Page 212 of By His Play

He glances at the desk that separates us with a smirk.

“Effie,” he starts, his smile growing.

“No, Kieran. You don’t get to come here, give me that smile, and expect everything to be okay.”

His expression falters.

Oh my god...he really did think that.

“I don’t have time to talk about this now,” I say, dismissing him.

“Have you had a lunch break yet?”

I haven’t, but like hell am I telling him that.

“Yes, and I have a lot to do. If you want to talk, then?—”

“I’ll meet you when you’re done?”

I shake my head, and before I can think better of it, words that I instantly regret spill from my lips.

“I’ve got a date.”

51

KIERAN

Her statement hits me like an eighteen-wheeler.

“I’ve got a date.”

They’re not words I hear from my best friend.

She doesn’t date.

Okay, that’s a lie. She has dated in the past, but after a few disasters, she declared that she was out of the game and if there were a man out there for her, he’d have to find her.

She was done searching for Mr. Right.

And I guess I just kinda accepted that that was still the case.

Never did I think that she’d change her mind.

I guess losing loved ones and grief does weird things to people.

But then another thought hits me.

Was it me?

Did I do this?

“A…a date? Like… a date with a man?”

Her nostrils flare in irritation.

“Yes, Kieran. I haven’t suddenly become a lesbian.”

Images of last night flicker through my head.

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