Page 94 of All In
Kinda like the way she looks right now as I pull into the parking lot at work, and she is standing right next to where I usually park. Arms crossed over her chest, hip cocked out to the side.
Oh, God.
Why is she so beautiful, evenwhen she’s mad?
I pull the car into the spot under the tree, grab my bag, and get out. It’s six-forty-five in the morning. Way before her shift starts. Which also means she came here this early on purpose, wanting answers.
With the day just starting to break and me not quite ready to face the music, I get out, shut the door, and hit the key fob to lock it. A loud chirp fills the air, adding to the palpable tension. Maria’s eyes study my every move. Finally, she speaks.
“I’m trying really hard to not be mad at you right now, Sam. Why have you stopped talking to me? Are you okay? Is Mikey okay?” She’s equal parts mad and concerned, which is making me feel like garbage. Here I thought she was furious with me, but it turns out she actually thinks something might be wrong with me. Or Mikey.
God, I’m such a jerk.
“I’m fine, Maria. Mikey is okay as well.”
She throws her arms up in the air. “Then what the hell, Sam!? What’s going on?”
I can’t look at her, so I turn my attention to the yellow parking lines, noticing that they need repainting. Shaking my head in frustration, I reluctantly come to terms with the fact that I have no choice but to do this. “Maybe we should get in my car and talk.”
She inhales sharply as the color drains from her face. “Um … okay.”
Unlocking the doors that I just locked, I walk to the driver’s side. I hear Maria open and shut the door. By the time I put my bag into the back seat, she is already in the passenger side, waiting and watching.
I turn to face her as I rest my hand on the steering wheel to brace myself. “Maria, I’m sorry, but I can’t text you anymore or meet for lunch.”
Her head jolts back in shock. “Why?”
I take a second to work myself up, bracing for whatever happens next. “Because I’m seeing someone.”
She lets out a small gasp. I understand why this is a shock. My texts and our lunches together have never led her to believe otherwise. Quite the opposite, actually. By her reaction, I realize I should have told her.
Plus, well, there’s Cara.
“I think it would be—”
“For how long?” she interrupts as her eyes narrow.
Crap!I was really hoping she wouldn’t ask this question.
She asks again. “For. How. Long?”
I steady myself as I prepare to answer. This is going to hurt, which is making me feel terrible. “We’ve been seeing each other for a year.”
Her chin quivers, and tears pull in her eyes. “You havegotto be kidding me?”
“Maria, let me—”
She holds up her hand to stop me. “So, when we hugged that day—the dayyouapproachedme,by the way—when you text me I was beautiful, and during our many lunch dates, when you would hold my hand and holdme, you were seeing someone?”
The hurt look on her face is killing me. But I need to be honest. “Yes.” It’s all I can muster.
“Okay … wow.” She pauses as the rising sun casts a soft glow to her face, adding to her gorgeous features. “Need I remind you that you were the one that started this?”
“You don’t.”
“Obviously, something has changed. You’ve been ignoring me for weeks, out of the blue. So what is it, Sam?”
“Maria, I …” The words won’t come out. I can’t tell her. Having her sitting here, her eyes pleading, knowing my decision is going to hurt her, is making this way harder than I expected. “Cara and I—”
