Coffee House Stories  12

Prompt: "It's Too Late To Unlove Each Other"

by sloanranger

I remember giving him no more than 15 minutes the first time we met.

We were by the Mexican sushi tray at a free buffet given by the 'Less Littering in Lakeside Committee.' I disliked sushi and had no intention of eating it but I wanted to appear cool. Also, I never picked up litter – I even made a habit sometimes, of deliberate littering - but I was always up for free food.

He was very engaging, going on about gum wrappers and how people who left wet litter deserved jail time – so I agreed to a coffee with the possibility of dinner. That would have been fine were it not for his lectures to the wait-staff about their garbage disposal practices.

But hey, it was dinner.

When he asked me to move in I said, okay, but not a serious shack-up; only a trial - with a time limit – one month.

Bad move.

I mean, he paid for everything. He kept the house scrupulously clean...and he cooked every night! It was endearing. And I believe I've already established my policy regarding free food?

So one night when he said: "Wanna get married?" I was honest:

"I don't like you much but I do like watching you. And I guess it's too late to unlove each other's habits."

He looked so wan as he began pick to straighten up the room.   

"So, okay,"  I said, and threw another Kleenex on the floor.

8/4/16