Shouldn't Be by Melissa Silvey

break it off with her.”
    “Then I will cut you off,” Levi shrugged.
    “I don’t care.”
    “And I’ll fire you,” he continued.
    “I’ll go out on my own, form my own firm.”
    “I’ll make sure you don’t get a single client,” Levi said spitefully.  “Do you remember how it ended with your last non-Jewish girlfriend?”
    Of course his father would bring that up.  Ruben frowned. 
    “If you want some Christian girl, make her your mistress.  But marry Mara.” 
    For all Ruben knew about Lyn, she probably wouldn’t mind being around to get screwed occasionally.  He’d buy her nice gifts, take her to nice hotels, and fuck her until she couldn’t walk the next day.
     
    * * *
     
    The next evening Mandy had to work, so Kaitlyn went to the bar alone.  She dressed up for him that evening.  She even had her nails done after work, fire engine red.  She also had a blow out, and a facial.  She felt pretty when she put on her favorite little black dress and expensive black heels.  The dress showed too much cleavage, but she was sure that Ben would love it.
    Ben was onstage by himself when she arrived.  He sang and played his guitar, and he was incredible.  The songs he sang were all sad, wistful love songs.  She felt sad as she listened to them, because she felt like they were all for her.  He didn’t even look at her though, until he left the stage.  Several girls tried to get his attention, but he ignored them all and walked straight to her.
    “Where are Bobby and Tommy?” Kaitlyn enquired as he sat down beside her.
    “They got into a fight and Bobby punched Tommy.  I don’t know.”  He frowned when he said it.  “Who needs them anyway?”
    She could sense he wasn’t himself, or at least not the Ben she’d gotten to know.  “Do you want to talk about it, or?”
    “Let’s just get out of here,” he said.  She followed along behind him; he didn’t even take her hand and escort her out.
    She felt bad about him spending all that money on a hotel the evening before, but she still couldn’t invite him to her place.  She didn’t know him well enough yet.
    “I’ll spring for a hotel tonight,” she offered.  He gazed at her as if she spoke a foreign language.  “I mean, because you did last night.”  He didn’t answer.  He just stared out into nothing.  “It was nice.  Thank you for doing that, and for spending all that money on me.  It was very thoughtful.”
    He turned toward her then, but his eyes were different somehow.  “I still have the room.  I’m checking out tomorrow.”
    “Okay, good,” she said.  She didn’t offer to pay again. 
    He was totally different.  When they arrived at the room, he had a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge.  He took it out, opened it, and poured a glass for her.  There was no kissing, or physical contact.  He just sat down on the couch.  He closed his eyes, and leaned his head back.  Perhaps he was tired.
    When her dad was like that, her mom gave him a massage.  She took several sips of her wine, then sat the glass down.  She approached him slowly.  He didn’t move.  She stood behind the couch, placed her hands on his forehead, and gently rubbed both hands to either side.
    He looked up at her with shock, but he said nothing.  She gave him a sweet smile, and continued.  She rubbed his forehead, his temples, and his hair.  After doing that silently for several minutes, she reached down to massage his shoulders and neck.  He leaned forward to allow her better access.
    “Take off your shirt,” she said gently.
    “Are you sure?”  His tone was different.  She didn’t understand it.
    “Yes,” she said lightly.  He slowly unbuttoned and removed it.  His body really was a marvel, all sinewy muscle and dark skin.  She continued to rub his shoulders and his back, not that she knew what she was doing.  But he didn’t complain.
    “Take off your pants,” she ordered.  His hazel eyes became slits, but he