Chaser (Dive Bar #3)(53)

“I don’t think too much investment in a relationship is a character flaw you’re ever likely to blunder into.” She smirked. “But I appreciate the sentiment.”

I frowned. “Not that we’re together or anything…” Damn. “I didn’t mean to say that. But, if you were ever in trouble or anything. If ever someone was hurting you, you know I’d help, right? I’ll believe whatever you tell me. I wouldn’t doubt you.”

Her smile was slow, hesitant. “Thank you, Eric.”

“Just wanted you to know.”

Silence.

“Is the Advil kicking in yet?” she asked, setting the ice gently back on my eye.

“I’m tough. I’ll live.”

“Good to hear.”

I smothered a yawn. “Sorry. Tell me about your day.”

“Ah, well. Today, Ada and I tried our first mommy and me yoga class.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“It was fun.” She leaned against my shoulder, relaxing. It didn’t mean anything. With the way she was holding the ice pack, resting against me was easiest. Sure as hell, I didn’t mind at all. This was definitely my idea of playing nurse.

“Good.”

“Going out with her is getting easier with each practice too,” she said. “I mean, I still have to carry a crazy amount of stuff. I have three separate bags, one for diaper changes, one for other emergencies, and one for toys and other distractions.” She gave the sort of satisfied sigh that suggested she’d itemized and labeled each component to her heart’s content. “But it’s doable.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Suddenly, she grabbed my arm. “God, Eric.”

“What?”

“I totally forgot I had something to show you. The black eye distracted me. Hold this.” Then she grabbed my hand and attached it to the ice-filled facecloth. I did as told and she jumped off the couch, grabbing her cell from the table. Her finger dashed across the screen and then she was holding it up in front of my face.

“She finally smiled?” I asked, incredulous.

“Isn’t that amazing?”

There on the small screen was a shot of Ada with her little round face, button nose, the usual drool-covered chin, and a big toothless grin. God, my chest filled with warmth.

“That’s so awesome,” I said.

“Yeah. It was after a bottle.”

“Fair enough, food makes me happy too.”

Laughing softly, she swiped through to the next picture. Same grin, slightly less drool.

“She’s beautiful, just like her mom,” I said.

Beside me, Jean stiffened. “You think I’m beautiful?”

“I, ah—”

“Wait. Stop.”

I did so.

“You were just being kind.” She sat on the edge of the couch, tossing her cell onto the coffee table. “That never happened. God, how embarrassing.”

Shit. Did friends not tell friends they were a goddess sent to an undeserving planet? I mean, Joe, Pat, and Taka would happily slap me on the back and tell me I was a dickhead. Which everyone knew was basically bro code for “I love you” or something like that. Letting them know how I felt about them wasn’t a big deal. Dad would just kind of grunt at me, but that was Dad. Surely complimenting a female friend wasn’t totally out of the question.

“I’ve never mentioned that before?” I asked. “Seriously? Thought I had.”

She turned to face me, brows drawn in.

“I figured it was obvious. I mean, you just are.” I shrugged. “That a problem? I’m not hitting on you either. Promise.”

She didn’t seem convinced.

“I mean, it’s not even about me,” I protested. “It’s not like I think you’re gorgeous. You just are. Objective fact. Nothing to do with my opinion. It’s like someone saying to Joe that he’s tall. And everyone would be like, thanks, Captain Obvious. It’s like that.”

Yep, good one. Also, I wasn’t rambling at all.

And still, she said nothing.

“Christ, I’ve done the wrong thing again, haven’t I?”

“No.”

With all of the weirdness in the air, it was hard to believe her. “Thanks for the ice, Jean. I’ll, um, let you get to bed.”

She stood and so did I, heading for the door. Maybe I’d send Joe a text and ask him to ask Alex if I’d messed things up. Not that I really wanted anyone sticking their nose into what went on between Jean and me. But constantly being confused as fuck got old fast. I’d only come here in the hope of some sympathetic attention to my wounded face, after all.

“’Night,” she said, holding open the door.

I just gave her a chin tip and headed for my place. Face throbbing, feet weary, and all around over life. At least until tomorrow morning. I fished my keys out of my pocket and unlocked my front door. Peace, quiet, and darkness. Perfect. Except the door had no sooner shut than someone started knocking on it.

When I opened said door, Jean stood there, eyes huge for some reason. “Eric, I’ve been thinking…”

“Since I left ten seconds ago?”

“A bit longer than that, actually.”

“Okay.” I leaned against the door frame, crossing my arms and trying to feel defensive. But I could guess what was coming. This was how all my efforts to be friends with a girl were going to end. Having not properly read the how-to-not-be-a-dick manual that everyone else in the world seemed to have a copy of, I’d opened my mouth and screwed the whole thing up. The perfectly fucked ending to a perfectly fucked evening.