in the middle of the night and crawl into my bed often times.”
I held one glass to her, and once she took it, I held mine up to make a toast which I thought was necessary for the night.
“To you. For bringing a little quietness into this apartment complex and making us all sleep.”
“My pleasure. Thank you for dinner. It was amazing.”
Our glasses clinked, and we both took a sip before I leaned back and stretched out my arm on the back of the couch.
“I’ve been wondering this all evening long but you don’t have to answer the question. But how come you don’t have a boyfriend?”
Straight forward.
And if she answered, I’d at least know how I should act around her in the future.
She didn’t react much to my flirting, but she also didn’t look too taken aback by it.
“I’m not sure I want one. I mean, there is a guy I had…something with. But I don’t think I’m made for relationships. At least not now.”
Her eyes moved from her glass to mine.
“I think I’m just letting it all happen naturally. I’m not looking for love. Not sure that’s something people can do anyway without getting hurt too many times, but I’m also not saying that I wouldn’t let love in.”
Her words made sense.
So much so that a smile spread across my face.
“I’m with you on that. You’re quite the deep thinker, huh? I’m surprised you can talk about these things so easily, using the right words.”
I should’ve stopped complimenting her, but at least I wasn’t flirting anymore.
Truthfully, I didn’t think a relationship was what I needed either.
Not right now.
“I guess I reflect on things before I talk. One of my professors once told me that she saw her ninety-eight-year-old grandmother in me. Because of the way I talk or express myself. Not sure if I should take that as a compliment,” she said with a laugh.
“I’d say it’s definitely a good trait. I remember when I was in college and all those girls trying hard to get the guys’s attention. I’m not saying it didn’t work, but most times I let them get closer just to make them stop talking.”
“Understandable.” She smirked and took another sip of her wine.
“It was different back then,” I said, shrugging. “I can’t imagine how this whole thing with online dating and all that works. Looks like too much pressure of always having to look good, always have nice pictures ready to post on whatever social media platform there is, and I can’t stand those kids with their eyes glued on those screens.”
The puckered lips and amused gleam in her eyes told me that she was enjoying this conversation.
“You’re definitely a few generations older than I am,” she said. “Which isn’t a bad thing at all. I think it’s great how you’re raising Ira and that he’s not asking for a phone or TV all the time.”
“And I’ll try to keep it that way for a little while longer. He loves his toys, and I don’t wanna ruin his childhood. I want him to see how great life can be even without all those electronics. Sure, one day it’ll be impossible to avoid it, but for now, I want him to see how much fun it can be to play with the things I played with when I was his age.”
Rooney
“I think that’s amazing,” I told him with a smile. “I can tell he’s happy. That’s all that matters.”
I pulled my legs up and got more comfortable on the couch next to him.
Didn’t plan on leaving anytime soon.
“I thought it would be difficult to raise him on my own, but he knows he’s loved,” he told me.
That made me immediately think about Ira’s mother.
I knew I shouldn’t be that nosy, but since we were being honest and open with each other, I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“Does he ever see his mother?”
A soft smiled appeared on his face, but unlike his positive expression, he shook his head.
“Ira has never met his mother. It’s a little bit of a complicated story.” He paused and looked down at his glass, then he took a few sips before he continued to speak.
“His mother, Leah, and I dated a few years back, but it didn’t turn into something serious. She was a great woman, loving and sweet, but we stopped seeing each other after she met another man. I didn’t think much of it as I didn’t feel as if we’d ever turn into something more than just