A Year to Remember(30)
“Thanks for throwing in the older part. You’re always so kind to remind me,” I said, then stuck out my tongue at him.
“Do you believe men and women can be just friends?”
“Honestly, I think I could fuck a guy and still remain just friends. It doesn’t mean anything anyway.”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?” He sounded pissed off at me, but I didn’t know what I had said to anger him.
“I think sex and love are two different things. I could have sex with someone I didn’t love, and I can love someone I won’t have sex with.”
“Like Missy?”
“What about Missy?”
“You love Missy, but you don’t have sex.”
“Of course not,” I stated a little too loudly.
“Have you ever thought about it?”
“No!” Where was he going with this?
“Do you think she’s ever thought about it?”
“No way. We’re just friends. That’s all we’ve ever been and Missy knows that.”
“Yes, but knowing and feeling don’t always sync. It’s possible Missy is in love with you and you’re oblivious. If that’s the case, it’s going to come out one day and change your friendship.”
“Missy is not in love with me. You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“I hope I’m wrong about it, Sara.”
I sat there thinking. If Missy were in love with me, she would have told me, right? Goldman just wanted to unnerve me, and I would not give him the satisfaction. In fact, I think I’d get my revenge right now.
I turned off the television, stood up from the couch and stretched while yawning. “It’s really late. I’m going to bed. Are you coming?”
Panic crossed his face. “What?”
“Well, you don’t believe we’re friends. If we’re not friends, we can sleep platonically in the same bed, right? We’re not friends and we don’t have the whole sex thing hanging over us, because there’s no danger of us being attracted to one another. According to your exception, we can sleep together tonight.”
He didn’t know what to say to that. If he said he couldn’t sleep in the same bed as me, he’d be admitting we’re friends, and then he’d have to concede there is a possibility of us having sex or he could admit friends could stay platonic. Either way, he had to sleep in the bed with me in order to save face. I love winning an argument, especially against an attorney like Goldman.
“Okay. Lead the way.”
I led him to my old bedroom, which hadn’t changed much since I’d moved out twelve years earlier. I ran to the bathroom to get into my nightgown and when I came back, Goldman was already under the covers. I noticed his pants and shirt on the floor. Unless he went commando, he only wore his underwear to bed.
I slid in next to him, and he turned to face me.
“You do not play fair, Sara,” he whispered.
“No, I don’t. Now you won’t forget it.”
“No, I won’t forget. Goodnight, Sara.” He turned away from me. After a few minutes, I fell asleep, comforted by the warmth of his body.
I woke in the morning to find Goldman gone and his side of the bed already cool and neat as if he had never slept beside me. I wish I didn’t, but I felt his loss.
CHAPTER 12
APRIL 7, 2012
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
WEIGHT: 176
STATUS: SINGLE
There’s a reason they say “when it rains it pours.” Because the day after my Passover Seder, I got calls from three different guys, all asking for dates. God must have taken pity on me after the harassment I’d received from my family about my prospects for a husband.
I spent the day after the dinner alternating between sleeping off my hangover and cleaning my condo. I blasted my stereo listening to Fleetwood Mac’s Greatest Hits. There’s nothing like dancing around the room with a mop to “Tusk.” Thank God, nobody could see me make a fool of myself.
Halfway through cleaning my kitchen, my phone rang. I recognized the phone number as one of my matches from speed dating, but I couldn’t remember which one.
“Hello?” I said, trying to sound nonchalant and breezy. Instead I sounded out of breath. Not a great way to start a conversation.
“Hi, is this Sara?” Whoever it was had a very yummy deep voice.
“Yes, it is.”
“Hi, Sara, this is Ryan. We met at the Underground speed dating event.”
“Of course. How are you, Ryan?” I could never forget anyone with such sexy blue eyes.
“I’m good, and you?”
“I’m doing well, thank you.” I wanted him to say enough with the small talk, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind. I had to endure another five minutes of conversation about the weather (we’re getting another four inches of snow today) and Passover dinner with our respective families.