Part 4
"Paul, this is Lauren. Lauren, this is Paul."
Paul reached out to shake her hand and their eyes met across the table. She was quite a stunning looking woman, with long straight blond hair and piercing green eyes. He let go of her hand and greeted Khym, then the four of them sat down at the table.
Over the next hour Paul managed to actual put Paul out of his thoughts, at least somewhat. Lauren was 27, a sports psychologist, and her and Paul seemed to share a lot of common interests. Paul was definitely attracted to her, and she obviously felt the same way about him.
"So Paul, Rich tells me that you're a bit of an artist."
"Well yeah I try. Are you interested in art?"
"I like to paint and sculpt when I get the time. I'm so busy that I don't get the chance to sit down as often as I'd like to."
Paul smiled at her.
"I know what you mean. I guess it's somewhat fortunate that I'm a bit of an insomniac, gives me those extra hours to work on my paintings and other things."
Lauren returned Paul's smile, and he felt a wave of desire wash over his body. He was about to say something else when Rich stood up.
"Well we'd better get going. Paul, you need a ride home?"
"No that's alright Rich, I might take a walk on the beach. Lauren, care to join me?"
"I'd love to Paul."
She smiled at him again and he returned it. Rich looked between the two of them and then reached over and grabbed Paul's arm.
"Paul can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure Rich."
The two men walked outside and Rich quickly turned to Paul with a look of anger across his face.
"What the fuck are you doing Paul?"
"Excuse me?"
"Look I know you're angry at Tim, but sleeping with Lauren isn't the way to solve your problems."
"Hey listen Rich, you're the one who was so desperate for me to come out to lunch, you're the one you wanted me to meet Lauren. What did you expect would happen?"
"Look Paul, you and Tim had a fight, that's not unusual. Do you really thinking sleeping with someone else is the way to fix things up?"
"Did I say anything about sleeping with her?"
Rich shook his head.
"Paul I know you well enough to know what is going to happen."
"Well so what? He said it himself, I'm a slut. I'll fuck anyone who gives me a second glance. Well Lauren gave me a second glance. I'm just proving him right."
"Paul this is not going to solve your problems with Tim, it's just going to make things worse."
"Well right now I don't think things could get much worse, Rich. So I may as well fucking enjoy myself. Now if you'll excuse me."
Paul turned to walk away, but Rich grabbed him by the arm once more and he spun back around.
"Paul don't do this, you'll regret it."
Paul shrugged him off.
"I'm sick of you and Tim telling me what to do. It's my fucking life, and if you two can't handle it then you can just stay the hell out of it, alright?"
Paul turned and walked back into the restaurant. He knew very well that Rich was right, and he was acting like a selfish prick, but at that moment he didn't really care. He walked over to Lauren, placing a hand gently at the small of her back.
"You ready to go?"
She looked up at him and smiled.
"Sure am."
Paul said goodbye to Khym and he and Lauren walked out of the restaurant. They passed Rich on the way but Paul ignored him. Rich just shook his head again as he watched the two of them leave, a look of anger and regret etched on his face.
part 5