa attractive? 

She couldn’t be sure. Heck, Mary might not be sure either. She was a fledgling lesbian. No, a fledgling bisexual. Mary realized she had romantic feelings for Vicky two days ago, and that was for someone she knew far better than she did Lisa. Part of her took it as a compliment. The other part suspected Mary wanted to date her because she was new to understanding that part of herself and wanted to try different things. Sometimes, when someone new to their sexuality came out of the closet, they wanted to try everything and went a tad crazy diving into new experiences. Mary seemed shy and restrained, but Lisa could see her going nuts once she escaped her repression. 

Mary was the most repressed and/or least sexual person she knew. It surprised Lisa that Mary suggested polyamory, but she supposed it made twisted sense. If she had to guess, it was because Mary needed others’ support and encouragement to venture outside her comfort zone. Discomfort frightened everyone, so most people saw it as an immoral thing to do to someone. Making someone uncomfortable was wrong, right? 

Yes and no, in Lisa’s mind. Being uncomfortable wasn’t a sin. Accidentally making someone uncomfortable fell into the same category. Malice, well, yes, that was wrong. If someone made anyone uncomfortable maliciously, they should apologize, but Lisa’s discomfort with the conversation didn’t mean Mary, Vicky, or Henry had been wrong to have it. They weren’t malicious toward Lisa, even though Lisa acted as if they had been. She needed to apologize for that and clear the air. That was the first thing she planned to do when she met Mary. 

Soon enough, her shift ended. She opened the library. Her co-workers handled the closing responsibilities. She packed her purse and left when quitting time arrived. The Green Lane Pub was a short drive away, and she waited in the parking lot because she arrived earlier than expected. She kept running through what to say to Mary. 

Five minutes later, she spotted Mary walking into the pub. Lisa got out of her car and followed her inside. Mary’s cutoff, Bermuda-length jean shorts, white cowgirl boots, and faded red T-shirt gave her a patriotic aesthetic, and she looked good. The faded graphic on her T-shirt advertised the animal shelter, with a dog and cat getting along. 

Mary’s smile almost blinded Lisa as they spotted each other. 

Lisa wore the same outfit she’d worn to work, since this was a casual dinner, not a date. She wore a light and breezy white maxi dress with a floral print of green leaves. A brown woven belt cinched the dress around her waist. She accessorized with an open brown overshirt as a jacket. 

“Hey!” Mary threw her hands up and hugged Lisa hello. The hug was awkward, but friendly.

Lisa smiled as she pulled away, ending the hug. “Hey, sorry this is so awkward.” 

“It’s not!” Mary said. “This is two friends catching up, right?” 

“Right,” Lisa agreed. 

“Great! Then let’s get a booth. I’m starving,” Mary said. 

Lisa nodded. “A booth for two, please,” she said to the hostess. “In the dining section.” 

The Green Lane Pub split into two ‘wings,’ depending on the dining experience customers wanted. Its center entrance was a square foyer with a hostess stand. The wait staff wore ‌green shirts and black slacks; both hugged the body but weren’t lewd or low-cut. 

From the center chamber, two open arches led to the tables. The right side, closest to the road, was a typical bar with tables, stools, and a stage for live music, DJs, and karaoke. TVs hung on pillars and on walls every ten feet, and at least three different sports games were always playing on mute. 

The left side was a typical restaurant dining area, with a glass wall looking out onto the local park’s greenery. Otherwise, it kept the bar’s exposed, dark-stained wood and lantern-lit decor but offered a much quieter, calmer dining experience. 

The hostess led them left to a booth along the garden wall. The tall wooden panels between each booth offered privacy and a nice, elevated view of the park below the hill the restaurant crested. No TVs hung on the walls. The only electronics in sight were the small tablets at each table for summoning a server, ordering refills, or playing games. 

“This is nice,” Mary said, admiring the booth as she slid into her side. “I’ve only been in the bar section.” 

“It’s quieter here,” Lisa said. “So we can talk.” 

That was definitely true. Fewer diners were in this section despite the dinner hour, but the games in the other section drew the crowds.

