Gravitate by Jo Duchemin Read Free Book Online Page B

situation.
    “Thanks, Ben.  I really appreciate you taking me out tonight, I just wanted to make it clear that I’d like to be friends with you, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, or think I’m leading you on or anything. ” I ’d started gabbling my words in my rush to get things straightened out .
    “Are you already seeing someone?” Ben didn’t seem angry, just confused.
    “No. Well, not really. But that’s not the point. I just don’t feel ready to date so soon after everything that has happened.” I didn’t want to dig myself into a hole. After all, nothing co ncrete had happened with Marty. Only that I’d fallen in love with him.
    “I totally understand. I’m just a little bit confused.” He looked amused and a smile was crinkling at the corner of his lips.
    “Confused? Why?”
    “Well, I thought yo u were looking for a boyfriend. Marty told me you were single and he thought we’d be a great couple. He told me how wonderful you were an d how I’d be lucky to have you. He said he thought it was des tiny for us to end up together. In the short time I’ve known him I’ ve never known him to be wrong. I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
    I felt like the air had been sucked out of me and I took a comforting swig of my wine to steady me and give me a little thinking time before I reacted.
    “When did he say that?”
    “A few day s ago; just before he moved in. I guess he didn’t know as much a bout you as he thought he did. Look, let’s just forget about who said what and just have a nice evening out. Friends?” He smiled and I couldn’t see any animosity in his eyes.
    “Friends.” I smiled back and held out my hand to shake his. He bypassed my hand and punched me on the arm.
    “That’s what friends do. Now, about this popcorn…”
    It had turned into a pleasant evening; the film had been good, and I’d managed to put my emotions on hold for a couple of hours. After Ben dropped me back home, how ever, it was a different story. I felt myself begin to tremble with ang er as I put my key in the door. It was nearly eleven but I knew Marty was still up, as I’d seen the TV flickering through the window.
    “Marty?” I called out, rage seeping into my voice.
    “Claudia! I was just wond ering how your date was going. Since you didn’t reply to my message , I assumed it had gone well.” He looked so innocent, I was sure I could see a halo if I looked hard enough.
    “You didn’t get my reply?” I grabbed my mobile phone out of my handbag and, sure enough, my second message to Marty wa s sitting in my drafts folder. I hadn’t hit the send button. “Well, I told him I didn’t want to be anything other than friends. Then we had a very interesting conversation about how you’d told him all about me, how much I needed a boyfriend and how he should be it,” I could feel the anger taking over and my words spilling out without perm ission. “What are you, my pimp? Seriously, what is going on? Is it a try before you buy thing?” I could feel the humiliation spreading throughout my body and tears springing from my eyes. Marty stood up and calmly walked across to me.
    “Have I ever done anything to make you think I would want to hurt you in any way?” He cupped my face in his hands.
    “No,” I tried to catch my breath. “Not until I heard this.”
    “Would you believe me if I told you I always had your best interests at heart?”
    “Yes.” I could only manage one word answers now.
    “And would you understand that sometimes the thing that is in your best interests is not the same as what is in my heart?”
    “Huh?” He’d lost me, and in spite of the situation, I laughed at my response.
    “Dear Claudia. Dear, s weet, funny, delicate Claudia. Who would have thought that little Claudia Lee would be my undoing?” He wiped the tears off my cheeks again.
    “I wouldn’t want to hurt you,” I whispered.
    “I th ink the damage is already done. I’ve broke n the only