“Of course, but why would I want to make stuff up when real life is so interesting?”
“Real life doesn’t always have a happy ending.”
His smile was gentle. “And you’re a happily ever after kind of girl?”
“I have to believe it’s out there somewhere.”
“I’ve seen a lot of shit in this world. The truth is, happily ever
afters aren’t the norm.”
“That’s just sad.”
“It’s realistic.”
“I’m holding out for the fantasy,” she said.
“I wish I had your faith, but I realized the truth a long time ago.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not anyone’s happily ever after.”
• • •
Cole was thankful she didn’t push him on his statement or try to change his mind. After all, Kate, who had been with him for years, left. He knew he wasn’t in a place to be what Sasha needed. Across the table, her face was expressionless as she focused on her salad. For a while they were silent, both trying to enjoy the delicious food. When they started talking again, it was about his recent work in India.
After finishing their entrees, they both agreed they were too full at the moment for ice cream. Sasha suggested walking in the gardens, and he agreed. There had been a certain spark in her eyes earlier when she spoke of the flowers and he wanted to see it again. Though she hadn’t seemed as despondent lately, the times she looked truly alive were still fewer than he liked.
She was animated while they walked. She knew just about every flower, plant, and tree they came upon and seemed thrilled to talk about them. He wished his family still owned his childhood home. There had been a maze in the gardens and Sasha would have loved it.
“Have you always enjoyed flowers and gardening?” he asked. He pointed to a stone bench off to the side of the path. “Want to sit?”
She nodded and sat down beside him. “Julie and I were college roommates. She always talked about opening a shop and eventually sucked me into the business.”
“You didn’t have anything you wanted to do? No big dream?”
She shook her head. “I always sort of just floated from thing to thing. Never really had a big ‘when I grow up’ vision.”
“Are you happy with what you do?”
“Oh, sure. It’s fifty percent my business. Besides, Julie and I balance each other out. She’s more business and numbers, and I’m more personal relations.”
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. “Is this a job interview for a position I didn’t know I applied for? Next, are you going to ask me if I prefer to work alone or on a team?”
He couldn’t help but smile at her sass. “No, I was going to save that for if you made it to the second round.”
She laughed softly, a musically feminine sound.
“I like it when you laugh, Sasha,” he said.
She smiled and dipped her head. Suddenly, he was acutely aware of how close her body was to him. How easy it would be to gently lift her chin and lower his lips to hers.
“I suppose I haven’t had a lot to laugh about the last few months,” she said, and her matter-of-factness pained him.
“I’m glad our outing provided you the outlet you needed,” he said.
“Me, too,” she whispered. “Thank you for that.”
The air between them hummed, and he knew if he didn’t do something or change the subject, he’d wind up doing something he’d regret.
He cleared his throat and the spell was broken. “Ready for ice cream?”
She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and looked pensive for several seconds before saying, “Yes, that would be great.”
They stood and walked to the creamery portion of the property. The walk was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. Cole had always thought it to be more telling of how well you got along with someone when you could enjoy the silence together. Too many times he found himself trying to fill the silence with words when he was around someone he didn’t particularly get along with.
Sasha walked beside him, her hands clasped behind her back. The position thrust her chest out slightly and he wondered if she did it on purpose.
An old yellow Lab slowly made his way toward them as they approached the creamery. He stopped in the middle of the path, midway to them, and waited.
Sasha’s step quickened. “Oh, look. He’s so pretty.”
She stopped in front of him and held out her hand, offering it for the Lab to sniff. When the dog licked her instead, she laughed and rubbed his head. “What a sweetie.”
Cole watched from the side, and the sight of her made his heart ache. He knew he was catching a rare glimpse of the happy and lighthearted Sasha who existed before Peter. Her interactions with the dog were natural and easy, almost as if she was a different person. Her smile came effortlessly and her laugh was genuine. It was only when she felt his eyes on her that she stood and brushed off her hands.
“Think we can fit him in your car?” she asked.
“I think he’d be missed.”
She gave the Lab a scratch behind the ears. “Probably.”
They resumed walking the short distance to the creamery shop. A handful of people milled around outside. They drew to a stop in front of the counter.
“Everything looks so good.” Sasha studied the glass case and turned to look at him when he didn’t follow suit. “Aren’t you going to see what they have?”
“No, I know what I want.”
After they ordered and got their cones, they sat at a worn picnic table.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked her.
“You got vanilla.”
“And?”
“It’s just vanilla. It’s plain.” She wrinkled her nose.
“It’s not plain, it’s simple. And it’s so simple, it’s extraordinarily complex.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Close your eyes and clear your mind.” He waited until they were closed and then he held his cone up to her lips. “Taste it like it’s your first time.”
Her tongue darted out and licked the ice cream. He tried not to think about where he’d really like her tongue.
“Mmm.” She licked her lips. “Yum.”
“See?” he asked, pleased that she grasped the lesson so quickly.
She opened her eyes and gave him a mischievous smile. “Yes, and I can only imagine how delicious my mint chocolate chip is going to taste when I apply the same thing to it.”
“I should have guessed you’d say that.”
She licked her own cone. “Yes, you really should have.”
They finished the ice cream, making small talk and discussing details of the house they saw earlier. At one point, the yellow Lab wandered over and sat at Sasha’s feet. She reached an idle hand down and scratched his head.
During a lull in the conversation, he leaned forward and lowered his voice. “There’s a play party next weekend.”
She froze and he could see her process his words and their meaning before she relaxed. “Yes.”
“Good job, Sasha. You did what I told you to do earlier, didn’t you?” She’d remembered he wouldn’t touch her without telling her where and how.
“Yes, Sir.”
He nodded. “A fast learner. I like that. I would like for you to attend the party with me.”