"I'm truly not in the mood to deal with you tonight Eric. What the fuck were you thinking, bringing that woman to dinner?" I hollered at him, not caring about the fact that my neighbors could probably hear every word I was saying.
He shushed me and pulled the key from the lock, pushing my door open and dragging me inside. "That's what I came to talk to you about, Cassie." Slamming the door shut behind me, he tossed the keys down on the little table just inside. "Do you have any idea of the things that your boyfriend is into? I've seen some fucked up shit in my lifetime, but I gotta say, it's way too twisted for my taste." He plopped down on the couch, opening each arm and laying them across the top of each cushion surrounding him. He then tossed his dirty feet on my coffee table like he owned the fucking place.
I knew what he was going to tell me before I even opened my mouth to ask. It did make me question how many women Jared had this kind of relationship with in the past. I knew it wasn't just myself, but was it really a long list of women? "I don't want to talk to you about this." I glared at him, angrily knocking his feet down.
"I haven't even said anything yet. Look, I just believe you should talk to Katherine. Have her tell you about the fucked up arrangement they had. He's into some pretty freaky shit Cass, and I just don't think that he's someone you should be around." He stood up and walked into the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, he took out an unopened bottle of wine, placing it on the countertop and went in search of a corkscrew. I knew exactly what he was getting at, but it was none of his business. Obviously Jared had the same sort of relationship with Katherine that he used to have with me. Eric had no idea that I was into that kind of thing, none of my friends did. He reached for a glass out of the cabinet and I clenched my jaw.
"The past is the past and I'm not interested in digging it up. I don't care what went on between them before I knew him." I spoke calmly, even though it was bothering me more than I cared to admit. God knows I've had enough shit to deal with lately from Kara, I didn't need more from Eric.
He poured himself a glass of wine and slithered his arm round me, walking us over to the couch. We sat down and chuckled as he took a sip. "No, sweetie, you don't get it. He would tie her up and do really crazy shit to her." He turned to face me. "She went into some pretty graphic detail and I have to tell you, I was shocked. She alleged that he tied her up and-"
Cutting him off, I shoved his arm off of me and rolled my eyes, not wanting to hear anymore. "This is what you came all the way over here to tell me?" I demanded. He put the glass down on the coffee table and stared at me questioningly. It was at this point that I came to realize that maybe my friendship with Eric just wasn't salvageable. If I wanted whatever this was between Jared and I to work, I was going to have to make some tough choices. I wasn't nearly as close to Eric as I was to the rest of the group. My cutting ties with him would impact my other friendships, but I believed they were strong enough to withstand the break. Besides, he crossed the line bringing Katherine to dinner.
I let out a sarcastic laugh and stood up, folding my arms across my chest. "Well? What makes you think that I even care about that?" I tried to disguise the jealousy in my voice with anger. I leaned closer, so close that my face was almost touching his. "Exactly what sort of relationship do you think I have with Jared? What do you suppose I ask him to do to me when we're all alone? You see Eric, Jared's not the crazy, twisted one, it's us, Katherine and I."
He shook his head and his nostrils flared. "I don't believe that." He stood up and something flashed beneath the surface of his hardened expression. "No way is that true."
"Believe it because it is true." I stepped forward, forcing him to take a few steps backwards. "I love to be spanked and tied up and fucked. Did you imagine I was all shy and innocent?" My lips curled into a sinister smirk. "There's a lot you don't know about me."
The expression of betrayal spread across his face and he defiantly refused to accept my admission. "You're fucking with me. Why would you want somebody to treat you that way?" He stared into my eyes with the look of disgust. "Spank you? Does he demand you call him daddy as well?"
"You're too small minded to understand, so I'll save myself the time and aggravation. Go home Eric." I knew that whatever I said to him would be repeated back to my other friends and I'd have Kara calling me nonstop, but that was okay, I had a few things to say to her anyway.
"What the hell is wrong with you? He's got you completely brainwashed into thinking you like that kind of shit. It's sick! What happed to the sweet Cassie Warren, the one who used to blush when I'd tell a dirty joke?" He downed the glass of wine before running his fingers through his short blonde hair. "You have to break it off with him and your life will return to normal."
I couldn't believe how desperate I was to have Eric at one time. And I was stupid enough to think that he wanted me too, but he only wanted me once I was no longer available. Jared came along at just the right time in my life and introduced me to things I never even knew existed, and I wasn't about to walk away now. Snatching up the glass he had just emptied, I walked toward the kitchen. "You have to go Eric. I have plans and they don't include you."
"Fine, but please promise me that you won't see him anymore." He followed behind me, watching as I washed and dried the glass before placing it back in the cabinet.
I rolled my eyes, shoving the bottle back into the fridge. "That's not going to happen. I enjoy being with him far too much and if you were truly my friend, you would respect that." I turned off the kitchen light and walked to the front door, holding it open for him. "Have a good night, Eric."
"That's it? You're seriously okay with this freak treating you like a dog?" Walking toward the open doorway, he stopped and turned to face me. "Please Cass, think about your reputation. Do you not care how this will ruin it?"
"Is that a threat, because in case you haven't realized, I actually don't give a fuck what anyone thinks about me. Goodnight." I closed the door in his face and locked it before walking to my bedroom. What he said did bother me, but not enough to stop seeing Jared.
