Choosing Her Lover

Chapter 15

*****

Erin is, as I expected, in pieces. I know that she had high hopes for Rob.

“I don’t get it.” she cries, wringing her hands. “What do I have to do? I offer them everything. I tell them my life story. I make it clear that I won’t see anyone else….”

“I think you try to get too close, too soon,” I say. “Lots of guys don’t like it if you’re all over them straight away.”

“Oh, don’t talk rubbish,” says Ben. “When you meet someone, you know right away when they’re good for you.”

Keep your mouth shut. This isn’t the time.

“Cheer up,” says Ben, holding her hand. “I’ve got a friend who’s just broken up with his girlfriend. We could all go out together if you like, the four of us. I’ll introduce you.”

And just like that, her tears dry up.

“Really?” she says. “Thanks. You seem really nice. I’d love to meet your friend.”

“That’s settled, then,” says Ben. “How about tomorrow night? Is that okay by you, Kirstie?”

Jeez, I don’t want to do this….

“That would be lovely. Thanks, Kirstie,” says Erin, before I have a chance to open my mouth. “Do you want to pick us both up from Kirstie’s place, Ben?”

“I’ll do that. About eight?”

*****

The evening is as grim as I anticipate. Dearly as I love my sister, I have trouble with her infatuations and her conviction that Prince Charming is about to ride over the hill on his charger.

….. Dreams of White Horses….?

Ben’s friend, Larry, seems very much to be cut from the same cloth as Ben himself; straightforward, not bad looking, a nice guy…. vanilla. He’s very talkative though, and his main topic of conversation is himself. And as I listen to the drift of his views and opinions on life, politics, gay rights, the place of women….

puritan

And he’s Ben’s friend….

lot of time talking with, or more accurately at, Erin, with a constant stream of noise about his work, his family, where

broke up with him. She must have

blah, my mind defocusses, drifting instead to Ryan

spine…. His mouth

do

back to earth with a jolt. “Sorry, what

laughs. “Weren’t you listening? Your mind on other things, maybe….” His hand settles on my thigh, with a clear implication. I’d like to move it away. The last thing I want is to get back into

*****

leans in to kiss me. I give him a quick peck,

falls, disappointment writ large. “Oh…. I hoped…. It

Yeah… Right….

to get some sleep. Good night.” I peck him on the cheek again and get

*****

at my desk, I wait for the inevitable…. It’s late in the afternoon,

inevitable arrives, in the

not happy

Play it cool….

Are you alright?

not fucking

to my voice. “You don’t have to speak to

sheepish. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to take it out on you. Yes, something’s bothering

not me

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Mike….”

“Oh….?”

her a few

“Charlotte? What’s the problem?”

“She’s screwing around.”

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