Free Convenience and Compatibility by Emily Jones

alright if I bring Dean? I’d love it
if you met him.”
    “Um, sure. I guess so.”
    Great. She doesn’t ask anything else, so I
don’t bring it up further. We get to BCBG and try on dresses to
wear for the evening. I find a beautiful floral dress, which is
tight in all the right places – my ass and tits look great. I don’t
know Dean very well, but I know he will love it.
    We head home mid-afternoon, after getting
drinks from Starbucks, and decide to clean the apartment before the
guys come over this evening and the caffeine buzz wanes. I remember
Dean’s spotless house and can imagine what Dean will think when he
sees our apartment.
    Oh shit! I remember that I need to let Dean
know what the plans are. I call his phone and he answers on the
second ring.
    “Hi Mallory.” His deep voice reminds me of
our evening together and I miss him. I manage a weak little hello,
then remember that I am a confident bitch who wants to fuck this
guy again. I start again a little more composed.
    “How was your day?”
    “Busy. I missed you though.”
    “That’s sweet, I missed you too.” I pause and
he says nothing. “Did you still want to do dinner tonight?”
    “Definitely.” This makes me smile and I let
out a little laugh.
    “What’s so funny?”
    “Um, nothing. Sorry. Can you be here by
six?”
    “Okay.”
    “Great. I’ll see you soon. Bye.”
    “Bye.”
    At 5:30 Tara and I are ready, making drinks
in the kitchen, laughing. It feels good to be carefree with Tara
again; things have been strained for so long. I say a little prayer
to myself that the evening goes just as well.
    There’s a knock on the door and Tara let’s
Adam in. They start making out in the entryway and I laugh at them.
“You know, I bet there is time for a quickie.”
    “Sorry Tara.” Adam looks to me grinning like
a fool in love.
    “Did Tara tell you that I have someone
joining us for dinner?”
    He raises his eyes at me and looks to Tara,
“Nooo. I thought…” Adam doesn’t finish his sentence, but instead
shakes his head and pours himself a drink.
    I wonder what that was about, but Tara starts
talking before I can ask.
    “Sorry, I forgot. Here’s a drink Mallory. I
really like your outfit.”
    “Um, thanks Tara.”
    Both of them are looking at me as I sip my
drink and I wonder what’s up.
    “I hear you ran into Greg today.” Adam
starts, never breaking eye contact and waiting for my response.
    “Yea.” I walk away from this hot mess and sit
down on the sofa, taking a large swig of my cocktail. Fuck them.
I’m now a little more nervous about the evening. Maybe I should
cancel with Dean? If they’re going to attack me like this before he
shows up, I can only imagine what it will be like when Dean shows
up. I can see an evening ahead of me that is sure to end in
disaster. I pick up my phone, about to text Dean, when the intercom
buzzes. I stand up but Adam takes it upon himself to answer.
    “Yup.” He sounds like a cowboy and I roll my
eyes.
    Dean hesitates, I’m sure he must be looking
at the nameplate, making sure he pressed the right button. I hope
that he has the inner reserves to handle Adam’s shit.
    “It’s Dean,” he says back, confidently. Go
Dean!
    Adam buzzes him in and opens the door.
    I give him a dirty look. “Be nice,” I
whisper.
    Adam rolls his eyes and gives me a look like
he doesn’t give a fuck. Great! I down the rest of my drink and am
pouring another when Dean comes through the door.
    I stand back and watch the boys introduce
each other and shake hands. I then introduce Dean to Tara and he
takes her hand as well. He looks nervous – but hot. He’s wearing
his grey pea coat and crisp jeans with carefully messy hair. He has
that ‘I don’t give a damn what I look like’ look, but you can tell
it was done with purpose. It’s incredibly sexy.
    Dean walks over to me and gives me a hug. He
whispers in my ear, “You look hot.” I can feel myself flushing as
he pulls away, not wanting Adam and