Crossroads Read Free Page B

thrust the flowers in one hand and the
small card in the other, hoping to distract her and occupy her
hands, to keep them from slapping me, or worse still, landing a
punch, which her angry expression lead me to believe was very
possible.
    “How am I? Let me see...
how does dirty, used, possibly pregnant... oh, and the letters STD
keep popping in my head. That's how I am.”
    I didn't know what to say... she'd thrown
the whole barrel at me in one go.
    “Real bad, would have
done. And I'm sorry..”
    “You're sorry? Are you
really?”
    “Yes, and it seems we have
some talking to do. Open the card and read it.”
    “I don't want to. And you
can have your flowers back.” She threw them at me.
    I caught them and placed them on the sofa.
Then I swiped the card from her hand and opened it and placed it
back in her hand, bringing it up to eye level. Her eyes scanned the
words. I saw a tiny thaw going on. It wasn't much to speak of but
it gave me hope.
    “What d'you want me to
say? That it's okay, everything's fine?”
    “You have no reason to
think you've been used or that I've slipped you an STD. I'm clean.
Like I told you, I'm choosy and very careful, normally. You caught
me at a weak moment.”
    I immediately realized I'd said the wrong
thing. I should have kept the useless man-trap shut.
    “Oh, I was a weak moment
was I? Wrong girl, wrong place. I'm sorry too...”
    “Don't twist my words,
read the card. I've said it all there.”
    “She read the card again.
Then looked up at me.
    “What I see is you asking
to have sex with me again. Somewhere else.”
    Damn my inability to communicate on a level
higher than my pants. But I was gonna try some more.
    “No, I'm asking for a
chance to prove I'm better than that. I'm not what you think I
am.”
    “Oh you're good. But I
know all about sweet talking guys. Words are just words. You've
said your piece, and rubbed out your guilt. You can go now. I'll
let you know if any tests prove positive.” She spat ice all over
me.
    I baulked at the idea of her being pregnant.
It wasn't the best way to begin a relationship. But whatever fate
threw at me, I'd do the right thing. “I'd stand by you whatever
happened and whatever you chose to do.”
    “Really? I find that hard
to believe.”
    Her eyes held mine in a hard stare, but her
lip trembled. I could see a glassiness in her eyes. She was upset
more than angry. I tried once more, in my limited way, to appeal to
her.
    “You don't know anything
about me. Why don't you try and learn a little before you make
judgments about things like that.” I moved toward her and picked up
her hand. I kissed it as the first tear rolled down her face. I
wiped it away with my finger and kissed the wet trace mark on her
cheek. I was feeling that pull, that need to hold and touch... I
needed to be very careful. “We'll talk about it tomorrow. I wanted
you to know I was sorry, that's all. For behaving that way. But I'm
not sorry we got intimate. It's all I've thought about since it
happened.”
    “Josh, look...” she began,
with a heavy sigh.
    “ No... listen up. I like
you. You may not like me at the moment but I hope you will. I'm
taking you out to tomorrow. Dress down, it's very casual. What you
have on will do fine. You look beautiful.” Another tear rolled down
her cheek. “Goddammit, you even cry beautiful.” I lost it for a
moment, held her close and kissed her like she was the whole reason
for my being. She started to respond and then suddenly pushed me
away.
    “No more. No more kissing.
No more compliments and flattery. No more lies. Just no more,
Josh... please?”
    I stood back raking my hands through my hair
in frustration.
    “Give me a chance? One
date... that's all I ask.”
    Her eyes held mine for a long moment. “One
date. That's all. But there's a condition.”
    “What's that?”
    “I'm bringing my sister
with me.”
    I opened my eyes in surprise.
    “I'm not sure that's a
good idea, considering what I have in