boiling underneath. A beat passed and then she sat up straighter. “Whatever game you’re playing, I don’t find it amusing. Please leave.”
I could see she was starting to get agitated, so I leaned in and made eye contact, ready to come clean. “I can’t. I promised Charlotte I’d give this date a chance.”
Her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. “No. Not possible. Charlotte would never…”
I smiled, enjoying her discomfort a little too much, maybe because it validated my own shock at being set up with her. At least we had that in common. “Yep, I’m the blind date.”
“No, you’re not. You’re just trying to get a rise out of me.” She opened her purse and pulled out a phone, glaring at me as if I were her worst nightmare, and I probably was.
She dialed a number, her eyes narrowing at me. “Charlotte”— there was extra sweetness in her tone—“you’ll never believe who’s sitting across from me right now. He says he’s my date, but I know that can’t be the case because you would never do that to me.”
Charlotte’s voice rose on the other line, and I knew she was trying to explain herself. The blood rushed from Maya’s face, and she swallowed hard, looking at me with trepidation. Her brows knit together, and she glanced away, dismayed. “How could you? I trusted you.”
Charlotte continued talking, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. Maya blew out a breath, apprehension sweeping over her features. “I have to go, but we’ll talk about this later.” She set her phone on the table, her jaw tightening with resolve. “It’s true, and frankly, I’m stunned she thought it was a good plan.”
I shrugged. “This wasn’t my idea, but since we’re both here, we might as well enjoy a meal together. It’s on me, of course, so order whatever you like.”
She opened her mouth as if to say something and then promptly shut it. “You…want to stay? Why? You hate me.” Her brown eyes filled with emotion, and I felt myself drawing closer, wanting to set the record straight. Truth was, I didn’t hate her, but I’d never attempted to correct her wrong impression.
“Hate isn’t the word I would use.” I glanced to the side, a little unnerved by her reaction. “To be honest, I don’t think about you at all, Maya.” That wasn’t entirely true, but she didn’t need to know that her face crossed my mind at the most inopportune times.
Her eyes darted around the room as if looking for an escape. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but this is a disaster. I mean…you and me…” She shook her head as if trying hard to stomach something distasteful. “The very notion that…you know.”
“No, I don’t know.” I did, but I wanted her to say it.
“The notion of us together is laughable.”
Laughable. That was how she viewed me. I chuckled bitterly and shrugged. “Do what you want. If you prefer to leave, I won’t hold you back.” A deep sense of disappointment washed over me, strange as it was, and it was like all the worries of the past year weighed down on my chest. What was wrong with me? Why was I having this reaction to her?
Her forefinger tapped restlessly on the table as she considered what to do. “What do you want? Would you feel more comfortable ending the date?”
Great. She was putting it back on me. I was in no shape to make a decision here, but I had to admit that sitting across from her made me think of another time when I’d cared too much.
Much more than was good for me.
That was long ago.
She’d wanted nothing to do with me back then, and I didn’t blame her. I silently hoped she’d get up and leave and I could return to my life. I wasn’t cut out for relationships and being put in this situation was making me irritable.
If I was honest with myself, I’d admit that the idea of a do-over wasn’t so bad. The thought lingered for a solitary moment, and I shook my head to clear it. “I don’t care either way.” She grimaced and was just about to rise from her seat when I added, “But we might as well stay and eat.”
Her eyebrows flew up. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I hesitated. “For Charlotte’s sake, of course. I hate disappointing her.”
“Right. For Charlotte’s sake.”
“It’s settled then.” I picked up the cloth napkin in front of me and opened it on my lap. “Tell