That night, we played board games like Settlers of Catan and Terraforming Mars. They were exciting games. Simple, but with complicated outcomes and strategies, not at all dissimilar from chess.
Then I had a terrible thought: What if this was all a ruse? What if the only reason Jack was kind to me was that he painted himself into a corner with Jake? Then he springs the fake engagement, knowing that I would go along, and now he has to play things out until he’s in the clear.
Could he be that Machiavellian? I had known guys that would go to great lengths just to get laid. Indeed, Jack had particular tastes. He couldn’t have sex with just anyone.
Then again, Jack was handsome and rich. If he really wanted a beautiful woman to tie up, most women would just put up with it. Certainly, Isabella seemed like she wouldn’t mind.
Was that what I was doing? I told myself I wanted to explore this lifestyle but was I lying to myself? Maybe I was the one that was being deceptive and didn’t even know it.
I had read about Jack for years on the Manhattan socialite webpages. He seemed to be having a glamorous life dating models and actresses. Was that all I was at the end of the day? Another lonely star fucker?
No, I wouldn’t believe that. Jack and I had a bond. Maybe it was just too complicate to be put into words. Perhaps I was just too deep inside the relationship to gain enough perspective.
After a few more days of being wooed, I was having fun, but I don’t think Jack wanted to have sex anymore. I made my own innuendos, but he turned me down at every possibility. After a few days, I decided to call Isabella again. She was the only one that could see straight. I gave her the lowdown.
“First you want to have sex, then you don’t, and now you do,” she charted. “Do you not see the mixed signals you’re sending out?”
“I know, but it seems like we’re getting along fine now,” I pointed out. “Why wouldn’t he want to?”
“When did the trouble start?” she said a little condescendingly.
“After we had sex,” I responded.
“Exactly. Sex with other people just ruins everything,” she proclaimed. “Trust me. I’m getting great at getting myself off. I’m thinking of buying a ton of cats now.”
“Are you being serious? I can’t tell anymore.”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” she laughed. “I’m getting a little stir crazy in the apartment. I’m thinking of going outside. I don’t care if I get the COVID anymore.”
“Well, wear a mask or something.”
“They said the masks were bad at first. Now they’re saying they’re good! I don’t trust these people!” she snapped. “Sorry, I just really need some cats or batteries.”
Isabella sounded like she was starting to lose it. I pictured the apartment rife with empty food containers from takeout. She had told me she got to be afraid of taking out the trash, and the garbage was full. That was over two weeks ago.
“Don’t worry, Bella,” I soothed. “This is all going to be over soon. They’re saying by the end of May at the latest. But what do you think I should do about Jack?”
“You have been sending him mixed signals,” she noted. “Send him a clear one. I wanna fuck!”
“What? You mean just say that?”
“No, I was talking about me. You think our doorman’s married? Or discreet?”
“Bella, he’s like sixty.”
“A sturdy sixty,” she corrected.
“You’re no help. I’m gonna go,” I announced.
“Please, do me a favor,” she asked. “Just go have sex with Jack. Trust me, he wouldn’t go to all this trouble if he wasn’t into you.”
“Haven’t you been listening? That’s what I want to do.”
“Oh, then he’s just making you wait,” she assured. “That’s what he does, right? Makes you anticipate so you’re nice and wet by the time he starts doing it.”
“That is true,” I agreed. “Okay. I’m really going now. Bye.”
“Bye.”
I hoped this lockdown would end soon, or I’d have to put Isabella in an asylum. Or at the very least, I’d have to try to get her a boyfriend. It’s a shame I couldn’t just order one up like a pizza. That would be interesting.
The next night, Jack showed up in my room with the Scrabble game. I hadn’t played Scrabble since I was in the eighth grade, quite frankly. I was just getting out of the shower when he walked in. Fortunately, I was wearing a towel.
“Oh, hey,” he greeted. “Sorry, didn’t realize you were, uh, just getting out. I brought Scrabble.”
“Oh, sounds good,” I agreed. “Let me get dressed, and we’ll play. Sorry, I was just feeling grimy.”
I turned around to find some clothes in my drawer, holding the towel against me with one hand. Fumbling with my panties, I dropped them on the floor. As I bent to pick them up, Jack was suddenly there, helping me pick them up. He took them from my hand, tossed them aside, and stared deeply into my eyes.