[Steven Lyle Jordan]

3: Seeing Gail off

"Gail! Where'd you come from?"

"I happened to see you as I drove up to the apartment," Gail replied. "I had to hurry and park, because I wasn't sure where you were going." I looked down at her hands, one of which held the three-inch heels that matched her suit. "Do you know the wedding party?"

"Hm?" I glanced over my shoulder. "Oh, no. I just came over to find a bench to hang out on. But these guys have them all taken up."

"That's okay," Gail shrugged. "C'mon, let's head for Ferry Landing, and find a place to hang out there."

We headed along the bikeway, which was medium-heavy with traffic that morning, and stayed on the beachward side to as not to be surprised by bikers whizzing up from behind. "Why are you out and about at this time of day?" I asked. "Shouldn't you be on your way to work?"

"I was," Gail replied. She had put her heels back on, which she insisted was more comfortable for walking along a concrete pad than in her bare feet, and she was attracting plenty of looks as she sashayed leisurely down the path. "Then I got a call telling me I have to fly out of town for a business meeting today. They gave me the morning off to get my stuff together before my flight."

"Where are you going?"

"San Francisco. I'll be back by Thursday." She wrapped her arms around mine. "Are you gonna miss me?"

"You know it," I said.

"I don't believe you, you know," she said mock-seriously. "You're just going to have to prove it to me, then. We have until—" she glanced at her watch "—two thirty. Think you're up to it?"

I mock-sighed. "No rest for the wicked."

"You can rest when you're dead," Gail responded. "Right now, you're mine."

So we hung out for awhile, just walking along and doing the sweet nothings bit, before we eventually went back to the apartment. A quick glance confirmed that Pete had apparently gone out—to smooth things out with Riley, I hoped—leaving the place to ourselves. And we took full advantage, quickly getting naked and frolicking (as it were) here and there in the apartment... even in my Borg alcove, though I was duly distracted by all the beeping and blinking electronics around us, not to mention the chance of smashing something caught in an orgasmic crossfire. We ended up in the shower, sort of killing two birds with one stone, and when we were done, I think Gail was convinced that I was indeed gonna miss her while she was gone.

Before we knew it, we were dressing again, Gail a bit more rushed than me. "I probably should've said two," she mused as she straightened her skirt and pulled on her jacket. "I'm actually cutting it a bit close, here. Still have to park the car..."

"Don't worry about that," I said. "I'll drive you over, and bring back the car to pick you up when you get back."

Gail looked at me. "You don't have to do that."

"Oh, no problem," I said. "I'll have a car to drive for a few days, you won't have to pay for parking, and you won't be rushed to get to your plane."

Gail, who had slipped back into her heels, came over to me. "Schitz brothers are the best," she said, giving me a loving kiss on the mouth. For a moment, she seemed likely to change her mind, and start undressing us all over again. Then she pulled back, showing a healthy dose of self-control, and said, "Oh, God, let's just get going, please."

I let Gail drive to the airport, since she still knew the San Diego streets better than I, and showed no reluctance to attack them at top speed whenever possible. We were there in a time that I simply couldn't believe, and she was still only twenty minutes from her flight's leaving. So she drove up to the departure area, brought it to a stop near the Southwest terminal, and hopped out quickly.

"Take your time, you'll make it," I said as I helped her pull her already-packed suitcase and work satchel out of the trunk. Once the suitcase was upright, handle extended, and satchel firmly attached, Gail turned to me, handed me the keys to the Eclipse, and took advantage of the moment to pull me close and give me a nice, burning goodbye kiss.

"See you soon, lover," she said finally, before she turned and strode off into the terminal, and at full speed in those high heels, presented a sight that would have caused serious accidents if she had been in sight of air traffic control. I watched her go, the kiss still lingering on my mouth, the view of her firm backside receding into the depths of the airport, and wishing I was going with her... for obvious reasons.

Then I happened to notice a skycap nearby, who was also watching her as she headed inside. He looked at me, with obvious envy, and said, "Ah, wherever she's goin', you oughtta be goin' too."

Now that was a thought-leak I'd never argue with. "Amen, homes," I said before turning and getting back into the car.