“Your waitress will be right with you,” the hostess said. “Have a good meal!” 

Lisa and Mary nodded as the hostess walked away, then picked up the menus. Lisa had spent her spare afternoon thoughts on what she wanted for dinner. So had Mary. Neither of them spent long looking at the menu. 

“You know what you want to order?” Lisa asked. 

Mary nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking about it all day.” 

Lisa chuckled. “Me too.” 

“Hi, my name is, oh, hi, Mary!” The waitress smiled at Mary. 

Mary looked at their waitress and smiled. “Oh, hi Audrey!” 

Lisa blinked. Mary recognized their waitress, but Lisa had never met or heard of Audrey. 

“Lisa, this is Audrey, Mike’s girlfriend,” Mary explained. “Mike is Henry’s roommate. Audrey, this is Lisa, a friend of mine. We’re in a book club together!”

“Oh, that’s fun!” Audrey said. 

“I didn’t know you were a waitress,” Mary admitted. “Have you always worked here?” 

“Oh,” Audrey said, shrugging. “No, I just got an extra part-time job. I’m trying to save up so I can move out of my parents’ house.” 

Lisa nodded, understanding. She lived in her parents’ in-law suite, and she couldn’t imagine living in the house itself. She preferred her privacy, not to mention how draining it could be to deal with her parents with no break or sanctuary. 

“Oh, but don’t mention it to Henry. I don’t know if Mike’s told him yet,” Audrey said. 

“Told him what?” Mary asked. 

“Mike and I are trying to move in together,” Audrey said, explaining. “We’re looking at getting our own apartment. Nothing against Henry! But we want a place that’s ours. Mike wanted to save for the deposit before he told Henry. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” 

“Oh!” Mary said, surprised. “No, it’s okay. I’m sure Henry would understand! He’d be happy for you two!” 

“Exactly,” Audrey said. “Mike’s worried he’ll hurt Henry’s feelings and doesn’t want Henry to kick him out for a new tenant before we have a place lined up.” 

“Oh, he won’t,” Mary assured her. “He likes Mike! They’re friends.” 

Audrey nodded. “Thanks. I swear, if men could just talk about their feelings with each other, there’d be so much less drama.” She clicked her pen. “Now, what can I get you two lovely ladies to drink?” 

“I’ll have water to drink,” Lisa said. “But we’re ready to order food, too.” 

“Okay, go ahead!” Audrey said. 

“I’ll take the boneless wings with the griffin sauce,” Lisa said. “And a side salad.”

“Okay,” Audrey said, jotting it onto her pad. “And Mary?” 

“I’ll have the fish and chips,” Mary said. “Oh, and water for me as well. Thank you!” 

“Not a problem,” Audrey said. “Any appetizers?”

“You want to split an order of mozzarella wedges?” Lisa asked. 

Mary considered it, but shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m trying to watch my figure.” 

“You’ve got a fantastic figure, Mary. I love your curves, but no worries. Maybe we’ll get dessert,” Lisa said, passing her menu to Audrey. 

Audrey smiled, noticing the blush that crept onto Mary’s cheeks. Mary ‌glanced at Lisa and passed her menu to Audrey. 

“Coming right up,” Audrey said. 

“Thanks!” Mary said as Audrey walked away. 

Lisa chuckled, and then silence fell as Audrey left them alone. The room filled with the subtle clatter of silverware, soft chatter, and bursts of noise while they looked out the window. Their pale reflections in the sunlight looked past them as they surveyed the green, squirrel-filled park that became an oasis of nature in the suburban sprawl surrounding them. 

“So,” Lisa said, shattering the silence. “I’m sorry about Saturday night.” 

“What?” Mary asked, surprised. “No, Lisa, I’m sorry. We sprang it on you, and we should have let you and Vicky have your date without crashing it like we did.” 

“No,” Lisa said, shaking her head. “It was good to address everything head-on. Everything I’ve Googled about polyamory says that over-communicating is better than the alternative. I’m sorry I reacted so poorly and was so prejudiced against Henry. That’s on me.” 

