“I guess you and Jim didn’t work out after all,” Tammy sniped.
"Ugh, he was such a douche. I'm glad to be done with him!" I exclaimed in disgust.
I figured it was easier than explaining just how deep “douche” went.
Tammy’s eyes widened in surprise as she set down her water glass.
"Tell me about it! I could have told you that, after he dumped me for you," she replied, trying to sound casual and failing.
My mouth fell open. So, the rumors had been true. Rumors had been circulating the Jim and Tammy had been dating, but Jim told me that it wasn’t true and I had foolishly believed him. To hear her confirm shouldn’t have been a shock at this point, but somehow it was.
"He did?" I heard myself saying, “I didn’t know. I never would have given him the time of day if I had have known that he had a girlfriend already.”
Tammy’s face softened as she realized that I really had been in the dark about things with Jim.
“Well, it’s not your fault,” she said. “You couldn’t have known the level of loser that you were dealing with. It’s just a really good thing that you found out sooner rather than later.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” I sigh, rubbing my upper arm.
Just thinking about him, I swore I could still feel the phantom digging of his fingers into my flesh, the way he’d grab me hard enough to bruise.
“So, how is business treating you?” I asked, wanting to shake off the ugly thoughts.
“Business is good,” she said. “Actually, I had had my eye on a piece of real estate that I think we mutually are interested in.”
At first, I started to feel a little competitive to hear that she was interested in the same property, but then I came up with an idea.
“What if we buy it together?” I asked. “I mean, we’re both really good at what we do and we’re in the same industry. It would be like a remix of sorts. We could have some of your creations and some of mine and then we could create some together. It will be great. The auctions have been bringing more people to town lately, so I don’t see why we couldn’t build a new brand and see it expand. In fact, I think that maybe working together would mean more money for both of us.
Tammy rubbed her chin like she was thinking it over. Then, she shook her head.
“No, thanks,” she said, dabbing the corner of her mouth with her napkin. “I’m fine on my own. It does sound like a good idea, though.”
She smiled at me warmly, something that I can’t ever remember her doing. I could tell that our conversation had broken down a lot of walls that had been built between us. She had softened toward me.
Things were starting to look better and better.
Chapter Twelve Candy
“I’m so sorry,” I said, rejoining Elliot at our table. “Where were we?”
Elliot smiled and put his hand on top of mine.
“Exactly where we’re supposed to be,” he said gently.
I had to cross my legs to keep from getting too excited. We were sitting in a public restaurant, after all. He kept reminding me why dating him had been such a good idea and I fell more head over heels every day.
And yet, something nagged at the back of my mind. What was it?
It couldn’t have been the conversation that I had with Tammy. It had been very pleasant and even cathartic. We had been able to clear the air from decades of misunderstandings, jealousy, and rivalry, some of which that I was unaware even existed until today.
Even with all of the good that came from that run in, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Anxiety lingered, this unending feeling that something was off.
We finished our dinner and I passed on dessert when asked, for the first time since we’d started dating.
Elliot looked at me, concern etched on his face.
“Are you okay?” asked Elliot. “You seem like something is bothering you. Are you feeling well?”
I laughed.
“I have to be sick to turn down dessert?” I asked. “No, I’m just tired, that’s all. Can you take me home?”
I yawned to give my words more of an effect. I was really tired, that wasn’t a lie. But, then, there was that something else, that something that I just couldn’t put my finger on.
Elliot whipped out his credit card, put it on the edge of the table, and signaled for the waiter to come over.
“Sure, let’s get out of here,” he said. “I need to get you home that you can get your beauty sleep. I can’t have you out here turning into a pumpkin on my watch, now can we?”
I laughed. He had such a great sense of humor. When the waiter came back to the table with his credit card, we left.
On the ride home, Elliot made it a point to reach over and slip his hand into mine. It was such a sweet gesture. It made my heart skip a beat.
When we pulled up to my apartment, he walked me to my door.
“Good night,” he said, landing a sweet, sensuous kiss on my lips. I leaned into the kiss, taking it all in. He was such a passionate kisser. I melted into his arms whenever he pressed his lips to mine. They were soft, but firm at the same time. It was wonderful and I loved every minute of it.
But, I had to admit that it left me wanting more. Part of me almost invited him to come
