Page 79 of Petals and Plot Twists
The only problem: with my work done so far ahead of schedule, I have nothing else to do to occupy my time.
Which is why, when David texts and invites me to have dinner with him Tuesday night, I agree.
That was the plan, after all. While Peter is checking out a new city, a new job, I’m supposed to be checking outDavid.
The idea of two people destined to love each other was exciting when I was thinking about other couples, but it’s a different story now that it’s me. It’s disconcerting to know that I’m supposed to fall in love with someone who, so far, hasn’t triggered any kind of emotional or physical response.
Maybe we just need to spend more time together? We didn’t touch the entire time we were together last Saturday, even in the tiny storage closet on the roof. It didn’t seem to matter with Jake, but could that be the missing piece with David?
Or is Peter the reason I can’t look at David with any sense of clarity? Maybe my heart is already so full, there isn’t room for me to consider anyone else.
But after everything I’ve been through, if I’m turning my back on the flower that promises a true-love guarantee, I have to do it with my eyes open.
So I’m going on this date.
Whether I want to or not.
And I’m going to be as objective and honest with myself as possible.
I arrive at the Thai place David recommended a few minutes early, so I sit in my car and pull up the thread of text messages with Peter.
We’ve chatted a few times over the last couple of days.
I asked him to let me know when he arrived safe in Charlotte. He did.
He asked me to check his mail for him and make sure his golden pothos is watered in his absence. I promised I would.
But other than that, we haven’t said much. I have a million questions, but I haven’t asked any of them because I don’t want to seem like I’m inserting myself into the middle of his decision. I don’t want toneedhim so much that he decides not to take the job because of me.
I wish I could text him right now. He always knows the exact thing to text when I need a boost of confidence or reassurance, but that feels even worse than asking about his trip. I’m supposed to be thinking about David right now. Not Peter. I definitely can’t text Peter and ask him for encouragement so I can successfullydate David.
I groan and drop my head onto the steering wheel.
My life is ridiculous.
Utterly and completely ridiculous.
When my phone buzzes in my hand, I lift my head to see a call coming in from my mom. I still have ten minutes before I’m supposed to meet David, so I go ahead and answer. We’re supposed to have lunch tomorrow, and we still haven’t firmed up our plans, so that’s probably why she’s calling.
“Hey, Mom. How are you?”
“Oh, my gosh, Sophie,” she starts, “you aren’t going to believe what I’m doing right now.”
“No? What’s up? What are you doing?”
“I’m packing!” she practically singsongs. “For a trip to Paris!”
“Wow. Really?”
“I hate to do it, honey, but I need to cancel our lunch plans for tomorrow. Michael just got this amazing invitation to join a few friends in Paris for the week, and he’s asked me to go along!”
I can’t even believe I’m asking the question when I say, “Mom, who’s Michael?”
“Oh. Haven’t I mentioned him? You’ll love him. He’s handsome, rich. A total silver fox.”
“Do you really think it’s a good idea to go to Paris with someone you just met?” I ask, though I don’t know why I bother. My reservations have never influenced Mom’s behavior before.
“We didn’tjustmeet,” she says. “I’ve known Michael for years. We’ve just never dated. He just got a divorce, poor thing. So this trip to Paris is exactly what he needs.”
