“And how did that go?” he asked.
“I told her I had a boyfriend.”
“I’m just hearing this now?” he said, in the same tone she used when he said the people he worked with knew about her.
She shrugged and patted his leg. “You know things are complicated with us.”
“What did she say?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way?”
“Let me guess, you told her I manage a bar and have a child I’m raising myself and she thinks you can do better?”
“When you say it like that, I feel horrible.”
“Is that how you felt when she said it?” he asked.
Her head went down. “I felt bad that she said it. Not that I believe it, just that she minimized my happiness in life. Thoseare the reasons I guess I’m the way I am. But I told myself I wasn’t letting her bring me down. And she didn’t.”
“Because you’re stronger than you want anyone to think.”
“That’s right. I am.”
She smiled at him and when they pulled onto his street, said, “It’s kind of early. I didn’t really want to call it a day, but if you’ve got plans with Jonah or want to spend it with him, I understand.”
“No plans but to spend the time with you. The three of us. Why don’t we bring your purchases back to your place? If you don’t mind, you could grab some clothes and stay the night with me.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Yeah. Why are you so shocked over the question?”
He put his blinker on and then turned to go back to her place.
“Because we haven’t spent the night together once and then there is Jonah.”
“Yeah, but he’ll be in bed upstairs and we’ll be downstairs with floors and doors between us.”
“Then I’d love to if you’re okay with it.”
“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I wasn’t.”
She smiled and ran her hand over his arm. Just to touch him again.
To feel like this is still real.
“Can I be honest with you?”
“Of course.”
“It will be the first time I’ve spent the night with a man.”
“I’m glad I’m your first then, but you’re the first woman in this house with me.”
27
STAND UP AND TAKE NOTICE
“Wow, look at you. If I didn’t know better I’d think you’d lost another bet.”
