Page 55 of His Curvy Distraction

“I just…”

“You’re the one who said we’re all wrong and left that night, Natalie. Not me.”

“I know.” I swallowed. “I don’t… Relationships are not easy for me. Being anonymous was easy. You didn’t know how awkward I am.”

He snorted a laugh. “Your screen name was ThisIsAwkward.”

I chuckled. “Okay, fine, maybe you had an idea. But I don’t want to end up ruining your chances at re-election because you’re dating me.”

“And I think dating you will only help my chances. But that’s not why I want to date you, Natalie.”

I breathed a laugh. “I’m sure there’s a long list of reasons you don’t want to date me.”

He shook his head. “It’s the opposite. I have a long list of reasons I do.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re beautiful. You’re smart. You care so much about kids, you don’t care who you piss off to get what’s right for them. You’re willing to get filthy dirty and hurt in order to make this a success. You’re passionate and kind and creative. Do you want me to continue?”

I shook my head. “I don’t see myself that way.”

“Maybe you should stop seeing all the things you don’t want to see in yourself and see all the things the people who care about you see.”

I chewed on my lip. “I’ve never been very good at that.”

“No one is. We are our own worst critics. We always focus on the things we fail at.”

“You don’t fail at anything,” I blurted.

He laughed loud enough that it drowned out the thunder. “I wish.”

“Name one time you failed.”

His gaze snapped to mine, and the heat coming from him surpassed what was coming from the vents. “Our date.”

I gasped. “That wasn’t on you.”

“It doesn’t matter, Natalie. I didn’t come here to rehash that. Or to make you feel bad about your choice. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

He shifted in his seat and faced the window, shutting me out.

I wanted to let it go. Ignore the whole thing. Let him be and not fight for something I didn’t think would work anyway.

But I knew I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t sit there and let him believe I didn’t want him. That I was upset when he was the one I’d been talking to and met that night.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I crawled into the backseat with him. He gasped and moved over to give me space, staring at me as I positioned myself next to him and tugged the blanket around my shoulders again.

“I was a jerk. I shouldn’t have walked out on you. But more than that, I shouldn’t have allowed you to believe I was upset that it was you.”

He scoffed and turned away again.

“You’re so… You shouldn’t be single. You should have women falling all over themselves to date you. I’m sure you do. You’re poised and intelligent and so damn good. For this town and in general. You’re so much better than me, Omar.”

He opened his mouth, but I pushed ahead without giving him a chance to speak.

“I know where I belong. I love what I do. People don’t know me. I grew up here, and I’m invisible. I’ve always been invisible. I… I don’t mind that. But you? You’re visible. You’re up front. You’re looked up to and admired and respected.”

“And you think you’re not?”

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