Page 34 of Connected By Stars
“I always tell my sisters to follow their heart, and I wouldn’t want you to do any different.” The waiter comes by for the check, and I start to reach for it.
“Let me pay. I really feel bad that this turned out to be a therapy session about my love life. It’s the least I can do.”
“I’m not letting you pay,” he says, laughing. “I asked you out, and my mom taught me how to treat a lady right. Besides,” he puts his hand on his chest, “even though my heart hurts that I’m not going to get a goodnight kiss tonight, I still ended up having a great time. It pains me to say, but Mav was right. It is nice to have a friend in the area.”
“How are you not taken? I can’t believe someone hasn’t snatched you up.” I shake my head in disbelief.
“That’s a story for another time. Let’s just say I get why Maverick is afraid of failing or being heartbroken. I was just like him after my breakup, vowing never to put my heart out there again, but I got lonely after a while. I guess I’m just built to want more.”
“I’m so sorry. How long were you together?”
“Five years. We met in high school.” I see the pain flash briefly in his eyes, and it makes my chest hurt. “Turns out we both wanted different things. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, and she wanted my friend behind my back.”
“Oh, my God. I can’t imagine what you went through. I’m so sorry. One day, she’s going to look back and regret that until the day she dies. She missed out on being with a pretty amazing guy.”
He gives me a small smile. “Thanks, it’s in the past now. I’m in a better place and know what I want. It’s just amatter of finding her.”
“And you will.” I reach over and squeeze his hand. The waiter comes back with the receipt. Logan quickly signs it, and we get up to leave.
“So you have my number. Just let me know the details of the wedding. I’m actually excited about going. I feel like I’m invested now and want to see how this turns out,” he laughs.
“I’m excited to have you as my date. We’re going to have a great time. I can’t wait for you to meet everyone.” I reach up and kiss his cheek before giving him a hug. “Thanks for dinner. I’m really glad I didn’t cancel.”
“I’m glad you didn’t cancel either.” He squeezes me one last time before waving goodbye and walking to his car.
I get in the Jeep and start the engine. The date couldn’t have gone better. I’m relieved that I told Logan everything, and I meant it when I said I was excited to have him as my date. It will be nice to have someone beside me that knows the whole story.
I pull up to my parking spot a short time later and see the lights out. I glance at the clock, surprised to see it’s after eleven. I guess we talked way longer than I thought. I quietly make my way inside and go to my bedroom to change. I see a folded-up piece of paper on my pillow. Confused, I pick it up and read it.
Meet me at the dock when you get home.
I instantly recognize Maverick’s handwriting.
Grinning, I quickly change into jean shorts and an old hoodie I secretly stole from him in high school so that I could sleep in it and be surrounded by his smell. I slip on my tennis shoes and quietly go outside our patio door before running on the grass to the dock. I reach the gazebo at the end of the dock and see him lying on his back on one of the benches.
Walking up to him, I smile when I notice he’s sleeping.How long has he waited out here for me? I admire his beauty for a second, just wanting to stare at him before waking him up. Long lashes frame his eyes, and I gently touch a lock of his hair. His full lips are parted slightly, and on a whim, I bend down and press my lips to his. His eyes blink open, and he smiles.
Chapter Fourteen
Maverick
Opening my eyes,I see Bell leaning over me. “I guess you got my note,” I say softly.
“I did.” She grins at me. “How long have you been out here?”
I sit up, and she takes a seat next to me. “Not long. Maybe an hour.”
“An hour? You waited an hour?” She looks surprised.
I would have waited forever pops into my head, but I shove down the anxiety of what that means. “I wanted to see you when you got back.” I put my hands in my hoodie pocket that I’m wearing and shrug my shoulders.
“I wanted to see you too.”
“Soooooo, how did it go? How much of a competition is he going to be?” I try not to let the worry show, but I’ve been nonstop thinking about the two of them together since she left. I needed answers tonight, or I would go crazy wondering.
“He’s not your competition,” she laughs. “I actually had a really great time. He knows I only want him as a friend, and he’s cool with it. He’s even agreed to be my date for the wedding. Ithink you’ll like him if you give him a chance. He’s a very sweet guy.”
“So he has you sitting across him, and he’s okay with just being your friend?” Laughing, I shake my head.
