Love Story, Pt 2
Part two of the "he said/she said" saga
Read Pt 1 here
“Well, I didn’t deserve that.” Wyatt plopped onto his couch and opened the computer. He couldn’t decide whether to compose an angry email, a genial one, or send a “WTF?” text. His gut told him take it seriously. Be direct, honest, no jokes, and include a French phrase. French turned Grace on. Francine said that women love a man who speaks French. So fold some in, maybe at the end. C'est joli, n'est-ce pas?*
Siri came on to remind him of the party. Damn! Wyatt was in no mood to socialize, much less be grilled about Grace.
“Is she sick?”
“Everything okay?”
“You two aren’t in another fight, are you?”
He ought to text Sally to tell her not to expect him. She’ll pass on the latest gossip. It’ll take his mind off... Then she’d ask why he wasn’t coming. Not why THEY weren’t, just him. Because despite his protestations, Sally often crossed a line he suspected wasn’t cool to cross. Like that time she kissed him.
He’d told Grace it was a quick peck but it was full-on-lips-parted with tongue-trying-to-slip-past-a-barrier-that-led-to-the forbidden-zone. He surprised himself when he resisted. He was a man, after all, and once would have invited Sally’s aggression. But the kiss did nothing for him. Neither did her body which, the night of The Kiss, was pressed hard against his own. And was it just his imagination or did she briefly grind into him? He dismissed the possibility and pushed back, his hands on her shoulders.
Sally apologized. “Guess I had too much to drink. Hic.” She brushed his arms aside and hugged—not one of her usual lingering bear hugs but a quick keeping-proper-distance one. “Forgive me?”
“No worries.” Wyatt reached for the doorknob.
Sally pushed her body between him and the door. “Tell me you’re not mad?”
“Everyone gets carried away sometimes, Sal. It’s forgotten.”
“You’re going to tell her, aren’t you?”
“You mean Grace.”
“Yes. Her. The warden.”
Why is it she never says Grace’s name, Wyatt thought. It’s always “her” or “your special friend,” or “your other half,” once even “your lesser half.” He called her out on it; Sally responded that she’d meant “lesser” in the sense that she—Grace—was shorter than he was. Yeah, right. Wyatt let it drop. He was non confrontational, preferring to leave things unresolved rather than drag them out ad nauseum as women did.
In any case, he wasn’t interested in Sally as a girlfriend. He tried to explain that to Grace but she wouldn’t buy it. IF—and it was a giant if—IF Sally wanted to be more than friends, he didn’t. A lot was due to his feelings for Grace. But also, he was no longer emotionally or physically attracted to Sally. He liked her as a friend—nothing more. So why didn’t he just come out and tell Grace? Why not give a direct answer to her direct question? Stubbornness? Maybe. Wyatt hated third degrees and no matter how innocently Grace questioned him, it often seemed as though he was handcuffed to a metal table in a suffocating room with a bare 150 watt light bulb boring into his head. About to be subjected to some kind of water torture.
Wyatt also considered that responding to Grace’s interrogations, could lead to admitting he’d had multiple opportunities to amp up things with Sally. He’d point out that he never pursued it. He had zero romantic interest in Sally. But Grace’d want examples. And no matter which one Wyatt gave, it would lead to more questions. Enter the Spanish Inquisition. And if he revealed more about The Kiss?! Even if he said that not only did it not arouse him, it was off-putting.
As for arousal…maybe, just maybe, he liked jealous Grace. In a way it stroked his ego. When she got jealous, it could be a turn on. When she quizzed him about Sally, in her cute little voice, and got that anxious but endearing look, he sometimes felt himself getting hard. Too often he casually brought Sally up when the opportunity presented itself. Just to experience that thrill. Maybe it was juvenile, but he was a man after all. Still, might be time to stop that shit.
Wyatt’s reverie was interrupted by another “ping.” Grace has come to her senses. Finally! he thought, and grabbed the phone. He pressed “text” and saw a message from Sally.
“Where R U?”
“Home.”
“U2 aren’t having another fight, R U?”
...
“Is she looking over Ur shoulder?
“No.”
“Oh, Wyatt. Tsk tsk tsk. What’d U do this time?”
...
“It must be bad. Ur such a naughty boy.”
“🤣”
“Do I need to give U a spanking?”
“Not funny.”
“Do I need to give her one?”
“That REALLY isn’t funny.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe I need to be spanked. LOL.”
“Good-bye.”
“Wait! Wait!”
Wyatt let his arm drop to his side and shook his head. Why do I even bother? Women! I should join a monastary. He raised the phone to text Sally good-by.
