Page 9 of Kiss Me Softly

“Why do you care who she’s dating if you haven’t seen her in years?” Chris asked suspiciously.

“We’re old friends,” I reminded them. “I just think it’s weird that Frankie is dating someone so vapid. And look at the way she’s dressed.”

I could see that Chris was getting irritated at my interest in the other table, so I decided to change the subject.

“Everything looks so good. What are you going to order?”

Chris stared at me for a long moment before going back to the menu. “I think I’m getting the pork chops.”

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully. After our dinner, we headed back up north. Chris and I were temporarily staying with their mother and stepfather who lived in a cute little place in Roger’s Park. Emphasis on ‘little’. It only had two bedrooms and one bathroom for the four of us.

Our plan was to rent a place together, but I was starting to have some doubts about us living together. It was like everything that bothered me about my relationship with Chris was magnified since we got here.

The truth was, I was feeling that way even before we moved to Chicago. I figured things would be better once we moved here, but I had to face the fact that I just didn’t love Chris, not the way I should. I wasn’t going to make a life with them.

As I slipped into the tiny space left on the double bed next to Chris that night, they pulled me closer, banding one arm around my waist. I felt suffocated, moving away as soon as their breathing evened out and they fell asleep. Staring up at the dark ceiling, I resolved to get a job, find an apartment, and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Pronto. It wasn’t fair to me to stay here knowing that I wanted to break up with Chris.

I waited two days before I texted Frankie, not wanting to seem too eager.

Aurora:Hey Frankie, it’s me, Aurora.

Frankie:Hiya. Nice to hear from you.

There was a long pause while I stared at my phone, wondering what to write next. I wondered if she was staring at her phone too.

Aurora:So maybe this is weird, but you’re my only friend in Chicago, and we’re not even friend-friends. But can we be? I could really use a friend right now.

Frankie:I have space on my roster for another friend. Do you want to grab a drink sometime and hang out? We can catch up on the last few years.

Aurora:I’d love to. How about tomorrow?

Frankie:Tomorrow works great.

I paused, then asked the question I was dying to ask.

Aurora:Will you be bringing Barbie?

Frankie:I’ve never been one of those women who has to bring their significant other with them everywhere, so no. Why, are you bringing Chris?

Aurora:No.

Frankie:Good.

I stared at my phone some more, wondering what that meant. Then I decided to be honest.

Aurora:The truth is, we’ve been having some problems. I hope you’re the kind of friend who doesn’t mind talking about relationship woes.

Frankie:I’ll listen to yours if you listen to mine.

Aurora:Deal.Does six o’clock work for you?

Frankie

I felt almost nervous as I walked into the bar where I was meeting Aurora. She didn’t know too many places, so I’d selected a neighborhood bar about midway between where we lived, a couple of blocks from the elevated train station – or as Chicagoans called it, ‘the El’.

I was wearing faded jeans, Doc Martins, and a plain black tee shirt that hugged my breasts, such as they were. I always felt sexy in this shirt. The minute that thought entered my mind I chastised myself.

You have a girlfriend, remember?

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