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“We all change and mature,” she said. “And we need companionship too. Some more than others.”
There was a twinkle in her eyes. “Have you had a one-night stand?” he asked before he could stop himself.
“Do we need to compare notes on partners?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “Just talking.”
“I have not had one,” she said. “I don’t have a hard and fast rule when I sleep with someone for the first time. I could date someone a month before that, other times a week. I’ve had what I consider five relationships. The least amount of time was five months, the most was three years. Since I’ve been on this islandI’ve had the five-month one. Other than that it’s been dates here and there. So not an active part of my life.”
That didn’t tell him much in terms of how long it’d been since she’d slept with someone. Not that he needed to know that.
It’d been a few months for him. Life got in the way and it was what it was.
“It’s been years since I’ve had a long-term serious relationship,” he said. “Like during my residency. I’ve dated for a few months with someone, sometimes a few weeks since then but nothing much more.”
“A few months isn’t a relationship in your eyes?” she asked.
“Not serious. It doesn’t mean I’m into open relationships. I’m not sleeping with more than one person at a time.”
“Nope,” she said. “Never in my life.”
“Do you have another list that I didn’t see?” he asked, leaning in close.
She laughed and that told him it might be a yes.
“We haven’t gotten far enough through the first list,” she said.
“Oh,” he said. “We will.”
Their food was brought out and she picked up the bottle of ketchup and literally coated her fries in them. “Here's to many great adventures.”
12
NEED TO CREATE
“How did it go on your date yesterday?” Avery asked Sunday afternoon.
Her friend had stopped over for a visit after dropping Josie off at Adele’s house for a play date at the beach. This would give her a chance to talk with no big ears around.
“It was wonderful,” Laine said. She got up from where they were sitting on the deck with their lemonade and did a little spin in the sun.
“Oh boy,” Avery said. “You’re dancing.”
“This is a slow dance. I just felt I needed to get it out.”
Not like the booty popping she did last night after Carson gave her a kiss goodnight. She hadn’t wanted the night to end, but all good things must come to an end.
“Tell me all about it.”
“We went ax throwing,” she said. “You know that. Then we played video games and went to dinner at McKay’s. We talked and came back here and talked some more. I asked him in. I just didn’t want him to leave but didn’t want him to stay either. No, that’s wrong. I totally wanted him to stay but decided against it.”
“Why?” Avery asked. “I’ve never known you to hold back when you feel something or want something.”
“I know,” she said. “But something told me to take this path. Hang on.” She got up and went into the studio. There was a door from her studio to the deck and from the kitchen. She picked her sketch pad up and brought it out. “What do you see?”
“I see Carson Mills on the page. He’s smiling.”
“I don’t draw faces,” she said. “Ever. Never. Only when I was in college and it was an assignment.”
