Her text back was almost immediate.I don’t like it either.
Great. It’s solved then. We should stay away from each other. I’ll stop confusing you and you stop confusing me. Good luck with your cupcakes.Send.
The door to the bar swung open, and here came Tornado Tammy, slinging her purse dramatically over her shoulder, with fire in her eyes as she stormed toward him.
He shrank back a little. Why did she look so mad? And why the hell was he sort of afraid of her, but mostly turned on by her?
She yanked open the passenger’s side door and climbed inside like she owned that seat.
“You know where I live.”
“Ummm…”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s clear I can’t leave you alone, Tawk!”
“Why did you just say my name like a cuss word?”
“Because I’m mad that I keep thinking about you and I’m mad that you just upset me with your…your…” she waved her hand at him.
“My what?”
“Your stupid boy-ness! I was inviting you over to spend time and get to know you better and you’re asking if I’m D-T-F.”
“What is D-T-F?”
“Down to fuck.”
“No, I wasn’t asking for that. I was asking if that was what I needed to expect,” he said, trying to stay patient.
“And a part of me was like maybe! A broken freaking part of me was like, is that what I need? Do I just need a good dicken-down by a dangerous boy, and then maybe I will feel more confident in my decision to leave my marriage and leave the only relationship I’ve ever had and leave my hometown, and my friends, and leave my profession, and…and…”
“I don’t think I should be used as a band aid for any of that confusion.”
“But that’s what boys want! Right? You want to fuck a girl before you make cupcakes with her. I saw the dating apps. I tried them! It’s gross out there.”
“I don’t like that.”
“Don’t like what?”
“That you’re on dating apps.”
“Are you on dating apps?”
“Yes.”
Her mouth fell open, and then she flinched back. “Of course you are.”
“Why are you saying that in a mean tone? You’re on them too.”
“Because men like you probably have a bunch of girls you talk to. Probably tonight you will go back to your hotel and talk to three of them. At the same time. And then you’ll tell me I’m the only one you’re talking to.”
“Did Aaron do that to you?”
She clamped her mouth closed and jerked her attention to her window. No more words poured from her emotional little mouth.
He inhaled deep and slow. “Did Aaron have dating apps?”
“I went through his phone. At the end. I went through his phone because I just knew something was wrong. He didn’t do anything with those girls though. He just talked to a bunch of them, all day every day, but he never met up with any of them. He didn’t physically cheat. He swore he didn’t. He was just…lonely I guess. They were easier to talk to than I was.”
