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“How far can we go? Because from where I sit, the merging of our lives is already causing a disturbance for me.”
“For you?” I laugh. “How are you disturbed by my relationship with my daughter and her mother?”
The pot slips from her hands and clatters to the floor. We both reach down to pick it up. “Sometimes I don’t know if it’s ignorance or stupidity with you.”
We both stand, and I stare at her for a moment, wondering where the woman from this morning is. “Spit out what you really want to say, Theresa.”
She puts the pot on the counter with the dish towel. “Tonight was about us having your friend over. And as long as you live next door to her, we’ll never be able to be a real couple.”
“They just came over for dessert.”
“And you’ve been distracted since they arrived.”
“I borrowed their ice cream. It would be rude not to let them have some cake.” Maybe it’s a weak excuse, but whatever.
“You could have gone to the grocery store. You didn’t have to go next door and borrow it.”
I scrunch my eyebrows because that makes no sense. “But?—”
“See! I wanted to feel like a real couple tonight, where we entertain your friend, and I hear stories about your youth and all the stupid things you did. But instead, I got to sit at a table not understanding what you guys were saying because you were all signing.”
“I apologize. I should have done a better job filling you in, but that was only at the end of the night, Theresa. The rest of the dinner went great.”
She’s quiet, and for the first time with her, I’m not sure how to react. We’ve never had a conversation with this much honesty, at least on her part. Where do we go from here?
“I just always feel…lacking with her. Like you wish…”
“Hey.” I place my hands on her hips and pull her toward me. “Palmer and I had our moment, and we decided to remain friends and raise our daughter together. It’s the reason we live close but separate. If there was anything there, I wouldn’t be standing here with you. I’m not that type of guy.”
She looks up at me. “Really?”
“Yes. I want you here and in my life.”
Her arms slide around my middle, and she steps into me. I tighten my grip on her, and she sighs against my chest.
I look over her head at Palmer’s house, watching her shut the blinds to the window that faces my house. I inhale a breath and kiss Theresa on the head.
I like Theresa. A lot, but fuck, I’m pretty sure I just lied to her.
