Page 58 of The Future Play

A waitress comes to get our drinks, and I order a raspberry lemonade, which means Penny and Mila do the same. They’re adorable, especially as Penny giddily asks me what I’m going to have to eat. It’s clear she’s already a fan of mine. I’ll have to ask Jamie why that is later.

“What are you having?” Jamie asks, inching closer.

“Mm. I’m thinking I’ll start with a salad, then probably have a hot honey fried chicken sandwich.”

“Sounds delicious,” Jamie rumbles in my ear.

“Let me guess, you’re getting loaded nachos?”

His eyes shimmer with trouble. “You were paying attention.”

“Yes, I was. I don’t want this to be one-sided.”

Jamie opens his mouth to say something, but before he can, Marissa says, “I’ll order a couple of appetizers for the table. Any requests?”

I look over at her, but then freeze in horror at the waitress walking toward our table. Not the same waitress who took our drink order.

Not here. Not now.

But it has to be her. The dark brown bob, long, leggy build, and dangly earrings. Maci. My ex.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” I say quickly, shoving at Jamie so he’ll let me out of the booth.

“But the waitress?—”

“Can you order for me? Hot honey chicken sandwich with special fries, and a salad with Thousand Island dressing.” He looks at me in confusion, so I do my best to school my features, then say, “Please?”

“Okay.” He glances at me, then in the direction of the waitress, but lets me out.

I hurry toward the bathroom, hoping she didn’t see me. Not that it matters if she’s our waitress for the whole lunch. What am I going to do? Hide under the table every time she comes over?

In the bathroom, I splash some water on my face, chastising myself for my ridiculousness. I’m reacting to this like I’ve been triggered, and that’s completely insane. It’s not like it was an abusive relationship. I need to get over this. It’s been almost three years. We were in the same school for another two years after it happened. It shouldn’t be affecting me this much to see her now.

Fuck.

How do I play this? Ignore her? Pretend I don’t recognize her? Be sickeningly sweet, while giving her myyes-I’m-judging-youface? That’ll have to do.

One more deep breath, and I walk out of the bathroom, but as soon as I do, I’m not alone.

Jamie pushes himself off the wall he was leaning against and walks over to me, concern all over his face. “Are you okay?”

Crap.Now I feel like even more of an idiot.

“I’m… fine.”

“No offense, but you don’t seem fine.”

“It’s ah… the waitress is my ex.”

“Oh.”

“I haven’t seen her since high school ended, and it’s just… weird.”

He steps in closer, sliding his hand into mine. “Just weird? Because when you were yelling at me at the event, it sounded like she hurt you. I don’t want to push you, but I want to understand.”

I sigh and roll my eyes. “It’s hard to keep my guard up when you’re being sweet.”

“Good. Because I want you to let it down. Let me in. Let me be the one to protect your heart.”

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