Choosing Her Lover

“More than one…. How many men are you fucking? Is that why you’re saying what you are about Mike? You play fast and loose, so you assume everyone else does? I thought you and I had something special. I thought it was you and me; that we were an item?”

“I never said that. I never said anything like that….”

“You slept with me. We made love together….”

“Ben, we’ve had half a dozen dates; that’s all. And yes, I slept with you, once. But…. So what? I’m sure you’re a great guy, but I have never said that I wanted to be tied to you. You just assumed it.”

I fall silent. It seems the best policy while Ben gets his brain on to the same planet I live on.

He stares at me, his face slack, but I can see the wheels turning in his head. Then, “Have you screwed my brother?”

Oh, fuck….

In the background, I see Michael’s eyes roll heavenward.

Should I lie?

Would it help?

No.

“Yes.”

“Yes? You’ve fucked Michael?”

And now I’m beginning to panic, not thinking clearly. “It was just once, a couple of years ago.” I stammer. “They were at a club I go to….”

“They? Who’s ‘they’?”

Oh, shit….

“Who’s they?” he repeats.

I don’t speak, staring at the floor and trying not to speak, before I make things worse.

I try not to, but my gaze wanders between James and Michael,

of them? Is that what you’re saying? You fucked with my brother and

the two of them, then Charlotte, then back at me. Then, his voice quiet,

you, that I should call a

swiping a hand through his hair, then he turns to face me, eyes wide, lips pressed

finally. “Mike, tell me what the right of this

brother in the eye. “Ben, Kirstie’s telling you the

brothers stare at each other; Michael calm, his

seriously telling me that you married a woman, and

you that he shared her

at him.

to James and Charlotte. “My family consists of my wife and my best friend. I’ve known him longer than her, but they both mean a lot to me and for the three of us, it works. So, just think about that for a while, and calm

stands frozen, his hands fisting, then with a snarl, he storms out of the room. There is the sound of boots stamping downstairs, the bang of a door and then the rumble of a car engine which grows quieter as it

wary and waiting. Michael, arms still folded, looks

going, shall I,” I mutter, and

driven away, leaving me behind. I can’t even call a taxi. My

the house? Ask if I can

don’t dare. The expression on

what to do, I sit on a tree stump looking down over the glorious lake view. I’m trembling, and after a minute, I realise I’m crying, tears rolling down my

still here?” It’s Michael’s voice from behind

face with the back of my hand. As I turn, he looks stern, angry, but his face softens when he sees me trying to wipe my face

as I blow my nose and try to clean my face. My skin feels hot. Some women can cry and look good, but I’m not one of them. I know that my face is blotchy, my nose

driven off without me, and my bag and everything else is in his car. I’ve no money on me, or credit cards, or

you even

and James….” I swallow my words. “When he thought he’d seen them…. I was trying to stop him,

think it’s a good idea for you to risk running into James right now. I’ll call a taxi to

help much with James though. I’ll have to

to cool him off a bit before tomorrow. Come on, let’s get you home. Go and wait in the

*****

working, but waiting for the storm. Nausea rises in my throat

“Hello, Kirstie. It’s Francis here from