Page 40 of A Night to Remember

“Nobody,” she responds, looking me in the eye this time. “Please don’t worry about it.”

It’s obvious that she’s lying to me. But why? I feel like a deflating balloon, all the joy I had felt mere minutes ago leaking out of me. I have to remind myself that we only just reconnected. We may have bared our souls to each other in high school, but as adults, we’re practically strangers.

“If you’re seeing someone else…”

“I’m not.”

“… or if someone is bothering you…”

“Gabe! Please, it’s nothing like that. Everything is okay, really.”

She smiles at me, her eyes urging me to drop it, and I want to. I have no right to get jealous and weird after we spent one night together. But it was an incredible, unforgettable night. And though I would never say it to her this early on, I already know that another rejection from her would crush me.

“When can I see you again?” I ask, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

“Just text me, okay? We’ll figure something out,” she says. “I was happy you came in,” she adds a little hastily, like this confession might be too forward. She smiles at me shyly, which is irresistibly cute. I smile back, a little wistfully, maybe. Cupping her face in my hands, I kiss her tenderly, lingering over the softness of her lips and breathing in the floral scent of her shampoo.

“Me too,” I reply. Though now I’m not really sure if that’s true.

20

Kayla

He could make refinancingdifficult for you if he wanted to.I haven’t forgotten what Gabe said about Adam at Mickey’s. I haven’t forgotten Adam’s furious face when he confronted me just days ago. An obvious solution would be to just call it quits with Gabe. Thank him for a lovely evening, wish him well, and part ways.

And yet. Gabe’s touch had awakened something in me that I barely knew was there. The sex I’d had before had been more or less pleasant, but definitely not mind-blowing. Whenever I’d read descriptions of amazing sex in books, I mostly assumed the authors were making it up. But it isn’t just that Gabe is a better lover than the other guys I’ve been with, though he undoubtedly is. It’s that I’d been able to relax with him. I felt like he would take care of me, and that, in turn, he would let me take care of him. It was like arriving in a new city on a strange planet and already feeling at home. I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so in tune with another person.

I hate that I lied to him about what happened with Adam. But it hadn’t seemed fair to come between them. Adam is Gabe’s only sibling, and he also has three adorable children who shouldn’t be deprived of their (undoubtedly awesome) uncle. It would be one thing if Gabe and I were serious, but as much as I like him, I can’t get serious about anyone right now. And I certainly don’t need Adam making my financial situation more difficult than it already is.

I also hate that I have no new texts from Gabe at the end of my shift. Once again, I put myself in the wrong, so once again, I really should be the one to reach out. Urgh.

For far too long, I stand in the dark closet that doubles as a locker room, staring at my bright phone screen and trying to compose the perfect text.

I’m sorry about what happened with Jeff earlier. It had nothing to do with you

Nope, that’s a lie. Try again.

I’m sorry about what happened with Jeff earlier. An irate customer yelled at me the other day

Closer to the truth, but if it was just an irate customer, why wouldn’t I have told Gabe so immediately? Why be so weird and cagey? Okay, third time’s the charm:

I’m sorry about what happened with Jeff earlier. I really can’t get into it, but I’m definitely not seeing anyone else. I would love to get together again whenever we can find time

Send. I don’t think I can do better than that. Not for the first time, I feel like my writing skills have failed me. I stare at my phone until it locks, then unlock it again and stare some more. My heart leaps when I see three little dots appear. I try not to panic when it seems like he’s thinking for waaaayyy too long. Finally a text comes through:

Do you want to go to dinner with me at the Lakefront Grille tomorrow night?

Now I really do panic.Dinner? At arestaurant? In front ofpeople? I was not expecting him to propose such an obviously date-likedate. It seems soofficial, plus the Lakefront Grille is upscale enough that I can’t wear sneakers. My palms start to sweat, but there’s no way I can say no.

Sure, I’d love to! I’ll have to switch shifts with Mandy, but that will probably be okay

Great! Can I pick you up at 8:00?

Sounds good! See you then!

I can’t help but feel like he’s simply called my bluff and is faking enthusiasm just as much as I am. What happened to the people who, just hours ago, were flirtatiously debating the merits of tucked versus untucked sheets?

Re-enforcement will clearly be needed.

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