Page 71 of Where the Dark Knelt
I couldn’t takeany more of the horrible treatment I’d been getting from him lately, so I figured the best way to get over him would be to try hard to hang with him, if I could, and hope we got past this.
It would at least allow me some control overmy feelings when we were in each other’s company. I hoped by doing this, that maybe he’d move on to someone else when he realized we were not acting on our lust anymore.
Being full of great ideas and impulses, I decided, rightly or wrongly, to put this to the test. I was going to try and get him out of my system once and for all. This was going to takesome nerve on my part, but I felt confident that I could handle whatever happened.
I wandered into my bathroom with a plan formulating in my head.I quickly showered and changed into a soft flowing sleeveless blouse and some denim shorts. I grabbed my cell, took a deep breath, and punched out a text. I blew out my breath when I hit the send button.
Pink Lady: Can you really do just friends with me?
SEXPERT: Sure. Want to get a drink?
His reply was almost instantaneous. I hesitated, not sure if I wanted to put alcohol into the mix at this point. I didn’t get the opportunity to reply before Alfie texted again.
SEXPERT: You have the advantage.
Pink Lady: How so?
SEXPERT: It’s your call, I have popcorn and two new blue-rays, want to come to the movies?
Could we really just hang and watch movies together?
Pink Lady: Can you promise no sexual intent, or mind games?
SEXPERT: X my heart, but we can flirt though? Agreed?
Pink Lady: We may need boundaries around that, but I’ll bite… for now. See you in thirty minutes.
By the time I’d driven over there I was nervous. I almost turned and bolted when I saw his house. I knocked, and Alfie opened the door. He was stripped bare except for a small towel.I backed away and the panic I was feeling must have registered on my face.
Alfieheld the towel with one hand and put his other one out to stop me.“No, no, sorry, this wasn’t planned Lily, I promise. I was painting when you texted me. I needed to clean up, you just came too quickly,” he blurted out, grinned, and pulled his hand to his mouth with laughter.
“Shit! I just made a‘Freudian’ slip too.” He choked back alaugh before straightening his face and saying, “Sorry, I’m nervous. I’m not used to the just-being-friends thing yet.” I tried to ignore the towel and took what he said at face value.
Alfie started to go upstairs and called back, “You want to set us up while I get dressed? The movies and popcorn are on the kitchen counter.” I wasn’t sure what I was doing here, but now that I was, I went to pick up the movies.Safe House.I read the blurb on the back, and the other seemed like another action movie, so I figured this one was as good as the other.
He came back downstairs about five minutes later, shaking his hair, and I realized this was his version of brushing it.He padded barefoot into the kitchen, and I heard the fridge door open, then he rifled through his silverware drawer.
A few seconds later I heard a pop, and some glasses clinking together, before he came back with a bottle of Pinot Noir and two glasses.
“Are you okay with red? I know it’s quirky, but I like it from the fridge. You can leave it at room temperature to warm if you want.” He gestured the bottle at me.
I held my hand up. “I’d better not. I have to drive back.” He looked thoughtful.
“I shouldn’t either then, eh?” I felt bad that I’d crashed his evening, and he was trying hard to be nice, so I relented a little.
“Okay, I’ll have half a glass.” I smiled shyly.
We sat awkwardly, shifting in our seats. I was having a hard time concentrating when he was in the same room. After ten minutes into the movie he pressed pause and turned to face me.
His finger wagged between us. “Is this as awkward for you as it feels for me?” He stared at me seriously, but I wasn’t sure whether it was a trick question.
“How do you mean?” I asked, thinking he was going to talk about us previously meeting to have sex.
“We’re at opposite ends of theroom, it feels so unnatural. Can we try something?” I was immediately on my guard.
“That depends,” I replied honestly.
“You cuddle Will and Neil and you’re not having sex with them, right?” I could see where this was heading.
