Choosing Her Lover

He lets out a long sigh, stares at the ceiling, then waves me to a chair. “Why don’t you sit down? You look as if you’re going to fall down.”

I sit and he pours me a glass of water. “Go on,” he says, but the edge has gone from his voice.

“Then he said that he’d seen the two of you…. you and Charlotte…. he said….”

“Alright, I know what he said there…. Carry on.”

I look him in the eye for just a second, then look away. “Mr Alexanders…. I’d already figured it out, about the three of you. I’ve seen you together and your rings and….”

“Yes, I gathered that last night. So….”

“Ben was furious, incandescent. He said he was going to come here and make sure you didn’t go near his brother’s wife again…. I think was intending to threaten you.”

He snorts, and just for a moment, I hear the humour there at this unlikely possibility.

I don’t see this one being scared by Ben….

He barks a short, humourless laugh. “So, what on earth possessed you to tell him that you met me and Michael at the Club? Why would you tell him something like that? A man like Ben? And under those circumstances?”

I hang my head again. “I’m not sure. I really didn’t mean to. It just sort of came out. By the time we were at your house, I was pretty wound up. I wasn’t thinking straight. I’d been thinking for a while that I should wind things up with him, that I’m not being fair to him but there never seemed to be the right time.”

“I think events may have overtaken you on that, Kirstie. I rather suspect Ben won’t be wanting to see you again.”

I nod gloomily. “I didn’t want to do it like this, though. He’s a decent guy. He just doesn’t….” I fight back the tears that threaten to well up again. “I’m sorry. I really was trying to help.”

he looks sympathetic now.

“Vanilla man?” he asks.

“Mmm, yes.”

still going to the clubs. Ben is

on the beach with my dogs. He…. courted me.

looks askance at

“Yes, he is sweet.”

sweet your thing,

Arrogant bastard!

temper finally overtakes my guilt

blame everything on me you know.” I snap. “It’s at least partly

He’s a tall man anyway, but somehow, he looks taller when he wears that face. “And how do arrive at that

you’re in a situation where it matters that people don’t realise

tilts, his mouth

I say something

suitable wear for the office….” he comments,

have the bit between my teeth now. Recklessly, I plunge on, letting my mouth do my thinking for me. “I spotted it right away, especially when the three of you all have rings. Do you really think other people wouldn’t see it, even if they reach the wrong conclusion? They understand her wearing Michael’s ring. After all, he’s the one with a piece of paper to say

stares at me, saying

I being given the rope

it now, you know. You could cool down on the

that supposed

feel like I'm being interrogated by a movie villain. You know, the tall immaculately dressed one that’s utter

the facade cracks. He bursts out laughing. “I’m