Page 40 of Cross Check Hearts

I never had the heart to tell him I prefer white. I mostly drank red when we were together because he liked it, so I don’t know where the hell he got that from, but I decide to ignore it.

“You know, with as much work as you do at that yoga studio, they might as well transfer ownership to you,” he muses as we wait for the wine to arrive. “I still don’t understand why you bother so much with that when you’ve got a law degree in your sights.”

“Gotta pay the bills somehow,” I mutter.

What I wish I could explain to him is how yoga centers me in a way law never has—how helping others find that same center feels more rewarding than any courtroom victory could. But Aaron could never really relate to a passion that isn’t tied to status or money.

I could argue with him about it, but I don’t have the energy, and I’m not particularly interested in spending what energy I have on changing his mind—assuming he would even listen. Besides, it’s easy for him to say. He’s making money hand-over-fist and has been since the second he left law school.

Aaron reaches across the table to put one of his hands on mine. He strokes my knuckles with his thumb. “You wouldn’t have to worry about that ever again with me.”

I resist the urge to pull away, making a quiet, non-committal noise. I know he means it as a good thing, but it still makes my stomach twist.

Is that really all he thinks I need or want in life?

I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, I don’t need his help. And I’m not sure I could depend on it to be there when I needed it if I tried. There’s a reason—several of them, actually—why I broke up with Aaron eight months ago.

“When these crusty old-timers get their heads out of their asses and finally make me partner, I’m going to take you on a trip,” he adds. “I’m thinking somewhere hot and tropical, all expenses paid. Anywhere you want to go.”

My phone buzzes in my purse and the waitress returns with the bottle of wine, and I discreetly check the message while she’s opening the bottle and pouring a bit for Aaron to sample before she fills both our glasses.

DECLAN: How’s your date going?

My heart skips at the sight of his name. My fingers quickly tap out a reply while Aaron pontificates about the wine to the waitress.

ME: I told you, it’s not a date. It’s just dinner.

DECLAN: You didn’t answer my question.

ME: It’s going… okay.

DECLAN: Come on, you can be honest with me.

I stare at the screen for a few seconds, watching the cursor flash while I wrestle with whether that’s true. How honest can I be with Declan? It’s not that I don’t trust him, but once I put something out there with him, I can’t take it back. And I’m not naïve enough to think he won’t read between the lines of anything I say.

“Everything alright?” Aaron asks, glancing across the table at me.

“Yeah, sorry. My mom needed something, I’m almost done,” I cover, and his face lights up.

“Oh, tell her I said hi and thanks for helping make this happen.”

“Yeah, sure,” I murmur, although I have no intention of doing that.

ME: I shouldn’t have said yes.

DECLAN: I’m glad you said that.

My brows furrow because I don’t have any idea what he means by that, but I don’t have time to ask him. I stuff my phone back in my purse and look up just as the waitress finishes filling my glass.

“To us,” Aaron says and lifts his glass, watching me expectantly, so I reluctantly pick mine up and clink it against his.

Thankfully, the waitress appears again a few moments later, interrupting our awkward conversation. But she’s wearing an apologetic expression when she stops at the table.

“I’m sorry, but I just got word that the restaurant is going to be closing early tonight, so there won’t be enough time for you to put in a dinner order,” she says, clasping her hands together.

Aaron frowns. “What? Why the hell is it closing so early? And why didn’t anyone bother to tell me that when I made the reservation?”

I cringe at his tone, embarrassed for both of us. Even back when we were dating, his quick temper with service staff always made me uncomfortable.

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