Page 37 of Desolation

“You didn’t say goodbye.”

“I didn’t think you cared.”

“Look, I know I’ve come off as a bitch but… this is hard for me.”

I stop walking and face her. “What is?”

“Having someone interested in me.”

“Been that long?” I ask.

“You could say that.”

I stare into her whiskey eyes. “It gets easier.”

She nods and I turn to head to my car when her soft hands wrap around my arm.

“Do you want to have dinner?” she says softly, a tone I have never heard out of her mouth before.

I swear I am hearing things because I think she just asked me out. “What?”

She clears her throat, speaking louder. “Dinner. Do you want to go with me?”

A grin forms on my face. “Are you asking me out?”

She looks down and laughs. “I guess I am. As friends. As long as you keep your hands to yourself.”

I hold up my hands. “These hands have a mind of their own.”

“Then I guess they aren’t invited,” she says, a smile creeping onto her face.

“Should I handcuff them?” I smirk. “Although I would rather use them on you.”

She steps backward, shaking her head. “And there goes your chance.”

Play into her hands. Thanks, Mr. Cartwell. “I’m kidding, Mar. I’ll make sure they behave. Tonight.” I joke taking a step closer. I don’t know why I started to call her that but I like it. I wrap her arm around my elbow. “Pizza, Italian, sushi, fish?”

She shrugs and I can’t believe she hasn’t removed her arm from around mine. “You choose. I’ll eat almost anything.”

I nod as I direct us to my Jeep. “I know of a great place down by the beach. It’s street tacos but they are the best I’ve ever had.”

“Sounds perfect.”

I look down at her and she is looking up at me smiling. She’s perfect. I don’t even know the woman but I can’t help but think it.

When we get to my Jeep she pulls away. “How about I meet you there?”

“Parking sucks. I promise I’ll bring you back to your car. I won’t make any moves on you.”

She smirks. “You better not.”

“You can trust me.”

Her hand goes to her hip. “Unlikely.”

I open the passenger door for her and she climbs in.

The drive to the beach takes about twenty minutes. She’s quiet the whole way and my mind can’t help but flick back to what she almost said the other day. Maybe she is married. But then this whole thing would be wrong. It would explain why she seems nervous. But she seems like too much of a good person to be a cheater.