Page 19 of Charlie
“When you say people, does that include a partner?” Her tone was soft. “I don’t see a ring on your hand.”
So, I’m not the only one who looked for that.
“No, I’m not married.” I was flattered that she even cared. “You?”
“Nope. That’s where the cynical part of me comes from. I haven’t had much luck in love.”
“Why?” The question flew out of me. People like Liv who were outgoing, intelligent, and beautiful had been blessed from birth. If they couldn’t make love work, then how were people like me with a whole boatload of issues supposed to stand a chance?
“I’d love to tell you that it was all because of my awful taste in men, but my therapist wants me to take responsibility, so the honest truth is that I’m a bit much to handle for any man.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why would I tell you that when I’m trying to make a good impression? Or is that too late?” There it was again, her easygoing flirtatious energy that reached me like a seductive force of female power.
“What do you have to lose? As I see it, it’s better to wear your uniqueness as a beacon. Just lay it all out. The people who can’t handle you will move on, and the people who are part of your tribe will have an easier time finding you.”
“Oh, I love that.” She paused and leaned back to make room for the food that was brought to our table. “I knew you were a smart guy.”
Digging my fork into my salad, I shrugged. “I can’t take credit for those words. My mentor taught me that.”
“You have a mentor?”
“Uh-huh. So back to your theory that you’re too much for men to handle. Tell me more.” My shoulder lifted and my eyes winked in a series of tics.
A shy smile spread on Liv’s lips. “You want to know the skeletons in my closet? All right, I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
I chewed and swallowed the salad in my mouth before responding. “I already told you I have Tourette’s.”
“Yeah, but that’s just part of your charm. We’re talking skeletons here. Scary, rattling skeletons that make your lovers run away screaming.”
She thought my Tourette’s was charming? I didn’t have time to process that because she was pointing at me with a slice of pizza in her hand. “I want juicy, dirty details.”
“I’m socially awkward.”
“Don’t tell me that you take sips from other people’s coffee cups or you tell them about poop when you want them to like you?”
“No.” I smiled at her self-deprecating irony. “But I’m shy and introverted.”
“Yeah, no…” She shook her head. “You’re going to have to find something better than that.”
“I’ve never had a serious relationship.”
She stiffened and raised an eyebrow. “Define serious.”
“I’ve never had someone call me their boyfriend and vice versa.”
“Wait…” She moved forward in her chair and lowered her voice. “You’re gay?”
“No!” I didn’t have a problem with gay people, but I didn’t want Liv to doubt that I was interested in women.
“Then why did you say vice versa? That would mean you called each other boyfriend.”
“Wrong choice of words. I meant that I haven’t been in a committed relationship.”
“Oh, okay.” Her fingers were picking up some strings of melted cheese and placing them on top of her pizza slice. “Maybe you just haven’t found the right woman yet.”
“Maybe.” I moved in my seat. “I actually met one that I thought could be the right one not so long ago.”
