I was thankful for Noah's buoyant presence at the dinner table. After the incident in the bathroom, I didn't know how I could have faced Brian alone. I managed to hide myself-consciousness under a distant, polite manner and struggled to avoid meeting his dark, knowing gaze.
If Brian was thinking of their most recent romantic encounter, he didn't show it. He engaged Noah in an avid conversation about starting baseball pitchers and Noah explained the physics of different trick pitches. Brian listed with interest and dug into his food with relish, pausing to lavishly praise my cooking. Too lavishly, I thought, since I knew a man like
Brian probably dined regularly at some of the world's finest restaurants. He was just trying to be polite, or get back on my good side after grabbing me in the bathroom, when he had so pointedly promised he would not.
Not that he was entirely to blame for the encounter, I reflected. Once he'd started kissing me, I hadn't exactly pushed him away. I was just too dang vulnerable to him, for some mysterious reason. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and tried to focus again on the dinner conversation When the meal was ended and the dishes cleared away, Noah reminded us that we had promised to team up against him in a game of Brain Quest. I secretly wondered if Brian was going to beg off. I didn't expect that he would have much patience for children's games. But, to the contrary, he seemed very eager for the match, and his enthusiasm made it all the more fun for Noah, who quickly ran into the living room and set up the game.
As we settled in the rocking chair, I tried to avoid being paired in a team with him, but neither Brian nor Noah would hear of it. "I'II just be a liability to you," I warned Brian . "l'm really bad at this game."
"Don't worry. I'll carry you," he promised with a gleam in his eye.
But just a few minutes later it was clear that Noah had a distinct advantage over the us despite the combined brain power. Brian cheerful, confident expression had turned to one of complete concentration as he frowned and rubbed his forehead, racking his memory for the answers to the trivia questions .While I was no trivia queen-and had never aspired to be
I did surprise everyone a few times, coming up with such arcane facts as the height of Mount McKinley and the Latin word for dog and the name of President Warren Harding's wife. "How the heck did you know that?" Brian asked, astounded.
I shrugged. "We only get three channels on the TV out here-and two of them are educational."
Finally the match was over. Noah was the winner by a large margin. Brian shook his hand. "Well done, Noah. You deserve a prize for that impressive performance. When I get back to New York, I'll send you a surprise."
"A Surprise? Gosh-really, Brian?" Noah looked thrilled by the prospect, but I was dismayed.
"That's not at all necessary, Brian. lt was just a little board game."
"But I want to," Brian nsisted. He stood up and ruffled Noah's hair with his hand. I didn't think this little squirt could beat me, but he did. To a pulp. Now, I've got to pay my dues."
Noah beamed. I bit her lip to keep from butting in. This was clearly a "guy thing. My son hardly got enough of that so I decided it was best to indulge him, Besides, once Brian returned to New York, most unlikely he'd forget. He 'd forget the surprise for Noah... and he'd forget all about both of us, out here in what had he called this place? Oh, yes, I remembered. Nowhereville, Texas.
"Time for bed, champ," I announced to Noah.
"Okay, he said. I was amazed to see him go up without complaint. He grabbed the game box and gave me a kiss good-night.
"Good night, Brian," Noah added cheerily. As Brian wished Noah good-night and the boy headed upstairs for his bedroom, I was suddenly appalled at the prospect of being left alone with my houseguest.
"I'm really feeling beat myself," I announced I rocked myself forward and grabbed on to the chair arms for support and managed to stand up. "I think I'll go up, too."
"It's barely...nine o'clock," he said, glancing at his watch. "I thought we might talk for a while."
"Talk?" I felt my stomach twist in one large knot and wished I hadn't caten an extra brownie for desert. "What about?"
"About you, for instance. How are you going to manage alone here for the next few days? Until your ankle is better I mean."
I gave a short laugh. "Just like I always do, I'd imagine."
"Don't be silly, Olivia. You know what I mean. You can barely stand up on your own. You can't drive or cook or get from one room to another...."
"I just sprained my ankle, Brian. It isn't exactly life threatening."
"Of course not. But you know what I mean. You need some help around here, at least for a few days." He was worried about me, I realized, and his concern was touching. But at the same time it was also a bit amusing to me, since he clearly had no idea of how much I managed to juggle and struggle with every day. For pity's sake, the prospect of squirming up and down the stairs on my bottom for the next few days was a snap, compared to some of the situations I'd had to face on my own. "Don't worry. I'll manage," I replied simply
"I'am worried. And that's no answer."" His expression had gone dark and serious again. He crossed his arms over his chest in a stance that told me he was not letting me off the hook on this until I gave him the answer he wanted to hear
"Look, I know you feel responsible for the way I hurt myself. But I've told you before, it was in no way your fault. You don't need to worry about Noah and me. We've faced a lot worse situations on own before Believe me,""
"I do believe you, he said in a serious tone. He pushed his hand through his thick, mussed hair. "But I'm concerned for you, anyway."
"I have lots of friends around here, Brian. If I need help, all I have to do is pick up the phone," I replied with a light shrug.