She bites her lip, and I can tell she’s debating what to say next.
“I dated a guy in high school for two years. He graduated a year ahead of me. The plan was that once I graduated, we would marry, and I would move to the base where he was stationed.”
“I’m guessing that plan didn’t happen.”
“No.” She stands up and goes to the cupboard to grab a glass. She fills it with water and then returns to the table. “After he returned from basic training, he was different. And then I saw the texts. It turns out he met someone else and didn’t know how to tell me. He’d known her for a week.”
“I’m sorry.”
She leans forward. “I asked him how he could throw away our two years together for one week. He told me that when he was in uniform, girls threw themselves at him. And he realized he wasn’t ready to settle down. Not when there are so many women out there. I told him he wasn’t being himself. He told me all the military guys are like this.That is how he was now. Then he left. I never spoke to him again.”
I wait for her to add more, but she doesn’t. “Wait, you dislike all military guys because of what one ex did?”
She crosses her arms. “I wouldn’t say dislike. I’m nice enough to you. I just wouldn’t date another military guy after that experience.”
A smile spreads across my lips. “I never asked you to date me.”
Her cheeks flush again. Something I realize I like. A lot.
“I wasn’t talking about you specifically.”
“But you were. You said you were nice enough to me, just wouldn’t date me.”
She stands up. “That’s not what I said. You’re twisting my words.”
I stand up, too. Not sure why, but I do enjoy it when she challenges me. “That’s pretty much what you said.”
“No, it isn’t!”
I take a few steps toward the kitchen, and while my back is to her, I say, “So, you would date me then.” I turn back to see her staring at me with her mouth open.
“Are you hitting on me?”
“No, not at all. Simply having a conversation.” I get myself a cup of water.
She storms up to me and stands a little too close. “Do you like mind games? Is that what this is? Because I don’t appreciate it. I opened up to you.”
She did. And what did I do? Well, frankly, it’s a sad attempt at flirting that’s gone really wrong. I need to be honest.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I wasn’t hitting on you, but I was flirting. Something I’m apparently not very skilled at.”
Her nose wrinkles, and then she lets out a laugh so strong she nearly tips over a chair holding on. “That was flirting? Oh, Hunter. No.” She doubles over; she’s laughing so hard.
“Wow, you know how to stroke a man’s ego.”
That makes her laugh even harder.
Okay, this is ridiculous. “I’m going to go read.”
“Wait,” she says. “I’m sorry I laughed at you. I’m a bundle of nerves right now, and I’m either going to laugh or cry.”
“I get that. And I was trying to lighten the mood, but I was wrong. I’ll try to be more professional from now on.”
Her brow furrows, and I swear she seems disappointed. Or that’s my wishful thinking. I really need to get out of my own head.
“Okay, sounds good,” she says.
See, it sounds good. No disappointment.
