{"id":1917,"date":"2012-01-27T11:38:00","date_gmt":"2012-01-27T16:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/?p=1917"},"modified":"2012-01-27T11:38:00","modified_gmt":"2012-01-27T16:38:00","slug":"keeping-things-casual","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/short-stories\/keeping-things-casual.htm","title":{"rendered":"Keeping Things Casual"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Keeping<\/a><\/p>\n

After spending an entire Friday night into Saturday with Annalise in his bed, just like he had for the last four months, Greg was exhausted. The girl wore him out every time. He fell into a twilight state of drowsiness, the kind where he didn’t know for sure at any second if he was asleep or awake. But he could sense she wasn’t with him anymore, because his arms felt empty. Annalise was getting ready to leave, that meant. After four months, Greg had this pattern of hers memorized. Escape after the sex, so her conscience could pretend it never happened.<\/p>\n

He woke up from his lazy slumber to the sound of his own shower turning off. Annalise was finished, that meant. He imagined her coming out of the shower, and smiled in anticipation as he turned his body to face the doorway she would soon be coming through. She was beautiful naked, he thought as she walked into the room with nothing but a towel on her head, desire sparking even after a night and a morning of lovemaking. Even, he continued, if all he had left to look forward to was a view. The shower she\u2019d taken was her announcement that she was done with him. At least, for now.<\/p>\n

\tAnnalise sat on the bed that she\u2019d shared with him up until a half hour ago as she dressed, as her towel sprawled on the floor. Lying under the covers and still naked himself, Greg watched her as she covered herself little by little. Annalise didn\u2019t speak as she dressed. To Greg, this silence said more to him than if she had. It was like what had just happened between them before the shower was nothing. Well, why should he feel differently? Didn’t their rules of keeping things casual dictate that what went on between them was exactly that, nothing? <\/p>\n

\tSo he tried to pretend that he wasn\u2019t bothered by her lack of words. There was no reason for him to protest, because if nothing happened, nothing could be wrong. If she didn\u2019t find it worth it to tell him her feelings herself, he could do one better and not have any feelings at all. To distract himself from the silent game, Greg went for the easiest thing. He watched her dress, imagining the scene in reverse. Once she was fully clothed, he admired the curves that were even more sensual hidden (if that were possible) under the black shirt that hugged her torso, teasing with cleavage, and the tight jeans that wrapped the rest. If Annalise was trying to get him to ignore her with her silence, she really chose the wrong tactic. <\/p>\n

\t\u201cCan\u2019t you get your mind out of the gutter?\u201d she snapped, after she pulled her blue turtleneck sweater over her head to complete her transformation. In the sunlight that streamed through the windows, Greg could see her brown eyes blazing with wild fury as she met his gaze straight on, which sparked up the desire in him which had been quenched only minutes earlier. Annalise knew exactly where his mind was. An outsider might be inclined to think there was an awful lot of intimacy going on for something that was supposedly a lot of nothing. But Greg knew better. It was, after all, all about sex. They\u2019d both been clear about that. There were rules in keeping things casual.<\/p>\n

\tSo he came back with his own counterpunch. \u201cWhy? What are you bothered about? Isn\u2019t being in the gutter exactly what this is about?\u201d He made a sweeping gesture of the bed.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cOh stop it.\u201d Annalise stomped towards the bathroom, which adjoined the bedroom. \u201cI can\u2019t believe I took a shower in such a pigsty. When the hell are you going to clean this place up?\u201d The shards of her accusing voice stabbed through the air as she disappeared into the next room.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWhy should I? I hate cleaning,\u201d Greg countered just loud enough that she could hear. \u201cWhy are you so concerned? Are you going to do it for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\tAnnalise shot her head out the doorway. \u201cAre you nuts? What do you think I am, your girlfriend or something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI do think you\u2019re something.\u201d Greg said truthfully. Annalise rolled her eyes and disappeared back into the bathroom. He heard things thumping and the crashing. She seemed to be making some kind of statement by slamming down mousse bottles, hair brushes, makeup and all things girly. It amused Greg. Seeing that she wasn\u2019t there, he could afford some emotional expression. So he laughed. The pissed off drone of the blow dryer retaliated in some measly form of rebuttal. So there, it seemed to pout at him. Oh, so intimidated he felt, Greg laughed. So NOT.<\/p>\n

