Page 19 of Pieces of Us
We both take off our coats and sit at the table. Linc looks around the room, then directs his attention to me. “Do you ever think about what your wedding will look like?”
I start flipping through a brochure on the table. “I think most women do. I think I would do something simple and small. I would rather put the money toward an amazing honeymoon or a down payment on a house.”
“That’s a very CPA answer.”
“Well, I am one, so I usually think about the money side of things.”
“I would want a destination wedding. Make it a week-long thing with just close friends and family.”
“You’ve thought about getting married?”
“I mean, it’s not on my radar right now. But yeah, I hope someday it happens.”
That’s the last thing I would ever expect Linc to say.
“Funny, I thought you’d end up the eternal bachelor. I don’t think I’ve seen you date anyone long enough to think about commitment.”
He shrugs. “Maybe I just felt like I didn’t need to be tied down. Maybe I just haven’t been with the right woman yet.”
Before I have a chance to respond, we pause as the coordinator enters the room. We spend an hour looking through binders and picking plates, silverware, and stemware. I should be focused, but this is boring. My thoughts keep going back to what Linc said. I never imagined that he would want to settle down. My brain only knows him as the one with the reputation of jumping from woman to woman. But I know his type. He says he wants to eventually find someone, but he’ll leave a wake of broken hearts as he figures out what he really wants.
When we finish, I’m ready to go. I think we both are. Linc yawns and stretches as we stand from the table. Before heading back out into the cold, we stop in the lobby to put on our coats. I fumble with my scarf, and it falls to the floor. Before I can grab it, Linc drops down to pick it up. He rises back up, looking into my eyes. He has a way of looking at me that can make me stop dead in my tracks. I hate it because I can’t resist that look.
He unfurls my scarf, stepping into my space. I don’t move as he wraps it around my neck, slow and purposeful. Once it’s secure, he runs his hands along my jaw, slipping them under my hair, pulling it free from the scarf. My heart beats faster with the contact, his hands warm on the skin of my neck, his thumbs skimming my ears. Why do I always have this reaction to him when he’s close, when he touches me?
Satisfied with his work, he smiles at me; a smile I don’t see him use with other people. He drops his hands, remaining close.
The air between us is annoyingly thick. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He steps back, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his coat. The space allows me to breathe. “How did your date go last weekend?”
I think about how I can answer that without feeling embarrassed at the disaster that evening was. “It was alright.”
“Are you going to see him again?”
“I don’t think so.”
“That bad?”
“Yeah. He was like a neanderthal, and of course, he picked a scary movie.”
“You hate scary movies.”
“Guess he didn’t get the memo, or at least ask my opinion.”
“Mel?”
I finish buttoning my coat and look at him. “What Linc?”
He looks like he wants to say something but thinks better of it. Instead, he shakes his head and says, “Sorry it didn’t go well.”
“Not the end of the world. I’ve actually decided I’m done with dating for the time being. If I never meet the one, I can always get a puppy.”
Linc chuckles. “Refuse to be a cat lady?”
“Things will never get that bad.”
We brave the cold air, and he walks me to my car.
