My Girlfriend, My Pet.

Chapter 8

"THAT'S IT?! YOU'RE NOT GONNA' SAY ANYTHING ELSE?!". Ellen, who Raiden thought was the mousy, shy type was furious as she grabbed her belongings and headed for the front door of Mike's place. "WELL?!". 

Mike opened his mouth but no words came out. The door slammed with such force that it actually shook the clear, vintage canning jars hanging from the ceiling which served as a chandelier. 

"If only she was that dedicated to her work.", Raiden quipped. 

Mike did not respond. Uh-oh, he usually did. How committed were they?! A serious relationship? 

"I didn't even sleep with her.", Mike suddenly said, as if snapping out of a trance. "Really. All we had was two pretty bad dates and I told her that it wasn't working out and we should keep things professional from now on.". 

It was extremely unlike Mike to not sleep with a girl on the first date. 

"I couldn't do it. Ever since I started hanging out with Maggie, I couldn't. I don't know what's happening man. It's like...", he trailed off. 

"It's like you actually bother about what Maggie would think and say, right?". Raiden said as he laid down two glasses of Scotch. 

"Yeah...and...it actually feels...". He downed the entire thing in one gulp. "...good. Like I don't care what Ellen or anyone else thinks. As long as Maggie's happy, I don't know, man...it kinda' filters, you know? She's happy, I'm happy.". 

Raiden tapped him on the shoulder as he took a sip. "You love Maggie, man. That's, at least to me, what love feels like.". 

Mike smiled and raised his voice three, no, five pitches higher. "Oooooh, I'm in love...". 

"Yes, you are. Try to deny it as much as possible but you're going soft, man.". As Raiden stood to get another round, a stray leg appeared in his path, nearly sending him face first into the glass coffee table. 

"Could still kick your ass, though.", Mike retaliated. 

"Keep telling yourself that.", Raiden countered as went to top up their drinks. 

Raiden had initially called Mike for help. His date was two nights away and he was out of the game for so long he knew that Mike was way more used to being in the company of women, even if he tended to treat them like objects. Or used to, at least. They were about to head out for lunch to talk it over when Ellen had come barging in, screaming her head off and accusing Mike of playing with her feelings. Raiden had wanted to tell both of them off, as both of them held equal responsibility for the mess but thought better of it. Who was he to comment when he couldn't even remember his last date. 

"Right! Time to get down to bizzzzzness.", Mike said as he sat Raiden down. "Might wanna' record this or write it down. We're gonna' be here for quite some time.". 

~~~

"Are you going to sleep with him?", Maggie poked Iona in her ribs as she was helping her to choose her outfit. 

"Uhm...I don't know. I've never done it before and I'm...I don't know, Maggie. I'm so damn nervous. I think sex is the last thing on my mind right now.", said Iona as she slipped on a dark grey long-sleeved jersey top, paired it to a simple black skirt that wasn't too short nor too long and finished with matching charcoal sneakers. 

"There...", Maggie said as she took a step back to admire her looks for tonight. "...just the right amount of sexy to get him thinking.". Iona twirled and Maggie gave her blessings. "Now remember, no matter what happens, you have total control of your body, alright? I mean that literally and when it comes to sex. If you feel like you're about to go all animal, the toilet is your best friend. Just say period cramps. As for sex, do not let him pressure you into it. He may seem like a nice guy at first but that's how men usually lure us that way. Got it?".