The Yes Factor - Erin Spencer Page 0,17

any.” He doesn’t sound bitter, just sad.

This is about the twentieth time he’s brought up his ex. I should have suspected something was amiss right away when he mentioned meeting her at the Fiddler audition. That’s not normally something most people would mention after meeting someone for all of ten seconds.

“I’m sorry about that, Brandon. That must have been hard for you.” This conversation has been spiraling downward ever since we left The Vacancy. It’s like the florescent lights of this taco joint have illuminated all of his sorrows. “How long ago did you get divorced?” His wounds seem so fresh, I’m guessing a year, tops.

“It’s been eleven years. Seems like yesterday.” He looks away and grabs a paper napkin from the metal container on the tabletop. Are his eyes glassy?

“Uh…I’m sorry to hear that.” This is all feeling a bit much. It’s obvious his baggage is a heavy load he doesn’t bear well. “Do you mind if we head out? I’m beat.”

“Oh, sure. Sure.” He finishes the remaining bite of his Maui Me taco and we head for the door. “It’s been great hanging out with you, Bex. You are so easy to talk to.” I return his watery smile with a tight-lipped grin. It’s time for this date to end.

It’s nearly eleven o’clock when we pull up in front of my house. I don’t like the idea of someone I just met knowing my address, but Liv thought it would be fine if he gave me a ride home. After that disappointment of a date, I wish I hadn’t. I sat in silence for the entire ride home except for saying “turn here” or “get in your left lane.” The chemistry between us at The Vacancy has fizzled out like a Fourth of July sparkler.

“Oh, no, that’s okay,” I say with a bright voice after he offers to walk me to my front door. Realizing I’ve said no instead of yes, but the bucks gotta stop somewhere. I said yes once, and after the taco tedium, that’s the only yes Brandon will be getting from me. “Liv will probably be asleep and I’m just gonna go to bed.” It’s a lame excuse but I can’t bring myself to say no flat out.

He doesn’t take the hint and is already opening his car door. “Really? But it’s early. We can talk a little bit more.”

I don’t mean to, but I shake my head in disbelief. What else is there to talk about? Besides his ex-wife, of course.

Brandon opens my car door and takes me by the hand. He then proceeds to hold my hand, which I pull away as we walk toward the front door. The voice inside my head is now starting to get a little hysterical. Is he going to try to kiss me? I haven’t kissed anyone in years! But then the reasonable voice says, Bex, you’re a grown woman. A kiss might do you good. Get you back in the game! Yes, he’s got issues, but he is nice to look at. And at least he’s a good guy, albeit one who can’t get over his past.

When we finally reach the door after what seems like the longest, most awkward walk of my life, Brandon reaches out to try to take my hand again. “I had a really good time with you tonight. I mean, like, a really, really good time. When can I see you again?”

I hesitate, thinking never. “Uh, I don’t know. I’m really busy and Liv just got in to town, so—”

“How about next Monday?” he says with the eager optimism of a child.

I’m desperately thinking of an excuse. “No, Monday isn’t good. I’m uh…starting a new project.” I’m grasping at straws here.

“How about Tuesday?”

“Oh, Tuesday. Shoot. I can’t on Tuesday either.”

He has a sad droopy dog look on his face. “Really? Okay.” But he recovers quick enough. “Well, let me get your number and I’ll call you on Wednesday. We could maybe figure out a plan for next weekend.” His voice lowers as he continues. “I really like you, Bex. I haven’t had this kind of instant connection with someone since the day I met my ex.”

“And look how that turned out!” My attempt at humor falls flat and the moment turns serious again.

For some reason I feel bad. Maybe it’s female guilt or something, I don’t know, but I recite my number and watch him type it into his phone, hoping beyond all hope that he’ll type it in wrong…but