Noelle thinks for a second. “A lot of things. I started looking forward to you coming in to the diner. I hoped you’d show up, and on the mornings you didn’t, I was disappointed.”
I hug her closer. “I’m sorry.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t be. Of course you couldn’t come in every day I worked. You have a life. A job. Things far more important than driving to Williston to have breakfast at Doug’s Diner.”
Maybe a month ago, I would have agreed. But now? Seeing Noelle as much as possible feels pretty damn important.
Cupping her cheek, I hold her gaze as I reply, “Seeing you isveryimportant.”
“Webb.” She kisses me again. “That’s something else about you that I like. You don’t play games. A lot of the guys I’ve known would rather fling themselves off a cliff than actually admit how they feel. But you’re different.”
The very mention of lots of guys brings a surge of jealousy. Which is irrational and hypocritical, since I’ve datedmorethan my fair share of women. Before I can stop myself, I ask, “Lots of guys?”
Shit.
“Nevermind,” I amend. “It’s none of my business.”
Noelle goes quiet for a few seconds. She picks up the little stuffed Bigfoot I gave her at the start of our date and sets it on her lap. Absently, she strokes the top of its head. “It’s fine. If we’re dating…”
“If?”
“Weare,” she affirms with a smile. “As I was saying,sincewe’re dating, I think it’s normal for us to talk about our dating history. Not in great detail. I’m not going to quiz you on how many women you’ve been with or anything. But serious relationships, engagements, marriages… those we should talk about, eventually.”
Another glance around the park shows that, aside from the few volunteers taking down the inflatable movie screen, we’re basically alone. As I look into Noelle’s eyes, a burst of nerves unexpectedly hits me.
I’m not ashamed of my dating history. I never made promises I couldn’t keep, I didn’t lie, and I was always open about my intentions. Maybe I left some women feeling disappointed because they wanted more than I was willing to offer, but I never let things go far enough to really hurt anyone.
To a single guy, it all made perfect sense.
But what will Noelle think? If I tell her I’ve never had an actual, serious relationship before, will it make her doubt me? I mean, if I were in her position, it might. Here’s this thirty-nine-year-old guy who just screwed around for close to two decades, never lived with a woman, never proposed… Shit. How could shenotbe skeptical about me?
But I’m not going to lie about it, either. So I say, “I want to be upfront with you. I’ve never had a serious relationship before. Up until a couple of years ago, I wasn’t interested in it. I dated—very casually—but it never went anywhere. I was careful not to let it.”
Noelle strokes Bigfoot’s head again. “Was there a reason you wanted to stay single?”
I shake my head. “Nothing significant. Before my dad passed away, my parents had a good marriage. And I know plenty of people who are happily married. I guess…” I stop. “This is probably going to sound bad.”
“Webb.” Her voice gentles. “I’m sure it’s not that bad.”
“It’s not terrible. I didn’t cheat or anything. I didn’t break a string of women’s hearts. I just… I liked being single. I enjoyed meeting women, but I didn’t want the commitment. That makes me sound like some asshole player. I know. But I wasn’t an asshole about it. At least, I tried really hard not to be.”
Noelle regards me solemnly. “I have a few questions.”
My heart thuds hard. “Okay.”
“Did you ever intentionally lead a woman on?”
My response is immediate. “No. Definitely not.”
“Did you date a bunch of women at the same time? Were you unsafe about it?”
“No. Never. To either of those things.” I grasp Noelle’s hand as I emphasize, “I swear, I was always, always safe. And I know we’re not there… Shit, you may change your mind about me after this, but I’ve been really careful. And I’ve been tested. So?—”
She squeezes my hand. “I haven’t changed my mind yet.” After a beat, she adds, “Last question.”
“Alright?”
“If we’re going to keep seeing each other, you won’t go out with any other women, will you? I know things are still new between us, but I wouldn’t be okay with that.”
