Free Fridays by Pat Tucker Page B

suggestion for how the institution of marriage needed to be updated to fit the times and a restless generation.
    â€œI have a very open mind,” Leela huffed.
    â€œYou are missing my point.”
    â€œNo. I think you’ve explained it very well. You want to change the institution of marriage and turn it into registered dating.”
    â€œThat’s not what I said. And I don’t have to explain it to you. But look all around you, Leela. Marriage is not what it used to be. We continue to evolve as a people. We change as we evolve. Why do I have to be considered a failure because I’ve outgrown my spouse? Why can’t I simply find someone else who shares my new interests? Or better yet, why can’t I have sex with another man who turns me on? I think people are afraid to publically embrace what I’m saying, but in private, or even when they’re among like-minded people, their actions prove they agree.”
    Leela had moved on. She didn’t even respond as she perused the menu for possible options. But, as she prepared for dinner with Samantha, there was no way she could have known just how soon she’d be put to the test.
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    The splash of cold water woke his senses and felt good against his skin, but nothing could really fix what was wrong. The reflection that stared back at him in the mirror was one of a man he hardly recognized.
    Riddled with guilt, Riley told himself he needed to move on emotionally. He was a man after all, and a real man is built tohandle the difficult and meet challenges head-on. He hadn’t responded to any of the suggestive text messages from Natasha and when she sent him an MP3 of the song Heels On by Lady Saw, he purposely didn’t listen to it, at first.
    Startled at the sound of her voice, Riley jumped at the question.
    â€œThat’s an interesting song, the lyrics,” Leela said as she leaned against the sink. “Where’d you hear it?”
    Riley’s eyebrows elevated slightly. He used a fluffy hand towel to dry his face. “Oh, that?”
    â€œYeah, I’ve never heard it before. Kinda raunchy if you ask me,” Leela said. “I can’t even picture you listening to music like that,” Leela added, wrinkling her nose.
    â€œMusic like what? Reggae?”
    Riley knew he needed to play it cool. What did she care which songs he listened to during his alone time? What the hell was she doing in the bathroom while he showered anyway?
    â€œWe haven’t listened to Reggae since our trip to Jamaica, or was it the Bahamas? Either way, it’s just odd to hear you listening to this. And, the lyrics are so graphic. They’re just not you.”
    Riley struggled to hide his frustration. He raised his right arm and ran the stick of deodorant under it. The lyrics were him more than ever. He tried to tell himself it wasn’t fair that he was looking for a reason to find something wrong with Leela.
    A sense of relief washed over him when the song went off. It looked like his wife was about to leave. Then suddenly, she turned and said, “Another graphic song? What’s up with you lately?”
    â€œNothing. What are you talking about? Damn! It’s music,” Riley snapped.
    The look Leela gave him made him think she suspected there was more to it, but he knew his wife well enough to know she didn’t want to go there with him.
    When Leela walked out of the bathroom, he felt relieved. Shehad no business questioning him about his music, or anything else for that matter. What difference did it make which music he chose to listen to?
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    Natasha would like the song. She was different from Leela. Natasha liked what he liked, she did what he said, and if she thought it would make him happy, she’d do it. No one was perfect. Just like Leela, Natasha had her faults, but more and more, Riley felt her open-minded approach to anything he