I HAVE NO idea what the hell I’m doing.
I mean, I know what I’m doing. I’m inserting myself into AJ’s family life like some clingy girlfriend. I just don’t understand why.
The thought of him brushing me off again, even to go take his grandma to church—wait. I can’t say church for Jewish people. Synagogue. Why in the hell did I invite myself to the synagogue with him? Am I supposed to talk about hell with Jewish people?
“Samantha?” AJ nudges me with his shoulder.
“Hm?” I smile at him and realize the service has ended. He gestures toward the aisle and I gather my things hurriedly, rushing to stand next to his smiling grandmother. As soon as he’s on his feet, he startles me by pressing a kiss to my cheek. A casual, light touch of his lips, as if he’s used to doing that. As if this is something we do together—kiss for no reason. I flush, delighted by the attention. And then my racing thoughts take charge again, wondering how on earth I came to be here.
A man’s family and religious outings shouldn’t be part of whatever I needed to sort out in my head. I just wanted AJ to stop being mad at me. Didn’t I?
Well, I also wanted him to make up for leaving me hot and bothered at the science educators dinner. And he made up for that. Repeatedly. I didn’t even think I’d want him to sleep over after all that, but we got to eating burritos in bed, and talking about true crime documentaries…and here we are. Unshowered, wrinkled, at temple with his Bubbie.
“And this is Samantha,” Bubbie says, emphasizing my name like I’m the most important person she’s ever met. I smile at the perky older woman who has approached us in the aisle.
“Pleased to meet you.” I shake her hand as I feel AJ stiffen at my side. He draws his arm around me possessively and when I look up at him, his face has regained some of that cranky crust I’m used to.
Bubbie pats my shoulder. “Samantha owns a business! Isn’t that something? Samantha, this is Nancy Cohen. My Avi used to babysit her Ruthie.”
I can’t quite make sense of who Avi and Ruthie are, but I smile warmly regardless. Nancy furrows her brow. “Is your family from here, Samantha? I don’t recognize you.”
“Oh, I’m a military brat,” I say, really hoping to steer conversation away from my family. “I grew up all over.”
“Samantha is the founder of Vinea,” AJ says, his voice steady and perhaps containing a note of pride. “Her company has been very good to my students.”
I grin at him. “I’m glad to finally hear you admit that! Your students are amazing, by the way. It’s a good thing you threw a temper tantrum and made me call you to apologize.”
He guffaws as Bubbie looks at him strangely. AJ says, “If only you just called! Bubs, she stormed into my classroom. Unannounced.”
Mrs. Trachtenberg gasps. “Oh, Adriel does not like to have his lesson plans disrupted.” She shakes her head and I laugh.
“I gathered that much.” I slide my arm around his waist and squeeze. “But it worked out in the end.”
I shiver as I feel AJ’s fingers running through my hair, gently, and again somehow possessively. Like he’s claiming me through the motion. We walk to another room in the building, where there are tables heaped with bagels and coffee.
I beeline for the coffee as I feel AJ’s fingers reaching to clasp mine. He’s really leaning in to acting like a boyfriend here, and I don’t hate it. I give his hand a squeeze as I wait my turn for the coffee. A teenager pours me a mug full and I add a splash of milk, take a sip, and purse my lips.
I look at AJ and he nods. “It’s burnt, shitty coffee, Samantha. This is what people drink outside of your world.”
“My world?” I arch a brow at him and try to decide what to do with the coffee. Exhaustion wins out and I take another reluctant sip.
“Your world,” he repeats. “Vinea, where you somehow manage to have the best coffee I have ever tasted in my entire life.” He takes the mug from my hands and places it on a folding table and then takes both my hands in his, meeting my eyes. “I’m begging you to tell me your source. This is me.” He squeezes my hands for good measure. “Begging.”
I laugh. “What will you give me for this information?”
He turns his head slightly and frowns, but his eyes twinkle and I know we are still flirting. And I’m still enjoying it. “Almost anything you want,” he whispers, just as his grandmother sidles up to us again.
She squeezes my arm. “Samantha, I don’t know why my Adriel waited so long to tell me about you, but I want you to know I am so glad to meet you. You have to come join us this week for brisket.”
“Well, I’ll try my best to clear my schedule if you send me the details.”
Bubbie smiles and sighs. “It’s so good to see you happy, Adriel.” She leans toward me conspiratorially. “He’s been a mess since that business with Lara. Terrible thing, how she left him.”
AJ swallows. “Bubs, please let’s talk about something else.”
She shakes her head. “Honestly, who does she think she is? The Queen of Sheba? Anyway, he’s found you now and I can already tell I like you better.” Bubbie pats my cheek, and when I look at AJ he’s clenching his jaw, his entire body stiff and his demeanor has grown dark. I smile, but feel uncomfortable in the tension. When AJ says he’s ready to head out, I feel relief.
As we drive her home, Bubbie talks about the meal she and her children will be preparing for me…sometime in the future. “What can I bring? This sounds delightful.” I lean forward in AJ’s tiny car to better hear his grandmother, but AJ screeches into a parking spot outside of her building.
“Samantha has a very busy schedule, Bubbie. Let’s make sure she’s actually free before you assign her part of the meal.”
I open my mouth to protest, to say I meant it when I’d clear my schedule, but he glares at me in the rear view mirror. I snap my mouth shut, confused. As Bubbie exits the car and waves, I just barely manage to get myself in the front seat and buckled before he peels out, aiming the car toward my house.
“What’s up, AJ? You’re acting strange.”
He’s silent as he shifts gears and checks his mirrors for pedestrians before turning right. I smile, enjoying how carefully he drives, how he actually shares the road. “You’re the one who said you’re swamped preparing for your company going public.”
He accelerates to try and make a yellow light, which turns red, and he slams on the breaks, growling. I grip the handle above the window. “I can make time to eat a meal. What’s this really about?”
He looks over at me. “Two days ago we were barely speaking to one another and now you’re joining my family for holiday meals? You don’t think that’s a little inappropriate?”
I swallow, recoiling from the sting of his words. “I like you, AJ. Why are you being hurtful right now? You got weird when your grandmother brought up your ex.”
He grunts. “Well, my ex makes me feel really fucking weird, Samantha.”
My eyes widen. “Okay, well, maybe sort out your feelings about that before you come back to my house for another booty call.”
He turns into my driveway, stops the car, and runs his hands through his hair. He takes a few deep breaths and then turns to face me. “You’re right. I’m sorry I got moody.”
I hesitate as I loop my fingers through the latch to open the door. “So am I invited for brisket or not?” AJ’s face shifts around, like he’s experimenting with different moods and expressions. I roll my eyes. “Just forget it.” I pull the door open and start to climb out of his tiny car.
He places his hand on my arm when I reach for my purse. “What if we tried a date first? Just the two of us? Without my parents…”
“A date?”
He sighs. “Yes. I’d like to ask you out. If you’re still interested.”
“What sort of date?”
AJ pauses, as if he can tell that his answer will determine whether I tell him to fuck off forever or invite him back into my bed. He licks his lip and says, “Would you like to help me document chimney swift migration patterns?”
I gasp. Data? Science? Birds? “Yes.” I nod. “Very much yes. Text me the info.” I close the car door and wave as I head back inside my house. In a single morning, AJ Trachtenberg has managed to tug me through most of the major emotion groups. I’m going to go back to bed while I’m riding the current “fellow geek sees my passions” high.