make."
"For over an hour, in my dressing room-with the door locked?" Carol's elevated eyebrows gave the lie to her exaggeratedly patient tone of voice, and Anne felt herself tense. "Darling-theater people gossip, you know! And poor Harris was almost frantic. He had to get Tanya away from there, or you might have had a really ugly scene to contend with, and I don't think you've had experience with that sort of thing.
I persuaded him to try calling you instead of going back there to batter down the door or something equally dramatic. I think Harris has developed quite a tendresse for you, which isn't like him at all!"
"I like Harris too-he's been very nice." Fight back, Anne, an inner voice told her. "But honestly, Carol, this-this farce tonight was your idea, after all, and I was the one left to cope with Webb Carnahan and his anger-which was really quite justified, you'll have to admit! Why all the concern, suddenly? Did you think I couldn't take care of myself?"
Carol's first reaction of surprise made Anne feel good. "Touche, sweetie! And hooray for you, if you managed to keep Webb in line. It's just that I happen to know dear Webb very well-too well, in fact. And it would be just the dirty, low-down kind of thing he'd do, just to get even with me, to try to ..."
"To try to-what?" Anne hoped her voice still sounded steady, and that Carol wouldn't notice how tightly her fingers gripped onto the edge of the dresser. She didn't like the way Carol and Harris between them had begun to make her feel.
"Well-you know, I think. And believe me, darling, I'd make Harris promise to stick right by your side. If I'd thought Webb might pull something like he did, I'd never have suggested what I did. It just seemed like such a wild idea! And I did so want to get even with him. But not at your expense-you do believe me, don't you? You see, Anne
..."
Carol wore a frown now; she bit her lip as if she was trying to choose just the right words. "I don't know if you really do see, because you really haven't had too much experience with the bastards of this world, have you? Or of sex as a game or a weapon. I guess when I was being selfish as usual this afternoon, I wasn't really thinking that you hadn't been around enough to find your own weapons or learn how to use them. I think I was born street wise, and so was Webb. We recognized that quality in each other from the first. Oh damn, how am I going to put this so you'll realize I'm not just playing big sister?"
"If you're trying to say that you and Webb are ..." Anne began stiffly. She wanted to say the word "lovers," but it was too bitter to pronounce. She should have known, or guessed, shouldn't she?
But Carol caught her up swiftly, so that she didn't have to continue. "That's just it, sweetie! Webb and I are almost too much alike, I guess. We both know the score.
We started way back-God, further back than I care to remember! And since then, between his women and my guys, we've been an on-and-off thing-although for my part I'd like it to be over permanently!" Carol sounded vindictive; her emerald-green eyes narrowed as she almost spat out the words.
"I don't expect you to understand, Anne, but sometimes, sometimes a man and a woman can really have a sexual thing going. In the sack they can really groove, and it's the greatest fuck ever, but out of it, apart from those moments of hunger, they could hate and despise each other." Carol's voice took on a slightly exasperated note as she leaned forward urgently. "Listen, I can almost hear the wheels go round in your head. You're wondering if I'm saying all this because I'm jealous, and I'm not! I got over being jealous of Webb a long time ago-I had to, in order to make it. But I don't want to see you all torn up like so many others I've seen it happen to. Like Tanya, for instance. Christ, I lost count of the rest a long time ago! And didn't give a shit, either. But I feel responsible for you, sweets. That's the reason for all this"-Carol
"For over an hour, in my dressing room-with the door locked?" Carol's elevated eyebrows gave the lie to her exaggeratedly patient tone of voice, and Anne felt herself tense. "Darling-theater people gossip, you know! And poor Harris was almost frantic. He had to get Tanya away from there, or you might have had a really ugly scene to contend with, and I don't think you've had experience with that sort of thing.
I persuaded him to try calling you instead of going back there to batter down the door or something equally dramatic. I think Harris has developed quite a tendresse for you, which isn't like him at all!"
"I like Harris too-he's been very nice." Fight back, Anne, an inner voice told her. "But honestly, Carol, this-this farce tonight was your idea, after all, and I was the one left to cope with Webb Carnahan and his anger-which was really quite justified, you'll have to admit! Why all the concern, suddenly? Did you think I couldn't take care of myself?"
Carol's first reaction of surprise made Anne feel good. "Touche, sweetie! And hooray for you, if you managed to keep Webb in line. It's just that I happen to know dear Webb very well-too well, in fact. And it would be just the dirty, low-down kind of thing he'd do, just to get even with me, to try to ..."
"To try to-what?" Anne hoped her voice still sounded steady, and that Carol wouldn't notice how tightly her fingers gripped onto the edge of the dresser. She didn't like the way Carol and Harris between them had begun to make her feel.
"Well-you know, I think. And believe me, darling, I'd make Harris promise to stick right by your side. If I'd thought Webb might pull something like he did, I'd never have suggested what I did. It just seemed like such a wild idea! And I did so want to get even with him. But not at your expense-you do believe me, don't you? You see, Anne
..."
Carol wore a frown now; she bit her lip as if she was trying to choose just the right words. "I don't know if you really do see, because you really haven't had too much experience with the bastards of this world, have you? Or of sex as a game or a weapon. I guess when I was being selfish as usual this afternoon, I wasn't really thinking that you hadn't been around enough to find your own weapons or learn how to use them. I think I was born street wise, and so was Webb. We recognized that quality in each other from the first. Oh damn, how am I going to put this so you'll realize I'm not just playing big sister?"
"If you're trying to say that you and Webb are ..." Anne began stiffly. She wanted to say the word "lovers," but it was too bitter to pronounce. She should have known, or guessed, shouldn't she?
But Carol caught her up swiftly, so that she didn't have to continue. "That's just it, sweetie! Webb and I are almost too much alike, I guess. We both know the score.
We started way back-God, further back than I care to remember! And since then, between his women and my guys, we've been an on-and-off thing-although for my part I'd like it to be over permanently!" Carol sounded vindictive; her emerald-green eyes narrowed as she almost spat out the words.
"I don't expect you to understand, Anne, but sometimes, sometimes a man and a woman can really have a sexual thing going. In the sack they can really groove, and it's the greatest fuck ever, but out of it, apart from those moments of hunger, they could hate and despise each other." Carol's voice took on a slightly exasperated note as she leaned forward urgently. "Listen, I can almost hear the wheels go round in your head. You're wondering if I'm saying all this because I'm jealous, and I'm not! I got over being jealous of Webb a long time ago-I had to, in order to make it. But I don't want to see you all torn up like so many others I've seen it happen to. Like Tanya, for instance. Christ, I lost count of the rest a long time ago! And didn't give a shit, either. But I feel responsible for you, sweets. That's the reason for all this"-Carol
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