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“I wasn’t attracted to him sexually. He finally wore me down. The few times we were together were awful in so many ways. I also realize he took sex as his signal to propose.”
“I’m glad you said no.”
“So am I.”
“I’m glad you said yes to me.”
“You had a drink in your hand.” He smiled and I returned it. Then I said softly, “Saying yes to you was too easy, Jack.”
“At first, I followed you on social media. I love your snarky posts, the way you see the world.” One side of his mouth lifted in a smile. “You’re gorgeous. I started going to your profile to see what new photos you posted.”
“You wanted pictures ofme?” It was unusual to say the least.
Moving his wine out of the way, he crossed his arms on the table again. “My favorites were ones you posted at business conferences. Dressed professionally with expressions that ranged from irritated to bored to struggling not to laugh.”
He glanced down at the table. “You should probably eat something while we talk.”
In a daze, I made a small plate of olives, hummus, and shrimp. “I stalked your profile, too.”
“Not in the same way, Petra. I promise.”
Our eyes met over the small space. Quietly, I asked, “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Yes. Eat.”
Robotically, I popped an olive in my mouth and let the fact thatJack masturbated to photos of mesink into my brain.
“A few months into your relationship, I saw you downtown while I was taking city shots for a client.”
He inhaled. “You had a meeting at an outdoor café across the street from where I was set up. I was stunned to see you in person. You wereeven more beautifulthan your photos.”
“You took pictures?” He nodded. “Why?”
“Every photo I’d seen of you was secondhand. I wanted to take them personally. You’re animated when you talk. You laugh easily. It was the tipping point for me.”
He tapped his finger on the edge of my plate and I took another bite.
“Kevin and I have never gotten along. There’s a five-year age difference so I was out of the house by the time he hit puberty. I don’t know why he is the way he is but I have little tolerance for it.”
“There are three between Ava and me. We couldn’t be more different as people.”
“What he did to you…I never expected it. I didn’t know he was fucking your sister or I’d have kicked his ass. I’m sorry.”
“It should have surprised me more than it did. After the fact, I realized I should have seen it coming. I hurt his pride.”
“For the last year and a half, I’ve watched you. While you were dating my brother and after things ended. The way you handled it after he and Ava got engaged, I wouldn’t have been so reserved.”
“I wasn’t going to pretend I cared about him. They saw an opportunity to one-up me. Maybe you, too. My sister…she deliberately hurt me.” Staring out the window for a moment, I added, “She tried to do it again today.”
“I’m sorry, Petra.”
“Have you ever done this before, Jack?”
He shook his head. “Two years ago, I would have said such behavior was impossible for a man like me to even consider. I got addicted to your words and pictures, invaded your privacy when you didn’t know me.”
“I became a fantasy.”
“You became what I wanted myrealityto be. Everything I learned made me understand why our mothers thought we’d be an excellent match. You make me laugh more than any person I’ve ever met. I know you’re not perfect but you’re perfect forme.”
