“You know how funny that sounds. That you don’t have many possessions?”
“I bet you don’t either.”
“Not really. That’s by choice as much as finances.”
“Despite the money I’ve got, I’m a simple man. My day will come when I spend more. Or have more. I’ll know when it is, but it hasn’t happened yet.”
He watched his father blow through money with all the women he’d spent time with. His mother most likely did the same, but she was more savvy about her future.
“Do you think it will happen?” she asked, her gaze holding steady on his face.
His eyes held her stare. “Definitely.”
8
WOULD BE RULES
“I’m so hungry,” Natalie said two hours later. “Between the bike ride and the walk. I’m not cold, but not warm either.”
“I could eat a tomahawk steak with a gigantic lobster on the side,” he said. “I’m not sure I’ve burned that many calories in years.”
She smiled when he said that. “I doubt you’ll find a steak like that here, but you will find the lobster.”
“Don’t judge me if my lunch is surf and turf.”
“I won’t judge,” she said. “Because I think I might get a full meal too.”
It was after two and to her this would just be an early dinner. They’d catch the ferry at four and weren’t that far from the docks so had plenty of time before the departure.
She’d be home by five. Or at least at The Retreat by then.
She’d met him there. She wasn’t one to let anyone come to her place on a first date. Maybe not even a fifth date.
“Get whatever you want,” he said.
They were seated quickly, placed their drink orders and then browsed the menu. “They’ve got your surf and turf.”
“And that’s what I’m getting,” he said, putting the menu down.
“I think I’ll start with soup and the linguine clams and bacon sounds good.”
“Anything with bacon hits the spot,” he said.
“I think so. We used to fight for the last piece of it in my house. Carter always got it because he was the oldest. Or that was his excuse.”
“Are you the youngest?” he asked.
“I am. Carter is four years older than me, Grayson three. What about you? I guess I never asked much about your family and I’m sorry about that. It was rude of me.”
For someone who valued thoughtfulness, she’d overlooked something simple. She never really asked about Arik’s life when they’d been together before.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m an only child and it’s a good thing. My parents divorced when I was eight. I’m going to unload on you if you’re okay with it. Not to be dramatic, just so you understand why I live the way I do.”
“Go ahead,” she said. “I’ve been told I’m an excellent listener.”
He hesitated as if weighing his words. “My father is a serial cheater. He’s only been married once, but he has a new woman in his life every six to twelve months. They get younger and younger. The current one might be younger than me.”
She cringed. “I’m not sure how I’d feel about it.”
