Page 145 of My Rules

“You know what?” I push out my chair. “I don’t feel like lunch anymore.”

“But you promised.”

“Promises can be broken, John.” My eyes hold his. “I learned that from the best.” I turn and walk out of the restaurant and smile as I hit the fresh air.

I did it.

I don’t have to live in fear anymore ... the house will always be mine.

I win.

Blake

Monday night

I sit on the plane and smile out the window. I’m finally going home.

It’s been a long week.

And tomorrow ... I get to see her.

I don’t get nervous.

But this date has me jumpy. The ramifications of the outcome are important and involve something that I very much want.

In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous about anything. I rub the backs of my fingers through my stubble as I think about how things could go right or what could go wrong.

There’s only one thing I know for certain: I get one chance, and one chance only, with her.

I can’t fuck this up.

Rebecca

Tuesday night

I pull tissues out of the box and put them under my arms.

I can’t stop sweating.

My nerves are at an all-time high.

I’m in my underwear and putting on my makeup, and damn it, if this keeps going, I’ll have to take another shower before I even leave the house.

I dab my forehead with a tissue and then fan my face as I pace back and forth in the bathroom. I glance at the requested red dress that is laid out on my bed, and I feel my stomach drop.

Jeez . . .

In the words of Taylor Swift, I need to calm down.

This is just ridiculous. It’s only Blake.

He sees me in a face mask every other day, and never once has he flinched. Why am I so worried?

Because tonight is important.

I know damn well that we are probably only going to get one shot at this date, and if it doesn’t go well and we don’t click romantically ... then I don’t know where that lands us.

The only thing I am sure of is that it won’t be the same between us ever again.

---