Bittersweet

“What was the biggest disappointment of her life?” Bam asked Holden the next day. He heard the boy pause thoughtfully.

“There have been a lot of them. But I think the biggest one would have to be our senior prom.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Holden said firmly. “She’d gone out and spent a hundred and fifty dollars on this gorgeous dress, got her hair and make up done, and her date didn’t even show up. She ended up spending most of the night doing all the fast dances. I danced with her a slow song, and a couple other guys did, but we had dates.”

“Sucks,” Bam said thoughtfully.

“Yeah,” Holden agreed. “She always hated herself for getting so excited about that night. Said she should have known better than to think that something would go right for her.”

“Hmm,” Bam hummed. The other boy said nothing.

“What are you planning?”

“Are you free that weekend of her birthday?”

“What?” he was trying to follow the sudden jump in conversation. “Oh, yeah, I guess so. Let me check… Yeah, I’m free.”

“Okay, I’m sending you a plane ticket. You’ve got to be here to help me.”

“Help you what?” the boy was obviously frustrating. “Will you please tell me what this is about? I’m telling you now she’s not cleaning up any blood on her birthday.”

“Why does everyone tell me that? She’s not going to have to clean it up! I’ll get someone else.” Bam hung up.

“Who you talking too?” Lenny walked into the bedroom. She knelt behind him on the bed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“No one, babe.”

“Okay,” she nuzzled his earlobe, sucking it gently into her mouth. Bam groaned and reluctantly untangled her from him.

“I’ve still got stuff to do today.”

“Wrong answer. Let’s go to bed.” She purred.

“Bed? It’s two in the afternoon.”

“I never said we’d be doing any sleeping.” She chuckled. She pressed a kiss to his throat. Bam tilted his head, giving her better access.

“What did you get into, Helena?”

“I don’t know,”

“Well take some more of it.” He gasped as she nibbled on his collar bone. He indulged her for a few minutes, turning her head to have a few of those slow, sweet kisses.

“I’ve got stuff to do.” He repeated. With a dramatic sigh, Lenny flopped onto the bed, on her stomach.

“Fine! Go on, go do it,” she shooed him away with her hand. “Leave the horny girl here all by herself.”

“I’ll do this stuff fast.” He promised, kissing her. She accepted the gesture sullenly.

“Mmm.” She reached for her book on the nightstand and began to read. Bam cursed himself.

**

“He’s ignoring me,” Lenny pouted into her cell phone. She was sitting outside, watching the October sun move across the sky.

“I doubt that, sweetheart.” Ville flicked on his lighter.

“He is!” she insisted. “Ville, I even put on this black lace thong and this matching bra and lay on the bed. In the middle of the day! He loves middle of the day sex. And do you know what he did?”

“What did he do?” the singer was amused by how upset she
truly was about all of this.

“He looked at me and just groaned. And then he took his cell phone and ran out of the room. He’s been running around like mad for two days straight. I just don’t think he loves me anymore.” Ville bit his cheek to keep from laughing.

“You know that’s not true, Helena.” He tried to comfort her. “Bam’s probably just busy right this minute.”

“But he always tells me when he has a big project.” She protested. “This time he hasn’t said anything. It must be another girl.”

“Clearly,” Ville said flatly. “If he’s busy, that means he’s cheating. Never mind looking for lipstick on the collar or perfume on his coat.”

“Oh God, do you think I should look?” she fretted. Ville sighed loudly.

“I think you should calm down and not let your worryings get the better of you.” He flicked some ash.
“Just chill out, sweetheart.”

“I’ll try,” she promised.

“All right then. You know I’ll be there soon.”

“I wish you were here now.” She sounded like a child. Ville smiled.

“I wish I was too. I love you, Helena.”

“I love you, too, Ville.” They hung up and Lenny rolled over onto her back. She was definitely moping in the room she shared with Bam. He was gone, and so were all the other boys. There was no one for her to bother.

“I hate my life,” she sighed.