It hadn't been easy for Jay, as someone who wasn't naturally sociable, but he had managed to force himself to invite Raquel and Zelina out for a drink. His confidence in his social skills hadn't been helped when only Raquel had accepted. He got the impression that Zelina didn't like him much. He couldn't do much to change that if she wouldn't have anything to do with him, which was a source of frustration.
"Shame Z couldn't make it," he said, working on his sixth or seventh beer of the night, in the second bar they had visited. They had been able to grab themselves a booth for a little privacy.
"She could have," Raquel admitted. "Truth is, Jay, she's still a believer in your reputation in the women's locker room – that you're an ignorant, selfish asshole. She thinks I'm going to get burned being friends with you, and it makes her mad to think about it. I'm only saying this because I believe in being honest, not because I want to hurt your feelings."
Somewhat to Jay's surprise, his feelings were hurt. He wasn't sure why he wanted this thing with him and Raquel to work, for their friendship to become strong. He just did. And that meant he wanted Zelina not to hope for the opposite. Damn, dealing with people was complicated. That was why he was happy not to bother with them most of the time.
He took a hit from his latest bottle of beer. "So how am I supposed to prove to her that you won't get burned?"
"I think that'll get proved by it not happening. I guess what I mean is give her time. Z's very protective of me. She'll come around."
On first instinct, Jay found it amusing to think of the barely five feet tall Zelina protecting the more than six feet tall Raquel, but then he realised that she didn't mean physical protection. There were deeper ways to care for someone. In that moment it dawned on him that he greatly envied what Zelina and Raquel had. He decided to say so.
"You know, you're very lucky to have Z. I can see that, whether she likes me or not. I envy it, you know. It's something I'm probably never going to have."
Raquel giggled, showing that the beers she had been putting away were starting to have an effect on her. "You're drunk, Jay."
"I'm not drunk. I've had like six beers. And what I said is true."
"Man, do you not see it? Seriously? You've got what you're looking for right in front of you with Erin. God damn it, if only you'd start taking it seriously and tell her how you feel."
Jay looked at her warily. "You think I should just go ahead and tell her?"
"Yes!" Raquel cried, spreading her arms in frustration. "If you don't tell her, how the fuck is she going to know?"
He took another hit from his beer while thinking that over. "You might have a point," he admitted.
Okay then, he decided, it was time to think through what to say to Erin. Then, the next time he saw her, maybe he would put himself out there. She would either respond well and things would move forward, or she wouldn't and things would disintegrate between them. Maybe it was the alcohol, but he felt quite confident about his chances.
"Finally, we might be getting somewhere. I'm starting to think I might have to bang your heads together."
Jay laughed. "That would be a big bang with you dishing it out."
"Right?" Raquel said, also laughing.
Her size and build wasn't something she minded being the subject of jokes, Jay had learned. In fact she seemed to like to laugh about most things. Her sense of humour was endearing.
His thoughts were interrupted by his phone making a message tone. The intrusion annoyed him, and he was about to complain to Raquel about it until he saw Erin's name on the notification. It told him that a photo had been received. Before he could open it, the message tone went off again. Now two photos had been received.
Erin sending him photos was a new thing, and it was unexpected. He doubted he was lucky enough that they would be nudes. In any case, that didn't seem like the kind of thing Erin would do. So what the hell was she sending him? If it was a couple of crappy memes, he was going to be seriously disappointed.
When he tapped the notification to open the messages, he froze for a moment in surprise. Then he felt his heart start racing and his dick getting hard. He was looking at two selfies that Erin had taken, seemingly in her bedroom. In both of them, she had a strip of white tape over her mouth which was just translucent enough for her lips to be visible under it. It was the hottest tape gag Jay had ever seen.
In one of the pictures, Erin had her eyes closed. In the other they were open, and she was holding up two fingers in a peace sign. She was wearing leather gloves, possibly the long ones that had been worn for their two dates. Both pictures were obviously intended to turn him on, and it would have been a huge understatement to say that they had done their job.
"You okay?" Raquel asked, wondering why he had gone quiet after checking his messages.
Jay made himself look up at his friend and play things cool. "Yeah, sorry. I'm going to take a leak. Order more beer if you can get someone's attention."
"Yes, sir," Raquel said, giving him a mock salute.
He couldn't even focus on the conversation. All he could think about was getting to the bathroom, where he could have another look at the photos, this time with some privacy. He walked there as quickly as he could without looking like he was hurrying, and shut himself in one of the cubicles. With that done, he closed the toilet lid and sat on it.
Unlocking his phone again, he went to the first picture and zoomed in on it. He didn't know what it was about a woman having her mouth taped that turned him on so much, but Erin looked so sexy that he couldn't have put it into words if he wanted to.
His phone made the message tone again. It was another message from Erin, who must have seen that he had received the pictures.
Erin Voight: Nothing to say? I've got plenty, but I can't talk.
As she had intended, the message turned him on even more. He realised that he had to reply.
Those are legit the hottest pictures I've ever seen. You're beautiful, Erin. And tape looks great on you.
His message was received immediately, and the messaging app indicated that she was typing.
Erin Voight: I thought you'd like them, and the tape. I'll bring it with me Monday night and we can have some fun.
Jay's eyes widened. She was basically saying that she was ready for them to have sex. At last. Maybe she hadn't been able to say it in person, and had chosen this method to get over the hurdle? Whatever her reasoning, he definitely wasn't going to complain.
"Can't wait. I know you'll remember the gloves, too."
Erin Voight: I never go anywhere without some. See you Monday.
She ended the message with a kiss emoji, and her status at the top of the screen changed to 'last online...'
"She's gone," Jay muttered. It didn't matter. What had needed to be said had been said. Now it was a question of waiting for Monday. It was a wait that would seem like it took forever, he knew.
A/N: Erin put herself out there, and it seems like she's ready for them to have sex. It has been a long time coming for Jay, but the wait looks like it will have been worth it.
Should he take Raquel's advice and tell Erin how he feels about her?
