Ben and I spent the afternoon trying to do handstands and walkovers into the snow of the pool. It's back. It's weird being here in the snow, I can't get used to it and Ben can't do a walkover. He can run and do a back flip into the snow easy but I was afraid he would break his neck and asked him to stop. In turn he said I looked really freaky walking like a circle in slow motion back flips with an arched back and only my hands and feet touching the ground.
They teach that at the circus? He asked.
Summer camp. I could do it before I got to the circus, I told him.
When we got too cold to stay outside we headed toward the patio and Caleb appeared like a vampire. Ben was conciliatory, giving me a shove in the Devil's direction but I came back to Ben on his downswing.
I looked the Devil in the eye but my mouth went dry and my hands started to shake. Ben and I have plans to spend the afternoon, sorry.
Caleb made an oddly gracious reminder about good faith promises and then a hasty exit and Ben stared at me until we were alone again.
Bridget, did Caleb somehow force you to ask Lochlan for a truce?
No?
Because for someone who wants her freedom to go to the Devil you seemed more than a little afraid. Has Lochlan addressed this?
I'm not ready, that's all. I didn't expect them to sort through this after so long.
You bluffed.
I didn't bluff. I think I just...overshot. And now instead of an open promise I suddenly have an extra rich clingy boyfriend.
Oh MY GOD. HAHAHAHAHAHA (See the Guardians of the Galaxy 2 trailer? At the end when Drax goes DO ME NEXT HAHAHAHAA. Yeah, that's Ben.)
What's so funny? There's Lochlan back from Batman's early. Great. Ben's going to twist this because it's funny to him.
Your wife is afraid of her new boyfriend and may have bluffed, thinking you two would never make up but then you did and she doesn't want to go to him.
That's not what's happening. The longer we go in between the harder it is. I don't know if I can trust him. Or you. Or anyone for that matter. Or Ben. Especially Ben. I regard him with narrowed eyes.
This is bullshit. Lochlan says.
Yes it is. I agree.
What do we do? He asks. He's cold. He just wants to go inside.
Nothing. I'll find my courage tomorrow maybe. Or the next day.
Bridget-
It's fine. Really!
But they both look at me like I'm crazy, which is nothing new either.
