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Playing the Field

30 Days in Aspen

By: Ella Frost

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Playing the Field

When Damon first woke, he just laid there for a moment, enjoying the quiet. Out of nowhere, he heard a light snoring and remembered that he wasn’t alone. While that was nothing unusual, it could be a bit annoying. Rolling over, he saw a mass of long, blonde hair. Thinking back to the night before, he pictured his bedmate in the silky green and blue dress she had been wearing when he brought her home. She had been sexy, that he remembered. But not her name, or her face. He rarely did anyway. With a different girl in his bed almost every night, it was too difficult to keep up with names.

Rolling over, he gently climbed out of bed. He grabbed his clothes and headed to the bathroom. He had practice today and wanted to get a few errands done beforehand. He was trying so hard to not wake the girl that he wasn’t watching where he was going. He tripped on a high heel shoe laying in the floor, probably where it had gotten tossed the night before. Losing his balance, he grabbed the door frame and tried to steady himself while holding in a yell. He barely straightened himself up when he realized something was stabbing his foot. Jerking it up to look, he found an earring stuck in his heel. It hurt too much when he pulled it out that he couldn’t stifle the yell this time.

“Ugh, what in the world? Can’t a girl get some beauty sleep around here?” She let out a groan and rolled over to face him. “Do you mind being a bit quieter when you’re sneaking out of the bed? It defeats the point if you wake me.” She gave him a sour look and rolled back over.

He shook his head. Where the hell did he find these girls? And a better question, why did he bring them home?

Damon was putting his street clothes in his locker when Jason, his best friend since childhood, walked up and slapped him on the back. “So, I see you won the bet on that blonde last night. How was it?”

Damon shook his head. “Honestly, not worth it. I can’t even remember her name. All of them are starting to blur together.”

“Since when did you care if they even had a name, much less what it was? And if I had a different chick every single night, they would start blurring together. Hell, man, I mean, when is the last time you spent the night alone?”

Damon shut his locker door and put the padlock on it. He had to actually stop to think about that one. He couldn’t remember a single instance of not having some girl or another in the bed when he woke since high school. Even in college, there was always a girl, albeit for more than one night at a time.

“I can’t think of one right off the top of my head. I don’t keep up with that shit anyway.”

Jason shook his head. “Man, what do you expect when you sleep with most of the girls in every town? I mean, I know they throw themselves at you, but it doesn’t mean you have to take all of them home.”

Damon cocked his head. “I don’t take all of them home. Just… maybe… I don’t know. Something just seems to be missing. Never mind. Practice is starting. We better get out there before coach starts yelling and gives himself a heart attack or something.”

After practice, Damon is lost in thought when Jason tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey man, you all right? You’ve been awfully quiet.”

Damon looked at him and shook his head. “I don’t know, man. I really feel like I’m missing something. Something these girls are supposed to fix but they just aren’t kicking it. Just… I feel like… I don’t know. But I do know I’m tired of having a different chick every night.”

Jason laughed. “Yeah, right. Man, you can’t go more than a couple of days and without having another chick in your bed.”

Damon cocked his head and grinned. “Seriously, is that a challenge?”

“Yeah, it is. Man, I have known you our whole lives just about. You are not a one-woman man. It’s just not your thing. Never has been.”

“Bullshit. I just haven’t found one I am willing to put up with more than one night. It’s a little tough when all they ever want is your dick or your money… or both. The joys of being famous, I guess.”

Jason laughed and shook his head. “Famous, hell. This was you before that. And I think we’re a little too old to be trying to change now.”

“Again, bullshit. I bet I can go without a chick. I’m not that bad.”

Jason shook his head. “I bet you can’t. I bet you can’t go a whole month without screwing some floozy or another. I’ll even bet a whole month’s pay on it. That’s how sure I am you can’t do it.”

The conversation had attracted the attention of the entire locker room. “I bet you can’t do it either. I’ll stake that same amount too,” Doug, one of the team’s outfielders said.

“Yeah, me too. I’ll take that bet any day. Guaranteed winner.” Damon looked around to see Coach Dan leaning on the doorframe. “Damon, you are the biggest man-whore I have ever met. I would take the bet if it was only a week.”

Damon shook his head. “Ouch, guys. Ok, So I guess let’s do this then. I’m going, how long again? A month? Starting today. Who’s gonna be in charge of holding the pot and making sure it goes to the winner, i.e., me?”

Jason chimed in. “I got it. Unless anyone objects?” Everyone knew the two of them had been best friends since childhood, but they also knew that Jason was one of the most honest people they had ever met. He looked around the room. “I guess that everyone who wants in needs to let me know and how much they are betting.” He pulls out his phone and starts looking for an app to keep track.

“Well, I’m starved. You guys have your fun. I’m gonna go snatch something to eat.” Damon grabs his stuff and walks out of the locker room, grinning and shaking his head. He was thinking about what to do with all of that extra money when he won it.

*****

Leaning against the chain-link fence, she watched the kids inside it running around and having a good time. It brought back memories of when she was a freshman at this same high school. She had never missed a game because her brother had been on the team. Of course, so was Damon, the guy she had a crush on, but she always pretended she was only there to see her brother Jason. 

