Seventeen
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335 the door, she told him she had a wonderful afternoon. Eddie looked at the black face of his watch. He still had three hours to kill before heading back to the project. He stuck a pizza in the oven and hit the shower.
There was knock at the door. He looked through the peep hole before opening the door for Taylor.“ Dude! Was that the wife I saw leaving a few minutes ago? What a babe! Sorry dude, didn’ t mean it quite like that,” Taylor said, standing on the balcony. Eddie took no offense and asked if there was something he needed.
Taylor wanted to apologize for dropping Mandy on him yesterday, he didn’ t know Denise would stick her in that position. Eddie was not exactly sure what he meant by that and asked if he wanted a beer and a couple of slices of pizza. Taylor took a seat at the bar and Eddie set a beer in front of him, cut the pizza, put a couple of slices on two plates and joined him at the counter.“ Denise thought I, like, really knew you. After the game we went to their apartment and things got hot. We went out for some food and when we got back Mandy was freaking out but didn’ t want to talk about it,” Taylor said, between bites of pizza.“ She asked to use my shower. We went out for a nice dinner and then I took her home,” Eddie said, looking Taylor straight in the eye. Taylor seemed confused.“ Then why the waterworks?”“ Maybe because she said she wanted to come back to my place and I turned down the offer.”“ I can see why with a wife like that,” Taylor said.“ That was not my wife. She and I work together.” The confusion really set in. Taylor had seen the car when he arrived home at noon and then saw Sam descending the stairs at five o’ clock when he was taking out the trash. He saw her get into the red sports car parked next to Eddie’ s truck.“ I just had the feeling you were not a player. You played tennis and it didn’ t look like you were putting the moves on Mandy. Denise said you sure weren’ t chasing her. She noticed the wedding ring and the watch,” Taylor said.“ I’ m not a player. There is a first time for everything. Maybe you need to start from the beginning because I’ m getting lost in this conversation.”
Both he and Jake had been trying to get Mandy in the sack since she turned eighteen. She would have nothing to do with either of them. Denise and Mandy had been playing tennis together for a few years and roomed together for over a year. Denise was a couple years older and could see Mandy was hot for Eddie. While they played tennis Denise questioned Taylor on what he knew about Eddie. Taylor told her the first time he saw him, Eddie was in a suit, carrying a briefcase and was now house sitting for a friend.“ When Denise called she told Mandy this was the perfect opportunity to have a real gentleman pop her cherry.”“ Denise was not asking if I could give her a ride home?”“ No Dude. Denise told her to let you take her out to dinner and then decide if she thought you would be gentle with her because she knew Mandy was scared. Denise gave her the low down on how to break the news to you just before you jumped in the sack.” Taylor said. Eddie felt like a real horse’ s ass.
Taylor finished his beer and headed for the door.“ Tell Mandy I’ m sorry,” Eddie said. How many cute, blond, nineteen year old virgins were there on the planet that were willing too give it up to Eddie.“ She’ ll get over it. Maybe I’ ll have a chance now,’’ Taylor winked, left and closed the door. Eddie wanted to smack Taylor, as the lyrics to a song played through his memory.“ Two out of three ain’ t bad.” The name of the artist was Meatloaf. How apropos.