"O-Kay," I stared at my feet. They were still there after Genise cut me off at the knees.
"James can't help himself. Poor guy's a virgin! He's kinda like a starving kid staring in a restaurant's window. Silly James, you'll never get a table is you don't learn manners. I'm trying to teach him."
Genise stared at Shannie. "Uh, Yeah."
Shannie smiled.
"Anyway, thanks for keeping our friend's log."
"Huh? Oh yeah," Genise murmured. "Anytime girlfriend," she said, her gaze transfixed on Shannie. "Hang on, let me get it for you."
Genise disappeared into her apartment. Shannie punched my arm. "You twit. Busted. I oughta crack you."
"She's got great tits." I rubbed my arm.
Genise returned. "Here you go." Genise handed the small spiral notebook to Shannie.
Shannie beamed. "Thanks again. This means so much." Shannie extended her hand to Genise. "Thank Calvin for me."
"Will do," Genise answered.
I studied the grains of gravel in the top step's concrete. I didn't want to risk a stray peep.
Shannie and I made our way down the steps. "Hey, you guys a drink or something?" Genise called after us.
Let's get the fuck out of here, I thought,. If I had the balls, I would have said no. It would have saved everyone heartbreak.
"Sure. That would be cool." Shannie smiled at Genise.
Her apartment was small and cluttered. Dozens of photo albums lined shelves, others were stacked in piles, others lay strewn about here and there. On the kitchen table piles of pictures yet to interred waited within envelopes. Her apartment was organized chaos.
"Sorry for being bitchy, I'm kinda having a shitty day," Genise said.
"No worries," Shannie answered.
"It's cool…," I began.
"What do you do?" Genise asked Shannie, cutting me off.
"I'm a student. You?" Shannie replied.
"I'm a cocktail waitress - at a casino," Genise told Shannie. "I got wine, beer and soda." Genise told us.
"Got White Zin?" Shannie asked.
"My favorite," Genise replied.
"Brew," I answered.
Genise curled the corner of her mouth, showing me the annoyed look that I would come to know.
"What's your major?"
"American history, heavy concentration on the 20th century." Shannie answered.
"I like history to," Genise opened a bottle of wine. I watched her as reached for this or bent for that. When she disappeared behind the refrigerator door, I couldn't help eyeing her ass. Shannie coughed. "You nuts?" Shannie mouthed. I sank lower into my chair as I studied Genise's rear-end.