Page 60 of The Future Play

“No,” I say quickly. “It’s fine. She deserves to be able to make money at her workplace. I need to get over it.”

Marissa reaches across the table and pats my hand.

“That’s kind of you.”

I shrug, but my shoulders instantly drop as Jamie slides closer. I glance toward the bar and see Maci walking toward us with our appetizers.

“Just so we’re clear,” Jamie murmurs in my ear, “everything I’m about to do are just some of the things I’ve been dreaming of doing with you.” A chill rolls down my spine. “But tell me if anything is too much.”

He rubs his hand down my back, then twirls some of my hair around one of his fingers as he leans in and kissesmy jaw.

Now I want to leave this table for very different reasons.

It’s easy to pretend to be lost in the little touches Jamie gives me. If anything, keeping my demeanor PG in front of his siblings is harder.

I want to grab him and kiss him like a maniac.

It’s safe to say I’ve fully moved on from what happened. Even though there are moments when my brain tries to convince me he’s playing a game or will hurt me, his actions speak louder. That’s why I asked him to prove it, and he’s doing that more than I could’ve imagined.

“Okay, here are your appetize—Amanda.”

Maci almost drops one of the appetizer platters, but corrects herself in time to set it gently on the table.

Jamie leans in closer, continuing to twirl my hair around his finger as he kisses my cheek.

“Hi, Maci.”

Jamie’s hand drops from my hair and he grabs a plate. “What can I get you, babe?”

I run my hand down his arm. “A little of everything.”

I look away from Maci, and for once, I don’t feel small and weak. I’m calm and confident.

Maci doesn’t say anything else to me, she just says to let her know if we need anything, then walks away.

My shoulders soften as she goes, and I lean against Jamie. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” He flashes me his most charming smile, then wraps his arm around my back.

Penny stares hard at us for a moment, then breaks into a smile and claps her hands. “Yes! I’m going to have a big sister one day.”

I slowly turn to look at Jamie, whose face is unsurprisingly bright red.

“Long story,” he whispers.

“I can’t wait to hear it.”

And maybe stupidly, my heart takes off running with Penny’s words, and some small part of mehopes she’ll be right.

Today has been morefun than I imagined it would be.

The rest of lunch went smoothly, and though there was a hint of awkwardness each time Maci came to the table, I kept a relaxed smile on my face and let Jamie fawn over me. That felt good for an entirely different reason.

It’s never easy to run into an ex, and running into someone who hurt me so badly could’ve ruined my day, but Jamie eclipsed all those feelings, and instead, we created some beautiful memories today.

After lunch, we went mini golfing, and Penny and I teamed up against Cal and Jamie. And we kicked their butts. Penny had fun rubbing that in Calvin’s face, but Jamie told me next timewe’llhave to team up. I was planning to head home after that, but Penny talked me into joining them for dinner and a fire.

It ended up being a really fun night, and as I stand by my car outside Jamie’s house, I feel markedly different from the last time I was here.

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