Sorry, but I’m not ready to live together yet…
James was under the impression that Lucy was as smitten with him as he was with her, which is why her response to his suggestion to move in together took him by surprise.
“I’m sorry, but I’m just not ready to live together yet!” she said.
“But why not?”
“I don’t know, we’ve only been seeing each other for six months. It feels too soon to me…”
“Too soon? Darling, I think it’s the perfect time. We could live together, get to know each other better, and perhaps take the next step.”
“James, life isn’t a video game, it’s real life. And right now, there’s no room for cohabitation in mine. It doesn’t mean I don’t value our relationship. I just like the way things are now.”
“But I want more! I want to wake up with you every morning. I want to fall asleep with you at night. Don’t you want that too?”
“We already do that twice a week, remember? Isn’t that enough?”
“It’s not enough for me!”
“Well, if you love me, you’ll have to be patient for now.”
“I can wait if you tell me why you don’t want to. Just explain! Is that so hard?”
Lucy thought for a moment and smiled at him, deciding it was time to discuss it in more detail.
“James, let’s be honest. What does living together mean to you?”
“As I said, going to sleep and waking up together!”
“And between that?”
“What do you mean?” he asked, confused.
“Did you forget there are 24 hours in a day? You’re only talking about the nights and early mornings. What about the rest of the time?”
“We’re both at work most of the time, right?”
“Not necessarily. What about dinner or breakfast?”
“Hopefully!”
“And who would cook?”
“I’ve assumed you can’t cook!” James guessed, though he’d enjoyed her cooking many times.
“I can cook!”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Who’s going to cook? You or me?”
“Well, you sometimes and maybe me other times. Why are you worried about this?”
“Because I don’t want to turn my life into a monotonous routine, like a Groundhog Day! I don’t want to wake up early to cook for someone. I don’t want to rush from work, do the shopping, and then spend two hours in the kitchen.”
“But you sometimes cook when you stay over, right? I thought you enjoyed it…”
James looked a bit irritated. Was his girlfriend lazy?
“I do love cooking, but I’m not ready to do it every day. I enjoy coming home, tossing together a salad quickly, and that’s it. I like it when we meet a few times a week. It’s enough for me right now. Maybe one day I’ll want more, but not now.”
“You don’t love me!” James concluded.
“Oh, here we go…”
“What? Is it not true? When a woman is in love, she’s ready for anything for her partner!”
“And what about her partner? Is he ready for anything for her?”
“Of course!”
“Okay, let’s live together, BUT – all the chores are split equally. Each tidies up after themselves, we take turns cooking, and we do our own laundry. How does that sound?”
“But I’m not a good cook. You even said so!”
“Then it’s a reason to learn. You can’t always survive on pizza or burgers. I can help with the lessons!”
“I just don’t get it. Is it really that hard? Why is it easy for others? Are you saying you’re special?” James couldn’t let it go.
“If that’s what you want to believe. Sure, I’m special. I don’t wish to sacrifice my personal life for love. Not now, anyway. I’m only twenty-three. I still want to enjoy my freedom!”
“Oh, I get it! You must have another man!” James jumped to another conclusion.
“Why would I need one?” Lucy was puzzled.
“If you don’t want to live with me, then he must mean more to you!”
“Your imaginary man is more to me?” she chuckled.
“Your imaginary man! Why would I make up a man for myself?”
“Exactly, you don’t need one, so you made one up for me, right?”
“You’re completely confusing me!” he almost shouted.
“Because you’re talking nonsense! There’s nobody else! Sometimes even you are too much for me, which is why I don’t want to live together! I love my solitude and I’m not ready to give it up. Not now!”
“How can you love being alone when you’re in a relationship?” James was taken aback.
“Quite easily. Aren’t there things you like to do when no one is around?”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, read a book, watch a series, have a bath, scroll through social media, try on clothes from your wardrobe, dance in the dark!”
“Guys don’t do that!” he was outraged.
“But girls do! And I enjoy it! Right now, I’m not ready to give up the joys of single life!”
“But surely, living together has its own delights!” James was still trying to convince her.
“Such as?”
“Going to sleep and waking up together!” he repeated his sentiment.
“James, are you aware that you snore like a chainsaw?”
“What? You’ve never mentioned it! And nobody else complained!”
“Well, I can’t speak for others, but after that incident when Bill accidentally hit your nose at the barbecue a few months ago, you’ve been snoring terribly. And I did mention it! I can endure it a couple of times a week, but every day? No thanks! I’d like to occasionally get a good night’s sleep too.”
“You can’t sleep well next to me?”
“Only on the rare nights when I manage to fall asleep before you!”
“But you usually go to bed later than I do…”
“Exactly!”
“Aha, so I snore, I can’t cook, I’m not fit for cohabitation?”
“And it turns out you’re a right bore!” she couldn’t hold back.
“How am I a bore?”
“You’ve spent half an hour trying to convince me to do something I fundamentally don’t want to. Isn’t that being boring?”
“Lucy, I was actually thinking about proposing! That’s why I suggested living together!” he said, feeling hurt.
“Was I ever asking to get married?” she said with a wistful smile.
“Don’t you want to? Surely, all women want to get married!”
“Evidently, not all…”
“Or maybe you just don’t want to marry me?” he figured out.
“I don’t want marriage in general, but if we’re going by your logic, what do you have to offer a future wife? Sleeping and waking up together?”
“You’re saying I’m worthless?” James was insulted. “That I can’t offer anything?”
“You’re nearly thirty. You earn about two thousand pounds a month, live in your uncle’s dilapidated flat to avoid paying rent, shop in bargain stores, and don’t even want to buy a car because it requires maintenance!”
“Listening to you, I sound like a real catch! Why were you with me at all?”
Lucy shrugged.
“You’re attractive, well-built, funny, and an amazing lover.”
“For health?”
“And for the soul!”
“But we won’t have a family!”
“Not until you grow up, no!”
“Fine! Then I’ll withdraw my suggestion! And you know what? I’ll say something else! We’re breaking up!”
“Seriously?” Lucy responded sarcastically. “I thought you’d never suggest it! Then goodbye?” she said, waving as a reminder they were in her apartment.
“Goodbye!” he declared proudly, pulling on his trousers. “Actually, fare thee well!”
“Farewell, then!” she replied with a smile, tossing him his shirt.
James left, and Lucy turned on music, switched off the lights, and started dancing. It always helped calm her nerves and brighten her mood. She knew he’d probably be back tomorrow or the day after, but whether she’d let him in again? That was another question entirely!.
