Part 3 (2/2)
”This is a nightmare.” She pushed herself up and through sleepy, bloodshot eyes, focused on Helen. She managed a smile. ”Blondie.”
”I've missed you.” Helen wrapped her arms around Stacey and squeezed.
”You just wanted to see me naked.” She returned the hug.
”I've seen you naked. I wasn't impressed.”
”No? Why not?”
”You have teeny tiny b.o.o.bs.”
Stacey let the cover fall away from her chest. She looked down at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and pushed at the side of one. ”Almost a C cup. They're good b.o.o.bs.”
”Teeny tiny. At least for my liking.” Helen gave Stacey a quick kiss on her lips.
”Nice mouth. I can't think of a better way to wake up.”
”You have no imagination.”
”That's why you write and I run a bar.” Stacey fell backward, onto the mattress. ”Go away now.”
”Get up, you b.u.m.”
Trying her best to rouse Stacey, Helen bounced and shook the bed, but hadn't expected to find herself suddenly flipped onto her back with Stacey straddling her and pinning her hands behind her head.
”I like this advantage.” Stacey beamed as she looked down at Helen.
”You're the one without clothes. I could have my way with you.”
”Take me. Break me. Make me a woman.” She released Helen's hands and rolled to her back. ”Please?”
”You know, you really are a pig sometimes.” Helen slapped Stacey on the hip, but fully expected a comment of that nature from her. ”It isn't any wonder you don't have a real relations.h.i.+p.”
”I have lovers.”
”But you never love.” Helen stood and straightened her clothing.
”Look who's talking. You've been romancing Chelsea forever.” She took quick steps to the dresser, grabbed a T-s.h.i.+rt, and put it on.
”That's different.”
Stacey wagged a finger in front of Helen. ”No no no no no. In our separate ways, we've locked our hearts.” She spied the fresh orange juice and drank it quickly. ”Thanks.” She picked up the mug of coffee and Helen followed her out to a Plexiglas balcony. ”So, Blondie, what's going on? We caught you on the eleven o'clock news last night. You looked p.i.s.sed and petrified.” She propped her feet on the railing and placed shades over her eyes. ”And how about that Roland? You should have lip-locked her right there. She'd have pa.s.sed out in an instant.”
”Jan was never a good kisser, anyway. I felt like a d.a.m.n hypocrite. Stace, I want to come out and I can't do it alone. You can help.”
”How?”
Stacey's establishment, Xanadu, was located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and was a popular hangout for the gay and lesbian elite.
”With all of those gay celebrities you rub elbows with at your bar. Think of how much weight it would carry if they could be persuaded to come out as a group.”
”Are you serious? I know! I'll hold a debutante ball for all lesbians. You'll be the next”-she stressed the next word lasciviously-”coming attractions.”
Helen shook her head but giggled the tiniest bit. ”Do you ever stop?” In spite of herself, she loved Stacey and she'd have her no other way.
”Never. Cheap swine, I am. Always the animal.” Always the colorfully correct d.y.k.e, she smiled proudly and adjusted her lavender sungla.s.ses.
”In a sense, that's exactly what I want, but why limit it to women?” She raised an eyebrow.
Stacey looked over the top of her eyewear at Helen. ”Oh. You're serious. Okay. I'm listening.”
”If they would combine their talents and present a knockout show for one night only, where each would state their s.e.xual preference, we could come out as a group. I would be their MC, of course. Simple.”
Stacey abruptly pulled off her shades and stared at Helen. ”You need a sedative. They'll laugh you out of the room.”
”You aren't laughing.”
”Your idea is preposterous, but it is something the community desperately needs,” she said and put her sungla.s.ses back on. ”A star-studded event might help dispel some of the misconceptions of our community.”
”Exactly. How many gay celebrities do you know?”
”Close? Fifteen maybe.” Stacey rubbed her chin. ”Some have big b.a.l.l.s and might jump at a joint effort.”
Helen's enthusiasm heightened. ”Great. Can we use your club to get a group together for an initial discussion?”
”No. We'll reel them in here. They'll be more comfortable and there won't be any outside ears. When do you want me to herd them for a get-together?”
”The beginning of the new year.”
”That's about twelve weeks away. Plenty of time to plan.” She drank some of the now-cold coffee and grinned at Helen. Lots of teeth and a mischievous smile. ”I read your note to Green Eyes. Any response?”
Helen had become so caught up in their conversation that she'd forgotten that part of her life. Or maybe the woman wasn't even a part, only an irritation.
”She didn't show and I'm embarra.s.sed. I sounded so desperate.” Helen shrugged. ”It doesn't really matter.”
”You sell yourself short.” Stacey opened a window panel and leaned on the railing. She looked to the street below. ”Maybe she was out of town or didn't read your column.”
Helen didn't comment. ”I had a dream about you last night.”
Stacey perked up. ”Did you finally sleep with me?”
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