No Strings Attached

The car drove through a nondescript council estate which had recently been soaked by an icy winter shower. Don sat in the passenger seat of his father’s car on the way to visit an old friend. He had a foreboding look about him as knew the visit was a bad idea. To be fair most of his idea weren’t overly smart. But this one was the worst he had in quite a while. Yet he stubbornly went along with it.

Don still considered Jessie to be the love of his life, but before Jessie the centre of his world was Karen.

Karen was a young mother who lived with Greg, the father of their child. Karen and Greg were the on-off sort of couple, and a teenage Don found himself entangled in a complex situation he should never have gone near.

Don first met Karen at College. Even at the time, he wasn’t sure why he felt attracted to her. She was short and had no remarkable features. But now being more experienced., Don believed the reason he was attracted to Karen was more the fact she was the first woman to show interested in him. Interest that a more confident Don could now do something about. Although it probably did help that she also packed a fantastic chest.

Back then things obviously didn’t work out between Don and Karen. A stroke of luck and a sizable bullet dodged.

But Karen was now single, and Don was back.

Earlier in the week, he sent that dreaded drunken text which resulted in Don getting dropped off outside her house by his concerned father. “You sure you want to do this Don?”

“Relax Dad, it’s just a social visit to an old friend.”

“I’m a man. I know how men think… You’ve shaved, showered and pinched my expensive aftershave. This is no social visit.”

Don puffed out his chest with macho bravado. “Sowing my oats, ploughing the field. Whatever euphemism you want to use. I’m being young.”

“You’ve worked this field before – and your plough got bogged down it all kinds of shit. Only men go back. You’re too young to revisit old haunts. Go to pastures new. Fresh ones.”

“You were made up with her back in the day.”

James cracked a smile. “She has a fine chest, son. I remember that.” He smiled disappeared as fast as it had surfaced. “But I also remember what she put you through. Many a night sat nursing a whisky with you in the conservatory… pouring your heart out.”

“I have more experience now. I know what’s I’m doing. I won’t get hurt because… this is not love. “

“You’re too much of a gentleman to not get hurt, Don. There is a reason you’re hiding it from your mother.”

“I guess you can say I’m on the rebound.”

“From?”

Don felt shocked. “Jess, Dad. Jessie Jones. The love of my life. I never stopped talking about her… ever.”

“Jesus. That was almost a year ago, wasn’t it?”

“Six months, Dad. Six lonely months. Plus, it doesn’t help that the quality of women round here, sucks.”

“Most men love a woman who sucks.”

“You’ve got a point.” Don sighed as he opened the car door before stepping out. “See you later.”

~

Despite being close to Karen for 18months or so he had never visited her house. It was a modest semi-detached house which seemed well kept. He knocked on the door and was immediately met by a beaming Karen who invited him in with a tight embrace. He noticed she had lost quite a bit of weight. It was clear she was genuinely moved to see him.

Karen had mousy brown shoulder-length hair. She wore jeans and an open cardigan. As always her cleavage was on show. Cheap and cheerful but definitely fuckable. Her butt is what you describe as hearty.

In the tidy living room, he noticed the house was quiet. They sounded alone. “Where is Little Lee?”

“At his Dad’s.”

“You and Greg not together anymore?”

“Not really”

Don wasn’t happy with the vagueness of Karen’s voice. “Not really...?”

“He still loves me. But I’ve made it clear I don’t love him.”

Don let out a sigh. He hadn’t even sat down and the night was already taking a turn for the worse. Cleary, Don wasn’t the only man struggling to move on. “Sad. But you’re a difficult woman to get over.”

“Just to be clear. Greg and I are not together. Greg just comes around… a lot.”

“He’s not coming here tonight, is he?”

“No.” Karen sounded adamant, even stamping her foot. “He knows not too. Plus, he’s gone to visit his brothers who are back in the area after their tour.”

Don took Karen’s stomp as confirmation. “Tour?”

“They’re acrobats at a travelling circus. He’s from a family of travellers.”

“I never knew that.”

Don decided to change conversation. “Anyway, I always thought your Lee was a nice little lad. I, really liked playing Lego with him. Kinda, brought the kid out of me.”

“Actually, I always thought you’d make a great dad…” Karen couldn’t help but add,” and a good husband.” She suddenly felt naked by her admission. She felt she had overplayed her hand, revealed too much. But knew she couldn’t backtrack. “It’s really good to see you, Don.”

Don sensed her embarrassment and gave her a friendly embrace. “Thanks. Good to see you too.”

Karen broke from the embrace then clapped her hands together. “I have a bottle of vodka, lets toast to the rekindling of our old friendship.”

Don looked around the small living room that was cast in the blue light from the television. He felt warm and took off his coat before throwing it over the arm of the couch. He went to sit back down when he noticed the pictures of Karen and Greg. Every wall was plastered with family pictures. He suddenly felt guilty. And a sense of regret.

Karen came back from the kitchen with two large glasses of Vodka and lemonades. “You took off your coat. Good, you’re getting comfortable.”

“You can say that, I suppose. But it is really warm in here.”

“I’ve just put it off.” Sometimes you don’t notice how hot it gets when you’ve been in all day.”

Karen lit several candles on the mantle top and window ledge before switching off the light. She then sat next to Don.

in the past, Karen would have left a space between them. But tonight, she sat close so their flanks touched. Smiling wide, she then met her glass with hers. “To us.”

Don didn’t want to lie but knew he had to say something. “I’ll toast to that.” He wasn’t sure if it made a difference. Still, Karen seemed happy enough and smiled after taking a healthy sip from her vodka lemonade. She then snuggled into his side, openly flirting which is something she had only ever done with Don on a college night out.

However, the conversation quickly became stilted. Karen had expected Don to take the lead, wrap his arms around her or even reach for a kiss. He did neither.

Don knew he was better than this. Not to say he was better than Karen. He wasn’t. But he knew he no longer wanted to be with her, and belatedly, didn’t want to take advantage. But now his moral compass had swung into action, he now had to navigate his way out of the situation without offending Karen or losing face.

Karen was the first to ask, “What’s up, Don?

“Nothing.”

“I know we’ve not seen each other in two years. But, it’s more than that, isn’t it?” Karen pressed on. “Come on, tell me.”

“To be honest, Karen. I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

“What?”

“I don’t want to sleep with you. I mean, I do. But you know? I don’t want to be another notch on your headboard.”

“And what makes me think I want to sleep with you?”

Don gestured to the drink. Then to the fact she was snuggled into his side. “This? The candles is a sure sign, isn’t it?”

“In truth Don. I’m as as you. And that’s not something I thought I’d ever have to say.”

“They say 2 wrongs don’t make a right. Maybe it’s the same about two people.”

“To think I spent an hour in the shower shaving”

Don raised his eyebrows in genuine surprise. “An hour? Suppose I should say thanks.”

“I thought I was on a promise.”

“You were. Just, you know,, I don’t want to be another jockey. “

“In truth. I don’t care if you are. I can handle it. I just want to have sex. No strings attached.”

“No strings?”

"Yes. Are you man enough to take me?"

What is Don's answer?

~

As always, hoping for an an author to help me further develop this story. Plus if you dig this story please LIKE and COMMENT and FOLlOW. Interaction keeps me going