Her hand reached for his, then she stopped herself. Best not to tempt fate touching him in bed.
“Don’t apologize for other people you have no control over.”
“Not always easy to do, but you’ll understand more tomorrow.”
She was positive he was yanking her along.
When he said nothing else and turned the light off while he flipped through the channels and she felt the heat of his body on the other side of the bed, she wondered what the hell she had gotten herself into.
13
WINNING HER OVER
“Are you going to tell me about this woman that you are bringing to the wedding later? And where is she now? I thought for sure I’d meet her prior.”
Arik could have full transparency with his grandmother but didn’t have the mental fortitude for the lecture that would ensue. She’d scold him for playing games like his parents.
Not that he felt it was a game.
This was his opportunity.
Time to get to know Natalie. For her to understand where he came from and why he was the way he was.
If they could get past this weekend, then winning her over would be a piece of cake.
All his skeletons would be exposed and no worry she’d think he was some kook with a busted up family and drama causing his eccentric behaviors.
Shit. That was why he acted the way he had.
Sort of.
He escaped the production his father made of things and the spectacle his mother created while she wrote her next script of wrongdoing his father had exhibited.
In his mind, his mother was just as guilty.
“I told you her name is Natalie and we went to college together. We’ve reconnected.”
His grandmother didn’t need to know it’d only been a week. It was still three dates. And he slept with her.
Though sleep was the only thing that happened.
If staring at the ceiling listening to her light breathing and tossing could be considered that.
She appeared as uncomfortable as him, but neither of them had the courage to speak first.
“And now you’re spending some time with her on the island she’s from?”
“Yes,” he said. “She works there, so I can sneak lunch in.”
Once, but it was still the truth. He hoped for more.
“Where is she now?”
“Still at the hotel,” he said. “She didn’t need to come this early. We’ll return an hour before the guests get here. You shouldn’t be doing anything by then. Or now.”
There was a lot of activity in the house. More toward the kitchen and moving in and out of the backyard.
The tents were erected. Space heaters hooked up, lights already hanging and being tested.
