Page 133 of The Rules Of Attraction
“Oh my God, are you serious? Everyone knows we’re dating.”
Dating.
He’d never said that before.
“We’re dating? Sounds relationshipy.” I chuckled and expected him to say something against relationships or whatever but he didn’t.
“Yeah I guess it does.” He looked down at the square patterns on the table.
I tried not to think about what would happen when we burned out. It was there in my mind, but I’d decided I didn’t want to consume my thoughts with it.
I liked that we took each day as it came to us, and that every day was so different. Like an adventure.
“We can go away if you want. I’m saying yes.” I brought the conversation back to focus.
“I’ll take you to The Bahamas. We can go for three weeks or something. They’ll manage at the office.”
“Okay.”
“Besides, I need to take every chance I can to spend with you. I’m sure you can, and should, start applying to firms soon. You look more settled. You’re talented and you shouldn’t let your talents go to waste.”
Every time we talked about me and work I felt this sense of guilt weigh in on me.
He still thought I was working with him because it was an easier job to cope with while I dealt with the loss of my father.
When I told him that all those months ago I never saw us being like this.
“I appreciate that. I do.”
“It’s true. You should get back out there, or I’ll keep you for myself at Sullivan’s.” He gave me a wink and grinned, but the light in his eyes receded to that lost look again. “That’s if I ever get the partnership.”
“You will.”
“I don’t know. I actually don’t know.”
I wasn’t sure why he would say that since he was doing all the things he was supposed to.
“Okay, I’m breaking the rules.” I announced and pulled my hands away.
“Don’t you dare.” He chuckled.
“I am, screw the rules for a few minutes. Plus you came up with these rules not me.”
“Angel, you agreed to them. This is sacred time, any second we talk about something else is not time spent together.”
“But it is.” I stated, and reached for him again. “We’re allowed to talk about the real world on a minimal level. I want to know what’s bothering you. I don’t like seeing you so miserable. You’re different and it’s like your suppressing something.”
“I don’t like being restrained, and I’m that guy who’s so outspoken that it gets me in trouble even when I’m right. I work too much on impulse and instinct. Not everybody likes that.”
“But you don’t care what people think.” I reminded him.
“I don’t generally, but there is one person who lives outside that box for me.”
“Your father.” I surmised.
He nodded.
“Alex, tell me what’s happening. Let’s take a minute to talk. I think that since we’redatingwe can at least open the door to sharing our worries.”
