Page 33 of Restrictions

He better not hurt her, or I’ll rearrange his pretty little face.

14

VIVIENNE

Well that was insanely awkward, and the car ride to the restaurant is even worse, filled with silence and the occasional small talk about the weather and the construction on the road to the restaurant.

When we’re seated and have ordered, the awkward level is just ratcheted up high when William grips the back of his neck, clears his throat and says, “So, you’re a mom.”

I nod my head slowly and take an anxious sip of water. “Yes. Obviously, I was young when I got pregnant.”

“Yeah. And the dad? Is he in the picture?”

“No.” I place my napkin in my lap. “He died in an accident before Sebastian was born.”

“That’s awful.” He’s seems genuine in his questioning, and I have to give him credit for not running out to his car in my driveway and taking off, but maybe he’s just too nice to do that.

“It was.”

“And Asher is his brother?”

I nod. “Yes. He’s been a godsend, really. Helped a lot.”

“Yeah, I can’t imagine you have a lot of free time.”

That’s definitely true. “I mean, I’m still human. I have to make some time for myself.”

Atleast that’s what people, the news, talk shows, parenting articles, and Asher all tell me.

“That’s true. I just didn’t think you would have too much free time at all. Three-year-olds have a ton of energy from what I’ve seen.”

I don’t get the impression he’s been around too many kids.

They bring our food out, and we eat mostly in silence, but slipping in some conversation about school. He pays the check and then drives me home.

“I had fun tonight. Thank you for going out with me, Vivienne.”

I can feel the brush-off coming. The restaurant took us over thirty minutes to get to. We waited nearly an hour to be seated and then another forty-five minutes for our dinner. We’ve been gone almost three hours, and in that time, we talked for maybe twenty minutes.

This date was most certainly not fun.

It was boring. He was bored. I was bored. And it all started when he saw I was a mother. I despise the fact that Asher was right.

I take a deep breath and place my hand on the door handle, ready for this date to be over, but something else washes over me. The need to be clear and honest as I drop my hand and turn to William. “No. It wasn’t fun.”

His eyes widen as he looks at me, panicked by my abrupt honesty. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Me having a kid is a lot.”

“I’m twenty-one. I didn’t picture becoming a dad for another ten years.”

I nod. “Right, but you aren’t becoming a dad. We could have talked about movies. Or...I don’t know, your last vacation.”

“Where was your last vacation?”

I think about that. “Sea World in San Antonio. Sebastian was really into dolphins over the summer.”

He nods. “Cool. I went to Europe.”

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