Free Sex with the Ex by Tyne O’Connell Page B

and let him go because I was afraid because of all, well, the money stuff?”
    â€œAnd the cocaine stuff,” Elizabeth added.
    Then Clemmie went, “And don’t forget the boring stuff.”
    I ignored them both and turned to Josie. “How can I be sure it wasn’t Richard? You and Emmanuel split up and then found one another again.”
    â€œWe dated when we were fourteen. We’d never even done it, in fact we hadn’t even tongue kissed.”
    That was when the snotty waitress came over and told me that they didn’t allow dogs in the restaurant, and because I was in such a pissy mood because of my friend’s unhelpfulness, I went, “Really? But they let you in?”
    A look passed between the girls that I took to be one of embarrassment.
    The waitress said she was going to get the manager and I told her to hurry up.
    â€œLook, Lola, calm down. The girl’s just doing her job. Maybe you should let this Richard thing go, hey?” They were stroking me as if I was a mad person they were trying to control before the arrival of the madhouse ambulance.
    They’d always hated Richard. Even when I showed them my ring, they’d made a really bad-taste joke about how many grams it was worth. They thought he was a total cokehead.
    I spotted the snotty waitress pointing me out to the manager, so I stood to leave. “Look, I have to go anyway and check that everything is going smoothly with preparations for the Bowie party,” I told them.
    The manager and the snotty waitress arrived as I was struggling out of the booth with all my bags—I always lugged a virtual office around with me. It takes a lot of equipment to be a PR in London.
    â€œMadam, one of our staff has alerted me to the fact that you may be concealing a dog in your bag?”
    And even though I’m not usually rude and the managerwas quite cute in a gay way, I went, “Well, one of your staff needs her eyes read! Does this look like a dog to you?” And then I opened Jean’s bag and she looked up, her golden eyes blinking at the sudden exposure to light. Her little ears looked so soft and sweet. My heart melted and I think the manager’s did, too, because he grinned and stroked her floppy ears and asked her name.
    When I told him it was Jean Harlot, he gave me a hug and told me I was adorable and he hoped I’d bring Jean in again sometime.
    I gave Miss Snotty Pants a triumphant smile.
    I even let the manager take Jean out for a cuddle and within a moment of rabbit/gay-guy bonding, all was well.
    As I said my goodbyes, Clemmie jumped up and air kissed me. “Make sure you ask David for his autograph.”
    Elizabeth went, “And tell him I’m his biggest fan and if Iman ever decides to give him the push, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces.”
    â€œI’ll just make a note of that in my phone,” I joked, pulling it out as if to do just that. But then it rang.
    â€œLola?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œIt’s Richard. I was, well, wondering if you would be free for that drink later?”

six
    â€œâ€™Tis well you have given over your reproaches toward me and relented to come to my bed once more. Possibly it is a weakness in me to aim at the world’s esteem as if I could not be happy without it, but there are certain things that custom has made almost of absolute necessity, and reputation I take to be one of those.
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    Never doubt that I have a particular value for you above any other. It is much easier I am sure to be allowed a good reputation than a good husband, though it will never enter into my head that ’tis possible any man can love where he is not first loved.
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    For though I love you, I do not see that it puts any value upon women when they marry for love, yet nor do I see that it would give you any advantage to have your wife thought an indiscreet person.
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    If love is best displayed by discretion, sir, you will see by my