Strange Relationship – Chapter 4 (Version 3)

The email, when it came, as you and I both knew it would, made its appearance in my in-box two days later. Strategically delivered a half-hour before lunch, so that I would have less time to be able to think of a reasonably watertight excuse for not going, no doubt. It sat there, resplendent in bold text, simply daring me to click on it and open it up. A virtual Pandora’s box for the information age. Should I click on it, and let loose on the world the ills contained therein, or do I have the fortitude to ignore it and simply delete it, consigning it to the trashcan frustrated?

Unfortunately the preview pane was turned on so I could see everything it said straightaway.

It said simply this:

Log into the instant chat messenger.

Strange Relationship – Chapter 2 (Version 3)

Standing at the bar, sipping a iced diet coke, I check my watch again. I don’t like unpunctuality, and I’m fairly sure that if an Englishman had drawn up the seven deadly sins it would be on there. Actually, make that an Englishwoman. This Englishman obviously has no compunction about leaving a lady standing at the bar. And then I see him making his way over, and there’s the most curious feeling in my chest. I assume it’s some form of tummy upset and resolve to do an extra fifteen minutes of yoga tonight to sort myself out.

“I’m so sorry to keep you waiting, couldn’t get off the phone. Honestly, parents, they fuss over me like I’ve just left home.” I hope he doesn’t see my little look of derision, I’m almost certainly old enough to be his mum. “You okay? No delayed after-effects from your little trip?”

“Umm, thanks for that,” I say, unsure of what else to add to it, or indeed, why I am even here.

Gallagher & White – Chapter 2

Over dinner that night in the hotel restaurant, Eve had been giving Tara every little detail of the day’s photo shoot, which at first freaked Tara out a little, but as the large glasses of Cristal started to work on them Tara found herself more and more intrigued – and ever more horny. She was without a regular boyfriend yet again, and it had been some time since her last. She wasn’t terribly keen on one night stands and was envious of Eve’s lack of qualms over sex – such as having lesbian sex with a celebrity while being photographed the whole time. As she drained another glass, she resolved that she was going to get some while she was in New York.

“Let’s go out tonight!” Eve said, as though reading Tara’s thoughts. “We could go to a club and look for cute guys…”