Chapter 17 - GAVIN AND MONICA TRY DINNER
One year after divorce final, Gavin and Monica had dinner alone.
Not therapy.
Not child event.
He asked.
She was surprised.
“Date?”
“I don’t know.”
“That sounds romantic.”
They chose restaurant in Greenwich.
Monica wore black dress.
Gavin noticed.
Desire immediate.
She noticed him noticing.
“Stop.”
“What?”
“Looking.”
“I’m allowed.”
“Debatable.”
They laughed.
Conversation:
work.
Tyler.
Beatrice.
not scandal initially.
Then Monica:
“Do you think about Derek?”
Gavin:
“Sometimes.”
“During sex?”
He froze.
Adult directness.
“We’re not having sex.”
“You know what I mean.”
“With Elena?”
“Once.”
Monica looked hurt.
He said:
“You asked.”
“I know.”
“Do you think about him?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
“Sometimes as warning.”
They sat.
Monica continued:
“I miss us.”
“Which us?”
“Before everything.”
“That us had secrets.”
“Before secrets?”
“Maybe didn’t exist.”
She nodded.
After dinner he drove her home.
At door they kissed.
Longer.
Monica pulled away.
“If we do this, I don’t want affair-style secrecy.”
“We’re divorced.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do.”
They began dating.
Slow.
Tyler found out later.
He rolled eyes.
“You divorced to date?”
Gavin laughed.
“Apparently.”
“This family is weird.”
May you like
Yes.
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