Free Royce by D. Hamilton-Reed Page B

interest in what was being said and doing a little flirting with a few women who flirted with him.  Joy was on the other side of the room and he took glimpses at her, someone was always talking to her especially Collin or James Bondage as he went by in The Club.  He saw her laugh and smile a few times, and his heart lurched, hoping she wouldn’t change her mind.  They had a pact, she would choose him and he her, he was passing time waiting for Patty to get the party started.  He checked his watch, at midnight she usually came on the mike, even though couples started arriving around eleven thirty to feel each other out, to see who was there, if a favorite was there or not.  It was a few minutes before the appointed hour and he made his way to Joy.
            “Hello Sedona,” he whispered in her ear.
            “Jeremy, it’s nice to see you,” she said, and a few moments later Patty was on the mike.
            “If you’ve made your choice for your night of pleasure you may find a location of your choosing, if not the night is still young,” he took Joy’s hand and led her away.
            The next month it was the same.  He feigned interest in others while watching Joy and waiting for Patty’s announcement and then he’d lead Joy away, and he was happy.   At first no one noticed or at least the wives didn’t seem to notice, but the men were starting to grumble and say things to him.
               “Hey Royce way to keep her to yourself,” Collin said on the course the next time he saw him.  He knew Collin wanted her, he’d seen him flirting with her on the tennis courts and he was a little pissed too because he was sure Joy thought he was him.  He could tell by the way she looked when they spoke, and for his part he was trying to make her see that he was her blue eyed man.  Every time he was in the same vicinity with her he would look intently at her or make conversation and he’d stare at her a little longer than normal just to make her see and she’d look back at him and always just before her moment of recognition they were interrupted and the moment would be lost.  At least Collin was playing tennis and had a reason to talk to her, but he didn’t.  So when he did speak to her or was at the same function he willed his thoughts to her, willed her to see him and so far he wasn’t sure if she knew or not.  She didn’t give off any hints that she did, but she gave off hints that she thought it was Collin just by her body language. 
                 And now his buddies were upset with him.  Even Bobby was being vocal and cornered him in his office.
                 “Hey man can I talk to you about something?”
                  “Yeah, sure”
                 “It’s about The Club.”
                  Royce looked up, “As long as it’s not about Joy sure.”
                 “Well it is man, what are you doing Royce?  It’s not right what you’re doing, she can go to someone else man.”
                “It’s her choice too Bobby and she’s choosing me.”
                “Yeah, you sure about that?  It’s not right man, that’s why they call it a club, we all get to share in the merchandise,” and Royce glared at him.
                “She’s not something you can just pass around okay.  She makes her choice and I make mine, we’re not doing anything wrong,” Royce said clearly agitated. 
                 “Well I want her next time, let her choose me,” and Royce glared at him and Bobby winced, “Royce you can’t have her to yourself man.  The fellas are starting to talk and they don’t like it,” Bobby said trying to ease the tension.
                 “I don’t give a damn what they don’t like!  She has a right to choose!  You act as if she’s not human, like she doesn’t have a say!  Leave it alone Bobby okay,