Maybe next time.”The fact that this was all said as a statement, not a request, or a question for discussion, shocked me. But when I replayed events...later, I also realized that Claire’s gentle assertiveness also excited me. It played to a part of my personality that was at the core of my acceptance of this whole situation.And for the first time in a long time, I saw a look of kindness on Jason’s face as his fingers intertwined with Claire’s and he looked at me, “Thanks, Neil, man. I promise. He and Jasmine had often been romantically involved but she had most recently been dating his friend Billy and they were becoming very serious so he had no plans on changing that situation during this trip, which left him feeling the way he did.On the drive to the cabin, they stopped several times for rest stops of peeing, crapping and eating as they had done dozens of times before. Only there was one point on the drive he suddenly had feelings this trip might be the greatest in his memory. He reached for his purse, grabbed theprescription bottle, tapped out a single white pill - downing it with agulp of cold coffee. He stood, straightened his blouse, and buttoned upthe accompanying jacket. As the pill started to take effect, he caughthis reflection in the glass of his office door and a chill ran down hisback. He thought 'he could be looking at a secretary in any fashionableoffice'. A sense of calm ran through him. As an undercover man whoselife depended on looking like a. ' The words blurred as I helped her into bed. I didn't need to hold her: within five seconds her body had relaxed and her breathing had slowed and deepened. I arranged the mosquito-net carefully, lowered the blinds as quietly as possible, and tip-toed out, closing the door.I was preparing salad and wondering whether to risk a touch more garlic in the marinade when I heard sounds from upstairs. I had orange juice in the fridge and was on my way up when the toilet flushed, and she emerged from.