Your lack of enthusiasm is disturbing

You look at Alice, who is waiting for your reaction. You really don't know what to say to her: this is a bit too much at once, but you can't possibly explain it to her.

"I'm not quite feeling myself today," you explain lamely. "Sorry."

Alice looks at you with something like alarm. "Excuse me please," she says quietly, and then rushes off.

You feel as though you've crossed some sort of line, almost as important as if you had dumped the old Alice without warning. You thought that by getting rid of relationships that this sort of careful line-crossing crap would be over with. You're confused and frustrated, and more than a little afraid. How are you going to navigate this world??

You are left with your mind spinning for a minute, when there is a gentle knock on the door. You turn to see Charlotte, still naked, eyes downcast but struggling to meet yours, as though fighting against herself. "John... please forgive me for interrupting. May I speak?"

You smile weakly at Charlotte, glad to have something disrupt your train of thought. "Yes, please speak Charlotte."

Charlotte summons up some courage, and manages to raise her gaze steadily as high as your chest. "Alice and I are afraid that you are angry with us for some reason. I'm afraid that it was something I said in the hallway. If so, I'm sorry --- please don't take it out on Alice!"

Charlotte seems so anxious that you feel obligated to calm her down. You step forward and put a hand on her shoulder. You feel the warmth of her naked skin, and reflect how Charlotte would have flipped you over that shoulder if you had tried to touch her this way. "No, please Charlotte. It's nothing you or Alice have said. I'm just in a strange mood."

Charlotte struggles to look up and meet your gaze. "Alice also wanted to know if it would be acceptable if she invited Gina over," she says. "If --- if you were going to stay mostly dressed."

You're not sure where you stand in your situation, so going with the flow seems easiest. "Sure," you say.

Charlotte stands in front of you with a very anxious look on her face. Her eyes flit up to yours, and back down. You know this seems to be her thing now, but back in the day it would mean that she's trying to draw your attention to something, so you reflexively look down, only to be reminded that she's completely naked in front of you. Remembering something of your relationship with Charlotte now, you reach down to fondle her pussy. She gasps slightly, and instinctively leans forward for a passionate kiss.

You gently break the kiss, and Charlotte smiles softly at you before curtseying and rushing away. You hear her and Alice confer, and then Alice speaking to someone on the phone.