“Agreed,” I said, “with one very important exception.”
“You mean Dalia,” she said. “Let me come back to that one.”
“Okay.”
“So, the next thing,” she continued, “is…us. What happens to our relationship now?
I have to tell you, you’re more important in my life than you probably realize. As a best friend, as family, as someone who’s been there for me. Whatever else happens, I don’t want that to change. I couldn’t bear losing you, or even just having us be uncomfortable or awkward around each other. So, after this…we need to carry on and stay close and if anything feels weird or painful, we have to talk about it. Agreed?”
“Absolutely.” I gave her hand a re-assuring squeeze.”
“That being said,” she continued, “this isn’t the new us. We can’t have a full-on romantic relationship. I don’t think we should plan on having sex again, but I’m not totally ruling it out. But whatever happens…you can’t think of me as your girlfriend.”
“I understand,” I said. “I agree. In a different life…but not this one.”
“I know you understand,” she said, “and I’m glad you do. But I want to talk through the reasons, I think they’re important.”
“Sure, okay.”
“First, we’re different ages, different stages of life. You’ve got at least two years of school left, and I’m beyond that, at the stage where I’m trying to get my career going and get my life going.”
“Yeah…I get that. Not an impossible barrier, but difficult.”
“A bigger barrier is the family thing,” she said. “We’re cousins. First cousins. Leaving aside the legal issues, this is something that no one in the family is going to understand or accept. I know that family is as important to you as it is to me, and this would turn most if not all of the family against us.”
“I’d make that sacrifice for you if I had to,” I said. “Not disagreeing with you…just saying.”
“Honestly…me too,” she said with her big, warm smile. “But there are even bigger issues. Like sexual orientation. It might be hard to believe after last night, but I’m very comfortable with who I am: an ordinary, boring, monogamous lesbian. A couple of days a month my hormones take over and my ovaries start screaming to be hosed down with gallons and gallons of baby batter, but the other 28 or 29 days it’s long walks and scrabble and watching Netflix with my girlfriend.”
“I understand.”
“Which brings me to the most important issue. I’m in a relationship. A very, very serious one. Dalia and I are soulmates. We’re essentially married, and we might make it official. I’m happy with her, Jake. Happier than I’ve ever been.”
“And I’m very, very happy for you. And I genuinely like Dalia. And, in spite of what we did last night, I absolutely want the two of you to be together and happy for the rest of your lives. I hope you’ll consider me as best man or bridesmaid or whatever at your wedding.” She chuckled at that, but then we shared a more serious look.
“Which I think brings us to the question of what you’re going to say to her,” I said. “Or are you saying anything? I’ll keep it secret if that’s what you decide, but…”
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