tank. I know how much she always wants to glam me up. ‘Put on a party dress and slap some makeup on that face girl, we are going out!’ is a tag line she should trademark.
“I know he has been working on something big, but Matthew said that it is falling apart. He is always working.” I reflect back on the powerful man surrounded by talking heads, watching me like prey from his leather throne in the Admirals Lounge.
“Maybe it is resolved.” I can feel unanswered questions crawling up my back, tapping my shoulder, prying at Pandora’s box of insecurities and self-doubt.
“Maybe. But, who cares. What is going on between you two?” Her eyes shine with anticipation, hungry for details.
“I don’t know. I mean, nothing. We talked for a long time, and he slept here.” I look to her for insight, but she offers none, hanging on my words waiting for a juicy tidbit to slip out. I hold back the details she so desperately wants. “I woke up this morning and he was gone, but he left me this note.” I toss the note into her lap and walk into the bathroom. “He took me for Cuban coffee and pastries this morning and then to his family’s house to see all the wedding stuff. Olivia it is so beautiful.” Seeking a reaction and still getting none, I continue. “Then he said he wanted to spend the night with me and offered to escort me to dinner tonight.”
“Huh?” Her face twists in question. Little does she know the true extent of his proposal, or of my almost complete surrender.
“Yeah, huh? He actually said ‘ give yourself to me !’ Can you believe that?” It is clear by her avoidance and wide eyes that she knows exactly what he means. But she shies away, a conspicuous non- reaction on her face.
“He must like you ,” her answer so matter of fact yet, childish and unsatisfying. It’s clear that she is holding back, there has to be more. I know he wants me, he said it plain as day, but what is he expecting?
“ Liv, tell me what I am getting myself into.” Reluctantly, she takes a seat next to me on the bed. She grabs my hands and squeezes before releasing a long, heavy sigh. The struggle in her eyes is evident. I know she wants to protect me, not let me wander into the dragon’s den. And men like that don’t just randomly take interest in women completely against type. It is not in the nature of man to stray from what he knows and craves. I just hope he doesn’t eat me for dinner.
“Powerful men like simple women, Sophie, receptive to their whims, willing and eager to do anything. Someone who won’t complicate their lives. Rhys is no different. Just don’t get too attached and you will be fine.”
“Is that how you and Ma tthew are, Liv.” She smiles, shaking her head.
“All men have a type and Rhys is no exception. He usually has a beauty on his arm, I won’t lie. But I have never seen him with the same girl twice, with one exception.” Her emphasis hangs, mingling with Rhys’ earlier confession. A confession I thought to be a gimmick or a ploy. “And he has been pseudo single as long as I have known him.” He likes the type of girl that I am not, I am a good girl. He said it himself. Why do I suddenly feel like the butt of a bad joke?
“Pseudo single, what does that mean?” She shrugs me off with a lofty wave of her perfectly manicured fingers.
“You know, single and playing the game, but totally unavailable.”
“I don’t know about this.” The more she doesn’t say, the more spooked I become. Simple women , this is not a phrase I am comfortable with, I am not simple, nor will I allow him to belittle me like that. I want this, but can I handle it? I am beginning to doubt my ability to keep up with him, to please him. Not to humiliate myself.
“Do you like him, Sophie?” What a simple question. He is gorgeous, clever, mysterious and rich. How could I not like him? Like is not the right word. I want him, deep in my soul and far in the back of my mind. I ache for
“I know he has been working on something big, but Matthew said that it is falling apart. He is always working.” I reflect back on the powerful man surrounded by talking heads, watching me like prey from his leather throne in the Admirals Lounge.
“Maybe it is resolved.” I can feel unanswered questions crawling up my back, tapping my shoulder, prying at Pandora’s box of insecurities and self-doubt.
“Maybe. But, who cares. What is going on between you two?” Her eyes shine with anticipation, hungry for details.
“I don’t know. I mean, nothing. We talked for a long time, and he slept here.” I look to her for insight, but she offers none, hanging on my words waiting for a juicy tidbit to slip out. I hold back the details she so desperately wants. “I woke up this morning and he was gone, but he left me this note.” I toss the note into her lap and walk into the bathroom. “He took me for Cuban coffee and pastries this morning and then to his family’s house to see all the wedding stuff. Olivia it is so beautiful.” Seeking a reaction and still getting none, I continue. “Then he said he wanted to spend the night with me and offered to escort me to dinner tonight.”
“Huh?” Her face twists in question. Little does she know the true extent of his proposal, or of my almost complete surrender.
“Yeah, huh? He actually said ‘ give yourself to me !’ Can you believe that?” It is clear by her avoidance and wide eyes that she knows exactly what he means. But she shies away, a conspicuous non- reaction on her face.
“He must like you ,” her answer so matter of fact yet, childish and unsatisfying. It’s clear that she is holding back, there has to be more. I know he wants me, he said it plain as day, but what is he expecting?
“ Liv, tell me what I am getting myself into.” Reluctantly, she takes a seat next to me on the bed. She grabs my hands and squeezes before releasing a long, heavy sigh. The struggle in her eyes is evident. I know she wants to protect me, not let me wander into the dragon’s den. And men like that don’t just randomly take interest in women completely against type. It is not in the nature of man to stray from what he knows and craves. I just hope he doesn’t eat me for dinner.
“Powerful men like simple women, Sophie, receptive to their whims, willing and eager to do anything. Someone who won’t complicate their lives. Rhys is no different. Just don’t get too attached and you will be fine.”
“Is that how you and Ma tthew are, Liv.” She smiles, shaking her head.
“All men have a type and Rhys is no exception. He usually has a beauty on his arm, I won’t lie. But I have never seen him with the same girl twice, with one exception.” Her emphasis hangs, mingling with Rhys’ earlier confession. A confession I thought to be a gimmick or a ploy. “And he has been pseudo single as long as I have known him.” He likes the type of girl that I am not, I am a good girl. He said it himself. Why do I suddenly feel like the butt of a bad joke?
“Pseudo single, what does that mean?” She shrugs me off with a lofty wave of her perfectly manicured fingers.
“You know, single and playing the game, but totally unavailable.”
“I don’t know about this.” The more she doesn’t say, the more spooked I become. Simple women , this is not a phrase I am comfortable with, I am not simple, nor will I allow him to belittle me like that. I want this, but can I handle it? I am beginning to doubt my ability to keep up with him, to please him. Not to humiliate myself.
“Do you like him, Sophie?” What a simple question. He is gorgeous, clever, mysterious and rich. How could I not like him? Like is not the right word. I want him, deep in my soul and far in the back of my mind. I ache for
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