Page 19 of Rebound

“I can be your rebound,” Thomas said. “I’m kind of rebounding too, if it helps you to look at it that way.”

It seemed they’d reached an agreement, though it might have been an impasse. They’d both laid their cards out on the table, and it was up to Ben to decide what happened next.

“No dates,” he said, holding up a finger.

“That’s fine.”

“No one else.” Another finger. If Thomas wanted to get tested, if he wanted to go bare…Ben had to know that he wasn’t at risk. It was non-negotiable.

“Just you.”

Something about the way Thomas said it, the way he looked at Ben as he said the words…

Ben swallowed and nodded.

“Fine,” he agreed. “You have a deal.”

CHAPTER8

THOMAS

Thomas leanedback in the uncomfortable wrought iron patio chair and flipped his phone over onto its back. The screen stayed dark because he didn’t have any messages. He flipped it back face down and sighed. He wasn’t even expecting a message, but he’d hoped to hear from Ben before lunch time. He also knew that, as an adult, he himself was completely capable of reaching out and scheduling them some time together, but he didn’t want to look too…

Eager?

Green?

Interested?

“You look distracted, old man.”

Thomas tapped the back of his phone and looked up at the sound of his daughter’s voice. He squinted into the sun until Kenzie stepped to the left and blocked it.

“I’m one of those things,” he admitted, standing to give his oldest a hug. “Where’s your brother?”

“Dakota said he couldn’t get out of work.”

Thomas wasn’t surprised, but he was disappointed. He gestured to the empty seat across from him and waited for Kenzie to sit before he returned to his own chair.

“It’s a Saturday,” he said.

“I know.” She shrugged helplessly and shoved her sunglasses onto the top of her head. “He’s an asshole.”

“So he got the best parts of your mom and the worst parts of me?”

Kenzie pursed her lips and reached for a menu. “Debatable. Either way, I’m here, so what did you want to talk about?”

“I just wanted to see how things were going.”

“You could have called.” Kenzie tossed the menu back down onto the table. “Or texted.”

“You would have ignored me,” he said.

She looked at him like that was the point. The waitress came by and Thomas ordered a refill on his beer while Kenzie ordered a white wine.

“You can go,” he told her, counting back from ten in his head so he didn’t say something regrettable. “I appreciate you being here. I want to have a relationship with you, but you don’t have to stay. If it’s that bad, Kenzie…IfIam that bad…”

Kenzie let out an annoyed sound, but her expression softened—barely. “I just don’t know how to do this with you.”