Another older story I am dusting off.

Birthday Suit

Twelve hours and nothing. It was almost funny to her that she was worried about what anyone thought of her having a birthday. She had long ago put any extra emphasis on her birthday but still, a little acknowledgement would have been nice. The day dragged along and no one on her floor had said a word about the birthday. Plenty of conversation about everything else, who needed what meds, what the doc needed, blah blah blah. No birthday wishes. 

She had a cake last year over lunch, a couple of nice cards, and then a happy hour with some other nurses. It was nice and simple and a great time. Managed expectations, and that was fine with her. It was what she had done over the past few years. But the overwhelming silence was not expected especially as everyone was just as friendly as they had always been. It was just another day.

Her friend Angie stopped by later in the afternoon and she was glad to see her. Angie was close enough that she had given her a spare key to water her plants and take care of her house when she traveled, either to see her parents or for a weekend getaway. She expected Angie to break the birthday malaise. 

“Hey Amanda, how’s it going?”

“Doing fine, what are you up to?”

“Not much, was just about to take off a little early, got to take my kid to a school thing, kill me now. But wanted to catch you and let you know I got some awesome peaches at Costco and have way too many. I’m going to stop by your place and drop some off if that’s ok?”

“Oh sure, sounds yummy. Thank you, that’s very nice of you.”

Amanda waited for the birthday bell to be rung, but it stayed quiet. Angie just smiled, and said, “Perfect! I think you’ll like them. I’ll leave them in the kitchen on the counter. Sound good?”

“Sure, no problem.” Amanda replied as upbeat as she could. It wasn’t a birthday acknowledgement, but free peaches shouldn’t be taken for granted. The tradeoff was as good as any hostage negotiation.

Angie left and Amanda was alone among all the hustle and bustle of the floor. She shook off the small disappointment and went back to work.

The end of her long shift finally arrived and she collected her things with others on the floor. She was about to leave when one of the next shift nurses had some questions for her about a couple of patients. She was irritated as this should have been taken care of by one of the others who had already left, but she answered the questions. They seemed a little basic and wasn’t sure why they needed to cover this when this was nothing new. The patients had been here for four days and this nurse knew them. It cost her an extra half hour by the time she got out of the hospital. Just another nail in the coffin of the day.

She got into her car and sat there for a moment. She was ready to travel the 15 minutes home but didn’t move right away. Many thoughts turned over in her mind when her phone rang and she saw it was mom and dad. Finally, a bright spot. She talked to them for a little while and was brighter and happier for the 10 minutes she had with them. She told her mom she would call her back when she got home to talk more and she hung up.

A text binged from Angie. “Hey, would have thought you’d be on your third or fourth peach by now. You on your way home yet?”

That was a little odd, but she didn’t think too much about it. The peaches would be waiting for her whenever she got home. Amanda had been expecting to be out with friends so she didn’t feel like going home to make something. She considered her culinary options and thought she would stop at that new Mediterranean place and pick up some things. She texted back to Angie, “Be there soon and will be lucky to have one. Thanks again.”

The restaurant was busy at this hour as it was next to two hotels, which themselves were part of a large meeting center. Men and women in their trendy business attire laughed and ate and talked at all the tables about god knows what. All she cared about was that there was a long line to get to the hostess so she turned to leave.

At that moment, Angie texted again, but before she could answer it, Amanda was distracted enough to not check where she or anyone else was, which is why she smacked right into the man walking up behind her. 

“Oh, my goodness, I am so sorry!” 

The victim of Amanda’s unfortunate and unplanned turn was much taller than her, perhaps six foot three, well built, and smiling. 

“Are you ok?” He asked with a small grin.

“Oh, I’m fine, just embarrassed. I did not see you there.”

“I was just walking back from the bathroom and I take big steps so I probably snuck up on you.”

“No, I’m such a klutz sometimes, just lost in my own world.”

“No worries, I just hope you’re ok. I play a lot of basketball and I feel like I hit you with a moving screen.”

They looked awkwardly at each other for a second. She got a good look at him and lost her train of thought. It was likely due to his crisp dark blue suit, textured white shirt, and striking red tie. She saw broad shoulders and his jacket hung on him like an angel had placed it. His shoes were just the right shade of brown and glossy as they tapered to a fine point. His hands had steadied her after their run in and they were warm through her scrubs, strong and sure. I’ve run into worse, she thought.

“I don’t mean to keep you if you’re done with dinner. No hard feelings for giving you a low-grade concussion?” He smiled at that over exaggeration and she smiled herself. His voice was playful and charming. And that smile...that damn smile of his.

