Convenience and Compatibility Read Online Free PDF Page A

staring
at Greg’s ass while he plays pool with Adam, and I catch myself
thinking of Dean. I’m a little buzzed and horny and really want to
get some tonight.
    Tara sidles up next me and gives me a look. I
ignore her and take another drink of my beer. “What’s going on with
you Mallory?” Tara asks. She’s been avoiding me all evening, I’m
sure because I blew off the evening’s plans and also because I
didn’t confide in her.
    I choose my words carefully, not knowing if
she will tell Adam, who I am sure will rat me out. Then again, I
remember that Greg and I aren’t really a couple. Why do I care if
he knows I went out with someone else? Once again this evening, I
choose honesty – it’s just much easier than keeping track of a
lie.
    “A former patient stopped me on my way home,
and we went out to dinner. I’m really sorry I lost track of time
and kept you waiting.” I hope this is enough of an explanation and
apology, and change the subject. “How are your parents? Are they
excited you are coming home for the holidays?” Tara takes the bait
and rattles on about her family and their plans for Christmas. I’m
really excited for her, but feel a twinge of jealousy for her life.
Her parents still support her lifestyle: the shopping, the
vacations, they even want to put a down payment on a house for
her.
    Apparently I’m forgiven and the rest of the
evening goes by without any further mention of my earlier
transgression.
    We drive back to the apartment and I’m
nauseated with what I know I have to do. We walk through the
parking lot of the complex and I instinctively look over to where
Dean’s car was. It suddenly occurs to me that we didn’t exchange
numbers. “Oh shit,” I say, and everyone looks at me.
    “Um, sorry, I just remembered something I
forgot to do.” They all look at me like I’m crazy – what else is
new?
    Greg grabs my hand and walks behind me,
grabbing my ass with his free hand as I walk up the steps. I roll
my eyes at his predictable behavior, not the least bit inhibited in
front of our friends. I open the apartment door and he caresses my
arm, as Tara and Adam head straight to her room, giggling and
grabbing at each other. I’m jealous with their easy love for each
other. If only I had a relationship like that….
    “Wanna sit here for a bit?” I ask Greg and
motion to the sofa. I figure it’s important to be in a neutral zone
while saying this, knowing it’s going to be hard to keep him off of
me.
    We sit on the sofa and he dives for my neck
like a ravenous vampire.
    “Whoa Greg, hold on there. I don’t think we
should do that tonight.” I hold him back with both hands and he
looks at me incredulously, hunger in his eyes.
    “Why not?”
    “Remember how we said we would stop hooking
up when one of us met someone?” Greg nods and I continue. “Well,
I’ve met someone.” He’s still staring at me like it all doesn’t
make sense. I’m sure his thoughts are only on the massive erection
he has.
    The look in his face changes from shock to
recognition to anger. He slumps back on the sofa and glares at
me.
    “You know Mallory, I’m not always going to be
there for you to fall back on.”
    “I know Greg… but I thought we were both just
having fun. Keeping it light.”
    Greg looks down. “Yea… right.” I know I’ve
hurt him and my empathetic side wants to forget about the last five
minutes and enjoy his company one last time.
    He gets up to leave and looks back at me
before leaving. “You know, I still love you Mallory.”
    “I know Greg.” I watch him let himself out
then go to my room and hear Tara climaxing followed by Adam through
the too-thin walls of the apartment. Fuck me.
    A little buzzed, and extremely horny, I take
too long to fall asleep. I hear Tara and Adam making sex noises for
what seems like an eternity. My thoughts turn to Dean and I have a
sudden fear that I will never see him again. He never asked me for
my number! He said he wanted to see me