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She puts down her plate, pushes it away, and picks up her glass. Then she draws up her legs, wraps an arm around them, and rests her cheek there. “This feels very different from when we were young, doesn’t it?”
“You’re only twenty-six,” I scoff, stealing one of her satay sticks, as she seems to have finished.
“I know, but I was only nineteen when I got married. Now… it feels very grown up. Having to decide our future based on jobs and houses and comfort.”
“It’s not all about that,” I say softly. “There’s passion in there as well.” I drop my gaze to her bare legs. Yep, there’s definitely passion, too.
Her lips curve up. “You know what I mean. You can’t throw away a secure career because of a one-night stand.”
“I think we’re a lot more than that, Vix.”
“Technically, we’re not. You could move up here, and we could date for a while, and then you might find out I drive you mad knocking things over and talking all the time.”
“It would be more likely that you’d spend one week with me and be, like, ‘Mitch, I don’t want sex anymore, stop asking me.’”
“Yeah,” she says, “that sounds like something I’d say.” She crosses her eyes, and we both laugh.
She sips her champagne. “Seriously, though, we’re not kids. We both know how relationships work now. I have Millie to think of, and she’s been through a lot.”
I put down my fork, push my plate away, stretch out my legs, and sigh. Of course, I’ve thought about her daughter. She’s part of the package, I know that, and she’s such a sweet little thing, I’d be delighted for her to be a part of my life.
But it’s the first time I’ve really considered what’s obviously on Vix’s mind—that Millie’s father has abandoned her, and the loss has had a serious impact. Vix doesn’t want to bring another man into her life if it’s not going to work out.
“The thing is,” I say slowly, “there are no guarantees where love is concerned. Part of being involved with someone is taking a chance on them.”
“True. But there are bigger things involved here, aren’t there, with you leaving a good job, and me with Millie?”
“Yeah. But again, we’ll never have a guarantee. We have to take a leap of faith.”
She thinks about that. “And you’re prepared to do that for me?” She looks puzzled.
“Yes,” I say softly. “Of course.”
She looks shocked, as if she never expected me to be so adamant.
“I’d do anything for you,” I admit. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted. But there is just one thing.”
“Oh?”
“Jayden.”
She frowns. “I told you, I’m returning to my maiden name. And I took off my ring.” She lifts her hand to show me again.
“I know. I appreciate that. It meant a lot to me. I believe that it’s over for you. But I’m thinking about Millie. What would you do if he turned up tomorrow and asked to get back with you because of Millie?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“But if it did?”
She frowns again. “I wouldn’t get back with him just for her.”
“Are you sure?”
She looks away, her gaze drifting out of the sliding doors and across the park.
My heart skips a beat. I don’t want to talk about Jayden, but it’s a conversation we need to have. If he turned up on her doorstep, I’d understand it if she put Millie first, and I wouldn’t blame her. But it’s a huge gamble for me. She still hasn’t started divorce proceedings. I accept that love can be like a game of roulette, but I don’t want to put my whole life on black when there’s a chance that red might turn up.
It’s not too much to ask her to reassure me, is it? Or am I being heartless?
