A Step Up

It's complicated,

he said,

being married

to a woman

who refuses

to live with you.

He took a sip of whiskey

and stared into space

as I twirled the straw

in my drink.

I thought he was

interesting.

A co-worker

had set us up.

He'd been a clown

with the circus.

(No really, a graduate

of Clown College)

and now

he was

an actor.

Which,

I thought,

was definitely a

step up

from

abusive alcoholic.

At least,

alphabetically.

I saw him smile,

then turn his

gaze back

towards me,

as I let my

bare foot

brush against his

ankle.

A gentle,

tentative

invitation.

Enough to show interest

without arousing

immediate rejection.

I felt the embers of

desire

long dormant in my groin

begin to flicker.

Just slightly.

I smiled back

and waited for

the moment

to breach

the awkward reality

of

It's complicated.