“Tell that to my last two dates.” She punctuates this with a rather dramatic eye-roll.
I take a seat on her cozy loveseat that faces the TV. “Are you serious?”
“Completely. One thought I was a prude because I had ‘more books than boyfriends,’ and the other said that many books meant I was ‘too intellectual for him.’ Their words, not mine.”
“Wow. Tell me who they are so I can smack them upside the head.”
Madi sits in the paisley high-back chair perpendicular to the couch. “Okay. Tell me everything. I’m assuming this has something to do with a certain lifeguard in need of your restorative services?”
Talking with Madi is like conversing with a book in a way. She loves to flourish her words in ways I’ve no doubt all her reading has influenced. It’s part of her charm and charisma which makes her great at running her inn.
“Yes. I’m starting to have…feelings.” I whisper that word out of fear that the universe will hear and do something about it. The last thing I need right now is a date with destiny.
Been there, done that, and no, I don’t want the T-shirt, thank you very much.
“Define feelings. Are we talking emotional or physical?” She leans forward and gives me one of her quirky looks. “Do we need to have the sex talk?” She uses air quotes, too.
I snort. “You’re a goof, you know that?”
“Yes, ma’am, and proud of it. But seriously, are we talking feelings as in you’re super attracted to him and just want to know what kissing him would feel like? Or are we talking about the deep stuff that makes you wonder what a lifetime of kisses would be like?”
I tilt my head. “Is there a difference? Because all I heard was kissing, and my answer to that would be yes.”
She laughs. “Okay, let me ask you this. Would one kiss be enough to satisfy your curiosity?”
I take a minute to think about Saturday at my parents’ house for breakfast and playing badminton. Going to the pet shop and the grocery store and losing it in the middle of the produce section when I found out he studied law before switching to lifeguarding. Then, bringing Bandit to his apartment and asking him what he saw when he looked at me…something I’ve never asked another man. Not even my brothers.
“Wow,” Madi whispers.
“What?” I squirm a little under her star-struck, albeit perceptive gaze.
“You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
I slap a hand over my mouth because I was about to blurt out my agreement, but again, that would put it out into the universe. And I’m not ready for that yet.
Madi shifts from her chair to sit next to me on the small sofa and tugs my hand away. “Would that be so bad?”
“You know what happened with Bryan.”
“Yes, I know. But Bryan was a himbo who was also a bit of a narcissist. I don’t get that vibe from Nick.”
I do a snort/laugh combo. “You’ve never met him.”
“That’s true, but based upon what you’ve told me about him, he doesn’t sound like your ex at all. Plus, he has a job that puts him at risk of helping others. He wouldn’t be one of your patients right now if that weren’t the case.”
Good point. I like that thought…maybe too much. “But he’s dated a lot of women.”
“Says who?”
“Graham, who, I’ll remind you, is his best friend and knows him very well.”
Madi’s shoulders droop with her sigh. “There is that.”
I think I just disappointed the romantic in her. “When I’m around Nick, I don’t get that vibe. But I’m afraid to trust myself because I thought Bryan was so perfect. Until I found out he wasn’t, which made me feel like a fool for missing all the signs.” I drop my face into my hands. “I’m so confused.”
Madi rubs my back. “Maybe he’s dated a lot of women because he hasn’t found the right one. Or maybe he’s been hurt in the past—like you—and has a hard time trusting people. It may not be as confusing as you think.”
I peek at her between my fingers. “I’m listening.”
