Page 80 of Down and Dirty

“And you?” Terri glanced at Donita. “I’ve seen you and Sly exchanging looks.”

“Hah! The only looks I been exchangin’ with that too-full-of-himself black brother are glowers. Did you know he used to model men’s underwear? I asked him if he had a lifetime supply of briefs, and he told me he doesn’t wear underwear. And that he’d be willing to prove it to me sometime.”

“That sounds lak interest to me,” Marie said. “In Southern Loo-zee-anna, we’d say that boy’s been flashin’ ya his widow-bait smile.”

“Hardly! He also asked me if I was still on steroids. The jerk!”

“Well, then, you can have Cage, and I’ll take Sly,” Marie said saucily.

“Honey chile, the last thing this black woman wants is a redneck boy with a pointy hat.”

“Oh, that’s not fair.” Marie’s face flushed. “Not all Southerners are bigots.”

Donita patted Marie on the shoulder. “I know that, honey. I was just kidding. A bad joke!”

The two women hugged.

What had just transpired, Britta had no idea. All she knew was that she was becoming close to these woman friends. As close as she had once been to Hilda. It would be hard to leave them if — or when — she had to leave.

They braided her hair first, then cut off the long plait to be sent someplace that made wigs for women who had lost their hair to a wasting disease. They did not cut it short-short as she’d originally requested, telling her that would be too drastic. Instead, her hair was cut in layers down to her shoulders, framing her face. When she shook her head, the strands all fell in place neatly. To her surprise, she had natural waves, which her lady companions described as “sexy.”

“It’s too late to go to the mall,” Terri said then. “Anyone wanna go to the Wet and Wild?”

At Britta’s arched brows, Terri explained, “It’s a local watering hole. Good food, cheap booze, great music, and a lot of the Navy guys hang out there.”

A watering hole? Terri wanted to go to a place where animals watered? The other women all voted yea, and Britta wasn’t about to ask yet another question, so she agreed, too.

“I for one plan to get me some tonight,” Terri said. “It’s been ages since I did the dirty.”

“Same here,” Marie said. “My IUD, she is gettin’ lonely.”

“I just want to eat and drink with my friends,” Donita said.

Terri and Marie looked at Donita and said as one, “Bull!”

“You know, honey,” Terri told Britta, “I suspect you’ve led a sheltered life when it comes to men. You had to if you never heard of orgasms before coming here. Maybe it’s time you tested the waters, to see if what you had with Zach was all that great.”

Britta had no doubt it had been great. She had no need for multiple partners to prove that fact. Still, there was appeal in seeing what could happen with other men. Besides, Zachary had been a pig in his role as instructor these past sennights. Not loverlike at all. She did not want special treatment, but making her do endless pushing-ups was not necessary, in her opinion. Yea, she would find another man, one who would be eager to please her not just in the bedsport but mayhap even in her trip to the past, if that became necessary. Not that she would tell anyone about the time travel… at first.

She turned to Terri and smiled, “Perchance we can both get some tonight.”

Soon they were off, driving over the bridge in Marie’s horseless carriage… a pick-me-up.

“Let’s make a pact,” Terri said. “We’re gonna paint the town red or die trying.”

Britta glanced around the vehicle. Not a brush or container of paint in sight. With a sigh, she wondered if she would ever understand this strange country.

MEMO

From: Captain Lenore Feldman

To: Commander Ian MacLean

Subject: WEALS

Provide Tampax dispensers and air fresheners in all toilet facilities.

His son, the sex advisor…