“And you’re sure it would stop me from dating you?”
“I think it’s too deep of a conversation for the first date. I want tonight to be about us right now. We can dig into the past later. Let’s just live in the moment tonight.”
Voodoo wrapped her hands around Carter’s neck. She’d missed this, being comfortable and having a closeness with someone. That one person you could drop the armor you’d shielded yourself behind. As scared as she was, she wanted to let her guard down... Soon, she hoped.
When the music ended, he led her off the dance floor.
“Are you ready to eat?”
She wasn’t hungry, at least not for food. She craved being in his arms, but she also knew she wasn’t ready for it. So instead of voicing her internal thoughts, she simply nodded and said, “Sure, let’s go.”
Coward.
Later that night, she called her sister to armchair quarterback her date. “Well, what happened?”
“It was nice.”
“Girl, don’t think I’m going to sit here, thousands of miles away, and let you skirt around your feelings.”
“Oh, how’s London?”
“Gwen, you know how London is. Stop stalling and give me the deets.”
“Fine. If you must know, it was wonderful. We danced and had dinner, then he brought me back home.”
“I have to assume since you called me that he’s not there.”
“Of course he’s not here. It was our first date.”
“Times three hundred. Are you really going to date your husband? I’ve heard of date nights, but I think they still sleep together.”
“I’m not ready.”
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“And you know I think you’re being stupid. It doesn’t matter what he calls you... You love him, so stop fighting it.”
“But...”
“I call you Gwen. Does that mean you think I don’t know the real you?”
“No, of course not. We have a special connection.”
“True, but so do you and Carter. I think there’s a different reason why you’re holding yourself back.”
“Oh, really, smarty-pants, why is that?”
“You feel guilty.”
“I do not!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Besides, what do I have to feel guilty about?”
Daisy remained silent and let Voodoo think through her question.