“Actually, I didn’t want to wait in line so I’m headed to find something else.”

“Well, actually, I got a table already and my food should probably be there. Would you like to join me?”

Amanda felt a little faint at the offer, not sure what to make of it right away. 

“Oh um, thank you, but I don’t think I’m really dressed for this place anyway. I just got off work and thought I’d grab something real quick.”

“Please, at least come to my table so you can order there and get it to go, you’re already here. And I hear the pitas are to die for.” He said this last part quietly as he leaned forward, like he was bringing her into a secret no one else knew. Cheese and crackers, he smelled good.

She laughed a little despite herself and tried one more time to leave, even if she really didn’t want to.

“I’m sure you’ve got some people to talk with besides me, everyone else seems to. I’ll be ok.”

“And I won’t,” he said. “Please, it’s no trouble, you’ll be on your way, and we can just chat for a bit. Otherwise, I may have to fake a heart attack and then you’ll have to give me mouth to mouth and I’d much rather I got you dinner first before we got that close. You know?”

Now she was really in a quandary. There it was, the old CPR-by-a-nurse line. As old as…. well, since they invented CPR. The problem was the delivery. She was hooked and in a flash, she thought, you know, it’s my birthday and all I have are peaches waiting for me.

“Actually, I do. And yes, if it’s alright with you I’ll just order something and then give you some peace.”

He smiled and outstretched one hand to show her the way to go and the other he placed on the small of her back to move her to the bed…. table! To the table. Jeezy Pete why did she just think that, she thought. 

She felt a few stares as they walked to the table, but no one leapt up and chased her out. They sat at the table and his food was already there waiting for him.

“Well, that looks delicious,” she said. “Good choices.”

“Really? I had no idea what I was ordering. I closed my eyes and stabbed at the menu. Think I freaked the waitress out but seems alright. You take this half and let me know how I did.”

“What? No, I couldn’t do that, I’m fine. I’ll order something and just get that and I’ll be fine. Thank you, but I’m good.”

He regarded her and said, “Please have some or...heart attack...CPR...everyone looking at us…”

“OK OK, my goodness you’re ornery.”

“I just don’t want to eat right in front of you, it’s rude. This way you can relax while they take half an hour to get something for you.”

“Half an hour? Are you kidding me? I thought I would be in and out. Cheese and crackers!”

He laughed out loud. “Seriously? So, what part of the south are you from?”

“How’d you know that?”

“Cheese and checkers? Really? Dead giveaway for a nice southern upbringing. Don’t think Georgia, so….”

“South Carolina and proud of it mister.”

“Very nice. The good Carolina, even. Perfect.”

“You know it.”

“Well, sadly, it will take some time. They appear to be very busy tonight. But that just means I have longer to talk with you. Unless you had somewhere to go? Were you headed home? Looks like you just got off a long shift.”

“Yes, just headed home. To some peaches and a little reading.”

“Peaches? That is mighty southern of you. You’re checking all the southern belle checkboxes. Well mannered, pretty, sassy, and peaches. Throw a sweet tea in there and we got ourselves some antebellum going pretty good.”

“Sassy? You think that’s sassy, buster, you just wait and see how sassy I could be.”

He smiled broadly and said, “Oh I would love to see how sassy you could be.”

Amanda blushed and tried to look anywhere but at him, but his eyes trapped her and all she could do was smile. Her phone buzzed again on the seat beside her, Angie again, but she ignored the text this time.

“So, peaches and reading. That’s the big plan?”

“That’s all I need tonight. All I got at the end of a day like today.”

“And what kind of day is that?”

“Just a day, usual stuff, I work at County Memorial down the road a bit.”

“I’m not familiar with it, but I’m from out of town, just here for the conference this week.”

The talk was easy and the banter playful and natural. She ordered and they shared his plate. Time passed like sands through an hour glass, so they say. She was mesmerized by this man named Diego as she eventually discovered. He got her jokes, knew many of the same books, and didn’t try and change the conversation when she somehow, someway thought that talking about banking in the US would be a flirtatious subject. 

There were more than a few times as she talked with him that his clothes mysteriously disappeared, at least in her mind. She was captivated by his wit and charm and felt a strange instant connection. A connection that included connecting part of him to part of her. She lost the trail of conversation during these moments and would have to snap back to reality to catch up. He was immediately clothed in that suit (that suit!) again, but slowly articles of clothing began to shed once more.

