Page 49 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
Typically after far too much alcohol had been consumed.
I’d never taken her out on an official date, because she’d had no interest in that in the past.
Tonight, I’d insisted. I declined to meet her at her house and insisted that we start with dinner.
Try to do things the right way.
“So what’s with the formalities tonight? I figured we’d just meet at my place. Drink far too many bottles of wine. Knock boots and chase our release a couple times, and then you’d make up an excuse about having an allergic reaction to the grapes in the wine and call a car to take you home.” She shrugged as she cut into her steak.
“I just thought it might be nice to actually have a good meal and talk,” I said, regretting my decision to do so, because this was awkward as hell so far.
Turned out we had nothing in common, outside of being two lonely people who occasionally needed sex.
I’d learned that she despised children and wondered why anyone would choose to have a child in this day and age.
I’d reminded her that I was a single dad and loved my daughter more than anything, to which she rolled her eyes and said that we should change the topic.
I’d inquired about her family, only to learn that she’d sued her parents over an inheritance disagreement and had no contact with them. Her grandparents had passed away, and she hadn’t spoken to anyone in her family in years.
“All right. What else can we talk about? Seems like we’ve hit some big topics already,” she said.
I gave her a look, because maybe she should try coming up with something, seeing as I’d struck out twice already.
“Please tell me you aren’t one of those holiday guys who puts up a Christmas tree and wraps presents in paper covered in photos of a weird man in a red suit who pretends to bring children presents all over the world. As if any man could do that all in one night,” she said with a loud laugh. “It’s ridiculous that people buy into this shit.”
My God. I’d had a fling with the Grinch, and I hadn’t even realized it.
“I am that guy. I even sprinkle glitter and oats out in the snow with my daughter, to attract Santa’s reindeer to our home.” I shrugged.
“Why would a reindeer eat glitter?” she asked, her brows cinched together with concern, as if I’d lost my mind.
“Well, they don’t. It’s just supposed to be a beacon of light that the reindeer follow to your home. I grew up doing it, and I have continued doing it for my little girl.”
“I think it’s really stupid, Archer.” She held her wine glass up for our waiter to refill. “And I think it’s actually irresponsible to teach your daughter some bullshit beliefs that a man in a ridiculous suit is going to ride a reindeer to her house and bring her presents. In fact, if I ever meet Melanie, I’m going to do the right thing and tell her the truth.” She pursed her lips together as her blue eyes locked with mine.
Note to self: This woman is never to come within a hundred feet of my daughter.
“Her name is Melody, and I promise you that you will not be meeting her.” In fact, I would be okay if I never saw this woman again.
“I’m fine with that.” She winked at the waiter after he’d given her a very healthy pour. “The last kid I met was a menace. He actually burped in my face. He behaved like an animal. It was shameful.”
“How old was he?”
“I don’t know? Six months? And he couldn’t do shit. He just sort of sat there, staring at me with judgy eyes.” She took a long sip from her glass. “It was my coworker’s son, and I wanted to call that kid’s ass out.”
“He’s a baby.” I shook my head with disbelief. “How would one call out a baby?”
“I don’t know, but I was ready to give Sterling a piece of my mind. That kid belched in my face and then just stared atme, before his eyes watered, and his parents celebrated the fact that he was taking a shit.” She downed the rest of the red wine. “It’s appalling the way parents praise their children for the most minor achievements.”
At the moment, I would much prefer to be in the company of a baby taking a shit over being tortured by this conversation.
“Have we ever had an actual conversation?” I asked as I cut another bite of my lobster tail and popped it in my mouth.
“No. And I actually preferred it. I think you mentioned having a kid, but I thought it was just a trick to get the hell out of my house.”
“It wasn’t a trick.” I reached for my phone and was disappointed that there were no messages from Winnie.
Samantha was busy flirting with the waiter as she asked for another glass of wine and inquired about the tattoo on his forearm, and I sent a quick text to check on Melody.
