The Rules of Dating a Younger Man

I slipped a shirt over my head as I spoke to Billie on speakerphone. “What can I bring tonight?”

“Just bring yourself,” she insisted.

Billie and Colby were having everyone over for a group dinner. Weekends had been busy lately, so they’d chosen to do it on a Tuesday.

“I usually bring wine, but you and Colby always seem to have so many bottles you don’t know what to do with them.”

“I’m pretty sure all of the bottles we have are from you, Brayden. It’s all you ever bring. Not complaining, just stating a fact.”

I sighed. “That’s because I never know what else to bring. Bringing wine means I don’t have to think. Since I don’t cook, I’m limited in terms of options.”

“Well, Owen and Holden don’t cook, either. It’s always Lala and Devyn who make whatever they bring. Therefore, technically, the other guys don’t bring shit. So don’t feel bad.”

“I guess I could buy something from the market, since you’re sick of my wine.”

“Brayden! Dinner is in fifteen minutes. Just bring yourself. Truly. And don’t be late. You know how I hate it when the food I make gets cold.”

I glanced out the window. “There’s still time to go to the store…”

“Brayden, if you show up with anything, I’m gonna strangle you.”

I chuckled. “Well, since you put it like that. Jeez…”

I heard a knock at the door. “Someone’s here, Billie. I’ll let you go. See you in fifteen.” I hung up.

When I opened the door, my heart fell to the floor. On the off-chance I was hallucinating, I blinked. She’s here.

She’s here?

“Alex…”

Her cheeks were red. Was that the cold January air outside or nerves? Her long, blond hair was wind-blown and wild. And she looked more beautiful than I’d ever seen her in the nearly five months since we’d met.

Perhaps I should’ve thought of something more eloquent to say, but nothing came out of my mouth.

She fidgeted with her hands. “Is this a bad surprise?”

I shook my head. “What the heck are you doing here?”

“Can I come in?”

Jesus. I was an idiot. I moved aside. “Of course. Sorry about that. Come in.”

Alex looked around my apartment and licked her lips. “Can I have some water?”

She seemed exhausted, like she’d just run a marathon. Had she run here? “Sure, yeah.” I couldn’t get to the kitchen fast enough. I grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with filtered water from the fridge.

After I handed it to her, Alex downed the entire glass.

“Damn. You were thirsty.”

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and exhaled.

Maybe it was just nerves. I couldn’t blame her. I felt it, too. “Are you sure you don’t need something stronger?”

“Actually, I would love something stronger.”

“Coming right up.”

Alex followed as I returned to the kitchen. This was surreal. She stood several feet away as I fumbled with the wine opener, then nearly let the glass slip from my hands. Okay, who’s the most nervous here? Her or me? I made sure to pour the chardonnay slowly so as not to spill it all over the damn floor. As I filled the glasses, I could see her reflection in the bottle.

I can’t believe Alex is standing in my kitchen.

I turned toward her. “Here you go.”

“Thank you.” She took a sip.

I crossed my arms. “What brought you here tonight?”

“I have a meeting with a potential spa partner here tomorrow,” Alex explained. “Someone who owns a company that makes red-light saunas. We’re thinking of having them installed. It was sort of a last-minute thing. Wells was supposed to come with me, but his grandmother is not doing well, so he went to Massachusetts to visit her.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

She nodded somberly. “So I came alone.”

“When did you get into town?”

“A few hours ago.”

“You already checked into your hotel?”

“Yeah. I got here this afternoon, checked in…then sat in my room alone and thought about how much I wished I could come say hello to you.” She paused. “And then I figured, what’s stopping me from doing that?” She looked down at her wine glass. “Things were quite tense between us the last time we saw each other, but I thought I’d take a chance that you were alone and might not mind the surprise visit.”

“I’m really glad you didn’t let what happened in Seneca Falls stop you from coming by.” I forced myself to look at her. “I’m sorry…about everything. I felt awful that you were caught off guard by seeing Lacey’s name on my phone. And I regret not seeking you out before I left. But I didn’t want to make things worse by chasing you down when you were already upset.”

