Going into work the next day I feel more confident than ever I even decided to help a female customer asking which TV she should buy "You could go that way, but for the extra money you are getting a product that will be the centrepiece of your home."

"I don't know."

I shrug "So don't decide today. As I always say, there is nothing wrong with delaying an important decision."

"You know what, I'm gonna go for it" She grinned.

"Great. I will write it up for you."I put it through the till and have all the documents signed off once she paid. I sent her to the back where someone would carry out the TV to her car.

Just as I'm going back to the register I feel familiar pair of arms wrap round me "Hey you" I turn to face her and catch Jay, Bob and Dave all staring.

I smiled big IO had one hot girlfriend "Hey. What are you doing here?"

"I knew you were working a long shift today, so I brought you a healthy lunch, and look. I found you the cutest top while I've been shopping with Taylor for prom dresses." She holds it up. It is in fact a cute top.

"I love it. Thank you." I give her a quick kiss.

"Well, I have a lot of errands to run and Taylor has a lot more stores to check out I'm sure. I'll see you for dinner."

"Not if I see you first" I laugh at my bad joke. She smiles waving as she exited the store.

The guys pop over "How's that healthy lunch?" Dave laughed. "Is it healthy?"

"You need to stay healthy if you want to fit into that cute top." Bob joined in laughing. "You are in deep do you even know what you have done? You are dating a woman with a kid."

"Lay off him. She has fallen for this woman and she is happy. That's all that matters." Jay stands up for me.

"I'm not saying it's wrong, but I am saying, you better make sure this is what you want. As soon as the Tupperware comes out, it is over. You are as good as married."

"Well maybe that's what I want." I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life with Ashley. I knew I loved her, I just hadn't quite found the words to tell her yet.

"Well, getting married would be a good way to avoid sex." They all laugh.

-x-

After work I went to Ashley's house for dinner it was nice Ash had made bangers and mash which is one of my favourites and now here we are watching the very end of Titanic.

"That is always a good movie no matter how many times you watch it." Then she starts kissing me with fervour. "Let's do it right now."

"Do what?"

"Have sex."

"Oh, that goes against our agreement." I tried to keep the panic down.

"Fuck that agreement, I want you right now. I can't take it any longer." She put her hand on my crotch I think I yelped a little.

"Maybe we shouldn't have intercourse. We're just letting our hormones think for us. Let's have outercourse."

"Huh? What is outercourse?"

"Mutual masturbation, rubbing on each other with our clothes on fooling around without exchanging fluids, it's fun" I grin.

"What the fuck are you talking about? Are you high?"

"No, I am respecting you."

"I knew there was something about you. You're too mellow. Are you on oxycotin?"

"If you're referring to drugs right now the answer is NO!"

"Do you think I'm unattractive? Old? I'm only two years older than you are you know. Is it because I have a child? What the hell's the matter with me? What the hell's the matter with you?" she got louder and louder as she spoke.

I tried to keep her calm I didn't want to fight "Nothing. We had an agreement."

"Not forever." She whispered.

"Well you can't just break the agreement without talking to me about it." That sounded logical I thought.

"I am talking to you about it now." Damn walked into that one!

"Well I am saying I want to think about it."

"For how long?"

I shrug "A couple of weeks. What's the rush?"

"Because I am in love with you." She whispered again but I heard her loud and clear. I'm stunned here I was over thinking how I should go about telling her that I love her then she beats me to it.

I look at her waiting for me to reply mainly I'm thinking 'if I say I love her out loud, which I do, she will want to have sex with me. What to do?'

"Two, three, four, five." she counts "Fuck! If someone doesn't say it back in five seconds, there's trouble. Anything after that is bullshit."

"You can't put that kind of pressure on someone."

"If you love someone, there is no pressure. I knew I shouldn't have said that."

"That's not true."

"Wow, you still haven't said it."

"What is going on? Where is this coming from?"

"You fucker. Don't play head games with me."

"What? I'm not playing."

"You are not just playing with me. I have a daughter and if that sucks, tough shit, that's just how it is."

"Who's complaining?" I loved Taylor she knew that.

"Get out. Just get out. You liar."

"I didn't lie." I frowned confused

"Yes you did. You're not who you said you were."

"Who did I say I was?"

"You said you were the one but the one would have passion for me. She would want me, love me. She wouldn't always be moving away just a little when I touched her. It's cruel. So, just get out!"

With that I'm pushed out the door.

-x-

I get to my apartment forgetting for a minute that Jay was even there, I see him in the living room packing up his things.

"What happened?"

"Me and Jill are getting back together. She's pregnant."

"With your kid?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Yeah, with my kid. That's why she broke up with me. Because she found out she was pregnant, and she didn't know if I would be a good dad in light of the fact that I cheat on her all the time."

"So this is good?" Why wasn't he freaking out?

"It's the best. I love her sooo much. This was meant to happen. I was meant to be with her and to be the father to this child. I will never screw around again. I am so lucky."

"I am so happy for you." I say sadly

"Did something happen?"

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to ruin your good news. I'm just sad 'cause Ashley wants to have sex."

"That's what you wanted."

"NO, she really wants to have sex, like right now. What do I do? If she finds out I am a virgin she won't like me anymore. She will think I am a loser."

He laughed "No, she won't she's liked you for you the whole time just ell her."

"Yes she will. What kind of person doesn't have sex for thirty years? And I am about to turn thirty one. If I turn thirty one without having sex, that's really pathetic."

"Then don't tell her. Just have sex with her. Give it to her really good."

I shrugged with a deep sigh "I don't know how to do that."

"You might get lucky. You might be good you know since you have thirty years of sexual energy stored up there is a chance that it might not last very long though." He smirked.

"This is what I was worried about. If I am honest, she'll think I am defective. If I have sex it will be bad and she won't want to be with me. I'll never get a second chance."

Jay held Hold on, relax. I am going to give you some advice right now. And I want you to just take it because I know what I am talking about. I took my girlfriend for granted. I didn't appreciate her. I didn't accept that she was the best person I could ever dream of. And because of that, I almost lost her. But now that I have been honest with her, we are going to have a long life together and a child."

"So you think I should just tell her everything."

"No. I think you should get it on with that girl Beth from the bookstore. Pay attention. Learn as much as you can, then use that knowledge with Ashley."

"That doesn't sound ethical."

"What, she likes you. She wants you. You would be giving her something she wants. What's unethical about that? You aren't asking her to marry you so you can steal her fortune."

"That makes sense I guess" I nod.

"I think it is what Ashley would want."

"Thank you, Jay. I know I have been tough on you, but without your advice I wouldn't have gotten this far."

"Thanks. That means a lot to me. Now go get that girl and when you're done - go get your girl and do her!"

I walk over to where Beth is putting away books. "Hey."

She turns around to face me "Hey."

"I was going to ask you to hang out after work tonight, but I heard you were busy."

"Busy with what?"

"You're busy hanging out with me after work." I grin I know she likes me because of all Jay's advise.

We arrange a time and place to get some dinner and I go home to get ready for my big date.

-x-