Page 9 of MOM

Once he leaves us, I say, "I'm sorry about the delay," at the same time as Rocky says, "I'm glad we get to spend some time together."

"You are?" I answer, then Rocky's deep voice follows seamlessly, "You have nothing to apologize for."

I smile, feeling my cheeks warm, and grab the napkin, shredding its edges beneath the table.

His pale-green eyes settle on me. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Why do you ask?"

"You seem a little…nervous. Have I made you uncomfortable?"

"No. Not at all. It's just I'd been geared up to be in work mode, and this"—I wave my hand between us—"isn't work."

His plump lips spread in a grin. "No. It isn't. But it's a nice chance to get to know each other outside of work. If you're open to it?"

"That's hardly fair. I'm pretty sure I know a whole lot more about you than you do about me."

"I've done some research of my own."

As soon as he says it, his smile falters, like he's realizing he's just stepped on a massive pile of shit.

I glance down at what's left of the napkin and brush the mess off my chinos. "I see."

Of course he has.

Which means he knows all about my supremely dysfunctional family and upbringing. I don't know why I cling to this irrational hope that if enough time passes, people will forget about it. In the age of the internet, nothing disappears forever.

"College at thirteen, huh?" he says, injecting a forced pep into his voice. "That's pretty neat."

"Yeah," is all I say before I'm saved by the waiter returning with our burgers.

7

Rocky

I munch on my burger in silence, mentally kicking myself. How could I have been so stupid? After everything Decker has been through?

I was trying to be flirty, but that misfired badly.

Now neither one of us is talking, and I have a sinking feeling I've ruined the whole evening.

I drop the burger onto my plate and push it away. "I'm sorry."

The sudden movement startles Decker. "For what?"

"For my comment before. It was inappropriate."

"Actually, it wasn't. I'm being overly sensitive."

Something isn't adding up. Is this the same guy who marched into a boardroom and kicked out a bunch of strangers in less than thirty seconds?

"I can maybe sort of kind of relate to what you went through," I admit. Decker might have done his homework and learned some private details about me, but I bet he doesn't know this. "I used to get bullied as a kid."

His eyes drop to my chest. "You did?"

"I didn't always look like this. As a kid I was…overweight. By quite a lot. My whole family was. No money and scant knowledge when it comes to nutrition and exercise is not a good combo."

Decker snatches another napkin from the chrome dispenser and begins twirling it between his slender fingers. "I bet."