Page 22 of Keep My Heart
‘I don’t want to move back here. What would I do for a job?’
‘I’m sure you could find something. Oh! I have an even better idea! You could move to New York.’
‘Why New York?’
‘Because it’s where a very handsome lawyer lives.’
I laugh. ‘Yeah, I don’t think so. I’m sure he already thinks I’m crazy for asking him out at the grocery store. He’d get a restraining order on me if he found out I’d moved to New York just to be with him.’
‘Are you kidding? It’d be his dream come true. I’m telling you, Lyndsay, the guy totally wanted you back in high school.’
‘I don’t believe you, but even if he did have a crush on me, that was 15 years ago. He’s changed. He’s not the same person now. Neither am I.’
‘All the more reason to get to know him again.’ She pulls into the driveway of Matt’s house and turns to me. ‘Just go in there and be yourself. Don’t try to impress him or pretend you’re someone you’re not. And relax. It’s just Nick from high school. If it helps, imagine him like he used to look, the cute nerd with braces and glasses.’
I glance behind her, noticing someone coming out of Matt’s house. ‘Oh, shit, it’s him. He’s coming out here.’
Diane puts the minivan in park, leaving it running as she gets out. ‘Hey, Nick, good to see you again.’
She gives him a hug as I get out of the minivan and meet up with them. ‘Hey, Nick.’
‘Hey.’ He smiles and pulls me in for a hug. I wasn’t expecting it and stand there with my arms at my sides, too flustered from thefeel of his muscular arms around me and the intoxicating smell of his cologne, to hug him back.
‘Well, I should get going,’ Diane says as Nick lets me go. ‘I’ve got to go pick up the kids.’
‘How old are your kids?’ Nick asks, smiling at Diane.
‘Leah is seven and Adam is five.’ She looks over at me. ‘Just call me when you’re ready to leave.’
‘I can take her home,’ Nick says.
‘That’d be great!’ Diane smiles at me. ‘Have a good time!’
Why is she so insistent on playing matchmaker? Nick and I don’t even live in the same state. We’re on separate coasts. It would never work. Maybe he’s not even interested in dating. Maybe all his focus is on his career.
Why am I doing this? I just got divorced. It’s too soon to date. But this isn’t a date. It’s just dinner. Dinner with old friends. So why am I so nervous?
Chapter 5
Lyndsay
‘Who’d she end up marrying?’ Nick asks as we watch Diane drive away. ‘Someone we went to school with?’
‘No, she met Tom in college. He’s from Illinois.’
‘Should we go in?’ Nick asks, nodding toward the house.
I turn to him. ‘Are you sure this is okay? I feel like I’m crashing your dinner party.’
‘You’re not crashing it. I invited you, or actually Matt did. He wants you to meet his family.’
So it’s Matt who wanted me here? Not Nick? I knew he wasn’t interested in me. Why did I let my mind even go there?
‘Hey, you made it!’ Matt says as Nick and I go into the house. Matt’s one of those guys who’s always laughing and smiling and making you feel welcome. He gives me a hug. ‘Drinks are out back, but first I want you to meet Tessa, my wife.’
I follow Matt to the kitchen, with Nick trailing behind. Now that I know he has no interest in me, I feel more relaxed.
‘Babe, this is Lyndsay.’ Matt leads me over to a tiny blondewoman who’s standing at the counter, mixing a bowl of potato salad.
