Page 129 of Counter Bet

She returns with our food, placing it down on the table. I feel her watching me, but I keep my eyes trained on the plate in front of me as Landon thanks her and goes back to telling me about a movie he watched earlier in the week.

Dallas lingers for a moment too long before moving away.

Landon wolfs down his food like a starving man. I eat without tasting. For all I know, it tastes like cardboard.

Dallas takes orders, wipes down tables, and jokes with her colleagues, her laughter ringing out like chiming bells. I remember a time when it was me who made her laugh like that.

“Good, right?” Landon asks around a mouthful.

My stomach churns with unease. I hum in agreement and scan my eyes across the room again. I’m distracted, but Landon doesn’t seem to notice. He just keeps on talking.

“I need the toilet.”

Landon points his fork toward the front of the restaurant. “It’s through there.”

“I’ll be right back.” I scoot my chair away from the table, then make my way through the busy little restaurant to the bathroom. Panic is rising inside of me. I need a moment alone to get myself together. Seeing Dallas here is like having a curveball thrown at me.

Why is she here anyway? She told me she couldn’t afford to come here. It’s what kicked all of this off in the first place.

I close the bathroom door behind me and lean against it, taking deep breaths to calm my pounding heart. My reflection in the mirror above the sink tells me to get a grip on my emotions. If only it was that easy.

I’m in the process of banging my head against the door when there’s a soft knock. The door handle rattles, so I move back even though my heart is screaming at me to barricade the door with an army of soldiers.

Dallas steps inside and locks the door.

“What are you d—” I start but trail off. It’s the first time we’ve been alone together since the breakup, and I’m suddenly very aware of how small the bathroom is.

Dallas runs her eyes down my body, swallowing thickly. She wrings her hands and asks in a quiet voice, “You moved on then?”

I bristle. I’m here on a date with Landon, so it’s not a surprise that she’s come to conclusions. “What are you doing here?” I ask instead, avoiding her question. I don’t know why I don’t tell her the truth. Maybe because it feels like I’m cheating on her by being here with someone else.

She worries her bottom lip. “Ben made some inquiries and managed to find me this job. I’m saving up for college.” She shrugs, but it’s no minor deal.

I smile, my chest swelling with pride. “That’s great!”

I’m glad things worked out after all. Despite everything, I’m proud of her.

“Em,” she whispers. The longing in her voice is unmistakable.

My heart squeezes. There’s no air in here.

“I’m truly sorry for what we did to you. The bet. Everything.”

My eyes sting with tears. I clear my throat, blinking rapidly. “How’s Ben? Is he alright?”

She wrings her hands again, warring with herself. “He misses you.”

I avert my gaze, unwilling to go there with her now that I’m finally trying to move on.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, closing the distance between us,

brushing her fingers against mine.

I make a pained noise in my throat. The bathroom is too small, and she’s too close. My walls are crumbling.

Dallas takes another step forward, forcing me back against the tiled wall. Her breath falls across my lips. She doesn’t hide the raw emotion in her voice as she whispers, “I miss you too.”

It’s too much. My battered heart hurts. “I can’t do this.” I pull my trembling hand away from her touch. “Landon is waiting for me.”

---