Exhibitionism

As I drove out of the car park, Mitch waved me down from the pavement. I pulled the SUV over and lowered the window. “What’s up, Mitch?”

“Are you heading home? I thought you were going for a beer?”

“I might have to take a rain check on that. I’m going to spend the evening with Ria.”

Mitch shrugged his shoulders and exaggerated a look of disappointment. “Are you sure? She’s a bit of a cold fish, isn’t she? I’m sure you’d have more fun out with the lads, and I could use my wingman.” I opened my mouth to protest his description, but to be fair I had spent enough time bemoaning my situation over the last few weeks that it was a fair complaint. But if Ria’s serious about this, let’s put her to the test.

“You know what, you’re right. I would have more fun out tonight. But I’m going to invite Ria to join us.”

Mitch looked skeptical, worried that Ria would drag the party down. Little did he know. But he agreed. “Ok, we’re meeting over at the Twin Cannons, see you there.” He slapped the side of my car and headed off. The pub was walking distance, so I returned to the car park and opened my phone again.

D: “Come out and meet the lads. We’re grabbing a few pints at the Twin Cannons near my office.”

The message showed as read, but there was a long pause before I got her response.

R: “Are you sure? You don’t want to come home?”

The sparks of a devilish plan started to form in my head. I typed out my demands and sent them with a little trepidation. Either this was going to take our relationship to the next level or end it tonight, but either way I would have more clarity in the morning.

D: “Ria, I’ve got you for 12 hours. We might make it home tonight, I haven’t decided. But I have decided that you need to take the tube down here to meet us.”

R: “The next train is in seven minutes. I won’t have time to catch it after I change clothes, I’ll have to catch the next one at six.”

D: “I never said anything about changing clothes. Throw on your raincoat over your outfit and catch that train. You said you wanted to be punished. If you miss that train, your punishment gets worse.”

There was no response after I sent the message. I guess maybe I pushed too far? I figured I was probably coming home to an argument and a break-up, so no sense in delaying my evening any longer. I popped down to the Twin Cannons.

As soon as I entered, I saw Mitch and a few of our co-workers pouring the first rounds from a communal pitcher. Mitch smiled and waved me over, but just as I headed his way my phone buzzed again.

It was Ria.

R: “Ok, I made the train. Just barely.”