"What a view!" she proclaimed. Her name was Ava and she and I had been dating for three months now. For this anniversary I booked a room in the hotel I worked at, because of the discount of course. I didn't love her, no she me I believe, but for now that didn't matter. I needed a fresh start. Away from mindless sex with bodies I didn't remember. Away from Marc. Tonight will be the night she and I will do it for the first time. I chose to wait. I wanted my next time to be with someone I respected. Someone I cared for. A girl I cared for.
I must say, the break from sex was easier than I had anticipated. Once Ava and I made our dating exclusive I had something to hold on to. Suddenly the thirsty single women who stared at my pants didn't look so tempting. Suddenly my balls didn't need to unload three times a week in a wet pussy. I was fine. I had changed. This was the life I wanted to lead now. Tonight I'd make love to her and I could leave all my confusion and doubts behind me.
As for Marc, he and I hadn't spoken since that wedding. I was glad to be free of him. Whatever happened in that hotel room and in that cellar were mistakes. Tricks by him to live out his disgusting fantasies. I didn't care he was gay I just can't believe he made me fuck a man's asshole. The thought made my stomach turn in revulsion. No, this was better. We were just friends. Colleagues. Nothing worth remembering happened between us. I was with Ava now.
I nodded my head to the door, signaling it was time to get our complementary dinner my boss had provided for me.
"Can't we stay? We could order in," she proclaimed. Damnit. There it was. I had seen it a couple of times but she had respected my wish to wait. A look of temptation and lust. She was so sexy in her black dress. Old me would have kneeled before her and eaten her wet. But not grown me. He could wait a bit longer. I reached out my hand, flashed that smile that always worked for some reason and took her downstairs. I didn't tell her I knew Marc was working tonight and didn't want to risk seeing him if we ordered room-service.
The hotel restaurant wasn't all that special. It was part of the old building, with broad beams at inconvenient places. There weren't enough lamps in the entire hotel to lit this dark space. Yet we had dressed it as modern as we could and for a third month anniversary it certainly sufficed. Ava smiled and talked of her work as a campaign manager. As fascinating as I found it I never quite understood what she did. She was smarter than me. I was just a simple lad. Give me a YouTube video to explain it or else I get bored. I grinned at the memory of the heated debates me and Marc had over conspiracy video's. A spark tingled in my stomach and I ignored it. I could hear his laugh as if it was beside me.
"Good evening, welcome to..." his laugh stopped in his throat. Every muscle in my body tensed up. There he was. Dressed in a cheap suit, trying to cover his rounded features of his ever unfit body. His eyes shot from me to Ava and back to me. What the fuck was he doing here? He wasn't allowed to wait tables at the restaurant.
"You're the in-house guest?" he asked with that faggy voice of him. Ava laughed confirming.
"Well the chef has a special menu prepared for you, the sommelier will come for wine recommendations. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask," he rushed through his mandatory greetings and left us as quickly as he had arrived. I shouldn't be surprised he was working waiting tables. He had such natural friendliness over him. Unlike me, with my sharp features and angry look, Marc was instantly liked by everyone. A sadness waded over me when he left the table. I didn't realize how much I missed being around him.
"Excuse me I have to go to the bathroom," I said to Ava. I turned the corner to the kitchen and saw Marc giving his tables, our table, to Olga. He left without looking and it felt like someone stomped on my heart. I had kept my distance but I didn't realize he was keeping his too. I knew he was going for a smoke so I cut through the hotel lobby to the backdoor.
Indeed, in the dirty, windowless smoking room he was burning down a sigaret faster than lighter fluid. There was the friend I knew and loved. Tortured, awkward, drowned in his own world. Was it me who was torturing him?
"Congratulations on the new job," I said, causing him to jump back into his body. "You could've told me, you know." I flashed my smile, in an attempt at reconciliation.
"Why? We're not friends anymore," he quipped. Damn. That hurt. There we went again. Him forever vulnerable and in his feelings, angering me. Didn't he understand I had to stay away to save our friendship?