Every few minutes the phone buzzed. She glanced at first, then just ignored it. Whoever it was would have to wait.

Finally, her food arrived and when she tried to pay the waitress told her that is was included on Diego’s bill already and he had paid for it. 

“That’s very kind of you, but you didn’t have to do that. I’m perfectly capable of getting my dinner.”

“It was my pleasure and the least I could do after flying at you like a madman earlier and crashing into you like a blind pencil seller.”

“I believe that was me and it was much less dramatic.”

“I’ve heard it both ways. In any case, I just wish I had more time with you tonight.”

“I’d love to, but it’s been a long day, I’m exhausted. And I’ve got peaches and a book waiting for me.”

“Ah yes, I was just thinking about your peaches.”

She couldn’t help but smile at the line. Cheesy, but strangely it worked, like so many other things that night. She had a southern peach she wanted to show him alright.

“Oh, were you know? And what were you thinking about them?”

“Mmm, I’m sure they’re nice and smooth, feel good in the hands, and when you sink your mouth into them the juice can just run all over your face. Am I right?”

She looked thoughtfully at him and wondered whether it was a misdemeanor or felony for having sex on a table in public. She weighed the consequences and decided that they’d likely be arrested before they could finish anyway.

“Oh yes, if you get a good southern peach that’s exactly what happens.”

Overly excited, and just a bit flustered, she began to stand and that’s when fate showed up and grabbed a seat at the table. 

Her badge had somehow caught the hem of the tablecloth, and as she stood it pulled the tablecloth up as well. The plates of remaining food and drinks flew up and towards Diego within a second. Before she knew itm his jacket, shirt, tie and pants were soaked with water and hummus. 

“Oh, my goodness! I am so sorry! Shit! Cheese and crackers!”

Diego was shocked for a minute, but looked at her and quickly laughed even as he grabbed a napkin. The restaurant was silent for a few seconds, before Diego turned and said loudly, “And for my next trick…..” Everyone laughed and returned to their conversations as servers arrived to help clean up.

“Damn it. I am so sorry. This is like the worst birthday ever!”

He looked at her sharply and said, “Birthday? It’s your birthday? Why didn’t you say something? I would have got dessert!”

“And have that all over your lap? No thanks. I appreciate it but I am just horrified I got your beautiful suit dirty.”

“It’s ok, I can get it cleaned, I got more.”

“Can you please let me clean it for you? I can have it back to you end of day tomorrow. Promise.”

He smiled and then laughed at a hidden thought. She was confused and asked him what he was laughing about.

“Well, if I give it to you, would that make it your birthday suit or my birthday suit? Either way, there seems to be a birthday suit in our near future.”

Dear god yes, she thought first. Holy crap, was second. And the desire to flee from embarrassment was third. They raced around the track of her mind for a second or two.

“It’s your suit, my birthday, so I guess it’s both of our birthday suits.”

“I like the sound of that. Tell you what, I’ll let you take it to be cleaned, but I have to change out of it of course, so if you could come to my room I’ll be able to give it to you.”

There it was. Her opening. His opening? Someone was opening something. She thought, what the hell. All I got are peaches and reading and this promised to be a much more fun birthday activity. A very energetic way to end another year on this earth. Or on him, which she much more preferred.

“OK, I promise I’ll have it back by end of day as I said.”

“Deal, now if you can lead the way, I’m actually at the Hilton next door so It’s not a long walk.”

Buzzz. Ignore. Buzzzz. Ignore. Buzzzz. As she walked out with him to the hotel she reached down and turned her phone off. If everyone was done with her for her birthday she was done with them.

They walked through a marble lobby and into the elevator. The sudden closeness made the situation very real. She felt the increase of heat and it would have been sexy as hell if it wasn’t for the huge stains on his clothes. Well, it was sexy, just not clean.

He reached down and held her hand and drew close. 

“They upgraded me because of points, got a roomy suite with a great view. I think you’ll like it.”

“I’m sure I will.” She smiled.

They made their way to his room and he opened the door and let her in. It was roomy, almost as big as an apartment.

“Wow, you travel well.”

“Trust me, I never get this kind of room. Totally scored a deal this time. Which is good news for us.”

He didn’t turn on the lights as they walked to the window. It was a nice view of the city she had to admit. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her. The closeness was sudden but welcome. His mouth moved close to her ear and he spoke to her soul.

“If I’m to give you my suit, I think it should be your honor to take it from me.”

