After I Gave My Husband Away, He Begged Me to Stay Chapter 13
That evening, Grant came over to ‘collect the rent.‘
The lease said I was supposed to pay by bank transfer.
He insisted on showing up with two boxes of Cajun crawfish takeout.
“Routine landlord inspection.”
“What landlord does inspections at nine at night?”
“A responsible one.”
I let him in.
He immediately noticed the package by the entryway.
“Whose is that?”
“A return.”
“Oh.”
He did not ask anything else.
Halfway through dinner, I asked,
“Why do you never ask about Ethan?”
“Why would I?”
“You’re not even curious?”
“Do I know him?”
“No.”
“Then what is there to ask?”
He dropped a crawfish shell into the empty box.
“I’m more interested in when my tenant plans to renew.”
“There are nine months left.”
“We can start negotiating early.”
“You raising the rent?”
“No.”
“Then what are we negotiating?”
He wiped his hands.
“A longer–term arrangement.”
I looked at him.
He looked back at me.
The rice cooker clicked in the kitchen.
I stood to get the rice.
“Grant.”
“Yeah?”
“You still say things that are easy to misunderstand.”
“Not this time.”
The rice paddle in my hand tapped the edge of the pot.
“What do you mean, not this time?”
“I mean you’re supposed to take it exactly that way.”
He walked over and took the bowl from my hand.
“Claire Bennett, I like you.”
“Since three years ago?”
“Earlier.”
“How much earlier?”
“The recruiting fair senior year.”
I looked up.
“I had a boyfriend then.”
“Iknow.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“What was I supposed to do, ask you to cheat on him?”
I could not help laughing.
He set the bowl on the table.
“That’s why I didn’t say anything.”
“Later, when you had the chance to come to San Jose, all I asked was whether you wanted the job.”
“You said no. I kept living my life.”
“Now you’re here.”
He paused.
“So I’m asking you now.”
“Claire, do you want to try this with me?”
I did not answer right away.
He did not rush me.
The crawfish on the table were getting cold.
The air–conditioning unit hummed outside on the balcony,
After a while, I put one crawfish on his plate.
“Eat first.”
“What does that mean?”
“We’ll talk after we eat.”
“Is that a yes or a no?”
“Why do you talk so much?”
He looked down and smiled.
“Okay.”
That dinner lasted almost two hours.
When he left, the door opened and closed.
Five minutes later, someone knocked again.
I opened it.
“What did you forget?”
Grant stood outside.
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you back?”
“You never answered.”
I leaned against the doorframe.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t going to rush me?”
“I gave you five whole minutes.
“That felt long enough.”
I stared at him for a few seconds.
“Let’s try.”
He did not move.
“Did you hear me?”
“I heard you.”
“Then why are you still standing there?”
“I’m making sure.”
“Making sure of what?”
“That I’m not misunderstanding you this time.”
I started pulling the door inward.
“Come in or don’t.”
He caught the door immediately.
“I’m coming in.”