Jenny was practically dancing as she headed out for her rendezvous with Angelo. She'd thought long and hard about her decision and she thought the time was right. She was of age and she loved Angelo, so why shouldn't she show him how much?
Their relationship had progressed from casual, to not so casual. With the not so casual had come the kissing and the petting, and the petting had been increasing quite markedly over the past month or so, with Angelo pressing hard for her to go even further.
Up until now Jenny had always been wary about taking that final step but when going to bed the previous night she'd found herself wishing that Angelo was there with her. That had given her that final nudge, and tonight she'd let Angelo know.
Jenny hugged her secret to herself as she danced down the street.
"You look happy today," an irritating voice goaded her. "Let me guess. You've decided to drop that loser Angelo and are off to meet a better class of boyfriend."
Jenny flashed Paul an irritated look. Why did he have to turn up now?
"Angelo is not a loser," she snapped. "Just because you don't like him doesn't make him a loser."
"I know that," drawled Paul. "Nature did it for him, poor chap. You know, Angelo can't even spell winner, let alone be one."
"I regard that comment the same way as I regard the speaker," retorted Jenny. "Utterly insignificant."
Paul grinned. "If I'm insignificant, how can you possibly be attracted to a character like Angelo?" he asked. "Test him out some time. I'll bet he lets you down."
"Angelo and I are destined to be together," said Jenny. "All your snide remarks are irrelevant against that fact. You're just jealous because Angelo can form a loving relationship with a woman while you struggle to even get a date."
"You've nailed me," said Paul, and Jenny could tell the swine was laughing at her. "Here it is, a Friday night, and here's me, cruising the town, dateless."
Jenny blinked at that. Paul was without a date on a Friday night? Must be cold in hell tonight.
"So you're saying that Angelo and you have a loving relationship?" goaded Paul. "Somehow I suspect not. Despite everything you say, Angelo is just not your type."
"Oh, really?" snapped Jenny. "And I suppose you are?"
She winced as soon as she said it. Now she'd set herself up for a severe set-down.
Paul only laughed. "Maybe. Maybe not. Only time will tell. And I suspect that time will tell where Angelo is concerned, and probably before too much longer."
Jenny looked at Paul suspiciously. What did he mean? Did he know something?
"Are you saying that Angelo is seeing another girl?" she demanded. "I don't believe it."
"I never said any such thing," replied Paul, "and to be honest, as far as I know you're the only girl who sees anything in him."
"Then just what are you insinuating?" demanded Jenny.
"Nothing really. Just trusting my instincts. You're growing and maturing. Angelo is a wuss and you've already grown past him but don't realise it yet. I'll bet that you won't still be going out with him in a month's time."
Jenny was feeling frustrated and indignant. What did Paul know about her relationship with Angelo? Nothing, that's what. As though she'd be willing to sleep with him if they were about to break up.
A nagging little worry started to curdle in her tummy. Paul was very astute, she knew. Could he be right? And if he was, and she was sleeping with Angelo, it would be devastating. Maybe she'd better give it some more thought.
Observing Jenny pointedly ignoring him, Paul grinned.
"I'll do a deal with you, sweetheart," he said. "If you're still going out with Angelo in a month's time I'll pay for a meal for the pair of you at a restaurant of your choice. If he dumps you, or you dump him, before that, you have to go out on a date with me."
"Deal," snapped Jenny, already considering expensive restaurants, "and don't call me sweetheart."
She stalked on towards the mall where she was scheduled to meet Angelo, trying to ignore the tall figure walking next to her.
To Jenny's intense irritation, Paul was still with her when she arrived at the mall, apparently intent on following her to her meeting with Angelo.
"Why are you following me?" she demanded.
"Curiosity," Paul said calmly. "There's something different about you today and I want to see what you're like when you meet Angelo."
Something different about her? Could Paul see that she'd decided to finally sleep with Angelo? That sort of thing couldn't possibly show, could it?
"I don't know what you're talking about. There's Angelo. Go away."
Jenny waved to Angelo, smiling when he promptly spotted her and waved back. He was smiling, looking really happy to see her, almost bursting with happiness. Him, too? Could men sense when a girl wanted to have sex?
Jenny hurried over to Angelo, hoping Paul would get the message and fade away. She was surprised when Angelo took her hands instead of kissing her.
"Jenny, I've got great news," he said. "Bruce here has explained it all to me and everything is so much clearer now. Guess what? I'm gay. Bruce is my new friend."