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He shouldn’t have said what he did, but he’d be damned if he was going to take the bullet on this.
Roni had to see her part in it too. She wasn’t being played at all.
He didn’t push her. She was just as attracted to him as he was to her.
She gave him a chance and he took it.
“I don’t like being called out like that,” she said. “But I’m not going to lie either. I guess I didn’t think of it that way.”
“What way?” he asked.
“That I told my parents after a short period. After I haven’t dated anyone in years and here I went and let them know I’m dating you and things are going well.”
“They are going well,” he said. “Remember that too.”
“Are you saying you want to tell everyone now?” she asked. “I guess I’m confused what this is about.”
“It’s about you knowing what is going on. I don’t want to blindside anyone. I get the feeling that has happened enough in your life.”
“It has,” she said. She was mixing the rice with the meat now, stirred it together and walked away to get the bread.
He moved over and took the knife out of her hand and started to slice it.
“And this is why we are having this talk. I don’t want you to think I’m withholding anything. I should have told you a week ago.”
“Why didn’t you?” she asked.
“Because I wasn’t positive it was you. I was guessing. I still am, but I’m sure I’m right.”
“Based on what you’re saying, it seems it looking back at the facts,” she said. “I want to be annoyed that you waited a week but can’t be. I understand the need to have the facts too.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “I don’t want you mad or annoyed at me, but if you are, I want to talk it out.”
She got bowls down to start eating. “I’m positive you could talk your way out of anything,” she said. “I don’t know if I have the mental energy to keep up half the time.”
“I don’t want you to feel like that with me,” he said. “I’m not going to be that way with you. When I talk to you it’s as the woman I’m in a relationship with. Not a lawyer trying to use any tricks.”
She nodded her head. They filled their bowls with food, took some buttered bread each and sat at her little table. “It’s hard for me to separate the two and that is on me, not you.”
“I don’t want you to feel as if it’s something you have to be upset over either.”
“I’m not upset,” she said. “I’ve been in one serious relationship in my life and I’m tied to the guy for life. I try hard to make it easy for Eli, but most times I just want to walk away.”
“I understand,” he said. “You’re handling it better than most I’ve ever seen.”
“Thank you. I do it for Eli and no one else. But I’m not going to lie and say it hasn’t scarred me. My relationship with Jeff and then my experiences with lawyers.”
“And you are having a hard time with it,” he said. “Again, I understand. I want to help.”
She started to eat, so he did too. “I don’t need help,” she said firmly.
He figured she’d say that. “You know what I mean.”
“I don’t think I do,” she said. “I’ve heard it before. You like to help people. The champion of the underdog. You’re a great guy.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I think. I feel a ‘but’ coming in there though.”
“But...I don’t need you to be my champion. As you’ve pointed out, I’ve been doing a great job on my own.”
