Page 48 of The Last Dance

‘Yeah.’ I agree with Claire. I don’t really know exactly what to say to Karmen. Partly because I know Henry’s stance on marriage but who knows? Maybe he’s become someone I really don’t know over the last two years. Maybe heisconsidering marrying Karmen. She is very much his type.

I sigh, taking the last bite of my s’more.

‘Ladies, ladies, ladies…’ Ben and Henry walk up on us, each of them sitting by their respective partner, leaving me as an extra.

‘We were just talking about you,’ Claire says, her eyes on Henry.

‘About me?’

‘Uh-oh!’ Ben laughs, kissing Claire’s cheek. ‘I hope you’re not hiding anything…’ Ben raises an eyebrow Henry’s way, a sly smile on his face.

‘Nobody’s mad…?’ Henry asks, glancing around the table. His eyes only landing on me for a second. Not giving me nearly enough time to show that I am indeed still mad at him. I think.

‘No, no. They were telling me how amazing you are, but I already know.’ Karmen moves over to Henry’s lap, kissing him on the lips, making me wish I had another s’more to distract myself with, or possibly choke on.

‘Where’s Noah at today?’ Henry asks.

I raise an eyebrow, wondering why he’s suddenly curious about my boyfriend he knows nothing about. ‘He’s out being someone else’s superhero.’

Henry looks to Ben with a confused look.

‘Noah is a cop,’ Ben tells him.

‘Oh-h-h…’ Henry says.

‘So, no more illegal shit, Henry.’ Ben winks.

I stand from the table. ‘Speaking of Noah, he only requested one thing from me today: dinner from The Frying Scotsman. Authentic British fish and chips. He says it reminds him of the time he went to England with his dad the summer before college.’

‘That’s cute.’ Karmen grins. ‘So, you two are moving in together soon. Do you think he’ll pop the question?’

I drop my bag on the ground in front of me when she asks, glancing at Claire. I was stunned enough when he suggested we move in together. I hadn’t even considered him thinking this was us moving to the marriage level. God, I hope that’s not the case.

I reach down and grab my bag. ‘Um…’ My eyes land on Henry, who suddenly squirms with Karmen still on his lap.

‘I’ll be right back,’ he says, nearly dumping Karmen on the ground as he bolts from the table, everyone watching him until he’s disappeared into the crowd.

‘Oh, ya know… I don’t know. We haven’t really even talked about it.’ Is that next? Us talking about getting engaged? I don’t even know how it works. I thought the guy just asked and you were surprised but thrilled. I don’t know how I’d feel if he asked me right now. Actually, I do know. I couldn’t say yes if Noah asked me to marry him right now. I’m not in the marriage place yet. I’m absolutely sure that is not the correct thing to even think as his girlfriend who is about to move in with him.

‘I’m sure you’ll know when it’s coming. Moving in isn’t a total prelude to marriage. I mean, sometimes yeah, but maybe he’ll be happy just living together and not want to change a thing?’ Claire knows what I’m thinking as she tries to ease my internal panic attack.

‘You’re right.’ I point behind me. ‘I’ll be right back.’ I practically jog through the aisle between booths on my way to the one I’m headed to, which thankfully is far enough away that I will be out of sight to overthink this whole engagement thing alone.

I sigh as I walk up, dropping my head towards the ground. At least I thought I was going to be alone. Henry is leaning against the corner of the booth, a hesitant smile on his face.

‘Now you’re following me around?’ I ask as I pass him, approaching the man at the counter.

‘I needed to talk to you and I know this is the only way you’ll allow it.’ He says, not leaving his spot.

‘OK…’

‘I learned something about myself after our fight the other day.’

‘And what was that?’ I ask after I order, walking away from the ordering side of the booth and over towards Henry on the pick-up side.

‘You were absolutely right, I do hide behind Rory. And when things feel like more than I can handle I do whatever I can to escape. That’s me being a coward and it’s not fair to me or to you.’

‘I know all this, Henry.’ I grab some napkins from the counter, shoving them into my bag. Refusing to give him the attention he’s looking for by looking directly at him.

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