Page 24 of The Lies I've Told
I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten about the memorial. The flight here, the email, the test results…it all felt a million miles away after last night with her.
“Yes,” I answered. “Of course. I was actually hoping to meet up with Dean Sutherland today.”
“Dean?” she asked as she stepped up next to me at the sink.
“Yes. He was the one who contacted me about it. I assume he’ll be the best place to start. Do you know him?”
“Of course I know him. This town is about as big as my pinkie finger. Everyone knows Dean.”
A twinge of jealousy crept up my spine. “How well do you know him?”
Her eyes met mine. “Are you asking if I’ve dated him?”
“Have you?”
She let out a frustrated breath, abandoning the dishes to turn toward me. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, I have not dated Dean. He was engaged to my sister though, but that thankfully ended. And, before you scrutinize that sentence, no, I’m not jealous.”
I smiled at her obvious flustered state. “I wasn’t going to scrutinize. I was merely trying to see if you were involved with anyone right now.”
Her eyes avoided mine, causing me to wonder what she was trying to hide, as she answered, “No, I’m not seeing anyone right now.” She swallowed hard. “But I’m not looking either. Especially not here.”
“Especially not here? What is that supposed to mean?”
She placed her hands flat against the counter as her gaze fell to the floor. “I didn’t bust out of this town at the tender age of eighteen just to find myself stuck back here ten years later.”
I raised my hands in protest. “No one said anything about you being stuck here. You forget, I’m a temporary guest here as well. After this project is done, I’m out of here.”
“Then, why are you so interested in my love life?”
Because I can’t go through life having you only once.
Because last night was one of the greatest in my life, and I have to make you remember.
Because I think I might be falling for you.
I met her gaze, her breath hitching as I chose my next words carefully. “Well, I was thinking, since we’re both stuck here, we might as well be stuck here together.”
Coward. I’m a fucking coward.
Her arms folded across her chest. “I thought we already did that.”
“Yes, but did we?” I forced a smile, stepping closer. So close, it made her uncomfortable. I watched her breath rise and fall, and that was when I smiled for real. “If neither of us remembers it, does it really count? I mean, how do I know if we were any good together? Or what if it was so good, it deserves an encore? Or three? Don’t you think we owe it to ourselves to at least give it another try? Sober.”
She gulped as her gaze drifted down the length of my body. I had to practically hold myself back as I watched the indecision play out on her delicate features.
“No,” she finally said.
“No?”
“I can’t do this. I can’t be another distraction.”
“Another?” I asked, not understanding her meaning. “Who have you been distracting?”
“Nothing. No one. It doesn’t matter.”
I thought we’d told each other everything last night.
But, from the hurt I saw moving across her face, I knew that couldn’t be true.
