Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“With pleasure.”
I pull out my phone and show Grayson a photo, which thankfully launches our conversation into an entirely different direction. He asks to see more photos, so I show him all my favorite snapshots and videos, beginning from when I got Daisy as a puppy three years ago, and Grayson makes comments and asks questions that turn me into a giggling, gushing chatterbox.
Soon, our conversation about Daisy leads to a broader one about our childhood dogs, which then leads us to talking about our families and childhoods. And through it all, I can’t help marveling at how easy it is to talk to Grayson. With him, I feel cracked wide open in a way I’ve never felt with any man. I feel safe and seen. Sexy and desirable. I feel totally and completely natural and comfortable.
“Do you look more like your mother or father?” he asks, in the midst of a conversation about how close I’ve always been with my father, since my mother died when I was eight.
“I look exactly like my mother,” I say.
“I look like my mother, too,” he says. “Does Drew look like you?”
“He does. He’s my mini-me!”
“Lucky kid. Can I see a photo?”
I freeze. It’s a natural question, given the way our conversation has flowed. So, I don’t blame him for asking it. But I can’t believe I’ve allowed Drew to become a casual topic of our conversation! I never bring up my son to a date, other than to perhaps acknowledge his existence.
“I don’t think that’d be a good idea,” I say. “Sorry. I don’t normally share much about my life with Drew with a date. I like keeping my life as a mother separate from whatever fun I have while Drew is at his father’s house.”
Grayson’s face falls sharply, making me realize what I’ve just implied—namely, that tonight with him is still nothing to me but a little “fun.” Yes, it started out that way. But I can’t honestly say, after spending all this time with him, not only having sex, but having deep and meaningful conversations, too, that I haven’t felt a profound shift between us. An emotional connection that’s been growing and becoming more and more apparent, with each passing hour.
Indeed, in the short amount of time I’ve spent with Grayson, both via text and in person, he’s already managed to touch my heart, every bit as much as he’s given my body new kinds of pleasure. But I really shouldn’t admit any of that to him, because I can’t fathom a path forward with him, beyond tonight, that makes a lick of rational sense.
“I understand,” he says, referring to my comment about Drew. But the look of disappointment on his face makes me want to explain further, so he knows my reluctance to open up completely with him has nothing to do with him.
“My divorce was brutal, not only on me, but on Drew, too,” I say. “My ex went after full custody, not because he actually wanted to be a full-time parent, but because he wanted to pay me as little child support as possible. The whole thing was terribly hard on Drew, because he only wanted to live with me. He said so, over and over again.”
“Ugh. That’s tough.”
“Thankfully, the judge listened to Drew and gave me primary physical custody, with joint legal custody, and we’ve now managed to work out a schedule that everyone is good with. But ever since the divorce, I’ve made it my top priority for Drew to know he’s got at least one parent who always puts him first, no matter what. As part of that, I don’t introduce him to anyone I’m seeing. I don’t ever want him getting attached to someone who won’t be around forever.”
“I totally get it. I think you’re a great mom.”
“Thank you. My ex introduces Drew to a different girlfriend every other month—some of them younger than you. Last week, he brought his latest to Drew’s basketball game, and Drew said he couldn’t fully concentrate with her in the stands.”
“Your ex sounds like a real winner.” He twists his mouth. “Just throwing this out there. If you ever want to give your ex a taste of his own medicine and parade your new boy toy around in front of him, then I absolutely volunteer as tribute. Not in front of Drew, of course. We’d have to engineer a way to ‘bump into him,’ while out on a date.”
Oh, Grayson. The man will do anything to ensure he sees me again after tonight. And I can’t deny I want that, too. In fact, the thought of saying goodbye to him, in mere hours, makes my heart physically squeeze.
“Thanks for the offer. I appreciate it. I’ll definitely think about it.”
I can’t fathom I’d ever parade Grayson around in front of my ex-husband. Fuck Andre. But I do appreciate Grayson’s willingness to do anything he can to make me feel good. With a wicked smile, I begin walking my fingers playfully up his belly to the hairy indentation between his pecs. “So, hey, here’s a thought . . . Just throwing this out there, but what would you say to me calling downstairs and booking this room for another night?”