Cold Feet

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.

were the one who left. You were the

if he doesn’t deserve to hold it.

an asshole. I don’t

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

he remembers the truth. I didn’t need to remind him. I’m sure he can remember everything clearly

heart, Grady. And as much as you shattered it, I’ve never loved someone as much as I’ve loved you. I’ve

have to assume he’s better than me then,”

and time heals wounds. So, as well as I have been able to heal, I decided to

dinner arrives and we begin to eat. We

you with me. Right here,

we met each other the other day, we

“I guess,” Grady says.

stop eating. “You guess? Is that all you have to say?

sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,”

gave me and I put

“What’s that?” he asks.

engagement ring,” I reply. “Rick asked me to

Grady asks in

right,” I

“Why?”

even tell me sincerely if you want a second chance with me. He’s committed. And I’ll be damned if I’m

then what’s the point?” Grady asks. I can tell he is beginning to get

and grab the front of his shirt. I yank him towards me across the table and

you your attention pretty,

Grady nods.

listen. You. Broke. My.

He nods.