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“Is he totally insensitive?”
“Not insensitive. Clueless. I’ve tried really hard not to let on…”
“At least I don’t have to kick his balls in for being a jerk on purpose—yet.”
“Listen to me. He wants to marry this woman. He’s never thought the word marriage in thirty-nine years, much less uttered it to anyone. The minute I get interested in him, he’s all into white lace and promises with someone else.”
“I’m sorry, honey… You win some, you lose some.”
“Wait, it gets worse. I can’t forget Noah because, in the meantime, some stranger keeps coming into my house—”
“Into your house?” Kat gasps. “Are you okay? Did he attack you? Did you call 911?”
“I’m fine.” I sigh, wondering how I’m going to explain this to my sister. I’m supposed to be the level-headed one who bails Kat out of scrapes, not the other way around.
“Then what the hell happened?”
“H-he seduced me. It’s hard to call 911 when you wake up bound to your own bed, writhing in pleasure.”
“What???”
I frown. “That does sound bad, doesn’t it? I’m just saying, whoever this guy is, he’s damn good between the sheets.”
“You had sex with a total stranger who snuck into your house? Like, he was there to steal your TV but since it was attached to the wall, he just decided to nail you instead? And you let him?”
“Not like that, Kat. He said he came there to be with me, to seduce me. He says he wants me and that I know him, but I can’t place his voice. He whispers a lot, tries to disguise his voice by talking low and gruff.”
“Are you sure you’re not confusing seduction with coercion? This is not like you, and I gotta tell you, I’m really worried. The kind of guy who sneaks into a stranger’s house in order to ‘be with her’ has some sort of psychological disorder that’s long, hard to pronounce, and shared by a list of serial killers.”
“It’s not like that. He’s not like that. It’s…” Realizing that I’m defending the very situation about which I’ve come to my sister for advice, I fall silent.
“He’s not like that yet. You’re lucky that, so far, he hasn’t been, like, psycho lover who knows lots about knives and how to chop stupid women up into little bitty pieces.”
“Just the opposite. Last night, he said he…loves me.”
“Loves you? And you’re sure this isn’t the ‘love you to death’ kind of thing?”
“I know it sounds weird—”
“Um…yeah.”
“But he’s not at all threatening. Sexy, amazing, mind-blowing.” I sigh. “But I—I just keep picturing Noah every time he…”
“He, what? Forces you to have sex with him?”
I feel myself flushing hot. “He doesn’t have to force me.”
“Oh my… Unbelievable. You’re screwed in the head and every which way. I’m going to give you the advice for a change.”
“No more berating?”
“No. It won’t do any good anyway.”
“Good. I need help. I’m tied up in so many knots, I can’t figure out what to do.”
“First, you’ve got to stop sleeping with someone you don’t know. Next time he comes over, demand to know who he is or tell him to get the hell out.”
“I’ve asked who he is…” I protest.
