Cris’s apartment is soft and inviting.  Candles burn sweetly on any free flat space.  The couch is a nice, but faded fabric.  Throw pillows occupy most of the space, and a blanket sits atop the back of the couch.

Image Credit: Richard Pluck

Cris takes two foil-wrapped potatoes out of the oven.  She removes a small bowl of corn from the microwave.  The doorbell rings.

She puts the bowl down and runs to answer it.  She opens the door to Jaime holding a small plastic grocery store bag.  Cris hugs him tightly and kisses him on the lips.

JAIME: Watch it! I don’t want to get cow blood all over you.

CRIS: Romantic.

She leads him into the apartment; he closes the door behind him.

JAIME: I’m afraid I’m going to have to cancel our football watching tonight.

CRIS: Why?

She slumps downward slightly, visibly disappointed.

JAIME: I hadn’t realized that the commissioner canceled the weekend.

CRIS: Oh.  Well, I guess that was the right thing to do. You’ll just have to make it up to me then.

JAIME: How so?

He sets the bag of steaks down on the counter.

CRIS: You’ll just have to pick me up from work tomorrow and take me to lunch.

Jaime scratches his chin.

JAIME: Yeah, about that, I sort of have a meeting tomorrow.

Cris stops gathering plates and utensils and spins to face him.

CRIS: I thought you weren’t working.

JAIME: I’m not.  It’s like an exit interview thing.  There’s a lot of paperwork involved and I’ve no idea how long it will take.

CRIS: You’re not seeing someone else are you?  Because I don’t do “non-exclusive.”

JAIME: Cris, I haven’t been with another woman since Heather.

CRIS: Like “been” been?

JAIME: Yes, like that.

CRIS: Like doin’ it.

JAIME: Yes.

CRIS: How long ago was that?

JAIME: Oooh.  Two years or more, I guess.

CRIS: There’s been NOBODY in between?

Jaime takes the browned steaks out of their foil.  He grabs a fork and sticks it into the one and places it on a plate.

JAIME: No.  I don’t do “non-exclusive” either.  I don’t do one night stands.  I’m not easy.

CRIS: I have a hard time believing that you haven’t slept with anyone for that long.

Jaime stabs the next steak and places it on the other plate.

JAIME: Why?

CRIS: People don’t do that.  It’s against their biology.

JAIME: Since when did abstinence cease to be a virtue of the God-fearing?  Look, it’s not that I didn’t want to.  It’s just that I don’t sleep with those I don’t feel a strong intimate connection with.

CRIS: You’re attracted to me aren’t you?

JAIME: You’re beautiful.  I have no choice but to be attracted to you.

Jaime dishes out the corn onto each of the plates.  Cris just watches him, unconcerned with the food.

CRIS: So, you’re not seeing anyone?

JAIME: No.

CRIS: And you are attracted to me?

JAIME: I’m sensing a lot of female angst here.  Where’s this going?

CRIS: Do you feel a strong intimate connection with me?

JAIME: More and more.

CRIS: Then, why haven’t you seduced me yet?