Page 25 of The Fun Part
“Oh.”
“Your dad was asking what the deal was with us.”
Her jaw drops.
“I told him we were just friends, and I think that was the right answer.” I glance around, suddenly wary. I should know where Josh is at all times in relation to his daughter. “He sounded lethal.”
She crinkles her nose, thinking for a moment. “Well, he is, but he doesn’t usually get involved with guys I know. That’s so strange.”
“I wouldn’t know. I only met him once before.”
She stills, staring across the room. I follow her gaze to where Hailey and Mad watch us as they casually sip drinks. Mackenzie huffs. Hailey and Mad suddenly get into an intense conversation.
“Mom put him up to it,” she says.
I swallow hard, thinking about how Hailey warned Mackenzie away from me. “I guess she doesn’t see me as good enough for her daughter.”
She cocks her head, pursing her lips. “Or maybe she thinks you’re perfect for me.”
“I don’t think that’s it.”
“She told me to be polite, but she’s hoping for more than politeness.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Her expression turns fierce, reminding me a little of her dad. Donotwant to get on her bad side. Maybe this whole pushing for more time with her was a bad idea. I decide to lay it all out there.
“I’m not good at relationships. I’m too closed off.” I search my memory for all the ways I’ve disappointed women. “Emotionally unavailable, a workaholic, and a commitment-phobe.”
She lifts a finger. “Except for when you lived with someone for a year.”
“We were together for a year, but we only lived together for a few months, and that was only because her lease ran out and my roommate left. It was a temporary arrangement.”
“Hmm.”
“Really. We talked about it ahead of time.” I leave out how bad things got after she moved in. She doesn’t need to hear all the gory details.
She pats my arm. “It’s okay. I don’t judge you for being confused about your relationship. Men often are.”
“I’m not—”
She gestures airily. “Obviously you’re not marriage material, being on the rebound, so what’s Mom really hoping for?”
“I don’t think she’s hoping for anything.”
“Everyone makes a big deal of the whole proposal and wedding deal. I say what’s the rush to tie yourself to someone for the rest of your life? Anyway, the kind of lasting love my parents have is rare.”
I’m getting dizzy from the topic changes around here. Is there a point to this? I don’t dare ask.
I lean in. “Does this mean you and I can’t…because we don’t have what your parents have?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she says quickly. Too quickly.
I lean back, understanding dawning. “I get it now. You say you want casual, but you really don’t.”
“I want casual, which by definition is brief. Like what we had. I mean, in the past, not to be repeated.”
“You don’t want what your parents have, trust me.”
