Page 13 of Romance Reset
“I just… I wonder at the odds.”
He didn’t comment, and she took a sideways peek at him to find his attention focused on the night sky above them. “I… I just wonder if maybe now that we’re older and wiser, things would be different between us? That’s me,” she said breathlessly when he didn’t respond, pressing the button on her fob to unlock the vehicle with a blink of the lights.
He moved to the driver’s-side door and opened it for her but didn’t lean down to kiss her or… anything.
“It was nice seeing you again, Amelia.”
Amelia stepped toward him and lifted her face toward his, pushing and knowing she did, but more than ready for whatever Lincoln might propose as their next step. Coffee? Casual conversation? She just didn’t want this to be the one and only time she ever saw him. “It was wonderful to see you, too. Maybe… we can do this again sometime?” Fine. If he wasn’t going to say it, she would. Desperate-sounding or not.
Lincoln hesitated before he lowered his head, but instead of kissing her lips, he brushed her cheek.
“Drive safe.”
Feeling deflated and defeated, Amelia got in the car and locked her door. She watched Lincoln walk away before digging out her cell to text Izzy. She glanced over her shoulder, but Lincoln had disappeared into the night and the assortment of vehicles parked outside the popular restaurant.
She took a moment to simply breathe before slipping a finger over her phone and tapping on Izzy’s name.You ready?
Yes! Can’t wait to hear all about it. Lah, I couldn’t get a clear look, but that man seemed HOT!
Amelia pushed the button to start the vehicle and took her time pulling on her seat belt and cranking the AC. Her hands trembled throughout the process. She backed out of the space and approached the entrance of the restaurant, slowing to a crawl and then stopping when she saw Izzy merrily making her way down the steps and across the sidewalk. Izzy yanked open the door and hopped in, tossing her clutch, grabbing her seat belt, and turning sideways in the seat seemingly all at once.
“Tell me everything. Every single detail.”
Amelia took a deep breath but struggled to form words over the stupid lump taking possession of her throat.
“Meli? What is it? Was he awful? You seemed to be enjoying yourself. I didn’t want to stare but you laughed a few times. And he looked… well, he looked hunky enough. Was he awful?”
“N-no,” she finally whispered, pressing on the gas to get them moving toward home. “He wasn’t awful. He was… familiar.”
“Familiar? You mean, you knew him?”
Amelia tightened her hands over the steering wheel and nodded. “It… turns out my date was… Lincoln.”
“What?”
Izzy’s shriek filled the car and blasted Amelia’s ears.
“That was Lincoln? Lincoln HayesLincoln? The man you said you’ve always regretted letting get away, Lincoln?”
Amelia nodded, still battling that lump. Despite their ten-year age difference, she and Izzy had swapped heartbreak stories one evening over margaritas. Izzy knew all about Lincoln. Just like Amelia knew all about Izzy’s men troubles.
“You mean to tell me that with thethousandsof men in Marsali’s database, she matched you with the love of your life?”
Her hands hurt because she gripped the wheel so tightly. “Lincoln hardly qualifies as that when it didn’t work out.”
“Yeah, right. Girl, you might be able to fool some people but you can’t fool me. I know how much you loved him. You can’t hide it when you talk about him. And maybe it didn’t work out back then but… what about now? When are you going to see him again? Please tell me you’re going to see him again.”
“He didn’t… I don’t know,” Amelia said, rolling to a stop at a red light not far from the parking lot. “I panicked at first. I tried to leave right after I got there, but Lincoln was polite and asked me to stay. We talked a-about his wife—she died in a car accident like this parents, can you believe that?—and his kids. He seemed okay during the dinner, but… he didn’t say anything about meeting up again when he walked me to my car.”
“Maybe he just needs to think? It was shocking for him, too, I’m sure. I mean, it’s good that he didn’t just get up and walk out, right? He stayed for dessert,” Izzy added as though that was proof positive things had gone well.
“My favorite,” she whispered, nodding. “He remembered my favorite.”
“Okay, see? He was surprised, just like you. He’ll tell Marsali to set you up again, though. You wait and see. He will.”
The light changed and Amelia pressed on the gas. Itwasa good sign that he’d stayed. Even better that he’d remembered her favorite dessert.
But if that was the case, why did her gut tell her she’d never see him again?
