Page 51 of The Close-Up
He raises his glass to his lips. “Why the change?”
“Because I’m thirty-three and if I feel like accepting a drink when someone offers, I’m well within my right to.”
My attempt at a lighthearted tone falls flat judging by the way Simon jolts slightly at what I’ve said.
“Sorry...that came off a bit weird.”
“It’s fine.” His tone is light, but his smile is tight once more.
For several seconds, we don’t say anything. Simon stares off to the side. I swallow and dart my eyes. It’s weird having this uncomfortable moment between us. Yeah, we’re not always chatty, but we’ve been at ease around each other until now.
“So Landon gets you in the mood to drink?”
“What?”
Instead of repeating himself, Simon peers around the busy space. I pull his attention back to me with a firm, “Hey.”
He turns his head to me.
“Is everything okay? You’re acting weird.”
His chest rises as he takes a breath. “Honestly?”
I nod.
“I think it’s tacky that Landon asked you out at the seminar. And I’m kind of surprised that you said yes.”
“What do you mean by that?” I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from snapping at him. It sounds like he’s questioning my integrity, which he has no right to.
“I’d just be wary of a guy who thinks it’s cool to pick up a woman at a relationship seminar.” Simon rolls his shoulders as he speaks. It’s such a casual move—almost like he’s trying to make it seem like he doesn’t care what I’m doing when it’s clear that he does.
“It’s not like that,” I say. “We’re just hanging out. We can get together for a meal and a drink without any expectations for something more.”
“You’re an attractive woman, Naomi,” he says. “Even if a guy like Landon says he’s not interested in anything more with you, he’s secretly always up for it. Always.”
I let out a disgusted scoff. What he said comes off as so very condescending.
“Really, Simon?” I lean in closer to him. “Even if that’s the case, does it mean that’s what automatically happens?”
His jaw tenses. Something wild shines in his eyes. It makes my pulse beat faster, but not in a bad way—in an invigorating way. This is a strange brand of frustration he’s eliciting from me.
“Just because a guy might want to do something doesn’t mean that I’d just do it. Jesus Christ. Give me some credit.”
He leans toward me. “That’s not what I—”
Just then, Landon returns with two old-fashioneds. Simon immediately settles against the back of his chair.
“Hope this is okay,” Landon says, scooting closer to me on the bench and gesturing to my glass.
“It’s fine. Thank you.” My tone comes off as harder than I mean it to. I quickly take a sip, letting the burn of the alcohol distract me from the charged exchange with Simon.
“So. What’d I miss?” Landon asks.
“How are you liking the seminars so far, Landon?” Simon asks, ignoring his question. He taps his fingers on the wooden tabletop, as if he’s impatiently waiting for an answer.
Landon’s face scrunches into a thoughtful frown. “I’m learning a lot. I can see now what I did wrong in past relationships, the mistakes I made.”
“How so?”
