Page 12 of Three Dates

“David?”

The man spun around, and it was none other than her ex. “Amelia!” he greeted. “It’s been awhile.” He walked over to give her a hug, but her body only tensed. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you still in school?”

“It’s spring break. I came home to visit my family. Where’s what’s-her-name?”

“Rebecca? Oh, we broke it off. Funny story! Turned out the kid isn’t even mine. She’d been shacking it up with guys all around town.”

“You deserve it,” Amelia mumbled.

“Sorry, what was that?”

“You kinda had it coming, David. Karma has its way of nipping you in the ass when you decide to screw over someone you’d promised to love forever.”

David’s face dropped, his usually happy-go-lucky style turning into someone who looked like they’d just been beaten twice and pushed off a cliff.

“I-I’m sorry,” Amelia apologized. “I didn’t mean to come off that harsh. I’m still a little bitter, you know?”

“No, you’re right. I do deserve it. You shouldn’t have been treated the way I treated you, and I’m truly sorry for everything I’ve done to you.” Then he stepped closer to Amelia and held her by the hands. “Truth is, I’ve never stopped thinking about you, ever since we broke up—”

“You mean, ever since you dumped me,” she jumped in.

“Right, I’m sorry for breaking up with you. But truth is, Amelia, I’ve never been able to replace you. Rebecca, she didn’t mean anything to me, just a fling, something to entertain myself with, but you? Amelia, you’re my everything, my high school sweetheart, and a huge part of me still believes that we’re meant to be together, until the very end, just like we’d always promised each other.”

“Yeah, until you cheated on me,” Amelia mumbled and backed away slightly.

“Do you still love me?”

“What?” That got her attention.

“Do you still love me?” David repeated.

Amelia felt her stomach drop. Did she? To be honest, she’d spent so much time swiping from guy to guy that she never really stopped to think about David. But now that he was here, standing in front of her and professing how he felt about her, she felt all her past feelings, all the feelings she’d tried so hard to erase, all rushing back. She’d been with David for so long, her first love, and the person she created the most memories with. And she even swore to herself and Melody that she was over him, that she’d never run back to someone who could so easily run away from her.

So… so why was she finding herself being drawn back to him? Why was she suddenly remembering the happy times they’ve shared together?

“I… I…,” Amelia stuttered.

“Say it, say it, Amelia. Do you still love me?” He held on tighter to her hands and inched in even closer. She could smell the scent of his aftershave, a scent that made her want to gag, nothing like the delicious vanilla fragrance of Alistair.

“I… I… don’t,” Amelia finally said and pulled her hands away. “I… I have to go.”

So close. She was so close to walking straight back into her past, back into the arms of someone who left her for the wolves while he claimed another queen. And it took smelling him to help her remember that she didn’t need him in her life anymore, that she was happier without him. She quickly jogged home, skipping that hair appointment she’d booked.

She had to get ready for her date with Alistair.

***

“AMELIA! ALISTAIR’S HERE!” Amelia heard her mother shout for the third time that night.

“I said, I’m coming!” she shouted back.

Amelia walked over to her vanity to observe her outfit for the night. She didn’t know what the occasion was. The only hint she’d gotten was to “dress for a fun occasion,” whatever that meant. But whatever it was, blue skinny jeans with a black leather jacket over a white T-shirt, and her hair tied up in a high ponytail, were going to have to do the trick.

“Amelia!” She heard the piercing scream of her mother once again.

“Ugh!” Amelia grabbed her purse and started to walk out the door. But then she stopped. “Forgot my gloss.” And she reached into her vanity drawer to pull it out. She froze when she saw the brush.A&D. Still written on it as clear as day. Amelia picked it up, ran a finger across the engraving, and then threw it into her trash can before walking out the door and heading downstairs.

“Hey, beautiful,” Alistair said with a smile. Amelia blushed. She hadn’t heard anyone call her that in a long time, and the beautiful bouquet of roses in his hands definitely made those words sound much, much sweeter. “These are for you,” he continued as if he’d read her mind, and extended his hands out to give her the roses.

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