“Ur no fun. Its Y I never accept Ur offers of marriage.”
“Because you know I’m not serious.”
“U aren’t?!?!?!?!?”
“Course not.”
“I’m crushed. 😢”
“BS... you’re— Got another message! Probably Grace. Later.
“Let her wait.”
Wyatt signed off then hit message. Not Grace. He read the text, clicked off the screen and tossed his phone onto the coffee table.
He flipped on the television. “SNL” was playing. A repeat with that douche actor everyone fawned over. Asswipe, went through Wyatt’s brain as he channel surfed. Another “ping.” HAS to be Grace this time, he thought. He clicked open the message. The Yangchen avatar popped up. Sally. Wyatt groaned.
“Y is she texting U? Isn’t she right there?”
“It was Bob, Sal. Reminding me of tomorrow’s game.”
“She left, didn’t she?”
...
“U OK?”
...
“I’m coming over. Party’s no fun w/o U. B there in 20.”
“No. I just want quiet.”
“’lll make us tea—quietly. Curl up on Ur couch. Like old times.”
Wyatt was torn. He wanted someone to talk to, to get his mind off Grace. To remind him all couples fight but eventually work things out. And he didn’t want to be alone. He hoped Grace would come to her senses and turn back. She’d say she was sorry she over reacted and suggest they leave for the party. He’d be a prince and tell her he preferred to stay here with her. They could even watch Love Story—that would show her how magnanimous he was. Wyatt counted on the fact that Grace’d realize she wanted him as much as he did her. He couldn’t risk Sally being there when Grace came back. Because of course she would. Hopefully, soon.
“RU still there?”
...
“Wyatt?
“I’m here.”
“Let me come over. I promise to be good.”
“No you won’t.”
“Swear.”
As usual Sally was persistent. As much as Grace was stubborn. Even more than he. She’ll turn back, Wyatt was certain. Not tonight, though. Tomorrow. She’d call in the morning. Or text. Keep to the formula. Stony silence a few hours, maybe a day. Then text. Next several back and forth. Then a phone call to ask to come over. Maybe it was his turn to call first. They’d hash it out. And by the end of day she’d haul her shit back and pack it in the drawers he’d emptied for her. It’d be like nothing happened. Yeah, next move was probably his. He picked up the phone to text Grace. Something simple, maybe just ask if she got home okay. Screw it! He wasn’t giving in. He was sick of the game, especially since he’d done nothing wrong. Nothing! Grace can make the first move, damn it!
A ping. Wyatt saw he’d never closed the window on the conversation with Sally.
“Will U let me come over? Plz?”
“Fine.”
“Yay! Uber’ll be here in 5.”
“You called an Uber?”
“I rode in with Carol.”
“Cancel. I’ll come get you.”
“It’s on the way. U won’t B sorry, Wy.”
“I hope not.”
“2B honest, maybe you dodged a bullet. Just sayin’.” Sally hiccoughed, then laughed. “U haven’t proposed 4 awhile. 2nite could B Ur lucky nite. May B I’ll say yes.” She giggled.
“Don’t get carried away.”
“U know I can’t stop thinking what if I’d accepted the first time. We’d be married 3 years. Maybe even have a kid.”
“Sally, stop.”
“Why? U can still get a woman pregnant. And I’m able—
“Jesus! Will you stop!”
“Okay. I get it. U probably think U still love her. I can wait. Maybe shes got something going for her, though for the life of me—”
“Don’t.”
“I hear U. But what’s the harm in us, well... FWB. She’d never know and I wouldn’t tell. U said U wished U’d had another kid and—”
“Jesus! Just fkng stop right there. Christ! And forget coming over!”
“Uber’s here! See U soon.”
Click.
[Footnote: C'est joli, n'est-ce pas? = It's pretty, isn't it?]
You are becoming a master of the cliff hanger…. Great job. What an interesting twist to speak in Wyatt’s voice and let us know his thoughts and feelings. It seems the tide has turned and he is the one feeling the insecurity having recognized what a treasure Grace is. So who will show up at the door? Sally? Grace? Both? The UPS person? Can’t wait to see.
Yowza! Such a complex story, such conflicted characters you have created here, CJ.
"He was non confrontational, preferring to leave things unresolved ....
"Too often he casually brought Sally up when the opportunity presented itself. Just to experience that thrill. Maybe it was juvenile, but ...."
"...He wasn’t interested in Sally as a girlfriend. He tried to explain that to Grace but she wouldn’t buy it..."
I hope these three people can somehow get back to square one and decide who wants what and be honest with each other. I don't know how they live like this! I am anxiously awaiting part three to find out who wins and who loses in this game.