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For all we talk about—and we chat about a lot—our past love lives have not been brought up so far.
Maybe that needs to change, though?
I could even bring the subject up tonight…but not in the car.
So, on the way home, I ask, “Do you want to come in instead of just dropping me off? It’s only ten thirty, and it is a Saturday night. We can check the scores from the earlier games.”
We’ve been keeping up on the playoff picture, so I’m not surprised when he says, “Sure. That sounds good.”
Once we’re at my house, we head down to the big game room downstairs. I turn on the TV on the wall and locate the hockey channel.
As I take a seat next to Arden on the sofa—leaving adequate space between us, of course—I decide that tonight I’m definitely going to tell him about Liam. Maybe if he knows I’m not looking for love either, he’ll realize I’m fine with his “I don’t do relationships” stance.
But first we’ll get updated on the scores and watch some hockey highlights. Otherwise, it’ll look weird that I suggested checking on the outcome of tonight’s games and then go off on a tangent.
So we’ll wait…
It feels like it takes forever, but once we’re fully updated, I mute the TV.
Here goes nothing…
Arden looks like he’s about to get up and leave, so I quickly twist to face him, curling my jean-clad legs underneath me.
Softly, I say, “Before we wrap up, can I share something with you? Would that be all right?”
He leans back on the sofa. “Um, sure, I guess.”
He looks a little concerned as to where this is going or what I’m about to bring up, so I add, “It’s nothing awful, don’t worry. I mean”—I wave my hand—“it is awful, what happened and the reason behind why I feel the way I do. But, uh…” I trail off, not knowing how to even get this talk started.
Now Arden looks utterly confused. He’s staring over at me with his brow creased.
Oh, God, I should have kept my stupid mouth shut. But it’s too late now. I have to say something.
So I blurt out, “I’ve given up on men. I just thought you should know that.”
He pauses, nodding thoughtfully, and then, smirking, he says, “So you like women now? That’s cool.”
He’s clearly teasing, trying to lighten the mood and put me at ease. It’s working, too, ’cause I do laugh.
Reaching over and smacking the exposed part of his bicep beneath the hem of his tight T-shirt, I say, “No, you silly man. I’m still attracted to men. I’m just done dating them. At least for a good, long while.”
“Ah, got it.”
Hmm, why does he not look surprised?
Narrowing my eyes, I ask, “Did Addison tell you this already?”
“Uh, actually Hayden did,” he admits sheepishly.
Wait, what?
I exhale slowly. “Oh, he did, did he?”
“Yep.”
Clearing my throat, I ask, “So I’m assuming you know all about Liam?”
“The cheater?” He looks over at me, and I nod. “Yeah, I know.”
