Falling in Love Again: A Valentine's Day Proposal

“No, it wasn’t obvious. I don’t like Carter, not really. He isn’t a nice person…”

“But he’s hot!” Abbi argues. “And that’s all that matters when it comes to hate sex.”

“Hate sex? Abbi, that sounds so seedy. Are you absolutely insane?”

“No. Not at all. Hate sex is the best. It’s horrible but the best way to get rid of negative emotions.”

I roll my eyes and take a sip of my drink. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. That sounds gross. It isn’t hate sex, I don’t know what it is, really. It just happened and now I’m all messed up about it.”

“So, it happened one time and you hid out at your moms. What hap

pened next?”

I blush brightly, knowing that I’m about to fall apart. “No, it happened one time, I hid out, then I came back when I realized just how insane that was… and then it happened again. I didn’t plan it, but it did.”

“Uh oh. You actually like him. That’s really dangerous, you know?”

“I don’t like him; it just seems to happen every time we’re alone together. Which because of the stupid work situation is far more than it should be. I just… I don’t know what I should do about it.”

Abbi rolls her eyes and laughs at me. “Why is this an issue exactly? I don’t get it.”

“Because sleeping with each other can only lead to complications. There isn’t any other way…”

“I take it we aren’t planning on a ‘happy ever after’ with Mr. Handsome then?”

I shake my head vigorously. “No way. Not a chance. It’s just a mistake. No happy ever after there.”

“But, a fun one though?” She cocks her head at me. “Because just from the picture that I saw of him I would guess that he’s a freaking good lover… even if he’s something of an asshole.”

I can’t help but smile. “Really fun actually. He is incredible, I can’t deny that. He’s as good as he looks like he’s going to be, which I guess is why I can’t seem to resist him even when it’s wrong.”

“So, what’s the issue then?” Abbi asks me. “Why not just have fun with him? What’s the issue?”

“Like I said, it can only get complicated. We work together, complications can mean fuck ups in business…”

“But like I am always saying to you, work isn’t everything. There is more to life.”

“If I lose my business, I have nothing. I’ve worked too hard to lose it now. I can’t. Not for fun.”

“Are you telling me that you want to keep sleeping with him then? Because it doesn’t sound like you do.”

“I…” I don’t have an answer for that. “I don’t know. I’m not sure what I want to do really.”

“So, keep fucking him. Why the hell not?” Abbi smirks, over the moon about this. “You already look a lot more relaxed now that you’re actually getting some. It’s good. And it would also be great for you to have something else to focus on aside from business. Even if it is a mistake… a very fun one at that.”

Her words don’t have the desired effect I think she wants. If anything, they simply remind me that I am heading into something wild and stupid, and that if work is all I have then I shouldn’t lose it.

“Maybe I should continue to have fun, but not with Carter. I mean, right now, it’s only happened a couple of times, we can recover from it and move on like it’s never happened. We can continue to just be professional and just make sure that we aren’t alone again. If it happens a third time, it could be problematic.”

“What are you thinking?” Abbi asks. “You look like you have a little idea in your brain.”

“I’m just thinking that I need a distraction, I need to go out with someone else, you know? Carter is bad news. He’s hot, yes, and he does some really awesome things to my body, but he isn’t going to be ‘the one’, is he? Men like him, damaged men who don’t know how to talk to women, are just a stepping stone.” I give Abbi a look. “You didn’t end up with any of the guys who treated you like shit. Now you have Randall.”

“You think you might go back to dating then? Ooh, that’s exciting! Dating has missed you!”

“I don’t know. I think I might. Do you think that’s a good idea? Forget about Carter and meet someone else?”

“I personally think you should keep screwing the hot guy you work with, but that’s just me. And maybe you’re right, perhaps he won’t be the one. If you want to meet the one, then yes, you should date again.”