Houston, We Have a Problem
The warmth of the moist sauna air rushed over Jennifer as she relaxed next to Ashley and stretched her legs out before her. For all of her apprehension, she had to admit that the women she spent her afternoon with were pretty great. It was just like hanging out with her college girlfriends, sharing laughs and stories, while being pampered like princesses. It was definitely a life that she felt she could get used to.
"Are you okay, Li?" Trish asked, a look of concern on her fair features as she cast a glance at her red-headed friend.
Jennifer and Ashley turned to watch as Lita attempted to rest her head against the wall, only to cringe and shift into another, hopefully more comfortable, position. "I'm fine," she insisted through clenched teeth.
"Yeah, if by fine you mean incredibly constipated? Stomach cramp? What is that face?" Ashley chimed in, laughing as Lita slowly lifted a finger to flip her off. "What is wrong with you?"
With another grunt, Lita turned on the bench and finally found a contorted position that seemed to suit her. "I think I pinched a nerve in my neck last night," she said, raising her arms above her head as she tried to crack or pop her neck and back.
"Doing what?" Trish asked, her eyes wide with confusion.
Jennifer just shook her head and looked down at her newly painted toes. "I don't think we need to know that, Trisha," she corrected.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Lita alluded, sighing heavily and falling into silence. But after only a couple of moments of silence, her eyes flew open. "I mean, what kind of dumb ass motherfucker looks at a woman who had neck surgery only two years ago and thinks "Gee, it'd be a fucking great idea to just shove her knees up against the headboard"? "She should be able to balance all of her weight and my lard ass on her neck - no problem"!"
Ashley rolled her eyes and looked toward Jennifer. "You're right. We didn't need to know that."
"The kind of dumb ass motherfucker that watches to much fucking porn. That's what kind of dumb ass motherfucker!" Lita continued to rant, cringing again as she turned uncomfortably. The massage was supposed to help, but she had a sinking suspicion that it had really only made things worse.
Trish laughed slightly and shook her head. "Something about guys and porn." She rested her head against the wall behind her and let her eyes drift shut. "John's philosophy is "If Jenna can do it, so can Trish. If Tera's willing to try it, Trish should be, too."
There were slight chuckles from all the women as they began to relax in the humidity of their surroundings. If she were really honest, Jennifer would admit that the afternoon out with the girls was the best she'd had since Keegan had been born. At least, the best without her daughter. Or Dave.
"Randy's philosophy is more along the lines of "Anything Evan Stone can do, I can do better." Sometimes I think he watches porn just to compare himself to the guys," Ashley rolled her eyes. "Although," she shrugged slightly, "If he learned that thing with his tongue from watching porn, I can't be all mad."
There was a collective groan as Lita raised her foot slightly to nudge her friend in the back of the head. "What about you, Jen? Surely Dave has some porn fetishes you'd like to share," she smiled slightly.
Blushing deeply, Jennifer wished that she had a story to pitch in, something to add. "Um, I don't know yet. I guess we haven't been together that long," she whispered, picking at the newly painted little finger on her left hand.
"How long?" Ashley asked suddenly.
"Only a couple of months," Jennifer answered.
"Wait a minute," Lita's eyes grew wide as she seemed to forget about the pain in her neck. "Have you and Dave even had sex yet?" Jennifer nodded. "Oh shit!" She bit her lip, seemingly growing in excitement. "Did it suck?"
Rolling her eyes, Ashley smacked her friend's leg. "You're starting to sound like Edge," she warned, as was her custom when the red-head began to show signs of spending way too much time with her opinionated boyfriend.
"It did NOT suck," Jennifer assured them all with a firm glare. The few times that she and Dave had been together had been beautiful. It was hotter than anything she had ever experienced. "It's great. When it happens."
"Oh my god!" Ashley gasped as she rested her hand on Jennifer's thigh. "Is Dave too old to get it up anymore?"
Jennifer laughed at the absurdity of the statement as Trish leaned forward and smacked her hand against the back of her younger friend's head. "Now who sounds like her boyfriend?" she asked pointedly before turning her attention to Jennifer. "What's the real problem, Jen?"
It was silly, really, and Jennifer didn't feel like sharing it. But she really wanted a friendship with these women, and if that meant she had to open up a little bit, then she would. "Keegan," she smiled slightly. "I mean, I love my daughter - I really, really love her. More than anything in the world. But she has the most fucked up sense of timing I have ever seen in my life.
