Page 87 of Guys Can't Write Romance
“I’m in a contest. I’ve been telling you about it for weeks.”
“Ah, yes. The one with that gym teacher.” His lip curled slightly. “All the more reason to make a clean break. New York will be a fresh start. No more needless distractions.”
For a brief moment, she thought of those ‘distractions.’ She thought of her students and the way their faces lit up when they grasped a new subject. She thought of her writing group, of Mags’s encouraging winks and Bernie’s gentle wisdom. She thought of Chloe, of movie nights and impromptu dance parties and countless moments of pure, unrestricted joy.
She thought of Chad, and something in her chest ached.
“When were you going to ask me?” she said quietly.
“Ask you what?”
“If I wanted any of this. If I wanted to leave my whole life behind.”
Ethan set down his fork with a small frown. “I don’t understand. This is an incredible opportunity for us.”
“No,” Daisy said. “This is an incredible opportunity for you. I’m just furniture you’re planning to move.”
“It’s not like that,” he said, reaching for her hand, but she pulled it ever so subtly away.
He drew his hand back and took a breath. “I understand this is all new, but this is everything we’ve talked about. A safe, stable future for the two of us. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
Her heart dropped, colliding with something heavy and cold in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t know what to say, but the silence was impossible to ignore.
“I wanted to be part of the decision-making process,” she finally said.
“But you are. That’s what we’re doing right now.”
“No. You’re waiting for me to agree to the decisions you’ve already made.”
“Daisy?” he said softly, reaching again for her hand. This time, there was no subtly when she pulled it away.
“I...” she started roughly. She stopped, pressing her hand against her temple. “I need to go.”
Ethan frowned, his eyes flicking toward her barely touched plate. “Are you okay? Should we get the check?”
“Yes,” she said quickly. “Please.”
They walked in silence from the restaurant to the valet stand out front. Ethan handed the valet the ticket.
“You know what,” Daisy said. “I’m just gonna call Chloe for a ride home.”
“Whatever for?” he said. “I can give you a ride.”
She shook her head. “No. I just need to be alone right now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive,” she said, fishing her phone from her purse as she headed off across the parking lot to the sidewalk.
“You’ll let me know about New York?” he called to her.
She didn’t respond.
As she scrolled through her contacts for Chloe’s number, something occurred to her. Ethan hadn’t mentioned the anniversary of her father’s death, only two days away. She doubted he even remembered.
Chapter twenty-two
Bar Sports and Bad Karaoke
