Page 29 of Fierce-Dane

“Not much different other than the temperature,” he said. “Are you not a coffee drinker?”

“I’ll get one of those crazy fattening lattes once in awhile, but hot tea when it’s cold and mainly water other times.”

“It’s better for you. I’m trying to get my kids to see that, but they want the sweet stuff.”

One of those disagreements he and Mel had. She didn’t think it was a big deal and he did. They knew there wasn’t soda in his house or his mother’s, but if he took the kids out to eat, they were allowed to order one. His compromise was so that they didn’t think it wasn’t allowed as opposed to him just not buying it.

“I only drank water or tea as a child. Milk too, but sodas were few and far between.”

“There wasn’t much soda in my house as a kid. Not sports drinks either, though I probably drank more of them than soda in my adolescent and college years.”

“I bet you were the coffee and energy drink guy during your residency,” she said. “You wouldn’t have wanted to worry about falling asleep or being sleepy.”

“You’ve got me there. I didn’t want to do it and had more coffee than energy drinks, but some nights you did what you could to stay awake. Tell me about yourself. You know I’ve got two kids and you’ve met Tiffani. You know I’m divorced, my age and I’m a pediatrician. I feel as if I’m at a disadvantage.”

It might have been years since he’d been on a date, but he could still strike up a conversation. Or a basic one.

“I didn’t know you were divorced,” she said.

Their drinks were set on the table. “Do you want to hear the specials?” Nicole asked.

“Sure,” Sloane said.

While they were being read off, he looked at the menu that had been placed down when their drinks were ordered.

Sloane got a grilled chicken sandwich with potato saladand he went with the pulled pork special. He’d pay the price for eating something that heavy this late, but he had a bunch of work to do tonight anyway, so it’s not like he’d be sleeping any time soon.

“I’ve mentioned my ex before,” he said. “And that I only get my kids a few days a week.”

“That’s true,” she said. “But it didn’t mean you’ve been married or divorced. There are a lot of people who have children and never marry.”

“Not me,” he said. “Not that there is anything against it. My sister had her daughter before she was married.”

“I know,” she said. “I know you said you don’t judge but wasn’t sure of your situation.”

“No judgment at all.”

“You said youthoughtyou were born here. What does that mean?” she asked.

He saw she was still evading his questions so he’d have to ask direct ones.

“I was adopted when I was three months old. My parents have been very open about that. Chloe too. My parents know the names of my adoptive parents, but I’ve never asked. I didn’t care so much. I know they were young and wanted to try to raise me but then split and gave me up.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “But it sounds as if you’ve had a great life with your adoptive parents. And whether they are biological or not means nothing to me and hopefully not much to you either.”

“You have no idea what it’s like to hear that from someone.”

“Can I guess your ex maybe didn’t feel the same way?” she asked.

“I’ll answer that if you answer some questions aboutyourself. I think you’re used to asking and listening rather than telling your own side.”

She let out a little laugh. “Guilty.”

“Where are you from?”

“Tennessee,” she said.

“Do you still have family there?”

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