Hungry for Love (18 page)

“
We have a rickshaw you know
,”
continued Betty before Bill could either think or reply.
“
And your darling fiancée could ride into her party in that.  You could dress as a slave pulling her in
,
or we could provide slaves.
”
  Then she gasped
,
aware of her potential faux pas
,
 
“
Not actual slaves of course.
”

Bill nodded affably
,
accepting Betty
’
s card
,
and saying
,
“
We
’
ll think about it and get back to you.
”

As they walked toward Bill
’
s car
,
Laura said
,
“
Seemed a bit overblown.  Too fiftieth anniversary or salesman of the year.
”

“
I
’
d say have it at home
,
but no way to make it a surprise then.
”

Laura smiled. 
“
A back yard barbecue.  Kids running around.
”

“
Lounge chairs.  Chickens on a spit
,”
said Bill.

“
Couple nice pasta salads
,”
said Laura
,
“
Those are my favorite parties.
”

Bill nodded
,
“
Me too.
”

The next place was in
Santa Monica
,
and Bill and Laura enjoyed sitting outdoors on a nice patio
,
sampling the beautiful food that was set in front of them.

“
I know you don
’
t like her
,
but she really was so sweet.  So sunny.  Always giving the kids treats when we
’
d see her at the mall.  We had such a good time together—it was like being a family again
,”
sighed Bill.

Laura smiled at him
,
“
Maybe so
,
but I
’
ve just never seen that side of Chrissy.  To me she just seems vapid.
”

“
Oh it
’
s this damn diet she
’
s on.  Won
’
t listen to a word I say.  So wound up I expect to hear her head go pop.  She could commit a crime and any jury would let her off.
”

Laura laughed and nodded
,
“
Diet defense.
”

“
When that woman suggested we jump out of a cake
,
all I could think would be she
’
d see the cake and scream like I was torturing her with it.  Maybe we
’
re on the wrong track.  Maybe we should just have the party at a spa.  Serve water ices or something
?”
  Bill grimaced
,
realizing he wasn
’
t even joking.

Laura
’
s mind had wandered. She spoke almost more to herself than to Bill. 
“
You know
,
I said no to Kevin about a million times.  He was just so determined.  And I figured he must care so much
,
so deeply
,
to pursue me so intensely.  I thought I
’
d be so safe.  Never occurred to me that the thrill was the chase
,
not me.
”

Bill saw the sad look cross her face and wondered was Kevin having another affair.  If so
,
he didn
’
t know with whom
,
though he did suspect one of the nurses at work
,
more trouble if so. 
“
He
’
s a lot more insecure than you realize.  Needs validation
,”
he said kindly.

She sighed and looked down at her hands. 
“
Maybe so.  Maybe so.
”
  

Kevin was psyched.  He strode onto the baseball field like the conquering hero he knew himself to be.  He and the Cedars Sinai team were going to teach those UCLA bastards a thing or two.  There was nothing like being on a winning team
,
and Kevin intended to win.  He was going to be the star player
,
today and always.

Kevin was first up to bat and he planned to make it count.  He sauntered into place
,
making sure that the other team knew he was a force.  Casually he rubbed his hands in the dirt and wiped them on his pants.  He wiggled his butt
,
not just once but twice.  Then he stood there at the plate
,
sending a searing look toward the other team
’
s pitcher
,
a dermatologist.  In his mind
,
he practically sneered.

“
C
’
mon there
,
Barb
,
we all know you throw like a girl.
”
  He laughed at this excellent joke then leaned in toward the catcher and spoke softly
,
“
We had a little thingy.  She
’
s still soft on me.
”

The catcher
,
clearly a lesbian
,
shot Kevin a scornful look.  Well that was her business.

About twenty feet away
,
standing behind a large tree with gnarled roots lacing the ground
,
Butch and Wimp lurked covertly.  They might have looked rather out of place in this
Beverly Hills
park in their omnipresent black leather
,
but nobody really spotted them—it was a big tree.  Wimp held a baseball
,
and paced in miniscule steps back and forth
,
still hidden by the tree.

“
Get focused
,”
said Butch. 
“
This is your moment.  All your energy.  And when I say NOW
,
let it rip.
”

Wimp clenched his mouth tightly as he wiggled his shoulders
,
attempting to loosen them up.  There was a knot in the pit of his stomach
,
and he knew it was old memories
,
high school
,
gym class
,
nothing good.  He tried to shake them off.

Kevin was enjoying his moment of glory.  He wiggled his butt yet again.  He clucked his tongue a couple of times. 
“
This is gonna be too easy.  I almost feel guilty.
”

The pitcher was about to wind up
,
and Kevin noticed a devilish glint in her eye.  She must be thinking about that time they shared that quickie.  He shot her a crooked smile.  Maybe he could tap that again sometime soon.  Then
,
back in the spirit of the game
,
he said.
“
Here it comes
,
a big fat doughnut.  Maybe I should just get a cup of coffee to go with it.
”

Butch was on her game.  She was ready for the first confrontation.  When a lesson needed to be taught
,
she was the one to teach it.  She muttered to Wimp
,
“
See how he likes being up a tree without a paddle.  This is it—get ready….Now!
”

Wimp wound up
,
and with a heave as mighty as he could muster
,
the ball flew out of his hand
,
but it was far from the head-denting speedball Butch had envisioned.

At the same moment
,
the ball left Barb
’
s hand
,
flying fast and low toward Kevin.  It arced in the sky and hurled toward him.  As it was coming
,
Wimp
’
s ball
,
far short of its target
,
rolled onto the field toward Kevin
,
who with self-described lightning reflexes
,
jumped inward to avoid it hitting his foot.  Where had that come from
?
  He looked behind him toward where Butch and Wimp stood invisibly behind a giant tree.

“
Quick
,”
said Butch
,
“
Let
’
s get outta here.
”