"Every time Dave spends the night, and we're just about to get there, she either has a nightmare, or she needs to go to the bathroom, or she needs a drink. OR," she sighed and shook her head, "She insists on sleeping right between us in the bed." Jennifer smiled and looked from Trish to Lita to Ashley, and then back at her hands. "I should just be happy that she loves him as much as she does. I've dated a few guys since she was born, and Dave's the first one she has really, really taken to. I guess I can't complain if I'm not gettin' any because she wants to be around him."
"Sure you can," Lita interjected. When Jennifer shot her a look of surprise, Lita rolled her eyes. "Come on, Jen. I mean, yeah, it's fantastic that your daughter digs Dave. I mean, I know that's gotta be important to you and everything. But he's your boyfriend, not hers. And you deserve some nookie, girlie!"
Ashley nodded in agreement. "What about the bathroom," she suggested.
"What about it?" Trish and Jennifer asked in unison.
"Why not just wait until Keegan is asleep and then slip into the bathroom, get yours, and then go back to sleep like the big happy family?" she shrugged, sinking back on her seat as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Considering it, Jennifer shrugged. "I guess we could."
"Or," Trish spoke up, rolling her eyes at Ashley, who either didn't notice or just didn't care, "Here's another idea. We come off the road on Wednesday next week, right?" All the women nodded. "So when you get home, you plan the perfect romantic night for you and Dave - at your house or a hotel or whatever - and John and I will take over on 'Keegan Watch' for the night."
As well as things had been going, Jennifer could honestly say that she hadn't thought about John all afternoon - at least not as anything other than Trish's boyfriend. But the thought of him babysitting their daughter - spending time with the young girl while Jennifer wasn't even present to keep him from blabbing the truth - was just a little too much.
She tried to contain her response, but shook her head. "It's sweet, Trish. I appreciate the gesture," she started to explain that it just wouldn't work.
But Trish Stratus was not one to take "no" for an answer. "John is great with kids," she interrupted before Jennifer could offer her some thin exuse. "And he's Keegan's favorite - at least, according to Dave. And I make a mean grilled cheese," she winked. When Jennifer's shoulders did not relax, Trish shrugged. "Just promise me you'll think about it."
As it turned out, Trish was convinced it was time for her plan to be put into action. So much so that she followed Jen home from Lita's when they returned from the spa, determined to make sure the new lovebirds got their alone time.
Following Jennifer into the house, Trish smiled at the cozy decor of the modest, two-bedroom split level. "This is adorable," she complimented.
Jennifer threw her keys and her purse on the entry table and listened for tiny giggles or thunderous foot steps. "Thanks," she answered distractedly, finding herself far more disturbed by the heavy silence in the house.
As the women rounded the corner to the living room, Jennifer felt her heart melting. Dora was exploring on the television, but the pair were not paying attention. Dave was sprawled across the couch, Keegan resting comfortably on his massive chest. Her tiny hands rested against his neck, and his arm lay protectively over her back as they both slept peacefully.
"Oh my god," Trish whispered, quickly pulling her telephone from her purse and snapping a picture of the slumbering angels on the sofa.
The flash of the camera caused Dave to stir. As his eyes fluttered open, he seemed to hone in on the woman standing over him. He regained his focus quickly, the corners of his lips turning up in a smile as he and Jennifer held one another's gaze, forgetting that Keegan or Trish were even in the room.
Without a word, he stood and carried Keegan to her bedroom without disturbing her. When he returned, he was wiping sleep out of the corner of his eye. "How was the spa?" he asked finally.
Jennifer leaned into his embrace as he rested his hands on her hips and then bent his head for a kiss. "It was fabulous," she moaned against his lips. "Relaxing."
When they finally parted, he sat against the back of the couch and pulled Jennifer between his open knees, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Hey, Trish," he greeted finally.
"Hey," she waved slightly. Never one for awkward silences, Trish got straight to the point. "So what do you think about spending a romantic evening with your lady love here while John and I baby sit the munchkin next Wednesday?"
Dave's face lit up, and Jennifer wished against everything that she hadn't turned her head to see his reaction. The smile alone told her that she was going to have to get over it. John was going to be spending next Wednesday with his daughter, whether Jennifer liked it or not.