“What happened with the two of you, if you don’t mind me asking?” she said.
“Not at all,” he agreed. “I met Gina in high school and on prom night, I got her pregnant. She agreed to marry me and had our son, Derrick. We stuck it out for years, trying to stay together for his sake, but in the end, we realized we were better apart. We co-parented and stayed in touch, not wanting our son to ever be our go-between.”
“That’s very healthy,” she said. “I bet Derrick appreciates it.”
“I think he did. He’s about to graduate from college,” Slater said.
“So, he’s about twenty-two then?” she asked. Slater nodded as if knowing where she was going with her questioning. “I’m twenty-seven,” she said. She quickly did the math in her head and gasped.
“Now you’re getting why it took me so long to ask you out, Rain. I’m forty and almost old enough to be your father,” Slater admitted.
“I know how old you are, Slater. I guess I didn’t realize how close in age your son and I are. It was just a shock, that’s all. I don’t care how much older you are than I am,” she said. “You’re the first man I’ve wanted to go out with since my husband died. You’re the first man I’ve wanted, period.”
Now it was his turn to seem surprised. “I don’t see why, but I’m glad that’s the case Rain,” he whispered across the table to her.
She shrugged, “It’s the truth, Slater,” she said.
“I’m flattered,” he said. “And I’m looking forward to watching a movie at your house, Rain.” She was looking forward to spending more time with him, watching a movie or whatever. Rainey just hoped that it was more whatever than movie watching.