“We all make mistakes,” Marr said after further reflection. “We get distracted. Do stupid things when we lose sight of what is important. The point is that it didn’t go to completion.”
“What stopped you?”
“I remembered what was at stake. Having sex with Craig last night would potentially destroy what I had already built with Dukk. I would be going backwards.”
“What if it turned out better than what you have with Dukk?”
“Unlikely,” Marr laughed. “But throwing away what you have, for the hope that what you get is better, doesn’t work in the long term.”
“Why?”
“Because you aren’t building on what you have. You are starting over each time.”
“Doesn’t it get boring?”
“What is boring, really? What causes it?”
“The same old, day in, day out.”
“Is everything you do new every time? Do you do the same things ever?”
“Of course, all the time.”
“Why?”
“Sense of comfort in some level of stability.”
“Are those activities boring?”
“No, not at all.”
“And is the intimate time with Craig boring.”
“Well, no, we have lots of mind-blowing sex.”
“So, what is the problem?”
“It is hard at times being with Craig. He gets grumpy. I get grumpy too. You know how it goes. It gets difficult.”
“Is what you are saying is that it is much easier just to avoid that? And instead to flirt and play?”
“Yes”
“So, you have gone through some tough moments together.”
“Yep.”
“What happened when you did?”
“It was great. Things got easier for a time. The sex that followed was great too.”
“So perhaps boredom is just avoidance of what is hard, but worthwhile?”
“Interesting. You are starting to sound like Tieanna. Except I’ve never spoken about sex with her. It just felt weird to talk about Craig around her.”
Marr gave that a moment then continued.
“What is needed here?”
“Stop having sex with others and see if that works?”
“Is that something you want?”
“Yes.”
“What is in the way of you trying that?”
“I fear getting hurt even more. And Craig wouldn’t do it.”
“Are you sure of that?”
“No.”
“What could you do?”
“I could suggest it to him.”
Excerpt from Rule of Twelve, Book 2 - Convergence, Chapter 15