Mary swallowed, accepting the apology. “I forgive you,” Mary said. “For what it’s worth, Henry does too. We discussed it. I hope you forgive us for crashing your date.” 

Lisa figured they’d discussed her, but it was good to have confirmation. “I’ll talk to Henry, too, but I wanted to discuss everything with you first. Are you okay with the idea of you, Vicky, and me dating Henry?” 

Mary didn’t answer right away. She folded her hands on the table and stretched her thumbs as she considered what to say. Knowing Mary, she tried to give the most honest answer possible, but Lisa wanted her first response, not a calculated one. 

“I think so,” Mary said. 

The hesitation surprised Lisa. She’d expected Mary to be over-enthusiastic and do everything to sell her on the idea. Instead, Mary seemed contemplative, and Lisa gave her time to find her words.

“There’s fear of missing out,” Mary said. “But Henry and Vicky had a video game hangout together, and I didn’t get jealous over that. I think the difference is that Vicky and you, if you join us, are part of our relationship. Not your own thing, but our thing, you know? I wouldn’t get jealous if Henry split his attention between his family and other friends, so I have to apply that to you and Vicky. Plus, it lets me explore this whole new side of myself that I’m discovering, and sets both of you up with a guy I can ‌recommend.” 

Lisa considered that, nodding as Audrey handed them their waters. Her arrival silenced their conversation.

“Thanks,” Lisa said as Audrey set her water glass in front of her and left a pitcher on the table. 

“You’re welcome,” Audrey said, sounding ‌uncomfortable. She turned the black tray she had over and held it in front of her. “Mary, can I talk to you? In private? Just for a minute?” She shifted her weight, balancing between staying put and running away.

Lisa arched an eyebrow, looking at Audrey in surprise. Had she picked up on a vibe Lisa hadn’t meant to give off? She was checking out Mary’s chest more than usual, sure, but she remained respectful. Or so she thought. Did Lisa’s comment on Mary’s curves bother Audrey? Or was this more apartment drama? Had Mike flipped his lid that she’d spilled the beans?

“What?” Mary asked, confused. “Why? Is something wrong? Are you okay?” 

“I’m okay,” Audrey assured her. “It’s, um, regarding Henry. Just real quick,” Audrey said, gesturing to a spot aside.  

Lisa turned her questioning expression toward Mary, who looked just as confused. 

“It’s okay. Lisa’s a friend. A good friend,” Mary said, trying to explain. “You can say it‌ in front of her. No need for the secrets. Is it about his and Mike’s arrangement?” 

“It’s—” Audrey hesitated. Then she glanced over her shoulder and shook her head. “Never mind. I’ll bring your food up when it comes.” She walked away, and Lisa and Mary shared a confused look before shrugging and continuing their conversation. Lisa opened her straw and drank half her glass of water. She was ‌thirsty. 

Mary opened her straw and took a sip, holding onto the condensation-clouded glass. It wasn’t hot inside, but being near the window dulled the air conditioning’s effect. Outside, the August sun did its best to cook everything to a crisp. 

“Do you want to go and talk to her?” Lisa asked. “I don’t mind, honestly.” 

“No, it’s okay,” Mary said. “I get that she’s worried I’ll tell Henry that Mike is looking for a new apartment, but it’ll be okay. Henry can find a new roommate.” 

Lisa nodded. Whatever worried Audrey wasn’t her business either, but curiosity had its hooks in her. 

“So,” Mary said, searching for a new topic. 

“So,” Lisa said. She straightened her spine and set her shoulders back, trying to exude confidence in her choice. “About Saturday: I’ve decided that I’m willing to try poly.” 

Mary’s face lit up as she smiled. 

“I don’t want to dive in too deep too quickly,” Lisa said, holding up her hands as if Mary were about to launch herself across the table for a hug. “But I want to date you and Vicky, and I’m even willing to try dating Henry, if that’s okay with everyone.” 

Mary’s face turned red, and she hid her face in her hands. That wasn’t the reaction Lisa expected when she said that out loud. Had she said something wrong?  

