Chapter 12
The next day the boys and I actually made it through our normal routine without too many issues.
As I drove to work after dropping them off, I felt pretty confident. After my conversations with Wes and Zoe, I was pretty sure that I had a better handle on what I wanted out of dating. I also knew that I wanted to see Glenn again.
I decided I would ask Hanna to watch the boys on Friday night so that I could have dinner with him. Maybe then I would find out if we had that connection that Zoe was talking about. If I felt that we did, I was sure that things would flow better between us. I was determined to be more clear in my communication as well.
My morning flowed well with no interruptions. When lunch rolled around, I decided I would check in with Wes and see if he wanted to have a virtual lunch together. I clicked the button to connect, then there was a knock on the window of my office.
I looked up, and to my surprise, there was Glenn with a paper bag in his hands.
“Glenn?” I stood up. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, you said you had a short lunch. So I thought I’d bring it to you.” He smiled. “I hope you don’t mind and I hope you like subs.”
“I’m not sure that this is such a good idea. I just started this job and it might seem a little—”
“Stop worrying so much. You’re going to love this sandwich, and I got you an iced tea to go with it. Diet of course. Don’t all women drink diet?”
“Not necessarily. Uh, okay. Come in.” I smiled. I had to admit it was a sweet gesture for him to just show up with lunch. “I only have about fifteen minutes.”
“Fifteen? Wow, that is a short lunch. Well, let’s not waste it with eating.” He tossed the bag down on my desk and pulled me close for a kiss. Even though I’d kissed him on our date, I wasn’t expecting to be thrust into another so suddenly.
I pulled back from the kiss and cleared my throat. I could feel the eyes of my coworkers on me through the windows that made up most of the walls of my office.
“I thought you wanted to share lunch?”
“What’s the problem here, Noella? The other day you were into it. I thought we had a connection.” He looked into my eyes, his own filled with desire.
“We haven’t really had the chance to form a connection, Glenn. Plus, this is where I work. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
“Great.” He rolled his eyes. “I knew it. You’re stuck in the past, aren’t you? Probably still hung up on your ex.”
“Absolutely not.” I narrowed my eyes. “That’s the problem, Glenn, you don’t know anything about me. It seems like you’re only interested in one thing. I’m interested in a serious relationship, not just a little fun.”
“I’m interested in a serious relationship too and that includes a lot of fun. But if you have too many hang-ups to let that happen, then we’re obviously not right for one another.” He snatched up the paper bag. “You’re going to have to wake up to the modern world one of these days, Noella. No man out there is going to wait patiently while you decide if you’re ready to get back on the horse. The best way to find out if there’s a spark is to test it out.”
“A spark isn’t just about physical connection, Glenn, it’s about something much more than that. At least for me it is. You’re right, we’re not right for each other.”
“Thanks for wasting my time.” He shook his head, then walked out the door.
Not only was I humiliated by his dismissive tone, but the fact that all my coworkers had witnessed the entire event. It could only create more distance between us. Luckily they were kind enough to pretend they hadn’t seen anything at all. But I knew that they had.
Embarrassed, I sank down into my chair and took a deep breath. When I closed my eyes, I saw his face again. How had I convinced myself that he might actually be the one? How had my instincts been so far off?
“Noella?”
I looked up at the sound of Wes’s voice. The computer monitor was still dark, but apparently the audio had connected. Did that mean that…
“Wes?” I gulped. “How long have you been listening?”
“Long enough to know that Glenn is a real jerk. Let me see your face.”
“No, I’m fine. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to hear all that.” I fumbled for the mouse in an attempt to sever the connection. The moment I touched it, however, the monitor woke up and I was able to see Wes looking at me.
“Don’t hang up, Noella. Let me talk to you for a minute.”
“This isn’t a good time.” I frowned.
“Don’t believe a single thing that man said, do you hear me?”
I sighed and sat back in my chair. It was clear that he wasn’t going to let it go. Even if I cut off the connection he’d call me right back.
“I said I’m fine. Besides, he wasn’t wrong.”
“What do you mean he wasn’t wrong?”
“I’m not ready.” I shook my head. “It was foolish of me to think that I was. I really need to get back to work.”
“Not just yet. Look at me, Noella.” He leaned closer to the camera.