“It wasn’t love at first sight, more like lust. We slept together on our first date, moved in together in three months, married four months later. We were good for each other, at least for a while. Then the cracks appeared. He liked to party more than me. I wanted kids, something we didn’t talk about. He made it clear IF we had children, he only wanted one, and wanted to wait at least eight years, so we could get ‘established’. He liked to buy stuff but he didn’t like paying bills. What it all came down to was I had saddled myself with an immature boy, not a man. When I started telling him no, we drifted apart. One day he was just gone. I’m ashamed to say I was glad.”
“My good job went the way of the economy. Without the job and a husband, there was no reason to stay. So I came home. End of story.”
I didn’t really know what to say.
“I’m sorry your life hasn’t gone as you planned, but I’m glad you’re back. It got to where if I wanted intelligent conversation, I had to go over to Ron’s parents house. Even there all they talk about is law. The upside is I’m a pretty good lay lawyer.”
She smiled. Everybody knew not to get us started. We had opinions on everything, usually exactly the opposite of the other. Our debates could last days. Rarely did one of us win.
She smiled, then gave me a serious look.
“Sammy, why didn’t we ever date?”
It was a fair question given the time we had spent together.
“I guess I thought too much of you. Sex has a way of messing things up, especially at that age. Look how many of our friends hooked up, broke up, then spent a few months hating each other and trying to get us to choose sides. I didn’t want to go through that bullshit and lose you.”
She gave me THE look. You know the one I mean. The one that says “You’re not gonna like this” while she proceeds to talk you into whatever “this” is. We men know there isn’t a defense in the world you can use. You can’t win, the best you can hope for is delay.
“Well, we’re older, and I’ve been forced to get wiser. So, next Friday night pick me up at seven. Take me to a really good restaurant, wine me, dine me, take me dancing. I haven’t been out like that in ages. I can’t think of a better person for me than you. I know you won’t take advantage. I’d like to say the same, but it’s been a long time, and I may just get you drunk and have my way with you.”
By then we had pulled up in front of her house. Giggling at the look on my face, she got out, came over and leaned into my window, and gave me a nice long kiss.
Stepping back, she grinned.
“That’ll have to hold you until next Friday. Don’t call me, let the anticipation build.”
“‘Night, Sammy.”
I wrestled all week with my reaction. A part of me, a very miniscule part, wanted me not to show up. Another part said show up and keep a distance, as though it was a chore, or a favor. The biggest part of me said “Fool, you’ve been given a gift. Enjoy it.”
So I did. We had a great time. Danced until three. Spent forty minutes in the car steaming the windows, letting our hands roam. Fingered her off, got a hand job. Laughed because we were acting like a couple of teenagers.
We had two more dates, and lunch with her mom. I was really starting to get comfortable with her again. The debates started up like before. I was starting to take her a lot more seriously.
We didn’t date the next weekend. I had commitments that took me out of town. She seemed displeased.
“Those plans don’t include another female, do they?”
I laughed. “Why, matter of fact they do. I’m going…” was all I got out before she hung up on me. Strange.
I went off and took care of the business I had to attend to, not getting back until Tuesday. I hadn’t been home an hour when my phone rang.
An icy voice came on the line.
“Took an extra day to bang her? The weekend wasn’t enough? I think you owe…”
I hung up on her, giving serious thought to her sanity.
I didn’t talk to her for three days. Then Ron’s girlfriend called me out of the blue. I was surprised, we weren’t particularly close.
“What’s the deal with you and Jenny?”
“Hi, Becca. How’s Ron? The wedding planner getting on your nerves yet? Oh, I have no form of deal with Jenny. Tell Ron I said hi.”
Poor Ron. I bet he’s getting an earful. Sure enough he called forty minutes later, practically begging me to meet him for a drink.
I met him and Scotty at our favorite watering hole. Scotty knew how I felt about what he had done to his wife, and kept quiet.
Before he got a start I cut him off.
“If this is a fishing expedition for Jenny, don’t bother wetting your hook. We dated three times, I have to go out of town, and she goes all fatal attraction. I don’t know her mindset, but I didn’t make her any promises. I wasn’t even given a chance to talk to her like a reasonable person. End of discussion. Bring her up again and I leave.”
I blew their game plan out of the water, they didn’t know what to say. I left.
Another month went by and it was time for the rehearsal dinner. I wasn’t Ron’s best man, but I was a groomsman. Jenny was a late addition bridesmaid. I saw her but didn’t approach.
Sarah grabbed me as soon as she saw me.
“Stay close to me tonight, please. Scotty is here, and he’s already drinking. I have no interest in a repeat performance. His lovemaking skills are a LITTLE lacking if you know what I mean, and I have a pretty good basis for comparison. His biggest asset is the size of his brags. That might be why his wife left him.”
“Hook up with me tonight, stud, protect the fair damsel from unwanted advances. I would be very grateful later.”
She giggled as I gave her my arm. We both know nothing was going to happen.
“Too bad about Scotty” she said “The score keeps changing. Last count, Scotty joined Jenny in the ranks of previously married. The only ones left unmarried are you and Ron, and Ron is on the short list, and that just leaves you. A lot of the girls newly single have you in their sights.”
She frowned, thinking.
“Say, didn’t you and Jenny date when she first came back? What happened there?”
My turn to frown.
“I don’t know. We dated three times and I thought we were getting along famously, and then I had to go out of town. She was like a totally different person when I got back, acting like I should apologize to her. I think she got it in her head I had found someone better, and turned into bitchzilla. I haven’t talked to her in a month.”
“Where did you go?”
I laughed.
“Sarah honey, don’t make me put on a Bud hat and get out my Red Man. You know where I go once a month.”