Page 23 of Forever Writing You

He ignored me until we reached the last door on the left.

Carrying me to the bed, he pulled back the covers and waited until I moved under them.

He turned on the lamp light, and then he walked away.

I thought he was leaving, but he returned with a glass of water.

“Thank you,” I said. “Dinner was a good idea. I really was hungry.”

“I’m aware.” He sat on the edge of my mattress, watching me until I sipped every drop from the glass.

“Are you seeing someone new these days?” he asked.

“Not anymore. I thought we were going to be serious, but then he dumped me on his birthday.”

“Why would any sane guy do that?”

“He claimed that he needed to be with someone more stable in life. Someone with a vision and hard-lined plan for her future.”

“He should’ve known after the first date that wasn’t you.”

“That’s what I said.” I scoffed. “Like how could he not see that? You knew that.”

“Because I was your best friend.”

“Boyfriend. You were my boyfriend.” I paused. “Can I tell you something?”

“You’re not sober, so no.” He adjusted my pillow. “You should go to sleep.”

“I’ve dated a lot of guys since we ended things–”

“You ended things, Dahlia.”

“Right, well…” I couldn’t keep it to myself. “I always compare them to you, and it hurts so badly because they never add up and I’m always settling, you know?”

He said nothing.

“They don’t kiss me like you used to, don’t listen to me or come running when I cry, and whenever I try to suggest fun little things like random letters or flowers for no reason, it’s like…” I stopped myself. “Thank you very much for dinner, Everett. I needed that.”

“You’re still as fucking beautiful now as you were on the day I first saw you,” he said. “You’ll always be number one on my list when it comes to that.”

My eyes widened, and I rushed to change the subject. “I truly enjoyed all of Chef Lumen’s courses.”

“Your smile is different now, though. It’s like you’re scared to be happy for even a second.”

“And I had no idea how well that his chocolate mousse would taste with the carrot sauce.”

“Stop fucking with me, Dahlia.”

“You’re engaged to be married. I’m trying to keep you focused.”

“Do you really believe that Carmen is cheating on me?”

“I believe I should’ve kept my mouth shut.”

“Answer my question.”

“We agreed not to talk about it.”

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