Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 8

Intruders!

Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.

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October 26, 2020.

Monday afternoon, Reena took lunch duties. Lunch was often individual or in small groups, but she really wanted a crack at cooking for everyone. She said it could be 'come and go' to still facilitate varied schedules around the house. Her idea was ramen. But, it wasn't just basic out of the package. Well, it was, but with a variety of add-ons. You could pick your flavor of ramen, then she'd prepared chopped carrots, nori, sesame oil, diced onion, spam, eggs (fried up for each bowl individually) and Korean red pepper powder that Jan had gotten added to the spice rack. Oh, Reena still cooked it up, but each bowl was individual, and made on request.

When Jan came in for lunch, she laughed warmly.

Beaming, Reena asked hopefully, "Just like mom would make?"

Jan placed a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder. "Not exactly dear. This is ore like what my Caucasian aunt would make when she tried to be authentic."

Reena's face and shoulders seemed to suddenly melt. Jan stepped in beside the teen, wrapping her arms around her.

"And the one time I made fun of my aunt for it in my mother's hearing was the last. She pulled me aside and scolded me for being insensitive, and ungrateful. Mom said that ramen was always about making something tasty, with love and what ever ingredients were available." Jan made a point of looking over the prepped ingredients arrayed on the counter. "And this is exactly what you have done." She kissed Reena on her cheek. "Thank you. Thank you for the meal, and thank you for reminding me of two lovely, caring women in my life."

Reena hugged her. Then she got the specifics of what Jan wanted and got busy making it.

Dave stepped out of his office and got two steps down the hallway when Lupie found him.

"Dave, could I use your office and computer for a bit? It's kind of urgent. I was in the middle of some trades and my laptop died."

"Again?" Dave chuckled. Lupie looked chagrined and rolled her eyes. "Good thing you have your software installed in there already. Just log me off and do what you gotta do. How long do you need me to stay out?"

"Rest of the afternoon?"

"Okay." Dave started to walk away but Lupie snagged him by the shirtfront and tugged him towards her. They kissed softly. They didn't hear the small footsteps approaching.

"Oh gag me with a tamale."

Both adults laughed too hard to maintain the kiss.

"I do need to get in there," Lupie said. A quick peck and she scampered into the office.

Dave knelt down and wrapped Esme in a hug. "And you, rascal, need to give it a rest. We keep a lot out of your sight because; well because it should be out of your viewing. So give us a break on the kissing once in a while, huh?"

"Yessir" her tone sounded reluctant, but the grin was hard to suppress. She took four quick steps away from him before turning. "Dave?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Thanks for making mom happy."

"Never have I ever; used a pay phone," Reena said with a wicked grin.

Shawna and all the ladies over thirty took a drink. Dave first reached into his pocket, pulled his hand back out, and tossed a quarter at Reena. Then he took a drink. Liv busted out laughing.

"One of Dad's favorite songs!" she cried as she cackled loudly and leaned a bit too far over into Mel. They'd been going for over half an hour. And she and Mel had pre-gamed.

"Song?" Reena asked.

"Pay phones used to cost a quarter to make a call. Early nineties, there was a country breakup song called 'Here's a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares'," Dave filled in.

Reena pouted, then stuck out her tongue.

"Okay, Lupie, your turn," Jan prompted.

'Never have I ever; done the splits."

Reena threw one back. Liv joined her, while Dave laughed.

"That laugh suggests a story," Nessa observed.

"Yeah, yeah," Liv replied. "I was; oh, about ten or so?"

"Eleven," Dave corrected.

"Right. Anyway, the girlie girl types were saying I was not really a girl if I couldn't do the splits. So I did."

Dave cleared his throat. Liv blushed. "On top of the monkey bars."

All the older ladies burst out laughing.

"Well, that showed them!" Shawna rejoined. "And I believe it's Dave's turn now."

"Alright, never have I ever; taken a nude or semi-nude selfie."

Reena's eyes bugged out. She reached for her drink, threw back a slug, then covered her face with her hand. Mel, Liv, and Nessa followed suit. That was no shock to anyone. Jan doing so caught a few looks.

