Colin takes a long deep breath and looks me dead in my eyes. “What if Melinda brought home a woman for Connor’s birthday? Like, as a gift. You know, for a—” He lowers his voice. “Threesome,” he whispers.
“This is good stuff. Can I borrow your pen so I can take notes?”
He shakes his head. “No need. I won’t forget.”
I shrug. “Okay. Continue.”
“So, Melinda brings home a girl she says she met online. Connor wonders if maybe she’s been paid to engage in this escapade. But he’s just so excited about the idea of it that he doesn’t think to ask at that exact moment.”
“Uh huh.” I lean in.
“So, one thing leads to another, and they get things started. And Melinda seems to be really enjoying herself. Like, more than Connor expects. She’s crazy into it.Waymore than she’s ever been into things she’s done with him.” He gulps. “She’s bold. She obviously knows whatshe’s doing. He wonders if maybe she’s done this before. Like, before she was with him.” He shakes his head very slightly. “Anyway, there comes a point where Connor sort of realizes that she and this girl are going at it pretty seriously and he’s not really…necessary, I guess?” He looks down, contemplating his chicken. Hard.
“Colin?”
“Yeah?”
I don’t say anything. But I know. And he knows I know.
“And then, uh, y’know. The girl gives them both chlamydia. Because nothing says, ‘Happy birthday,’ like an STD from a sex worker your wife hired for herself.”
“Colin,” I say softly.
“Yup,” he says, nodding. His eyes are glued to the votive candle burning in the glass jar beside the window.
“I’m so sorry,” I say.
He chews on his lower lip and nods a few times before finally meeting my gaze. “Thanks,” he exhales. “She really did a number on me.”
“That’s awful. Like, really and truly. I don’t even know what to say.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to ruin our dinner.”
“Are you kidding? It’s fine. I already told you what Scott did. At least the birthday surprise didn’t knock up your wife.”
He takes a sip of water. “Guess that’s true.” He swallows. “Anyway. I thought maybe you could use some of that.” He shrugs.
“I mean, yeah—it’s incredibly dramatic, and definitely would make for a hell of a backstory if I made Connor the main character. But I don’t know, Colin. I don’t feel right using something like that. It’s so—”
“Fucked up?” he asks.
“I was going to saypersonal.”
“Didn’t you say everything you write somehow relates to something in real life?”
“Yeah, but not at the expense of hurting someone I—”
“Someone you what?”
My heart flutters.Jump, Gracie.“Someone I like so much.” He smiles, thank God.The night is not completely ruined.
“I like you too,” he says, running his forefinger along the rim of his water glass.
I die inside for the millionth time this evening. I try to do that breathing thing from Kiki’s yoga class to slow my heartbeat. It doesn’t work. I grin like the Cheshire Cat inAlice in Wonderlandand put my hand over my mouth.
“What?” he asks. “It wasn’t obvious?”
It takes me a moment to find my composure. “It’s just,” I say, “you’re ColinYarmouth.”
