Married Life Takes an Unexpected Turn

I could not believe that college was already over. My promise to the man I loved had seemed like one that was so distant in the future. We had known that we would get married once we completed college together ever since our sophomore years. Back then it seemed like a dream that lacked the solidarity of the real world that played around us every day. But looking around at my new apartment, my new married life, I simply couldn't believe the reality. I was no longer Ms. Jennifer Jones, but Mrs. Jennifer Hart.

The first few weeks were blissful, married life with James was what I had always dreamed of. But then, disaster struck. My husband's best friend from college asked if he could stay at our place until he secured a job or moved to another city. James didn't really ask me whether or not I was alright with it, he simply told me that he couldn't refuse Luke and that it would not be for long. I was not particularly happy with this development, no matter how short it would be, but I told him that I was fine with it.

What bothered me wasn't a lack of space in our apartment, more of a lack of privacy. We had an apartment with two bedrooms because we simply could not settle for a smaller space. Luke would be able to use the spare bedroom and we would remain in ours without too much change to our living style, but I had just gotten used to having such beautiful privacy! James and I had both been with roommates all throughout college and this was our first apartment by ourselves, now that we were actually married. I was dreading the day that our uninvited guest would be joining us.

Luke was quick to jump on 'our' offer and in only a few days he was beginning to move in. It was a Sunday and James and I were going out for the day to enjoy the beautiful August sunshine. Luke showed in the morning and we gave him our extra key to the apartment. When we all began talking that morning I instantly began to regret bearing so much malice towards him over moving in.

Luke was always the popular party guy in college. He had that look about him, a sort of man's man look that let you know he was always ready to party. Everyone seemed to love him in college, though I think if he hadn't been out partying so often he would already have gotten himself a job. I was not much of a party girl myself, and when I did go out with Luke and Jake I always noticed Luke with a different girl every time. Back then I worried it might have a bad influence on James, but now it just seemed like harmless fun. You might as well live life to the fullest, and if that was his cup of tea, I was not going to be the one to stand in his way. He graduated and got his mechanical engineering degree with my husband anyway, parties and woman notwithstanding.

Now here he was, in our apartment, telling us that he should be moved in by the time we got back. He looked more mature than I remembered him somehow. He had told James that he had put the party life behind him since he needed to find a job so badly. Now he looked like someone that you might actually hire, with a serious face and a sly smile that let you know that there was more to him than met the eye.

"You kids have fun, but don't have too much fun." He laughed. "I'll bring in my stuff and stow it away. I have a job contact that I am meeting tonight over dinner to see if I can get an interview with her company, so I made not be home when you get back."

"Oh, look at you, getting so serious on us all of the sudden." I joked at him with a smile. "Where did the old Luke go?"

"He only comes out every once and a while now... when it's time to play." He winked and we all laughed at

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THE END