Page 36 of Time To Learn

“It’s hard to forget, seeing something likethat.”

“No, I don’t know anything about it.” I snort and shake my head at him. “I didn’t exactly want to grill her about that since I don’t know her. That would be fuckedup.”

He grimaces.

“Well, yeah, I get that. Look, Kristian, I’m the last person to hand out advice—look at my own fucked up love life—but a woman whose scar is visible like that? There’s bound to be some kind of story in her past—an ugly one. Are you sure you want to get tangled up in allthat?”

I frown.

“What the fuck do you mean by that? Scars don’t define people, Alex. They don’t rulethem.”

“See, that’s where I think you’re wrong,” he deadpans, jabbing a finger into my chest. “Some scars run so deep that they do end up ruling the people who have them. Call them battle scars for lack of a better word. And that’s a whole can of worms you better be prepared to open if you want to keep pursuingher.”

“Hold up.” I raise my palm at him. “Back up a step. All I asked was why I was feeling guilty about having mind-blowing sex with two very willing women? Why, when the one person I’m really interested in turned me down? I didn’t ask you for an analysis of human behaviour or why people act like theydo.”

He sighs, nodding. “Okay, fair enough. Do you know why she said no to going out withyou?”

“No. I just know she lied when shedid.”

He blinks. “How?”

I stop with my glass halfway to my mouth, giving him alook.

His lips twist.

“Right,” he smirks. “I forgot who I was talking to,” he murmurs.

“Trust me, she was interested.”

Alex sits back in his chair and runs a hand through hishair.

“How the hell do all these women flock to you like bees to honey?”

I wink at him. “It’s theapa.”

His wince makes me chuckle.

“No way am I subjecting my manhood to that level of pain. How you managed to abstain from your playboy ways for six months is beyondme.”

I shrug. “It wasn’t easy, but, Alex, the rewards? It’s definitely worth thepain.”

He shudders.

“Well, to answer your question,” he continues, “you’re feeling guilty because you couldn’t control your body, even though your heart is dead set on Laura. It happens to us all, myboy.”

I clench my teeth. There he goes with all that mushy stuff again.

“I just want the chance to get to know her, that’sall.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, but if you don’t believe me, then all I’ve left to say is this…” He raises his glass at me and smirks. “Good luck, lad. May the best manwin.”

Sighing, I clink my glass to his, hoping like fuck that he’s wrong about my heart. I don’t need any more heartache in my life. I’ve already had enough to last me a lifetime.