Her legs buckled a little. He held her tight so she didn’t fall, so she turned and looked at him.

She looked straight into his eyes and said, “I’d love to.”

She began with his tie, undoing the knot and loosening the fabric around his neck. It was silk, and she felt bad about ruining it, but she removed it and relished the sound of the fabric as it ran off his collar.

She gazed at him as she pushed the jacket off his shoulders and it hit the floor. Again, hearing the fabric was arousing. She slowly unbuttoned the shirt and pulled it up out of his pants. She ran her hands along his chest and to his neck.

He kissed her. Deep, warm, wet, and desirous. She returned his fervor and felt around his shoulders to get his shirt off too. She could feel something hard press against her and knew what else needed to fall. But, she had a sudden thought and broke the kiss.

“Do you mind if I take a quick shower? I just got off a 12-hour shift and feel kind of gross. I’m sorry, I won’t be long.”

He smiled and said, “Of course. Take your time. There’s a robe on the back of the door you can use.”

He sat down in a chair and looked at her with intent. She needed it and felt his passion. Somehow, she made her way to the shower.

She got in quickly and wondered if he would come in, but he left her alone. She finished and dried her hair as best she could and wrapped the robe around her warm body. It was heavenly and she walked out into the room. 

He was seated in the exact same position as if he was a rock that had been placed there. She walked slowly to him in the still darkened room. When she got to within a few feet he said, “Stop.”

She stopped immediately, confused, and waited.

He looked her over and smiled. Each arm rested on an arm of the chair and his feet were flat on the floor.

“Turn for me.” He said. She did as she was told, slowly until she faced him again.

“Untie the robe, but leave it closed as best you can.”

Her hands trembled slightly. Forty-five minutes ago, she was leaving for take-out and now she was standing naked in front of this stranger. Stranger in the sense of having just met him, but she had an immediate connection she couldn’t deny.

And now she was untying the sash. The robe parted slightly but hid enough of her still. She could feel the rush of blood to her nether parts and she distinctly felt a warm wetness growing between her legs.

“Walk to me.”

She took two steps forward and stood in front of him.

He reached his hand up and slipped it into the robe. She felt his soft hand against her hip and side. She closed her eyes slightly and sighed. He caressed her midsection and then with his other hand he parted the robe and revealed her clean, wet, naked body to him. The robe fell to the floor and she trembled waiting for him. 

He stood up and walked around behind her. He brushed the hair from one side of her head to expose her neck and he kissed her there. Gentle, warm, with a lingering desire left upon her neck. His hands wrapped around her and slowly moved up to cup each breast. 

His hands were large but soft and enveloped each breast. Her nipples instantly hardened and she moaned slightly. He touched her for a little while and continued his kisses to her clavicle and back to her neck. She felt light and would have fallen had he not held her. 

She subconsciously felt his hand move downwards but didn’t make the connection until she felt a small explosion of heat, which was his fingers reaching the top of her clit. She shifted instantly from an aroused state to an erotic one. His hands were strange but at the same time perfect. They moved about her like they had always been there, like they knew her better than herself.

A finger or two slipped along her now very wet lips. She parted her legs slightly to give him better access and a finger soon slipped into her opening. Now she really moaned and could barely breathe. Her hand reached behind her and wrapped around the back of his head to bring it down to her.

He touched her for god knows how long when she felt her first orgasm rising. It roiled and built momentum until her body tightened and with a loud groan and shout of “Oh god yes” she came for the first time in his arms. He continued to touch her and, surprisingly, got another one from her in minutes before he walked around to face her.

“Take off my shirt.” She complied immediately and pulled his undershirt off revealing a mostly smooth chest with a small tuft of hair in the middle. His chest intoxicated her like nothing she had felt in a while.

“Get on your knees and take my pants off.”

And with that he began to push her down at her shoulders gently. She was on her knees now with a warm afterglow. Far from releasing stress and tension she was more excited than ever and she needed to see him and feel him and taste his cock. It was a need. A critical need.

She unbuckled the belt and took the top pant clasp off. She then began to unzip his pants and the sound reverberated in her ears. It was a perfect sound and she became excited all over again.

He stepped out of his pants and kicked them to the side. All that was left were his black boxer briefs, hugging his body and showing her a large bulge in the middle. She grabbed the band and pulled them out and down.

There it was, a beautiful cock hard and throbbing. For her. All for her. She pulled his briefs down and he also kicked them to the side. They were now gloriously naked together. 

