Page 2 of Soaring and Saucy

“See? We need our girl to come with us.”

“Fine. I’ll buy my ticket – but I insist on one tour or museum.”

“Done.”

Two weeks later, Stephanie was immediately regretting giving in and feeling completely overwhelmed. Louisville was a speck on a map compared to New York City in all its glory.

She had never seen so many people in such a rush. There were buildings, banners, and billboards everywhere… and the lights! There were glowing arrows, neon signs, windows illuminated, streetlights, and massive screens that shone or flickered right above scrolling marquees proclaiming news updates, features, or highlights. For someone who broke out in a sweat when the traffic pattern of the highway changed due to construction, this was a bit much.

Understatement. Of. The. Year.

“Oh well, crappola,” Natalie winced, looking at them sheepishly in the cab that was currently honking at other vehicles nearby, since they were stuck in traffic at nine o'clock at night.

The city that never sleeps, Stephanie immediately thought to herself before speaking up. “What’s wrong?”

“The ships pulled in yesterday morning, and I thought they were going to be here this morning.”

“So?”

“Soooo all those lonely boys might have already gotten it out of their system.”

“Gotten what out of their system?”

Natalie and Lila looked at her, then at each other, and burst out laughing wildly and to her horror, the cab driver started chuckling from his seat, too. If she could crawl into a hole right now, she certainly would.

“You’re kidding, right?”

Stephanie didn’t deign to answer that question – instead, she gave them both a flat look with her lips pressed together. Both women’s eyes got huge in their faces.

“Seriously?”

“Nooo way…”

“Honey, you’re twenty-nine.”

“So?” Stephanie blurted out defensively. “So what?”

“You’re… innocent?” Natalie whispered under her breath in disbelief.

“I don’t want to talk about this,” Stephanie sputtered, completely mortified as the cab driver looked at her in the mirror. “Eyes forward!” she snapped before slapping a hand over her mouth and looking at her friends. “I’m not discussing this, and it’s not like it’s a disease. I’m selective.”

“Honey, let’s be clear, virginity is not an antique that gets more valuable over time – dusty, crusty, and rusty… yes! But more valuable or precious – absolutely not.”

“Not everyone shares that line of thought. I don’t believe in sex before marriage,” Stephanie said primly, ignoring the shocked look on Natalie’s face or the upset one on Lila’s.

“I don’t believe in being trapped by a piece of paper.”

“Well, we certainly differ there – because I can’t imagine marriage feeling like a trap.”

“Then you’ve never been in a bad marriage,” Lila chimed in disgustedly. “How about we agree to disagree – and later on, when some schmuck treats you like garbage, or you get laid for the first time without a ring – we’ll talk.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“You’re pretty confident of that,” Natalie chuckled, poking her in the midriff. “Aren’t there any urges wanting to come out in play?”

“Oh my gosh,” Stephanie exclaimed nervously, looking at both of her friends with new eyes. “Y’all have fun, sow your wild oats, and handle your own urges. I’ll just watch our purses, hold the table, and sip on my non-alcoholic mixed drinks that have served me well for the last eight years.”

Pausing as the taxi came to a stop, she looked at her friends. “Just be careful out there, okay?” Stephanie prompted.

---