Page 149 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

I nearly drop my utensils.

“Of course, I’ll be right back,” the waitress says before retreating to the front.

Warmth spreads throughout my chest.

He remembered.

From that one time we ate pancakes together, he remembered.

EvenIdidn’t remember to ask for it.

My gaze finds his, and I give him a shy smile. “I… Thanks.”

TJ nods. “Of course.”

There’s a beat of silence, the tension hovering in the air holding us captive. Neither of us looks away, almost like our gazes are fused together.

“It’s getting hot in here, isn’t it?” Dia asks Finn.

It only takes Finn a second to catch on. “Oh, hm, yeah.”

“We should go get some fresh air,” Dia declares.

“Good idea. We’ll come with,” Bethany chimes and takes Chance’s hand as she rises off the booth.

Theo, witnessing his friends’ stunt, immediately picks up what they’re putting down and pushes to his feet. “I have to take a leak.”

On that note, our friends make themselves scarce, leaving TJ and me alone at the table.

Smooth.

A laugh rips from my throat. “Their actingskills need a little work.”

TJ smiles. “I’ll be sure to tell them that before I thank them for getting me alone with you.”

Damn.

I’m going to need a second to recover from that one.

“I… I’ve been meaning to reach out since…” He stops himself. “I’m sorry I didn’t.”

“It’s okay, I get it.”

“No, it’s not. I should’ve answered your texts. I was in a bad place, but it’s no excuse. I’m sorry.”

I nod. “Thanks.”

“Lacey, I…” He stops again.

Then he’s scooting over to my side of the booth without a warning. He only stops once our thighs are touching.

The proximity sends my heart into a frenzy, and the butterflies in my stomach go bonkers, but I do my utmost not to let it show.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think this past week, and it made me realize that I’ve been a hypocrite.”

His puppy dog eyes are even more disarming from up close, and I instinctively glance down at my fingers to shield myself from the effect he has on me.

“All I’ve found myself thinking about since I fucked this up is how I could get you back.”

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