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Moving On, Moving In
After my run-in with Edge and his Barbie in the Hamptons, I told myself I was moving on. I wasn't going to allow myself to dwell on the fact that my thirty-five year-old ex-boyfriend - whom I sadly thought of as the love of my life - was now involved with a twenty-one year-old blonde fashion model.
And then, I realized that I was dwelling and forced myself to snap out of it.
"Oh, let me hook you up with someone," Lisa Marie offered one morning at breakfast.
"That's the last thing she needs," Candice cut in before I could answer for myself.
Trish concurred.
"She's not ready to date again just yet. Let her have some time to breathe!"
"You guys," I said, spreading my hands between them over the table, "I appreciate it, really. All of you." I met Lisa's eyes across the table. "Sweetie, no offense, but I really don't want to date a guy you've slept with."
The brunette opened her mouth to respond, but I went on.
"Besides, Trish is right - I'm not ready to date again."
My blonde friend, who was seated beside me, rubbed my shoulder. Being the most sensitive of the three, she was a great comfort in my trying time.
"That all being said, I'm moving on. The four of us should do something fun - just us girls."
"Ooh, I'm all for that!" Trish squealed. Being married, she didn't get as many chances now for girls' night only.
"I'm game," Lisa Marie agreed.
"Okay," Candice said. "I do have this deposition to go over for Monday, but I'll squeeze in the time."
"You'd better!" Trish quipped. "You can't be all work and no play."
"You sound like AJ," the brunette complained.
"How is he?" I asked.
"Always around," she dryly replied, "but he's doing well."
*
About an hour later, Candice went home, her mind on her current situation. She was happy to be back with AJ, she really was... But he seemed to have practically moved into her apartment. It was a bit much, as she was one who really valued her space.
"Hey, babe."
He was right there to greet her at the door, clad in a pair of boxers and a T-shirt. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips, which she returned with a slight bit of reluctance.
"You're not even dressed."
"Just got up," AJ replied with a slight shrug, a boyish smile adorning his face. "When you work nights, it comes with the territory."
"Okay," Candice said, "but do you think you can shower and get dressed soon?"
"Of course." With that, he headed for the bedroom while the brunette made a beeline for her small study. She wanted to start going over the deposition.
Twenty minutes later, Candice was immersed in the document when her boyfriend appeared in the doorway.
"Hey."
She looked up, the single greeting her only realization that he'd appeared. Giving him a cursory glance, she noted he was freshly showered, his short hair still damp. He was in a pair of worn blue jeans and a comfortable navy blue sweatshirt.
"Hey," she said, then instantly lowered her gaze back to the papers on her desk.
AJ eyed her carefully, tentative about stepping inside the room. He knew how she was about her study and her work. Truth be known, if there was one trait about Candice he could change, this would be it. Well, that and the fact that she was extremely guarded in general.
"Candice, can I talk to you?" he asked.
She raised her brown orbs from the document to his blue eyes very briefly.
"Can it wait, AJ? I'm really busy with this deposition."
"I know... but I really need to talk."
That got her full attention. She lowered the pen in her right hand, removed her glasses and gazed directly into his handsome face.
"You're not breaking up with me again, are you?" she questioned, her facial expression serious.
The question actually caused the man to chuckle. He shook his head.
"No, nothing like that," he assured her. "But I did want to discuss something having to do with our relationship."
"Uh oh," Candice said as she pushed her chair back. She didn't have the foggiest idea of what he was getting at.
"Relax, it's nothing bad." He approached her, kneeling down before her and grabbing hold of one of her hands.
Suddenly, Candice felt slightly faint. There was no way this could happen! Her life pretty much revolved around her career. She did love AJ, but she definitely wasn't ready for this!
"AJ, we can't get married... It's too soon, and I'm sorry if that hurts, but-"
"Whoa," he said. He laughed as he realized why she thought he was about to propose. "No... I'm just down here because there's no other chair in here." He laughed at the very obvious relief that crossed his girlfriend's lovely features.
"Oh, thank God!" Candice felt badly for that and grimaced. "I'm sorry, AJ, it's not that I'm repulsed by the idea of marrying you, just that... well, now is the wrong time, and..." She stopped abruptly and rolled her eyes. "Do I have a way of sticking my foot in my mouth, or what? Shut up, Candice!"
"Hey, take it easy... That's my girlfriend you're insulting," the dark-haired man said with an easy smile. He gently caressed her hand, eyeing her so tenderly, it nearly bowled her over.
She laughed as she met his warm blue eyes. In spite of being a workaholic, heavily valuing her privacy and other things she considered faults, Candice realized that AJ calmed her down. She was much less high-strung when he was around.
"What did you want to say?" she asked, her gaze steadily holding his.
AJ smiled.
"I just thought maybe I should move in," he revealed. "I mean, I practically live here; I'm here all the time."
The brunette's initial reaction was shock, and all her idiosyncrasies came flooding right back to her. But she didn't give voice to them and reminded herself of what she'd just been thinking about him. She cocked her head and held his hand as he watched her with anticipation.
Candice nodded slowly, a smile coming to her lips.
"Okay... AJ, let's go for it."