Josephine's heart did a little flip. She smoothed her hair nervously as Stuart pulled her into a hug.
They were still on the couch, and Stuart leaned in for a kiss.
No matter how much they kissed, it never seemed enough, but eventually, Stuart pulled back.
He noticed Josephine didn't mind the hugging and kissing, but if he tried to take it further, she tensed up. Her body stiffened like it was an automatic reaction.
Stuart just held her, not pushing any further. "Josephine, are you uncomfortable with being intimate right now?" he asked.
Josephine was honest, "I don't know, but to be real, I don't like it."
"I get it, that's on me."
Before their divorce, Stuart had kept Josephine trapped and treated her terribly. It was no surprise she had some deep scars. Stuart felt a heavy guilt.
"I'm sorry," he said, holding her close. "If you're not comfortable, I won't push it."
"But," Josephine looked at him, "won't that be tough for you?"
Josephine had been wanting to talk to Stuart about this for a while.
She thought she might have some psychological issues that might never go away. If that was the case, being with Stuart would mean a sexless relationship.
Could Stuart handle that? Josephine shared her thoughts. Stuart was quiet for a few seconds before saying, "So we don't have sex? It's not a big deal, I can deal with it."
"That's easy to say," Josephine replied, "but actually doing it is really hard. We both know what you're like, you..." She couldn't bring herself to say, "You have a high sex drive."
Stuart said, "I've told you, I'm not the same as before. Now, just being with you is enough for me."
"I don't want you to force yourself."
"I'm not," Stuart said. "Two people in love don't have to have sex."
"Really?"
Stuart nodded, "Really."
Josephine wasn't convinced. Every time they kissed, his physical reaction was pretty clear.
"I know you don't believe me," Stuart said. "But we've got decades ahead of us, you'll see."
Josephine looked at him, "Do you think I have a psychological issue?"
"No."
"I think I do," Josephine said. "Will you help me find a therapist? You admit this is your fault, right? Then you should help me get better."
Stuart felt a warmth in his heart. He truly believed that as long as he was with Josephine, everything else was secondary.
But he did have a high sex drive.
He figured it wasn't unbearable; it was just a matter of dealing with some discomfort for a while, and it would pass. If it got too much, he could handle it himself.
However, Josephine was willing to see a therapist for him, which Stuart hadn't expected.
When he thought about Josephine telling the therapist everything he had done, Stuart felt uneasy. He knew he had gone too far.
Stuart knew this was something they both had to face. Since Josephine was open to seeing a therapist, Stuart had to support her.
"Okay," he said. "I'll set it up."
If they were going to do this, they should find the best.Josephine snuggled closer, "What if I never get better?"
"Then we won't have sex," Stuart said. "Look, haven't I managed so far while we've been together?"
"Enduring for a moment and enduring for a lifetime are two very different things."
"If it's for you, I can do it," Stuart said, kissing her. "Josephine, as long as you're with me, I'm happy."
That was truly how Stuart felt now.
In the afternoon, Josephine went with him to the office. Stuart couldn't focus, constantly going over to chat with her, and he even skipped some meetings he had scheduled.
Ronald gave Josephine a pleading look.
Josephine glanced at Stuart, "Get back to work, or I won't come again."
Stuart reluctantly went to his meeting.
Finally, it was time to pick up Jeffery from school. As they walked out of Stuart's office, Josephine said, "I won't come again."
Stuart looked hurt, "Why? Didn't you have a good time today?"
Josephine said, "If I come next time and you parade me around like a trophy, making me feel like I'm on display, then I definitely won't come."
"Don't worry, they all know you now, no need for introductions next time," Stuart said. "Besides, everyone shows off their love and their partner, why can't I?"
"Because no one does it as extravagantly as you," Josephine said. "It's too much. Your company has hundreds of people, right?"
"That's just a part of it," Stuart said. "By the way, there's a party in a few days, can you come with me?"
Josephine said, "Probably not, my mom has a party too and she wants me to go with her."
Stuart knew he couldn't compete with Nicole, so he said, "Alright. I'll check the party's exact time later, and if it doesn't work, I'll go by myself."
They picked up Jeffery and were about to leave when they saw Anita walking over with Bonnie.
Anita greeted them, "Josephine, Bonnie wants to play with Jeffery."
Bonnie saw Jeffery and said, "Jeffery, can you come to my house this weekend? It's my birthday!"
Anita looked down at her, "Bonnie, don't be rude."
Bonnie quickly said, "Hello." Then she looked at Jeffery eagerly.
Jeffery said, "Sorry, I have classes this weekend."
"Huh?" Bonnie was disappointed. "What class? Can't you skip it?"
"No."
Josephine quickly said, "Sorry, Bonnie, Jeffery might not have time to go, but we'll make sure he gets you a gift."
Bonnie wasn't thrilled, but the mention of a gift cheered her up a bit.
Anita coaxed her away, and Josephine watched them leave, feeling a bit puzzled.
Anita had always been proud and a bit aloof. Why was she so friendly and eager today? And inviting Jeffery to Bonnie's birthday party?
Not thinking too much about it, Josephine asked Jeffery on the way back, "Why don't you want to go to the birthday party? You don't have that many classes."
Jeffery said, "I just don't want to go, no need to waste time on something like that."
Josephine didn't agree, "But you need to make friends, how is that a waste of time?"
Jeffery said, "But I don't want her to be my friend."
Josephine wanted to say more, but Stuart chimed in, "Kids have their own thoughts, let him be."
So Josephine didn't push it further.
Soon, it was time for her to accompany Nicole to the party.