"Playing the Game" by Bambi

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Playing the Game



"Ok I can do this; I have to get my game face on its show time." I thought to myself as I drove up in the driveway. His new wife is giving him this amazing birthday party and I am his buddy o pal it would be too suspicious if "his girl" didnt show up, but all I can think about is what happen last summer! I smirked that the thought of the movie title "I know what you did last summer" then my mind flashed back to what was supposed to have been an innocence getaway to Charleston SC for two childhood friends but both being from emotionally and physically emptied marriages, the tables quickly turned into kissing and ended up the next morning naked in each other arms, killing instantly our 35 year old friendship. We both knew things had change for us, the almost everyday stupid text messages ceased to once a week and the facebook comments ended. We would call each other just to give hometown updates but that was the length of our conversations. But this birthday was special and I couldn't avoid it, it was Marcus's 40th and Shannon had went all out, I should know cause my company helped plan the event. Invitations went to everyone, classmates, business associates, family, and friends.

"Get yourself together girlfriend before you ring this darn doorbell!", I tell myself but it doesn't help, Marcus is fine, smart, a successful real estate developer and living in a mansion not to mention he knew exactly where my hot spots were because he know almost everything about me since we were 5! How can this go back to normal for us? "Ring the door bell, he is not going to answer the door, then I can avoid Marcus among the many well wishers," "Here we go lights, camera, action....."

"Ding dong" goes the door bell and who opens it but Marcus. "Happy Birthday Marcus CatMan Jones” playing up his childhood nickname Cat and giving him a big hug. Shockingly he whispers, "You feel good as hell to me, I never want to let you go, I miss you!" and kisses me lightly on my neck. I am about to pass out but I got to keep it together. He looks at me with his piercing green eyes and licks his lips, asking "Is this gift for me?" pulling on my arms instead of the package. I raise an eyebrow and say, "I don't think you can handle the package." He smiles, "Now that's my girl, big headed as ever!" and he takes my shoulder wrap. I breath a sigh of relief because now I was celebrating with my boy and not my summer lover.

Shannon sees me and comes to greets me, "I am so glad you are here, thank you for so your help, the party is such a success. David has been the best planner ever!" "David is the best and having him here in the Charlotte was much better for you than having me plan it from Greensboro," I said knowing full well my comment was half truth. I asked David to take over the planning because I just couldn't. "David is one of the company's hearbeat, I would be lost without him." saying with a smile as David comes along my side to rescue me. "Mrs. Walden, I need to know when did you want to start serving the main course?", David said as he squeezed my hand to assure me that he was going to help me through this awkward evening. He knew about the affair, I had to tell someone and who better than my God brother and business partner. "We can start now, I believe all the guest are here, Debbie the family is out on patio, Cat's mom is out there I know she will be happy to see you!" Shannon said as she walked away with David and socialized with approaching guest.

Marcus and his frat brother Henry began pushing me out the door, "Cat this girl you look like a million bucks girl!" Henry said. Marcus looked at me again with that infamous stare, "Not quite man, more like $2500, nice St. John's dress and Christian Loubouton shoes." he said with a smirk. I realized that I was wearing one of the outfits he had brought me for my first large promotional event. "You have to look like money to make money." was what was on the card with both outfits and the shoes. "Nice of you to notice, Cat." I said as we walked out to the patio. "I notice everything about you, always." he replied. "Before you go see Ma come with me to the bar to get her an iced tea."

Marcus is beaming in his white linen accented with a button down lime green shirt and sandals, it’s his night and he was the king and everyone treated him as such. I can't keep my eyes off of my childhood friend and every one of his touches sent shock waves through my body and he keep touching my bare shoulder as we walked over to the bar. The bar was located near the pool house in a remote part of the yard so that people could slip away from the party and just relax with a drink but still be close enough to the event not to miss out on the festivities, but when we arrive no one was there, it was just us the tiki candles and the bartender.

"So are you staying in the city tonight or in Concord?" he asked after ordering a pineapple flavored iced tea for me and his mother. "I am staying in Concord, why?" I replied curiously. Moving closer to me he looked puzzled and asked, "What have I done?" "Did I do something that both of us didn't want or needed?" "I miss you and tonight I want to be with you again." "Cat, are you crazy? Both of us are married or have you forgotten that part, what we did was WRONG!" I said in a whispered voice as the bartender handed me my iced tea. "Married, William don't give a rats ass about you, he's never home, always working or out of town working and Shannon wouldn't know my dick if it walked up and bite her in the face!" "In the face?" I replied as I spit out my drink from laughter at his colorful comment. "But it doesn't make it right Cat!" I said while he was wiping my lips with his finger.

Leaning to my ear Marcus whispered, "35 yrs of you & me Mrs. Milton, you can't take that away , it's my 40th birthday and I want to celebrate it being apart of you, here take my card pay for the room, I will be there at 3 am, wait up for me..."