After All - Romancing Manhattan
“How are you getting along with Gabby?”
“So far, so good.”
“Like I said, I think it’s great. Just don’t forget about me. I love you, too, you know.”
“I know.” I reach over to take his hand in mine. “I know, and I love you, too. I’ll make a better effort, I promise.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, what’s new with you? Are you seeing anyone?”
“I was seeing another dancer named Damon, but he turned out to be a schmuck.”
“I’ve never liked the name Damon.” I chew on a fry, thinking it over. “Isn’t that weird? It’s not like I know anyone I dislike with the name.”
“It sounds like demon to me,” Christopher says with a smile. “But I’ll never admit that to anyone besides you.”
“So he’s not the guy for you.”
“No. He was just after my body. Which, I mean, how can you blame him?”
“How indeed.”
“Right? I met another guy at the supermarket the other day, so we’ll see if he calls me.”
“Wait. You gave your number to a guy at the market?”
“How else am I supposed to meet people?” he demands and takes a bite of his burger. “This is worth every single calorie.”
“I don’t know if the market is any better than a club.” I chew thoughtfully. I need more ketchup. “I mean, it’s a perfect stranger.”
“Honey, they’re all perfect strangers until you get to know them. I doubt he’s a serial killer. He’s too hot for that.”
“Ted Bundy was hot,” I remind him. “And charming.”
“But he didn’t kill men.”
“So?” I laugh now and wipe my mouth with my napkin. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I dunno, I’m just saying. Ted Bundy was heterosexual.”
“I’m certain there have been gay serial killers. I could google it.”
I reach for my phone, but Christopher shakes his head. “No, I don’t want to know.”
“This is New York. Serial killer is your best-case scenario if he’s crazy.”
“Jesus, Nora, you make me never want to date again. And that’s just sad. A man has needs.”
“Ew.” I wrinkle my nose and toss a fry at him, which he catches and pops in his mouth. “I don’t want to know about your needs.”
“I want to know about yours,” he says, leaning in closer. “Give me all the details on Carter. That man is hotter than July in Hades.”
“He’s pretty hot.”
“And he has long fingers, and that’s a good sign.”
“Don’t ruin this for me,” I say with a laugh and sip my chocolate shake. “Seriously, Christopher, don’t be gross about it.”
“Who’s being gross? I just want to know the scoop, that’s all.”
This is very different from talking with Sienna and London. Is it because I know Christopher so well that I want to clam up and keep it all for myself?
“Give me something.”
“He’s just . . . really good at it,” I say at last. “Like, really good.”
“Hmm, lots of practice then,” he says with a knowing nod and I scowl at him.
“Darcy died five years ago, and he says there’s been no one since then.”
“Right.” Christopher busts up laughing, slapping the table, as if I just told him the funniest joke ever. “Trust me, a man doesn’t go five years without some nookie.”
“You don’t know that.” I hear the defensiveness in my voice, and I don’t care. “He works a lot, and he has a young daughter. Maybe he was too busy.”
“Or he’s lying.”
“Jesus, Chris, don’t start that shit with me. I don’t have a reason to think Carter’s lied to me. That’s not cool.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. You’re right, I don’t know him from Adam. Maybe he was a monk for five years. It’s unlikely, but possible.”
“Just because you can’t keep it in your pants—”
“Okay, okay.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry. Honest.”
“Okay.” I sigh and drop the last of my burger in the basket. “He’s not like Richard. He’s not a jerk.”
“Good. He’d better not be, or I’ll kick his ass. I may be gay, but I’ve got guns, and I know how to use them.”
“I didn’t know you owned firearms.”
He rolls his eyes and then flexes his biceps. “These guns, Nora.”
“Oh, right.”
I didn’t sleep well last night. It seems I’ve become used to sleeping with Carter, and without him to snuggle up to, I can’t turn my brain off.
It’s a problem.
I mean, it’s not like I have to spend every single night with the man. We’re allowed to have nights apart.
I’ll adjust.
I’ve just started my computer when Carter walks into the office, looking fresh from a shower but tired around the eyes.
Maybe he didn’t sleep well either?
“Good morning,” he says as he walks around my desk, pulls me out of my chair, and covers my mouth with his own, kissing me silly.
“Well, good morning to you, too,” I say when he finally lets me up for air.
“I missed you last night.”
I grin and brush my fingers through his hair. He needs a haircut. “I missed you, too. But I had a nice time with Christopher. It was good to catch up.”