"Nope, not gonna talk about it." Jan's face was as red as Melanie's hair.

"Okay, moving on; "

"Not yet. Someone hasn't drunk." Dave said. He looked at Becca, clearing his throat.

"What?! I've never sent nude selfies. You're the first guy I ever got naked for!"

"I believe you." Then Dave held up his phone and waggled it.

Becca's eyes got wide. "Oh, crap, I forgot about that!" The young blonde blushed about six shades of red before reaching for her drink.

"Oh, this I gotta hear." Melanie breathed.

Becca hid her face in her hands, peeking between two fingers. Lupie laughed loudly. "Okay, you busted me out, so spill."

Becca looked pleadingly at Dave, then shrugged her shoulders, giving him a nod.

"Loops, you remember that very first day, when the vax guy came around?" Lupie nodded in reply. "And you wondered why Becca was acting all embarrassed after I told you I'd accepted you both?"

"Yes?; oh!"

"I told you she'd be the one to say it was okay to tell you what happened? She just did." Lupie just nodded in reply.

"Uh, care to fill the rest of us in?" Mel asked.

"So the CDC guy came around mid-September. He got to Lupie's house first. She sent him over here with a letter asking that I request her and Becca, giving her reasons why I should say yes. After setting things up with Arthur, I texted both of them that I would make the request. Becca replied with a selfie. With her shirt and bra pulled up. Still have it by the way." Dave winked at Becca.

"Shit, we shoulda thought of that! Right after the video call!" Liv groused, nudging Mel. "Another missed first."

"Becca was weeks before that call, so still first. Well, first amongst this group, not first ever."

"Oh, yeah?"

Dave dodged. "Old girlfriend, long time ago. So, who's turn is it next?" Thankfully, they let it slide.

October 27, 2020.

Dave descended the stairs to see Olivia, Becca and Reena watching a 90's movie. The two teens were making a concerted effort to take in as much of the movies and songs that Dave had grown up with, particularly the ones he had physical copies of. Reena had taken some adjusting to the idea of watching without streaming.

Not that they didn't stream at all. Last night, Dave had discovered several of his partners, including Reena, hadn't yet seen Hamilton. That required immediate correction.

"Wow, really? It's a great story, well executed, and it's historical. I mean, yeah, they take some liberties, but Miranda was pretty true to the essence of the characters."

"But history?" Reena whined. "It's just a bunch of old white guys."

Dave looked askance at her. "You're sleeping with an old white guy."

Reena's face fell, and Dave's heart with it. In a soft voice, she said, "You're not just an old white guy to me." Her head wasn't exactly hanging, but she didn't meet his eyes.

Fuck, emotional landmine triggered. Splash damage accumulating.

Dave got up swiftly, without rushing, to stand in front of her and take her in his arms. He kissed the crown of her head as her face nestled in his chest. "I'm sorry honey, I didn't mean to sound so disparaging."

Reena slipped her arms around Dave and took him in a hug. Several others joined in, circling the pair in their arms.

"Reena, honey?" Shawna prompted. "The guy who wrote it had a vision to make the story more interesting than 'just a bunch of old white guys. Give it a try. I think you'll like it." As often happened, Shawna was spot-on.

This morning though, the trio were watching Dave's blu-ray of Twister.

"You know, we'll have to watch this in April. Before or during the first severe thunderstorm warning." Dave said as he rounded the back corner to pass them without blocking their view. All three girls chuckled lightly and accepted the kisses Dave planted on them as he passed behind them on his way to the library.

Entering, he found Vanessa lounging with a book. He took a seat in easy speaking distance without crowding her.

"So, how are you settling in?"

"Pretty well. It's; so peaceful here. I really expected a house with this many people in it to be more chaotic. I mean, there's a fun energy here, and a lot of life, but it's; so soothing here. Thank you, David. For accepting me, for just; being here to match with."

"I'm enjoying having you here. Beyond the obvious, I mean." Nessa snickered at that. "You've slipped rather smoothly into the family and already I couldn't imagine this place, or u