Page 61 of Texts From My Exes
And wow. Even in my own head, I sounded about as thrilled as someone at the dentist drooling all over the place.
Aaron had picked a cozy little Italian place with string lights and mismatched wine glasses that somehow made it look intentional. He was all sunshine again, talking about a surgery he’d just assisted in like it was no big deal. Meanwhile, I was nodding, smiling, and very casually gripping the butter knife in my hand like it was the only thing tethering me to reality.
My phone buzzed.
Ex #GlassesGuy
Miss me yet? Thought so.
I shoved the phone deeper into my lap like it had personally betrayed me.
“So then the attending says, ‘Do you want to close?’ and I’m standing there holding this guy’s chest open and—uh…” Aaron’s voice trailed off. His gaze dropped to my hand. “…Harper?”
I blinked down. My knuckles were white around the handle, the pointy end of the knife glinting in the candlelight as I twirled it between my fingers like I’d just joined a traveling circus act.
Another buzz.
Ex #Captain
Defected to the enemy. Send help. And cuddles.
I smiled. Wide. Too wide. “Oh, sorry, just… thinking.”
He leaned back slowly. “Should I be concerned right now, or…?”
“What? No.” I laughed, maybe a little too hard. “Of course not. I’m totally fine. Just, you know, contemplating life. And death. And how butter knives are really underrated as weapons.”
His brows shot up. “Right. That’s… comforting.”
I stabbed a piece of breadstick with unnecessary force.Buzz.
Ex #FutureHusband
Don’t do anything reckless. Like pretending you’re not in love with me.
I shoved the breadstick in my mouth like it was Ezra’s fault. Which, let’s be honest, it was. Everything lately was Ezra’s fault.
Aaron sipped his wine, studying me like I was a puzzle. “You’ve got… a lot of fire.”
Buzz.
Ex #BestFriend
Hey, remember that line we swore we wouldn’t cross? Oops. Wanna fight about it over pizza?
“Thanks,” I mumbled around the breadstick, already gripping the knife again. “It’s actually rage masquerading as adrenaline. Fascinating right? You’re a doctor—are psychotic breaks due to stress normal?”
Aaron leaned in and pressed a hand on my arm. “Yes, and let’s call it.”
My entire body deflated. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin our date.”
“No, I mean…” He held up his hand and waved the waiter over, sliding his card across while still talking to me. “We should go. This isn’t the right place for your sort of ‘I want to kill a human’ energy.”
I didn’t ask him where he thought that sort of energy belonged but color me stupid when we showed up at the local aquarium.
I stared up at the sign. “So, crabs.”
“Don’t forget the shrimp, sharks, occasional clam, and clown fish.”
