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“A privately owned gym in Laguna Beach, called Fight Club United.”
Her eyes widened. “Fightclub?” She sounded so intimidated.
“It’s a special gym that trains in various types of self-defense and martial arts. I train in jiu-jitsu, boxing, and wrestling.”
“Wow!” she repeated in awe. “What’s that like?”
He had gotten into various defense sports for nearly a decade already, finding it a much more efficient and fulfilling exercise than lifting weights at the gym. “It’s cathartic and helps me stay active during my times off from traveling. I can’t have a regular schedule like most people, so it’s been difficult to keep a consistent routine with my physical health.”
She looked contemplative. “What is your schedule like? I know you travel a lot. Are you on for a few months, and then off for theothers?”
“It’s unpredictable and depends on the jobs I get. One year I’ll be away for eight months, and the next year only a few months,” he said.
“That’s quite a schedule. Do you plan to have a family later on?” She was already done with her bowl, and he was only halfway with his.
“Who knows?” He shrugged. “There are very few women who would be okay with their partners being gone that much. Even doctors are local when they’re not at home.”
Charlie clicked her tongue. “What were your relationships like, then?” When he looked at her, she shrank in embarrassment. “Sorry, don’t mean to pry. Just curious how you’d carry out relationships this way. I mean, lots of people do long distance, but the ones that make it usually have an end date, right?”
He nodded. “You’re right. Which is why I haven’t been in too many relationships. Most of the women I date know the deal. Often, they’re also in the same field, so they understand.”
She pursed her lips. “Isn’t it lonely?”
“I’m okay.”
“Are you dating anyone right now?” Realizing herself, she clapped her hands over her mouth. “Oh, you don’t have to answer that. I mean, if you are, she wouldn’t appreciate me parading around your place uninvited. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
He smirked. “You’re fine. I’m not dating anyone right now.” The last intimate relationship was with an American journalist living in London whom he’d met during his trip to Peru five years ago. They were on and off whenever he got the chance to stop by the United Kingdom, and he hadn’t spoken to her in months. She had no plans to return to the states, and he was happily settled in California.
There was an air of relief that rose from Charlie, and she reached for her glass of water to take a deep gulp. She didn’t want to deal with more drama if Rick had a girlfriend to give her trouble.
“What about you? I’m guessing it’s over with you and your fiancé?” Rick brought the spotlight back to her.
She sighed and looked away. “I’m afraid so. I can’t see how we can come back after this. His parents definitely hate me now.”
“You don’t look like you care,” he observed.
“It’s awful to say, but I don’t. I just want my freedom.”
“Have you been caged this whole time?”
“More so than I thought.”
His expression had no trace of sympathy, which she expected. Poor little rich girl, who would cry for her? Was having too much money a problem? For those who didn’t understand, it was.
“Our parents’ generation put a strong weight on marriage. It’s unhealthy and still ingrained in us to this day,” he said. “People don’t realize that marriage, love, and commitment are mutually exclusive. If you’re lucky, you can have all three, but for most of us, it’s nearly impossible.”
Wow. That was a very controversial and humanizing perspective, she thought. It had a more negative connotation, drawing Charlie to believe that he didn’t see these topics in a positive light.
“Do you not believe in them?” she asked him. “Marriage, love, and commitment?”
His chest rose, sucking in a breath before responding. “I believe you can have commitment without love, and love without commitment, and either without marriage. I trust when others say they’re in love, but it’s not for me.”
Though she also expected this response, she couldn’t help the minor disappointment. As a hopeless romantic, Charlie liked to think there was someone for everyone, so no one would be alone.
“You don’t plan on getting married?” She might overstep with the questions, but if he was responding and didn’t seem to mind…
“Not likely,” he said succinctly. “I don’t have positiveexamples. My parents’ history. I don’t know if Alex told you. Most people I know have been divorced. Aren’t your parents divorced?”
