I did not want to leave Jesse's bed. I loved being held and the warmth of our bodies. I knew my life was now changed forever. This was my first day in Boston and I couldn't believe I was in bed with a man I just met. I couldn't believe we had fucked on the kitchen floor of my apartment. I couldn't believe I actually had dinner with a man who seemed to see into my soul and knew me. Things like this happen in romance novels and in movies, but they don't happen in real life and they definitely don't happen to me-- and my mind was spinning trying to comprehend what was happening.
"Thinking again," Jesse said, lifting his head from my shoulder and smiling into my eyes.
I nodded looking into his blue eyes, noticing how they twinkled and the lines next to his eyes as he smiled. I didn't know what to say. I was still stunned by my being here and all that was happening.
"Be here," he said.
I nodded again, smiling back at him, trying to stop my mind.
"I don't believe what is happening to me. I don't believe all this is happening on my first day away from home."
He nodded, listening but didn't say anything. He just looked at me with his tender smile. I sighed, taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly. I glanced over at the table, the soup bowls pushed to one side remembering how he fucked me there. My eyes moved around the small room at the books, the green chair, the small kitchen, the loaf of bread on the counter, half sliced. I looked back at Jesse, still looking down at me, smiling.
He lowered his face and kissed me lightly. I returned the kiss. We were still silent.
"Do you believe in destiny?" I asked, breaking the silence, remembering a few of the romance novels I read.
"I don't know," he responded. "All I know is that life is mysterious." He paused. "I would like to believe in destiny and fate, but I also think everything is random, haphazard. Things just happen and there is no rational explanation."
I listened as he spoke, enjoying his thinking.
"We humans think we have to understand everything so we make up stories to explain what can't be explained. Do you know what I mean?"
"I think so," I responded, nodding.
"That's why I said stop thinking. You're trying to figure out what's happening instead of just being in the present and just enjoying."
"You're right" I nodded. "But it's hard not to think and try to make sense of everything."
"True, but when you realize that life just happens and you have little or no control, you just accept what comes your way and embrace it. That's my philosophy." He leaned down and kissed me again, lightly. "Whether our meeting like we did today was destiny or just luck, I don't know. The only thing that matters is that it happened and here we are." He kissed me again. "So let's enjoy and go hour by hour and see what happens."
"I've never met anyone like you," I said.
"You never will, either," he answered. "You will never meet anyone like me," he said. 'I know that sounds like I'm tooting my own horn—which I am, but you will see."
"What will I see?" I asked.
"I am not going to tell you what you will see, but you will know what I mean in good time."
I felt confused by his words but just listened, fascinated by the mystery he was creating.
Suddenly, he rolled off of me and sat on the side of the bed. He took my hand, looking back at me-- my head on the soft pillows.
I looked up at him, wondering what he was going to say as he looked into my eyes. He took a deep breath.
"Molly, I am almost thirty years older than you. You are young and I am happy that we have met but I don't want to get in your way or complicate your life."
"What are you saying?" I asked. "Is this a one-night stand?" I asked feeling anger rising.
"I hope not," he said.
"What do you mean you don't want to complicate my life or get in my way?"
"You've been in Boston for one day. You have to experience being free to explore what it's like to be away from home and on your own. Meet other men—younger men closer to your age."
"Are you brushing me aside?' I asked, feeling my heart pounding.
'No," he answered, taking my hand. "I'm not brushing you off. If anything I want to bring you closer by letting you go."
"Letting me go?" I blurted out. "I don't get it," I said, after a moment of being stunned by his words.
"Life has more imagination than the mind," he said, rubbing the back of my hand has he held it with his other hand.
"What's that suppose to mean?" I asked, confused and still feeing I was being rejected.
"It means you have to live and see where life takes you," he said, calmly. "Let the path unfold and take it one step at a time."
"I'm doing that. I left my town where I was a prisoner and came to Boston and I met you on my first day. I still can't believe it and now you are telling me you think I should meet other men. Why?"
He nodded, his blue eyes looking into mine, seeing how upset and confused I was.
"Why would you want me to meet other men unless you are not happy with me and this is your way of brushing me off, taking advantage of me and then saying you're letting me go for my own good. It feels like you are pushing me away."