Cold Feet

VIOLA

I am angry. So angry. Angry with Rick, with myself, and with the whole damn world. Why does life have to be so complicated? I think I’m angriest with Rick. If I hadn’t met him at the club I would still have been there or maybe found some other nice guy by now and be jumping his bones right now.

What a waste.

Amber sends me a message. Everything okay? Did you get lucky?

I answer, No. Don’t want to talk about it either.

She calls me anyway. I answer because I need to talk to someone anyway. I tell her the whole story and I can tell she’s genuinely sorry for me.

“At least he was honest enough to tell you,” Amber says. “Who knows where it would have led if he didn’t tell you and you developed feelings for him?”

“You’re right. Besides, it is partly my fault,” I admit.

When I end the call I feel better. I’m glad he told me and didn’t lie and lead me on. I was ready to be intimate with him and who knows what would have happened after that? Can you really say it would just have been a one night stand, I ask myself?

Well, if he’s in a relationship with someone else now then maybe he has changed for the better. Maybe there is a chance to be with him now.

My inner voice starts up. Get real. He’s with someone else. Duh. I sigh. I know it’s true. He’s not with me and he might never be. Maybe the universe is just trying to tell me something. Sometimes we find that one person we’re attracted to but for whatever reason, it’s never the right time. It seems to me that he is shaping up to be that person. Maybe I should just stay away, I tell myself.

Despite that last thought when I get into bed I finally give in to my desire and as I resort to the DIY version of taking care of my sexual needs, I close my eyes and fantasize about the unspeakable things I want him to do to me.

ball room at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. Celebrities have been invited, particularly some celebrity couples who made the decision to elope as opposed to having a big

the norm?” she asks

my head, “I’m sorry I don’t

back you were practically run out of town after people discovered you used a wedding whisperer to coax them into going ahead with their marriage when they had doubts about doing so. Yet, here you are now offering a service that encourages couples to run away against their parent’s wishes and

is not the case at all,” I reply. “We only provide a service to people that are eighteen or older. All our clients are old enough to make their own decisions legally and

old enough to make a life decision, especially a decision to runaway and get married at

place to judge,”

long as they can fork out the money, you’ll arrange it for anyone

is trying to push me into an argument. I just don’t know why. I get a feeling and I wonder if I’m right. My feeling tells

apologize. Perhaps we can speak more a bit later. I see there are others with questions as well and our time is limited,” I say. Before she can answer,

else’s questions I close the session and ask everyone to stay and socialize if they wish and tell them that I’m available to answer any further

is

if a couple’s parents are against

as long as they’re old enough to

card to pay you? That

do not need to explain those protocols to you. We are satisfied with the measures we take to ensure that every experience is

you not think you are making a joke of the institution of marriage? People who think they are in love but who are just a little bit too drunk to know the difference, people in lust, or people who want to run away and get married spontaneously because it sounds like the in thing to do are all going to come knocking. Not to mention

it

weddings to the brochure?” Dana interrupts

quite comfortable with the service we are offering. We do have values and we stick to them. There will be people who will see things as you do. No-one can please everyone all