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….

thorough-going puritan outlook

And he’s Ben’s friend….

or more accurately at, Erin, with a constant stream of noise about his work, his family, where he grew

girlfriend broke up with him. She must

the blah, blah, my mind defocusses, drifting instead to Ryan and the

fingertips along my spine…. His mouth over

What do

with a jolt. “Sorry, what

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 bed with Ben. But right

*****

the evening, Ben pointedly drops off Erin and Larry first, leaving me alone with him. As he pulls up at my place, he leans in to kiss me.

face falls, disappointment writ large. “Oh…. I hoped…. It was pretty mind-blowing last time, wasn’t

Yeah… Right….

I need to get some sleep. Good night.” I peck him on the cheek again and get out of the car,

*****

my desk, I wait for the inevitable…. It’s

inevitable arrives, in the shape of Ben, wearing a

not happy

Play it cool….

alright? You don’t

I’m not

chill to my voice. “You don’t

on you. Yes,

It’s not

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Mike….”

“Oh….?”

few

“Charlotte? What’s the problem?”

“She’s screwing around.”

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