He scoffed. “Helpfully, I’m way past any hang-ups from that relationship.”
I rolled my eyes.Yeah, right, I thought. Nobody got rid of all their breakup hang-ups, especially when it came to relationships as long-term as the one he’d been in.
“You’re telling me you don’t haveanybaggage from that relationship?”
He shook his head. “None.”
“Okay, so what was your last relationship like then? How was it different?” I felt determined to catch him out – I was feeling awfully vulnerable perched here with my midriff and lack of experience on display, and I wanted to hang him out with me at least.
“Thatwasmy last relationship.”
“Okay,” I said, “then the last person you dated, even casually?”
He shook his head again. “I don’t date.”
I frowned. “Like, at all?”
He shook his head again.
Got him.
“So you’re telling me that you don’t dateat allanymore, and that’s not baggage? Because I know you’re not having trouble pulling anyone.” I didn’t even care that it was obvious; I leaned back to take in the full, shirtless picture of Jack Evans, gesturing at his body and face. He looked like a Greek god, if they’d all had blonde hair and fewer daddy issues. I could practically hear the local population of dating app users crying out in agony at what they were missing.
“That’s right,” he said. “I just figured out what works for me. And when it comes to dating, the cost/benefit analysis just doesn’t work out.”
“Cost?” I asked, scoffing.
“People always hurt each other,” he said. “It’s human nature in romantic relationships. So I’ve built a life that means I don’t need them. I have family and friends that I love and care for, and that’s enough for me.”
I definitely didn’t mention that there were other needs friends likely wouldn’t be able to take care of, and certainly not family. I knew I wasn’t one to talk; I hadn’t exactly been in a relationship, either. But I also hadn’t written off the entire concept.
“And you can talk to those other people in your life the way you would to a partner? Chloe? Phil? Your family?”
“Sure,” he said, shrugging. “Of course I do. I mean, there’s not much to talk about. I’ve built my life to look exactly the way I want it, so there’s no drama. Nothing to bother people with.”Fuck’s sake, I thought.This guy has so many blind spots that he shouldn’t be allowed on the roads.
“And when things aren’t going well?”
“That’s the thing,” he said, plastering on a grin that felt somehow forced. “When your life is exactly the way you want it, there’s no way for it not to go well. Not enough to make a whole thing of it.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, taking in his hunched shoulders, his slight lean away from me. He was feeling super defensive, that was for sure. Clearly I’d touched a nerve. And as curious as I was, now wasn’t the time. And hell, I probably wasn’t the person. This was only the second real conversation we’d ever had.
But I couldn’t help myself being a bit sarcastic.
“Sounds like I’m not the only one due a bit of self-discovery,” I said. “Maybe you need someemotionalXP.”
Jack scowled at me, and I scowled back.
“Breakfast!” Phil’s voice called from the house, and we both turned our heads to look back in that direction.
“Look, Morgan,” Jack said as I looked back at him, “you’re barking up the wrong tree with this emotional XP stuff. If you want me to show you around a bit this summer, I’m happy to. But I promise you there’s not some big, dramatic truth to uncover here.”
I narrowed my eyes at him; I did actually like the sound of having him show me some local spots. I didn’t believe him about there being nothing to uncover; he wasn’t self-aware enough to be a credible source. But I couldn’t exactly say that to him. So instead I just nodded.
“That would be nice, thank you.”
“Great,” he said, hopping up from the rock and offering me a hand to help me down.
I paused for a moment as he grabbed his clothes from the ground and walked back up to the house, admiring again his tanned skin and golden hair. If I was going to have to push myself, try new things, then at least I’d have a bit of eye candy along the way.
