THE UNSPOKEN PARTNERSHIP

The arrival

I invited Linda to my house for the weekend. She was excited because she always wanted to visit my house. The visits I had made to her house had always given me a challenge—her place was so stylish it gave me a purpose to improve the furniture in my own little crib.

“Hello!” I said once she picked up the call. “Are you still coming?”

“Yes, of course. Why shouldn’t I?” Her voice sent signals of excitement. “In fact, I’ve packed an extra pair of clothes for the weekend. I’ll be there by 8.”

8 PM was our usual arrival time. That’s the time I always arrived at her place. We had promised against love, instead forging a partnership that slightly bore substantial benefits. Ours was not a soul of attachment; it was a partnership of survival, a mutual arrangement designed to keep emotional distance.

Despite that pact, I had started loving her. I was pushing myself toward an attachment I didn’t want. Man, this girl was beautiful; she had everything I’d want in a woman. She was the type that gave me a reason to love her company.

Linda arrived at 8:07 PM, right on time. She found me preparing beef for us. I had saved a little cash for this purposeful weekend. Her coming meant I was required to have cash, but I didn't care. Her dish wasn’t classy, but I needed to make her feel the comfort of my little crib.

“Oh, you’re here. Come on, give me a hug.”

We embraced, and I wanted it to last way too long. While holding on to each other, I felt the warmth of her body. I felt like we were attached, conjoined to be in that position forever. Just as I was still struggling not to let her go, the food gave me a warning—a smashing smell.

“Ah, this food!” I screamed and ran for the cooker.

She smiled and threw herself onto my four-by-six bed. She laid there comfortably. She was in tight blue jeans that gave her a crazy body shape that so much aroused me. She kept on swinging her body on the bed, and every swing attracted my sight. I stole glances at her, hoping she was mine, not bound by that silly partnership....