While I check the ziti, she walks around, looking everything over like she did in the living room.
I take the ziti out of the oven to let it cool for a couple of minutes while Jo announces, “Okay, we need to talk about it.”
Shit. She wants to do this now?
“Oh, uh, okay.” I take off my oven mitts and set them on the counter.
“Where’s the dog?”
“Huh?”
“You have a giant dog bed in the living room, and in here, you have food and water bowls and a giant bag of treats. Either you have a dog or some very interesting habits.”
I laugh because that wasn’t what I was expecting. “I do have a dog. I can assure you I don’t pretend to be a furry on the weekends.”
“Too bad,” she says, and I can’t tell if she’s joking or not. “So, where’s the dog?”
“She’s having a sleepover with my mom tonight. I’m sure you’ll meet her soon.”
She grins. “I hope so.”
Since I don’t want to keep dealing with the pit in my stomach, I say, “Do you think we should talk about last night?”
I worry she’ll avoid the topic. Jo has always had a knack for that. But she gives a small nod. “Probably would be a good idea.”
I consider just starting to talk, but I figure it may be awkward if we are standing in the middle of my kitchen.
As if she’s able to read my mind, Jo says, “Do you want to go back in the living room?”
“Uh, sure.”
We walk in there, both taking a seat on the couch but leaving a decent amount of space between the two of us. I’m not sure if things should be this uncomfortable.
Yes, we went ten years without being in the same room, and yes, there was quite a bit of anger before all the nakedness. While those things would normally spell awkward in big, bold letters, this is Jo. Jo who was my best friend for years. Hell, she was myonlyfriend.
All of this is so weird.
Jo nervously pulls her knees to her chest, waiting for me to say something.
I open my mouth, but she isn’t going to give me a chance.
“So, we had sex!”
I exhale a small laugh. “Yeah, we did.”
“And it was pretty fucking great.”
She looks at me like she’s waiting for confirmation on that.
“Incredible,” I agree. “Jo, I want you to know that I didn’t say all those things just to get in your pants. I meant everything I said.”
She looks at me with big, questioning eyes. “So, are you saying you want to be with me?”
I don’t know if that question has an easy answer. There is still a whole hell of a lot we need to talk about. I’m not sure if we will be on the same page about any of it. But once again, this is Jo. Even after everything, I don’t know that I would ever walk away from her.
Especially after last night.
“Yeah,” I reply in barely more than a whisper. “What do you want, Jo?”
