056

I thought about it. I hadn't considered someone other than the police. I didn't even care if the person or persons responsible were arrested and prosecuted. I only wanted it to stop, without it ever coming out. I could at least talk to one, see what they could do. I put the knife back in my bag. Kathy hugged me and I started crying and she cried with me. Finally, a glimmer of hope; a speck of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. As long as I had any hope at all, I could endure. I cried for several minutes, relieved to have any other option at all, knowing Kathy had saved my life, at least for now.

When I finally sobbed myself out, Kathy said, "Can we get a little sun now? I have to go home in a few more days and I want to get as tan as I can before returning."

"Yes, you can get some sun now," I replied, giving her a sisterly kiss. "Thank you."

"Good, put some lotion on my back. I've probably burned to a crisp while we've been sitting here."

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in days. "Of course." Kathy pulled out some lotion and I rubbed it all over her back, neck and shoulders. I turned and she did the same for me, rubbing the tension out of my neck and shoulders as she worked. I had knots on knots, so tense from my decision to end my life this morning. It was all melting away now I felt another choice existed. She handed me the lotion to finish off my front. We spent the next couple hours talking about anything else.

Finally, our afternoon drew to a close and we said our goodbyes for now.

"Thank you, again," I said. "I was at the end of my rope."

She hugged and kissed me again. "No problemo. What are friends for. I'll see you later."

"What time are you coming over?"

"I think the boys arranged a date for 7:30. Are you nervous?"

"A little. I'm concerned about the penalties."

"I'll make sure Stan doesn't put anything too outrageous on the list of penalties. You can have final approval of any choices remaining."

"That's comforting."

I went back to the bungalow and gave Tanner a huge hug and a kiss, relieved to be seeing him again after thinking I'd said my last goodbyes to him earlier.

"What was that for?" He asked.

"Because I love you so much."

"Did you have a good talk with Kathy?"

"A wonderful talk. She's a great friend."

"I called Roberta and arranged for another meal to be delivered. I ordered a tuna steak for you with a salad if you don't mind. I figured you wouldn't want to load up too heavy before our game. It's early enough you can change it if you need to."

"It sounds wonderful." Since I'd expected my last meal to be the bagels and cream cheese I ate this morning, anything sounded good to me.

"I got a text from Stan telling us to wear seven items to be removed for the game tonight."

"All right." I knew what I could wear.

I removed my top and went out on the deck to sun myself a little more before our food came, making sure to spread high SPF lotion on my breasts.

Tanner whistled. "God, you're beautiful."

"I bet you say that to all your wives."

Tanner laughed. "You're right. I say it to every one of them."

He bent down for a kiss while he caressed one of my breasts, making my nipple pucker for him. He went in and worked on his computer for awhile, answering emails and the like. Our food arrived at six and I devoured it like I'd starved for weeks. I was so glad to be eating another bite, it tasted so good. After eating, I went into the bathroom to shower and dress, having skipped it earlier after our sex. Seven items, two shoes, shorts, blouse, bra, panties and my tiny bikini bottoms. I chose a lacy bra and panty set. It was fairly see through, but since there was a possibility I'd lose everything anyway, it didn't seem to make much difference.

Kathy and Stan came over at seven-thirty and Stan was carrying a bottle with a green liquid in it, and some tiny glasses, even tinier than shot glasses.

He held up the bottle, saying, "Absinthe. Part of the penalty for losing."

"The green fairy," Tanner said. "Interesting choice."

"I've never heard of absinthe. What is it?" I asked.

"It's a very potent liqueur which was originally made from wormwood with other ingredients for flavoring, and it mostly tastes like anise or licorice. It was very popular at one time, particularly in France, then it was banned in much of the world for awhile, but is coming back," Stan said.

"Why was it banned?" I asked.

"A man in Germany killed all of his family after getting drunk on absinthe. It wasn't the only thing he was drunk on. He'd been drinking for two solid days, but absinthe got blamed for it. That was the start of it. In reality, it's no worse than any other type of alcohol, except it's very strong."

"Is that why it you brought such tiny glasses?" I inquired.

"Oh, yeah. Your typical hard liquor like whiskey or vodka is around eighty proof or 40% alcohol. Absinthe is roughly 75% alcohol or 150 proof and can go higher. Even if we were using shot glasses, we'd be plastered after a half dozen."

"Why did Tanner call it the 'green fairy'?"

"The color obviously, plus I guess because you were flying high. It's a name which stuck."

"I've played strip poker a half different ways," Tanner said. "How do you want to play it?"

"How many times have you played strip poker?" I asked Tanner.

"Too many to count. You knew my reputation. I played around some."

I nodded. It was true. Tanner had a reputation as a rake.

Stan said, "Well, if you bet items of clothes, the game ends too quick. The way I like to play is the loser of any hand gives up an item of clothing. The loser is the lowest hand still playing. The winner is the highest hand still playing. Anyone who folds doesn't have to give up anything. The loser also has to have a drink of absinthe, plus other possible penalties to the loser or rewards to the winner."

"What kind of penalties were you thinking of?" Tanner asked.

"I made a list of possible penalties. We kind of use these for some of our games with people we party with. Kathy already went through it and eliminated anything she thought wouldn't fly." He handed the list to Tanner. "The ones crossed out are already gone. There's only three left."

Tanner looked it over. "I could live with all three of these, but I suspect Brooke would have an issue with one of them." He handed it over to me.

I examined the list. I looked at the ones crossed off the list already. It included things like the winner could finger the loser, or kiss their breasts or lick their sexual organs. Obviously a list for people who were willing and able to have sex with other people. Kathy had said she'd eliminate those things and she had. The only things remaining were the winner and loser of each hand would kiss while in a full bodied embrace for a minute no matter their state of dress. For the squeamish, the spouse of the loser or winner could pay the penalty, so Tanner wouldn't have to kiss Stan or the other way around. Theoretically, I wouldn't have to kiss Kathy either, though I had no particular objection to do so. The one time she'd kissed me with some passion, I'd enjoyed it.