Page 57 of Mistaken Impression

“Y—Yes,” she stutters. “In between everything else.”

“I’m sorry about that. If I hadn’t made so many mistakes yesterday…”

“It’s not your fault. I gave you a lot to do.” Her voice is devoid of emotion, and I wish we’d never started this conversation now.

“What are we doing next week?”

“Salads.”

“That should be easier… no cooking.” I smile down at her, but she doesn’t smile back.

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

I’m not sure what she means by that, but I’m done talking about work. I’m done seeing the hurt in her eyes, too. It’s making my chest ache.

“Are you okay?” I ask, stepping even closer to her.

“I’m fine.” She clearly isn’t. Her reply was way too quick… way too artificial.

I want to reach out to her, but I can’t. Not here. Not now. I feel the need to give her some kind of reassurance, though, so I just say, “I hate lying, don’t you?”

“Lying?”

I nod my head. “Yes.”

She frowns. “What are you talking about?”

“Just now… I was lying to Bonnie. And don’t pretend you didn’t overhear, because we both know you did.”

She blushes and looks down at my chest… at the show’s logo emblazoned on my apron, before she raises her eyes to mine again. “Which part were you lying about?”

“Being busy tonight… being with someone.”

“So you’re not?”

“No. I’m very free and very single. I just didn’t want to accept her generous invitation, and telling her I was already taken seemed like the best and kindest way of achieving that.”

“I see.”

“So… are you okay?” I ask again, and she smiles.

“I’m fine.”

This time I believe her, and I have to smile too.

“Do you wanna get out of here?”

She nods and, while everyone mills around us, clearing up and dismantling the studio, I grab her hand and quickly lead her from the room.

Outside in the hall, I pull the apron off over my head.

“Are you going to change?” she asks.

“Not tonight.” I don’t feel like wasting any more time than is strictly necessary. “But we both need to get our jackets.”

“Hmm… and my purse.”

We left our things in the rehearsal studio, and make our way back there, where I help Ella with her jacket, shrugging onmy own, and leaving the apron on the table, before I pick up my shirt and we head for the elevator.

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