“You don’t have to explain, Brayden. We’re not together.” She let out a shaky breath. “Honestly, if you’re happy…then I’m happy.”

I should’ve told her then and there that I wasn’t seeing Lacey—and there was nothing in my life as of late to be happy about. But for some reason, I chose not to. I just let her speak.

“You’re right, though. I was surprised, though I shouldn’t have been. I mean, a virile guy like you isn’t going to stay single.”

Unable to hold back a second longer, I stepped forward. “There’s no one, Alex.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“Absolutely no one. The woman whose name you saw on my phone was someone I really wanted to like, mostly because I’d assumed you’d moved on with someone else.” I shook my head. “But I couldn’t fall for her, even as much as I wanted someone to help me move on. I didn’t sleep with her, either. We just went on a few dates, and then I admitted to her a week ago that I wasn’t ready.”

She set her wine glass aside and rubbed her hands over her arms. “So…you’re not seeing anyone?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Wow,” she breathed. “Okay. I need to let that soak in for a moment. I wasn’t expecting that.”

“What were you expecting when you came here tonight?”

“The worst.” She laughed nervously.

I tilted my head. “Were you expecting to find me with her?”

“I wasn’t sure.”

“What about you?” I asked. “Have you started seeing anyone?”

She sighed. “I tried to go on a date with Wells’s boyfriend’s brother recently. But I wasn’t into him at all.” She chuckled. “He was too nice for me. He deserves someone who likes him for him, not someone who merely wanted a breathing human who could distract her from someone else. It was over before it even started.”

“Well, look at us…” I grinned. “I guess we’re both batting zero right now, huh?” I squelched the need to cup her cheek. “I’m so glad you came by. I know it wasn’t an easy decision, especially if you thought I might not be alone.”

“Even if you had been seeing someone, I didn’t come here for any other reason than to talk. Nothing has changed. I just…wanted to make things right between us. At the very least, I want us to be friends, if possible. I know that sounds crazy after everything we’ve been through, but I don’t want you to disappear from my life. I think that’s been the hardest part of this. So much of our relationship took place before we ever had sex, before everything turned crazy. Before we found out about Caitlin. You were a good friend to me and made my life better.”

I stared into her eyes. “Right back at you, sweetheart.” I took a breath. “I want you to be happy, to have no regrets. And I certainly don’t want to erase you from my life. It felt terrible being in Seneca Falls and not speaking to you.” I glanced over at the time. “Shit.”

A look of alarm crossed Alex’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“I forgot about dinner at Colby’s. He and Billie are hosting the entire crew, and Billie gets pissed when we’re late and the food gets cold.”

Alex pointed her thumb behind her. “No worries. I’ll get out of your hair. I said what I had to say.”

I reached out to stop her. “Are you kidding? Alex, you came all the way here. You can’t leave.” I laughed. “I mean that in the least creepy way possible.”

“Well, I don’t want you to cancel on your friends.”

“I won’t have to.” I can’t believe I’m saying this… “You can come to dinner with me. Come meet them.”

She bit her lip, seeming unsure. “Wouldn’t that be terribly awkward?”

I shrugged. “I think my friends will be happier than pigs in shit to see you. It’ll probably be the biggest surprise I’ve ever given them.”

“What will you tell them?”

“The truth, that you’re in town for business and came by to say hello.”

“Are most of them current on where things stand with us? I won’t have to explain?”

“Not unless you want to. I’ve told them everything. They know we’re not together anymore and all that.”

“Won’t they think it’s odd for me to show up with you?”

“They sure will. In fact, I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when we walk in.”

She shrugged. “Okay. I’ll just throw myself right into the fire.”

Alex followed me into the elevator. Being in that tight, enclosed space with her brought back painfully sexy memories. Thankfully, the elevator doors opened again quickly, and before I knew it, we were standing in front of Colby and Billie’s apartment door.

I took a deep breath. This was the strangest scenario I could have imagined for how all my friends would finally meet Alex. This was going to be interesting.

When Billie opened the door, she looked to my right, and her jaw dropped. “Oh my God…Alex! What the hell are you doing here?”

