Page 20 of Keep My Heart
‘I guess, but what about dinner? You already bought everything. I feel bad leaving.’
‘We’ll do it some other night.’ Her phone rings and she answers. ‘Hey, you’re still picking up the kids, right?’ She listens. ‘Okay, yeah, I can do it. See you at home.’ She ends the call. ‘Well, there you go. I can’t make dinner. I have to go get the kids. Tom’s car got a flat and he can’t pick them up.’
‘We could order takeout,’ I offer.
She goes to get her purse. ‘This is a sign that you should be at Matt’s house tonight, hanging out with Nick.’
‘I don’t know. I’d feel weird going over there. Matt and Chris were friends.’
‘Matt was friends with everyone. It’s just his personality. Now hurry up and call him. I’ll drop you off there on my way to get the kids.’
I get out my phone and find Nick’s number. My heart pounds as it rings.
‘Hey, this is Nick,’ he answers in his deep, sexy voice.
‘Nick, it’s Lyndsay. Any chance that dinner invite is still open?’
‘Yeah, of course,’ he says, a smile in his voice. ‘Are you saying you’re coming?’
‘Um, yeah.’ I look at Diane. ‘What time should I come over?’
‘Right now, if that’s good for you. We’re out back on the patio having drinks. Dinner will probably be in an hour or so. You need me to come get you?’
‘No. Diane’s dropping me off. I’ll see you soon.’
‘Looking forward to it.’
I end the call and set the phone on the counter, trying to catch my breath.
‘Relax,’ Diane says, laughing. ‘It’s just Nick.’
‘I know. I don’t know why I’m reacting like this, why I’m so nervous just talking to him.’
‘Because you really like him.’ She slings her purse over her shoulder. ‘Let’s go. I have to drop you off, then pick up Andy at his friend’s house before I get Leah.’
I follow her out to the minivan.
‘Wait! I can’t wear this.’ I point to my shorts and tank top.
‘Why not?’
‘It’s not nice enough, and I wore it all day on the plane. I need to go change.’
‘We don’t have time.’ She gets in the minivan.
I join her, sighing as I look down at my clothes. ‘Nick definitely won’t be interested in me when he sees me in this.’
‘He already did, at the store, and he still invited you to dinner.’
‘Okay, but I still should’ve changed.’
‘What you’re wearing is fine.’ She glances at me. ‘With a body like that, you look good in anything. How do you stay in such great shape?’
‘Teaching yoga helps. And walking a lot. I used to walk on the beach for hours after Chris and I would fight. We fought a lot .?.?.’ My voice drifts off as I remember those fights. Chris had a horrible temper. He’d yell and throw things. I didn’t want to be around him when he was like that so I’d leave and go on a walk.
‘Try not to think about him tonight,’ Diane says. ‘Focus on Nick and getting to know him again.’
‘Diane, nothing’s going to happen between us. I know you want me to find someone else, but it’s too soon, and I’m not sure I even want that.’