“Mary?” Lisa asked. “Are you okay?” Had she changed her mind about dating Lisa? Was it just to get her to date Henry after all? 

“You ‌want to date me?” Mary asked, her voice just above a mouse’s squeak. 

Lisa laughed. “Yes,” Lisa said. “That wasn’t the tough part of the decision.” She laughed. 

Mary looked up from her hands, peeking through her fingers to hide her embarrassment. Mary was adorable, with a golden retriever’s guile. “What was the tough part?” Mary asked.  

“Henry,” Lisa admitted. “Not his involvement in the polycule, but whether he and I should date or be metamours. I haven’t dated a guy since college. I swore off them because of my own issues, but that wasn’t giving Henry a fair shake. If we want this situation to work, I should give it my best shot. I have no idea what the future might hold. Henry and I might not work out, and if we don’t, then we’ll have to be metamours. Heck, Vicky and I might not work out either. You and me, too. No relationship is guaranteed to work, so it’s a gamble to roll the dice on three at a time, but that shouldn’t stop me from experiencing it, right?” 

Mary nodded. “That’s how I feel,” she said. “Kind of. I’m nervous, but excited.” 

“Me too,” Lisa said. “Even though doing this is abandoning everything I thought my future was supposed to have. I realize that, even if things work out, Vicky won’t want to marry me. You’ll want to marry Henry, not me, but I’m willing to try dating without expecting marriage. I still want commitment, though. You, me, Vicky, and Henry–that’s it. The four of us. Is that good enough for you?” 

Mary nodded. “Of course!” she said. “That’s great news! Vicky will be so happy! So will Henry.” 

Lisa smiled. “Good. He better be a fantastic boyfriend.”

Mary chuckled. “Well, from personal experience, dating Henry is great. He’ll respect your pace, and he’s good at the boyfriend stuff. He’s a better boyfriend than I am a girlfriend. That’s for sure. Plus, he’s a great guy.” 

Lisa chuckled. “Every girlfriend says their boyfriend is special and the best man out there, but it’s always just some guy like any other guy. What makes Henry so special?” 

Mary pondered the question, tapping her chin before she answered. “You’ll have to discover what makes him special for yourself,” she said. “Because whatever it is, it’ll make him special to you, and that might differ from what makes him special to me, right? But out of the guys I’ve dated, Henry is everything they weren’t and nothing they were. If that makes sense.” 

Her answer surprised Lisa. It showed insight she hadn’t expected from Mary, but she supposed it made sense. She, Henry, and Vicky had thrown themselves into researching poly. Everyone brought differing hopes, expectations, and interests to their romantic relationships.

“He’ll be okay taking things slow, right?” Lisa asked. “I’m not sure how comfortable I’ll be at first.” 

Mary nodded rapidly, twining her fingers through her hair at her shoulder. “He’ll take things at your pace, for sure.” 

“Ugh, I’ll have to wait for Vicky to return those books before I can read them,” Lisa said, realizing she needed to do more research. 

Mary nodded. “Henry can send you links, too. Can I tell him and Vicky that you’re willing to try?” 

Lisa nodded. “I should probably tell them myself, but I wanted to talk to you one-on-one first. I wanted to make sure whatever you said was your honest thought, not something Henry or Vicky pressured you to say. And so it wasn’t another three-on-one conversation.” 

“I’m so sorry it came across that way,” Mary said. “We weren’t trying to team up on you, honest.” 

“I know that,” Lisa said. “It felt that way in the moment, but I got defensive, and I made inappropriate suggestions as we went through our boundaries.” 

“What are your boundaries?” Mary asked. “Like, if you’re dating the three of us, is there anything you don’t want to do?” 

“I imagine you’ll have more boundaries than I will. Have you even kissed a girl yet?” Lisa asked. 

Mary blushed. 

Lisa chuckled. “The real question is: What do we tell people? Our server, for example. You introduced me as a friend, but if we’re dating each other…” 

“You’d be my girlfriend,” Mary said, her eyes widening at the realization. “But I have a boyfriend. And a Vicky.” 

