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Nodding, she squeezed his forearm with both hands. “You don’t have to worry about any awkward moments. She knows you’re not interested in women, so—”
“Rainie—”
“Demetri is back in town,” she explained. “He wants to go out. Gwenie isn’t sure it’s a good idea. We talked about inviting him to our place, but my ex in my apartment…” On a semi-groan, her head tilted side-to-side back and forth, weighing up the possibilities. “That’s risky. If he thinks sex is guaranteed… I’m not ruling anything out, we might go to bed but—”
“Rainie!”
He’d learned a quick, sharp exclamation was the only way to interrupt the rhythm of an impending rant. Laying a hand on his cheek for a quick second, she appreciated him and put a finger to her own lips, showing she’d stay silent while he said his piece.
His eyes flicked back and forth between hers. What was he searching for? Permission? She smiled.
“Babe, I don’t want to date your roommate and I don’t think you should go out with Demetri.”
“Well, not alone,” she said. “That’s the point of the date. We’ll double date… I never thought about how great it was to have a guy friend. Now you and Gwenie can come with us and make your own assessment. At the end of the night—”
“My answer is already no,” he said. “I don’t need to meet the guy to know you shouldn’t be opening that door again.”
If they were a little further from his relationship with Lance, she might use him as an example.
Vague shouldn’t open any raw wounds. “Isn’t there anyone from your past? Anyone from your life, that if they called you up and asked you out, you wouldn’t be in the least bit curious?”
Again, he stared into her. What was with the staring? A twitch in his jaw betrayed him. He was thinking of someone. Someone specific she’d bet.
“He didn’t make you happy,” Alex said. “You told me that and said we should all strive for happiness. This guy had his chance. Now it’s time for the next guy to have a shot with you.”
She snorted. “If you haven’t noticed, they’re not exactly lining up around the block. Plenty of guys ask me out, but I’m picky. Maybe too much.”
And she was high maintenance. Expensive too. When was the last time she’d had to line up for a coffee or pay for one?
“Why do I have to say that?”
“You’re one of my best friends,” she said, raising her cup. “Should we start a kitty for this? I’ve been a complete freeloader in here.”
“Why the change of heart?” he asked, ignoring her question. “You want him back? What? Did he sell you some line about changing?”
“I don’t know that Demetri is capable of change. He’s not the kind of guy interested in personal growth.”
“But you want another chance at a future with him?”
“There’s something nostalgic about spending time with former lovers, don’t you think?”
“Nostalgic?”
“Yeah, you know how he’ll touch you, what his kiss will feel like. There’s comfort in that.” Sliding her hand down his wrist, she parted his fingers with hers to link them together. “You know what it’s like when you have that connection, when you feel the sparks, when you can just relax and feel. You don’t have to worry or plan or be self-conscious… You can just trust and hand yourself over to someone else and be trusted with their pleasure… Time stops…” She breathed out as her eyes sank shut. “I need that. I need time to stop, Alex.”
When her eyes opened, there was something intense in his probing expression.
A score of seconds passed before he spoke. “When and where,” he grumbled, surrendering to her request.
A true friend, Alex was vital to her life. Honest and loyal. On the day they met, she trashed his pants, but she couldn’t be sorry her clumsiness had brought them together.
* * *
Alex was waiting at the bar when she and Gwen arrived that Saturday. With her friend’s hand in hers, she pulled her across the room to him. Like he sensed them, he turned to smile at her before they got anywhere close.
“Beautiful,” Alex said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “I got you both the rosé.”
Her favorite. “Thank you,” she said, pulling Gwen front and center. “Alex, this is Gwenie. Gwendolyn, Alex.”
