Page 97 - tender-is-the-night

‘Oh, no, NOW. I want you to do it now, take me, show
me, I’m absolutely yours and I want to be.’
‘For one thing, have you thought how much it would
hurt Nicole?’
‘She won’t know—this won’t have anything to do with
her.’
He continued kindly.
‘Then there’s the fact that I love Nicole.’
‘But you can love more than just one person, can’t you?
Like I love Mother and I love you—more. I love you more
now.’
‘—the fourth place you’re not in love with me but you
might be afterwards, and that would begin your life with a
terrible mess.’
‘No, I promise I’ll never see you again. I’ll get Mother
and go to America right away.’
He dismissed this. He was remembering too vividly the
youth and freshness of her lips. He took another tone.
‘You’re just in that mood.’
‘Oh, please, I don’t care even if I had a baby. I could go
into Mexico like a girl at the studio. Oh, this is so different
from anything I ever thought—I used to hate it when they
kissed me seriously.’ He saw she was still under the impres-
sion that it must happen. ‘Some of them had great big teeth,
but you’re all different and beautiful. I want you to do it.’
‘I believe you think people just kiss some way and you
want me to kiss you.’
‘Oh, don’t tease me—I’m not a baby. I know you’re not in
love with me.’ She was suddenly humble and quiet. ‘I didn’t

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