It.

Suddenly a distressed look appears on her face. He knows she wants to say something but she's holding back. He already knows exactly what the topic will be.

"Is something wrong? You look upset" he inquired.

"Nothing is wrong" came her reply.

She wouldn't meet his eyes, she just glances his way then looks away with the same distressed expression when she catches him looking at her. Despite her reply he knows enough to know that it wasn't over yet.

 

He'd met the young woman about a month before. Their romance had been quick. Mutual attraction won over better judgement on more than one occasion but it had not prove to be fatal to the romance. 

"Is everything Ok?" He pressed. 

A pause. The momentary silence deafening.

"Yes. Everything is OK" she replied. Still looking away from him down at the floor.

He knew the words leaving her mouth say everything is ok but her body screams it isn't. He lay looking at her on the bed fully clothed,  his back propped up slightly on the pillows against the headboard. She sat on the purple bedspread perpendicular to him. Her feet curled up beneath her. Her back against his slightly bent knees. 

She stared intently at the floor with her bottom lip tenderly held between her front teeth. She sat there waiting for him to say anything. To do anything. 

He knew what she wanted. The thing that would result in either the termination or continuation of the affair. It was to be expected and he was not entirely surprised by the turn of events that evening. 

The questions he must answer would generally inquire of his intentions and expectations. Unfortunately for him this was not a business negotiation. Terms would not be stated in a listed form. They must be ferreted out with inquisition and interpretations of the slightest mannerisms. 

Luckily for him his intentions were good. He was prepared to meet the terms that she had not yet stated. Terms that she might not know cognitively. Yet terms she demanded. Unfortunately he was not a man who knew easily how to surrender to his own desires and emotions. 

The young man was no expert in the ways of women. Although frequent  his encounters with women were shallow and hollow. The young man did know enough to know that if he wanted to get it over with he was going to have to start himself. It was evident he could not come out and ask if she wanted to  be in a relationship with him. His ego prevented it. 

"I'm not the type of guy who can be with more than one woman. When I'm with someone I'm committed because that's how I want them to be with me" 

He reached up towards her as he said this and pulled her down next to him. Now he was the one not staring at her as she nuzzled into his arm. 

"I don't cheat. I've never cheated and I don't run around" he continued. 

"I don't either!" She interrupted. 

"That's good" he said softly "I trust the person I'm with 100% but when the trust is broken it can't be repaired"

He paused collecting his thoughts. She waited for him to continue

"I think we should take it slow" he stated. 

"Having sex is not taking it slow" she replied. 

He laughed on the inside a little bit. She was not going to let him off easy. She demanded more. He had to admit she had him on that one. 

"No you're right. I meant in the relationship realm. I haven't been in one for a long time. I'm not used to it. Don't want to jump the gun and do anything to crazy too soon...like move in together"

"Oh I don't want to rush anything like that either" she assured him. 

She did. He felt that it was going as well as it could be expected. It'd been a long time since he'd done this. If he had ever had done it at all. But it was a what was need to be done. 

"Would you want to be my girl?" He said looking down at her.

"If you want me to be" she replied looking up. 

"I do" he stated gruffly. "You know I'm one of the good ones"

"I'm counting on it" she whispered as she hugged him tightly. 

And with that it was over. Or so he thought.