I sat on the arm of the couch in just my shimpads, socks and trainers. In a funny sort of way I gained some respect from the boys for the gall of fall...ng into the orders. They gave me the occasional can of Stella as we watched the match.The game progressed a steady 1-0 in their favour. But things turned ugly as it entered the last ten minutes. Chelsea scored two goals in quick succession and brought the cup home.The Tv was instantly turned off and the control thrown down.Lee: Fucking cheating. Pam said, ‘Tom, if you’re ready, go ahead and get the charcoal going. It’s going to be another 20 minutes before the potatoes are done.’
 I walked to the back porch and lit the briquettes. When I returned, I saw Pam and Susan hugging. I wondered what was going on. ‘Susan was just telling me about your parents and how sweet they are. I told her I couldn’t wait to meet them someday.’ I smiled but that wasn’t why they were hugging with tears in their eyes. When lunch was ready, we sat at the table. This pattern repeated for the next several days, typical of my week on/week off schedule. Come home, empty lunch pail, read e-mail, move e-mail from Annie to Annie Bullshit Folder, slumber. A couple of times, I played the DVD and masturbated to the hot coupling therein. I flirted with the other nurses at work, spoke with my girlfriend on the phone on the way to and from work, did dishes and packed my lunch each evening while waiting for the coffee to perk, and generally made my way through my. The more I've thought about it tonight, the clearer it became. I wish I had seen it as clearly beforehand."I watched her closely, worried about how she'd react to that. I needn't have worried. "That does make sense," she said seriously. "I never want to hurt you. We'll talk with them at breakfast and politely put the brakes on." She smiled wryly. "I'll want to talk with Trish before that, though."I shook my head again. "No, I told you she was fine, and I won't go back on that." I don't want you.