Lisa laughed. “And a Vicky, yeah.” 

“You know what I mean,” Mary said. 

“Having to explain it every time will get old fast,” Lisa said. “And it’ll invite judgment. Even people in the queer community have unfavorable opinions regarding polyamory, especially polygamist polyamory. It’s the LARP of sexualities.” 

“What? They do?” Mary asked, confused. “I thought their whole thing was love and acceptance?” 

“People say the same thing about church,” Lisa pointed out. “How does that work in practice? Are you going to tell your folks that you’re poly? Or Bi?” 

Mary stopped. Her entire body froze. “Huh,” she said. “That’s a good point.” 

Lisa nodded. “It’s how humans are, regardless of creed.” 

Mary frowned. “I don’t want to lie to anyone, though.” 

Lisa shrugged. “We don’t have to. If people ask, you’re dating Henry, and I’m dating Vicky. Both are correct statements. We’re just not volunteering the extra information. That way, if we go out with the four of us, people will assume it’s a double date, not a poly date, unless we’ve trusted them with that information.”  

Mary nodded. “I like that idea.” 

“Good,” Lisa said, sitting back. “Now, if you’re okay, I need to hit the bathroom before our food gets here.” 

“Want me to go with you?” Mary asked. 

“No, it’s okay. Unless you have to go too?” Lisa asked. 

Mary shook her head. 

“Then save our table so Audrey doesn’t think we ran out on her, and watch my purse?” Lisa asked, tucking her purse into the corner. 

“Of course,” Mary said. 

Lisa slid out of the booth and walked away from the table with a smile. Relief had lightened the burden on her shoulders, and it felt good to clear the air with Mary. She was the least intimidating of the three, despite having a stronger frame than Vicky. 

Searching for the restroom sign, she followed the arrow into the foyer and recalled that the bathrooms were in the bar section. The kitchen had separate doors to both areas, but the pub had only one set of bathrooms at the far end. The bar section proved much more crowded, with bodies jostling near the bar as the baseball game played on every third screen. 

Lisa thanked the universe they’d met in the other half, or she wouldn’t have heard anything Mary said. Between the conversations and the music playing over the speakers, it was a wonder she could hear her own thoughts. Mary would’ve drowned in the cacophony. The girl was so soft-spoken and adorably shy. Lisa’s annoyance at Mary’s closeted naivety fled at the sight of her adorable blush and the way she tried to hide her face in her hands. 

Okay, maybe Lisa had a crush, and maybe that’d be enough to spark something more intimate. She was willing, but she lacked the confidence that she, Vicky, and Henry could make this work long term. Still, it’d be fun in the interim, and she’d get to spend time with Vicky and Mary. She was even looking forward to getting to know Henry and even trying him out in intimate situations. It’d been a while since she’d been with a guy, and if his skills impressed Vicky, then he might give her toys a run for their money. 

“Ha! Yeah, that’d be the day.” 

Lisa could have sworn that was Henry’s voice. 

She stopped in her trek to the bathroom and looked around, searching for who had spoken. Her eyes landed on him. Henry sat next to a lean, athletic woman, his arm around her as they took a selfie. They both made funny faces at the camera. Then the girl planted a kiss on his cheek and held it until he snapped the photo. 

Lisa’s gut fell. Was Henry cheating on Mary? Was that why he pushed for polyamory? Because he had someone he wanted to fuck? Of course. That made more sense than Mary suddenly wanting to explore her sexuality. Henry wanted to play the field with an ‘open relationship’ without regard for what it’d do to Mary. 

No. She was jumping to conclusions. She stood amidst the chaos, reviewing what she knew. Henry had plans tonight. That’s why he wasn’t with Mary. “Plans”—an ambiguous term that could’ve meant anything, but clearly meant sitting side by side in a dimly lit booth with a scantily dressed woman who never stopped touching him. 

