Page 88 of Dining for Love

He blanches.

And suddenly, I can’t do this anymore. I stand. “I think you should go.” I nod, as if I’m agreeing with myself. This is me, standing up for myself.Go, me!

Except, why does it feel so bad?

Reid looks up at me, silent, his forest-green eyes searching myface. Dimly, I wonder if he’s ever been trained to read emotions. Not that mine are any secret. I’m a mess.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Come by the diner, and I’ll make you a burger. No sesame seeds.” My voice pitches higher as I speak, and I turn away, tears already streaming down my cheeks. I fight hard to keep from collapsing in on myself, but there’s no stopping the way my shoulders shake with silent sobs.

I don’t hear anything at first, but after a moment, there’s the telltale sound of him rising from the couch and moving toward the kitchen.

I simply…can’t.

Can’t move. Can’t breathe. It takes everything I have to hold myself upright.

“I’ll get Midnight in the morning,” he says. And it’s the wobble in his voice, and the way he knocks on the glass window as he leaves, reminding me to turn the lock, that does it.

I run to the kitchen, slamming against the door. But instead of opening it and yelling for him to come back, that I’m sorry and I didn’t mean it and I want whatever we have for as long as we can have it, I choke out a sob and lock it.

Then I slide to the floor and cry.

Chapter 28

Reid

TO SAY I slept like shit would be the direst understatement of understatements.

Come to think of it, I’m not sure I slept at all.

I splash water on my face, chug a bottle of water, and throw on my running clothes. After a cursory check of the security feeds and viewing a playback to be certain no one came around either of our houses last night, I step outside and break into a dead sprint. Anything not to think about the words that Willa said.

I wanted her to learn to stand up for herself, sure. But to do it with me was a curve ball I didn’t see coming.

My chest aches. I gulp in air and take a turn on the sidewalk like I’m some kind of Formula 1 racer. With every pound of my shoes on the pavement, all I can think about is her.I think you should leave.

What’s worse is that I planned to tell her I loved her.

I shake my head and push harder.

No, I wasn’t. I’m a fucking coward, and I wasn’t going to tell her shit.

How does a big-city guy like me waltz into this town and get schooled by a tiny little diner cook?

Because you’re an ignorant, egotistical asshole, that’s how.

I head to visit Uncle Jack after I get cleaned up and put on my uniform, radioing Betty on my way over to tell her what I’m doing.

Jack is sitting up and finishing something that is supposed to be breakfast, but based on the grimace he wears as he stares at it glumly, I don’t expect he’s enjoying it too much. “Chief.”

His expression morphs as he looks up to grin at me. “Good to see you, son. Come on in and distract me from this.” He pushes the tray to the side and folds his hands in his lap.

No point in beating around the bush. “I need to talk to you about the case.”

He nods. “I figured.”

I look around, then lean forward and lower my voice. “Is anyone supposed to be coming by soon? A doctor? Ox? Thompson?”

Jack narrows his eyes. “I know that trick, Reid. Hell, I may have even taught it to you. Shut that door and tell me what Thompson did.”

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