Dear Dr. Jocelyn,
It all started when I bought that damn game. Or rather when I purchased that game machine that started all the problems.
Let me slow down a bit. Dr. Jo, my name is Cherry, and I'm writing about something that occured recently and I feel I have to tell someone.
You see, my boyfriend Dan and I have lived together for about eight months. We both work full time, he in the computer industry, and I manage a cosmetics store. Although we are both in our early twenties, we have a nice townhome and get to travel to nice places when we get a break.
But that is part of the problem, we both work so much that we don't get to see as much of each other as I would like. Things got worse last year, when Dan and his buddies began playing video games in their off time. Whenever I would make it home by eight or nine at night, Dan would be gone at one of his friends.
So in an effort to keep him at home, I bought a game system for our living room. It was the worst thing I could have done. Not only would Dan play games when we were supposed to have dinner, but he would spend time on the phone looking for game tricks when he was supposed to be in bed with me.
As a result, our sex life lessened. What had been a three to four time a week occurence was down to one, maybe two nights. Sometimes it was once every two weeks. It wasn't so much the less frequent sex, but Dan was paying less attention to me than he had previously.
That said, I still thought of it as a minor annoyance. After all, Dan is a great guy. That is until the tournaments began. He would take our machine to someone else's home and hook it up and all the guys would play together. When the "playoffs" started, the guys decided our place would be a good place for the first round. For some reason, I forgot about it.
That was two weeks ago. I came home to a a living room full of seven guys playing games and making a mess. I had just worked twelve hours and my regional boss chewed me out for an accounting error I made. I was pissed.
"Dan, do you think you could clean up a little bit"
"Sure hon, just as soon as I finish this game" he said, not even bothering to look up.
He and his buddies were so engrossed in what they doing, he didn't bother to look up at my handful of groceries.
"Oh, and there is all that food you asked for in the back of my car"
"Yea hon, sure thing, I'll have anything you like"
Now I was furious, he didn't even realize I needed help with the groceries.
This didn't go unnoticed by his friend Dez. Dez was a friend he played soccer wtih, before Dan became a sedentary video game nut.
Dez popped right up, and got the groceries out of my hands.
"Hey, Cherry, let me give you a hand"
"Thanks, I'll get the other bags"
"No, no, let me get those. You just relax."
I shouldn't have been surprised. Dez was always nice, especially to women. When all of us went out to dinner with the soccer team, Dez always remembered to open the door for his date, and was sure to include her in all the conversations. Unlike most of the guys there, he didn't bother her with guy talk.
He also didn't flinch when I caught him looking at my cleavage that night. Dez just smiled and looked me straight in the eye. He made me nervous and smile all at the same time.
I finished putting up the groceries as Dez brought them in. We chatted for a bit while the guys finished up their game. I found out he was still dating the same girl from that dinner and that he was traveling to Europe for part of the summer.
When the guys dispered out, Dan was still finishing the game. Three guys took off, and two were headed out to the car. Only Dez remained.
As I walked him to the door I thanked him for helping me again.
"It was the least I could do, seeing how you were nice enough to let us use your place. And sorry about Dan, he just gets zoned in to those games"
Then he opened his arms for a hug. I did. When he broke we both paused for a second. I looked at his handsome face and wavy hair for a second...in my hesitation, he leaned down and gave me a quick peck on the lips. A quick peck that left me totally flushed.
I didn't know what to do except look in the living room. From the sofa, Dan had a clear view of the front door. When I snapped my head around, he was playing his game.
"Bye Cherry." Dez said, as he released me from his firm grip.
I was confused. Was this just a quick friendly kiss? After all, it was right in front of my boyfriend, and Dez did have a girlfriend after all. Maybe I was misinterpreting everything. But it was just the way I would catch him looking at me. Staring sometimes, and he didn't seem to hide it. But it was a friendly peck, not for an extended time. Something a friend would give another friend..something one would regularly see in Europe. Perhaps he was getting in the spirit of his trip.
And the next week went as all weeks go, me at work, Dan at work, then at home...Dan playing his video games. I had Saturday off after a long work week, and decided to run errands, which included a trip to the tanning salon.
When I returned home, I thought Dan and I could enjoy an early dinner and movie. When I saw all the cars lined up, I realized that wasn't going to be the case.
Upon entering the house, it seemed Dan had invited all the guys back for an impromptu game. When I told him I was home, he didn't even both to look up...as usual. How could he not notice me? I was wearing his favorite sun dress, tanned, had my nails painted for him, so we could enjoy a special night and maybe some fun afterwards. And as had been the case lately, he ignored me, only ackowledging my presence with a "hey babe."
I went to the kitchen to get a drink for one of the guys who asked and started to make my way back. Around the corner came Dez, apparently back from our restroom. His prescence startled me, and I felt that same flush feeling again.
"Hi Cherry, don't you look nice today." he said as he looked me up and down."
"Thanks Dez, I finally got an off day to pamper myself"
"Well it worked."
I didn't say anything more, feeling vulnerable around this him. Instead I went to give the drink to Brian, Dan's thirsty friend.
"Thanks Cherry, how have you been doing?"
