woman in my life. I’m not going to lie. But the most beautiful part about you is your heart. You’re kind of seddity—”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You can beg all you want to because I can see past that. Not enough to know the real you, but just enough to know that I want to. That’s why I asked you out. I don’t talk in circles or play games. I’m trying to get with you, see if there’s a connection. I would like to move past the cordial but guarded interactions and see where this can go. If you’re not interested, I’m a big boy. I can handle that, no problem. I can have dinner with family, go out with Tyra on father/daughter dates. I’ve got a pocketful of friends I can call to grab a bite any day of the week. That is not why I’m here with you.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
An awkward silence joined them at the table, pushed away by the waiter coming to take their order.
Byron gave the menus to the waiter. “There’s a first time for everything. I don’t think I’ve ever had a meal without meat.”
“I’m not a vegetarian, but on occasion I will go two or three days without it, give my intestines a break and clean out a bit. If you’re open to new experiences, I think you’ll enjoy this food. It’s the spices and the way they use them . . . just amazing.”
“What shut you down to new experiences?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why aren’t you dating?”
“For any number of reasons, no time, no prospects . . . LA is an interesting place to be single.”
“We can definitely agree on that. If you’re looking for a serious relationship, LA can be a trip! I’m a native and can tell you that firsthand. Kids may have never visited Hollywood, but that whole flash/baller/gangster mentality definitely infiltrated most areas in this city. Women are looking for the man who has it all—money, status, looks, house, car, everything—even if they don’t possess these qualities. These days, men are pretty much looking for that, too. What happened to just looking for someone compatible, a person you could talk to, dream with, plan a future, like my parents did? Those days are gone, replaced by a whole hell of a lot of single people looking for love.”
He watched as a myriad of emotions played across her face.
“But I have a feeling that’s not your story. A woman who looks like you, with the background to match, could get just about any man she wants. So are you one of those independent, don’t-need-a-man, never-get-married types?”
Cynthia took a sip of her drink. “I’m very open to having someone in my life and was in a relationship when I moved here two years ago to work for H.E.L.P. The position was a great opportunity for career growth, and one hard to refuse. It is a great addition to my résumé. We stuck it out for about nine months before admitting that neither of us was cut out for the long-distance relationship scenario. The breakup was mutual and we’re still friendly, a better ending than some.”
“And since then?”
“I’ve dated, but only one turned fairly serious. We were compatible, and both wanted the same things . . .”
Byron leaned back. “But . . .”
“I don’t know. There was just something about the situation that didn’t feel comfortable to me, like there was a part of his life kept separate from our life, and things about him I didn’t know. Rumor has it that there was a long-time girlfriend somewhere but . . . I never knew for sure.”
“What about your son’s father?”
“There’s a story there, too.” Cynthia eyed him for a second, as if trying to figure him out. “How is it that we always end up talking about me?”
“Probably comes from my years on the job,” Byron said with another of those delicious smiles. “Sitting in that seat day in, day out, people tell me all sorts of stories. Sometimes, more than I want to know. They talk. I listen. Plus, I’m curious. I like to know about
“I beg your pardon?”
“You can beg all you want to because I can see past that. Not enough to know the real you, but just enough to know that I want to. That’s why I asked you out. I don’t talk in circles or play games. I’m trying to get with you, see if there’s a connection. I would like to move past the cordial but guarded interactions and see where this can go. If you’re not interested, I’m a big boy. I can handle that, no problem. I can have dinner with family, go out with Tyra on father/daughter dates. I’ve got a pocketful of friends I can call to grab a bite any day of the week. That is not why I’m here with you.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
An awkward silence joined them at the table, pushed away by the waiter coming to take their order.
Byron gave the menus to the waiter. “There’s a first time for everything. I don’t think I’ve ever had a meal without meat.”
“I’m not a vegetarian, but on occasion I will go two or three days without it, give my intestines a break and clean out a bit. If you’re open to new experiences, I think you’ll enjoy this food. It’s the spices and the way they use them . . . just amazing.”
“What shut you down to new experiences?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why aren’t you dating?”
“For any number of reasons, no time, no prospects . . . LA is an interesting place to be single.”
“We can definitely agree on that. If you’re looking for a serious relationship, LA can be a trip! I’m a native and can tell you that firsthand. Kids may have never visited Hollywood, but that whole flash/baller/gangster mentality definitely infiltrated most areas in this city. Women are looking for the man who has it all—money, status, looks, house, car, everything—even if they don’t possess these qualities. These days, men are pretty much looking for that, too. What happened to just looking for someone compatible, a person you could talk to, dream with, plan a future, like my parents did? Those days are gone, replaced by a whole hell of a lot of single people looking for love.”
He watched as a myriad of emotions played across her face.
“But I have a feeling that’s not your story. A woman who looks like you, with the background to match, could get just about any man she wants. So are you one of those independent, don’t-need-a-man, never-get-married types?”
Cynthia took a sip of her drink. “I’m very open to having someone in my life and was in a relationship when I moved here two years ago to work for H.E.L.P. The position was a great opportunity for career growth, and one hard to refuse. It is a great addition to my résumé. We stuck it out for about nine months before admitting that neither of us was cut out for the long-distance relationship scenario. The breakup was mutual and we’re still friendly, a better ending than some.”
“And since then?”
“I’ve dated, but only one turned fairly serious. We were compatible, and both wanted the same things . . .”
Byron leaned back. “But . . .”
“I don’t know. There was just something about the situation that didn’t feel comfortable to me, like there was a part of his life kept separate from our life, and things about him I didn’t know. Rumor has it that there was a long-time girlfriend somewhere but . . . I never knew for sure.”
“What about your son’s father?”
“There’s a story there, too.” Cynthia eyed him for a second, as if trying to figure him out. “How is it that we always end up talking about me?”
“Probably comes from my years on the job,” Byron said with another of those delicious smiles. “Sitting in that seat day in, day out, people tell me all sorts of stories. Sometimes, more than I want to know. They talk. I listen. Plus, I’m curious. I like to know about
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