Page 13 of Second Chance Valentine

“I’ll have a margarita,” I say.

“Frozen, no salt?”

“You know me so well,” I grin.

“I’ll have the same,” Branson says, his eyes returning immediately to mine.

“I’ll be right back with those. Not that you’ll miss me,” she says, mumbling the last words under her breath with a smile.

I don’t know if it’s the heat of his body so close to mine or the intensity of his eyes on me, but it feels like an electric charge is pulsing between us. That magnetic energy that has always pulled us together is at full strength and I feel myself leaning into him. I swallow, trying to find words but I seem to be speechless for the moment. The band launches into a familiar fast-paced song and the crowd gets loud, but all I see are deep, soulful brown eyes pulling me deeper into their warmth. How can this feel so familiar and so exciting at the same time? I put my hand on his chest, feel the rapid beating of his heart.

“Ginger.” He says it so quietly, but I feel the vibrations of it on my hand and I lean in closer. In slow motion, he brushes his thumb over my bottom lip and I take in a shaky breath. His warm mouth finds mine and he’s kissing me slowly, sweetly. My body is full of energy and yet I’m frozen with fear. A part of me knows if I let go, if I fall into this pool again, I am never coming out.

The band shifts into a slow song and the clatter of glass against glass jolts me out of the moment. A waitress has delivered our drinks. Branson’s eyes are still on mine, questioning. Are we doing this? Is this happening?

I stand up so suddenly that my chair clatters over behind me. Adrenaline pulses through me and I feel like I’ve been woken from a dead sleep.

“Ginger? Are you ok?” Fiona is at the table now, looking concerned. Branson takes my hand, but I pull it away. Alarm bells are going off in my head and I have to get out of here. I take off across the patio, pushing people aside in my rush to get to the door, to get away from these people, from this pressure.

???

“What happened?” Mariah asks, after some breathing into a brown paper sack has relieved the pain in my chest. “I mean I could tell things were getting intense but…”

We’re sitting in my car in the parking lot of Fiona’s and I’m beginning to calm down now that Fiona has assured me Branson won’t try to talk to me again tonight.

“He kissed me.”

“Well, I saw that. But it looked like you were into it. And then suddenly you turned white as a ghost and took off.”

Now that the adrenaline has started to subside, I can feel the tears coming. “I can’t be around him.” My two best friends are looking at me, their faces full of concern. “I can’t be around him without falling for him again. I just can’t. The pull is too strong.”

“Well, honey. Maybe that’s a sign.” Fiona brushes my hair out of my face and I look up at her, surprised.

“You don’t believe in signs,” I say to my permanently single bestie.

“Well, maybe with you two, I do. You and Branson had something so special. A connection that I could never hope to have with anyone. And it’s clear that spark is still there.” She shifts in her seat. “Listen, I know he hurt you. But maybe blocking him out isn’t the answer. Maybe you should see where this goes. See if you can learn to trust him again.”

“How do I know I won’t get hurt again?”

“You don’t,” Mariah said. “But when Sully and I got together, you told me love was worth the risk of getting hurt. I get the feeling you were thinking about Branson when you said that.”

I nod and wipe away a tear. “Yeah, I guess you’ve got me figured out pretty well.”

She shrugs. “I think you need to give it a chance. See where it goes. A love this big doesn’t just go away with time.”

TEN

Branson

It’s been three days since Ginger walked out on me at Fiona’s. Three days since my mouth found hers and the world felt right again.

Over the last few days, while I waxed the floors or set up the tables, someone would walk into the gym and set my heart pounding, hoping it was her at the door. She stayed away and I’ve given her space to sort things out. But tonight, I have a plan that I hope will help her remember the magic we had and give our love a second chance.

Mariah’s pale pink balloon arches curve over the double doors and the waxed floors are gleaming. Pink tulle is wrapped around the chairs and the pink rose centerpieces on the tables have a mid-century flare. She’s putting the final touches on the punch and snack table when Ginger walks in carrying a tray of little cakes.

She’s dressed for the occasion in a pale blue strapless chiffon dress with a flower behind her ear. When I walk towardher to help with the tray, she smiles at me and I swear I stop breathing for a minute. She’s that beautiful.

“Wow. It looks great! The floors are shining. How did you do all this, Branson?”

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