People would think I was his sugar momma.
My friends and family would think the same thing when I introduced him as mine. All of them—except maybe Stef—will call me a “cougar” and make fun of me like they do to the middle-aged men who date eighteen-year-olds. Instead of growing old gracefully with someone, I’ll spend the remainder of my years fighting a losing battle with the aging process, all while trying to keep up with my beautiful, younger man. Spending all my money on Botox so his eye won’t wander to the young baristas who are bound to stick their perky boobs in his face and promise him naughty things with big eyes weighed down by false eyelashes and not sagging skin.
“Ailee?”
I blinked to find that beautiful, younger man standing in front of me with a smile that hinted at nervousness, holding out a cup. His dark eyes travelled over my face, telling me things I really wasn’t ready to hear.
I took the coffee from him, wrapping my fingers around the warmth. “Thank you.”
Tyler sat down across from me. We stared awkwardly at each other for a minute. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know why I was here or what I was hoping would come out of this meeting.
Suddenly, he leaned forward, and his dark eyes pierced mine. A rush of warm heat raced through me and settled between my legs as the air between us became tense.
“I want to be with you, Ailee.”
There was no doubt in my mind as to exactly what he meant by “be with you”. I immediately shook my head, remembering how he’d walked out on me the day before. “I agreed to coffee, Tyler. That’s it.”
With a loud sigh, he leaned back. Fingertips tapped the table again as he studied me.
I sipped my coffee. Looked out the window. This was a mistake. I should just go home. Yeah. Home. I’ll finish that bottle of wine Stef and I started and watch Netflix until I pass out. Worry about someone else’s problems for a while.
On that note, I pushed my chair back.
He froze, panic coloring his features. “Where are you going?”
“Home.” I gave him an apologetic smile as I grabbed my purse from the seat next to me. “Coming here was a mistake. This was a mistake.” I started to get up.
He grabbed my hand before I could leave. “Please don’t go. I’m sorry for being so blunt. I just…I don’t know if I have much time.”
A shaft of fear zipped through me. My knees gave out and my butt plopped back down on my chair. “What do you mean? Are you okay? Is something wrong with you?”
“No. No. Nothing like that. I mean, I’m not dying or anything. I just need to get home soon, too. And I’m not sure when I’ll get to see you again.” He squeezed my hand. “Please. Stay. Talk to me.”
Against my better judgment, I slid the strap off my shoulder with my free hand and put my purse back on the chair next to me.
Hope spread across his handsome features. “Okay?”
“Okay.” I could give him a few minutes. See what he had to say.
He settled back in his chair but didn’t release my hand.
“Tyler, people are going to see us.” People like his non-girlfriend. I glanced down meaningfully at our joined hands.
One side of his mouth turned up in a half-hearted smile. “I don’t care if people see us, Ailee. I like you. Imorethan like you. And I’m good with the whole fucking world knowing about it. My only question is, why aren’t you?”
“You left me yesterday.” The thought that was at the forefront of my mind escaped before I could stop it.
He sobered. “I did?” He answered himself before I could. “I did. And I’m so sorry. I just…I don’t know what happened. I wasn’t feeling well.”
“That’s not what it felt like to me.”
“What did it feel like to you?”
“Like you’d changed your mind. Like you suddenly didn’t know what you were doing with me.”
His eyes darkened as he leaned forward and dropped his voice. “That’s not what happened, Ailee. I was there. With you. I was totally in it. I swear this to you.”
I hated exposing myself like this, but I had to know. “Then why did you leave like you did? We were kissing and then we weren’t. And you were running out the door.”
