Page 62 of Craving Cooper

“I didn’t… but I guess I do now,” she says. “Although you’re missing the point.”

“The point being that you think the waitress has been flirting with me?”

“Yes. She has been ever since she took our order.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” I say, although she surprises me by pulling her hand away.

“Stop looking so damn pleased with yourself.”

“I’m not.” I’m really not. “And I’m telling you the truth. I hadn’t noticed her.” She lowers her head, and I feel a slight prickle of fear bubble over my skin. “Hey… look at me.” Mallory raises her head again. “Now give me back your hand.” She hesitates, but then reaches across the table, letting me take her hand in mine. “And now tell me why you don’t trust me all of a sudden, when you said you did.”

“I do,” she says quickly, turning her hand over in mine and entwining our fingers, that prickle of fear turning into a tingle of anticipation.

“Then why don’t you believe me?”

“I want to, but… she’s beautiful.”

“No. You’re beautiful.”

“I’m n—”

“Forget the damn waitress, Mallory,” I say, gripping her hand a little tighter, and wishing I could hold her in my arms instead. “I’m not interested in her. I’m not interested in anyone other than you. Okay?”

She stares at me, blinking hard, biting on her bottom lip and looking for all the world like she’s gonna burst into tears. I’m reminded of how she looked at me when I went up to her apartment on Saturday afternoon, and I wonder if I’ve said the wrong thing… or said the right thing in the wrong way, maybe.

“Did I just screw up?” I ask.

Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head. “Screw up? Of course not.”

“So I didn’t say the wrong thing? This isn’t one of those moments when I’m gonna have to ask you to cut me some slack because I’m out of my depth?”

“Not at all.”

“Then why did you look so upset?”

“I wasn’t upset. I was happy.”

“Happy?”

“Yes. No-one’s ever said anything like that to me before.”

I don’t understand why that would make her cry, but I like the idea of making her happy. “I’ll bear that in mind for the future… although it’s good to know you’re jealous.”

She narrows her eyes again, although she’s smiling. “Oh… be quiet.”

“Why? I’m jealous too.”

“What have you got to be jealous of? There are no handsome waiters here making eyes at me.”

“Which is just as well for the handsome waiters of this world. But if I’m being honest, I’m jealous because I suppose… I suppose I’d hoped that maybe, as you’re so young, you might not have…” I let my voice fade, wishing I hadn’t started this now. I know what I meant to say, but thinking it through, it sounds so presumptuous, and arrogant, and just like the version of me I’d rather not show to Mallory. The problem is, what can I do? What can I say?

“I might not have what?” she asks, and I realize there’s no way out.

“Might not have had any… any serious relationships.” Does that sound better than saying I hoped she might not have slept with anyone before? I’m not sure, and although I’m still a little worried by her reaction, her lips are twisting up into a smile, so it can’t be all bad.

“You mean you thought I might still be a virgin?” she says, in a low whisper that only I can hear.

I love her candor… and the fact that she seems to have relaxed enough to be herself around me, and I have to smile at her.

---