Either way, there wasn't going to be a catfight, and after expelling my nerves with a long, slow exhalation, I just settled in to enjoy the party.

I was humming along to the Christmas music playing on the stereo as I hopped down the stairs. E-Beth was one of those Christmassy kind of people, loving to hear the classics while she studied, clad in a bright red and green set of pajamas she pulled out every year. She was as expected, studying for her finals at the dinner table with Diane.

“Well, I'm off to go drink some beers and veg out while watching football," I informed them in a sing-song voice. I'd already made plans to join Kevin and Jen at their place to catch some December playoff-implication games.

"Get bent," came Diane's curt reply.

“My my... have some stress you need to blow off?"

E-Beth deliberately stood up and then promptly bent at the waist so that her pajama top hung down and visually proved her large breasts were unfettered by a bra. My gaze automatically lowered but E-Beth just grinned and teased, "We have boyfriends for that now, thank you."

David @, Girls 1.

I'd poured some coffee and began to sip it to buy myself some time to come up with a witty reply. But before I could, Amber bounded into the room fully dressed and ready to go out. I frowned at her.

“Where are

YOU going?" Then I took another sip.

“Oh, I thought I told you. Brianna invited me to do some Christmas shopping with her."

I choked on my coffee. A moment Later, Amber was patting me on the back and grinning down at me.

“We have SOOO much to talk about! A Lot of it about YOU!" She pecked me on the cheek and then whirled out the door.

My life was actually getting weirder.

WINTER (January 2003)

“Hey Eric.”

“Hey David. What's up?" the big lug answered his cell phone in a rumbling baritone.

“Well I wanted to say congratulations on you guys winning that bowl game. Two sacks and a forced fumble?"

I swear I could hear his grin through the phone. "Yeah. We did good.”

“Anyways, the reason I'm calling is that Amber had some new furniture delivered. Fact is, I can't get it upstairs and set up all by myself.

And you know how the girls are at helping me out."

“Don't worry about it," Eric said genially. "I got some stuff to do but

I'll be there in an hour or so."

“Great! See you then." I smiled and then hung up the phone. Then I turned to my girlfriend. "He'll be here in an hour."

Amber's blue eyes sparkled and she got a very naughty expression on her face.