Page 34 of Seasoned
“Hey, what took you so long? Angela invited us to join them for appetizers and wine in the restaurant upstairs. I almost left without you,” she said with a teasing smile.
“Now?” He frowned.
“Yes.” He’d been acting strange ever since the event ended.
“It’s kind of late to be eating, isn’t it?”
“Since when do you turn down a meal or care about eating late? We’re not eating a full dinner and maybe having just a drink or two.”
Clive rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know, I hadn’t planned on doing anything else except attending the reading. Now I have to go eat and drink wine, too? I don’t even like wine.”
“Then order a beer or some other drink. I only mentioned the wine because Angela said they have a great selection. Listen, I have two words for you. Free. Food.” She was starting to get annoyed.
“I’m not in the mood, Renee. Why don’t you go ahead with Angela and Thomas and the rest of them. I’ll head home.”
“I want you to join us.”
Clive shook his head. “It’s not my thing.”
“What’s not your thing? Eating, drinking, and having a conversation? We did that a couple of weeks ago at your Fourth of July party. You included me in a part of your life, and I don’t want to exclude you from this part of mine.”
“You’re not excluding me. This is my decision because I’m honestly not interested in talking about books and eating a bunch of expensive, fancy food. That’s your thing.”
Renee’s jaw locked in anger. “Should I be offended?”
“No,” Clive said wearily.
“Well, I guess I’ll remember this the next time you ask me to participate in one of your events. I believe we were going fishing next week?”
When she’d told him she’d never gone fishing before, he invited her to join him and his granddaughter. Despite her reservations, she was excited about spending more time with him and being included in yet another part of his life. But why didn’t he want to be included in hers?
“Renee, don’t act like that.” He reached for her, but she stepped out of his reach.
“Go. I’ll call you later,” she said, voice frigid.
“You’re upset, but I told you from the beginning this wasn’t my thing.”
“Of course I’m upset, Clive. I like spending time with you doing a variety of activities. But so far we’ve only ever done what you want to do. I went to your favorite burger joint. We watch the movies you want to see. I attended your holiday barbecue. Tonight was the one time I’ve asked you to do something that I like, and you act as if it’s too much. You’re actually going to back out.”
“It’s one event,” he said through his teeth, as if he had any right to be upset with her.
“It is not one event. You know what, never mind. I don’t have time for this. Take the car back, I’ll catch an Uber home. See you later.” She walked away.
“Renee.”
She pretended not to hear him.
When she reached the group, she said, “I’m ready.”
Angela peered behind her. “Clive isn’t coming?”
“No, he’s not,” Renee replied with a tight smile.
Thomas clapped his hands together. “Okay, everybody, follow me.”
As they turned away, Renee peeked over her shoulder and saw Clive walking toward the exit. Hardening her heart, she stepped onto the elevator with the rest of the group and refocused her energy on the conversation and the good vibes she’d been experiencing beforehand. If Clive hadn’t come with her, she would have been just fine, so why did she even care that he wasn’t there now?
Because in a very short while he’d become an important part of her life, and the aching in her chest reminded her of how important he’d become. Not wanting to be rude, she eased her phone from her purse and, holding it in her lap, tapped out a quick text.
