” His happiness almost made me wish I’d turned him down. Happiness was not something I wanted to be party to supplying him with. But, I guess I wa... going to come to his little do. I could always call later and cancel. I wouldn’t but the possibility was mine if nothing else.He promised to call with the details the next day. It was Wednesday, and it was August third, and it was turning into something I would not have guessed possible before my stupid attempt to off myself. The one thing that the. I looked over and smiled for Sam, not for Alex. I stopped my fingers from actually hooking into Max’s cheeks - I didn’t know the rules of the ‘exactly that close’ game. The best way to learn any game is by playing it, but what if asking for an explanation ruined the mood? Max wanted me to teach her. “I think you wanted and deserved a little one-on-one romance. That’s what tonight was for. I admit, I’m not the best at romance, but it doesn’t usually involve an extra brunette.”“Yeah, Max,” Sam. You two are just the limit."Neena ignores the interjection. "How does your tummy feel this morning?" It is sore, Gaspazha." Have you had anything?" Only water, from the jug in my cell." Very well. Here is the first stroke. You will count. Strokes you fail to count will merely be added as extra. I will not tell you how many you are to receive."I feel such an idiot to be standing here, so exposed with Neena elegant and formal, with Andrei looking smart in a suit and tie and with Pavea watching. Hitting a button for speed dial, Samantha called Erin's cell phone. It rang a few times, then Erin's cheerful voice greeted her."Hi, I can't come to the phone right now. Deposit a message into my voice mail and I'll call you back as soon as I can. Buh bye!"Samantha waited for the tone to sound, then spoke. "Hey Erin, it's me. Where are you at? Listen, please call me back as soon as you get this message. It's really, really important, k?"Samantha ended the call and stared at the phone with a.