“Of course,” Talia said, lifting her drink and sipping. “I have no secrets.”
“Why do you do it?”
“Because I love it. I’ve always had a healthy relationship with my body, I’ve always taken care of it, and when I reached twenty and had no idea what I wanted to do, I put an audition tape forward. Mum almost had an aneurysm—we don’t speak anymore. But when I got the gig…I really loved it. It’s amazing what people will pay to watch you in your underwear.”
Faye smiled weakly, lowering her eyes.
“Oh, that wasn’t aimed at you. You’re not the same as the people I see week in, week out.”
“But…I am.” Faye snorted. How could Talia believe she was different to the others before her? At the end of the day, however they looked at it, Faye had been in that room for a private dance. “If I’d known it was you, I never would have walked into that club. I need you to know that.”
“Faye, it really doesn’t matter. Why are you so bothered? It was just a dance.”
“Because it matters to me. I asked you on a date with no idea who you were, and I really hope you don’t think I asked you because of what you did in that room. That wasn’t the reason for it.”
“What was the reason?” Talia cocked her head, offering the sweetest smile in Faye’s direction. When Talia looked at her like that, the dance had never happened.
“I wanted to know you,” Faye said. “I spend my life behind a computer writing about romance, but my own life is incredibly unfulfilling. And I don’t know, you came over that day when I was working, and I was drawn to you.”
“I was quite surprised you asked me. I thought someone would have snapped you up a long time ago.”
“I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll ever have a love life of my own. But it’s not all bad. I can live through my characters if all else fails.” At times, Faye was more than happy being single, but on the odd occasion, something stirred inside of her. Something she couldn’t budge. From the moment she’d met Talia, she’d struggled to think of much else.
“Well, the one thing you can be thankful for is me letting you down.”
Faye twisted her wine glass on the table. “Why would I possibly be thankful for that?”
“Oh, come on. You’re saying you’d date someone who dances on weekends?”
Faye…didn’t know. She thought she wouldn’t,couldn’t, but the fact of the matter was…she was still into Talia. Evennow, knowing what she knew. “I guess we’ll never know.”
“Trust me. It’ll end in disaster.”
Faye swallowed as Talia got to her feet and stared down at her.
“I’m just using the bathroom before our food arrives. Won’t be a sec.”
* * *
Talia couldn’t sayshe’d ever enjoyed sitting with another woman as much as she had with Faye tonight. Their conversation—once they’d gotten through the shitty stuff—had flowed with so much ease that Talia felt as though she’d known Faye for years, not weeks. She was just so easy to talk to.
But now, dinner was over…and Talia wasn’t looking forward to this night ending. She knew they’d have to go their separate ways eventually, she’d just hoped it wouldn’t be so soon. Talia had thought about inviting Faye back to her place for coffee, to continue their conversation, but she knew she would be doing it for the wrong reasons. Just as Faye had explained at the wine bar last week.
Why couldn’t they just be friends?
It surely wasn’t hard.
She cleared her throat and followed Faye outside the restaurant. “Dinner was great. Thank you.”
Faye turned, her dimples popping as she leaned in and hugged Talia. “Maybe we could do it again sometime when you’re free. I don’t suppose you have many friends around here yet.”
“I don’t tend to latch onto many friends. It’s easier for me to go home after work and mind my own business. It’s hard to know who is there for me and who is there because they want something from me.”
“I see.”
“But I’d love to have dinner with you again.”
“I’d like to think you know you can trust me. I’m not here for anything untoward.”