Page 41 of Bean
“Move in with Nash. You’ll learn because he won’t tolerate anything else.”
“Maybe I should.” He smiled. “Because I can’t deny I do have the occasional pity party, wine included.”
“I miss alcohol. I can’t drink anymore because of all the meds. Not that I was ever a heavy drinker, but nothing tastes as good as a cold beer after a day in the desert, let me tell you.”
“I’m more of a wine drinker myself. A snobby one, if you will. I like my wines pretentious.”
“We all have our vices and weaknesses, no?”
We kept chatting during lunch, and I made quick notes so I’d at least remember what topics we discussed. I’d never be able to recall all the details, but I did want to remember he was divorcedand that he’d been hurt by cheating so I wouldn’t make any stupid, hurtful remarks.
When our plates were empty and the waiter came with the bill, I was a little sad. Was this goodbye?
“Do you have anything planned for the rest of the day?” Jarek asked.
I checked. “Nope, but I have to be home on time since I have a long day at work tomorrow.”
“Cinderella must be home before she changes into a pumpkin. Got it. In that case, would you like to hang out a while longer?”
The smile on my face all but hurt. “I’d love that.”
I paid for lunch, proud that I remembered I’d offered to, and then we headed out again. As soon as we were out of the café, Jarek took my hand. “This okay?”
I nodded, unable to find the right words to tell him how okay it was. We strolled along little shops, some super touristy with all kinds of overpriced junk, but they also had some cute ones with handmade items. I bought a set of coasters for Nash because the guy was always complaining we left wet rings on the table. They had cocks on them, which he’d get a kick out of. Roosters, obviously, not the other kind of cocks.
“Look at these.” Jarek pointed at some necklaces, and I stepped closer. The silver pendants were all different kinds of animals, and the one he was pointing at was a… Oh, it was a bear. A silver bear.
“It’s a silver bear!” I immediately reached for it. It was small but well-made, and I loved it, mostly because of the association with Jarek.
“Can I buy it for you?” Jarek asked. “Would that be okay? It would be something to remember me by.”
For some reason, that made me emotional. Had to be the TBI, but still. “I’d love that,” I said hoarsely. “Thank you.”
Three minutes later, I was the proud owner of a silver bear necklace, which was now resting against my throat. I kept touching it, and every time I did, I couldn’t help but smile.
“You like it?” Jarek asked, reaching for my hand again.
It struck me suddenly that this, too, was not what a hookup would do. Holding hands and buying necklaces was… I had no idea what it was, and I was confused as heck. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“You said there were no rules for us. For what we do or are or whatever. What did you mean?”
He took his time answering. “It’s safe to say this is not a normal hookup,” he finally said.
“I wouldn’t know, but yeah, it doesn’t seem to be.”
“I don’t buy necklaces for hookups,” he said with a chuckle. “Not that I’ve had any other hookups since I met you, but that’s beside the point.”
He hadn’t? For some reason, that made me really happy. “I haven’t either.”
“Are you sure? Maybe you should check.”
It took me a moment to realize Jarek was teasing me, but then I burst out laughing. I loved that he felt comfortable enough doing that. “Good point.” I pretended to check my book. “Nope, no one else. Just you.”
Jarek stopped me, and we stood across from each other. “You’re not wrong to question what we’re doing because none of this is… I hate to use the word normal because it’s so judgmental. So maybe standard? Common? Usual?”
“You a walking thesaurus now?”