Inner Journey - Chapter 2 [Unfinished] [Old Story]

Rex watched the woman who was the last to dinner turn around as the elevator doors opened behind her and rushed into the dining room, scanning the area until she found the only open seat at the table nearest the live band on the far side of the room. She looked as if she had just woken up, her auburn hair frazzled and messily pulled back, but her clothes were neatly pressed and in opposition to the rest of her. Rex put his elbow on the table and rested his cheek in his palm as he watched her cross the room and take her seat. He sniffed once, hearing the other two tables begin to talk again as the small spectacle came to a close. Then he looked away and smiled at the two women sitting at his table, scratching absently at his chest.

“Well, she looks sorry, which I suppose is worth something,” the dark-haired woman named Theodora said quietly, leaning forward into the table. She winked one brown eye at him and he winked back. The band finished their song, some kind of soothing, old jazz number to set a kind of mood. The woman named Kitty pouted her lip, and Rex couldn’t tell if it was sarcastic or genuine.

“Mhm,” he replied. There were a number of rude things that came to his mind to say about someone who couldn’t make it to the first dinner of an event on time, forcing everyone to wait fifteen extra minutes before the meal could begin. But as of late Rex had found himself more interested in keeping those things to himself. That’s why he was here, right? To find a better person in himself and take an “inner journey”? Either way, he kept those things to himself and simply agreed with Theodora.

“Well I’m hungry,” Kitty whined, and the two others turned their attention to her. She played with her lip and rubbed her stomach. “I didn’t eat lunch. I didn’t know it was going to be so late before we ate.”

Rex stared at her. “It’s six o’clock. Well, six fifteen.”

Kitty stared back. “Um, yeah?”

Rex smiled and he heard Theodora laugh, a bright and clear sound that rang throughout the room, a sound that sent a shiver of warmth into his chest. He scratched his chest again and cleared his throat when the warmth spread through his muscles and made his skin tingle.

“Don’t worry, Kitty. I’m sure the food’s coming anytime now,” Theodora said. Then, turning to Rex, “So what is it that you do, Rex? I’ve already told Kitty twice now that campus accounting is not the most exciting of careers.”

“Yes,” Rex laughed, “and I watched her furrow those eyebrows twice after you said that. Me? Nothing special. I like to think about the things I do outside of work.”

“And what’s that?”

“Mmm. Carpentry. Small things for fun. I started visiting a Buddhist temple a few weeks ago too.”

Theodora leaned forward again. “Oh, interesting. Religion was never much my thing. I was raised Catholic but I grew out of that quickly.”

Rex shrugged and turned the napkin roll of silverware around on the table. “It’s less about religion, I think, and more about lifestyle. Part of the reason I’m here. Trying to...change.”

With a gracious smile, Theodora welcomed that vulnerability into the conversation. “It’s a big step, finally moving forward. I remember when I had to make that choice for myself.”

Rex leaned forward too, his eyes fixed on hers. In the corner of her eye, he saw Kitty also lean forward, but he wasn’t sure if she was actually listening. The band to his left started up another song. He didn’t recognize it, but it sounded similar to the last one. “Where are you from?”

“Oh, all over,” she replied, gesturing widely. “My family’s from Greece but I grew up in many places, mostly in the U.S. Now I’m...hm. I don’t think I’m going to tell you. Not yet anyway. This is an anonymous event after all.”

“Come now!”

“Nope!” Theodora gave him a knowing smile and leaned back with another wink.

“I’m from New Jersey!” Kitty cried, feeling left out. Rex stared at her.

“You are? I never would have guessed, Kitty. You never cease to surprise.” It was not a surprise.

“Oh fuck you, Rex. Don’t get pissy with me. I spend most of my time in Manhattan anyway so it’s not like it really means anything.” Rex held his hands up in surrender, a smile still on his face, but Kitty wasn’t done. She would have continued if she hadn’t at that moment seen a line of waiters file out of the door to the kitchen with trays of food in their hands. “Oh, look! God, finally! I thought I was going to pass out from hunger.”

As the food arrived, Rex quickly reached for the nametag on the table, how he had found his assigned seat. He didn’t remember what dish he had chosen from the frankly lengthy list that had been sent out following his application, but the tag said rabbit stew and so rabbit stew he would have. He caught Theodora’s eye again and she blew him a cheeky little kiss. His breath caught thick in his throat as he felt himself grow hard, his eyes drifting down to the ample cleavage showing in her low-cut jumpsuit. Clenching his fists, he forced himself to look away, cursing himself for his lack of control. He could feel vibrations echoing gently around his cock, pressing firmly against his pants, and he let out a tiny gasp as the feeling spread back to his hot chest. Struggling to gain control as the waiter placed a shallow bowl in front of him, he tensed his body and stared only at the table.