Page 18 of Fierce-Michael

“So if we met in a bar you’d be more this way with me?”

“Could be,” he said. “But I doubt it. Maybe years ago, but now I’m a dad so it’s not like I’m in bars. I get two free nights a month if I’m lucky.”

Heard loud and clear. “Do you ever have anyone watch Ty? Not that I’m asking you to do that, but I also don’t want you to rush having Ty meet someone. I mean, this is one date. We’veestablished some common things that I think it’d be okay to assume we’d try for another date.”

“I’d like that,” he said. “My parents would watch Ty for me.”

“But you don’t want them to know you are dating someone because they might ask questions?” she asked.

“I’m not sure yet,” he said. “They won’t ask as many questions as much as be supportive and maybe intrusive.”

“I know that feeling well,” she said. She took a deep breath and then let it out. “I was married.”

“Oh,” he said. “Okay. I’m not surprised. I mean at your age, it’s not surprising. I’ve got a kid.”

She liked that he didn’t react harsher than others had. “There is more to it. I’m a widow.”

“Then I’m sorry,” he said. “How long ago, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“I was nineteen,” she said.

“Young.”

“Very young and there were special circumstances to it all.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

“I think I do. You said some personal things tonight and I feel that me sharing the fact I went on a dating reality show and was lucky enough to not be seen doesn’t compare.”

“It’s not a competition,” he said, taking a sip of his beer.

His dark eyes were assessing her, but he still looked so relaxed across from her. Not the same guy she’d had her eye on for years from a distance.

“No,” she said. “It’s not. Brian and I were each other’s first in high school. We were friends for years. Then we started to date. I’m not sure we would ever be anything other than friends, but we tried like kids do. I don’t regret for a minute my first time being with him.”

Brian was as gentle as any seventeen-year-old could be. But after a few months, they both knew it didn’t feel as right as it should have.

“Not everyone can say that about their first. I remember mine. Don’t regret it, but maybe she does. It was at a party and we were both flirting with each other. We were in high school too and one thing led to another. Then we dated for a few months after.”

“You had sex and then started to date?” she asked. “Damn, you must have a special gift to get a girlfriend that way, especially on your first time.”

He laughed at her. He was freer with his smiles and humor now.

“I won’t comment on that,” he said. “Don’t want to come off too cocky.”

“Too late. I’ve got an image in my mind and will just keep it there.”

“Don’t put me too high up there. No one wants that pressure or worry about disappointment.”

She could tell he was trying to joke, but maybe he didn’t find it too funny either.

“Sorry,” she said. “Brian and me. We just kind of fizzled out. Had so much fun together as friends. When another girl was flirting with him and he was smiling back, I’d encourage him to talk to her.”

“Not many teenage girls would do that.”

“No,” she said. “But I cared about him as a friend. We’d been friends since elementary school. He was the female version of me. Might be why we got along so well, but not enough to be more than friends.”

“Then how did you end up married?” he asked.