Page 26 of A Me and Him Thing
“I want to talk aboutyou.”
Every part of me fills with tension. “What about me?”
“I think there’s something you need to do. You’re not ready for a new relationship of any kind.”
“I know. But I want to be. That’s why I’m here.” If he knew where my thoughts go whenever I’m around him, he’d be scandalized.
“I get that. But I think you need some closure before you can move on.”
“Closure? I sort of hate that word. What does it really mean?”
“That you’re at peace with the past.”
“Can that ever really happen?”
He shrugs. “Maybe not. But you do need to forgive yourself and let it go.”
I try and fail to cover up my wild emotions. I shift uncomfortably. I like Ren, and I don’t want this—whatever this is—to end. I have a feeling, though, that he’s about to say something I won’t like. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
“I think you should visit Quinn. Make your peace, renew your friendship. It might not be what it once was. In fact, it’ll probably be different. Who knows, maybe it’ll be better than before. At least it won’t hang over you anymore. I think it’s something you need to do before you can embrace your new life.”
My first thought is to deny everything he’s saying. Maybe tell him a thing or two about minding his own business.
But I don’t.
“I know you’re right. It would be good for me.” Heat climbs up my face at the thought. Seeing Quinn will dredge up so many feelings, ones I’m finally putting to bed. To reexamine them will be tough.
He exhales deeply. “That was easier than I thought it would be.”
That voice. It’s like the soundwaves are gliding over my skin. A chill wanders up and down my spine. “Were you nervous?”
“Sure was. Thought you might tell me to go where the sun doesn’t shine.”
“The thought crossed my mind.” But I’m trying to be a better person, one who stays in control of her emotions. “I’ll think about it, okay, Ren? I know it’s something I need to do. But that’s all I can promise for now.” It suddenly feels hard to swallow.
“Good enough,” he says with a nod.
The chef comes to check on us, awaiting our decision. We both agree the steak bundles and the bacon-wrapped seared salmon should be the specials for next week.
I study Ren as he speaks with his chef about a few other matters of business. I love his low tone of voice and his manners. He’s the boss. He could be shouting, telling everyone what to do. But that’s not how he operates.
What does he really want from me? Is he waiting to move our relationship forward until I’m ready?
Even though it feels wrong to admit it, I think I’ve been ready since the moment I met him.
I was born ready for Ren Chambers. I think he’sthe one.
I slam the brakes on my thoughts. You know what they say about slow and steady?
It always wins the race.
And this time around, I intend to be a winner.
Chapter Seven
AFTER OUR RUNon Saturday, I learn Ren wasn’t kidding about cooking lessons. There are four bags of groceries on my kitchen counter. That doesn’t include the cold items he put in the fridge before we left on our run. It looks like a week’s worth of groceries to me.
“What are you making?”