Shaking her head of memories, Carrie pushed off the fence and shoved her hands in her jeans. Looking around, she decided to head on in to work. Being a little early gave her a chance to work on her rough draft a bit more. Her screenplay would never make it past the post office in the condition it was in currently, but she had been too busy at the ad agency she worked at to spend any time on it.

Walking into the office, she was so far in her own thoughts that she didn’t notice it was too quiet, even for this early in the morning. Right before she walked into the large conference room she shared with three other employees, she stopped. Looking around, she began noticing something was quite right. There were no people at the desks scattered throughout the rest of the small building, no radios playing, no chatter. Starting to think she had her days mixed up and it was really Sunday and not Tuesday, she turned the doorknob and pushed open the door.

“SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARRIE!” blasted out at her instantly, startling her so much she lost her balance. She grabbed the door just in time to keep from falling on her behind. Looking around and trying to catch her breath, she realized why it had been so quiet in the rest of the building. Everyone was here, in her office, throwing her a surprise birthday party. She heard, at least two champagne bottles pop and several noise makers go off.

Elana, the tall blonde goddess who should have been a model instead of an ad agency owner, strutted over to her, smiling. “I just want you to know, dear, this is the reason I had been keeping you so busy. Your friend Sherry, asked me to occupy you so she could plan all of this without you noticing. Hope you don’t mind.” She hugged Carrie tightly. “Happy 26th birthday. We love you. Me, especially. Here.” Elana handed Carrie an envelope with her name written on it in beautiful calligraphy.

Opening the envelope, Carrie could feel the tears of joy on the brink of her eyelids. Blinking furiously to hold them back, she pulled several pieces of paper out, then almost dropped them when she realized what they were. A round trip ticket to Aspen and a note stating that she was approved for four weeks of paid vacation.

Eyes wide, she looked up at Elana. “But, I don’t understand. This is an expensive gift.”

Elana laughed. “And dear, you are worth every penny. You have worked here for too long without a break. Enjoy it.”

Out of nowhere, something suddenly went over Carrie’s eyes and she couldn’t see. Her heart stopped for only a beat, but it was enough to make her gasp.

“Guess who, birthday girl?”

Carrie smiled. She knew that voice anywhere. “Hi there, big bro. What are you doing here?”

Jason took his hands away from her eyes and grinned as she turned towards him. “Where else would I be on this magical day?”

“I thought you would be too busy with your personal fan club to visit me for a silly party.”

Jason gave her a cocky smile. “Whose idea do you think it was to have this silly party? Granted, I had to con your friend Sherry into planning it, but I would never pass it up.”

Carrie gave him a look that said she didn’t believe him. “Why would you do that?”

Jason gave her an ‘I am up to no good’ kind of smile. She started pestering him about what he was up to when, suddenly, she knew. She never understood why, but she always knew when ‘he’ was close. Her eyes widened slowly and she turned around. And there he was.

“Damon. You’re here.” Her eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat.

Damon cocked his head to the side in that cocky manner that always made her heart beat faster.  “Now what kind of friend would I be if I missed my best friend’s little sister’s birthday?”

Even though she knew he didn’t mean it that way, the comment still stung.

“Um, right. Because I’m not your friend too, just his sister.” She pressed her lips together to keep from saying anything else.

Before Damon could respond, Jason, trying to change the subject, touched Carrie’s arm. “So, how’s it been going? You still writing those movies?”

Carrie nodded. “Um, yea, I have been. Um, writing that is. Haven’t sold anything yet though, hence the ad agency job. Um, so how have you guys been? I caught that game last week. Great job whooping butt.”

Damon spoke up first. “Yeah, it was ok. Coulda’ been better though, had Sticks not dropped the damn ball. Should change his name to Clutz instead. I mean, seriously. It was the last inning and coulda’ cost us the damn game.”

Carrie just stared at Damon for a moment, then looked away. Damon hadn’t changed a bit. Still too cocky for his own good. His attitude had always been the only thing that kept her from telling him how she truly felt about him. She had been crushing on him since they were kids, but when they got to their teens, she had started keeping her distance; acting as if she were over it. It was the only way to protect herself, but it wasn’t ever true. She still had strong feelings for him.

Jason knew better. He had always known that Carrie had deep feelings for Damon. He had tried a couple of times to get Damon to see it without directly telling him, but to no avail.

“So Carrie, I have a reservation for dinner at 7:30 tonight. Me and you, so we can catch up.”

Carrie smiled. “Really? Where?”

“At the grill up the road. Don’t dress too fancy. Casual will be fine.” He had a smirk on his face.

Carrie cocked her head and gave him a look. “The Hopeswell Bar and Grill? They don’t do reservations. What are you trying to pull?”

Jason laughed. “Okay, you got me. I just wanted it to seem like you couldn’t get out of it. Because you’re not getting out of it.”

Carrie puckered her lips at him. “Fine. I’ll be there. Bully. But you’re buying me a steak.” She laughed.

