Sorry, I’m not ready to move in together yet…
James thought that Lucy was as in love with him as he was with her, so he was quite surprised by her response to his proposal to live together.
“Sorry, but I’m not ready to move in yet,” she said.
“Why not?”
“I don’t know, we’ve only been dating for six months. It feels too soon…”
“Too soon? Darling, I think it’s the perfect time. We’ll live together, get to know each other better, and perhaps take our relationship to the next level.”
“James, life isn’t a video game. And in my life, there’s no room for cohabitation right now; it doesn’t mean I don’t value our relationship. I’m just happy with how things are.”
“But I want more! I want to wake up with you in the mornings. I want to fall asleep together! Don’t you want that too?”
“We already do that. Twice a week, remember? Isn’t that enough?”
“It’s not for me!”
“Well, if you really love me, you’ll have to wait for now.”
“I can wait if you give me a reason! Why don’t you want to? Explain it to me! Is it that hard?”
Lucy considered for a moment, then smiled at him, deciding to discuss things in more detail.
“Let’s be honest, James. What does living together with a woman mean to you?”
“I’ve already said, falling asleep and waking up together!”
“And in between?”
“What do you mean?”
“The day has twenty-four hours, doesn’t it? You only talk about night and early morning; what about the rest?”
“The rest of the time, we’re mostly at work! Isn’t that right?”
“Why not? For example, won’t we be having dinner or breakfast?”
“Hopefully!”
“And who will be cooking?”
“You can’t cook, can you?” guessed James, mistakenly assuming, despite having tasted her dishes before.
“I can cook!”
“Then what’s the issue?”
“Who will be cooking? You or me?”
“Well, you, sometimes, and maybe me. Why are you so concerned about this?”
“James, because I don’t want my life to turn into Groundhog Day, like many of my friends! I don’t want to wake up early to make someone breakfast. I don’t want to rush from work, shop for groceries, and then spend two hours cooking dinner!”
“But you sometimes cook when you stay over, don’t you? I thought you enjoyed it.”
James looked a bit frustrated. Was his girlfriend just being lazy?
“I love cooking, but I’m not ready to do it every day yet. I enjoy coming home, whipping up a quick salad, and leaving it at that. I’m happy with seeing you twice a week, sometimes more. That’s enough for me now! Maybe someday I’ll want more, but not yet!”
“You just don’t love me!” stated James.
“Oh, here we go…”
“What? Isn’t it true? When a woman loves someone, she’s willing to do anything for them!”
“And the man? Is he willing to do everything for the woman he loves?”
“Of course!”
“Alright, let’s live together then, BUT – all household chores are split in half. Actually, everyone cleans up after themselves, cooks in turns, and does their own laundry. How about that?”
“But I’m not good at cooking. You said it yourself!”
“It’ll be a reason to learn. You can’t always eat pizza or burgers. I can help you with the lessons!”
“I just don’t get it. Why is it so hard? Why isn’t it hard for others? Are you different?”
“If you want to think that, go ahead! Let’s say I’m special. I’m not willing to sacrifice my personal life for love. Not right now. I’m only twenty-three. I want to enjoy my freedom!”
“Oh, I see! You have someone else!” James concluded with an unexpected assumption.
“And why would I need another man?” Lucy was puzzled.
“Well, if you don’t want to live with me, then he must mean more to you!”
“Your imaginary man means more to me?” she chuckled.
“Your imaginary man! Why would I create men for myself!”
“Oh, you don’t need a man, so you decided to invent one for me, right?”
“You’ve completely confused me!” he almost shouted.
“Because you’re talking nonsense! I don’t have anyone else! Sometimes even you are too much, which is why I don’t want to live together! I love my solitude and am not ready to give it up. Not now!”
“How can you love solitude when you’re in a relationship?” James was perplexed.
“Very easily. Aren’t there things you like to do when no one’s home?”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, reading a book, watching a series, taking a bath, scrolling through social media, trying on clothes from the wardrobe, dancing in the dark!”
“Guys don’t do things like that!” he was outraged.
“Well, girls do! And I enjoy it! I’m not ready to part with the simple pleasures of my single life yet!”
“But there are plenty of perks in living together!” James still tried to convince her.
“Such as?”
“Sleeping and waking up together!” he started his refrain again.
“James, are you aware that you snore like a tractor?”
“What? You never said that! No one else complained!”
“Well, I can’t speak for the others, but after you got that knock on your nose by Liam at the barbecue a few months ago, your snoring became unbearable. And by the way, I did mention it! I can tolerate it a couple of times a week, but not every day! I also want to have a good night’s sleep occasionally.”
“You can’t sleep well next to me?”
“Only in those rare moments when I manage to fall asleep before you do!”
“But you usually go to bed later…”
“Exactly my point!”
“So, I snore, I can’t cook, I’m not fit for cohabitation?”
“And as it turns out, you’re quite the bore!” she couldn’t help but add.
“Why am I a bore?”
“You’ve been trying to convince me for half an hour to do something I don’t fundamentally want to do. What is that if not being a bore?”
“Lucy, I wanted to marry you! That’s why I suggested we live together!” he said, feeling hurt.
“And did I ever say I wanted to get married?” she smiled sadly.
“Don’t you want to? Every girl wants to get married!”
“Apparently, not all of them…”
“Or you just don’t want to marry me?” he figured.
“I generally don’t want to, but if we’re thinking your way, then what can you offer a future wife? Sleeping and waking up together?”
“Are you saying I’m worthless? That I’m incapable of anything?”
“You’re almost thirty. You work for a modest salary, live in your uncle’s battered flat just to avoid paying rent, shop in discount stores, and you don’t even want a car because it costs to upkeep!”
“To hear you talk, I’m quite the catch! Then why did you date me at all?”
Lucy shrugged.
“You’re handsome, fit, funny, and quite the lover.”
“For health reasons?”
“And for the soul!”
“But there will be no family for us!”
“Until you grow up, definitely not!”
“Great! Then I’m withdrawing my offer! And you know what? I’ll say even more! We’re breaking up!”
“Seriously?” Lucy asked ironically. “I thought you’d never say it! So, goodbye?” she said, waving him off, reminding him that he was arguing in her flat.
“Goodbye!” he declared proudly, pulling on his trousers. “In fact, farewell!”
“Then farewell!” she replied with a smile, tossing him his shirt.
James left, and Lucy turned on the music, dimmed the lights, and started dancing. It always helped to calm her nerves and return to a positive mood. She knew he’d return tomorrow or the next day, but whether she’d let him back in was a different question.