\tThe blow dryer stopped, and Annalise stood in the doorway with her pink cosmetic bag. \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d she demanded.<\/p>\n

\tWhoops, Greg thought. He\u2019d been a little too caught up in his own mind to keep track of things. So Greg did a mock frown to compensate. \u201cNothing at all, my dear,\u201d he drawled.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cOh, grow up.\u201d She threw the bag on the bed and headed back to the bathroom. <\/p>\n

\t\u201cWhy do I have to? Would it make a difference?\u201d He countered.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cTo do what?\u201d Annalise was flaming with rage now, cheeks red. <\/p>\n

\tGod, Greg noticed. She was so hot when she was pissed. Take those damn clothes off, and I\u2019ll tell you what it would, he thought smugly. True to form, she read him once more as her eyes narrowed with his reaction. The two of them were always on target when it came to communicating sexual innuendo. Well, wasn\u2019t that what they specialized in? <\/p>\n

\t\u201cGoddamn it. Men. All you do is think about sex.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tGreg threw the covers off the bed, letting her get the full view of him as he stood up. \u201cWhy is that a problem for you when it comes to us? We\u2019re keeping it casual, aren\u2019t we? Live in the moment, that sort of thing?\u201d He started walking to her, watching as she moved away from him. <\/p>\n

\t\u201cStop flashing your junk. I don\u2019t want any more sex today. I\u2019ve had enough to keep me satisfied for the next week or so.\u201d <\/p>\n

\t\u201cOkay, okay.\u201d Greg threw his hands up like he was some thug surrendering to a cop. He sure felt like one with this lovely interchange. But it was part of the game, nothing new here. Time to keep it going, just like every time. \u201cSo if you had enough sex to keep you satisfied, why are you being so defensive? Not enough orgasms for you and too many for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cShut up.\u201d Annalise was busy looking around the room, even though she\u2019d gotten all of her crap out of the bathroom, was fully clothed, and her pocketbook was in the living room. She was looking everywhere, but at Greg and his body. So he felt no guilt as he circled in her periphery, ignoring her sighs and her rolling eyes. If she wanted to avoid him, she could leave. The way she always did.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cCan\u2019t you just let it go?\u201d She snapped. \u201cIt\u2019s like this every time I try to leave. You can\u2019t seem to let me go. Let me be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tGreg laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re in my apartment. Just like it is, every time. Why should I \u2018let you be\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWhat, are you saying that if you were in my apartment, you\u2019d let me have my space?\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cIs that an invitation? I\u2019ll take you up on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tShe rolled her eyes. \u201cI told you, when a guy comes to my apartment, it means something. Because then he\u2019s\u2014 \u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201c\u2018Gotten into my space\u2019,\u201d Greg finished. \u201cI know. So sleeping with me for four months, then, means nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tAnnalise finally walked towards the bedroom door. \u201cI told you. I can\u2019t handle commitment right now. There\u2019s too many complications for me to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tGreg laughed as she disappeared, shoving on a pair of boxers before slamming the bureau drawer to follow her. \u201cAnd squabbling like this every time you sleep with me is a hallmark of simplicity? Are you kidding?\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cYou know what I mean.\u201d Her voice called from the living room. Greg followed the sound, standing in the bedroom doorway with his arms folded as she made a production of looking for the pocketbook that was sitting on the couch.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI don\u2019t get why you let yourself become so neurotic after we have sex like this.\u201d He stated. \u201cDo you know why? I mean, we both agreed in the beginning, it\u2019s just sex.\u201d She stopped for a moment, frozen, before she headed directly for the pocketbook. \u201cSo where are you going? Have special plans tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cGod!\u201d She whirled around. \u201cHow many people do you think I\u2019m sleeping with? Do you think I\u2019m some kind of slut?\u201d<\/p>\n

\tGregory tilted his head slowly, watching her with a grin. \u201cYou were on the naughty side just an hour ago,\u201d Annalise rolled her eyes. \u201cWhat? The Catholic school girl in you can\u2019t handle the downside of the casual sex she specifically wanted?\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cYou\u2019re such an asshole,\u201d Annalise spat as she turned away from him, heading towards the front door before spinning around to face him again. \u201cAnd for your information, it\u2019s none of your business what I\u2019m doing tonight. It\u2019s not like we\u2019re dating. I don\u2019t owe you anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cSo I\u2019ve heard,\u201d Greg replied, walking towards the door and her. \u201cWould you like to give me a kiss before you go, free bird?\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cGo to hell!\u201d Her yell was barely out before she lunged away, slamming the door shut so violently that the frame shook. Greg stood at the door for a moment, before turning away. It was a shame, he thought. He would have liked to spend the day with Annalise today. Oh well. There was good and bad in everything. Maybe next time, he thought. And there would be. There always was.<\/p>\n

