Rosalie had been dropped off at the sitter’s down on the 3rd floor, and she was excited about having a sleepover with one of her good friends within their condo.  Elijah returned to their 8th floor unit, dropping his keys in a ceramic bowl his daughter had made at school.  At least he thought it was a bowl.  Really, it could’ve been anything, like a cup, a plate, even an ashtray.  Though truthfully, he highly doubted her art teacher would have her kindergarten class craft ashtrays.  Rosalie never corrected him when he’d called it a bowl, so a bowl it was then.<br/><br/>There was still time to kill before he’d leave to collect Mary Beth for their date tonight.  Thinking of the saucy 3rd grade teacher, she was insatiable between the sheets.  For that matter, she was insatiable without sheets, too.  And once never seemed to be enough for her so far, wanting a second go before he could fall peacefully asleep.  This evening would mark their fourth date, and he suspected since he was picking her up, she’d want to spend the night at his place, hence his observant and inquisitive daughter spending the night elsewhere.<br/><br/>Elijah wondered whether it was vitamin D or E which provided a boost in energy.  With Mary Beth in mind, perhaps he should take the entire alphabet of vitamins.  And then he remembered who they’d be seeing and listening to tonight: Toni Childs, one of his favorites, though he never saw her live before.  After casually finding out he was a fan of the singer, Mary Beth proudly informed him that she scored a pair of tickets to see her perform at a club called<i>The Fallen Angel.</i>He’d never been there, only hearing bits and pieces about the venue.  When asked about it, Mary Beth just rolled her eyes, simply saying, “You’ll see for yourself.”  As if that explained anything.  He knew the concert wouldn’t be held in a large arena, so the acoustics in<i>The Fallen Angel </i>had to be this side of amazing.<br/><br/>With Mary Beth and Toni Childs already occupying his thoughts, a third woman entered the fray, Gwen Whitmore.  He often thought of the feisty and independent redhead, wondering how she and Toby were doing with their new home, wherever that might be.  Elijah also wondered if she’d been avoiding him, as he was unable to pinpoint the last time he’d seen her.  When school started, it seemed everywhere he turned, there she was.  Of course, he’d bet his life savings that news of Mary Beth and him had a lot, if not everything, to do with Gwen’s sudden “disappearance.”<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">&gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;&lt; &lt; &lt; &lt; &lt; &lt;​</div><br/><i>The Fallen Angel </i>was not only buzzing with energy, it was also hopping with a full house.  In a joint this size, there was no such thing as “standing room only,” due to the potential threat of a fire hazard.<br/><br/>Mary Beth nudged him, indicating with her eyes a nearby waitress.  Turning to where she nodded, Elijah’s eyes widened at what he saw.  “Yeah, I thought you’d like that,” she said, banging his knee with hers.  “That’s what I meant when I said you’ll see for yourself.”<br/><br/>Since their drinks had yet to arrive, he sipped his water while shaking his head.  “Why don’t you work here, M.B.?  You’d be smokin’ in that outfit,” he said.  He’d always called her by her full first name, until she instructed him that M.B. was fine, a lot easier to say, after all.  She looked at him seductively, then shifted her brief attention to the waitress, before returning to him.<br/><br/>Pursing her lips, she blinked and said, “You like that?  I, uh, have something shorter.”<br/><br/>Elijah stole a quick glance at the busy waitress’s skirt, realizing that, damn, that was short enough.  And Mary Beth owned a garment shorter than that?!  He wondered why she even bothered wearing it in the first place.  Though in all honesty, visions of such a short skirt danced in his HD-enhanced head.  She laughed while stroking the inside of his thigh.  “You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?” she semi-accused.  A shrug and an eye roll, and her hand probed further up his thigh.<br/><br/>The concert, meanwhile, had begun.  