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Confessions
That morning, we all met at Mom's on Park Avenue for brunch. Neither Trish nor Candice were able to make it early enough for breakfast, so we did that odd meal that fell between it and lunch instead.
Lisa Marie and I decided to meet earlier regardless. We went for a leisurely walk and chatted the entire time. We were on our way back to the restaurant when she brought up a sore subject for herself.
"I just don't understand," she said bitterly, shaking her head. "I've tried nearly everything under the sun, and nothing seems to work with this guy." The brunette faced me, and there was genuine confusion on her face. It was understandable. After all, not many men turned her down.
"Well," I said as a thought struck me, "maybe he's... gay."
She shook her head as well as gestured with one very manicured hand.
"Uh uh... Nope, that's not it. I can assure you that Mr. John Cena is most certainly not gay."
I spotted Trish and Candice, who were across the street and heading our way. Full of her customary giddiness, the blonde raised a hand to wave at us. I waved back.
"I don't know what to tell you, Leece. I wish I did, but I don't," I said.
Our friends caught up to us, and Candice instantly knew we were discussing something.
"You two look like you're trying to figure out the secret of life," she quipped.
We entered Mom's as Lisa Marie uttered a response.
"No... We're just trying to figure out why this guy won't sleep with me is all."
As we sat down at our usual table, Trish asked, "Who are you talking about?"
"The same guy as the last time we were discussing this... John Cena," Lisa said. "I was just telling Amy that I've tried everything but gotten nowhere with him."
Trish arched an eyebrow.
"Not even to first base?"
The sultry brunette rolled her eyes.
"God, when you put it that way, it sounds so high school. And no, before either one of you ask, he's not gay."
Candice pushed aside her menu as she spoke.
"Maybe he just doesn't like you," she offered.
Lisa Marie gave her a dirty look.
"Oh, please. Candi, you know it's not a matter of him not liking me," she replied. "I've slept with plenty of men who didn't like me, and vice-versa."
I laughed, but Trish rolled her eyes.
"Eww... That's so... weird," the little blonde said, making a face of disgust. "How do you make love to someone you don't even like?"
"Honey," Lisa said, turning her eyes toward our married friend, "who said anything about 'making love?' It's sex, plain and simple. Haven't you ever just had sex just for the sake of it, in the right mood, time and place?"
"No!" the blonde exclaimed. "Never. I guess I just have to at least have some feelings for the guy, or I wouldn't sleep with him." She turned to me, as I was seated beside her. "Don't you feel the same way, Amy?"
"Well... Sort of," I said. It wasn't completely the truth. I'd had my flings in the past... before Edge. I guess I would have classified myself as somewhere between Lisa Marie and Trish.
"I actually agree with Lisa to some extent," Candice interjected.
We all gazed at her, and I knew in an instant that something was up with her. I could read it in her face.
"Really?"
"Yes... Well, what's so terrible about sleeping with someone you've had a relationship with, but are broken up with?"
"Um... That's not happening here," I told her, knowing she was about to spill. She so had a juicy piece of news for us.
"Out with it, honey!" Lisa Marie said.
"Okay." Candice folded her hands primly on the table, an innocent look coming into her face. "So, the other night, I was on my way home from work, and I ran into AJ."
We stared at her, each of up rapt. And we all knew where this story was going.
"It started as a perfectly innocent pizza," she insisted.
"There's no such thing as a 'perfectly innocent pizza!'" Trish gasped.
I couldn't help but laugh at what she said. I patted her arm and eyed the brunette.
"Go on."
"We decided we would be friends," she explained. "And then he walked me home and came up for awhile... And we ended up in bed."
"Way to go, Candi!" Lisa cried, as though bedding an ex-boyfriend were an unattainable feat.
"So, what does this mean? Are you guys back together?" Trish asked.
"No, we're just... you know." She smiled coyly at all of us.
"You are," I said, answering the question our blonde friend had just posed. "I know it. I know how AJ is, Candice... He's crazy about you."
The brunette shook her head, as though denying my words.
"Maybe... but that still doesn't change the fact that we're not back together."
"Yet," Trish put in with a grin.
"Ladies, I feel so much better about my Cena situation," Lisa Marie said sarcastically, with a small pout.
"Lisa, if you like this guy that much, you should talk to him!" Trish said.
"Please, who said I liked him?" the brunette retorted. "I only want to play 'Puzzle' with him!"
"'Puzzle?'" the blonde asked, and the truth was, she looked a little puzzled.
"You know," Lisa said with a wink, "I want him to put his piece into my piece."
We all had a hearty laugh at our friend's analogy. It was a great brunch all in all.