Page 16 of April

“Maybe not, but I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that we were just talking about meeting my parents, and now, the next time we’re together and I’m planning on telling you that I love you, you’re breaking up with me.”

“You were–”

“Going to tell you that for the first time tonight, yes. I’d planned on us having a romantic night, and I was going to tell you.” He sighed. “But you’re not ready, and I shouldn’t have told you now.”

“Gavin…”

“No, it’s fine. I should go. I’ll call you in a few days.”

“Don’t,” she requested. “It won’t change anything.”

He nodded and said, “You’re okay, right? What you’re going through; you’re not sick, are you?”

“No,” she replied. “I’m not sick.”

He nodded again and said, “Because I’d be there for you.”

“I know you would,” she replied and stood. “I’m sorry. You should go.”

He took a few steps toward her and said, “I’ll call you.”

Asher shook her head, but it was clear that she wasn’t getting through to him. When Gavin walked down the stairs, she stayed up for a minute longer until she heard the door close behind him. Then, she walked down, locked the front door, and went for her phone, which was on her coffee table.

???

“Why do guys always think you’re crazy when you’re dumping them?” Linden asked as she poured the rest of the wine Gavin had brought into Asher’s glass. “He really asked you if you were sick?”

“Yes,” she replied, taking the glass when Linden handed it to her. “He said that he’d give me time and space and that he’d call me in a few days. I told him not to bother because it won’t change how I feel, but he kept saying it, so I gave up.”

Linden nodded and leaned back on the couch.

“Itdidkind of come out of nowhere, Ash. I feel bad for the guy. I mean, your feelings are yours. You know what’s going on inside that heart and mind of yours, and he doesn’t. But you were fine, I thought.”

“Fineisn’tlove, though, is it?” Asher asked before she took a drink of the wine. “It’s fine. It just sort of is. And we were in the beginning, Linden. It’s not supposed to be fine in the beginning. Maybe it gets like that after ten years of marriage when he won’t pick his dirty boxers off the floor and keeps the seat up, even when I ask him to remember to put it down, but not in the beginning.”

“Things I don’t miss now that I’m dating women,” Linden said. “And Gavin was a boxers guy? I had him pegged for tighty-whities.”

Asher laughed and replied, “He has a few pairs of those, too, but he mainly wears boxers.”

Linden nodded and said, “He knows they make boxer briefs, though, right?”

Asher laughed again and said, “I’m sure he does.”

“Are you okay?” Linden asked.

“About Gavin? Yes. I’d be better if it was done already, but I suspect I’ll get a visit or a call in a few days, asking me if I’ve had enoughtime.” She paused and turned toward Linden. “He told me that he loved me.”

Linden turned to her in surprise and asked, “He did?”

She nodded.

“Before or after?”

“After dinner, he wanted… Well, he wanted sex, and we were on our way up to my room when I told him because I couldn’t just sleep with him and then dump him tomorrow morning. He told me during, technically.”

“During sex?” Linden asked.

“What? No. I just said I couldn’t.”

---