"I'll admit I've never been set up on a date before," he said. "I was really nervous about it."
I smiled. "Nervous that you’d embarrass yourself, or nervous that I wouldn't be a good date?"
He smiled, and it made him even more handsome. "Admittedly, I was initially worried that you wouldn't be a good date, but now I'm worried that I'm going to embarrass myself, because…" He looked down and his cheeks blushed.
"Because what?" I asked.
"He laughed. "I was going to say that you're very beautiful, but I was afraid that might make me look shallow."
I smiled, "You can say I look beautiful. Women usually like to hear that."
"Whew." He wiped his brow with the back of his hand as if he escaped a dangerous situation.
"I had a bit of an adventure getting ready for this evening as I don't normally go on dates either. My son helped me out.” I showed him the tennis bracelet.
"I've heard great things about your son from Reggie," Kevin said.
A wave of guilt came over me as I realized I just told my date that I had a son, but hadn't told Carter. Why had it been so easy to tell this perfect stranger but not Tanner's own father?
Kevin frowned. "Is everything all right?"
Realizing my emotions must be on my face, I worked it into a smile. "Yes, of course. He is a wonderful little boy, and he and I are so blessed to have Reggie in our lives."
The wine arrived, and after a couple sips, I began to settle down again and enjoy my dinner with Kevin. Maybe in another time in my life if I met him, I might have seen more than just the handsome friendly man who made for an enjoyable dinner partner.
But I wasn't at another time in my
life. I was in a time after having had a shipboard romance with Carter. It was after the time that he and I had been bumping into each other like balls on a pinball machine, reigniting all those feelings and sensations. I wondered for a moment if I was going to have to settle for a life of spinsterhood, or for a nice man like Kevin, who would probably make a fine life partner, but wouldn't have the passion of someone like Carter.
We were just enjoying a laugh when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up into Carter's fierce but glassy eyes.
"Carter?" Panic rose inside me, although I wasn't sure why. "What are you doing here?" Had he followed me? Had he decided he wasn't done trying to pursue me after all? That question should have given me hope, but all I could feel right there looking up into his angry eyes, was deep despair.
"This is a public place. I can eat here if I want to. Looks like maybe you've moved up in the world. Perhaps you had a windfall."
There was something about his demeanor that was off-putting. I knew he was suggesting that I'd taken his money and was now using it to lavish on myself without fulfilling my end of the deal. That wasn't nearly as bothersome as the suspicion that I had that he was drunk. I'd never seen Carter drunk before. Even when we were in Mexico and drinking quite a bit, I was usually the one with her head over the toilet bowl while Carter sat with me singing Mexican bar songs. God, I'd forgotten about that. Another sweet thing he'd done, even though at the time I was mortified that he was watching me puke my guts up.
Carter turned and looked over at my date. He extended his hand. "Carter Strong. You must be the famous Reggie."
I gaped. What?
Kevin's brow furrowed. “No, I'm Kevin," he said, shaking Carter's hand.
Carter jerked back, his expression one of surprise as he looked at me. "Wow. You move on quickly, don’t you Jess?"
Anger boiled from the pit of my stomach. I had the urge to stand up and slap him across the face.
With his hand on my chair, he leaned into it like he planned to stay for a while. "Before me, or maybe even during me, she was seeing Reggie," he said to Kevin.
Kevin looked at me, and I could see he was uncomfortable and confused. I was humiliated and angry.
"Why are you here?" I tried to keep my voice down because I knew I was in a posh restaurant and didn't want to make a scene.
"What does it matter if I'm here? Should I add that to the long list of other things Jess doesn't want me to do?"
I growled in frustration. Hopelessly, I looked over at Kevin.
"Maybe I should go."