fictober 2024

D3: I know you better

Sharon reflects on what happened at the Ballet with her friends

a very big thank you to TheShadowsEdge for her wonderful help

That's what friends are for

Sharon changed into her leggings and sweatshirt, her mind still going a million km/h. «You coming ?» she heard the voice of her friend, waiting for her in the living room. She gathered her courage and opened her bedroom door. She was really happy to see her two dear friends but couldn't help but find the timing oh so wrong. She couldn't keep anything from these too, nor did she want to, even if it'd sometimes make her life easier.

«Oh, here she is.» Melanie said, refilling her wine glass and Gavin's. Her long time friend gave her a once over and must have found her appearance to her liking because she did not comment on it.

«Still thinking about that handsome lieutenant of yours?» If only Gavin could have been quiet too and just started the movie. Who was she kidding, they call it movie night but never even choose a movie, let alone look at it. They talked, gossiped a bit and drank way too much wine. That's what those evenings were about.

«No..» She started, uncomfortable with lying to her two best friends but, even more uncomfortable discussing what had transpired between Andy and herself.

«I know you better…» Her friend said with a big théâtrical gesture. When Mel poked him, he corrected «We know you e on, Shar, what happened between you two? He wasn't as good in bed as you expected? Couldn't rise the…»

"Gavin", both women chastified him.

«Oh come on, girls, I know you're prudish but you got to have needs!» That was a recurring thing between them, Gavin not understanding that those two refused to discuss bedroom fun, or have any bedroom activities in Sharon's case.

"What happened, honey? You know you can tell us," Prompted the dark haired woman, her voice soft but casting a dark glare to the only man present. Gavin better be empathetic, thought Sharon's friend… Mel scooted over on the sofa and welcomed Sharon next to her, holding her hand, their legs touching as Gavin relocated to one of the orange chairs. As sexual as he was, he did not enjoy closeness like the two women.

«I …» Sharon did not know what to say, exactly. She still hasn't wrapped her mind around the previous night's events. The fact that she was having dinner with her friends tonight was just pure coincidence. She should have asked them to meet on another day, she clearly wasn't ready. She needed to sort her thoughts out to be able to express them.

«Ok, you still haven't wrapped your mind around what happened?! You don't know what you feel?» Mel smiled at the surprised look on her friend's beautiful face. «Shocked that I know you that good? You should know, after all that time, Shar…» they all chucked, alleviating the heavy atmosphere. «Walk us through what happened.»

«Mmhhh.» Sharon moved further away, needing to be alone and see her friend's face when she'll talk. «Rusty and Nicole seemed to think that Andy and I are dating. I wanted to put them on the right path but, humm, Andy agrees with them.»

After a few seconds of silence, Gavin asked «You're not dating your lieutenant?»

Sharon turned red but shook her heads no. «Ok, what have you been doing with him that whole time?» He asked without an ounce of empathy. «You're always together? Or wasn't it him?»

«We spend some time together, yes.» she said, suddenly shy and irritated.

«But you go to the movies with him, you eat at the restaurant with him one day out of two!» Says Gavin with a big gesture.

«Omg, that again? What does going to the movies and eating have anything to do with dating ? Can't friends do that? WE do that!» Said Sharon, both furious and frustrated, getting up and pacing in front of the sofa.

Gavin looked at her, a bit flabbergasted by her outburst and stayed quiet thanks to Mel's killer glare. She let her friend pace some more and when she deemed her cooled down enough, she asked: «So what do you think differs between our outings and the one you had with Andy?»

Sharon looked at her friend, surprised by her question but had to admit it was a very good one. It made her deflate like a balloon. She sat back down and thought for a second. She was grateful for their patience. They knew better than to rush her. The easy way out would be to say that Andy and her were from opposite sex, it was true but it wasn't the core of the problem. «How often we do it, maybe.» Mel nodded and Gavin moved forward in his chair, propping his head on his hands, listening attentively. «And how similar our tastes by their friends' quiet acceptance and attentive audience, she kept on. «I think Andy would like us to be more than friends. I understand that. I like him a lot. We have so much in common. We.. mmmhhh He's such a good listener and always there. Slowly by slowly, he became my best friend. I can't imagine not talking to him over the phone or in person for a whole day. He's just so… I don't know, he brightens my day.»

«And he brightens your smile, Hon.» Smiled Mel, knowingly. «Why did you not acknowledge that part before?You want more from him, right.»

«Yes.» Said Sharon without even thinking, before adding in an impulse. «No, I don't want to date.»

Gavin turned his head slightly, interested in this new development. «You don't want to date… him or anyone for that matter.»

«I don't want to date.» she confirmed. «Anyone.» Without noticing it, she finished her third glass of wine.

«Why not?» demanded Gavin. «Dating is great.»

«I don't want to … to be intimate.I don't want to lose my freedom. No.» said Sharon, shaking her head to emphasize her words.

«Let me see if I understand right. You don't want to date your handsome lieutenant because you don't want to sleep with him?! What's the point of having such a beautiful man then?» Demanded Gavin with a laugh.

«I just don't want that.» She responded, crossing her arms.

«What would you like from him that you don't already have?» Asked Mel, after shutting Gavin once more with a glare.

Sharon thought about it. In reality, she knew exactly what she'd like. The wine loosened her enough to be frank. «I'd like to cuddle. I'd like to kiss him, oh I'd like that very much. I'd like to keep on doing what we do but hold his hand too and be his in arms when I'm cold. He's always so warm and comforting.» she added with a dreaming note to her voice.

To say that Mel was surprised… but she kept on digging, smiling knowingly with Gavin. «So you've already be in his arms?»

Sharon smiled shyly, her face the one of a young girl suddenly. «Sometimes when we walk along the beach and the wind rises, he put his arm around my shoulders and draws me against him.» she sighted, those memories coming back to her, her body relaxing at the mere thought of her safe haven.

«Have you kissed, also?» Dared Melanie.

Sharon smiled sadly that time. «Only on the cheek.»

Mel came closer to her friend and took her hands, drawing her attention fully. «So Andy is kind of right. You have more than a friendship. What you want doesn't seem so crazy to me, not crazy at all. Did you talk to him about that? About your boundaries?»

Sharon shook her head no. «He used to date young women…» She was persuaded he could not envisage their relationship without the intimate part.

« Shar, he dated you for months, years even. If he wanted something else, or just sex, he would have gone away by now… » Said Mel. « He liked you too, so very much, that's very obvious in how he is with you. He's always so tender and attentive when I see you both. Don't you think talking with him about what you want and what he wants is worth it? Or are you ready to lose him for good? » she asked. Sharon had to admit that once more, her friend had a point…