Page 176 of Ice Darling
“Friend,” Cordelia interjects.
Every muscle in my body tightens at once.
Cordelia steers the guy away and gives him a clipboard. “If you’re satisfied with the service, just sign here, and here’s your key. Give me a call if you need help with anything else.”
“Thanks.” The guy gives her an obvious once-over. “I think Iwillbe giving you a call.”
I glare at him. “She meantfor the car. Nothing else.”
A frightened look crosses his face, and the guy quickly jumps into his car.
Cordelia gives me a scolding look.
I return it with a scowl of my own.
“Thanks for choosing The Pink Garage,” Cordelia says, waving to the customer as he drives out.
The moment he leaves, she whirls on me. “What wasthat?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing.” I stomp toward her. “Friends.Friends?How the heck are we friends?”
“What’s wrong with being friends?”
Dumbfounded, I can only stare at her. Wait…she’s serious. I threw her on a dang bike and kissed her socks off. I invited her to my house. She slept on my chest all night. I’m here asking her out for lunch. We were hugging and flirting and touching since the moment I walked into the garage. Why does this have to be explained?
“You are not myfriend,”I say firmly and slowly as if she doesn’t speak English. “I don’t kiss my friends.”
“We’re…special friends.”
My jaw slackens.
Cordelia puts her hands on my chest. “I think you’re amazing, Renthrow. I really like being around you. And kissing you.” Her eyes dip to my lips. “I like you a lot.”
“I like you too,” I rasp. “I’m crazy about you, Cordelia.”
She smiles softly. “So then…why can’t we just leave it at that?”
“What?”
“Dating leads to commitments.”
“Sometimes. Not all the time.”
She arches a brow. “Would you bring a woman around Gordie that you just want a casual relationship with?”
“Of course not.”
“Dating with intentions isn’t something I’m willing to do.”
“But—”
“I don’t want to get married. Ever.”
Her words rock me to my core. For so long, I didn’t want to get married again either, but why do I feel so frustrated hearing Cordelia say that?
“I don’t want to confuse Gordie. I’m not going to be her new mommy, and if she hears that we’re dating, she’s going to have expectations. It’s going to be confusing and possibly upsetting for her. I don’t want to put her through that.”
“Gordie’s not going to be upset that I’m dating you. She—” I blow out a breath. “Why are you already talking about marriage when we’ve just gotten to know each other? Let’s take it one step at a time.”
