“Even hotter. Damn it, why did he have to go and be a dick?”
“Because that’s men, right?”
“Don’t be like that. He is just one guy. There are some really good ones that you can trust.”
I trusted him. That’s the problem. I finally let someone in and was sharing feelings, and it blew up in my face. I don’t know if I want to do that again. And right now, I have no intentions of dating or seeing anyone. It’s bad enough I’ll have to see Marc next week.
“Oh, and his real name is Marco Giordano. He clearly didn’t want me to find out his real name.”
“Hmm, you sure? It could be a nickname. Like, Marc is better than Marco. I couldn’t blame him for not wanting to be called Marco.”
“Maybe, but now I have zero trust in him.”
“Fair, but maybe it would be good to talk to him and ask him everything in person.”
I’ve thought about this all day, but I keep coming back to the same thing. “I don’t know if I could date a man with a child.”
“Oh.”
I swallow at the admission. I feel bad for being honest about this when she is pregnant, but I need her to get an idea of the turmoil running through me.
“It’s just never crossed my mind that I would date a guy with a child. Hell, I’m not wise enough to parent.”
“It’s only one,” she argues.
“A teenager. Remember, we were wild. I can’t see how they would be easy to take on and accept me being a stepparent.”
The word stepparent sends my stomach into a flutter of uneasiness.
“Yeah, they can be tough, but I think once you crack them and get them to warm to you, it would be kind of fun.”
I scrunch up my nose at the idea. “I don’t see how kids are fun. And anyway, are you forgetting the woman I saw enter his home?”
“Are you sure it was a wife or girlfriend? Did you see a ring?”
“No, I was across the street, staring like a freak. I couldn’t move my feet that were glued to the sidewalk.”
She chuckles. “And they didn’t see you?”
“Nope, totally oblivious.”
“Umm…well, I still say talk to him. This could all be a misunderstanding.”
“Yeah, I know. I just don’t want to do it before or after a meeting. I don’t want Mason or Nora to catch on that he and I have hooked up. I want to make a good impression and sleeping with the competition isn’t going to win me any favors.”
“Yeah, that’s fair enough. Well, whatever happens, you better keep me updated. This is the best gossip I’ve heard in a long time.”
“I’m glad I can be your entertainment. Even if it’s at my expense.”
“No, but in all seriousness. Just follow your gut and do what feels right.”
I have been and look where that led me. Maybe it’s time I followed my head.
I’m sitting with Mason in his office, running through another design change that the client requested via email.
“Is this a good sign?” I ask Mason, wondering if this means our company’s design beathis.
Speaking of Marc, today is another meeting where we will bump into each other and pretend we haven’t fucked.