Page 13 of Compared
“She probably did say Fergie, but it was too loud in there to hear.” He shakes his head. “That’s a shame, because that’s actually a band that I’ve heard of.”
It’s not a band, but whatever.
“So besides her taste in music, why else weren’t you compatible?” I ask, not even bothering to hide my sarcasm.
“I don’t know if I should answer this. Everything I say seems to irritate you.”
I try to soften the expression on my face, but the truth is, Iama little irritated. The poor girl was probably excited for her date. If she’s a romantic, like myself, she probably thought that her forever was going to start tonight. And after ten minutes, her dreams of forever were destroyed.
I angle my body toward him. “I want to know. I want a glimpse inside a man’s mind.”
He crosses his leg, resting his ankle on his knee. “Her name is Candi.”
“So?”
“So, I don’t know. It kind of sounds like a stripper name.”
“How do you know? Are you a frequent visitor at Strippers R Us?”
His eyes narrow. “Hardly.”
“Then please tell me you have a better reason for ditching her than the fact that you don’t like her name or her taste in music.”
His eyes drop and he looks away. “I guess I’m just…not ready.”
I knew it.
That’s every single man’s problem.
They’re notready.
That’s Zak’s problem. I’m tired of these games. I definitely don’t want to hang around here and learn about another man’s commitment issues. I look at my phone. My ride will be here in nine minutes. I shove it back into my purse and lift my chin to say my goodbyes to the noncommittal man.
“That’s all very interesting, but…” My voice drifts off as my eyes register a familiar body standing twenty feet from me.
Zak’sbody.
He’s wearing his favorite outfit, a hot pink polo shirt and navy slacks. He’s talking to a few guys I recognize as his CrossFit friends, and next to him is the fiery red hair that can only belong to Genessa.
My heart simultaneously shatters into pieces and stops beating altogether.
“Oh, no! He can’t see me.” I duck, but really I’m just slouching down on the bench in the most awkward way while trying to keep my legs together so the people enjoying their meal nearby don’t get dinner and a show. My underwear is very plain and very white. Nothing sexy over here.
“Who can’t see you?” The guy next to me follows my panicked stare to Zak.
“My ex-boyfriend.”
I pull my purse up over my face, trying to hide behind it, peeking out from the side. “I can’t believe he’s here—and withher. They’re not touching, are they? Wouldn’t they be touching if they were here together?” I glance at the stranger beside me, hoping he’ll confirm that Zak and Genessa are just pals and nothing more.
“That guy?” He points to Zak. “You’re freaking out over that guy?”
“Yes.” I glare back at him. “Hedoesn’t break it off with a girl after only ten minutes.”
“No, he seems like the type of guy that breaks up with a girl after he’s led her on for a long time.”
That…is a very astute observation.
Zak’s hand slips behind Genessa’s back, and my whole world drops. It’s the smallest of gestures, and yet the action squeezes my heart so tightly.
