Page 28 of The Geography of Happiness

“I wasn’t completely open?—”

We looked sideways at each other and started laughing. Then Terry waved a hand in front of me and said, “You first.”

“Fair enough.” I took a breath and nodded. “It was me who screwed up last night, not you,” I insisted. “I’m usually pretty good at reading people but I guess everyone has an off day, and I’m really sorry if I made you uncomfortable. That wasn’t my intention at all.”

Terry hesitated before responding, surprising me by asking, “So, what was your intention?”

I blinked. It was another of those moments that had me questioning all over again.Would a straight guy ask that? “I think you probably know what my intention was, but in case I wasn’t clear, I was flirting with you, and then I was going to ask you out.” I’m not sure who was more shocked by the admission, Terry or me? My hammering heart certainly seemed surprised, along with my brain, which was flipping through my Rolodex to find the number of a good therapist.

Terry simply stared. “Ask me out?” He swallowed hard. “As on a date... or something?”

I shrugged. “I guess. Maybe more theor somethingoption. To be honest, I was kind of winging it. Taking a guy, takinganyoneon a date isn’t exactly in my wheelhouse, if you get what I mean.”

“Oh.” Terry continued to look stunned, and his gaze slid from me to the window and the lake beyond. “But I’m only here for a week.”

Not the answer expected from a straight man... again. Heat unexpectedly rose in my cheeks. “Yeah, well, as I said, I was winging it. I guess I was just putting it out there to see what you’d do.”

More staring. And more chewing of those pretty lips as he studied me like a bug under a microscope.

I pushed to my feet. “I think maybe I should go?—”

“No, don’t,” Terry blurted, stopping me in my tracks. Then he winced and closed his eyes for a second, seeming to compose himself. “Sit. Please.”

I hesitated for a moment, then returned slowly to my seat on the couch.

Terry took a deep breath, his fingers working the hem of his T-shirt before he finally looked up. “As it turns out, you weren’t having an off day.”

“I wasn’t?” My stomach wobbled just a little. Relief or anticipation, I wasn’t sure.

“No. You, the flirting, all of it was so... unexpected. It’s not a common occurrence in my life—” He blushed adorably. “—and I was rattled, I guess. Men don’t usually see me in that way. Most assume I’m straight, especially when they know I have a kid. But you didn’t assume that, and to be honest, I had no idea how to respond.” He looked down at his lap for a second, then back up at me. “I’m bi, maybe demi, although I’m not so sure about the demi thing. I only know that I don’t react much to anyone... if you get what I mean?”

I blinked several times. “So, you’re not straight then?”

He smiled. “I think I just said that.”

Which led to another question. “Are you... not out?”

He sighed. “No, but not for the reasons you probably think. It’s a bit embarrassing, to be honest.”

“Hey.” I eyeballed him. “Who you like or don’t like to take to your bed is your business. It’s certainly not mine. We can stop this conversation right now if you’d rather, and I won’t raise it again.”

For the longest minute, Terry looked like he might be about to take me up on the offer, so I decided it might be a good idea for me to start the ball rolling. “Just to reiterate the fact,I’mbi,” I reminded him. “Shocker, I know.” I grinned and he returned it. “I’ve dated women and men from the moment I was old enough. A lot of both, if I’m honest. Some would say far too many, but I won’t apologise for that.”

“A regular Don Juan, huh?” Terry gave me a cheeky sideways grin that did funny things to my stomach.

I chuckled. “Hardly. And it sounds a lot more exciting than it is, especially in a small town.”

I snorted. “Tell me about it. Everyone knows your business and as for the dating options, you’re talking market stall rather than supermarket selection, right?”

He laughed. “Exactly. Anyway, I’m a pretty good listener as it happens. Comes with the job. But if you don’t want to talk, that’s totally your business.”

Terry slumped in his chair and blew out a long sigh. “It feels weird talking about this after so long, but I’ve always known or maybe guessed I’m bisexual, I’ve just never done the dating part much—” He grimaced. “Or at all, actually.”

My mouth quirked up. “I’m very discreet.”

Terry’s gaze remained steady on mine. “I think I already guessed that about you.” He tunnelled his fingers through hishair. “I dunno, maybe it’s time. And maybe you feel safe cos I don’t have to see you every day for the rest of my life.”

The reminder niggled for some reason, but the unexpected trust felt important. “I totally get that. But there’s no pressure here, Terry. It’s your story to do with what you want.”

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