“I can’t imagine why he let you go. Obviously he didn’t know what he had.”
“Thank you. That’s very nice of you to say. You’re a good friend.”
“So are you.” But the nature of their friendship had changed and it might never change back.
“I’ve never been dumped before.”
“You always did it?” Sitting beside her in this cozy cab turned him on, but maybe if they kept talking, he’d get over it.
“Yeah, and I hated being the one to call it quits, but being the dumpee is worse.”
“Yes, ma’am, it is.”
“Are you speaking from experience?”
“Yep.”
“Who in their right mind would break up withyou?”
Her indignation made him laugh. Eased some of his tension. “Sheree Mulvaney, senior year.”
“I thought that was mutual.”
“Oh, no. I was madly in love, tried my best to win her over. She faked a romance for my sake because we were homecoming king and queen and the whole school was watching. But she was in love with Ronny Halstead.”
“Oh, yeah, the school chess genius. I couldn’t figure out why she’d traded you for him. You’re a much better catch.”
“Not in her book. Can you believe I challenged him to a match?”
“Oh, no. Was it brutal?”
“Brutal and short. Took him less than two minutes to put me away.”
“I’m sorry. Do you still think about her?”
“Not often, but when I do, it makes me smile. We had nothing in common, but she had a hot body and that was enough for me at eighteen.”
“And now?”
“I want someone I can talk with.”
“You don’t care about the hot body anymore?”
“Oh, I care. I still want that, but sex needs to be followed by interesting conversation.”
“About what?”
“People. The world. Wild animals. Outer space. No holds barred.” He glanced over and caught the yearning in her gaze. His breath hitched.
She looked away, her color high.
His fault. He should have directed the conversation away from such a loaded topic. Instead he’d answered her questions without thinking, like he was used to doing before everything had changed.
“Trace, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have?—”
“I asked you. I was curious.”
“What you’re feeling…we’ve all been there. It’s a rebound attraction.”
