Wary-eyed, Roberta asked, “What?”
“He’s being playful. A sign of sexual foreplay,” Sara said, nodding her head to accentuate her words. She sat back down at the table as Roberta pulled out a twenty-dollar bill.
“No way!” Roberta exclaimed. “There was nothing sexual about it. Besides, how do you know? Read a Cosmo lately?” She grinned and tucked her wallet away.
“Men act like dogs in lots of ways. Remember, I’m a canine behaviorist. Tell me what else he’s done. Can you think of anything else?” Sara’s words rushed out in excitement.
Smiling over Sara’s first statement, Roberta walked across the kitchen and sat down at the table, money forgotten. She shut her eyes as she remembered, hands on her cheeks.
“Just before, he put his arms around me when he thought I was hurt. He had slugged me in the head with a pillow, and I was faking an injury.”
“Really! Wow, okay, that goes along with being protective. Anything else?”
“Well, when the photographer attacked him, he got between me and the action.”
“More protective behavior, good! Any more touching?” Roberta’s cheeks burned beneath her palms. “Oh, tell me!” Sara breathed, her voice animated.
“It was another one of those moments. He gave me a bear hug a couple nights ago. I could barely breathe.”
“Was there a reason?”
“Nothing I can think of, except he seemed excited.” Roberta acknowledged.
“Oh yeah, he’s got it for you, no doubt about it! He can’t keep his hands off you!” Sara sat back, smug in her diagnosis.
“No. No, I don’t believe it. He may be fond of me, but I certainly don’t think there is anything more serious going on.” Roberta shook her head as she returned to the kitchen counter to hand the bill to Sara. Her knees wobbled, and the swarm of butterflies was back. With her feelings on all ranges of the spectrum regarding her relationship with Taylor, she felt even more confused and dizzy from emotional whiplash. First, she didn’t want to have anything to do with him, then she was peeved he hadn’t waved, and now that he had shown some friendship and affection even, she reverted back to being stand-offish. For the life of her, she couldn’t make up her own mind.
“Mark my words and pay attention for more signs. I’m willing to bet he gives you more classic examples of canine behavior.”