We can get along, but we aren't really friends," I suggested. I was sorry immediately after I said it. Gwen looked devastated. I had no idea why, a mo...th before she couldn't stand me. I tried not to care what she was feeling, but I knew. I also knew that if I comforted her, she would be like a puppy. I would never get rid of her.I forced myself to play it cool. I left her at the register and used my crutches to get to the cruiser. I managed to make it to the Cop Out without running over. ’ Gretchen remembered accepting that explanation for the gratuitous, borderline objectifying, threatening-a-harassment-lawsuit costuming expected of a worker bee on the thirty-third floor. After she caught Mrs. Rodriguez side-eyeing the supple curve of her skirt-clad rear end, she knew immediately that a certain someone was getting paid dividends on that ‘skanky dress code’ set in place by ‘chauvinist men.’Mug in place, Gretchen looked back and forth down the juxtaposed hallways that dead-ended. The sprinklers came on and air was fresh and cool. I got my phone and turned on the jacuzzi heater trying not to disturb Allen. When I got up, I had pulled the sheet off and then left it off so I could look at Allen. He was still facing me, and I looked at his beautiful body and got so hard. His abs and lats were tight even when he was relaxing. His lips were moist and full. His eyes were closed but he was in a deep dream state. I whispered, “Allen, it may sound crazy, but when I first. Another wanted to continue reading, and when I was done show the journal to Violet. She had a right to know about this too, as it had affected her life as well as mine. A third part of me wanted to listen to Ilane’s words and read it, then destroy it. I finally had a slightly adjusted version of that, where I let Lillian read the journal in hopes that it helped her solve her own questions. I conceded that I could not make my mind up until I finished reading everything that was in the journal..