the effort he’s made to welcome us, but it also leaves me a bit uneasy. I don’t want him to think this is more than it is.
We chat about our jobs and our kids. And we gossip like junior high girls about the ladies at the group. It occurs to me that there is only two men in the group. Samuel and Frank, an older gentleman who lost his wife to cancer.
We finally sit down to eat, and Ethan eats his meatloaf enthusiastically. He’s such a good boy. I realize how lucky I am to have such a sweet kid. I’m not sure I could handle life as a single mom if he weren’t so good.
The meatloaf is very good, and I offer many compliments. I’m thankful to have been invited into his home. Every new friend is a blessing. I know that sounds a bit trite, but it’s true.
I ask Sacha about school in an attempt to strike up a conversation, but she’s not too chatty. She excuses herself right after the blueberry pie, and leaves us with Ethan.
I help Samuel with the kitchen clean, and I’m brought back to the night before, when roles were reversed, and Weston helped me tidy. I’m positive the evening will end quite differently tonight. There will be no striptease and no masturbation. Well, perhaps there will be on his end after I’m gone. I’ve noticed the way Samuel’s been looking at me, stealing glances here and there. I’m not wearing anything especially sexy, just jeans and a red t-shirt, perhaps a little too snug. I should have worn loose linen pants and a thick sweater.
“Thank you so much for coming tonight,” he says. “It means so much to me.”
“My pleasure,” I tell him. “I try to be as social as I can. I usually make a conscious effort to make friends.” I accentuate the word ‘friends’. I don’t want him to think we’re anything more.
We move to the living room once the kitchen is tidy. Ethan is already busy playing with Sacha’s old books and Seventeen magazines. He seems quite fascinated by the images in the magazines.
We both sit on the sofa. “Can I get you a coffee or tea?” he asks.
“Nope, we should be heading home soon,” I tell him. “Ethan’s tired. He’s rubbing his eyes.”
“Oh, I understand,” he says, clearly disappointed. “I just… I just wanted you to know that I like you a lot, Gretchen.”
Oh, here we go. I should have never accepted his invitation.
He slides closer. “What I mean is… I know you’re not ready for another relationship, but I’m willing to wait. I’m a patient man.”
Oh crap.
I really don’t want to lead the man on. “I thought you were on dating sites,” I say. “You had a date just last week.”
He sighs. “No good prospects. None of them are as great as you.”
I’m somewhat flattered, but also kind of irritated. He’s led me to believe that he was actually seeing women. I accepted his invitation with that in mind. “Well, I certainly don’t want you to give up the dating sites. I… I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready, Samuel.” I really don’t want to tell him that he’s not really my type, that he doesn’t rock my boat. He’s handsome enough, but for some reason, I just don’t feel a spark. I don’t want to kick the man when he’s already down.
He smiles. “Like I said, I’m a patient man.”
Ethan laughs as he rips a page from the magazine.
“Ethan!” I dive as fast as I can, and tear it from his hands. He can’t be destroying Sacha’s things.
He bawls at the top of his lungs. I’ve really hurt his little feelings. I never scold him, and when I do, this is what happens, incessant crying until he wears himself out, catching his breath in gulps of air. I feel so bad.
“I’m sorry,” I tell Samuel. “We should really go. Ethan needs to go to bed. As you can see… he’s pretty cranky.”
“I completely understand,” Samuel says, probably glad to be rid of us.
I dash around the living room, gathering our things, and we exit as quickly as possible.
Turns out I was right. Tonight’s ending was quite different than last night’s.
“Stay still,” she scoffs.
“I’m trying.”
Rosetta wraps the measuring tape around my chest. “The crap I have to do to earn a living,” she complains as she scribbles a number on her notepad.
“What’s this all about?”
“What do you think?” she asks. “You and Boss Man are definitely