this? I like her despite her past, and in some sick way, I’m hoping that, if I can overlook the things she did, maybe she will be able to do the same with me."
"Leo, that is not a healthy attitude to start a relationship on. I know you respect her for the things she said that day at Foundations, but I don’t like this pedestal you have her on."
"I agree with you…to a point. I’m not going out with Sarah because of some misplaced feelings. I ran into her randomly on the street. I didn’t even know who she was when I first approached her. But yes, when I did recognize her it, piqued my interest. However, I asked her out for the same reasons I would ask any woman out."
"Because she’s hot," Erica laughs.
"No, smartass. Well, yes, but I meant that she’s funny and interesting too."
"Okay, fine. I won’t say anything else about it, but please be careful. I don’t want you to get in over your head until you really get to know her. Just because you know her past doesn’t mean you know anything about who she is today."
"Yeah, okay." I let it go. She’s right even though I hate to admit it. "Let’s get out of here. I’m supposed to pick her up in a few hours and I have to get some work done first. When are you heading back to Indy?"
"As soon as Slate finishes up at the gym. I’m going shopping for a little bit until he’s done."
"Take Johnson with you, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She rolls her eyes but nods. "All right. I expect to meet this Sarah chick soon."
"Now look who’s rushing into something." I laugh and guide her out of the coffee shop.
"UM, WHAT do you mean he said he is going to kiss you in his bed tonight? That’s a little cocky, don’t you think?" my best friend, Casey, asks while flopping down on my bed, watching me apply my makeup in front of my full-length mirror.
"Nah. You’d have to meet him to really understand. It’s absolutely presumptuous, but when he says it, it’s not obnoxious."
"I’ll have to take your word for it, because he sounds like a douche."
"Stop!" I turn to face her. "Don’t say that. I kind of like him. He’s easy."
"Yeah, well. It sounds like he thinks you’re easy too," she laughs, but I give her an evil eye that makes her hush.
"Oh, shut up. I’m not kidding, Case. It’s odd how comfortable I feel around him." I turn back to the mirror to finish up with my mascara.
"You think it’s because he’s the first man you’ve allowed to get to know ‘new’ Sarah." She throws a pair of air quotes in my direction.
"I don’t know. Maybe." I let out a resigned sigh. I have no idea why Leo has me letting my guards down—I just know that it feels good. "He doesn’t know anything about my past, so it’s easy to pretend that I don’t have one when I’m with him. There’s no pressure. I can be whoever the hell I want instead of who he expects me to be." I catch her sad eyes through the mirror. "Don’t give me that look." When I spin around to face her, she immediately looks away.
"I wish you didn’t have to feel like that," she says apologetically.
I know where she’s headed with this, but it’s not a stroll down memory lane I want to take tonight.
"So, is there something wrong with the way I am now?" I ask with a teasing smile.
"No!" She jumps up defensively. She knows this is a trigger for me, but tonight, I’m using it to my advantage just to mess with her. However, I’m apparently transparent because she calls my bluff. "It’s just that you don’t drink wine or read dirty books anymore. That was, after all, the foundation of our relationship." She grins.
"Yeah, but now, we eat massive chocolaty desserts and watch trashy TV. I think that might trump wine night." I stand up to grab my perfume off the dresser.
"You’re right. This arrangement might be better, although my jeans probably disagree."
We both burst out laughing, only to sober when I see the clock.
"Shit! He should be here soon," I announce, nervously smoothing down the long
"Leo, that is not a healthy attitude to start a relationship on. I know you respect her for the things she said that day at Foundations, but I don’t like this pedestal you have her on."
"I agree with you…to a point. I’m not going out with Sarah because of some misplaced feelings. I ran into her randomly on the street. I didn’t even know who she was when I first approached her. But yes, when I did recognize her it, piqued my interest. However, I asked her out for the same reasons I would ask any woman out."
"Because she’s hot," Erica laughs.
"No, smartass. Well, yes, but I meant that she’s funny and interesting too."
"Okay, fine. I won’t say anything else about it, but please be careful. I don’t want you to get in over your head until you really get to know her. Just because you know her past doesn’t mean you know anything about who she is today."
"Yeah, okay." I let it go. She’s right even though I hate to admit it. "Let’s get out of here. I’m supposed to pick her up in a few hours and I have to get some work done first. When are you heading back to Indy?"
"As soon as Slate finishes up at the gym. I’m going shopping for a little bit until he’s done."
"Take Johnson with you, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She rolls her eyes but nods. "All right. I expect to meet this Sarah chick soon."
"Now look who’s rushing into something." I laugh and guide her out of the coffee shop.
"UM, WHAT do you mean he said he is going to kiss you in his bed tonight? That’s a little cocky, don’t you think?" my best friend, Casey, asks while flopping down on my bed, watching me apply my makeup in front of my full-length mirror.
"Nah. You’d have to meet him to really understand. It’s absolutely presumptuous, but when he says it, it’s not obnoxious."
"I’ll have to take your word for it, because he sounds like a douche."
"Stop!" I turn to face her. "Don’t say that. I kind of like him. He’s easy."
"Yeah, well. It sounds like he thinks you’re easy too," she laughs, but I give her an evil eye that makes her hush.
"Oh, shut up. I’m not kidding, Case. It’s odd how comfortable I feel around him." I turn back to the mirror to finish up with my mascara.
"You think it’s because he’s the first man you’ve allowed to get to know ‘new’ Sarah." She throws a pair of air quotes in my direction.
"I don’t know. Maybe." I let out a resigned sigh. I have no idea why Leo has me letting my guards down—I just know that it feels good. "He doesn’t know anything about my past, so it’s easy to pretend that I don’t have one when I’m with him. There’s no pressure. I can be whoever the hell I want instead of who he expects me to be." I catch her sad eyes through the mirror. "Don’t give me that look." When I spin around to face her, she immediately looks away.
"I wish you didn’t have to feel like that," she says apologetically.
I know where she’s headed with this, but it’s not a stroll down memory lane I want to take tonight.
"So, is there something wrong with the way I am now?" I ask with a teasing smile.
"No!" She jumps up defensively. She knows this is a trigger for me, but tonight, I’m using it to my advantage just to mess with her. However, I’m apparently transparent because she calls my bluff. "It’s just that you don’t drink wine or read dirty books anymore. That was, after all, the foundation of our relationship." She grins.
"Yeah, but now, we eat massive chocolaty desserts and watch trashy TV. I think that might trump wine night." I stand up to grab my perfume off the dresser.
"You’re right. This arrangement might be better, although my jeans probably disagree."
We both burst out laughing, only to sober when I see the clock.
"Shit! He should be here soon," I announce, nervously smoothing down the long
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