caught herself. Straightening her shoulders, she said firmly, "No, Anita. No." But then a slight smile came across her face. Anita smiled too. They went back to talking about shopping, as I slinked back into the bedroom and pulled the covers over my head.
***
That night, Becky and I started to fool around. I caressed her amazing body, relishing the feel of her full breasts. She was very turned on. I could feel her hot breath against my neck as we rubbed against one another. And then I was suddenly struck with the thought that she was fantasizing about Don. I tried to get that thought out of my head, but all I could picture was Don between her legs, and her meaningful smile as she spoke to Anita. For the first time in my life, I completely shriveled and no amount of coaxing from Becky could get me up. Finally, after a little while, I pleaded that I had a headache and turned away.
After that night, my confidence completely deserted me. Becky tried to initiate sex a couple of times during the week, but I turned her away, knowing it would only result in humiliating failure. I knew Becky was getting upset. I overheard her whispering on the phone several times, only to have her hang up hurriedly if I approached. I could only assume she was talking to her sister or Anita, the only two people she really confided in.
I knew I probably should get counseling, but I figured I was just in a funk and that it would go away. But her feelings about Don became something of an obsession for me. Every time she looked at me, I assumed she was comparing me to Don. And whenever I thought about sex, I was convinced she’d measure me against Don, and find me wanting.
***
That Sunday, I started watching football at 1:00pm, and I also started drinking beers. Drinking was one of the few things that got my mind away from thinking about Becky and Don. By the time the second game was over, I had gone through a couple of six packs, and I was pretty blasted. I was sort of slipping in and out of awareness, when suddenly the doorbell rang. Becky answered it, and Don and Anita walked in.
"Aren't you going to say hi to our dinner guests?" Becky asked as I stared bleary eyed.
"Hi," I slurred. I had totally forgotten about dinner.
Anita shot a grin over at Don, and Becky shook her head. Don sat down next to me on the couch and clapped me on the shoulder.
"How you doin', buddy?" he asked.
I muttered something vaguely unintelligible in response, prompting Don to get up and grab a couple of beers from the fridge and hand me one.
"Don't you think he's had enough," Becky snapped as if I weren't even in the room.
Don laughed. "I don't think one more is going to make a difference."
I was ashamed to have them see me like this, but that only made me want to drown my sorrows even more. Don was talking to me, but I could not easily make out what he was saying. I was too drunk to follow a conversation, and each word he said came at me individually as if at random. I nodded my head, and tried to speak, but I could not quite seem to make my tongue form any sounds.
After a while, Becky announced that dinner was ready. I thought about getting up, but instead I sort of collapsed onto the sofa. Don tried to lift me up by the arm, but I could not seem to find my balance.
"Oh just leave him there," Becky said to Don after a couple of seconds.
As I lay on the couch, I tried to pay attention to the dinner conversation, but it was just too much work. I stared at the TV, but it was too tiring to pay attention. Finally I closed my eyes, feeling the room spinning around me. For the next hour, I made out random noises: the sound of forks and knives against dishes, laughter, the electric blender, water running.
I awoke out of my half-sleep to find Anita sitting beside me. Still badly drunk, I felt suddenly felt half-way lucid. I looked around, but Don and Anita were nowhere to be seen, and then I looked into the kitchen