Him

He hated the way she looked when he came around...he hated it that he made her worry about her hair, her nails, her dress...even her underwear. He absolutely hated it that he made he giggle and coo like a baby, especially when she was on the phone with her girl friend, Anne.

He knew her as tough...he had known her for 12 years and the one word that came to his mind when he tought of her was 'Tough'. She only said what she meant to say...she never paid more than she thought was the right price for anything, no matter how badly she liked or wanted it...when she said stop, she meant stop. She was tough.

She seemed to be loosing that edge...because of him.

He was older and bigger and possibly, better than anyone she had had in her life before...he was attractive (at least he had overheard the women in the store across the street say so) and had lots of charm; every time they had dinner together (which was more often than not), he saw how she stayed glued on him...like her life depended on every word.

He had money...and he knew she liked money a lot.

He got her expensive gifts...and for someone who never paid more than she thought was appropriate, she totally loved getting and using the over priced gifts.

He played the piano...he hadn't known her as a music lover, but she seemed to keenly anticipate the melody that flowed as his fingers sank the piano keys (either that, or she was a damn good actress)

He heard her on the phone with Anne: "If he asks me to marry him, I think I will"...how silly of her.

Would he ask her to marry him? Could he do that? Marriage would change everything...

They already shared several long nights (and days) of passion but could dey possibly do it for the rest of their lives???

He remembered the first night.

How she tried to push him away...how he persuaded her that it would be alright and that he wasn't going to hurt her. He didn't hurt her, coz when it was all done, she went down to the kitchen with the most ridiculous smile he had ever seen her wear...he was absolutely disgusted.

Marriage. 

No!...he couldn't possibly ask to marry her...that would be utter madness.

No man in his right senses would marry a woman with a jealous 12 year old son like him.