“I’m here,” he said, and pushed open the gate for her. “How was your day?”
“The usual. Lots of running around. How was yours?”
“Boring. Empty. Tedious.”
Thankfully, Leah laughed a little.
“Maybe we could take a walk?” he suggested.
“Ah . . .” Leah paused, shoved a paper bag under her arm as she looked toward the parking lot, debating it. “I’m not sure . . .”
This was beginning to feel so heavy. Just like when he was a kid, a stupid little geek trying to get the cute girl to look at him, almost to the point of begging. “No problem,” he said instantly. “Just thought I’d ask.” He smiled and started walking toward his car.
“Michael, wait,” Leah said.
He slowed down and turned around so that Leah could catch up to him and walk beside him.
“I’ve been thinking,” she said tentatively.
Thinking, dammit. Never a good sign.
“And I was thinking that maybe I should date other people. I mean, while I’m dating you. You know, just sort of date around and make sure . . .”
Her voice trailed off, and Michael stopped cold, mid-stride, to stare at her in disbelief. How had everything gone so far south so quickly? What the hell had he done, other than push Nicole away and do his friend Jack a favor? “Make sure of what?” he demanded.
“I don’t honestly know what,” she admitted with a light shrug. “I just think maybe it will help me get my head on straight.”
Now she was just pissing him off. “Get your head on straight? I didn’t realize there was a problem with your head.”
“Why are you taking such a tone with me?”
“Why are you making such a big deal out of a couple of women with more imagination than common sense?”
“Okay,” Leah said, shifting her weight to one hip, waving her hand. “See, this is exactly why I think I should date other people. You are getting upset because I am not falling right into line with what you want, and the more I think of it, the more I think you have always been like that.”
“Don’t tell me what I’ve always been like,” he snapped. “You didn’t even know who I really was until a few weeks ago.”
Leah gasped. “And whose fault was that?”
“So what—you, who claim to be dateless and sadly single for the last few years, are suddenly going to waltz out there and start dating?” he asked, throwing his arm at the out there.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? Yes, I may start dating. I just happen to have one lined up, as a matter of fact.”
“Right,” he snorted. “Who is that? Brad?” he asked, knowing full well it was a low blow and not caring.
Her expression assured him that it was indeed a low blow. “What does it matter, anyway?” she snapped.
“It doesn’t, Leah. But I guess since you know every woman I’ve ever dated or even thought about dating, it’s only fair that I get to play that game, too.”
“You have no right to be such an ass about this, Michael. You’re constantly making moon eyes at some chick—for all I know, you’ve done all of them.”
He was getting seriously annoyed with the conversation. “And you’ve been living in a convent?” he snapped.
“No,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “Frankly, I don’t owe you any explanation at all, but if you must know, his name is Adolfo, and—”
“Adolfo?” he all but shouted.
“Yes, Adolfo.”
Michael put his bag down. “Where is Adolfo from?”
“What?” Leah exclaimed.
“Mexico?”
A shout of incredulous laughter escaped her. “What—are you prejudiced?” she asked in disbelief. “You know, you’re right, Michael—I don’t know you. I always thought you were an enlightened kind of guy, and I never thought you’d be the type—”
“Come on, Leah. Is he American? Mexican-American? Mexican? Spanish, maybe?”
“I didn’t ask him, because it doesn’t matter. He’s just a nice guy, and he’s been very nice to me, and I may go out with him.”
Michael groaned, pushed his hands through his hair, turned full circle, then faced Leah again, his hands on his hips, his jaw clenched shut.
Leah stepped back.
“Okay. Do what you need to do,” he said flippantly, and reached in his pocket, pulled out his keys, and pushed the remote button to open his car.
“Oh-kay,” Leah said, sounding uncertain. “Thanks. I will.”
He walked to the trunk, punched the button so it would pop open, and with no fanfare, he pulled out the gift bag and held it out to Leah.
“What . . . what is that?” she asked suspiciously.
“A gift for you, what else?” he said petulantly. “You can take it or leave it, whatever you want.”
“Michael, please don’t be like this.”
He would be however he wanted to be. He was tired of trying to persuade her. “So do you want it?” he asked, shaking it impatiently at her.