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‘Archibald?’
‘Oh,’ she laughs. ‘My dad’s Harley.’
‘He named it?’
‘Well, in his defense, they’re deeply in love.’
‘Your dad is having a love affair with his chopper?’
‘And with a cat he feeds human food on the dining table while he eats, along with my mom’s yappy dog who rides with him now. But don’t worry; he wears a helmet.’
‘Your dad or the dog?’
‘Both.’
I laugh out loud even though it makes my head pound. Jade’s funny. ‘I think I’d enjoy seeing that.’
‘He gets a lot of attention when they ride together. It was mom’s idea but when the dog loved it, my dad fell in love with him too.’ Her mood fades a little. ‘Speaking of love,’ she sighs. ‘Mom would have been so excited I’m getting married.’
Maybe she’s attached to Conner because her mother approved of him? That would make sense. She misses her mom, and if she lets Conner go, she’d lose another piece of her.
‘What did she think of Conner?’ I take the chance and ask.
She drops her head, shaking it slightly. The purple glow of the Roku screensaver on the TV makes her look like an old-school video game character. I swear she’s pretty in any lighting.
‘They never met. He and I only met just after she died. But I think she’d approve. I mean, I’m a bartender marrying a future ER doctor.’
I wonder what her thoughts on me being a struggling artist are? I’m for sure not bringing in doctor money. ‘His job matters then?’
Quickly she shakes her head. ‘I didn’t care what his job was. I fell in love with how he listened to me and said the right things. But, every day, I’m learning new things about him, and I’m beginning to wonder if he’s just a smooth talker who possibly conned me and ended up in over his head, you know?’
‘The boy is standing in quicksand.’
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘I’m an open book.’
‘When did you first know he wasn’t right for me?’ she asks almost innocently. I didn’t expect this one.
Telling her this is risky. Have I been flirting pretty much every time I see her? Yes. But I don’t mean to. The words just leave my lips. But beating around the bush is getting me nowhere here. I’m sure there’s something between us. I might as well be my truthful self.
‘Pretty much the moment I met him.’
‘How?’
‘He made fun of my hair and called me bud, sport, or champ, which makes me want to punch him. He seems like one of those nepo babies who has everything handed to him on a silver platter and then acts like that alone makes him more important than others.’
‘I can’t exactly deny that he was born into money.’
‘So was I,’ I say. ‘I’m not a douche to women because of it. I just don’t understand the guy. He’s not even broken-hearted to be away from you. If I had a girl like you, you’d have come with me because I wouldn’t have wanted to live without you.’
‘Really?’ she asks, her voice soft.
My God did I say all that out loud? The burger has really affected my head.
‘Yes, really,’ I confirm.
She bites her bottom lip, bewilderment on her face. ‘Were you going to kiss me that night I cried to you about my mom?’
