Page 60 of Rebound With Me
She doesn’t look at me when I get back to the car after taking Charlie to Gabe’s door. She’s not cold or anything, just distant.
“You okay?”
She smiles and nods.
“You still want to get dinner?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
I turn off the engine and twist around to face her. “What is it?”
She takes a deep breath before speaking, stares straight ahead. “So, I met someone you know. Or knew. At the coffee shop, after you left this morning.”
“Oh yeah?”This can’t be good.
“I’m not sure what her name is, actually, but she knew you. I guess you must have dated at some point.”
“Oh. She talked to you?”
“Yeah, you know, not a lot.”
“What’d she say?”
“Nothing bad, exactly. I mean.”
“Nina.”
“It’s not a big deal, we don’t have to talk about it.”
“I want to talk about it. I can’t even guess who it was that talked to you, because—spoiler alert—I’ve been with a lot of women in my life. I’m not gonna sugar coat it and I’m not gonna make any excuses. I dated them for a little bit and then I moved on. I wasn’t mean to anyone, I just made my exit. I made it clear to all of them up front what to expect. But I’ve only been with two women in the past year and a half. Sadie and You. Before Sadie, I just never really committed to anyone.”
“So Sadie was special?”
Be very careful what you say here, buddy.“I wanted her to be. She was my little brother’s nanny. She came around at a time when we were all reeling from Clara leaving my dad and him. I wasn’t used to seeing a hot chick around my family. I figured it was time for me to try to be in a relationship. I gave it a shot. It didn’t work out so well. Not just the way it ended, but I probably wasn’t the greatest boyfriend to Sadie. But I want to be better for you. I want to be the best for you.”
She runs her hand down the side of my face and neck then rests her head against my shoulder and I’m dying inside.
“I’m yours now, remember? Those are the rules.”
She takes a really deep breath and looks up at me. She nods her head. “So…I know you’re busy. And I totally understand if you don’t have enough time to make plans, but a few months ago I booked a room at a luxury resort on Lake George, for next weekend.”
“For you and the principal?”
“Yeah. It would have been our three-year anniversary. I was going to surprise him, even though he hates surprises. Anyway. I didn’t cancel the reservation, because the librarian at our school was just raving about it, and this woman never raves about anything. Except JK Rowling and CrossFit. I was going to go by myself or ask Marnie or another girlfriend, but…”
I push the strands of hair out of her face and put my arms around her. “Yes.”
“Really? You’d go?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I mean, it’s a resort. On a lake. It just doesn’t seem like the kind of thing you’re into.”
“I’m into you. If you’re there, that’s where I want to be.”
I wish I could take a picture of her face, the way she’s looking up at me right now. “Good. I booked a regular hotel room with a king-size bed, but there’s no view, I hope that’s okay.”
“Trust me, the only view I’ll be looking at is your beautiful naked body.”
