Page 10 of Finding Noah
“I’ll have the chicken fingers and fries.” I always chose unhealthy when we came to a place like this. Given I ate healthy most of the rest of the time, this felt fair to me.
“I’ll have a burger and a salad, thank you.” Christian handed Gabriella the menus.
“Could I get extra fries?” I eyed him. “He always steals some of mine.”
“Hey.”
I arched an eyebrow.
He crossed his arms. Then, after a moment, relented. “I might resemble that comment.”
Gabriella laughed. “Oh, I think I like you.” She winked and headed back in the direction of the kitchen.
“Well, that took you thirty seconds.” I toyed with my napkin.
He blinked. “Whattook thirty seconds?”
“You finding someone to flirt with. You should ask her out. She’s a little young, though.” Although we were probably only a few years older than her. Still, she was damn attractive. Although the older cop brother might be an issue.
“I wasn’t flirting. She had a vibrant personality—” He gesticulated in a way I didn’t understand.
“She’s gorgeous.”
He pursed his lips. “I don’t select potential future partners based on their looks.” Even as he said the words, though, he sort of petered off. His eyes took on a dreamy quality that I noticed every once in a while.
Must be thinking about Laura again. Damn shame she had to run off and leave him high and dry. They would’ve made a stunning couple.Except if they’d married, then I might be in Foggy Basin alone. That idea made me sad. “Christian.”
He blinked. “Sorry.”
I waved my hand as if to indicate I hadn’t meant anything by calling him. Except I had. I wanted details he’d never shared with me.
He snagged my hand. “Please say whatever you were going to say.”
“Uh—” I held his gaze, then looked down where he held my hand. Warm fuzzies enveloped me, as they always did. Touching Christian always grounded me in a way few other things did.
“Right.” He released me. “Wouldn’t want to give people the wrong impression.”
“Gabriella in particular.”
He sighed. “Even if she’s single—which she mightnot be—”
“She was flirting with you—”
“—Even if she’s single,” he repeated. “I’m not interested.”
“You’re not over Laura. You need to meet someone new. Have…new experiences.”
“I don’t need new experiences.” He held my gaze. “I’m fine just the way I am.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“But you did.” He cut me off. “Everyone always assumes that to be happy with one’s life, one must be in a relationship. That precludes the notion that someone can be alone and happy. Take Miss Esmeralda. She’s alone, and yet has assured me she’s very happy. Being in a relationship doesn’t always alleviate loneliness. My parents have been married for thirty years, yet I wouldn’t say either is happy. Or not lonely. It’s all by degrees. I have you in my life as a best friend. Ergo, I am not alone.”
“But you’re not—” I gazed around to ensure we were alone. “—getting laid.”
“One does not have to have sex to be happy. Asexual people can be very happy without the benefit of regular...” He rolled his hand.
“Penetrative sex?”
