Felix smiled at Jeff and said, "Yeah, she thinks you're hot. She's wanted you forever and is too scarred by my dumping her for Johnny to actually have a normal healthy relationship."

Jeff looked like he'd been hit by a truck . . . The thought actually had merit when I looked a Felix and wondered if I could just induce my head to explode from sheer embarrassment of if I'd somehow live through this long enough to KILL him.

I smiled at Jeff, who had sat down, stunned, next to Felix. "Look, Jeff, you've known me for a a while and we've been doing this little dance the whole time. I know that Mr. Subtlety here, dropped a huge bomb on us both, and I'm sorry about that, but if you want to help me kill him slowly, we can use that time to talk some of this out . . ?"

I looked down at my hands and then up through my lashes at him. "I'm trying not to die of embarrassment here . . . Please breathe - and say something!"

Jeff swallowed and looked from Felix to me and back. "I . . . uh . . . I . . . " he slowly looked back at me, took a choppy breath, "I'd like that. I mean the talking! Not the killing! I would like to talk, um, in a few minutes. Nothing bad but you, uh, took me by surprise . . . And I, um, don't think I have adequate blood to function." He blushed, "I mean for my BRAIN to work! I mean, I'm feeling dizzy! I'll - um - I'll have-this-drink-right-now!" and he ducked over the drinks Benny had slung on the table in from of him.

We were saved from any more conversation by the arrival of Johnny who slid in to the booth with a big noisy kiss and an infectious laugh, "Honey, move those slim hips over, Johnny-boy is here! Oh! I had the most interesting morning and then I got the news about the fire and I made some arrangements and rushed over here to take care of my baby-girl! You are staying with us and will house sit while you work out your living arrangements. We will be gone all of next month and we leave next Thursday." He looked around the table and saw Jeff, "Well! Who is this?" he asked.

"Hi, I'm Jeff . . . I'm a . . . Friend of Honey's. I mean, I live - ah - lived in the same building." Jeff smiled at Johnny and shrugged.

Johnny smiled, "oh, poor baby! Did it get your apartment, too? I didn't hear too much so I wasn't sure if it took the whole building or just part."

The two of them started talking as I turned to Felix and hissed, "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!?!?!"
He smiled at me, "baby, I love you, we had some great times, but I thought we both knew it wasn't forever. Ever since we broke up, you've been in a funk and I hate seeing you unhappy. You were wasting your time and your energy on that faithless rat-bastard you were seeing and we both know it. I want you to move on. I'm not saying this is the love of your life, but it's a start. He's a nice guy and he seems to have a thing for you and when you look at him you flush and your ears turn pink. I remember when you looked at me that way." He kept the easy smile on his face and spoke low for my ears only.

I blew out a breath, knowing I'd been caught out. "Fine, that's fine, you love me, I understand, but please do not EVER do anything like that to me again! I thought I'd cry or die or something!" I leaned my head on his shoulder and glanced at Jeff and Johnny who were wrapped up in their own conversation. I studied the way he moved now that he was more comfortable, the small gestures of conversation and the mobile and expressive face. He was an attractive guy, I'd give that much, and nice in the cocky way of his. He didn't flinch when Johnny casually touched him, didn't give off any kind of discomfort - that was a good sign. I sighed, "Ok, I'll give him a chance. I love you, too, and I'll give him a chance."

Johnny was suddenly pulling out of the booth and still talking, "oh, of COURSE you will stay there, too! I just won't accept ‘no’ and as they can tell you" he tilted his head at us and Jeff, bemused, looked at us and back to Johnny, "I always get what I want. Now, that's settled so I'm going to take my Honey-girl and get her out of these office clothes so she can feel human again and look like something other than an office drone. Say 'goodbye' Honey-girl!" he paused at the back door with a gentle yet iron grip on my elbow.

"I . . . Ah . . . " I shrugged and smiled, "goodbye, Honey-girl!" and I waved as the laughing Johnny pulled me to the little living office behind the bar. The old owner had lived in the little two-room efficiency apartment and Johnny kept it as a napping spot and cool down area for his staff. I had a feeling they occasionally pulled nooners there, too, since it was much closer to the office than their house. There was even a cute little kitchette to the side and a full bathroom with a garden tub/whirlpool.

Johnny removed my jacket and started with all my buttons and zippers as he was shoving me in the direction of the bathroom chattering about baths and feeling like a new woman and the outfits he'd bought and how he'd have to run back to the car to get a different one what with the hunky little treat I'd brought with me. I batted his hands away before he could steal all my clothes right off me and laughed. "You missed your calling, sweetie, you still have the fastest hands in the west! How did you get all this organized in such a short time? You are so amazing . . . I love you." I gave him a hug and slipped into the bathroom before all my clothes fell off. As I stepped into the nice warm tub and turned on the whirlpool I closed my eyes and wondered how exactly I'd gotten into this.