Page 65 of Fling

‘As a matter of fact it is. Now stop acting like an old man and go sow your wild oats. Open up the app right now and see if you have any other matches,’ Rory said.

‘Fine,’ he said, taking out his phone. ‘Just to prove to you that I’m not interested in anyone else.’

Colin opened Fling and, to his shock, saw that Claire’s green light was on. Not only that, but she had messaged him.

Claire: Hey there, stranger x

I’m so sorry I disappeared on you

Can we chat at 11.11 tonight? x

Colin almost dropped the phone in shock. ‘Oh my God, Claire replied. She said she’s sorry and she wants to chat tonight. What should I say? Should I tell her how much I missed her?’ Colin asked, with the face of a dog whose owner had just come home.

‘Dear Lord, man. I have second-hand embarrassment just from hearing you say those words. She stood you up, now it’s time to stand up for yourself. Be a man,’ Rory demanded.

‘OK, you’re right,’ Colin said, puffing out his chest as he began to type.

Jack: I’m not the kind of man who tolerates getting stood up

Colin immediately began to panic the moment he sent the message.

‘Oh God, maybe that was too harsh,’ he said.

‘Relax. She wants you to put your foot down,’ Rory said confidently.

‘Are you sure?’ Colin asked, still flustered.

‘If you can’t stand up to a woman, you can’t stand up for a woman,’ Rory said. ‘And if a woman knows she can walk all over you, she’ll walk away from you.’

‘I hope you’re right,’ Colin said, biting his nails.

Colin’s phone beeped.

Claire: I deserve that, Jack . . .

But I’m begging that you’ll let me make it up to you x

Maybe I should be punished . . .

Colin was shocked. Rory’s advice had apparently paid off. Not only was she apologetic, she was begging to make amends.

‘You see?’ Rory said, seeing the message. ‘She wants you even more because you stood up to her. Because she knows you’re not harmless. Women are always attracted to the idea of taming a wild man. But once they tame him, their attraction disappears.’

‘Well, I’ll show Claire just how wild I can be tonight,’ Colin smirked as he began to type a coy reply.

Jack: I think that can be arranged at 11.11 tonight.

Don’t keep me waiting . . .

When the message sent, Colin suddenly realized there was a rather significant obstacle in his way. Tara had forgiven him for their fight and he was now sleeping in bed beside her once more. But if he was in bed beside Tara, he couldn’t text Claire.

‘New problem. Tara and I aren’t fighting any more so we’re back sleeping in the same bed. But if I’m not sleeping on the couch, I can’t text Claire,’ Colin panicked.

‘So start a fight and make Tara send you to the couch.’

‘Our therapist told us we’re not allowed to start fights,’ Colin sighed.

‘So make Tara start the fight,’ Rory said.

---