Not offering her less than the world would never be okay.
* * *
Hours later, they entered his house.
She’d been quiet during the drive back, even if he tried to talk about current events. He couldn’t stop wondering if something bothered her. He took off his jacket, tossed it on the chair, and walked up to her.
She settled down on a sofa, and greeted Mr. Fluffers who came happily to see her. Then, she took him out to the backyard, his tail wagging as she talked to him sweet nothings.
He unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. By the time she returned, he poured himself a glass of red wine. “All good with Fluffers?”
She shrugged. “It’s Mr. Fluffers.”
He watched her move in his living room, with the dog still following her every step. “You know there’s something wrong about ever calling a dog mister anything, right?”
She petted Fluffers’ head. “I find it cute.”
“Yes, but you have to be the leader. He can’t believe he ranks higher than you,” he said, sounding like a wannabe dog trainer.
“Well, considering I’m the one who cleans up after him, I find that difficult to happen.”
He chuckled, and raised his glass. “Valid point.”
The dog went to drink water, then returned to his bed.
She scrolled down her phone, quietly. He sat down his glass on the counter, and looked at her. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, why?”
“You’ve been quiet since we left Ben’s. Didn’t say much.”
She shrugged, setting her phone on the coffee table. “I’m just taking it all in. I’m not used to that kind of fancy party.”
He shook his head. Had he missed anything? She was nervous when they’d got in, yes, but he caught a couple of glimpses of her talking to people, and assumed she was all right. “Was anyone unkind to you?”
“Not openly. But that lady, Edie, made it obvious she wanted to know what I was doing there.”
He raked his fingers through his hair, letting out a sigh. Ben just didn’t cheat on her with a younger woman, he had a yearslong affair with her, and ultimately, traded Edie in for the younger model. Ironically, the woman he left Edie for cheated on him after six months together. “Ah. Edie is still bitter about the divorce.”
“But I have nothing to do with it.”
“Yes, but maybe she thinks you came with me but you’re secretly dating Ben.”
She made a face. “That’s gross.”
“I agree. She still likes Ben, and it isn’t easy for her,” he said, wishing he knew a good man to introduce Edie to. Maybe that was what she needed to get over Ben once and for all.
She collapsed on the couch, eyes on his. “Your ex-wife isn’t still into you, right?”
He could laugh. God, no. Though she hadn’t remarried, he was sure Sandra was dating again. “No. We weren’t a good match for each other.”
She stared at him, probably registering his words. Then she crossed one leg over the other, and placed her hands on her stomach. “Sounds so modern and civil. Growing up my mom’s breakups always ended with eviction notices, or clothes being tossed on someone’s overgrown lawn, or someone pounding on our front door.”
He walked up to her, and sat next to her. He held her hand, making the slightest caress on her palm. “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve that.”
She withdrew a little, and cocked her head to the side. He wasn’t sure if she was still playing or if she had gotten serious all of a sudden. “How do you know what I deserve?”
He angled his face, taking all of her in. “Because I’ve seen you put cat food out just in case the stray cat shows up. You indulge Fluffers much more than what you get paid to do, because you love him and know he’s away from his parents. You treat others with kindness, and you have a sweetness about you even if you prefer to be known as a lot stronger.”
