Entangled Love by Jessica Gray Page B

getting thoroughly confused. While he was here? Wasn’t he scheduled to leave in a few days time? “I don’t understand. I thought you were leaving this weekend.”
     
    “David called me this afternoon to check on our progress and has asked me to stay here and managed the project to completion. I’ll be securing office space next week and looking for more permanent housing as well.”
     
    Evelyn was floored and overjoyed by his news. Michael wasn’t leaving! But Michael wasn’t giving her the warm and fuzzy vibes she always assumed would come with a romantic relationship. “So you’re going to be sticking around? That’s great.”
     
    Michael watched the thoughts filter across her face. She should never play cards; she would give herself away immediately. He saw the hope bloom in her eyes and jumped to stop it in its tracks. “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page. While I really enjoyed having sex with you, and am looking forward to repeating the experience, I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”
     
    Evelyn’s mouth dropped open as his words registered.  He wanted to continue sleeping with her, but they weren’t going to have a relationship?
     
    When he saw the shock cross her face, he decided to push his agenda and gain her compliance. “I would love to spend more time with you, after work and our other commitments are finished up for the day. I do have a few boundaries that I would like to discuss with you. First, I don’t believe in letting women sleep over. I don’t care if we use your house, or you come to mine, but I find it works better when we each go our separate ways afterwards. Keep the entanglements to a minimum.”
     
    Evelyn heard the words he was saying and couldn’t believe they were coming from Michael; the Michael she had grown up knowing. Who was this cynical man who believed it was okay to have sex with someone for the sake of sating their bodies physical desires, but emotion and commitment weren’t part of the package? The Michael she had known before would have never acted this way?
     
    “Michael, I don’t know what’s going on here, but I don’t sleep around. I think you probably figured that out on your own, but what you’re suggesting sounds like sex between strangers.  Are we allowed to be friends in you little scenario? Can we grab a bite to eat together after work? Or do you just envision us showing up at the end of the day to service each other’s accounts and then going about our business?”
     
    Michael could see that Evelyn was getting upset. He shut down any part of himself that cared, and forged ahead. “I’m glad you understand what I’m suggesting. We were good together in bed, and since I’m not looking or a relationship right now, and you have your hands full with the current project, it’s the perfect solution. We will both have an available outlet for our sexual frustration without the stress or burden of a relationship.”
     
    “So, let me see if I get this right. We aren’t going to be friends. We aren’t going to have a relationship. We’re just going to jump each other’s bones whenever the mood strikes.”
     
    “Don’t be vulgar. The sex between us was amazing and you know it was. Tell me you don’t want to repeat the experience.”
     
    “Right now? Never again. I don’t do sex without the emotions. The Michael I used to know wouldn’t be able to handle sex without the emotions either. I think you’re lying to me and to yourself.” Turning around, Evelyn entered the bathroom. Closing the door, she secured the lock and then leaned upon the sink for a moment, swallowing to keep the tears at bay.
     
    After cleaning up and dressing, she sat on the edge of the tub and looked at herself in the mirror for a long time. Michael had turned a beautiful experience into something tawdry and disgusting.  She replayed his words and they didn’t ring true. The longer she sat there thinking, the more she came to the