14. Smooth Talker
14
SMOOTH TALKER
H yde was walking into the building later than normal for work when he spotted Tori coming out of the staircase.
He could nod his head and move along, or he could be a nice guy and say hi.
He was a nice guy and she didn’t want things to be awkward so he walked toward her.
“Hi, Tori,” he said.
She looked up startled that he’d approached her.
Crap, guess she moved on.
He should have figured she did.
Probably with the damn civil rights attorney Diane had to set her up with.
He wasn’t sure why he was so bothered by that and maybe it was the motivator for him to talk to her now.
“Hi, Hyde,” she said. “How is CeeCee doing?”
He was touched that she’d asked him that.
“Great,” he said. “I just took her to a doctor’s appointment. She’s coming along great. But she’s a trooper too.”
“That’s wonderful to hear,” she said. Her hand came forward as if she was going to reach for him in comfort and then she dropped it aside.
He wasn’t sure of her reason for doing it. Reaching or stopping.
“How have you been?” he asked.
“Busy with work,” she said. “You?”
“The same. I heard you talking to Diane earlier this week in the office. Glad that you’re not afraid to come see Raina.”
She frowned over his poor choice of words. “I’m not letting what happened with us interfere with my friendship.”
He’d put his foot in his mouth.
She was right.
They did seem to do this to each other.
But he’d thought about it the past few days and had come to a conclusion.
Seeing her right now made him want to explain it to her.
“I’m glad,” he said. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“What way did you mean?” she asked.
“Can we talk somewhere?”
She hesitated as if she didn’t want to, but then gave in. “We can go outside on the patio. I doubt there are many people there this time of the morning.”
They both moved toward the back doors of the lobby and out to the patio that was there for people to relax on breaks or lunches.
She was right, there weren’t more than three people out here and they moved off to a table furthest away.
Hyde sat down first and Tori did the same.
“I got thinking about something,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“Us,” he said.
“What about us?”
“I know you think we bring the worst out of each other.”
“Don’t think it,” she said. “I know how I feel or act around you.”
He was going all in. He had nothing to lose.
He’d been told he was a smooth talker before and was going to put it into action now.
“Do you know why you do that?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “Which is worse.”
“Not really,” he said. “I do the same. Maybe not as much as you or don’t feel as strongly. You know why I acted that way at our first meeting and I know it’s hard to get that out of your mind, but I had a reason.”
“You did,” she said. “And knowing what that is, I don’t hold it against you.”
“That’s right. But I don’t know your reason and I’m not holding anything against you. But I’d like to know that reason.”
She laughed, but it wasn’t a funny sound. “I can’t give you a reason if I don’t know it myself.”
“Can I guess what it is?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said. “Humor me.”
He laughed. “I think you’re attracted to me.”
“Duh,” she said. “I’d be blind not to be, but looks aren’t everything.”
“I’m attracted to you,” he said.
“Duh,” she said again, smiling. “But I’ll be a broken record and say looks aren’t everything.”
“No,” he said. “They aren’t. You reacted and were upset over the text. You admitted it and it wasn’t just words but how you looked when you talked to me. For the few times we’ve spent together, you were deeply hurt when a lot of people would just move on.”
Her head went back and forth. “I was. It’s not like me to hurt someone else.”
“And you cared that you did,” he said. “Right?”
“I care about that with anyone,” she said. “Not just you.”
He paused. Not what he wanted to hear.
“Regardless,” he said. “I think that we could have something if we wanted to try one more time. Another date. If things don’t work out, then I’ll leave you alone. Or you can say no and I’ll understand and we can pretend this conversation didn’t happen anymore than the other ones.”
“It’s hard to pretend the rest didn’t happen,” she said. “I’m not into avoidance. It’s not healthy.”
Which could be part of why his life crashed and burned last year.
He’d tried to avoid and pretend and didn’t handle things well rather than address them head-on.
She was right. He wasn’t going to do that this time.
Which was part of why he was talking to her now.
Deal with it head-on.
“It’s not,” he said. “I can learn from that. Maybe you can teach me.”
She laughed. “That doesn’t sound like a date but more like a session.”
“No session,” he said. “I’d like a date if you’re available. Tonight, if you want.” So she didn’t change her mind after she thought about it. “I promise if an emergency happens again, which I hope to hell it doesn’t, that I will at least let you know. I won’t put my phone on silent this time. Ironically, the reason I did was in preparation for our date that night.”
He had to figure out a better way to just not answer it, or at least wait and put it on silent once they were together.
He’d done it early so he wasn’t sidetracked like he’d been accused of by Shana in the past.
Where he’d get drawn into a friend’s texts or conversations and then be late.
Sometimes he had to grow up and just prioritize things and people.
He was trying damn hard to do that.
Her smile widened. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to give it one more try. Just going in open-minded. Whatever happens does, and at the end, if it’s not working, then we just agree and be friends?” she asked, putting her hand out to shake.
He didn’t like that she was almost turning this into a business agreement, but he’d have to take what he could.
His hand went into hers, the heat filling his palm and then riding up his arm. “Do you feel that?” he asked. Might as well put it out there.
“I won’t lie and say no,” she said.
But that also meant she didn’t want to admit it and say yes.
“That’s why I want to give it another try.”
“Heat means nothing more than what we agreed to,” she said. “The attraction part.”
“It means more than that if it’s done right and felt strong enough,” he said.
She held his stare. He wasn’t sure what was going through her head and knew it might be best not to ask.
“Then I guess we’ll see what tonight brings,” she said.
“Are you open to me picking the place or would you rather?”
“You can,” she said. “Since this was your idea.”
“I’ll text you soon,” he said, standing up and releasing her hand. He’d bet she had no idea they were still touching each other, but he knew.
When her hand was free she dropped it down fast and flushed.
“I’ll see you later,” she said.
They walked back into the building and he held the door for her. He wanted her to walk ahead of him so he could get a better look at her without her knowing he was doing it.
She was wearing brown fitted pants today that were tight around her ankles and a pair of brown and black printed heels. Her white sweater was close to her body and resting at her waist.
The other day, he’d seen her walking down the hall and her clothing was more flowing as she moved. He liked that she changed up her style but always looked so beautiful and put together to him.
Classic and not as if she was trying hard.
He needed that in his life. Something that felt natural.
“You’re not going to change your mind, are you?”
“Never,” she said, turning her head to look at him. “But that still doesn’t mean it will work.”
“Guess we’ll just have to find out.”