(Continuation of the previous post, “Love Contest”)
John could hardly wait to introduce his new girlfriend, Gitta, to his friends. He was curious to see what they would think of the reserved girl. They were used to him bringing loud, provocatively dressed women into the group, who would drift away from him after just a few weeks. John had deliberately waited to introduce Gitta. On one hand, he was afraid she might run away from him, and on the other, he wanted his friends to be shocked when they learned how long the romance had been going on.
“Three months? That’s something,” Ted said, giving his friend a congratulatory pat on the back.
“Well, be impressed if I’m still coming to these barbecues with her three years from now.”
Ted laughed.
“I’d love to see that, man, you sticking with one woman for that long.”
“Why? You’re managing just fine with Nicole…”
“She’s easy to be with right now; she just wants to have sex all the time. We don’t do anything else, so there’s no time to argue. She’s a bit obsessive, but as long as I can keep up, I don’t mind.”
“Don’t you dare complain,” Derek jumped in. “Dia doesn’t do much for my pleasure, if you know what I mean. Sometimes, I think she’s fantasizing about another guy while we’re at it.”
“Why, is that not allowed?” Sam grinned smugly. “After twelve years, I admit, it happens to me sometimes. When I see a hot woman I’d love to follow, I’ve got to process that somehow.”
“You’re always flirting with your coworkers,” John pointed out sharply, “and they say I’m the one who can’t keep it in check.”
“Those are innocent flirts, and I can’t help it, it’s in my blood. I love the chase.”
“What does Marie think of that?”
“Oh, come on, do you think I tell her? I make sure to say ‘I love you’ and ‘You’re the one’ often enough. Besides, it’s good for her too, if I don’t let myself go. These little flirts are what keep my self-confidence intact.”
“Romantic declarations are the key with Chloe too,” Brian joined the conversation. “Our libidos are so different, and if I want something to happen, I’ve got to pull out my most romantic side. I’d give anything if she were as active as Nicole.”
“Honestly, I’d settle for less,” Ted grumbled. “Want to swap? I like Chloe.”
“Nicole’s not bad either. No doubt she’s hotter than Chloe, just not as sporty. I need a girl I can play tennis with. Chloe hits like a man. She’s the first woman I’ve had where we play hard matches. Does Nicole even work out?”
“Well, if horseback riding counts…”
They all burst out laughing at the crude joke.
“How’s Liz doing?” John turned to Peter, who had been quietly listening so far.
“I think she suspects something’s off between us. More precisely, something has changed in me.”
“Yeah, but after a few years, I feel like I’m suffocating in the relationship. Liz constantly asks me if I love her more than my exes, and it drives me crazy. Why do I have to keep proving something like that? Meanwhile, my secretary’s been working silently and dutifully under me for over ten years. She reads my mind, figures out what I want, whether it’s a good cup of coffee or to cover for me on the phone.”
“Wait, are you falling for your secretary?”
“I don’t know. Is it bad that by Saturday afternoon I’m already looking forward to Monday, so I can go back to work?”