Page 89 of Thanks for the Memories
“I told you that I was open to seeing where this takes us,” I say softly.
He lets out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad you still feel that way.”
“Did you think I changed my mind overnight?” I ask, leaning closer to him.
He snorts. “Nah. I’m a pretty great catch.”
I laugh. This is the Jeremy I know. And he’s right—he is a great catch.
The server approaches our table to tell us about the desserts, and I’m grateful to have a few minutes to catch my breath after having such a serious conversation. My mind is racing along with my heart, but in a good way.
“What would you like to try, Blondie?” Jeremy asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Ugh. I didn’t hear a word the server said.
“Um, crème brûlée,” I say absently.
“I’ll try the fried Oreos,” Jeremy tells the server.
“Ohh … those sound good.”
“Yeah, well it’s not Donut Giant, but tonight is about trying new things,” he says with a wink.
That’s for sure.
Our conversation shifts, and the subject of Bethany finally comes up.
“I don’t know if she’s still moving to Miami or not,” I tell him. “It wouldn’t shock me if that whole idea was just a ploy to get a reaction out of me.”
“What do you think was the turning point in your friendship?”
This is a good question, because the things she was accusing me of went beyond my move.
“Before her visit I would’ve said it was me moving here. I still believe that was a major factor, but I think her resentment has been building for years. She’s not the same person she used to be, and I’m not sure when that changed.”
“Do you think you’ll ever be friends again?”
I snort. “It’s funny you should ask that, because my sister thinks I’ll end up forgiving her.”
“Time can heal everything,” he points out.
“True,” I agree. “But, to be honest, I don’t think Bethany wants to have a relationship with me. She resents me for things I can’t control, and I actually think her visit gave us both the closure we needed.”
He nods. “Sorry.”
“I’m okay with it. I’ve made some really great friends here.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Present company included?”
I smile. “Definitely.”
After dinner, Jeremy asks me if I want to take a walk on the beach. We hold hands as we move through the sand, the waves crashing against our feet. We chat about work and how everyone is going to react when they find out about our date and new relationship.
“Amanda won’t be surprised,” I say. “She told me that you were interested in me a few weeks ago. Of course, I didn’t believe her.”
“Why not?” he asks. “I think I made it pretty obvious. I’ve been flirting with you since we started working together.”
“You flirt with everyone,” I remind him. “Even Carl has a nickname.”
