Page 18 of Keep My Heart
‘You think so? But she made it clear we’d be meeting up as friends, nothing more.’
‘She said that, but it’s not what she wants.’
I shake my head. ‘I think the friend thing is what she wants. She just got divorced. She’s not looking to date someone. And she knows I’m leaving on Monday.’
‘Maybe she wants you for something else,’ he says, giving me that goofy grin again.
‘Yeah, that’s not happening. Even if I was open to that, I wouldn’t do it when she’s fresh off a divorce.’
‘Why the hell not? The marriage is over. She’s free to do whatever she wants.’
‘It’s still not happening.’
‘So did you agree to go out with her?’
‘I told her I’d meet her at the brewery on Sunday, and now you’ll be there too, so it’s definitely not a date.’
‘Make it one. Take her to dinner after we’re done at the brewery.’
‘I’m not taking her to dinner. I can’t believe we’re even talking about this. I’m leaving on Monday. Nothing’s going to happen.’
‘Did you say anything else to her?’
I hesitate, then just tell him. ‘I might’ve mentioned dinner tonight.’
‘Here?’
‘Yeah, but only because you talked about inviting her. I threw it out there, but she already had plans. She’s having dinner with Diane and her family. Maybe her mom will be there too. I’m not sure.’
He laughs. ‘You invited her to dinner. But you’re not interested in her.’
‘I’m not. Are you saying I can’t invite an old friend to dinner without it meaning something more?’
‘Not when the old friend is a girl you have the hots for.’
I sigh. ‘I’m going to go change out of this suit. And then I’m having a beer.’ I walk back to the house.
‘You’re gonna need it,’ Matt calls out, laughing, ‘to calm your nerves before Lyndsay gets here.’
‘She’s not coming,’ I yell back.
But I wish she was, because I really want to see her.
Chapter 4
Lyndsay
‘I’m not going to Matt’s,’ I say to Diane as we go in her house. ‘I already made plans to have dinner here.’
‘Which you can do any other night this week,’ she says, stopping when we get to the kitchen. She sets her purse and the sack of groceries on the counter and turns to me. ‘Nick obviously wants to see you, and he’s leaving on Monday. Call him and tell him you’re coming over.’
‘That’s crazy! Why would I tell him I’ll be there when I already told him I couldn’t?’
‘Tell him Leah is sick and I cancelled dinner to take care of her.’
‘You want me to lie to him?’
‘It’s not a lie,’ she says, waving her hand around. ‘It’s a story. One that isn’t totally true.’
