Page 95 of Lovetown, USA
“I noticed you didn’t bring an overnight bag. Lane, I told you I would love for you to stay over.”
“I know.” She looks up at me again. “I like my space.”
I stare into her eyes, trying to read her.
“Sorry, what were you gonna say about the mayor?” she asks.
Staring at her face, knowing we just crossed a major milestone, knowing she’s already terrified of opening up to a man again…I can’t do it. I can’t fucking do it. Not tonight.
“She throws a ball every year,” I say. “It’s coming up in a few weeks. I was wondering if you’d do me the honor of accompanying me.”
“You’re trying to turn me into Cinderella for real.”
I shrug. “That actually fits. The theme this year is fairy tale.”
“There’s a theme?” She shakes her head. “That was a stupid question. Of course there’s a theme.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yeah. I’ll accompany you, Trey.”
Even that is a milestone.
She’s putting her feelings about Lovetown aside to participate in it for me. Because she likes me. She’s letting her guard down. I can’t fuck that up. Not now. Not ever.
We start dancing again. Her warmth presses against me, her head on my chest, right against my heart. There’s an ache there, where the guilt is gnawing at me.
Fuck.
I realized something that makes the ache intensify.
Right now?
I’m no better than her ex.
32
Lane
Mr. and Mrs. MalikPeters can’t stop touching each other as they sit across from me at the table. Main Squeeze has amazing smoothies, Mrs. Peters told me on the phone, so I met them here, wheretheyfirst met.
Every sentence feels like an excuse for her to stroke his forearm, or for him to kiss her cheek, or for them to brush fingers. I’m waiting for one of them to grab a plastic spoon and feed the smoothie to the other like a baby.
“So,” I say, pen poised over my pad, “you met here, dated for a few months, then got engaged.”
“That’s right,” Kelly beams. “And then married four months after the engagement.”
She holds her hand up, wiggling her ring finger like it’s an Olympic gold medal.
“Congrats,” I say as I ignore it. “So I take it you married within the time frame to get your tax benefits.”
“Oh, nah, we didn’t get that,” Malik says. “You gotta have a house for that.”
“Oh, you’re renters.”
“I moved into his apartment,” Kelly says, “but we could have gotten it if we rented a house. They have a bunch of lots available all over the city. We just really liked his place.”
“Whohas a bunch of lots?”
