“Yes,” I interject quickly. “Sara talked me into going on a date with Brian from Accounting. Just for practice,” I tell him. He’s understandably surprised.
“Brian from Accounting?” he repeats skeptically. I nod.
“Yep and it was about as fun as you’d imagine.”
Alex laughs, slow and easy, and changes the subject.
We finish off the new bottle of wine before Sara takes her leave, making sure she slaps Alex on the ass on her way out. He shakes his head as we walk indoors.
“Your friend is a character,” he tells me.
“Everyone says that,” I laugh. “Character, firecracker, saucy wench…take your pick.”
“But I like her,” he replies. “She tells it like it is and I have to respect that.”
He sits down on the sofa and pulls me down with him. He kisses the side of my neck and then pulls away, looking at me.
“So, I may or may not be mistaken, but I think you were ready to have a panic attack when Sara started talking about getting you ready for me. Am I right?”
I am frozen now. I have no idea what to say. I certainly can’t tell him the truth.
Why, yes, Alex. Sara talked me into ha**ng s*x with a gigolo who turned out to be your son. No. That wouldn’t be good. I obviously can’t say that. I’m like a deer caught in the headlights. My mouth opens, then closes. I don’t know what to say.
Alex studies me. “Don’t feel self-conscious about anyone you might have dated before me,” he tells me. “It’s not my business. You were just divorced. Of course you needed to go out and get crazy. That’s expected. And I’m sure you were safe about it. Honestly, I’m glad Sara talked you into it. Because now you’re ready for me.”
I am silent and astounded by his most perfect of answers.
I can continue on with him without feeling guilty about Colby because Alex has just given me a pass. It’s expected, he says. Expected. I hardly doubt that ha**ng s*x with his son is what he meant but that’s a detail, right?
I nod slowly. “I might have gotten a little carried away,” I say carefully. “But that’s over now. I like being with you. You and I are perfect.”
And now he laughs. “We won’t always be perfect,” he tells me, pulling me closer into his lap. “But we’re perfect for each other. Of that, I have no doubt. When do you want to tell our kids?”
Our kids.
Colby.
I want to freaking die right now.
If Alex and I ever get married, Colby will be my step-son. The guy who taught me how to bring a guy to his knees in five minutes flat will be my step-son.
I may need therapy.
But then again, to be fair, Colby has been true to his word. This entire last week at work, he has pretended like we are only just now getting to know each other, like the only other way we know each other is because he’s Sophie’s swim coach. And just like he said, it’s starting to seem less weird. Like I am truly just his boss and he is truly just my intern.
The son of the guy I’m dating.
But I’m working through that. And the more time that goes by, the more normal it seems. I can totally do this. And Colby does seem genuinely happy for his dad.
“I don’t know,” I tell him. “I think Sophie will be fine. I mean, she hates her father’s fiancée, but Vanessa is barely older than Soph and she is an utter bitch. So, there’s a difference.”
“You think I’ll be fine about what?”
Sophie’s voice floats through the living room and my head snaps up. My eyes meet hers. And I remember that I am sitting on Alex’s lap.
“Um.”
I don’t even know what to say. I’m that shocked. I scramble off of Alex’s lap and practically break my neck to get across the room to her.
“Well, we were talking about you and what you would say…if…Alex and I started dating.”
My tone is more like a question than a statement.
Sophie stares at me.
“But you’re already dating,” she answers matter-of-factly. “If you wanted my permission, don’t you think you should have asked ahead of time?”
I’m appalled now as I stare at her, aghast.
“How did you know?” I whisper. Alex is behind me now, one hand on the small of my back. He starts to say something, but Sophie interrupts with a smile.
“Well, you were just sitting on his lap, mom.” I blush and she laughs. “I’m kidding, Mom. Yes, I knew…because I’m not stupid. You were making random excuses to go to his house for work and he kept ‘forgetting’ files here so he’d have to come back. You guys were soooo obvious. But it’s okay- I’m fine with it. You guys are cute.”
And she sounds like she’s talking to her child instead of her parent.
I’m staring at her blankly.
She smiles again and she looks angelic.
“Seriously, mom. It’s fine. I’m happy for you. And I’m happy that Alex isn’t a dick like my dad. Or Vanessa.”
And she gives me a little hug and is trotting off down the hall before I can gather my wits.
“Don’t call your father a dick!” I shout to her. And then I turn to Alex.
“Well, one child down,” I say limply.
“One child to go,” he says. “But Colby will be fine. I’m pretty sure of that.”
I’m already sure of that, but I don’t say anything. Instead, I just smile and walk to the kitchen, pouring us each another glass of wine.
God, I love wine.
********
Alex tells Colby the following week.
Colby took it just fine, like I knew he would. In fact, he came into my office and congratulated me shortly afterward.
“I seriously want you to be happy, Alli,” he says, leaning forward in his seat and giving me his boyish grin. “And my dad too. You really are perfect for each other.”
“I think so, too,” I tell him. “Thank you.”
“And things aren’t going to be weird between us,” he says. “I can tell right now. You’re one chill chick. You just take things as they come. I like that. It’s just what my dad needs.”