Page 22 of Wine & Whiskey
“That doesn’t seem too bad.”
“No, but I still received the ‘tough love’ and ‘help me help you’ lectures.” With her hand on her heart and three fingers forming a pledge, she sits up tall. “I had to promise I will always keep my manager informed of everything that goes on in my personal life, so she can help guide my decision making and manage any issues.”
Carrie throws her head back and cackles. “Oh, no! Two speeches and an oath. She must have been mad. Wonder what she’ll do when she finds out the truth about Nick?”
“I don’t want to think about that.” She slumps against the cushion, smoothing the cover over her legs. “He didn’t show up at the gym this morning. After what happened yesterday, I’m worried something’s wrong.”
The danger may have ended for her when they left the restaurant, yet her stomach twists knowing the risk for Nick remains. Juan’s angry threats are unlikely to dissipate without Nick’s agreement to work with him.
Carrie pulls her hair into a pony tail. “Maybe he’s sick or something. But he could have at least texted you.”
Shae wrinkles her nose. “Um, I don’t think I ever actually gave him my phone number.”
“How do you expect a guy to call you then?”
She puts down the book she wasn’t really reading and leans her cheek against the back of the couch. The coarse red fabric scratches her skin, releasing a hint of her mom’s perfume from all the years of her sitting in their favorite spot in the house. “What should I do?”
Tapping her temple with her index finger, Carrie whispers to her, “Give him your number.”
“I’m serious. He thinks he’s in love with me. I was worried about him being in the mob, but now I’m worried about him being crazy too.”
“There are worse things in the world than a guy thinking he loves you.” Carrie covers her heart with her hands and flutters her eyelashes. “Besides, haven’t you ever heard of love at first sight?”
“Only in the movies.” With Evan, their relationship evolved out of friendship, slow and hesitant, before ending with a sudden, harsh finality she can’t seem to recover from. She may be over him, but not the shame of failure, unable to forgive herself for not following her own heart.
“Maybe it’s possible in real life too. Or, if not, you could just use him for sex.”
“Carrie!” Shae throws one of the checkered pillows at her friend. “You’re terrible.”
Leaning forward, Carrie slips on her running shoes and ties the laces. Shae picks up the iPod and selects her friend’s favorite running music before handing it to her.
“Thanks. What are you going to do about dinner? Are you going to go over there?”
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t want to look like an idiot since I haven’t heard from him. We’ll just do it another time. It’s fine.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Carrie stops swiping the screen and squints at Shae. “I know you’re afraid after what happened at the coffee house. Hell, I am too. But you like him and need to talk to him. If you don’t want to see him anymore, that’s cool. If it was me, I’d at least give him a chance to explain before writing him off.”
Shae’s head drops as she smiles. “I‘ve never felt like this before. It’s just so intense it scares me.”
“That’s what love feels like.” Carrie’s smile fades, and she lays her hand on top of Shae’s. “Don’t run away from him unless he gives you a reason to. He’s not Evan.”
Shae bites her lip and nods. “I know.”
“After I’m finished, I’m going to meet Nathan for his dinner break, if he even gets one tonight. Text me if you leave. I want to keep tabs on you and your hot new boyfriend.”
Shae swats at her bottom as she walks past, but Carrie jumps out of the way and laughs. “Too slow!”
She snuggles in to read again, but it’s no use. The words blur together as her mind drifts to Nick, hoping he’s okay, wondering if he’s thinking about her too. Tossing the book on the floor, she slides down on the sofa and stretches out her legs with the fuzzy afghan tucked under her chin. Carrie must be wrong. This isn’t love. It’s…
The side table rattles from her buzzing phone, interrupting her attempts to define this whirlwind of sensations spiraling within her stomach. Her heart skips a beat at the message.
It’s Nick.I’m sorry about this morning.
Please say you’ll still have dinner with me.
He wants to see her. All the emotions she should feel—relief, irritation, doubt—fade away because he wants her. As much as she wants him. Another text comes through.
I can be there in ten minutes.
