Cold Feet novel Chapter 32

CHRISTINE

Grady opens the door. He’s learned not to be wearing a towel. I command respect and wearing a towel when I arrive means he’s expecting me to simply have sex with him. It means he thinks I’m that easy. I’m glad. He’s learning.

Instead he’s wearing jeans and a cotton checked shirt. It’s long sleeved but he’s rolled the sleeves up to just below the elbows. He wearing shoes and it tells me he’s ready to go out.

“Going somewhere?” I ask.

“Well, I was thinking we could go for dinner,” he smiles.

“Mmm,” I think about it. “You surprised me twice in less than a minute. There may be hope for you yet.”

“There’s always hope for me,” he says smiling. He’s still arrogant but although he’s learning, he’s got a long way to go yet. I’ve taken off the ring, Rick gave me. I don’t want to show him just yet but I will show him soon.

“Well, where are you taking me,” I ask.

“Wait and see,” he says. He steps out of his apartment and closes the door behind us. We leave the building and flag a cab. He gives the driver the address of the Inn of the Seventh Ray.

I stir uncomfortably. “Can we go somewhere else?” I ask.

“You don’t like it?” he asks.

“I love it but I recently had a difference with the staff about a wedding reception I arranged there so I’m not in the mood to go back just yet. But, more points for choosing the most romantic restaurant in Los Angeles.”

“Wow, that’s three points. I could get lucky tonight,” Grady says with a big smile. He doesn’t know the surprise that I have for him.

I suggest an alternate venue and soon we arrive. We take a table far from the rest of the guests. It’s a week night and the restaurant is not as busy as usual.

We order dinner and talk while we wait and sip our wine.

“What happened to us?” Grady asks me as he sits forward and takes my hand in his.

“What do you mean, what happened to us? You were the one who left. You were the one who asked to marry me and then left me.”

Grady sits back and releases my hand as if he doesn’t deserve to hold it. He looks at me, thinking what to do or say.

“I’m sorry Chris. I was an asshole. I don’t know what it was.”

“I meet his eyes and try to gauge his emotions. I wonder if he’s being sincere. “You know, you were every girl’s dream back in high school, including mine. I dreamed of you but I never dreamed we’d get together. Ever. It didn’t happen in high school but then we ran into each other here in LA and it was a dream come true. When you asked me to marry you, I was over the moon. There wasn’t a happier person in the world than me. And then I found out the truth. You were cheating on me. I don’t know what you wanted. You got engaged to me while you were seeing that skank on the side. It was like you were trying to hedge your bets. Like you couldn’t decide who or what you wanted. So, I guess I decided for you.”

Grady’s face is flushed as he remembers the truth. I didn’t need to remind him. I’m sure he can remember everything clearly himself. “I’m sorry,” he says again.

“You broke my heart, Grady. And as much as you shattered it, I’ve never loved someone as much as I’ve loved you. I’ve never had a relationship until now.”

“I have to assume he’s better than me then,” Grady says disappointedly.

I shake my head. Not necessarily. But time waits for no-one and time heals wounds. So, as well as I have been able to heal, I decided to move on.”

Our dinner arrives and we begin to eat. We continue speaking between mouthfuls.

“Then why are you with me. Right here, right now?” Grady asks.

“I think when we met each other the other day, we both realized that we want a second chance. Am I right?”

“I guess,” Grady says.

I stop eating. “You guess? Is that all you have to say? What is it you want then?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Grady says apologetically.