The sultry singer’s first song was<i>I’ve Got To Go Now.  </i>How appropriate.<br/><br/>Clamping his knees shut, her trapped hand grabbed a growing bundle.  Mary Beth licked her upper lip before continuing clockwise, where her lower lip received the same treatment.  Her red lipstick seemed to shine ever brighter.  She dipped her head and said in a sexy voice, “You keep this up, Eli, and I’ll suggest we get the hell outta here.  Like, five minutes ago.”  When she uttered the word “up,” her hand squeezed what it was already holding.<br/><br/>“Okay, okay,” he said, while laughing and separating his knees.  Just cuz she could, and the fact that her hand was still there, Mary Beth fondled him one last time before her hand retreated.  Dammit, he thought, he could tell there was some leakage, and he loathed sticky boxer-briefs, but especially if he was still wearing ‘em.  And would be for some time.<br/><br/>Mary Beth started to rub her leg against his, with something to offer him.  “Y’know, Eli, if you be nice to me, in addition to that skirt of mine, I’ll also throw in fishnets and garters,” she stated.  “And, uh, for underwear, what would the gentleman prefer?  A thong or panties?”<br/><br/>If her expression was anything to go by, Elijah was already naked and spread out across the table.  “Oh, panties for sure,” he announced.  “The sheer kind, too.”  He winked at her.<br/><br/>“Ooo, the gentleman knows what he likes,” she cooed.  “I have those, too.”  She winked back.<br/><br/>Since their eyes were on each other instead of the immediate surroundings, their waitress had snuck up on them with their ordered drinks now on the table.  “Will there be anything else?” a familiar voice enquired.  Elijah turned toward the voice’s question and his jaw dropped.  There stood Gwen, looking super sexy in her waitress uniform.  His eyes wandered all over her exposed flesh, as her clothing didn’t hide much.  And in that instant, he felt like a complete asshole.  He averted his gaze, noticing that even Mary Beth was surprised, but said nothing.<br/><br/>Not only was he ashamed 10 times over, but he was even more embarrassed for Gwen.  There was absolutely no doubt in Elijah’s mind that she would’ve preferred that no one she knew saw her in this get-up.  Her major blush and slight stumble backward cemented this point to him.  She wished them a good evening and stammered something about this round was on her.  Toby’s mom quickly retreated out of sight.  It wasn’t rocket science to realize that another waitress would be serving them for the rest of the evening, and he couldn’t blame her in the slightest.<br/><br/>“Don’t even think about it,” Mary Beth hissed.<br/><br/>“Think about what?” Elijah asked, somewhat surprised.<br/><br/>She eyed him suspiciously, before answering, “Going after her.”<br/><br/>“Aw, c’mon, M.B.  I wasn’t gonna do that,” he protested.<br/><br/>“But you thought about it,” she stated.<br/><br/>Elijah shrugged with a playful smile.  “Maybe,” he countered.<br/><br/>Mary Beth grinned at him wickedly.  “That’s gonna cost you, mister,” she promised.  He pretty much knew what that meant.<br/><br/>A few songs into her set, Ms. Childs performed one of his favorites,<i>Walk and Talk Like Angels.  </i>There was a modest space off to the side of the stage that served as a dance floor.  Individuals and couples had already grooved there.  Mary Beth clasped his hand and led him to it.  Her arms around his neck, she pulled him close.  So close, in fact, that she was just shy of being in his back pocket.<br/><br/>Staring into his eyes, she whispered, “You’re here with me tonight, Eli.  Not her.”  She kissed his lips, then lay her head on his shoulder, swaying to the music and enjoying his closeness.  As far as Elijah was concerned, since they were out in public, his arms and hands remained right where they were.  Around her waist.  Mary Beth’s curvy derriere was off limits.<br/><br/>For some reason (and he knew exactly why), being in the awesome presence of one of his favorite singers didn’t quite feel the same.  And a particular auburn-haired lass was spotted, however briefly, though these sightings were never confirmed.  She didn’t venture anywhere near their zip code again.