Seven Women: An Erotic Private Investigation

Chapter 4…

“It’s a sad thing,” Amelia says, “when you’re out of beer.”

“I’ll have a vodka tonic this time,” Tasha tells the waitress.

“Same here,” I say.

“Well,” Cara says, “I’ll have a tequila sunrise.”

“Another,” Amelia holds up her beer.

Lisa sticks to wine.

I look at Sheila and imagine myself the old boyfriend’s best friend she seduced. I picture her ten years younger, in shorts and a halter, coming to my door. I see myself taking her into the bedroom, stripping her clothes off, knowing she’s my best friend’s girl but not caring because I want to stick myself inside her.

“It was difficult at first, running into Stephen now and then,” Cara says. “Our city was small. A town. We didn’t talk. Then we started to talk. We were still friends. At least we were still friends.”

“Was he still with the slut?” Amelia asks.

“No. She changed guys every week or two.”

“She’s probably dead now,” Sheila says.

“Funny you should say that because the last I heard — about a year ago — she went to the West Coast and was modeling in cheap porn videos and walking the streets in L.A. But that could have been a rumor. You know how rumors are, especially in a small city.”

“I could really start ranting about the porn industry,” Lisa says, “and what it does to some women. But I won’t.”

Amelia giggles. “I once let a guy take nudie pictures of me.”

“I bet you did,” Sheila says.

“I thought it was kinda neat. I was fifteen.”

“Fifteen?” I say.

“How old was he?” Tasha asks.

“I’m not sure,” Amelia says, “maybe twenty-eight or so.”

“That’s illegal,” Lisa says. “It may be even kiddie porn, if you were fifteen. He could have gone to jail.”

“Jail?” Amelia says. “Maybe, if I told. But I wasn’t going to tell. I liked him.”

“Did you sleep with him?” Cara asks.

“No. I just let him take nudie pictures of me. It was innocent, really.”

The waitress returns with our drinks.

“Okay,” Amelia reaches into her jeans pocket, “I’ll get this one.”