She was about to take him into her mouth when he sat down. He leaned back so his hips were at the chair edge and he opened his legs and looked at her. She smiled and moved forward on her knees. She took his cock in one hand and lowered her lips to his tip as she kept his eyes locked on hers.

His head slipped into her mouth and onto her tongue. The precum tasted sweet to her and she excitedly moved more of him in and out until her lips ended up pressed against the base of his groin. Her mouth was his, his cock was hers. And she began to bob her head up and down like she was enjoying a feast.

She listened to his groans and gasps. She had power over him now. She could do anything to him right now. It was exhilarating. His hand ran through her hair and pressed her head sometimes. Her hands ended up on his thighs as she worked him more and more. She could feel the swelling and knew it was soon so she backed off.

“That was incredible. Good lord you’ve got an amazing mouth. I swear you were going to suck my soul out.”

She popped him out of her mouth and smiled. “You’ve got a beautiful cock. I could have it in me all day.”

“Now that’s something I’d love to try. Sounds like a great day to me. But I need more of you now.”

He stood and helped her stand. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hard and deep. His tongue encircling hers as they danced inside their mouths. His hands were everywhere. She felt alive and on fire to his touch. 

Still holding her, he walked her backwards to the bed and once there, picked her up and threw her into the bed. Who throws anyone anymore, and why had she never felt that before! It was amazing! Such control and power. She loved it. 

“Lie back. Now, open your legs for me.”

He was bold and direct and she loved it. The act of parting her legs was a rush of endorphins. It was opening herself clearly and prominently for someone else. It was to say, look, I am a woman, this is my body, my sacred place, my pussy. Take it. 

He crawled forward and placed his face close to her thighs. He kissed and licked and bit the inside of each as he inched his way to the top, to the joined point of her legs where a fire was burning. She was tensed and trying to anticipate his first touch but there was no way she could be ready. 

And then he touched her. 

Her back arched reflexively. Her head tilted back to gasp for air and her hands tried to grasp his hair for some sort of leverage. She imagined it must have been only the tip of his tongue that touched the very top of her clit, but it had touched so delicately and firmly that she had lost control. 

Amanda’s body rocked back and forth as his tongue and mouth moved downward across her full and swollen lips. The blood rushing through her body must have been incredible. He knew exactly where to touch her. When. How. She came within 5 minutes and then again 2 and 6 minutes after that. 

He would lick her from bottom to top and then suck on her lips, pulling them out and into his mouth, followed by his tongue pushing into her and wriggling back and forth. His lips were pressed against her vulva, flat and hungry. He devoured her, he delighted upon her juices, and showed that her body could know no secrets from him. 

His hands would work inside her thighs and occasionally wrap around her and pull them apart while pulling himself into her. She felt a pressure inside of her and realized he had a finger in her. No! TWO fingers. And his tongue was flicking across her clit. That’s when she came the third time, loudly, and caused the older lady in the next room to look at the wall and then cross herself. 

Amanda had no idea had she could endure more right then. She had lost count of her orgasms. Yet she knew she wanted more in her orgasmic haze. She wanted him. She wanted to feel him crashing upon her, to bear his weight against her and to wrap her legs around him. 

She wasn’t disappointed as he rose and edged forward. Rather than lying upon her he was on his knees, one each under a thigh of hers. He grabbed her ankles and pulled her forward and apart. He released one ankle to use his hand to grasp his cock and position it at her opening.

Her pussy was a wet mess by this point, but excessively wet nonetheless. She wanted it. She wanted him to impale her. And then the head of cock was against and her and knocking at her door. It felt incredible and her desire rose. 

Once he had the tip inside her, he once again grasped the other ankle. His hips began a slow circular movement to move his cock around the entrance of her pussy. Amanda was beyond thinking. The sensation was amazing and with each circle he moves further into her. 

Her hips and ass essentially were in the air as her thighs rested on his. He let go of her ankles at this point and moved her legs against his body and wrapped his arms around them, her feet now placed on either side of his head. This gave him incredible leverage to now get very deep into her and the rhythm and pounding started. 

It was slow and then relentless. His hips would pull back and then bury his cock back into her. Over and over. Amanda writhed and moaned and said a great number of things that had rarely ever passed her lips. 

And then he touched her, again. 

He had released her legs and they fell to the side and she wanted to take him deeper. He held one thigh down still and the other hand began to touch her clit and rub it as he continued to fuck hers. 

“Oh god...ok...ok….ooooohhhhh...god yes. Yes please. Don’t stop.”  She came hard and she could feel the bed get wet beneath her. If she could have a minute to think about she’d be beside herself. He didn’t give her a minute to think. 

