“Exactly. Anyway, I could say it would be good for the story, but the truth is I want you to come with me... as my date.”
“I’d love to,” she beamed.
“You would?”
“Yes. Can’t you tell?”
“I think so. You’re hard to read. And I specialize in reading people like books.”
“Well, I have a lot of chapters.”
“That much I can tell.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and then looked at her with earnest eyes. “Listen, Emma, I wanted to say something.” He was struggling, so she let him take his time. “Honestly, this may be premature, but as you have pointed out repeatedly, I have a rep.” He air-quoted “rep” and rolled his eyes. “I want to make the parameters of our relationship very clear, so there’s no misunderstanding.” Oh no. She braced herself. “I want to spend time with you... to the exclusion of other women.” He laughed to himself. “I almost said to the exclusion of all other people but that would sound a bit crazy, wouldn’t it?” The faintest hint of his British lilt leaked out. “What I’m trying to say is....” He looked to the sky for inspiration.
“You want to date me. And you don’t want to date anyone else.”
He laughed then.
“Yes. Exactly. Thank you.”
“Was that so hard?”
“Well, I’ve never done it before.“
“Voiced your intentions?” she asked.
“Had intentions,” he confessed.
“Oh.” That shut her up.
“Don’t look so delighted—not all of my intentions are honorable.“
She gasped and he smirked.
“Good.“
His turn to gasp. Her turn to smirk.
“So, eh hem. I was hoping you were feeling like this was... I mean I’m not really... I’m not sure I’ll be any good at this, but, you’ve...“
“Okay.“
“That’s it? Okay?“
“Yes. That’s what you want to know, right? If I want the same thing?“
“Yes.“
“Then, okay.”
“Why are things so easy with you?” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it.
“I’m not sure,” she laughed. “I think most people think I’m difficult.”
“Well, to me you’re easy. I mean, not easy. I just mean... fuck.” She pulled his hand from his hair and squeezed it.
“It’s okay. I knew what you meant.”
“I’m usually more eloquent, you know.”