Page 63 of Right in Front of You

“Do you?” I turned the question to him.

“Do I what?”

“Like to cuddle?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. It’s been so long since I cuddled… actually, I don’t really remember the last time I did.”

“Daisy?” I asked gently, and he nodded.

“Can I ask you a question?” I stopped scrubbing, wondering whether it was too early to pose such questions.

“Of course.” He turned in the tub to look me in the eyes.

“Does it ever get easier? You know, after you’ve gone through something so traumatic.”

I’d seen his pain on many occasions. It had faded over time, but I was sure that deep in his heart, he’d always feel a loss.

“I’m not sure if it gets easier or not, but you do learn how to cope. And it helps when you have friends who care and support you. You know as well as I do that I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you. I would have frozen to death or died of hypothermia, at least.”

“I just did what anyone else would have.”

I remembered those cold winter days so clearly that it still hurt when I thought about how close he’d come to dying.

“That’s not true and you know it. If you hadn’t taken me into your parents’ house, I would have been a permanent resident at the cemetery.”

I paused, feeling goosebumps covering my arms.

“Well, be that as it may, I’m glad you’re here today.”

“So am I, Molly. So am I.”

I finished scrubbing.

“So, you’re totally closed off to dating?” he asked.

“Carter…”

“Please don’t say anything and listen.” He turned my way again, this time shifting with his legs as well. The water swooshed around him, nearly spilling over the tub, forcing some of the suds that had been covering him up till now to the side. Oh, this was bad. Very, very bad. The bubbles almost disappeared around his navel, and I held my breath, praying that nothing else would float up.

“I’ve been a jerk in the past. I know that, and I won’t ever stop apologizing, but the timing—”

“I understand. Believe me, I do.”

“I’m going to try to do this the right way, Molly. I don’t care about the past. All I know is that I’m happy when I’m with you. I know you, but would like to get to know you even more. Would you go out on a date with me? Like a real one, not at your apartment, but where I can feel like a man and treat you the way you deserve to be treated?”

My heart was beating so fast that I was sure it would explode.

“A date?”

“Haven’t you ever been on a date? I’ve seen some of the doctors at the hospital. They’re hot.”

“Ahm, sure,” I lied. I wasn’t about to admit that at twenty-five, I’d never been on a date before. Not because I hadn’t been asked. I’d been asked plenty, but I’d never had the courage to say yes.

“So, what will it be?”

Well, I had two options here. Either agree to the date and finish this bath before any more of him peeked out, or break his heart by trying to explain to him all the reasons why I wouldn’t go out with him, while finishing the bath.

“I will go out on a date with you.”

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