Page 154 of The Moment You Know

Paige decided to lob his question back at him, even though she knew the chances of him having one were slim, given that he’d been with Ashley and had a baby on the way when the first anniversary after they were divorced rolled around. “So, do you have a wedding anniversary tradition?”

David surprised her by nodding. “I do. I take the day off and spend it alone.”

She took another drink of her Margarita; the more she drank, the smoother it went down. “Like, by yourself, alone?”

“Is there another way to be alone?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I don’t, actually.”

“I meant, are you really alone?”

“Well, I don’t hole up in a cave or anything, but I do get away from everyone I know—and that always included Ashley, too. It’s a sacred day to me … so much so that I’ve never had sex with anyone other than you on that day,” David finished softly. “And I can’t believe I just told you that.”

“I’m glad you did.” His admission made Paige want to cry; she actually had to blink back a few tears. “How did Ashley feel about that?”

“Was that rhetorical?”

“No. Well, maybe. I’m assuming she didn’t like it and if she didn’t, then I really want to hear all about how she didn’t.”

“She didn’t like it at all. If she’d had her way, we’d have—” David broke off and took a bite of his fajitas. “Never mind.”

“What? You’d have fucked all day?”

The bite he’d just taken almost lodged in his throat, making him cough. “Jesus Christ.”

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Yes,” he admitted with a grudging sigh. “We probably would’ve fucked all day.”

“Well, I’m glad you two didn’t fuck all day.”

David leaned forward, looking at her intently. “You know, there are times when you’re the person I remember. And then, there are times when you’re … not.”

Having expected something slightly more deep than how he ended that observation, Paige shook her head in amusement. “Thanks, I think.”

“It was a compliment. But both persons are good—”

“Persons?”

“People,” he corrected himself. “Both people are good. I wasn’t trying to imply one person wasn’t good. They’re just different. Shit, I’m going to shut-up now. No, wait. Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“How lonely have you been these past five years?”

The change of subject almost made her head spin (or was it the Margarita?) and Paige had to think for a moment. “Well, in the beginning, I was really lonely. But then loneliness took a back seat for a while, because of all the shit in my life. I was having really bad days and I spent more time being crushed and sad and frustrated and angry, than being lonely. And when I was lonely, it wasn’t generic. I was specifically lonely for you.” She tilted her head at him. “How lonely were you? I mean, before you and Ashley got together, because after that, you probably weren’t lonely.”

“I was lonely as fuck. I missed you all the time and worked long hours to avoid being in the loft by myself. But, even after Ashley and I got together, nothing really changed. I was still lonely as fuck.”

The waiter came by and cleared their plates, then left the check, which David swiped with ninja stealth before Paige could even attempt to take it.

Against her objections, he paid the bill and then walked her out to his car, opening the door for her again. They headed off to their next destination and even though she suspected what it was going to be, when they pulled up in front of a bowling alley just down the street called Glow Bowl, she cracked up.

“For God’s sake, David, I haven’t bowled in years.”

“Neither have I,” he said, turning off the car. “In fact, the last time I did, was with you.”

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