Kayla Perrin - Getting sexy - Obsession / Getting Some / Getting Even

“Oh my God.” Annelise’s eyes light up. “Do you think that could be it?”

“It’s a possibility.”

“It would explain a lot,” Lishelle adds. “Let’s face it, you and Charles were the type who couldn’t keep your hands off each other.”

“Which is what makes all of this even harder to deal with.” Annelise sighs sadly.

“Maybe you should ask him about it,” I suggest. “In a point-blank way. Tell him that you love him more than anything, that you’re there for him, and that if he’s having some sort of problem you’ll still be by his side. You know how guys are—they don’t want to admit that they’re having sexual problems. But if you ask if he’s having some sort of problem, and make sure to tell him you’ll support him no matter what…”

“God, I think you’re right,” Annelise says. “It didn’t even occur to me. I figured it was me who did something wrong, and he’d lost interest. My sister suggested I buy sex toys and sexy clothes—none of which has worked. How can it work if he’s got some sort of medical problem?”

“You won’t know for sure until you talk to him,” I point out.

“I’m going to do that. I have to know. If he’s got some sort of medical issue, I’ll feel so relieved. You don’t know how awful I’ve felt, being rejected by the man I love more than anything.” Her eyes began to tear up.

“I can only imagine,” Lishelle says. I catch the look that I hope Annelise missed—one that says Lishelle isn’t convinced Charles’s problems are medical.

“Enough about me and my problems in the bedroom.” She’s more composed now. “Tell us the latest with the wedding plans, Claudia. Four weeks away!”

I groan. “I’m so stressed.”

“Honey, why? You’ve got that great wedding planner.”

“But there are still a million things to be done. And Adam is seeming less and less interested.”

“When I got married, David was the same way. Could care less about the plans. And the closer we got to the big day, the more he seemed disinterested. I think guys can only handle so much talk about cakes and dresses and food courses. They want to go on the honeymoon already.”

“Charles was actually very helpful, and very interested in all the details—and even he freaked out once and told me he didn’t want to hear another word about colors or food or anything more to do with wedding plans. You remember—that was the weekend he took off and went to Macon to go fishing with his brother.”

I crack a smile. I do remember. And I remember how unhappy Annelise was at the time, how she seemed on the verge of having a breakdown.

Is that the kind of bride I’ve become? Uncool, uncalm and uncollected?

“In other words,” I begin, “you both think I’m freaking out over nothing.”

Annelise and Lishelle nod in unison.

“It’s just the way guys are,” Lishelle points out.

“Okay. I’ll try not to lose my head over this stuff. I have to go to New York on Tuesday for another fitting, and after that, my gown should be ready.” Nerves tickle my stomach. “Wow. I can’t believe May twenty-seventh is coming so soon!”

“And your thirtieth birthday.”

“I’ve all but forgotten about that.”

“We were thinking to take you out that night,” Annelise says. “Do a stagette-slash-birthday-party thing.”

“Before you know it, you’ll be a married woman, on a beach somewhere fucking your brains out.”

I can’t help but crack a smile at Lishelle’s comment, however crude. “That’s a nice thought.”

“I might just have to tag along with you,” Annelise jokes.

Little does she know, the way Adam’s behaving now, he might just be down with that.

Lishelle sighs dreamily, and I can no longer wait for her to blurt out the secret she’s hiding. Because I know she’s hiding something. It’s just like her to get all giddy and silent when there’s something she’s not telling.

“All right, Lishelle,” I say. “What is it? Ever since you walked through that door, you’ve been trying to hide this huge grin.”

“I do have something to share, but I’m not sure this is the right time,” she says coyly.

“Of course it’s the right time!” I exclaim. Now I’m dying to know what’s going on with her.

“Not that I don’t want to tell you, but after you’ve both shared not-so-positive stuff, it’ll seem like I’m gloating to share my good news.”

“Enough already,” I tell her. “Spill the beans!”

“You’re seeing someone, aren’t you?” Annelise’s eyes light up. “Oh my God—you crawled out of bed with him just before you came here!”

“Well…”

“Oh my God,” I utter. “You did.”

A guilty smile spreads across Lishelle’s face. “Yeah, I did.”

I couldn’t be more shocked—or more curious. “Last week, you said you were swearing off dating.”

“I know. Believe me, I’m more shocked than anyone to be in a relationship right now.”

“A relationship?” I ask. “What’s going on?”

“Do you guys really want to hear this now?”

“Yes!” Annelise and I exclaim in unison.

“Okay.” Lishelle is really beaming. I haven’t seen her this happy since—

“I’m seeing Glenn again.”

My stomach sinks. “Glenn? As in Baxter?” The guy who only knows how to hurt you?

“Yes,” Lishelle gushes. “And I know what you might think, but this is it, ladies. Finally it.”

Annelise squeals with excitement. I reach for my mimosa and take a huge sip.

“How did this happen?” Annelise asks.

“He called me Friday night at the station. I didn’t want to, but I went to see him. And we clicked, like we always do. Then, the next morning, I was upset that I’d fallen into bed with him. We got to talking and he said he’s always loved me, that he wants us to be together.”

“And you believe him?” I can’t help asking.

“I do.”

I finish the last of my mimosa. While I want to be thrilled for Lishelle, I can’t help remembering how Glenn has hurt her in the past.

“I’m so happy for you,” Annelise says. “I know how much you’ve always cared for him.”

“That’s the hell of it. I still love him. Isn’t it insane? That’s the real reason I can’t resist him. It’s not just the sex.”

“You sure about that?” I ask.

She turns to me and nods. “The sex Friday night was off the hook. But Saturday morning, I couldn’t detach my emotions from what had happened. I told Glenn we couldn’t see each other like this whenever he got the itch. That’s when he told me he’s in love with me and wants our relationship to work. He was supposed to leave yesterday afternoon, but there was a last-minute change in his schedule. We hung out like friends the whole day. It wasn’t about the sex at all. Until later, of course,” she finishes with a sheepish grin.

“When it’s time, it’s time,” Annelise comments.

“That’s what I think.”

“Look, it takes some guys a long time. Look at Big in Sex and the City.”

“Exactly,” Lishelle gushes. “I always wanted Carrie to end up with Big.”

“Oh, me, too.”

Maybe Lishelle notices that I’m not saying anything, because she suddenly turns to me. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“Me? I’m not…I’m not thinking anything. Just enjoying…” I look at my empty glass. “I need another mimosa. Aren’t they great?”

“Don’t change the subject. You’re thinking that I’m making a mistake. And I hear you. I know why you think that. But this time, it’s different. This time, it’s real.”

I squirm in my seat, sip water and do my best to stay silent. I fail. “You know I love you, Lishelle, and I want what’s best for you, but how can you forget how Glenn has hurt you in the past? I mean, you were dating the guy for two years in college, then you found out he’d been screwing other women. Not just one. Plural. How can you ever trust him?”