“Let’s order for each other, so we’ll try something new. Okay?”
I smiled. “Yeah, sure. Sounds fun.”
That was what I meant. He made me laugh; he gave me butterflies—and all I could think about was Andrew. I thought about how Andrew would catch my eye and wink when we were across a crowded room, how, when he was near me, he always had a hand or an arm on me, how he always got me a glass of water before bed and set his alarm for ten minutes earlier than he had to get up so that we could have those first few minutes of the day to just be together. He made me feel protected and, what’s more, totally adored. And I let myselfconsider, for the first time without batting the thought away, that maybe Andrew and I were something more than just a summer fling.
Price was laughing, and I sighed. “We really are perfect for each other, aren’t we, Price?”
I could see his face fall as he said, “Why do I get the feeling that this isn’t going to end with ‘Let’s go back home, sign a prenup and make an ‘ours’ baby’?”
I laughed. “An ‘ours’ baby?”
He shrugged. “Yeah. You know, likeYours, Mine and Ours.”
“I’m entirely too young to understand that cultural reference.”
“Oh… okay,” he said sarcastically. “So, what’s the deal? Why is our match-made-in-heaven going to hell?” He grinned, but there was a sort of sadness behind it.
I shook my head and looked down at the table. “It’s so stupid,” I said under my breath.
He sat up straighter. “Is it my table manners? Because I’ve had complaints before, but I can work on it.” He put his elbow on the table and reached for his wineglass, winking at me.
I smiled. “No. It isn’t your table manners—although they are atrocious. It’s just that I dated this kid this summer—”
He put his hand up. “Wait. Kid?”
“Yeah. Kid. He’s twenty-six years old. Well, I guess twenty-seven now. It was supposed to be a summer fling, my fun rebound after Greg before I got back in the saddle for real again. Only…”
“Only it turned out to be more than a summer fling.”
I nodded. Then I said out loud what I wouldn’t let myself admit all this time. “If I’m honest with myself, I think I’m in love with him.”
“That’s great, Gray. Love is kind of the endgame, right?” Price wiped his mouth and smiled. “I mean, it sucks for me because I’m in love with you, but I’m a big boy.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are not in love with me.” I paused. “I haven’t told you the worst part yet.”
“What’s the worst part?”
“His job.”
He grinned again. “Ooooh. Let me guess. Bartender?”
I shook my head.
“Male stripper.”
I gave him aget seriouslook.
“Okay. I give up.”
“Tennis pro.”
I thought wine was going to fly right out of his nose.
“Oh no, Gray. That is the worst. Cougar divorcée sleeping with the twentysomething tennis pro.”
I held my head in mock shame. “I know.” Then I looked up at him and smiled. “It’s a cliché for a reason.” Then I brightened. “Wait! I have the perfect person for you to go out with.”
“Who?”
