WITH HELD

Back When.

Ethan rolled on to his side, sat up. He had two girlfriends in one go, how that happened he couldn't quite work out  - But, it had happened.    He'd definitely never planned it.      It snuck up on him.   One he saw regularly, the other was "causal".     The girls knew about each other in a round about way.

Sara liked to keep things on her terms. She had a son.    She always told him, she had to lay done the rules of what she would do and wouldn't - Her kid had to come first.   Ethan understood.    Sara was fun to be with, she was never with him long, never asked too much of him.     She was a break from everything crazy he had to deal with. Ethan always knew where he was with Sara.      Lisa on the other hand, was young and impulsive.     She was a dancer - Modern Jazz and Creative composition.

Lisa also did Classical ballet.    She'd told Ethan, it put a little structure to her upside-down world.      Ethan had grinned at her when she said it - Structure is good.      He needed that a little too!    

Both girls had their place, both thought they would get to have Ethan in the end. He would choose.     Ethan had never said he loved either one of them - But, they both knew they were special to him in their own ways.    Sara felt secure and confident, she was aiming Ethan in the direction she wanted things to be.   Even if their time together wasn't lengthy.    But, it had quality to it.      Lisa quietly hoped, she would get Ethan to a place in her life where their lives were in the right place/time.

And, he'd just propose!    (How cool would that be)

Ethan, if he was ever truthful to himself - Kept seeing a future, where things were not what they seemed.     The thoughts scared him a little.      Ethan's life had always held an element of "stranger than fiction".       He was too smart for the job he had, his life was too ridiculous for words - And, he had a lot of unexplained areas, that couldn't be revealed.

Having two women on the go - Isn't right.   Yet it worked.     But.       Thoughts of the future kept him in the present - Enjoying what he could.         Ethan slowly stood, brief trip to the bathroom (Relief)    He then made his way to his kitchen - A stiff drink would have been nice (The day already had a warm vibe)    But...An iced drink would be what he took to the kitchen table.

No sooner had he sat down, his phone was buzzing (Ethan quietly groaned to himself)

"Jack. Don't call me. Not at work, or home.   Yes, you are my friend.    But, I'm not in a "phone" mood. Or in a talking frame of mind (Ethan paused a minute.   Jack was laughing at him)    Yeah, come by.  Why not.   I'm already sweating, annnnd it's only...only?   What time is it?!    Ten?   Ooo! That's early for me on stinker hot days..."      Ethan continued talking a second, then Jack walked into his kitchen.

"Old sweaty dude!     You are up early!.."    Jack went over to Ethan's fridge and opened it for a minute..."Oh the coolness!    Gotta love it!.."           Jack then closed the fridge, opened the freezer door, pulled out the vodka bottle (Held it up to show Ethan. Grinned at him)

Ethan rolled his eyes..."Yes. Drink.   Your drinking your girlfriend.   Haha!   Said the punchline before you did!.."      It was Ethan's turn to grin back at his friend.    Jack's girlfriend was called Vodka.    Vodka Roy.

"Yoooou, my shit friend - Are a party pooper!    That's my joke, I say it to yooou!.."     Jack sat down in a chair opposite Ethan, picked up two glasses off the table (Quick cleanliness check, shrugged) poured two shot sized drinks.

"Ethan, have a nip with me.    We need to talk..."

"We never just "nip". We get rotten drunk, then break stuff.    What are we about to "discuss?"..."