“I know you said that you didn’t want another drink but I’ve poured you one.”
Gina accepted the glass of wine.
“Okay, thanks. Why does he call you Linda?”
“He likes that name. It doesn’t bother me. It’s not that different from Laura!”
“Are you fucking?”
“Charlie is, I’m not so sure if I am but I’m there”
“Jesus! If you don’t want to, that’s rape.”
“It’s not that I want to but I let him, so what’s that?”
“Fucked up, that’s what it is.”
She smiled, “Still, it’s the best relationship I’ve ever been in.”
“Why do you put up with it?”
“Love?”
“Really?”
“No! He helps me get by.”
“At the cost of a shag.”
“There are worst costs.”
“How can you, if you don’t want to that is?”
“A visit to the toilet, a finger of KY and he thinks I’m wanting him. Thankfully his dick is so small, it doesn’t hurt.”
“Fuck. That’s no way to live.”
“This brings me to something that I need to ask.”
“Anything.”
“I don’t want to. But I have to…I’m sorry.”
“You are worrying me now.
Laura began to cry.
“I’m so sorry. I’ve no-one else.”
“You know that I’m always here for you.”
“He wants something.
…A sort of show.”
Gina glowered at her, “…I don’t like where this is going.”
“I know. Neither do I. I hate myself for asking…I need someone I can trust.”
“And I won the trophy did I?”
Laura took a deep breath.
“Please. Look it would only be a bit of oral and you could fuck me with a strap-on, he’d be sitting in the corner. I’ve told him that he can’t join in. He might be wanking but I need to let him have something. I’ll see to him later”
She shook her head, “There’s no way! I couldn’t!”
“We did before.”
“That was different. You were upset and needed some comfort, and I was drunk.”
“He says that he’ll pay.”
“That’s fucking worse!”
Laura took a deep breath, “…Look, I’ll be honest with you. The custody hearing for Darren is coming up and Charlie could make life very difficult. I’d do anything to stop him throwing a spanner in the works.”
“What could he do? He’s no say in anything.”
“I know but one phone-call to Social Work and my chance of getting Darren back is gone. He’s got too much on me.”
“Like what?”
“Well drugs, and also what we are talking about. All he needs to say is that I am shagging him for money and I’m fucked.”
“Would he do that?”
“I’m not going to chance it. You’ve seen how I am without Darren, I need him. You know that. He’s ten now, in the next few years, if I’m not about, the resentment might really kick in.”
Gina sighed, “I need to say it. Charlie gives me the fucking creeps. The thought of him watching…”
“I know but once Darren is back, he’ll have no hold over me. With Darren’s allowances, I can manage. I’ll just string Charlie along for a few months and as soon as I can, his arse is out the window.”
“What if he comes after me?”
“He won’t, he knows your brothers would kill him if they ever found out. It would strictly be a one off. And I hate to say this but to be honest, I could do with the money.”
“I could give you some.”
“No! The beauty of him paying is that I don’t need to give it back.”
“You don’t need to give me it back.”
“I know but you’ve bailed me out too many times, I feel guilty. At least this way, I have some control. And you would get half. That would be a hundred each, maybe more if he is impressed.”
“Jesus! I don’t know.”
More tears fell, “I’ll understand if you say no.”
“Don’t cry, I hate to see you upset.”
“It’s Okay, you are a good friend and this isn’t your problem.”
Gina leaned forward and wiped Laura’s tears, “It’s definitely a one off?”
“Yes. Honestly.”
“Fuck.”
“Just the once Gina. It’ll get me back on my feet and back with Darren.”
“I…”
“I’ll beg if you want me to.”
“Shit!
…Okay.
…I’ll do it. But for fuck sake Laura, you need to do something about his manipulation.”
Image – Pixabay
literally stories 
Ahh! I am Impressed! What got me interested in this story was Charlie calling Laura by another name. I just posted a story about the same that had disastrous results. In your story, however, the big reveal is the very last sentence at the end. That last line took the whole focus off Charlie and on to Laura.
Well Done-
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I have said it before, but I’m always impressed by the swiftness the characters are established thus creating no confusion nor the need for attribution. As far as content, Mr. Cron merely reports the trut of his time, which is the best thing a writer can do,
LA
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*the truth as well as the goddam “trut.”
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A horrible situation, but Laura needs to take personal responsibility, and Gina should stop enabling her. (Easy for me to be judgmental from the sidelines.) The dialogue flows naturally and conveys the discomfort of the whole mess. Despite its bluntness, the piece is ultimately subtly and leaves lots of room to consider the various perspectives of the characters.
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Excellent
Great dialogue.
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As with so many stories, this shows how much I have been missing in life. I don’t put it all on Charlie, Laura for whatever reason seems to have gone along. This could be a lot longer with backstories for all three. I expect to see “Now a major movie”. Have you noticed, it is never “Now a minor movie”?
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Ironic story re: manipulation and boundaries. It’s very interesting how people can make the most outrageous requests seem reasonable. I like the way the dialogue sounds so reasonable…. it’s economics, really. Sounds like Gina herself might also be in danger from her brothers….. she’s very much taking a risk for her friend. She’s always there for her friend. No limits.
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