“Her name is Lisa. She lives only a couple of doors away from me. We always say hello to each other and make small talk. I didn’t even realize that she liked me until last week when we said our normal greetings, and she stopped me so that we could talk. She told me that she had been trying to pluck up the courage to ask me out for ages, but that she had hoped I would do it first. I was quite shocked, but of course, I felt flattered. She is really beautiful.”
I frown. “Well, why didn’t you make the first move?”
He takes a swig of his beer then sets it down. “Well, for one, I was still kinda hung up on you,” he replies, a slight reddening of his cheeks. “And for another, I don’t like to admit it, but I’m shy. It’s hard for me to approach women just in case I get rejected. When I was in school, I was kind of dorky. I had braces very young and didn’t mix well with people. I tried asking a girl out once, and she laughed at me. I must’ve left a scar because I haven’t felt confident asking a girl out for fear of rejection since.”
That story sounds awful. Whoever this girl was, she needed a good kick in the ass. Michael’s beautiful inside and out. He should never have to worry about asking a woman out. It makes me sad to think of all the missed opportunities he’s had over the years because this is how he felt. Some people are so cruel, and I bet she didn’t care to realize that what she did was the catalyst that negatively impacted his romantic life from that moment on.
Feeling annoyed at the news, I grab his hand. “Michael, listen to me. If I hadn’t been so hung up on Jake, you would be my perfect catch, and I truly mean that. What woman wouldn’t want you? You’re funny, kind, beautiful inside and out. Any woman would be extremely lucky to have you.”
His face lights up. “Really?”
I nod. “Really. Please don’t let what some snotty little teenage girl said to you years ago in school get in the way of you finding your happiness. You deserve to find it, Michael, and I really hope this Lisa treats you well … or she’ll have me to answer to.” I grip his hand tighter before taking another sip of my drink.
“Thank you. That means a lot to me. Me and Lisa are still in the very early stages, so we’ll see how it goes. I’m determined to take my time. I booked us two separate rooms so that she knows I’m not rushing this.”
I smirk at him. “Perfect gentleman.”
He smiles sadly back at me. “I want you to find your happiness too. I’m thinking it is with Jake, but that’s none of my business. I can’t tell you what you should be doing as far as that is concerned. It’s up to you, but I know he makes you happy. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. It is sometimes rather hypnotizing to watch. I’m not the only one who’s noticed it either. The chemistry between you two is like nothing else I’ve ever witnessed before. Admittedly, it was one of the things I was most jealous of when I started to want you for myself.”
I’m quite taken aback by this. People have noticed Jake and I, and the way we look at each other? This is news to me. He notices my stunned expression and puts his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you mad or anything. I’m just telling you the truth.”
I’m not mad. I’m shocked. “It’s okay. I’m not mad, just a little surprised, that’s all. I didn’t realize people were talking about us like that. I also didn’t realize how you felt. You could have spoken to me about it.”
He shrugs his shoulders. “What would have been the point? Deep down, I knew I never had a shot with you, but my stubborn ass pursued the possibility anyway. To be brutally honest, I’m glad you suggested a time-out as it gave me the chance to sit back and realize how stupid I was being.”
I squeeze his hand, tutting at him. “You weren’t being stupid, so don’t beat yourself up about it. I already told you, if it wasn’t for Jake, I would have jumped