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Claimed? No. That was a weird way to say it. Made it sound all possessive and caveman.

With a sigh, she climbed out of her car and headed towards the door. Chance was already on the porch waiting for her.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey,” was her short reply.

“Umm, come in. I wasn’t sure what you wanted for dinner so I took a chance. I hope you like fish.” He led her through his house to the kitchen. “I didn’t want to bother you and ask so I just went for it. If you don’t like it I can order pizza or something.”

He was rambling and it was adorable. She’d made him nervous and the phrase misery loves company came to mind. At least she wasn’t alone in the nerves tonight.

“Fish is great,” she told him.

She took a seat at his kitchen table and accepted the glass of wine he offered. Chance carried two plates to the table and took his own seat.

“Do you need anything?” He asked.

Tori shook her head.

“Look, I can’t take it. I’m not super sure why you’re upset with me, but I promise I’ll never do it again. I’m sorry for upsetting you whatever it is.”

Tori took a deep breath and folded her hands in her lap. Might as well get it out of the way.

“You… I….” She sighed. “What you did in front of the parents, basically telling them all we were dating, I wasn’t ready for that.”

“You don’t want people to know we are dating?” He asked.

“No. I don’t know. I wasn’t even totally sure what we were doing and then you announced it at my work.”

“We went on a date. We slept together. I’m confused on what you thought we were doing?”

“I just wasn’t sure. I wasn’t prepared to tell everyone I work with either. It wasn’t the right time or place for that.”

“Okay. I can see what you’re saying there and im sorry that I used is dating to get those women to leave me alone. It was wrong to put it out there while you were working and before we even talked.”

She believed him. Without a doubt this man hasn’t meant to overstep. Now on to the next thing which he’d already brought up but they still hadn’t made any real statements. Dating was one thing, but were they exclusive? A couple? She’d been out of the game for too long to know how any of this worked.

“So what are we doing?” She asked.

“I’m so lost there still. I thought we were—are dating?” Chance tilted his head at her, studying her.

“Are we? We haven’t talked about it and I don’t know. I thought maybe you were just having fun. I have a lot of baggage and it’s a complete change for you.”

“Maybe, but I told you the other night, I want this. I don’t care about Isaac. I love Emmett. Is there something else I should know?”

Tori shook her head.

“Then we are dating? Can I tell people you’re my girlfriend?” He asked.

This was weird. It was weird to need to define what they were doing and somehow dating was different than saying she had a boyfriend. That word felt weird at her age.

“Okay.”

“Tori, if that’s not what you want, just say it.”

“No. It’s not that. I promise, nothing like that. I’m just… it’s been a while since that word has been used in a sentence with me, and I’m processing it.”

Chance didn’t speak right away, leaving her with enough time to second guess herself. He was still watching her but she couldn’t get a read on what he was thinking.