Page 47 of Tequila & Lace

“That’s a song silly.”

“Well, we’re gonna find out.”

I made us tequila with Coke, a squeeze of lime, and a dash of salt to go with our tacos. We were two drinks in, and I was four tacos deep when Andi asked the question I’d been avoiding since our first date.

“How long were you with her?”

I stared at her for a few seconds, not sure if I wanted to go down this road. I rubbed my hand down my face. “I guess it was almost two years. Maybe less.”

“Was it recent?”

I gave a sarcastic laugh. “Nah, far from it. It was a long ass time ago.”

“And you’re still hung up on her?”

I drew in my eyebrows. “What gives you that idea?”

She took a sip of her drink. “Well, you haven’t had a serious relationship since her.”

“I haven’twantedone since her… Until you, gorgeous.”

She smiled and a blush crept up her neck. After a few moments and another sip of her drink she said, “If you went that long then she must have fucked you up good.”

I smiled. “You really do ask a lot of questions.”

“I’m only curious about the man I’m dating.”

I chuckled. “You mean my past.”

“More about howhebecame an escort.”

And there we had it; the real meaning behind the question. “In high school—”

“High school?”

“I know, it was a long ass time ago. Just let me finish.”

“Okay, go on.” She stood and started to pour us both more drinks.

“I had a full ride for football to UCLA. I was going to turn pro, live happily ever after with her—you know, the American dream.”

“What happened?”

She slid me my drink and I took a sip. I sighed before continuing. “We were in love—at least I thought we were. I’m not so sure she loved me. Before the end of football season, she got pregnant—”

“Oh, wow,” she gasped.

I nodded. “Yeah, but you want to know what the bitch did?”

“What?” she whispered, a few of her fingers covering her mouth as if she already knew the answer.

I leaned back, closed my eyes and took a deep breath, calming myself so I could utter the words that continued to haunt me.

“It’s okay. You don’t need to tell me,” she said and grabbed my hands in hers.

“It happened a long time ago. It still hurts to think about it.”

She nodded.