Chapter 22

"...so then he says: 'Why don't we just skip dessert and go straight to bed?' My God. are there any decent men in this city?"

Mike chuckled, shaking his head. "I thought you'd stopped doing the online dating thing. What made you start again?"

"I don't know," I said, frowning. I was already two drinks in and given the turn of the conversation, ready for another. "Maybe the fact that Keith is about to show up again with Keira in tow, and here I am, just as single and lonely as when they left."

My drinking companion raised his eyebrows skeptically. "Really? What happened to 'I'm happy alone for now'?"

"I can't have a relapse? I think I'm entitled, especially when I'm punished for it with horrific dates like this one."

"All right, okay, okay..." Mike held up his hands in mock-defense. "You can have all the disastrous dates you like," he said, "and I shall enjoy living vicariously through them. I do love me some schadenfreude."

"Mm. You really ought to give it another try, you know. If only because I'm tired of hearing of Alex and her completely mundane, boring love life," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Oh yes?" Mike's eyes narrowed a little in thought. "But she's just a young thing, isn't she? And you said she was attractive. Shouldn't she be rolling around in bed with multiple beautiful women every night?"

I generally let Mike's occasional little flights of fancy regarding Alex (since he'd learned she was a lesbian) go, but something about this particular meandering irked me. "She can do what she likes," I said, more sharply than I had intended. "It's none of my business. Or yours."

Mike blinked, taken aback. "I'm... sorry," he said eventually. "You're right. That was disrespectful."

Well, now I felt doubly bad - not just for complaining about Alex's relationship, which was entirely her right, whether I felt it was boring or not, and none of my business to boot, but also for snapping at Mike, who didn't deserve the brunt of my ire. "It's fine," I sighed, shaking my head and draining the last of my drink. "I guess I'm just not the best company right now. You'd be excused for telling me to stuff it and running away."

"Hey..." He frowned and shook his head. "You've listened to my tales of woe. This is what I'm here for. You rant and rave all you like."

"Thanks," I said, still feeling a little guilty. "At least let me get the next round."

"That I'll allow."

 

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