After breakfast, Ethan drove Tara home so she could get ready for work. The tension was palpable during breakfast, especially when it was time to say goodbye. Ethan got away with a subtle wink at Liza, but both Tara and Brenda had caught on.
“So what’s going on with you?” Brenda said, sipping the last of her coffee.
“Oh, I have a headache. You have any Tylenol?” Liza asked, trying to keep a straight face.
Brenda smirked. “I mean with you and Ethan. Did you guys…” She made a gesture with her hand, prompting Liza to reply.
“Yeah. We did.”
Brenda’s eyes widened. “Really? You? First you perform a strip tease in front of strange women, then you come on to someone you hardly know, and then you sleep with him? What’s going on? Are you having an out of body experience or something?”
Liza looked at her coffee and swirled the spoon around the rim of the mug. “You could say that.”
Brenda bent down to make contact with Liza’s eyes and searched her face. “Hey, it’s me. What’s the story?”
Liza looked at Brenda and took a deep breath. “I…I…um…I’ve only got a few weeks left.”
Brenda craned her neck back and shook her head, “What do you mean…a few weeks left? What…to live? Are you joking?”
Liza swallowed, holding back the tears she promised she wouldn’t shed. “The doctor says I’ve got an inoperable brain tumor. It’s hereditary; my uncle had one.”
Brenda’s eyes widened. She hesitated. “Do your parents know?”
“No. I don’t want anybody to know…just you. I don’t want my last few weeks to be sad. I want to live, and I won’t be able to enjoy myself if people are fussing and crying. I saw what my uncle went through and I don’t want to do that.”
Brenda pushed her coffee away as her face paled.
“Are you okay?” Liza asked.
“It’s just shock. I mean, you’re only twenty five. How can this be?”
Liza shrugged. “My uncle was thirty, I think.”
They sat silent and then Brenda asked, “So, are you in any pain? Did the doctor say how things would happen?”
Liza’s arms crossed. “I just have headaches. They might get worse, but the doctor says it’s hard to say how I’ll feel. I might be lucky and go in my sleep or something.”
Brenda’s shoulders began to shudder as she put her hands on her face. Then she took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. “Okay. I’m fine. I’m fine.” She took Liza’s hand. “So, tell me. What do you want to do? Go on a vacation? Do some traveling? Spend lots of money? What? Tell me.”
Liza smiled. “Well, this morning was fun.”
Brenda laughed. “I bet it was. Ethan’s frigging hot. I’d have done him myself given the opportunity.”
“I’d like to do it again. With lots and lots of men. In crazy places and positions. I want to have all the sex I should have been having a long time ago.”
“Really?” Brenda was incredulous. “Lots of men, huh?” She clucked her teeth together. “I think that can be arranged. But what about Ethan?”
“I’ll do him again if he wants. I mean, I have nothing to compare it to, but I can safely say that was hot.”
“Did he make you come?”
Liza nodded.
“Then it was good.” Brenda was pleased. “So what kind of men are we talkin’ here? Rich, built, big cock, what?”
“All of the above.”
“Hm. So, we can check out some websites. There are lots of guys looking to get laid on those singles sites. Sound good?”
“Sure,” Liza said. “Just promise me something.”
Brenda looked at her like Liza was a lost puppy. “Anything.”
“I don’t want anybody to know.”
“You got it.”
***
Brenda fired up her laptop while Liza made tea. “So I’m assuming you want just one guy at a time right? You’re not into the ménage-a-trois scene are you?”
Liza laughed. “I’ll try anything once.”
“Oh my God, girl! Well, that certainly opens up a few doors.” Brenda keyed something into the computer.
Liza handed Brenda a mug of tea and she placed it on the table beside her. “Okay, so do you prefer blonds? Tall, dark, and handsome? What?
“We’ll start with blond…tall.” Liza sipped her tea.
Brenda keyed in her selection. “Type of interests: skiing, long walks in the park, reading, traveling…”
“Skiing and traveling,” Liza said. “I’ve done enough of both with my dad.”
Liza’s dad used to be a traveling salesman; kind of like an antiques road show. As a kid, Liza spent almost every weekend somewhere in the continental United States, and summers were anywhere in the United States or abroad. When Liza turned fifteen, her dad started working locally, building his own franchise.
Brenda reached a selection box and hesitated.
“What is it?” Liza asked.
“Er…it’s asking for what type of relationship you’re looking for. Long term, friendship, one night stand…”
“One night stand I guess.” Liza shrugged.
Brenda cleared her throat. “Can I suggest something?” She sat up taller and looked at Liza.
“A one-night-stand guy could be a real douche-bag. You want someone who’s going to at least respect you. Why not go for friendship and see what happens?”
Liza chewed her lower lip. “I suppose it’s better than saying ‘long term’ and leading him on, right? Sure. Check friendship.” Liza’s phone started to vibrate in her pocket. “It’s Ethan,” she said, checking the number. “How did he get my number?”
“Probably Tara,” Brenda said.
Liza nodded.
“Hi Ethan.”
“Hey. I hope I’m not disturbing you, but I wanted to ask you to dinner tonight.”
Liza looked at Brenda, trying to stifle a smile. “Sure. I’m not busy.”
“How about I pick you up at six? Dress nice, I’m taking you to La Fleur de Lis.”
“Wow. Fancy. I can’t wait.” She pulled at a stray hair on her shoulder.
“See you then.”
“Bye.”
When Liza hung up, Brenda had this I-know-what-you’re-doing-tonight look.
“What? He’s taking me to dinner,” Liza said innocently.
“Dinner, huh? Are you bringing him back here for dessert?” She elbowed her in the ribs.
“Maybe. Help me figure out what to wear!” Liza squeaked.
Brenda hit save and shut the lid on the laptop. “So you’ll have to bring him back here if you want to fool around again. Tara’s off tonight.”
Liza scrunched her face. “Why does she live with him, anyway?”
“Her place is being renovated. It’s really old and she had an electrical fire. It burned her whole top floor.”
“How long has she been staying with him?” She opened her closet.
“A couple months. She was waiting for her insurance claim to come through. The renovations started, but she ran out of money. Ethan couldn’t help her financially since he’d just bought his place, so he offered to let her stay with him.”
Liza’s face warmed like she took a bite of fresh apple pie.
“He’s a nice guy. You could do worse,” Brenda said, picking out a simple, short, red frock.