The Disaster Diaries: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Apocalypse by Sam Sheridan

every day?’
    ‘I tend to walk Lucy twice a day. She is getting on
a bit now, which means sometimes we only go for one walk in the winter, as her
legs get a little stiff. On days like today we generally go out twice. I take
her here, as it is on our doorstep, but sometimes we go down the beach. It is
really peaceful and relaxing down there.’
    ‘You will have to show me sometime.’
    ‘I would love to. There is no rush. You will see it
a lot when you are my girlfriend.’
    ‘Aren’t I your girlfriend already?’
    ‘You are still married.’
    ‘I know...’ she sounded sad. ‘I decided to tell him
that I have found someone else. I will wait until he goes away this weekend and
then pack up my gear and move in with my parents. I will phone him when he
returns and tell him it is over. You and I can then be boyfriend and
girlfriend.’ She gave my hand a little squeeze. ‘I always dreamed of meeting a
caring man like you, Logan.’
    I kissed her upon the forehead.
    She did say the cutest things.
    ‘Can I ask you a question?’
    ‘You can ask me anything,’ I replied.
    ‘Who was that woman last night?’
    A cold shiver ran down my spine. How did I describe
my relationship with Clarissa? How did I explain what she meant to me? I could
exactly tell her that we were fuck buddies, how shallow and horrible would that
make me look? I had to pick my words carefully. I didn’t want to ruin this
relationship, too.
    ‘That was my friend, Clarissa.’
    ‘She is just a friend?’
    ‘Well...’ I hesitated slightly. I let out a deep
sigh. Honesty was the best policy. There was no way I could even attempt a
relationship with Isabella if it was built upon a foundation of lies. ‘Clarissa
and I have known each other for a very long time. We have had an off and on
relationship for many years. Recently, we have been talking about going on a
few dates and seeing how things get on. I agreed to go out with her after I
found out you were married. I think I was so upset that I thought you betrayed
and tricked me I just wanted someone’s company.’
    ‘I can understand that. Finding out I was married
must have been a shock for you. Why was she so upset with you last night?’
    ‘We had agreed to go out this weekend. It was to be
our first official date. Last night, she was on a date with her ex-boyfriend
Tyler. She loves him and the two of them are constantly breaking up with each
other. The guy is a bit of a dick. I didn’t expect to see her last night. In
truth, I thought she would end up in bed with Tyler and the two of them would
work it out. I didn’t think she would come around to my house to confess she
wanted to be with me.’
    Isabella stopped in her tracks.
    ‘She wants to be with you?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘That was why she stormed off when she saw me?’
    ‘Yes.’ I looked towards the ground.
    ‘Does she love you?’
    ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘Do you love her?’
    I replied by shrugging my shoulders. ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘Do you love me...?’ This time it was her turn to
break eye contact.
    ‘Honestly?’
    She nodded her head.
    ‘I don’t know.’ I could tell from the disappointed
look upon her face that she was upset by this answer. ‘I told you all about my
ex-girlfriend Samantha.’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘You know what she did to me?’
    ‘I do.’
    ‘It is so difficult for me to trust anyone. It is
hard for me to put myself out there. I don’t know if I will be able to ever
fully trust someone after what she did. She killed my baby. The last few weeks
you and I have been talking for hours on end. We talk all freaking night.’
Isabella giggled. ‘We talk about our lives, our loves, our hates, our interests
and our families. We can talk for hours on end about pointless things. How many
other couples can do that? I am crazy about you. You are a really friendly,
kind, fun, intelligent, interesting and such a sexy woman. I love talking to
you. I love being in your company. I was so excited about our date. I