Page 91 of Exposé

"Fine." With an exhale, she pushed herself back to her cubicle as she sat in her chair, leaving me with shaking fingers and a swirling gut.

Answer it... or leave it...

Like I'd left him last night without another word, my heart hammering and dread twisting my mind like a walking nightmare.

I opened his message before I chickened out.

Nate

I had fun last night.

Okay, that sounds like my teenage self after prom.

Help me out here. I'm kinda flailing.

Let me take you to dinner tomorrow.

A smile spread across my face, my knuckles covering my mouth.

I can handle that.

No strings.

It's just benefits.

Depends.

His three dancing dots appeared, and I puffed out a breath of air, my hands shaking.

Nate

On what?

My thumbs moved over the letters, erasing, backtracking, and starting over, consuming at least five minutes.

Are you picking the location?

Nate

I mean... I did ask.

I pressed my lips between my teeth, holding back my smile, my cheeks burning as I glanced around.

True. Okay. Tomorrow at 6?

Nate

That's my line.

I let out a sharp breath, dropped my phone into my bag, tucked my chair under my desk, and left the office with what little dignity I had left.

18

Ava

Golden light illuminated the warm atmosphere of the Tuscan-styled Italian restaurant. Light chatter and clinking wine glasses lingered in the air as I sat at a white-clothed table across from Nate. My fingers pinched the soft cotton of my deep burgundy dress, smoothing the ruffled material over my thighs.

The point of the v-neck sat above my breasts, making my stomach twist in knots.

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