“It is really beautiful,” I said, looking at the small statuette in my hand. Made of glass, it didn’t resemble anything specific, but was definitely stylish.

We were striding leisurely on the street. The setting sun was illuminating the puffy clouds that took most of the sky, and occasional gusts of wind played with the Carla’s hair.

“Yes,” she nodded. “This crazy adventure came to a happy end…”

“Do I sense a ‘but’ in there?”

“Lexie, whom you will be voting for?”

“Voting?… Aren’t the elections more than a year away?”

All women exploded in laughter.

“The company best man, you goofy.”

“Sorry?”

“We just talked about it. Didn’t you listen?”

“Wow, that is a sight!” Carlo exclaimed.

“Worth a couple of hours of climbing, eh?” I took the last couple of steps on the trail and stood next to him.

“With the bodysuit, yes. Previous Sunday, I stopped several times to rest while climbing it and still couldn’t reach here. Then I almost hated it, but now love it!”

“Actually, now it was a bit of strain on me to keep up with you.” I smiled.

The elevator quietly chimed and started up. Filippo politely watched the floor indicator. Gab just stood, thinking about something. I silently cursed myself for overstuffing with the omelet, then wondered if Gab will try and look at Vinnie who was standing right next to him. Sure, the long skirt of her uniform covered her legs completely, but a man would always try to steal a glance after such a talk. To be honest, I did several times while nobody watched me.

“Um, G-g-gab? M-m-m-may I a-a-ask for s-s-something?”

“Huh… Yeah, sure.”

“I… I p-p-plan b-b-bying a g-g-game c-computer. C-c-could you a-a-advise me w-w-what to b-buy?”

“What?! How is that possible?… He has a bodysuit too?”

“Maybe he has, but it likely is not that. You see… I have seen Puglisi many times. There are at least three different ones. Not counting the one we met. All are razor sharp but have different appearances, different mannerisms, speak differently, think differently…”

“Huh?!… Do you mean that several people share his identity? All claim to be him? And in this way can do several things at once, be present at different places at the same time, show up in front of someone who knows one of them and pretend to be someone else…?”

“I guess the bodysuit produces it like making hair and beard from our hair and skin cells. Or like your wetness during sex. But I don’t think one can get pregnant from it.”

“I very much hope I cannot,” I noted. We both laughed. “Though your stamina is amazing.”

“Bodysuit’s stamina. I am wiry for a girl, I hope, but no way to do that for so long without its help… What amazed me is that you got four orgasms. I have listened to a lot of sex – not by my choice – and I am yet to see a man get more than three in a row. Especially so strong ones, and only two days after having plenty of sex.”

“I guess their strength is due to the bodysuit. The first time I masturbated in it, the orgasm was just a bit stronger than otherwise, but since then it is stronger every time. I was afraid that the bodysuit somehow turns me into a real girl, but it looks like it tunes how it transmits the feelings, learning with the time how to achieve the most… And I also guess that this night it was your skill at sex too.”

“I can’t help but know what makes a girl feel good,” Carlo smiled. “And, before you ask, I felt great too. Way different than when I have sex as a girl, but as a whole even better…”

“Wrong time for conceiving. If there was a risk for that, I would ask you to use a condom,” Carla smiled. “Could you please turn aside while I put some clothes on?”

I did, jokingly protesting:

“Hey, we even had sex! And I am a woman five days out of seven, I can look in the mirror as much as I want. What is the problem with seeing you naked?”

“It turned out absolutely perfect. The best ice cream I had ever tried.” It was true – the dessert was a heaven.

“I tried it for a first time too. Was a bit afraid if it would be good.”

“Thank you very much, Carlo. The dinner was exquisite… But I am thinking about its cost. Would you agree to split it?”

After the dinner – and two big ice creams, on Carlo’s insistence – we came out. It was already dark, the evening was warm – the ideal time for a romance. If only I was Carlo instead of Lexie…

My head had barely touched the pillow when my phone rang. First time in almost a year… Massimo? Is there some problem with my registration?! That is, Lexie’s?

“Yes?”

“… Sorry, I might have mistaken the number. I seek Damiano Rossi.”

Shit!

“Lexie, why you are waiting out there? Come in,” called Maria – that is, Mommy – from the room of the women. “These two desks are free, choose yours.”

“This is my desk. I’m Fabricia Amabile, secretary to The Boss – he insists that all we are just colleagues and hates being called that, but everyone does behind his back. You need anything that involves documents, I’m your angel.”

My head was about to burst. The pain was bad, and the thirst was worse than when I climbed Petit Dru’s southern wall without water. Had to drink… A lot…

I rose up somehow from the bed and started towards the bathroom, it was closer than the kitchen. Moving was a hell, and not only because of the throbbing head. My entire body felt misplaced, and I had the feeling that some slings are attached to my legs and arms, pulling them and changing my movements. Oh, God. Must warn Salazzo, this grappa is really bad, he shouldn’t stock it anymore. Never had a hangover before, this was the first time I ever got drunk. But it couldn’t be that bad, or nobody would ever get drunk for a second time…

I pulled myself inside the bathroom and lunged for the tap. Opened it and started sucking the water directly from it. How good the cold water felt!…

I don’t know how much time I spent drinking, but finally the throbbing subsided a bit and my head felt clearer. Drinking alcohol was a really, really, really bad mistake. Better jump from the roof than try that, I thought. What a lesson. I didn’t want to even think how I look now… Still, I lifted my head and looked in the mirror.

This is a fan fiction, using Elrod's Bikini Beach universe.

English is not my native language - please do not beat me too badly over its quality. :)

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"Water pump, mister." The mechanic pulled from under the RV. "When did it started leaking?"

"Yesterday. Today increased."

"Seeping water just to refill to the bare minimum, to minimize the loss?" A blackened with grease finger knocked on the five-gallon plastic tank, tied over the engine and connected with a piece of garden hose to the cooler.

"Yes. Kept me going to here"