“What was his name?”
“There wasn’t just one,” she admitted.
“Ah, part of the legions of men you’ve been with.”He sighed, looking off.
Andrea chuckled, forgetting for a moment she had told Michael she had been with a plethora of men.“I might have fudged the number or two.”Or more like the whole legion thing.
“Only part of a legion.Perhaps a battalion?”he suggested.
“More like four.”Andrea glanced at Michael to see if he was laughing at her.She knew it was a paltry number compared to his, but she was more selective with her bedpartners than some.
“And all of them caused this distrust in men?”
No, life had caused that.Okay, so partially.“The men I saw were only after one thing and didn’t care about hurting my feelings to get it.They sweet talked and bribed their way into my bed and couldn’t wait to get away once the deed was done.”She had been nothing more than a conquest to them.
“What are their names?”he suddenly questioned seriously.
“Why, are you going to track them down and give them a dressing down like you did Ben?”
“No.”
Well, that was good.How embarrassing, Michael tracking them down and scolding them for using her.“I’m going to track them down and beat the shit out of them.”
“What?No, you can’t.”
“I assure I’m more than capable of it.”
“I’m not doubting you physically, but I’m saying you shouldn’t.”Honestly, who went around threatening to beat up one’s exes?Especially when that person doing the threatening had no connection to you.
“Why not?”he pouted, which made her laugh despite the seriousness of the conversation.
“Because—” She stopped because she didn’t really have a good reason.“I said so,” she finished lamely.
“Fine, but if you ever change your mind…”
“Thanks.”She wouldn’t.Those men were in her past, and she never wanted to think about them again.
“So they are why you won’t try again?”Michael asked, pressing the issue.He was as relentless as a dog with a bone.
“I mean, I can’t say I’m a glutton for punishment.”One could only try something so many times with the same result before giving up.She wasn’t insane.
“Or you just haven’t found the right kind of guy.”
“True.”But she wasn’t looking for one right now.She was just trying to live her life on her own terms.
“And you never will unless you try.”
“Now you sound like Maya.”She stepped closer and shoved her shoulder into his.Either he had prepared for the move, or the man was made out of concrete because he never faltered.
“She’s just concerned about you.She wants you to be happy.”
“A man in my life doesn’t equal happiness.”Her father had made her mother miserable before he’d left.She didn’t know anyone in happy relationships.
“No, but a life should be shared with someone.”
“I know, I know a person isn’t meant to live in solitaire.”She had heard the tale before.Andrea didn’t want to live the rest of her life alone, but she wasn’t ready to settle down and have a relationship yet.
“No, so if you don’t plan on trying to find your one, there isn’t anything saying you shouldn’t have fun while you still can.”
