Page 36 of Heal Me

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” I tease.

“Keep your secrets, then,” he says with a smile. “How is school? Or is that classified as well?”

“It’s fine.”

“That good?” he quips.

“It’s funny, my life used to revolve around school, and now I’d rather be anywhere else.”

“What about your roommate? I’ve never met her,” Gabe comments.

“Thank you for reminding me. I need to figure out how to ward my room.”

“I’ve already warded your apartment. You’re safe,” he says, reaching across the table and squeezing my hand in reassurance.

“What do you mean you’ve already warded my apartment?” I eye him suspiciously, moving my hand away from his.

“I mean I’ve already warded your apartment. You’d rather remain unprotected now that you know the world we live in?” he challenges.

“Of course not. But the point is you should have asked and received permission before you did it.”

“Would you have told me no?” he counters. This back and forth is tabled when a runner brings out the bread basket. I grab a piece of bread and butter it. Of course he’s right, I would have said yes. I would have begged him to. But that’s a bad way to start a relationship—him acting on my behalf like that without talking to me first. Of course, that’s assuming we’re starting a relationship. Maybe that’s too big of an assumption on my part?

“Is this roommate causing you problems?” he asks.

“I was half joking about warding my bedroom. I had an argument with Jen yesterday,” I tell him with a sigh. “We’d planned on rooming together in Boston. Of course, that was contingent on her being accepted to Harvard. She received her acceptance letter, and I let her know I’ve changed my mind. She didn’t take the news well.”

“I knew you were considering your options. So you’ve made your decision?”

Lighting up from ear to ear, I answer, “Yes. I’ve been accepted to a midwifery program here in Memphis.”

“Congratulations, that’s wonderful news.” He reaches over and takes my hand again and gives it a squeeze. This time I don’t pull back, even though those pesky butterflies are fluttering around again. “It’s unfortunate about your roommate, though.”

“It is, but the bottom line is I’ve changed and she doesn’t like it.”

“Tell me about your midwifery program.”

“It’s fourteen months of class study and apprenticeship that begins this fall. I’m so excited.”

“And what does your dad think about this?”

I sigh. “I haven’t told him yet. I’ve promised myself I will tell him soon.”

Our food is presented and I take a bite of pasta that melts in my mouth. “This is delicious,” I tell Gabe.

“I’m so glad you’re a woman who orders real food and not a plate of leafy greens,” he says, eyeing my plate.

“You’ve eaten my cooking enough to know I like real food,” I inform him as I take another bite. One of the many reasons this dress is fitting so snugly. Deciding I won’t worry about body insecurities tonight, I choose to just enjoy my meal. “Tell me why you don’t have a girlfriend?” I ask the question that’s been on my mind for some time now.

“I’m still waiting on my friend to come around,” he smoothly answers.

“That’s not what I mean.” But I still like that answer.

“The last relationship I had—Orla and I—we just didn’t work out.”

“Why?”

“She’s a Banshee and pretty high maintenance. I got tired of all the wailing and carrying on.”

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