Chapter 1?
Robert was stunned.
“What the fuck did you think?” Claire spat. “Did you think that this would somehow endear you to me?”
Claire’s staring eyes bore down on Robert , exerting a pressure he could physically feel in his chest, and that surprised him. It wasn’t surprising that such a vitriolic outburst gave rise to a reaction, but he was taken aback by the sudden realization that he actually cared for this woman.
“Well? Do you have anything to say? Do you think I owe you something now, or what?” The word ‘owe’ was delivered with a fierceness that made Robert cringe inside.
It seemed like a good idea at the time, Robert thought to himself. He was really struggling to deal with Claire’s anger, but his face remained impassive. When he’d paid Claire’s July rent, he’d done so in the hopes that, yes, it would endear him to her to some degree. He’d done such things before, and to great effect. This time however, it was different. He wasn’t yet sure how, but it…felt…different.
“Well, you did mention that things were a little tight for you, right? I mean, summer semester finals are coming, and you’ve cut back your hours. What’s the harm?” he asked.
While Robert’s newly discovered feelings were distracting to some degree, he didn’t lose focus. He’d seen it before. Claire was in the self-righteous indignation phase. Any moment now, she’d move on to quiet resignation and admit to herself that he really meant no harm, and so on.
“What’s the…Jesus Robert, I barely fucking know you at all. When did we meet? May? June even? We’ve been dating for a few weeks, and suddenly…Jesus…” she sighed, and her voice trailed off as the anger drained out of her. She sat down on the couch in that all-at-once way that people only do when they’re running out of steam. She was softening.
Robert put his drink on the counter, and walked into the living room. “Look, consider it a loan, ok? I didn’t mean to step on your toes. You owed Frank the rent, right? Ok, well, now you owe me the rent.” He smiled softly, and in a mocking tone, he said, “And, you’ll pay up too, if you know what’s good for ya.”
Claire looked up at him and smiled. “What are you gonna do, break my legs?”
Robert returned Claire’s smile, and said, “Look, I understand that I shouldn’t have acted without asking you first. I am sorry. Really.”
Claire’s smile broadened, and she gestured for him to sit beside her, which he did. He stretched his arm out and wrapped it around her shoulder. As she rested her head on his chest, Robert closed his eyes and smiled as he ran his fingers through her short auburn hair.
“Of course I won’t break your legs.”
“What the fuck did you think?” Claire spat. “Did you think that this would somehow endear you to me?”
Claire’s staring eyes bore down on Robert , exerting a pressure he could physically feel in his chest, and that surprised him. It wasn’t surprising that such a vitriolic outburst gave rise to a reaction, but he was taken aback by the sudden realization that he actually cared for this woman.
“Well? Do you have anything to say? Do you think I owe you something now, or what?” The word ‘owe’ was delivered with a fierceness that made Robert cringe inside.
It seemed like a good idea at the time, Robert thought to himself. He was really struggling to deal with Claire’s anger, but his face remained impassive. When he’d paid Claire’s July rent, he’d done so in the hopes that, yes, it would endear him to her to some degree. He’d done such things before, and to great effect. This time however, it was different. He wasn’t yet sure how, but it…felt…different.
“Well, you did mention that things were a little tight for you, right? I mean, summer semester finals are coming, and you’ve cut back your hours. What’s the harm?” he asked.
While Robert’s newly discovered feelings were distracting to some degree, he didn’t lose focus. He’d seen it before. Claire was in the self-righteous indignation phase. Any moment now, she’d move on to quiet resignation and admit to herself that he really meant no harm, and so on.
“What’s the…Jesus Robert, I barely fucking know you at all. When did we meet? May? June even? We’ve been dating for a few weeks, and suddenly…Jesus…” she sighed, and her voice trailed off as the anger drained out of her. She sat down on the couch in that all-at-once way that people only do when they’re running out of steam. She was softening.
Robert put his drink on the counter, and walked into the living room. “Look, consider it a loan, ok? I didn’t mean to step on your toes. You owed Frank the rent, right? Ok, well, now you owe me the rent.” He smiled softly, and in a mocking tone, he said, “And, you’ll pay up too, if you know what’s good for ya.”
Claire looked up at him and smiled. “What are you gonna do, break my legs?”
Robert returned Claire’s smile, and said, “Look, I understand that I shouldn’t have acted without asking you first. I am sorry. Really.”
Claire’s smile broadened, and she gestured for him to sit beside her, which he did. He stretched his arm out and wrapped it around her shoulder. As she rested her head on his chest, Robert closed his eyes and smiled as he ran his fingers through her short auburn hair.
“Of course I won’t break your legs.”
posted by (diet) Dr. Thunder at 12:29 AM
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