“Given his nervousness in meeting Dad, and his inability to keep his hands or eyes off you at dinner, I believe he’d relocate.”
She beams across the table.“Really?He couldn’t keep his eyes off me?”
“It was sickening.”
She giggles.
“What else holds you back?”
“His anxiety,” she says.“Not that he has it, but that he won’t tell me.I’m trying to be patient.But he posts activities with his family that makemeanxious, like helping his brother, Grady, do medical procedures on cows and hanging out with gators at the G&G, but I can’t get him to come to dinner on a whim or do something relaxing like paddleboarding.His anxiety seems to be keeping him from me and pushing him toward his family.So, if he can’t trust me to help him with small challenges, then why should I expect him to trust me enough to live together?”
“May I make a suggestion?”
“Please,” she gawks, sipping her wine.
“Plan a weekend away.Present the idea in a way no boyfriend could refuse.If he says no, then he will have to explain why, which may lead to him opening up about his anxiety.Likely, though, he’ll say yes to make you happy, no matter how uncomfortable it makes him.If his symptoms arise, it’ll force him to come clean, inevitably bringing you closer.Regardless, the forced proximity will allow you to explain your hope of moving in together.Time away will also test your compatibility and the strength of your partnership.If it’s meant to be, it’ll be a great weekend.If it’s not, then you’ll know.It’s a win-win-win.”
Her open-mouthed stare indicates surprise.“Venus!You’re a genius!”
“Yes, I know.”
“No, I mean… yes, but, ugh!That’s the perfect idea!”
Our food arrives, interrupting her gushing.Once our meals are set and our wine refilled, she smiles across the table.
“I can’t believe how much you’ve changed since high school,” she says.
“I’m no longer a perpetual outcast full of teenage angst.”
She chuckles.“No, I know.It’s just… I wish we could’ve talked more then.I’m sorry if I made that hard on you.I know my friends weren’t always nice to you.”
I take a breath and wipe my mouth.“It’s not your fault.I wasn’t always nice, either.But I appreciate your apology and accept it on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“That Buster stays with me while you’re away.”
She laughs, pointing her fork at me.“I told you not to fall in love with him.”
“It’s not love.It’s mild admiration.”
“Okay, deal,” she says, looking skeptical but satisfied.
CHAPTER35
Venus
Dr.Rob McCullumsmiles broadly and greets me with a hearty, “Dr.Blake!What a pleasure to see you again!”
I lean toward my laptop, taking in his shaggy dark hair, scruffy face, and piercing blue eyes, but it’s his kiwi accent that stirs my recollection.A smoky, low-lit pub in Oxford.Pints, fish and chips, and conversation that came naturally, for once.“The symposium on invasive species.”
“Yes, and don’t forget that tedious drivel on forest conservation.”
A mild smirk arises, remembering the unfortunate speaker who turned an exciting topic into the driest lecture imaginable.“I struggle with public speaking, but still couldn’t feel sympathetic.”
“He did me a favor by sending us to the pub across the street,” he says, his voice quieter.“That made it the best symposium I’ve ever attended.I’ve thought about you often.”
A twinge of pleasure slips up my spine.We’d escaped the boring lecture at the same time, meeting at the back doors in the rain.We looked at each other, and, pleased with what we saw, he grinned as he said, “Buy you a pint?”
