you know I did anything?”
“Man, I’ve been married for five years now. You think that relationship didn’t come with its struggles before we finally fixed our shit for good? I’ve been you. I know what you’re going through.” He juts out his chin toward Maya. “Just like I know you had better fix it soon because women like her don’t come around often.”
He doesn’t know how right he is.
I knew she was special the first moment I saw her. I didn’t get how much until later.
Now I fear I might be too late.
He gives me another prod, jostling me forward.
I straighten my shoulders, deciding to get it over with because at this point it would be more awkward if I didn’t.
I take slow, intentional steps toward her.
Her eyes track my every move, her throat working as I get closer.
I stop at the end of her table, and I swear for a moment I can hear how hard her heart is beating.
Or maybe that’s mine.
“Hey.”
Hey? HEY? God, could I be lamer?
She lifts one of her sculpted brows. “Hey.”
Her voice is icy, dripping with sarcasm.
She thinks I sound like an idiot too.
“Do you mind?” I point to the booth.
She waves her hand. “Go right ahead.”
I slip into the spot across from her, noticing the way she backs up to avoid our knees brushing together. It reminds me of all the time we’ve spent sitting like this, finding any excuse to touch each other under the table where nobody could see us.
“I’m sorry I missed the party.”
She chokes out a laugh, though there’s not even a hint of humor in it. “Tell that to my son who was excited to show you the progress he made on his video game.”
“I did.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “You know, Nolan, I can live with you ignoring me, but I can’t deal with you hurting my kid. Sam loves you. He doesn’t deserve that.”
“You’re right. He doesn’t. I’m an asshole.”
“A giant asshole.”
“I’m a giant asshole.”
The corners of her lips twitch, but she puts a stop to it fast, turning her gaze out the window.
We sit in silence, me tapping my fingers against the table in a nervous manner, her staring outside, pretending I’m not sitting across from her.
“So, uh,” I start when I can’t take it any longer, “how’d the move go?”
Like an ass, I volunteered to work the weekend she moved into her new place. I couldn’t be there when she left. Couldn’t watch her walk away.
“Fine.”
“Do you like your new place?”
“It’s fine.”
“How are you?”
She drags her gray eyes back to me, and there’s no mistaking the pain rippling in them, or the tiredness. Her eyes are puffy and dark, like she’s not been sleeping well. I wonder if it’s because of me.
“Fine, Nolan. I’m fine.”
She’s anything but fine, and we both know it.
She’s hurting like I’m hurting.
I lean across the table and she matches my movement, though I’m not sure she even notices she does it.
I run my tongue over my lips, trying to find the words to say to her as she stares at me with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.
“Maya, I—”
“Hey, Mom,” Sam says, interrupting us. Maya sits back, putting distance between us once again. “Can we get ice cream next?”
“Sure can, kiddo. Whatever you want.”
I tilt my head, surprised.
She shrugs. “We do it every year around his birthday. I pull him out of school for a day and we have fun.”
She tosses her hair over her shoulder and scoots out of the booth, ending our conversation.
I stand too, and a wave of awkwardness washes over us.
We don’t know what to say, what to do. We stand there staring at one another like we’ve never met before. Like I don’t know what she feels like…tastes like.
It’s painful.
“Hey, Brooks! Food’s here,” Jake calls out, saving me.
I give him a nod, then turn back to Maya, who looks like she wants to stay and run all at the same time.
“Well, uh, it was good to see you,” I say, like she’s an old friend and not the girl who holds my heart in the palm of her hand.
She sighs, disappointed. “Yeah. You too.”
“Later, shithead.”
Sam rolls his eyes at me. “Are you coming to my talent show still? It’s Friday night and I won’t be playing a Bob Seger song.”
I smirk. Dean was not happy with me for that one. “Yep. Wouldn’t miss it.”
Maya sends me a look saying Don’t you dare bail on him again.
“I promise,” I tell him, reassuring them