Page 63 of The Expiration Date

“Um, this is Zach.” I give her what the hell are you doing? eyes.

“Uh huh, and what are you doing with Zach?” Her eyes dart from Zach to me and then to the door.

What the hell is going on?

I gave a courteous smile to Zach and say, “Zach, can you hold on for just one second?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks.” My smile disappears as I grab Anna’s hand and pull her away from Dan and into the hallway.

“Okay. What the hell is going on? First you wanted me to stay so that maybe some guy would come and kiss me at midnight, and then when that guy comes along, you act like I am crazy to be dancing and making conversation with him. What if Zach is the love of my life? You are getting in the way of that!”

“Yeah he’s a guy, but he’s not the right guy.”

“What are you talking about? What do you mean he’s not the right guy?” This was ridiculous. I shake my head and say, “I am going back out there to continue dancing with Zach and hopefully he will kiss me at midnight because I need him to, Anna. I need to get over Aidan. I need the memory of Aidan’s lips on mine to be erased; otherwise, I won’t be able to fully breathe ever again. Just let me have this, okay?”

“Okay,” she says, clearly deflated. She sighs and looks down at her Apple watch and then back down the hallway.

Gosh she is acting strange.

I make my way back to the tall drink of water waiting patiently for me in the middle of the dance floor. He really is handsome. Kind of a Jackson Avery look to him. At the very least, I am going to be kissed at midnight. At the very best, this man could be the one for me. He reaches out his hand and grabs mine, pulls me in and glides me across the dance floor.

Five minutes left until midnight and for some reason, something feels off. I don’t want to be here. In another man’s arms. Dancing to Frank Sinatra. TVs are broadcasting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. The ball is about to drop and ring in the new year. One of new promises. New hopes. New resolutions that are most likely not going to be fulfilled by next December. This all feels wrong. There is something in the universe pulling me away from this man.

Two minutes.

I grab Zach’s arms and stop our movements altogether. “Zach. I’m sorry. You seem like a really sweet guy. Thank you so much for dancing with me tonight and making me feel special. You are going to make some woman very happy. You are such a gentleman. I just need to leave.”

“Really? It’s almost midnight.”

“I know, but I just can’t be here. I’m sorry, I have to go.”

I start walking away. Anna runs up to me and grabs my hand. “Wait, Hales, where are you going?”

“I’m sorry, Anna. I can’t do this. I seriously just want to go back to the Air BnB and put on sweats and watch a movie or something until you both get back.”

“No you have to stay! Please.”

“I can’t. You guys have fun, okay? I’ll see you in the new year.” I kiss her on the cheek and turn around, making my way through the crowd of people.

One minute.

I glance back at the dance floor. Zach already has a new woman in his arms. Great. Anna and Dan are talking to each other and shrugging, probably agreeing that I am a lost cause and they tried their best.

The next thing I know, I run into a rock-hard chest. “Oh my God, I am so sorry.”

“Why is it that you are always running into me, Hales?”

My heart starts to beat wildly. The butterflies that have been dormant for months now are fluttering again in my stomach. It can’t be. But every fiber of my being knows that it is him.

The deep teal color of his eyes is all I need as confirmation. Those eyes have haunted me in the best and worst ways every time I’ve closed my eyes these past four months. My body becomes tingly and hot and my head starts spinning.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for you.”

My insides turn to mush, but my head stubbornly wants to win this fight. Self-preservation mode engaged. “Well, I am on my way out, so if you’ll excuse me.”

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