No one noticed Lisa stop short and stand there, open-mouthed, at the sight that flew so far under everyone’s radar. Henry and the girl hadn’t spotted her yet, so she moved behind a pillar, leaving them just out of sight. Henry had a sister, right? Yeah. She volunteered with Mary at the animal shelter. Of course, she couldn’t be more unlike Mary. The woman wore a black bikini top under a wide-set fishnet crop top and black denim shorts that left her entire legs and most of her hips showing. They were briefs, more than shorts, and Lisa didn’t doubt the woman was bare-assed against the bench she sat on with Henry. 

Lisa peeked around the pillar and spotted them again. No, ‌not Henry’s sister. That woman’s hands crawled over him, and the way she kept touching him wasn’t sisterly. She was flirting, hard, and Henry laughed at her antics as she tried to tickle him. Her plate rested right beside his. They must have been going out for a while, so whatever their relationship, it had to have started long before Mary agreed to poly. 

Besides, Henry was supposed to be dating her, Vicky, and Mary. They’d mentioned no one else being part of this polycule. She hadn’t even told him she’d be dating him, and he was already cheating on her? Was this what Audrey had wanted to tell Mary? She must’ve spotted Henry come in with this whore off the street. Poor Mary. She’d be devastated. 

Lisa looked around and spotted Audrey heading out of the kitchen. She met Lisa’s eyes, glanced toward Henry’s table, and froze. Lisa stormed over, stood at the waitress station, and leaned in to ‘whisper’ over the music, her voice a harsh hiss.

“Is Henry’s night out why you wanted to talk to Mary?” Lisa asked. “Did they come in together?” 

Audrey swallowed and nodded. “She rode in on his back when they came in, like, piggyback style.” 

“And that’s not his sister, right?” Lisa asked. 

“Olivia?” Audrey asked, surprised. “No, that’s not Olivia. I’ve never seen that girl before. She certainly doesn’t act like a relative, either.” 

“Next time, don’t let someone else at the table stop you from telling a girl her boyfriend is cheating on her,” Lisa said. 

“I’m sorry! I couldn’t do it! It’s against policy to get involved, but Mary’s a friend,” Audrey said. “She’s too sweet. I couldn’t break her heart! My plan was to wait and confront Henry later, at his and Mike’s apartment. I swear I planned to tell her if he didn’t. You have to believe me. I’d never do her dirty!” 

Lisa nodded. She glanced around. Audrey was a new server here. She had every right to hold off on the drama until after her shift. Lisa, however, fell under no such obligation. She’d do her best to make sure none of it came back on Audrey. 

“Have you seen him stepping out on her before?” Lisa asked, determined to get the complete picture before she did anything rash. Still, her temper was getting the better of her. How dare he do this to her? And to Mary? 

Audrey shook her head. “This is the first I’ve seen him with anyone except for Mary, but look at them.” She pointed from their position behind and to the left of Henry and the woman. 

The woman leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Henry’s face turned as red as a thermometer, and the woman slipped her hand under the table. 

“Okay,” Lisa said. She cracked her knuckles. She’d never thrown a punch before, but she’d seen it on TV. “He’s dead.” 

“Please don’t murder anybody until my shift is over!” Audrey cried out, but Lisa didn’t listen. She stormed her way toward Henry’s table. A tornado in a cotton dress, she sent chairs scooting as people around her dodged out of her path, avoiding the furious glare in her eyes. 

The noise startled everyone. Henry and the woman turned to see what was happening. The woman slid away from him. Confusion crossed the woman’s brow as Lisa reached the table and slammed her hands down. Their plates rattled, and Henry’s water sloshed over its cup’s lip and onto the loaded nachos appetizer in the center. 

“HOW FUCKING DARE YOU?!” Lisa screamed, reaching for Henry’s collar. 

She didn’t close her fingers around it. One moment, she’d reached across the woman for Henry. The next, the grain of the bar’s hardwood floor filled her field of vision. She turned her head to keep from crunching her nose. 

The other woman had her on the ground, face down, with her arms behind her back. Something bony pressed on her kidneys so hard that Lisa nearly wet herself from the pain.

“Who the fuck are you?” The woman asked, pushing her knee even further into Lisa’s organs.

This confrontation hadn’t gone to plan.