It’s basic chaos theory, actually,” he said, the idea grabbing him as he continued to explain how there was order in apparent disorder, and stability within what was seemingly paradoxical.
“The trick, really, is not to expect that everything will stay the same. Variability is the norm, and relationships, like ours, are living, growing things—the same with Ginger, or even a business. It’s all a process linked into thousands of different influences and—”
Jodie held her hand up, wincing. “Stop. Please, stop.”
Dan blinked. It made such perfect sense. Beautiful sense, to him, which was what he loved about science and math, examining the deeper structures of—
“Dan. You can’t apply science to this.”
“You can apply science to anything,” he said simply.
“Okay, fine, but it’s not making me feel any better about what’s going on. I’m still so…anxious. I don’t like it. Like there are ants crawling along my skin.” She shivered, rubbing her arms.
No, she wouldn’t like it, Dan admitted. It was paramount to Jodie to feel in control. Her desire to control things made her a great businesswoman, but it was also one of the reasons he stayed out of the business. Jodie didn’t deal well with variables. She was right, though. Logic wouldn’t help a person who viewed their problem emotionally, so he asked the next logical question, based on her emotional state.
“What would make you feel better?”
She took a deep breath, looking him straight in the eye. He almost smiled. That was his Jodie—attack things head-on.
“First, I’d like to make sure we really are still just friends. Friends who have sex, but only friends.”
Dan hedged, choosing his words carefully. “That was the deal.” Was being the operative word, to his mind. “Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. Just hearing Ginger even contemplate going back to Scott wigged me out. I mean, he’s been a terrible husband and father, but she said she loved him. I think she’s making a huge mistake even considering it, but I don’t think it’s right for me to talk her out of it, either, not really.”
“I agree, it’s not your place to do that, though you can give her your honest opinion. Friends do that,” he said. “But why would her problems bother you so much? Thinking about your own dad?”
He saw her tense up considerably. He knew it was something she preferred not to have brought up, but after the length of time they had known each other, if she could talk to anyone, it should be him.
“I guess, yeah. It reminded me too much of what my mom used to say, that we had to try to understand my dad, because we loved him,” she said, emphasizing the key words with a clear level of disgust. “She used to love to excuse every bad thing he did. You know, she even told me once that you knew how much you loved someone based on how much you were willing to put up with.”
Dan’s heart ached for Jodie. He hated that she’d been so hurt and wished there was a formula he could create, some easy fix for the deep wounds that her family had left her with. Unfortunately, even time hadn’t healed them, because she kept carrying them around, holding them up as a shield. He couldn’t blame her, he supposed.
“Your mom was radically unhappy and in denial. You know that. She didn’t have the emotional strength that you do. You’re a whole different person, Jodie.”
“Oh, I know. I would never do that, to love someone so much that they could do anything, be someone’s willing doormat.”
He lowered himself into a squat where she sat in the chair and took her hand in his. “Do you really think that’s what love is? Real love?”
“I don’t know. Love seems to lead people to making terrible decisions that just bring pain, and then more pain. All you have to do is look around to see how miserable love makes people. I can barely stand listening to Ginger talk about throwing herself back into a relationship with Scott. I told her to wait him out, to see if he really sticks around before she makes any promises.”
Dan nodded. “Well, that’s sensible, considering his past behavior. Was she receptive?”
Jodie shrugged, then nodded. “Yeah. She seemed relieved to find a middle ground.”
“So maybe she’s not being as reckless as you think. And you helped. Sounds like a smart idea to me.”
He saw her cheeks flush pink at the compliment. Jodie was used to being told she was hot,