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.

busy with work and before I know it, I’m standing at the launch of the business Lara asked me to head up. The launch is held in a 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

the edges of the norm?” she asks when I give her the opportunity to ask a

“I’m sorry I

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 get

reply. “We only provide a service to people that are eighteen or

to make

my place to judge,” I

the money, you’ll arrange it for anyone

get a feeling and I wonder if I’m right. My feeling tells me she’s been sent

bit later. I see there are others with questions as well and

ask everyone to stay and socialize if they wish and tell them that I’m available to answer any further questions they may

is

parents are against

still their decision as long as they’re old

cash or credit card to pay you? That would be theft correct? And you accepting the card would make you an

to explain those protocols to you. We are satisfied with the measures we take

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

it at

you add shotgun weddings to the brochure?” Dana

be people who will see things as you do. No-one can please everyone all of the time and trying to is the most successful recipe