BR - Cold Feet Part 1

“Sounds like trouble,” you say, shooting Beth a warning look. There’s danger and excitement in flirting with her mom’s friend, obviously… but also the potential for drama. Drama is what has Beth drinking so much in the first place. It’s a sad day when you have to be the sensible one.

Beth gives an exaggerated smile, but the look on her face tells you that she’s not upset about you turning Shauna down.

“Bravo,” Edna says to you. There’s a quiet rattle as she holds out her keys.

You stare at them. “What’s this?”

“Go on, then. Have my guest room. You want a night away from Shauna, don’t you?” she asks with an obnoxiously knowing look.

“Why would I want your guest room over a hotel?” Beth asks, disgusted. “I admire it. Wearing your perviness on your sleeve. Reminds me of you,” she adds to you.

You gasp, indignant.

“Joking,” Beth says. “A little.”

“You want my guest room,” Edna replies, nonplussed, “…because otherwise, you’ll have to explain to your mum why you’re in a hotel with a girl. Easier to say you slept one off at my place.”

“So you can listen to us fuck?”

“Hardly, Elizabeth. I’m not coming home tonight,” Edna says with a little smile, finishing her drink.

Beth peers at her. “So was that a test or do you really want to fuck my girlfriend?”

“Suppose you’ll just have to wonder,” Edna tells her with an enigmatic look. “Why shouldn’t I, though? Every man who watches FUTA does.”

That, weirdly, shuts Beth up. A second goes by and she snatches the key, then gulps down her drink.

“All right, then,” she says, sounding defensive as she gets up. She grabs your hand. “Thank you,” she says suspiciously to Edna, who just smiles.

You let Beth pull you out of there. On the sidewalk outside, you notice how hotly she’s blushing as she fiddles with her phone to get a ride.

“That was weird,” you remark.

“Mum’s mad. No surprise her friends are too,” Beth replies.

“You’re comfortable going to this lady’s house?”

“It’s not as though she’s a serial murderer,” Beth tells you, avoiding eye contact.

“Hey,” you say, forcing eye contact. “What did she say that made you all weird like this?”

“I’m not weird,” she protests.

She’s being weird. You let it rest for a few minutes, thinking about the strange encounter.

“That lady,” you say, putting your arm around Beth as a chilly wind makes you shiver. “Feels like she sees through you. Know what I mean? I don’t know. She just has this vibe. It’s not just that she could tell that we’re together.”

Beth doesn’t reply to that. Seconds tick by. You turn to watch a rowdy group of guys smelling of beer pass. You look away when they look in your direction.

“So we’re really going to her house?” you ask Beth again.