Page 20 of Just a Distraction

“Oh, really?” I’m aware my response is flirtatious, so I laugh. “Somehow that’s not much consolation, though.”

She rubs her eyes and sighs again. “Let’s not ruin this night, though. I’ve enjoyed my time with you immensely. I think you’re amazing.”

“Thanks, but you’re the amazing one here.”

“Oh stop!” She laughs. “Look. Let’s just have this one night of fun. Platonic fun,” she amends.

“Don’t worry. I don’t kiss on a first date.”

She eyes me with a disbelieving scowl.

“I’m serious. I don’t.”

“Okay, good. Not that this is a date. You have to understand that I’m unavailable

for anything after tonight, but let’s live it up. We’ll go play cards where I’ll beat you soundly in rummy, and then we can go make some crafts with tons of glitter and glue . . .”

“Crafts, huh? I like it.”

“And then maybe we can eat some more ice cream.”

“And you can throw away the tip of the cone?”

“Of course.”

“Why do you—”

“It’s silly,” she interrupts. “And doesn’t matter. The point is, you and me are going to have a ton of fun tonight. Case closed.”

When I don’t respond, she step-swings forward, brings her leg up and taps me gently on my shoulder with the toe of her shoe. “Do we have a deal? One last night of fun before you become a stuffy, boring old businessman?”

“Oh, okay. That’s how it is?”

Her laughter bubbles out of her. “What? You’re going to become a businessman. Unless you decide to go for your dreams. Like I am.”

“Going for my dreams would be a huge risk.”

“Sure it is. Big dreams often are. Milo, I have you sort of figured out.”

At that comment, my stomach sours. If she figures out how much I like her . . .

“I know there’s something that makes you light up inside when you think of it,” she says. “Something that you want to do for the rest of your life.”

“How come you know so much about me?”

“You said it yourself.” She raises a shoulder. “I’m smart.”

“That you are.” I lean back on my hands and look at the sky. “You’ve given me a lot to think about, Rose.”

“Good. But enough thinking now. Let’s play. Except, we have to make one more thing clear. You can’t come to the restaurant to try to see me.”

“What? You’re forbidding me from going back to my favorite Italian place?”

Her expression is somber. “I realize that’s unfair. But it’s for the best. At least while I’m working there. I work most Friday nights. Mondays all day. And then Tuesday and Wednesday nights and the day shift on Thursdays. But I’m trying to quit. I am quitting,” she amends. “So then you could go whenever you want. I know you love the food.”

“I don’t think I can stay away.”

“That will break our agreement. If you can’t do this, if you can’t handle our fancy night of fun, then I’ll have to say goodbye to you now.”

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