Page 26 of Carnal Desire

Sadie was quiet on the ride back to the condo, rebuffing all my attempts at conversation.

“Sadie, I’m so sorry about my mom,” I said as we walked into my place. “She’s always thought she’s better than everyone else.”

“She’s right Ariel. I mean, what are we thinking? We are so mismatched it’s laughable.”

“I don’t care what anyone else thinks,” I said stubbornly.

We were interrupted by a knock on the door. Before I could go over there, Theo used his code to let himself in.

“Are you two decent?” he called. “I came to bring those contracts you need to review, boss lady.”

He swept into the living room, immediately picking up on the tension between us.

“What’s happening here?” he asked nosily. “Are you two fighting?”

“We’re not fighting,” I said impatiently. “We ran into my parents at Millenium Park and my mother was her typical snobby self when she found out that Sadie and I are dating.”

“Didn’t you tell her that you’ve been in love with Sadie here for years?” he asked.

“What?” Sadie stepped closer.

“Theo,” I said warningly.

He ignored me.

“Surely Ariel told you that she had a thing for you since the day you met?” he asked. “We’re all just surprised it took her this long to make a move on you. Every time we get a few drinks in her it’s all..,” he made his voice higher to imitate me… “Sadie’s so pretty. Sadie’s so perfect. I love watching her on the Ring camera. Iwant to keep her forever and buy her pretty dresses and take her to the opera and...”

Sadie gave me a look that was a combination of devastated and betrayed.

“Theo!” I yelled.

My former friend jumped, giving me a startled look.

“What?” his voice turned defensive as he looked between us. “I thought y’all had talked about your secret obsession by now.”

“Leave,” I said coldly. “Get out of my sight.”

Theo’s face fell as he realized what he’d done.

“Oh. God, I’m so sorry. Me and my big mouth. Forget everything I said, Sadie. I was just joking.”

I could practically see Sadie planning her escape.

“Get the fuck out of my house!” I shouted at Theo. “Now!”

Theo scurried away without another word, leaving me and Sadie alone again.

“I don’t understand,” Sadie said. “Was this all some kind of game for you?”

“No, of course not,” I protested.

“You built up this fantasy of what? Rescuing the maid? I’m not your…” she paused, searching for the right thing to say, “your Eliza Doolittle or yourPretty Womanlady, whatever her name was. And you watched me on the Ring camera?” her voice rose in pitch. “Do you know how fucking creepy that is?”

“I’m so sorry Sadie. I should have told you.”

I reached for her, but she shrank back. I couldn’t blame her. When you said it out loud, my obsession with her sounded weird as hell even though it had seemed harmless at the time.

“It’s true, I fell in love with you the first moment I saw you,” I said quickly, desperate to explain. “I didn’t want to exploit our power differential and be the creepy boss hitting on the help so I stayed away from you.”

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