Page 9 of The Last Dance

She’s right but I feel a little bad she felt like she couldn’t tell me about this.

‘And if this doesn’t go as easy as you make it seem, I can blame you?’

‘By all means. That’s what I’m here for.’ She grins, a shrug of her shoulders before she digs back into her nachos.

‘Flowers?’ I ask.

‘You’re going to the Rose Garden. The flowers are provided for free. I mean, I guess if you want to do your whole blow-it-out-of-the-water thing you and Ben are obsessed with you could, but I think she’d love it with or without.’

‘Right. I forgot you only date guys who specifically look for free things to do where flowers aren’t necessary. You really should change that. You deserve so much more,’ I say with a half-hearted laugh. I wish she would see herself as the amazing woman she is like the rest of us do.

She grunts. ‘That’s only almost true. And it’s not like I hunt these losers out. They find me. I’m always the last one to know. But, hey, if you can find me a guy better than the ones I find for myself, have at it. It’s not as easy as you think it is. Men don’t flock after me like women do to you.’

I shake my head. ‘That’s ridiculous and not even a little bit true. I bet you could easily get anyone in the stands today.’

She rolls her eyes, forcing a disbelieving smile that doesn’t look even a little bit convinced by what I’ve said.

‘To first dates.’ She changes the subject, tapping her soda cup against mine with a smile. ‘Your first date. I know you’ll do great.’

*

I did do great. It went exactly as she said it would. It was on the fifteenth of the month and because it went so well Rory insisted we visit that spot every month the evening of the fifteenth our entire relationship. Sometimes Ambri would tag along with Rory and I but once I finally convinced her that I’d go there with her willingly, even without Rory, she let me in to that side of her too.

‘We don’thaveto go…’

‘I do,’ I say, finally looking up from my daydream. ‘To not go would feel like I was letting her down.’

‘I’ll meet you there, then. I’ll even grab dinner this time.’ She takes a bite of her sandwich, a half-smile on her face.

I nod, a smile that feels half-assed on my face. ‘It’s a date.’ I don’t want to go but since I feel like I have to, having Ambri with me will help me, her with me always does.

*

I left Ambri at her door, apologizing again for being weird earlier but still not telling her why. I had every chance and I didn’t take any of them. Why? As usual, she blew it off as if nothing had ever happened. She assumes that everything I tell her is completely the truth. And normally it is.

I walk slowly along the sidewalk, my hands in the pockets of my jacket. The calmness of the middle of the night is almost comforting. There are hardly any cars out now that it’s well after midnight and only the random person passes me on the sidewalk. I wish my head were this quiet.

‘Henry?’

I stop and turn towards the voice.

‘Graham?’ Graham and I went to college together. Last I knew he’d moved to Los Angeles and was running some big marketing agency.

‘Yeah! How’s things?’

I take his outstretched hand. ‘Things are… going great.’

Graham laughs. ‘You don’t sound so sure?’

I nod. ‘I’m good, just tired. How are you? Did you move back?’

‘No, I’m here on business. How’s work? You still working for yourself?’

‘Yeah, still on my own. It’s steady so I can’t complain. How about you? Last I heard you were running your own business too?’

Graham nods. ‘Yeah. It’s become quite the operation. We do everything from web and graphic design, to marketing. Our client list is pretty impressive, if I do say so myself. I’m proud of it.’ He pulls a business card from his coat pocket. ‘You know, if you ever need anything, you’re more than welcome to give me a call.’

I nod as I take the card from him, staring down at his info. ‘You’re braver than me. LA seems intimidating.’

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