Page 24 of Fighting Fate

“Umm…” Dorian hums, sounding confused, while Quincy knocks back the rest of her drink and Beth stares at me, stupefied by my outburst.

“He’s too good to be true, okay? That’s the problem.”

Everything Rory does always has some kind of effort behind it. Surprisingly, he’s thoughtful, and his intentions are to the point. Which only gives him the potential to get deeper under my skin and cause irreparable damage when everything falls apart.

“Right…I totally understand it…not.” Beth shakes her head at me.

This is exactly why I didn’t want to talk about it. I already know that I’m being absurd about it all. The pros outweigh the cons, but I’m entitled to protect myself from another epic fallout.

“The guy is clearly into you.” Beth’s gaze softens with a small smile. She knows why I’m being careful, which only makes her pushiness harder to understand.

“I don’t want a relationship right now. He doesn’t want a relationship.”

“Why don’t you see where it goes?” Dorian offers.

“Where can it go? Rory’s going back to the States.”

“What does it matter if you don’t want a relationship?” Quincy throws in with that sweet smile of hers that makes it impossible to bite back.

“Oooh, she got you good there!” Beth giggles. Before I can say anything, she goes on, “So he’s not your type, and neither of you wants a relationship, but maybe this is what you need.”

The suggestion isn’t new. When I met with Frank for lunch yesterday, he was very quick to point out that after the calamity with Peter, this could be a fun rebound. No strings or expectations. Nothing but a good time. I can’t deny that when I’m with Rory, Peter is a distant thought. When we’re around each other, there isn’t much thinking at all. We have an irrational pull, a tension that’s impossible to see or feel beyond.

“You’re quiet,” Dorian whispers with a squeeze of my hand.

“He asked me out on another date.”

“And?” Quincy asks just as her phone rings. “It’s Jamie. I need to answer.”

While she’s on the phone, Dorian and Beth continue waiting for my reply. Meanwhile, I’m trying to deviate the conversation to buy myself some time.

“Sounds like she’s got her hands full.” I nod towards Quincy.

“Sounds like you’re avoiding the question.” Dorian levels me with a narrowed stare that makes it very clear I’m not getting out of this.

“Big dick energy…”

Levelling Beth with a glare, I give her the middle finger. “For all you know, he has a prick.”

“I know you well enough to know that you wouldn’t want more unless it was banging.”

“What do you have to lose?” Dorian asks at the same time as Quincy announces, “I have to go. Pippa is having a meltdown because the baby was sick on her teddy, and Jenna’s washed it wrong. It’s ruined, her life is over, and her dad doesn’t care, apparently.”

“Does he care?” I find it hard to believe that the cheating arsehole cares about anything other than himself. Even if Quincy is hunky-dory with him and Jenna now, I still hate him for what he did to her, and I hate Jenna for what she did to my brother.

“The girls are being difficult for them at the minute. It’s finally sinking in that it’s not just them anymore, and they’re freaking out over every little thing. Last time, Molly got upset because Jenna gave her blanket to the baby. Before that, there was a whole deal about them not being allowed to hear the TV.”

“The man is a fucking trauma surgeon. Why can’t the prick handle it?” Beth spits with sharp venom.

“If I don’t step in now, it’s going to escalate into a massive drama with Jamie and Richard butting heads again.”

“Personally, I’d let Jamie at him.”

“Do me a favour,” she groans back at me with a glare. “Go on the date. Have all the sex you can while you can. One day, this will be you, and it doesn’t matter what or how, kids always find a way of interfering with the best-laid plans. Go have fun, and stop being a Moaning Myrtle.”

“I’m not the one holding out.”

“No, you’re just being difficult about something that’s ticking all your boxes. The man is into you enough to make an effort and not ask for anything in return. You’re the party pooper here.”

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