My heart speeds up until it’s racing. Thumpity thump thump. I place my hands over my ribcage to stop the thing from beating its way clear out of my chest.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have presumed.”
“No, no, no. You misunderstand me.” I swallow and dive in. “You know how my ex Toby and I were going to start a brewery together?”
“I know. I don’t mean to take his place.”
“Silly man. You could never take his place.” He looks over at me, and I see the flash of pain in his eyes before he blinks, and it disappears. I slap his thigh. “Don’t be stupid. You could never take his place because you are twenty gazillion million times better than him.”
“Twenty gazillion million? Is that the technical term?”
“Don’t make fun of me when I’m trying to be honest.”
He makes a motion with his hand as if to tell me to continue.
“Um…” I take a deep breath and try to sort through my thoughts. Why is this so danged hard?
“One of the reasons I felt betrayed when Toby … you know…” He nods in understanding and I force myself to continue. “He not only proposed after I found out about his pregnant girlfriend, which was after he told me he never wanted children.” Growl. “He also wanted to continue our brewery business together. He didn’t understand why I was upset. He said the business and our relationship were two different things. Total and utter bullshit since the whole brewery thing was his idea. I only learned brewing for him.”
Grayson wraps his hand around my thigh. “I want to say it’s not a big deal I’m learning all of this for you because I know you are freaking out right now.”
I am totally freaking out. We started a relationship a week ago. Seven measly days! I thought we would ease into this. But no, the Army man is jumping in combat boots first.
“But I’m not going to lie to you. I like my balls where they are, thank you very much.”
“The knife I have picked out wouldn’t be too painful.”
“How did I know you already had the knife picked out?” He chuckles as if he’s not afraid of my knife-wielding ways. “Precious, the truth is I am learning all of this for you. I know how busy you are between the PI business and your brewing. If learning about brewing allows me to spend more time with you, then that’s what I’ll do.”
Damn him. He knows exactly what to say to melt my reservations away. Toby never wanted to learn anything for me. Everything was about him, him, him.
Did I say I was in deep doo-doo? I was wrong. I am knee-deep in doo-doo and sinking fast.