As she came he suddenly shifted and he leaned forward into a more customary missionary position. But it was his energy that surprised her. He was launching himself into her. Pushing with his feet and pushing deep with his feet going into the air. She looked at his face and saw pure lust. For her. Only for her right now and she wanted to please him in any way she could. 

She had never felt this. Never knew this could exist. She almost laughed. She did laugh. In her mind she heard herself say, well this sure beats peaches. It was very funny to her. 

But then she was snapped back as she felt a swelling from his cock. He was close. His eyes gave it away as well. Crazed and determined to cum while deep in her. She raised her legs and wrapped them around her. Her feet trapped him by his thighs and her hands grabbed his ass to pull him in. 

“Yes Diego. Give me your gift. Give it to me. I want it. I want it. Give it to me now.”

She felt another orgasm rise as she felt his body tighten. He went rigid and he let out an unending loud moan as he released himself in her. He pressed his body tight against her and held himself there. She was in awe as the many emotions passed across his face. 

Somehow, they returned to this world and he collapsed beside her. They continued to touch each other gently and talk quietly. Each praising the other and smiling and laughing. They lounged entwined for who knows how long.  Eventually, she went to the bathroom while he ordered some drinks and a slice of evil chocolate cake and a candle. They ate the food she had ordered and then she made a wish with her birthday candle and cake.

Twenty minutes later it came true as her hands were pressed against the glass of the room’s window. He pounded her from behind standing up while his thumb explored and pressed into her ass. The dual pressure and penetration made her cum hard, twice. 

Then she made him stand as she dropped to her knees and sucked on his cock as if tomorrow would never come. He did, though. Giving her another gift upon her tongue. They relaxed and she showered. This time he joined her. She came two final times when he was behind her and soaped her body and reached down to rub her clit mercilessly. They rinsed off again and then returned to the room. 

She began to dress as he slipped a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt on. 

“Why don’t you stay? I have a lot of flexibility with this conference. Can lounge here…make love…lounge…things…”

“I would love to, but I have a training session tomorrow at 7. I can’t miss it and I need some fresh clothes mister.”

She finished dressing and he moved to her and encircled her. 

She rocked in his arms and smiled with a large goofy grin. “But, it ends at noon and I have the next two days off...so…”

“So, you will be here promptly at 1pm tomorrow with peaches, cream, a change of clothes, and an open attitude.”

“I thought I was pretty open tonight? Wasn’t I?”

“Oh yes, a great start, but I’m pretty sure there were some things you wanted that we didn’t have time for, and I am a gentleman after all.”

“A handsome one at that.” And they kissed deeply and sweetly. 

He walked her down and back to her car and she left after many more kisses and touches. Slowly she pulled away, looking at him in his T-shirt and gym shorts. Oh lord. What did I just do. 

She drove into her garage and completely missed the other car out front. She walked into the house and for the first time looked at a clock. It was 12:16am. It seemed like she had been out for days not just a few hours. 

“Where have you been?”

Amanda jumped out of her shoes and let out a whoop. It was Angie, but she had scared the bejeesus out of her. 

“Damn it Angie. You scared the hell out of me. What the heck are you doing here so late?”

“Did you not get a single message or call? I’ve been trying to reach you all night! We’ve been frantic!”

“We? Who’s we? I don’t understand.”

“Amanda! Christ, look around you!”

She turned on some lights and saw streamers and banners and all the pieces of a party. But it was like a party partly frozen in time. 

“What’s all this?”

Angie looked irritated and exhausted. “We were going to have a surprise party for you. I had Gloria try and keep you a few minutes longer at the end of your shift so we could finish up and thought you’d be home soon. We were all set up but you never showed up. I tried texting and calling you all night but you never answered. We finally ate some stuff, hung out and then everyone left. What the hell happened to you? Where have you been?”

Amanda couldn’t help but smile. Which likely infuriated Angie, but she couldn’t help it. 

“I am so sorry Angie. I had no idea! I stopped to get something to eat and then...” she trailed off not quite believing what had happened. 

Angie stared at her for a few seconds, waiting impatiently for her to finish.

“And then….” she said, and she rolled her hand in the air.

Amanda smiled uncontrollably as she suddenly remembered his question at the restaurant. 

“And then I ran into a man in a suit and…I guess it became…” she laughed a little and shook her head at everything that had happened after that moment. “...my birthday suit!”