Do or Di by Eileen Cook Read Free Book Online Page A

closer.
     
    “Nope, you are still a bit blurry.”
     
    I stepped closer until our bodies touched lightly.
     
    “How about now?”
     
    “Better. Still a bit blurry.” He pulled me tight until we were pressed against each other.
     
    “Better? I’m not sure I can get much closer.”
     
    “Maybe we should try,” he said with a laugh and leaned in for a kiss. I nuzzled into his neck taking deep breathes. He smelled vaguely like sage.
     
    “How about I order Thai food?”
     
    “That would be nice.”
     
    I found myself smiling back and the tension bands across my shoulders loosened, fight avoided. I stepped back and moved toward the phone.
     
    “Unless you would rather have pizza.”
     
    This is one of my pet peeves, is when people want something, but instead of saying what they want they ask it like a question. Like perhaps I really wanted to say let’s order pizza, but had been unable to form the words. If I had wanted pizza, I would have said pizza.
     
    “Do you want pizza?” I asked.
     
    “Thai is fine.”
     
    “But you want pizza.” The guy can’t decide if he wants to be with his wife or me, why would I think he was capable of determining what he wants for dinner?
     
    “Whatever you want is fine.”
     
    I took another deep breath. Who am I to pick apart his dining options? If he wants pizza, what is the big deal? Most likely his wife never lets him have what he wants. It isn’t like I couldn’t have Thai food anytime I wanted.
     
    “Let’s go with pizza.” I ordered our food and popped a few Tylenol in an effort to beat my looming headache into submission. Jonathon was on his cell phone when I came back into the room. “I ordered a large.” I got out before Jonathon covered the mouthpiece of his phone and motioned for me to be quiet by slashing his hand across his throat.
     
    “That was just the waitress, honey. Nobody important.” He looked at me and then turned his back to complete his discussion with his wife. “I’ll be home in just a few.” He lowered his voice further, but I still heard him. “Love you too.”
     
    “You’re leaving?” I asked when I heard the phone click off.
     
    “My daughter Mirella had a bad day at daycare. Someone made her cry.”
     
    “Can’t your wife talk to her? Why do you have to go?”
     
    “Because my daughter wants me.” Jonathon ran his hands through his hair. “Look, let me pay for dinner.”
     
    I put my hand on his arm as he fumbled for his wallet. He paused and I leaned in, face up. Our lips touched, so brief it could have been imagined except for the snap of electricity that went between us.
     
    “I have to get home. I’m sorry,” he mumbled. I knew what I needed to do. Latching on would sink us both. Jonathon isn’t naturally buoyant. He won’t be able to stay afloat if the guilt weighs him down too heavily.
     
    “Don’t be sorry. That just leaves more pizza for me.” I pushed him with a small laugh. “Go on, get out of here.”
     
    “Are you sure?” He asked, picking up his jacket and moving toward the door while he spoke.
     
    “Of course. I understand. I’ll make you make it up to me sometime.”
     
    “Can I call you this week?”
     
    I nodded. He shifted back and forth as if learning to dance and then darted in, leaving another kiss at my hairline.
     
    “It was good to see you. I’m sorry the night didn’t go the way we planned,” he whispered into my hair and then stepped out.
     
    “Me too,” I said to the closed door. I paced around the hallway. I kicked the sofa a few times. It would all be worth it when he left his wife and we could be together. He’d appreciate how I’d given him the space and time he needed to do the break with his wife in the best way possible. We’d have the rest of our lives for him to make it up to me. I flopped on the sofa and waited for the pizza I didn’t even want.
     

Chapter Six
     
    I got up early to make homemade cinnamon rolls to take in with me to the