“And?” he replied as if it were no big deal.
“We don’t know each other well,” I said.
“That can take time. Right now, just have fun. You’re still young. Go out and see who can make you feel loved and worthy. See what you like so that you can weed out what you don’t like. If you’re always hiding from the past, you’re never going to move forward.”
There was the truth. Grandpa knew about my recent relationship with Dennis.
“One flawed man doesn’t mean all of them are flawed, Eva. I mean, we all have flaws, but there are levels. Denniswas a rotten apple. Kain appears to be a decent, stable man with a plan for the future. It takes grit to run several businesses and to take care of thatfinebody.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Grandpa!” I shook my head in disbelief and amusement. I couldn’t believe I was having this conversation with him.
“What? I was young once. I know what you girls look at and wonder.” He rubbed his round belly. “I don’t have those Superman abs anymore, but other qualities make up for it. I want to make sure my favorite granddaughter finds the happiness she deserves.”
“You mean youronlygranddaughter.”
“My only and favorite,” he said. “Forgive yourself for any past mistakes, Eva. We all make them. Move on.” He shifted forward in his chair and reached over to pat my hand. “Give yourself a chance to be happy again. You have so much love to give. Don’t let it go to waste.”
I didn’t know why, but tears welled up in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. I had so much love and support around me. Why should I let one bad experience hold me back? Grandpa was right. It was time for me to start over. Relationships were like floral arrangements; if I failed at one, I could make a new one—a better one.
Maybe I had a chance with Kain, and maybe I didn’t. But I’d never know if I didn’t take the first step.
“Thank you,” I said.
“You’re welcome. Now go to class and learn how to kick butt.”
Laughing, I walked back into my bedroom.
What should I wear to self-defense class? Should I wear tights and a baggy T-shirt? Or should I wear looser knit pants? Was I overanalyzing?
I picked up my phone and texted Kain.
Eva:Hi. What should I wear for my class?Something tight or something looser?
Kain:Loose is more comfortable.
Eva:Okay. Thanks.
Kain:Miss me?
Why was I blushing? He wasn’t even in the room.
Eva:You miss me?
Kain:All the time.
A burst of warmth bloomed in me.
Eva:Just a warning. I haven’t been to the gym in a long time. Gonna be slow.
Kain:Don’t stress. I’ll take it slow.
My mind went elsewhere with this last statement.Behave, Eva.He meant the self-defense class, nothing else.
An hour later, Kain took me on a tour of his massive fitness center with a section that was currently being renovated.
“What’s going in there?” I asked, standing next to him.
He wore a navy T-shirt with the studio name on it and loose gray pants, looking handsome and irresistible. His muscular arms revealed intricate tattoos that intrigued me. What inspired a person to cover their bodies with ink? What did each of those artworks symbolize?