\tGreg walked towards the bathroom, the steam from Annalise\u2019s shower still pervasive. The scent of her apple conditioner and sticky sweetness of her mousse still hung in the air. Dear Annalise, he thought, remembering her body on his the night before. She was such a mass of contradictions, still trying to figure out her way at thirty-three. Well, at least he could give her a night or two of pleasure to take her mind off things. It was the minimum he could do for her. Who knows? If things were different, she might even be the one for him one day. Maybe.<\/p>\n

\tHe stripped off the boxers as he reached the shower stall, turning on the hot steaming water. Too bad he\u2019d slept through Annalise\u2019s shower. He would have liked to take one with her. She knew these things about him. It was too bad she was such a mess she wound up stealing her own pleasure away from herself. <\/p>\n

\tAs the water cascaded down him, he reached for the bar soap to lather himself with it. From the corner of his eye, he caught the image of a purple bottle in the far corner of the stall. Funny, it didn\u2019t look like any shampoo he had ever used. What the hell was it?<\/p>\n

\tGreg reached over to grab it. It was one of those special goopy mixtures that girls used for conditioner when they had color treated hair. Well, that was weird. Annalise wouldn\u2019t use something like that. Fashion conscious as she was, she wasn\u2019t one of those girls who colored her hair incessantly, so it would make no sense for her to use a shampoo like this one. But Debbi was one of those girls. After a night like he’d had with Annalise it was easy to forget Debbi and her hair hangups. But now, holding the purple bottle, he remembered her.<\/p>\n

Debbi had big concerns. She never liked the fact that she wasn\u2019t born platinum blonde, so she was constantly getting her hair done, or at least so she said. In fact, that was the main thing she talked to Greg about in the two weeks they\u2019d known each other. Her hair. It was not enough bounce, so complained Debbi. Greg didn\u2019t care about the bounce in her hair, so he tended to tune her out when she rambled on like that. Debbi had enough bounce in the right places for him not to care what was going on top of her head, or in it. <\/p>\n

\tSo, Debbi must have left it here when she stayed over on Wednesday night into Thursday. Today was Saturday. Backtracking, Greg remembered in some distant corner of his mind that he\u2019d taken a shower at the gym on Friday morning, and Debbi had taken a shower after him on Thursday. That explained his overlooking the bottle. Examining it, Greg wondered if Annalise had noticed it. It sure would have explained why she was so edgy today, more so than usual after her Catholic conscience kicked in gear after a night of sexual ecstasy. <\/p>\n

\tGreg almost felt bad. Almost felt guilty, just the way Annalise did but never admitted after being with him, like he was some kind of dirt she should be ashamed of. He almost felt a pang of conscience. He almost remembered that he could fall in love with her, if only she would let him. He thought of how he had wanted her to stay, just minutes ago. But then, he didn\u2019t. Like she made it clear to him, she didn\u2019t owe him anything. So, by that standard, neither did he. It was just sex. It was all about keeping things casual. Why should he care what she felt, if she was hurt? Had she ever cared that he was?<\/p>\n

\tAnother glance at the purple color-treated conditioner bottle compelled Greg to switch his mind to more pleasant things, the hot water conspiring as it made him feel drowsy with pleasure once again. He thought of Debbi, and the simple pleasure she gave to him just the other day. He should text her, see if she was busy tonight, he thought. It would be good to fill up the evening with pleasant things. He smiled, as the water and soap washed away any memory of the night before. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After spending an entire Friday night into Saturday with Annalise in his bed, just like he had for the last four months, Greg was exhausted. The girl wore him out every time. He fell into a twilight state of drowsiness, the kind where he didn’t know for sure at any second if he was asleep […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"views":3824,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1917"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1917"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1917\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1968,"href":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1917\/revisions\/1968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1917"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1917"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jkuzmier.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}