Jason laughed. “Deal.”

*****

After they finished eating their steaks and salads, Jason looked at Carrie. “Do you remember that time that dad took us to that steak house and you insisted you could eat the 10 oz. Mega Steak Lovers meal? You were like, what, 9?”

Carrie laughed. “Oh yeah. Dad insisted I couldn’t do it and wouldn’t get it for me. I remember throwing a temper-tantrum until he talked the waitress into pretending the kids-sized steak was the 10 oz. I actually thought it was too and was dancing with joy when I finished it.”

“Yeah. You were bouncing everywhere rubbing it in his face that you finished all of it. He asked me if he should tell you so you would shut up and sit down. But then you got sick and threw every bit of it up. All over the carpet. Dad was so embarrassed he couldn’t do anything but apologize and drag us out.”

Carrie laughed. “I remember thinking he would never stop being mad at me. His face was so red. He said he would never take us out to eat ever again. I was so scared he was telling the truth, but then, a week later, we were somewhere else eating.”

“What are you two giggling about?”

Carrie looked up to see Damon looming over her, smiling at her. She was momentarily breathless and was glad that Jason spoke up and saved her from stuttering.

“Hey, glad you decided to join the party.”

Carrie gave him a look that said she knew what he was up to. She shook her head and glared at him to tell him to stop it. He just smiled at her like he was oblivious to what she meant.

Damon smirked as he scooted into the booth seat next to Carrie. He cocked an eyebrow up at her while giving her a flirtatious smile.

“So are we discussing our childhood? If so, I definitely want to join. Do you guys remember when we all went camping together? Carrie, I believe it was your dad you got mad at when you stomped off and got lost in the woods?”

Carrie opened her mouth in shock. “Okay, I cannot believe you are going to bring that up. That was a horrible night for me. I thought I was actually lost and you guys did nothing but laugh at me. I was crying my eyes out. And it wasn’t dad I was pissed at, it was you. You were being mean, both of you.”

“But you weren’t even a hundred feet or so from the truck and the parking lot. The campsite was only a couple hundred feet from that.” Jason looked at her with laughter in his eyes.

“I was only 8 years old, you meanies. And it made the situation worse because you were laughing. Even dad was trying to not laugh.” Carrie was trying to not show how hurt she was that Damon had chosen that memory to bring up. She had been terrified that night and they had all made her feel stupid when they were laughing at her.

She looked at Damon. “Can you let me out? Need to go to the little girl’s room.”

He looked at her. “Well, I can let you out, but you are no little girl.” He slid out of the booth.

When she was gone, Damon looked at Jason. “She has grown into a beautiful woman. You better be glad that’s your little sister or I would have to try a bit harder to flirt.”

“Damon, you’re a jerk. So, what are you going to do this off-season?”

“Don’t know. Can’t hang around here. I’ll lose that damn bet for sure. Thought about getting out of town for a bit. Damned if I know where I’d go though.”

“Trying to hide where we won’t know if you screw it up, huh?”

“No. I may be a lot of things, but a liar I am not.” Damon was getting pissed. He didn’t like being accused of something he didn’t do.

“Whoa, calm down. Man, I was only picking. You know… I hear Aspen is nice this time of year. And most of the girls there will be clothed in layers. Too cold to walk around with their asses hanging out like they do here. Shame too, because it leaves little to the imagination when you can see it all before even learning their name.”

“Aspen? Why Aspen?”

“I don’t know. You could go skiing.”

“Funny. I can’t ski worth a damn. Whose idea was it that it would be fun to balance on a damn stick while flying 100 miles an hour down a snow covered mountain?”

“I don’t know, man. Hell, find some snow bunnies and a fireplace and keep warm. It was just an idea of somewhere to go. Didn’t say you had to.”

Before Damon could respond about how that would defeat the point of leaving, Carrie came out of the restroom. As he watched her walk towards the table, he couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she really had become since they were kids. He started to wonder how he had missed it when he realized Jason was talking to him.

“Man, close your mouth. That’s my sister you’re gaping at like a damn fool.”

Damon looked at him, confused. “Damn, she grew up.”

Jason just shook his head at Damon. He knew Damon was going to lose that damn bet. There was proof right in front of him. He only felt a tad guilty for setting up his sister like that, but hell, she always had a crush on Damon anyway, right? Maybe it would work out for them and in the long run. If not, then she would get over him and move on finally.

As Carrie walked back to the table after gaining her composure, she tried to remember to breathe. She was leaving town soon and could get him out of her system. She would finally have a chance to be over Damon.

When she reached the table, Damon started to get up so she could slide back in, but she didn’t move. “I hate to cut this short, but I have some things I need to take care of. Jason, thank you for the meal. And the birthday party. I am glad you came. Damon, nice to see you.”

Once she was gone, Damon looked at Jason. “Damn, I think I just got shunned. What the hell did I do?”

“Man, what didn’t you do? C’mon, let's go. Things to do, a trip to plan. If you’re going?”

Damon thought about it for only a second. “Yeah, I need a change of scenery. I’m going.”

*****