A Woman Lost by T. B. Markinson

thirty, but it still bothered me.
    “Don’t get too close to me.” Sarah backed away. “I just got out of the shower and you, Lizzie, need to get in.”
    I stepped closer and pulled her to me. She tried pushing me away, but when I kissed her, she gave in. Her towel fell to the ground. I moved us both toward the shower and turned on the water. She did not fight me when I pulled her in with me and fucked her up against the wall.
    Afterwards, while Sarah was getting dressed for work, she said, “I don’t know what has gotten into you these past couple of days, but I really like it.”
    Maddie and Peter left later that afternoon. I didn’t call to say goodbye. Neither did Maddie.
    * * *
    “I can’t even tell you how much our sex life has improved. It’s like we can’t get enough of each other.”
    Ethan stirred more sugar into his coffee. “You can’t have the one woman you want, so you’re trying to possess the other.”
    I stared at him, giving that a thought. “Sarah told me that one night‌—‌that I fucked her like I wanted to possess her. Is that what I am doing?”
    He wiped some crumbs off the table with a napkin. “What do you think?”
    I shook my head. “The other day, Maddie commented that I love a challenge, but she wasn’t sure yet if I liked to conquer things as well. I don’t really know what she meant by that.”
    Ethan laughed. “Yeah, right.”
    I looked at him. “What does that mean?”
    “Let’s just say that you are an extremely driven individual.”
    “Well, what’s wrong with that?” I pushed up my shirtsleeves.
    “Nothing. As long as you don’t hurt the ones you love while striving for perfection.”
    “I don’t strive for perfection.” I scoffed.
    “No … really? When’s the last time you received a grade lower than an ‘A?’ Have you ever received an A minus? I doubt it. How many honor societies do you belong to? I know you’re Phi Beta Kappa. I’m surprised you haven’t joined some bike-racing challenges yet.”
    “Listen, smarty pants, I got a ‘B’ once.” I pointed my stir stick at him.
    Ethan chuckled and shook his head. “Once. Wow, I stand corrected.” He put his palms up mockingly.
    “I’m not that uptight, you know.”
    “Oh, I know. Like you would never cry if this place ran out of chai and you didn’t get your way.” He laughed.
    “Whatever, Ethan. You know you’re more uptight than me. Have you driven home lately during work so you can take a crap in your own home?”
    When Ethan was in high school, he would drive home to take a shit. He was never very comfortable with his bodily functions, or anyone else’s. Sex was a big issue for him, since it involved fluids that grossed him out‌—‌even his own. I wondered if he ever masturbated.
    “I live across the street from the school. I can walk there.”
    We both laughed. “So we both have our issues.”
    “Fair enough. I’m going to grab another coffee. You want another?”
    “Sure. But doesn’t coffee make you want to poop? I’ll understand if you have to make a mad dash for your car.”
    “Knock it off, wise guy, or I won’t get you a chai.”
    “All right. Let’s call a truce, for the day at least.”
    “Sounds like a plan, Miss Perfect. What class did you get a ‘B’ in?”
    “Astronomy. All I wanted to do was look at the stars, but the professor wanted me to do mathematical equations.”
    “Are you saying there’s a field you haven’t conquered?”
    “Oh, shut up. Go get our drinks, and I hope your coffee gives you the shits. I would love to see you run out of here holding it in and then drive twenty minutes to Loveland.”
    “My car is souped-up for those types of emergencies.”
    “Maybe I’ll get you a police siren for Christmas.”
    “That would be awesome.”
    He wandered over to the counter to get our second round of drinks.

Chapter Seven
    “I see that you’re still riding your bike. How’s the great bike challenge going for you?”
    I didn’t have