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Nina thought back to the moment in front of her apartment after dinner with Liam, the moment when she’d wanted to invite him up, when she’d been able to imagine his naked body againsthers.
“What about the sexthing?”
“The sex thing?” Karenrepeated.
“What if things… progress?” Nina asked. “I can’t sleep with themboth.”
“Um, yes you can,” Karen said. “In fact, you should. It’s not like you’re looking for the love of your life. You just gotdivorced.”
“I am definitely not looking for love.” Opening herself up to physical contact felt fraught with peril, but opening up her heart after what she’d been through with Peter made sex look like the bunnyslope.
“There you go,” Karen said. “You’re looking to have fun, sow your wild oats. How are you supposed to know which oats you like best if you don’t try themboth?”
Nina almost choked on her crabcake.
“I’m serious, Nina. You’re forty-five years old. It’s 2018. It’s not like it was when we were young. No one’s going to think you’re a slut if you date more than one man at a time. It’s expected, and you better believe most of the men out there are doing the samething.”
“We weren’t talking about dating,” Ninasaid.
Karen waved away the comment. “Sex, dating, it’s all the same thing now. You could even try dating a woman if that sounds up your alley. Things are…loose.”
“Sounds like people are loose too,” Nina saiddrily.
“Yes, and it’s a lot more fun that way, “ Karensaid.
Nina laughed. “You’reterrible.”
“I’m honest,” Karen said. “And if you don’t take Liam up on his offer of brunch, I might call and ask him outmyself.”
“And I don’t tell him about Jack?” Ninaasked.
“Tell him what? That someone asked you to an event Saturday? You’re not sixteen, and Liam McAlister isn’t your boyfriend. Don’t say a word unless it comes up. He can ask if he’s worried about it, and if he does, you should behonest.”
Nina looked up as the waiter returned bearing theirsoup.
“Ladies.” He set the bowls in front of them. “What else can I getyou?”
“Some champagne,” Karensaid.
The waiter raised his eyebrows. “What are wecelebrating?”
“My friend’s impending escape from the bounds of her puritanical past,” Karensaid.
The waiter laughed. “Sounds like the best of all reasons forchampagne.”
Nina tuned out as he and Karen discussed the varieties of champagne available at the restaurant, but it wasn’t Karen’s explanation of the modern dating scene that replayed in Nina’s head. It wasn’t even her practical assessment of Nina’s position as a newdivorcee.
It was Karen’s mention of Nina’sage.
She was right: Nina was a grown woman. If her experience, her pain, had bought her anything it was the right to be honest about what she wanted — and to be honest when she didn’t know what thatwas.
And she didn’t know. Not specifically. But she knew she wanted to go to brunch with Liam on Sunday, and she knew she was excited for her date withJack.
She was entitled to explore bothoptions.
“Ready to celebrate?” Karen asked as the waiter walked away to get theirchampagne.
“Yes,” Nina said. “I think Iam.”