Alex’s mouth fell open. “How did you know it was me?”

She cringed. “Well, I’ve cyberstalked you since Brayden first told me about you. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” Alex smiled over at me.

Billie held out her hand. “Billie, by the way.”

“I know. I remember your beautiful face from when it popped up on Brayden’s phone. It’s great to finally meet you. I cannot tell you how many wonderful things I’ve heard about you, Billie.”

“Likewise, but are you gonna tell me why you guys are together right now?”

“Would you believe me if I said I don’t really know?” Alex laughed.

Billie looked to me. “I guess you decided what to bring tonight, huh?” She winked. “You two have some explaining to do.”

Before I could say anything, Alex interjected, “I surprised Brayden. He didn’t know I was in town for business. And I only stopped by his apartment fifteen minutes ago. It’s as awkward of a surprise as you could imagine. Then he told me he was late for dinner with you guys, so here I am tagging along.”

Billie took Alex inside and introduced her to everyone. It was a full house tonight. We’d been the last to arrive. Sitting around the dining room table were Owen, Devyn, baby Devon, and Devyn’s two siblings, Heath and Hannah. Then Holden, Lala, and baby Hope. And lastly, Colby, and his daughter, Sailor, and son, Mav.

“If there’s one thing about us, Alex,” Holden said, “we like to bust balls. But most of the time we’re busting each other’s, not other people’s.” He winked. “So you’re safe.”

“You can expect to hear many embarrassing stories about Brayden, though,” Owen added.

“All you need to do is sit back, relax, have some wine, and leave the entertaining to these guys,” Lala explained.

“That sounds like a plan.” Alex took a seat, seeming more relaxed.

Throughout dinner, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. But Alex wasn’t looking at me. And she certainly hadn’t been sitting back and saying nothing, either. She’d seemed to grow more comfortable with each minute that passed. I’d watched her talk science with Lala, and then she got into a friendly argument with Billie over the value of artificial intelligence. Alex had faced the fire tonight and come out the other side.

There was one awkward moment, however. Heath finally recognized Alex as the woman from the video he’d shot, the one I’d made him delete. “Isn’t that the woman you were kissing on the street corner,” he blurted. “The one who broke your heart?”

I then explained to Alex that I’d been overly dramatic in my explanation so he would delete the video, rather than posting it on the Internet. Hopefully, she believed me…

All in all, throughout the evening, Alex seemed like part of the group, like she’d always been a member of our crew. I’d gotten one night to experience what things would have been like had everything not gone to hell with us.

When all the people with kids—basically everyone—started to gather their things to leave, I knew Alex and I should do the same. So we said goodbye to my friends and headed back toward the elevators.

I didn’t want Alex to go back to her hotel just yet, but I knew she wouldn’t agree to come to my apartment. That wouldn’t have been a good idea for either of us if “nothing had changed.” But that didn’t stop me from trying…

My heart sped up. “Do you wanna come back to my place and hang out? I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”

When her face turned serious, I knew the answer. “It’s better if I go back to my hotel,” she said. “My meeting with that vendor is early in the morning. I wanna make sure I get some sleep tonight.”

“When do you return to Connecticut?” I asked, deflated.

“I’m heading back right after my meeting.”

I thought of insisting that she have lunch with me tomorrow, but decided against it. The happy mood of this evening was just one night in time. Our larger reality remained the same. Alex had closed the door on the possibility of us being together, so it was still in my best interest not to spend time with her, no matter how tempting.

I called her an Uber and waited outside with her until it showed.

Despite my self-talk about distancing myself, I needed to know when I’d see her again. “Will you be in Seneca Falls this weekend?”

“Yes. I’m planning on working.”

I was such a hypocrite, because suddenly the weekend couldn’t come fast enough. “Okay, good,” I said. “I’m happy we had this time together so things won’t be weird.”

She smiled. “Me too, Brayden. Well, better not make him wait.”

Just as she was about to get into the Uber, I stopped her. “Alex…”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for not being afraid to knock on my door tonight.”

She flashed a beautiful grin. “I’ve knocked on your door several times since I’ve known you. And I’ve never regretted it.”