Chapter 4 #2
“Okay.” He leaned in, resting his chin on his hand. “Tell me who you are.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m studying to become a nurse because I want nothing more than to help people, to hold their hands during the most vulnerable times in life.
I can’t think of a better profession in order to make a difference in this world on a daily basis.
My parents married young because my mother got pregnant with me, but they’ve been married ever since and have really grown to love each other.
They’ve taught me what I want in a relationship, mutual respect and true love.
I thought I’d found that with my high school sweetheart, and I had my entire life planned with him until the day he broke up with me. Then my world came crashing down.”
Tate frowned. “Why did he break up with you?”
“He decided we both needed to experience being with other people and experience the world before we could decide whether we were right for each other. Pretty sure that’s code for ‘I want to fuck other people.’”
He nodded. “And you felt differently?”
“Doesn’t matter what I felt. I told him the right person for me would never want time apart. He’d proven he wasn’t the one. And I’m grateful he showed me that now and not later. In that sense, he did me a favor. But I also lost my trust in people, to a certain extent, and in my own judgment.”
“You said it happened three months ago, but it seems like everything is still raw.”
“It is, but I’m finally at the point where I want to meet someone new.”
“You’re looking for a relationship?”
“Not at this time, no. I’m definitely not looking for anything serious for a while.”
“That’s smart. I don’t think you should rush into anything. In a sense, your ex was right that you need to experience the world before being tied down.”
“That’s why I’m here.” We stared at each other in silence for several seconds before I said, “Any other questions?”
He nodded. “I have lots. So many I don’t really know where to begin.”
I tapped the table. “Well, keep ’em coming.”
“What’s your real name?”
“I would prefer not to divulge that yet.”
His forehead wrinkled. “Why not?”
“I just think it’s more fun if we don’t know each other’s names.
Believe it or not, I don’t want to know your last name, because in this day and age, you can find out everything about people online.
I’d probably be googling you forever. Keeping it to first names makes things cleaner once we leave here. ”
“You haven’t even told me your first name, though.”
“You haven’t earned it.”
He rolled his eyes. “Anyway…you’re talking like something’s gonna happen here.”
“I’m going on instinct.” I winked.
“I wouldn’t bet on it.” Tate shook his head.
“Don’t be an ass.”
“I’m only trying to protect you,” he said, not a hint of jest in his expression.
“Are you done with your questions?” I crossed my arms.
“No.”
“What do you want to know now?” I chewed on my lip.
Tate rubbed his chin. “Why did you swipe on me?”
“Because I find you attractive, even if you might be too old for me. You remind me of a Viking.”
He narrowed his eyes. “A Viking…”
“Yeah. Maybe it’s your hair or the beard, or just how generally big you are.
A combination of everything. I’m not sure.
But it’s a positive thing. In fact, you’re so attractive, I just assumed you’re not the type of guy looking for more than a good time anyway.
And that’s the level of non-commitment I need right now.
I can’t afford to truly like anyone at this point. ”
He chuckled. “So you think I’m attractive and unlikeable. Got it.”
“More like unattainable. That’s probably a better word. I was shocked to see you on the app, to be honest, since I had this preconceived notion that you were someone’s hot dad or husband. But once I realized you were looking to hook up, I assumed you were a player.”
“Did you expect that I would take advantage of you without question?”
“That’s what I’d signed up for, wasn’t it? Not like that app is very discreet about its users’ intentions.”
“Don’t you think you should be more careful than hooking up with strangers at a resort?”
“Are you seriously lecturing me when you were doing the same thing?”
“We’re just having a discussion. It’s not a lecture.”
“Why do I need to be careful of you?”
“Because I’m a lot bigger and stronger than you are. What if I were a bad person?”
“The bigger and stronger thing was kind of the point.”
“Fuck,” he muttered. His face reddened again.
I’d made this powerful man blush more times than I could count tonight.
“My turn.” Smirking, I turned the tables on him. “Why did you swipe on me?”
“Because you’re beautiful, and I was feeling lonely. It was impulsive.”
“You really recognized me right away?”
He nodded.
“So you knew I was the girl you saw checking you out and assumed I’d be interested?”
“Maybe.” He sighed. “I fooled myself into thinking you might actually be twenty-nine, that maybe my eyes had been tricking me that first day. Then I saw you up close and suspected otherwise again. It was your fake name that gave you away, though.”
“But after everything, you’re still attracted to me...”
“It’s human nature. I can’t help that I’m physically attracted to you, even if you’re too young for me.”
I rested on my forearms. “In a way, does it make me more attractive since you think I’m forbidden because I’m too young for you?”
He shifted in his seat but didn’t answer my question.
“Did I just make you nervous?”
“You’ve made me nervous from the moment I met you, Doris-Delores.”
“Because you don’t want to want me?”
“You’d be correct about that.” He began tensely shredding a napkin.
I looked to my left and froze at the sight of the waitress giving me a funny look. I realized she might’ve heard our conversation and was probably wondering why I was calling my fifty-year-old “father” out on “wanting me.”
Ugh.
I leaned in and whispered, “It might be time to leave.”