Choosing Her Lover

*****

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….

time talking with, or more accurately at, Erin, with a constant stream of noise about his work, his family, where he grew up, what he likes, what he dislikes…. It goes on and

with him. She must

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

His mouth

What do you

with a jolt. “Sorry, what

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 now, with other people around us,

*****

of 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. I give him a quick peck, but before he can speak, “If you don’t mind,

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

Yeah… Right….

peck him on the cheek again and get

*****

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

in the

not happy about

Play it cool….

Ben. Are you alright? You

not fucking

chill to my voice. “You don’t have to

mean to take it out on you. Yes, something’s bothering me and I don’t know quite what

not

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Mike….”

“Oh….?”

just married her a few months ago, and

“Charlotte? What’s the problem?”

“She’s screwing around.”