Page 42 of Thanks for the Memories
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Treating two gorgeous women to breakfast. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t?”
“You don’t have to do that,” Bethany adds.
“I know. I want to.”
“Next time it’s my treat,” I say.
He twists his mouth to the side. “I’ll think about it.”
I shake my head. “No. Last time you cooked for me, and this time you’re paying. It’s my turn.”
“While you two argue, I’m running to the restroom,” Bethany says, rising to her feet, finally leaving Dante and me alone for the first time since we were in my kitchen.
“Are you excited?” he asks after she’s gone. “Your bestie might move here.”
“Yeah, it would be fun to have her living nearby. We’ve had such a great time so far—it feels like no time has passed.”
“Those are the best kinds of reunions.”
He reaches over and places his hand on my arm, his touch making my skin tingle.
“Reagan, I feel so bad that we haven’t been able to get together since—”
“The last time,” I offer.
He nods. “Yes.”
“By the way, I didn’t say anything to Bethany about”—I pause as I try to come up with the right words—“the specific details of the last time we were together.”
He smiles. “I figured that out when she didn’t bring it up. That’s not something she’d be quiet about.”
Suddenly, there’s an awkward silence between us, and I’m not sure how to make it go away.
Something feels different than the last time we were together. I’m not sure if it’s because Bethany is here or because of my unexpected feelings for Jeremy. My attraction is still alive and well, so maybe I’m just trying to figure out how to act and react as I go.
“What are you two whispering about?” Bethany asks, a slight edge in her voice.
Dante pulls his hand away but keeps his gaze on me.
“We were just talking about the possibility of you moving to Miami,” I say excitedly.
It’s just easier to continue talking about her at least while I try to make sense of what I’m feeling. I enjoyed spending time with Dante, but maybe it was a one-time thing, never to be repeated. Ugh, the thought makes me a little sad—we were so close yet still so far.
“I’m going to need support from both of you if I go through with it,” Bethany says, not noticing that Dante’s hand was just on my arm.
My phone buzzes with a text from Lila saying she’s heading to the marina.
“We need to go meet Lila.”
“I wish I could join you today,” Dante says sadly.
“Me too,” Bethany says. “If I come down here, you’re going to have to figure out a way to take more time off to spend withme.”
Dante’s grins. “That’s the Bethany I remember. Unrelenting and full of fire. ”
On that note, it’s time to go. I’m not sure why I’m so bothered by Bethany and Dante’s conversation. We’ve all known each other for so long there’s definitely a level of comfort. And to Dante’s point, that side of Bethany hasn’t changed despite the difference in her physical appearance.
