"Really, it's no big deal," Grace said. "And it's not actually a guy--well, I mean it's a guy, but it's not what you think."
"Keep talking, keep talking," Jackie said.
"Well, see, there's this man who just moved in next door to me a couple of weeks ago--"
"I knew it!" Lena crowed triumphantly. Then she leaned forward wide-eyed. "Oh, my God, Grace, you're doing your new next door neighbor? You work fast, girl. You have more chutzpah than I thought!"
"No! I told you, it's not like that! I'm not 'doing' anyone--and for crying out loud, do you have to be so crude and loud? Everyone in this place probably heard you."
"Get on with it," Liz urged, dropping all pretense of being serious and nurturing. She looked as eager to hear smutty details as the other two women.
"I haven't actually met the guy," Grace said.
"Well, hell," Lena grumbled. "I knew it was probably too good to be true."
"But ... " Liz asked.
"But ... I hear him. Late at night."
"Hear him doing what?" Jackie squealed.
Grace shook her head in disgust and continued. "I hear him talking. When I go to bed. Our bedrooms obviously share a wall and there's this heat vent, see, and, well, he's always talking when I go to bed."
"Talking about what?"
Grace could feel her face coloring again.
"Oh, this must be good." Lena grinned.
"He doesn't talk about something. He talks to someone. Someone who's obviously very special to him. I think he must be talking to her on the phone because I never hear anyone talking back. It's just him. And the things he tells her..."
"Honey, if you get any redder you're going to turn into a tomato. Just say it. What's he tell her?"
"Well, he's like ... making love to her. With his voice. He's always telling her about these fantasies he has about her. Sexy, sometimes naughty things."
All three of her friends were now leaning toward her, eyes wide and eager for more. Grace was warming up to the topic, so she continued.
"Like last night he was telling her about this fantasy where he got to his office and found her sitting on his desk wearing a short skirt and no underwear. He came in and shut the door but didn't lock it because it was more exciting to think someone might walk in on them. Then he went over to her and ... well ... "
"Grace, this is no time to get prude on us. He went over to her and what?"
)
