Page 19 of Forked (Frenched 2)
Maybe this weekend would be our chance for closure, a way to put the past behind us and start over as friends.
“Nick.”
“What? Say yes.” Those huge dark eyes willed me to give in. That voice, low and sweet.
“I want to,” I hedged. “But—”
“I’ll cook for you.”
I groaned. Nick’s cooking made my clothes fall off. “You bastard. You know how I feel about your cooking. This is so unfair.”
He sat back in his chair, finally taking his hands off me. “It will be fun, I promise. And I have to go see Noni tomorrow. You can come with me.”
The name brought a smile. “Really? How is she?” Nick’s grandmother was an adorable spitfire of a woman who baked the best pies in the world, never let five minutes go by without asking, “Are you hungry, honey?” and always referred to me as Nicky’s lesbian friend when she meant Lebanese. If Noni was involved, I could definitely say yes.
“She’s great. It’s her ninetieth birthday tomorrow, and my family is having a party for her.”
“At the farm?”
“At the farm.”
“The farm where you plucked my virginity from me as easily as a ripe apple from a tree?”
His jaw dropped in mock outrage. “Easy! I had to work hard for that apple! For months I had to pet the tree, kiss the tree, sweet talk the tree—“
“You lied to the tree.”
“I did. I did lie to the tree.” He looked not at all contrite. “But I’m not sorry, because it was the most delicious apple I’ve ever had in my entire life. I’ve never had one better.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Never had one better? Not ever, not even with all the… fruit you’ve eaten with fancy reality TV people?”
He shook his head. “Not ever.”
I pursed my lips, not really sure whether I believed him, but not really sure I cared if he was lying, either. And bantering with him like this felt so natural, so good. I’d missed the playful way we used to tease each other when things were good between us. “OK, Nick. If I say yes, there are some rules for the weekend.”
He grinned. “So you’ll do it?”
“I’ll do it.” I held up three fingers. “On three conditions.”
“Which are?”
“Number one. No talking about the past. I don’t want to spend two days arguing with you over who was right and who was wrong and who cheated and who lied and what we could-have should-have done differently. Let’s leave the past alone.”
“Next?”
“Nick!” I slapped his shoulder. “Do you agree to no talking about the past?”
“Jeez, you’re always hitting me. I forgot about that. Fine, no talking about the past. Although there were plenty of good times too.”
“Yes, there were, but we’re going to leave the memories alone. Now, number two. This weekend is not to be seen as an opportunity for a second chance. We are friends hanging out and going to see Noni.”
His full lower lip protruded a little, but he shrugged. “I can handle it.”
“And number three.” I pinned him with a cold, hard stare. “No. Sex.”
He laughed. “OK, if you think you can stick to that.”
I slapped his shoulder again. “God, you’re so arrogant. Of course I can stick to that. It’s my rule.” Please, please, Lord, help me stick to that.
