Page 14 of Two Guys, a Girl, and a Tripod

One post catches my eye. Her username is sweetashoney and, unlike some of the users in a group meant for people in LA, she’s actually located herein LA.

Ok, Miss Sweet As Honey. I glance at her profile. No face pictures, but I can’t judge. Her curves are more than enough to pique my interest. I feel like a caveman, ogling her body, but I suppose that’s why she posted the photos she did. Some are tasteful in black and white, but none showeverything.

Her skin is darker than mine, but not by much, covered in a variety of black and gray tattoos with some flashes of color. I can see some soft, light brown curls hanging past her shoulders in a few photos as well. God, I’m dying to know what her face looks like. I’ll bet she’s a knockout.

Her profile confirms she’s looking for a long-term relationship and her list of kinks and fetishes is more than a full page. I can’t focus on all of the words, so I scroll quickly, catching random things like ‘butt stuff’ and ‘group sex’ and ‘public play’.

I get the sense she’s going to be too much for me to handle, but something makes me open up a new message to her anyway. Time to see if her suggestion of being myself is enough. I remember a question Miles asked me the other day during dinner and decide to use it to sound interesting.

Is that cheating? I hope not.

I throw my phone to the couch in a panic, something I’ve never done in my life.

That was a dumb Miles question. She’s not going to respond to that. My heart pounds in my chest. Or is it in my throat? I can’t focus on the show at all, even when Leslie falls into the pit during a ‘fact-finding mission’.

Should I turn on the notifications so I know when she responds?Ifshe responds.

Oh god, oh god, oh god.

I still have two more messages to send today because Miles is a dick.

5

Sophie

I stare down at my phone with a crooked grin, amused by this guy’s message. His profile is mostly bare, but he’s new to the app. I’ll give him a pass.

My phone is silent for a while and I stare, waiting for the little dots to start jumping, indicating that he’s typing.

He doesn’t respond for several minutes. Did I piss him off? Sheesh, I forget how touchy men can be. I roll my eyes and move to set my phone down on the bed next to me when his response appears.

We continue to exchange bits of mundane, only mildly personal information. The conversation is enjoyable, even though it feels like it’s not going anywhere.

Very few men make a plan so quickly after connecting online. Most beat around the bush or end up ghosting after six messages. This guy got straight to the point. I have to admire that. I chew the inside of my cheek for a minute, wondering if I should send my number, but instead, tell him I have to head to bed. ‘Big meeting’ early tomorrow.

My legs are in agony when I get back to my hotel on Thursday afternoon. I wish I hadn’t accepted Vera and Penny’s offer. We agreed on meeting at a little Mexican place near them that has a special on Thursdays in addition to Tuesdays to get a second weeknight crowd. Apparently it works.

I shower with a cap on my hair so I don’t have to wash it, taking a little longer under the hot water in the hopes that it will relax my sore muscles. I pull my hair up into a high ponytail and swipe my lashes with mascara then order a ride.

The trip to Williamsburg takes longer than it did before, but that’s what I get for trying to get anywhere during rush hour. The traffic here is nearly as brutal as LA’s.

Vera and Penny are standing on the sidewalk outside when we pull up to the restaurant. There’s a small crowd gathered, but it doesn’t look too bad. Penny waves when she sees me and Vera follows her gaze with a grin.

“You made it!” Penny squeals, pulling me in for a hug.

“Thanks again for inviting me. I hadn’t realized how much alone time I was getting in that hotel room.”

“The threat of cabin fever isreal.” Vera’s eyes go wide to emphasize her words. I smile and nod my agreement.

“Sometimes I think I've got the hang of long-distance travel for work, but then I have a busy week like this and I realize I've got a long way to go.”

“It takes time,” Vera assures me. “I still fuck up now and then. Forget a crucial toy or, shit,lube.”

“Oh my god, that happens to me all the time,” Penny interjects. “Thank goodness I have you now.”

“So this place has drink deals on Thursdays?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Yeah, Taco Tuesday is one thing, but Thirsty Thursday is where it’s at.” Penny giggles just as her phone vibrates. “Oh, our table is ready. Perfect timing.”

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