Page 42 of Keep My Heart
Lori’s face lights up. ‘Lyndsay Davis? I haven’t seen you in forever!’
Lyndsay smiles. ‘It’s been awhile. I don’t get home much.’
‘I didn’t know it was you with the darker hair.’
‘I’ve been coloring it for a few years now.’
I don’t know why she colors her hair. Her natural blonde color was beautiful and looked great with her light skin and blue eyes.
‘I thought you moved to Texas,’ Lyndsay says to Lori.
‘I did, but it was too hot for me so I moved back. So how’s Chris?’
‘Um, he’s fine. He’s not here. He was busy with work.’
She doesn’t want to tell Lori about the divorce. I don’t know why she’s hiding it. I’m guessing half the town knows by now. Chris still has friends here, who I’m sure have told people aboutthe divorce. And anyone who saw Lyndsay at the bar last night could’ve figured it out. Lyndsay wasn’t wearing her ring and we were acting like a couple, talking close, touching, slow dancing.
Thinking about it now, I probably took the fake date thing too far, but I had a few beers in me and was with the girl who appeared in most every one of my teen fantasies. I couldn’t help but kiss her.
It was a damn good kiss. Too good. I was feeling things I shouldn’t be feeling for someone I’m fake dating. I thought it might feel awkward, kissing a girl who’s only ever been a friend, but it wasn’t awkward at all. The moment our lips touched, I instantly felt something between us, something I’d been feeling all night but was trying to ignore. We definitely have a strong attraction to each other, but we also have something else that I can’t put into words. It’s whatever’s been missing from all my other relationships, the reason they haven’t gone anywhere.
‘You and Chris were such a cute couple in high school,’ Lori says to Lyndsay. ‘Everyone was so jealous of you guys.’
I glance at Lyndsay, noticing how uncomfortable she looks.
‘I’d love to talk more,’ Lyndsay says, ‘but I’m kind of in a hurry.’
‘Yeah, of course, go ahead.’ Lori gets her order pad out.
After she takes our order, she leaves, then comes back with our drinks. ‘You guys will be at the reunion next weekend, right?’
‘I won’t be here,’ I say. ‘I’m leaving on Monday.’
‘And I made plans to do something else,’ Lyndsay says.
‘Come on. You have to come. It’s 15 years.’
‘Maybe some other year,’ I tell her.
‘I really think you should come. People would love seeing you guys, especially you and Chris,’ Lori says to Lyndsay. ‘Maybe you could talk him into coming back for it.’
Lyndsay clears her throat. ‘Um, Chris and I aren’t together anymore.’
Lori gasps. ‘You’re separated?’
‘Divorced,’ Lyndsay says. ‘Just this week, actually.’
‘Did something happen or you just didn’t get along?’
Lyndsay looks at me to help her out.
‘Maybe you could give us a minute,’ I say to Lori.
‘Sure! I’ll go check on your order,’ she says, taking off.
‘Thank you,’ Lyndsay says quietly to me.
‘Of course. You okay staying here?’
