Player Haters by Carl Weber Page A

the favor. Besides, it’s always good to get a woman’s perspective when it comes to these things. Maybe you’re not looking at this right.”
    She made a good point. A damn good point.
    “Mimi, you gotta promise me you’re not gonna tell anybody about this.” I glanced at her as I said it. “We work in a very small office, which my wife used to work in. She’s still got a lot of friends whom she talks to every day. So you gotta keep this between you and me.”
    “You don’t have to worry about that. I don’t talk to those people in the office. Now stop stalling and get whatever’s bothering you off your chest. It might make you feel better.”
    “You’re probably right.” I took a deep breath before I continued. “God, I don’t even know where to begin. I guess it all started about two months ago when my wife stopped having sex with me.”
    “She stopped having sex with you?” Mimi raised an eyebrow, making me more than a little self-conscious. “Why?”
    “I honestly don’t know. That’s the million-dollar question. If I knew the answer to that, I probably wouldn’t be so stressed out right now.” I let out a disgusted sigh as I pulled in front of her building.
    “Now let me see if I understand this. Your wife just cut you off for no reason? You weren’t having any problems in the bedroom, were you? I mean, she was being satisfied, wasn’t she?”
    I gave her an insulted look. “Mimi, up until two months ago, my wife and I were having sex four times a week. And most of the time she was the one who initiated it. So I don’t think she was having a problem with my performance. I’m a very attentive lover.”
    “Is that right?” I must have embarrassed her, because she started to blush.
    “Maybe she just doesn’t think I’m attractive anymore.”
    Mimi turned her head and gave me the once-over with her eyes. “Please. I doubt that. You’re a very handsome man, Wil, and don’t act like you don’t know it. I’d probably like you a little better if you grew a mustache, but I’d jump on you if you were single.”
    Now I was the one who was blushing. I never imagined that Mimi might think I was that attractive.
    “Well, if it isn’t the sex or my looks, then what is it? Why won’t she make love to me?” I wondered out loud.
    “Don’t get offended, but have you ever given any thought that maybe your wife is having an affair? It could be another man. I mean, maybe she’s getting from someone else what she used to be getting from you.”
    I slammed my hand down on the dashboard as hard as I could. Just the thought of Diane being with another man had my blood pressure boiling. “I’m not gonna lie, Mimi, the thought did cross my mind. I mean, Diane loves sex. I can’t see her just stopping for no reason.”
    “I know I wouldn’t,” Mimi confessed.
    “You really think she’s having an affair, don’t you?”
    “Well, I don’t really know her, Wil, but I wouldn’t put it past her. The truth is, women can be slick. Much slicker than men. And if I were you, I’d be careful.” She gave me this sad look as if she were delivering bad news. “I’ve been home alone taking care of my son, like your wife is doing. It can get real boring. You crave adult attention. After a while, the UPS and the grocery man start to look good. Heck, I even started calling the chat line and using the Internet when my son’s father wasn’t home.”
    “Oh, my God, Diane’s always joking about how fine our mailman Joe is.”
    “Maybe she’s not joking,” Mimi replied in the most serious of tones.
    I was so upset my hands were shaking. I felt like I was gonna cry.
    “Hey, relax. It’s gonna be all right. We’re just speculating. We don’t know if she’s cheating or not. And if she is, I’ll be right here to support you.” Mimi reached over and took hold of my hand. “Hey, why don’t you come on up for a drink? I’ll fix you dinner.”
    “That sounds good, Mimi. Real good.” I looked over