Jordan didn’t miss her sarcastic undertone. Instead he placed a hand on the curve of Gianna’s back and ushered her to the table. He held out her chair before taking his. Once seated he said, “Thanks for meeting me tonight.”
“Still have no idea why you wanted to, but I assume you’ll enlighten me,” she replied.
“I will. Maybe we can order first?” he suggested. She nodded and he called over the waitress. After placing their order, he stated, “I mentioned Marvin is looking for you.”
“You did. I don’t care. He had his chance to speak to me long ago, and never did. Now, whatever he has to say, it’s too late.”
He could hear the bitterness in her tone. Who could blame her? Marvin didn’t do right by her at all. “I agree with you. This isn’t about him. It’s about you. I didn’t want you to be blindsided.”
She leaned back, staring at him. “I almost believe you.”
“I have no reason to lie,” he stated.
“And you have no reason to warn me either. What I can’t understand is why you are. I mean, he’s your friend. But then again twelve years ago he was, and I’m not so sure you had his back then. Either you’re not really that close, or you just suck at friendship.”
Ouch. Gianna definitely wasn’t afraid to say what she meant. Maybe he should be worried about Marvin instead of her.
“Probably a little of both. Then again, friendship takes two,” he stated.
“Well I thought Marvin and I were friends. I learned the hard way that he only thinks of himself,” she groaned.
He found it odd that she referred to Marvin as a friend. “You were much more than friends Gianna. You were engaged to the man.”
Gianna looked away quickly and said softly, “I try not to think about that.”
Leave it to him to remind her of the bad times in her life. That’s not why he wanted to see her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“It’s okay,” she said, looking him in the eyes again. “No matter what, you can’t change the past. Only learn from it. And I have.”
“I hope that doesn’t mean you’ve decided to remain single forever?” he asked. What the hell type of question is that? This also wasn’t part of the conversation he wanted to be having.
She seemed equally shocked by it. Her eyes widened and she said, “I don’t think that is any of your business. Then again, you never seemed to be able to stay out of it before, why should I think that would’ve changed?”
Jordan raised a brow. “What do you mean by that?”
“You know damn well what I mean,” she snarled.
He replied calmly, “No. I honestly don’t.”
Gianna leaned closer and said, “Are you telling me that you forgot all those mean things you said to me?”
“I don’t recall being cruel to you,” he stated. If he had intentionally, she sure as hell wouldn’t be having dinner with him now.
“Then I suspect you have a horrible memory just like Marvin.”
Nothing angered him more than being lumped into the same mold as Marvin. They weren’t anything alike, at least not since high school. And even back then, he probably just didn’t notice how conniving he was.
“I understand that Marvin hurt you, but it is him that you should direct this at, not me. I’m here because I was worried that Marvin might be back in town to…” He really wasn’t sure what Marvin wanted, but it couldn’t be good.
“If he contacts me, I’ll send him back to his wife Rhonda,” she replied.
Jordan chuckled. “I don’t think she wants him back either.”
“They’re divorced?” she asked.
“Yes. They are like a yo-yo. Those two get back together between each marriage.”
“What do you mean by each? He’s had more than one?” Gianna asked as though she couldn’t believe his words.
“Four.”
“Four!” she blurted. “Oh my God, he’s been…busy.”
Jordan almost laughed but couldn’t. Not if Marvin was in town to see about making Gianna number five. “That’s one way to describe it. I assumed you weren’t aware of his conquests over the years. If he contacted you, I thought it might be helpful if you knew who you were dealing with.”
“I figured that out a long time ago when he changed plans on me,” she grumbled.
“You phrase things so…oddly.” He guessed it was easier than saying left at the altar.
“Everything about our relationship was odd. Then again, that shouldn’t surprise you since you were dead against us being together in the first place. It must’ve made you extremely happy when he told you he wasn’t going through with it,” she said.
“It did,” he spoke without thinking.
She laughed. “And yet you don’t recall being mean to me. How about now?”
“Gianna, I’m not a person who lies. I have always called it as I saw it. You and Marvin didn’t belong together. You weren’t what he wanted. Hell, I’m not sure he knows what he wants even now.”
“But I wasn’t it. And you know this how?” she asked. “I know we spent enough time together while Marvin and I were…dating. But I don’t believe you ever took the time to get to know me.”
“I didn’t have to. I knew him. That was enough. Marvin was… is… a womanizer. I mean I see what he saw in you. You’re beautiful and were fun to be around, but you still didn’t fit.” Because you were also sweet and innocent and Marvin couldn’t appreciate either of those things.
“Well let me tell you something you don’t know about me. I’m no pushover. I might have fallen for Marvin’s line when I was nineteen, but I chalk that up to the rebellious years. Since that time, I’d like to believe that I’ve outgrown such immature behavior.”
“Is that what you call falling in love?” he asked. Once again she looked away from him as she answered.
“I was a starry-eyed girl.”
Yet another answer which he couldn’t understand. Maybe she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. It didn’t matter. She could call it whatever she wanted, but the facts remained the same. She had been Marvin’s girl, his lover, and Marvin didn’t deserve any part of Gianna.
He wasn’t sure he’d have been any better for her back then, but now, it was a moot point. Jordan could never be with anyone who’d been with Marvin. Not just because friends don’t do that, but he knew he’d end up in prison. Marvin would run his mouth, dig after dig, until he sent Jordan over the edge. Yup, he definitely could picture himself harming Marvin over Gianna. That thought should be enough to make him keep his distance. He had too much to lose. And why risk it for someone who obviously isn’t interested.
The waitress returned and asked, “Since you two haven’t even touched the pizza, would you like me to box it up for you to go?”
Jordan had wanted to get the conversation out of the way. It took longer than he’d anticipated. There wasn’t anything left to say, at least not regarding Marvin. He asked, Gianna, “How do you feel about cold pizza?”