Page 35 of The Meaning Of You

So was I. “Witnesses from the gliding club said Dad did his best to change course and steer the glider somewhere safe but luck wasn’t on his side. But my brother and I are close and I’m grateful for how I was raised. I suppose a part of me always hoped I’d have the chance to offer that kind of home to a kid, but not everyone gets that opportunity, right?”

“Two point five and a dog?” Nick said without a trace of sarcasm.

I thought about the question because it wasn’t that simple. “Maybe. Maybe not. I can’t say I’ve ever felt strongly about having myownkids, but fostering? Maybe. The whole dog thing though? Definitely. Maybe even a pack.”

“Really?” He sounded surprised.

“Yeah, why not?” I shot back, a little miffed. “You think I’m too fussy to handle the mess of a few dogs in my home?”

His brows peaked. “Well now that you mention it…”

I wanted to argue but he was right. I sighed. “Okay, so maybe a pack is going too far. But something small and not too challenging, maybe even litter mates so they can grow up together, yeah. I’d love that. Logan and I came close; we even visited a few shelters. But then he broke up with me and that was that.”

Nick frowned. “Why? Having a dog isn’t contingent on having a boyfriend, as far as I know.”

He was right, of course. “I suppose I always saw it as a shared decision. Something I wanted to do with someone I cared about.”

“That’s a nice idea but it can be something just for you as well. Don’t you deserve that?”

Did I? I supposed I did. “I’ll take it under advisement.”

He chuckled. “You do that. I have to say it surprises me.”

“What does?” I asked, rolling onto my back and throwing the top sheet aside to expose my hot balls to a heavenly draft of cool air.

“That you’ve had quite a few long-term relationships but haven’t settled down. Of the two of us, I’d have thought you were the most likely to do the married-and-settled thing. It surprises me that you’re still single.”

I blinked. “Why would you think that?”

“Because you’re a good man, Madigan. A kind man. A lot kinder than me. Plus, you’re smart and gentle and you’re not exactly hard to look at either. Someone should’ve snapped you up long ago.”

My mouth opened then closed again, my heartbeat suddenly loud in my ears. I spread my legs wider, starfishing under the fan, my skin flaring hot from his words.

“Madigan?” Nick sounded worried. “I’m sorry if that was out of line.”

“It wasn’t, well, not like you think,” I struggled to explain. “I’m just not used to hearing... to getting?—”

“Compliments?” he offered.

I grimaced. “Yes, I suppose, at least from someone I respect. And yes, I know it’s ridiculous. Gazza says crazy stuff like that, of course, but that’s just him. He’s always up in my business about getting laid or dating or whatever. I know I’m his boss but, somehow I think we’ve moved into friendship.” I hesitated. “Yes, definitely friendship. But you can’t rely on anything that comes out of that man’s mouth because I know he’s simply trying to be supportive and make me feel good, so there’s that. He told me I’m his man-muse, for fuck’s sake. Who the hell says something like that? Plus, he doesn’t really know me, not in aboyfriendway, so I can’t take him seriously. My actual exes, who should know, haven’t exactly rated my company and all left, so... yeah... probably not the marrying type as it turns out.”I stumbled to a finish, cheeks flaming in the dark. “And oh god, can we just pretend I didn’t say any of that?”

He chuckled but not unkindly. “Absolutely not. However, having said that, there’s a lot to unpack in those words, starting with what the fuck is a man-muse? But I’m going to take a rain check for now and circle back to that fascinating concept at a later date. We clearly have some work to do on your self-perception.”

“Oh god,” I whined. “You should’ve stopped me. Why didn’t you stop me?”

“Hell no,” he said, far too delightedly. “That was fucking gold dust. Besides, I’m feeling a lot better after listening to all that bullshit. Best I’ve felt all night.”

“Arsehole,” I grumbled, but all he did was laugh. “Okay, my turn,” I said. “IfIhaven’t talked about my romantic liaisons much, then you have certainly been avoiding any and all questions about your family.”

“Hardly,” he argued. “You know all about Lizzie and Samuel and?—”

“NotDavis’sfamily,” I cut him off. “Yours.”

That shut him up and I waited. I imagined his eye-roll and the sigh that followed. “But his familyismine.”

“Not what I asked.”Again,I waited.

“Fine,” he grumbled, and I could hear him repositioning in his bed. “But it’ll be short, and no questions, agreed?”

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