She said, “I knew this would happen.”

I tried not to say it, but my stiff Johnson made me do it anyway.

“Well, why you stay with me then?”

“Because we’re friends.”

That was the wrong answer for me. I said, “You know what? That’s bullshit. You could have driven me back to my hotel and left. You didn’t have to stay the night. You’re trying to test me on purpose. And for what? That’s not friendship. That’s evil.”

Judi sat up in bed and said, “I don’t believe you. So we can’t be friends without fucking?”

I said, “Nah, we can be friends. But not like this. You’re sittin’ up in here with silky, pink panties on.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Of course it bothers me. I want them off. Right now.”

She started to smile, but I was serious. I wanted to stick her with my magic stick.

“Terrance, I already explained my situation to you. I’m just not into casual sex anymore. Now you said you were okay with that, but if you’re not, then I need to put on my things and drive on back home…. And it would be unforgivable if you made me drive home at this time of night,” she added for good measure.

It was after three o’clock in the morning. But Judi was a big girl. She could handle late night. She had driven home from plenty of late parties before, later than three, so I was tempted to call her bluff. But I didn’t.

“Go on back to sleep then,” I told her. I said it, but I didn’t mean it. I wanted her to stay up and change her mind. I still wanted her to give me a little something, or at least a blow job.

“Are you sure?” she asked me.

Yeah, I was sure all right. I was sure that I was lying to her.

I said, “Unless you wanna stay up and wrestle with me.”

Judi shook her head. “Guys,” she mumbled.

What did she mean by that?

“So now I’m just another guy. I’m not your friend anymore?” I asked her.

“Terrance, what do you think? Are you acting like a friend?”

“All I know is that I used to be a friend who was sometimes sexual,” I told her.

“Well, just look at it this way. At least I’m not giving it to any other guys. So you’re not losing out on anything.”

“And how long is this supposed to last? I mean, you’re gonna do this the rest of your life?” It was a valid question.

She said, “Of course not. I still want to have children. I still want to get married. I still wanna do a lot of things. I just need to cleanse my mind, body, and spirit for a minute. That’s all.”

I couldn’t really argue with that. Her game sounded solid. I nodded my approval.

“Okay, well, like I said, go on back to sleep then.”

Judi gave me another stare and returned my nod.