Page 51 of Double Fault

The door to the bathroom opens and a woman jolts back with surprise.

“Sorry.” I hold up a hand and grimace. “We’re on our way out. Just checking on my girl.”

The moment the words are out, I squeeze my eyes shut.

Fucking hell, Noah. My girl? Are you drunk?

Unfortunately, no.

Clearing my throat, I move past Sabrina and the newcomer, muttering a “sorry about that,” as I leave. “Mygirl,” I mutter to myself on the way back to the booth. I shake my head back and forth like if I do it enough, I can erase those words from having ever left my mouth. “Idiot.”

“Who’s an idiot?” Maddie asks as I sit back down.

“Me.”

“Oh… well, I knew that. Is Sabrina okay?”

“I’m right here, sweetie.” The gorgeous, sad woman appears, smoothing down the back of her dress and sliding in.

“Are you okay?” Maddie hooks her arm around Sabrina’s. “You were gone a long time.”

“I’m okay, promise.” She ruffles my daughter’s hair, her eyes briefly making contact with mine and swimming with appreciation.

I say a prayer that she never brings up the “my girl” comment. If she does, I might burst into flames.

Within moments of placing our order, our appetizers arrive.

Maddie points out each one, but in the end says, “Let me just make you a plate.”

Sabrina gives her a genuine smile as she grabs the small plate and loads it up with a bit of each thing. “There you go.”

“Thank you.” Sabrina bumps her shoulder lightly against Maddie’s. “You’re pretty cool. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

I can’t help but smile at the confidence my daughter exudes. Annie and I worked hard to instill a positive sense of self in her. Now it’s up to me to keep up the job.

By the time we climb into the Lyft after dinner, the moon is shining in the sky. And when we make it back to the hotel with a bag full of various cheesecakes to sample, Maddie is dragging her feet and complaining about how tired and full she is.

Sabrina hesitates in the shared space, fingers laced in front of her. “Thank you for dinner. Thank you for the other thing too.”

For sharing about my parents.

The air simmers between us, our gazes held for one, two, three breaths.

Finally, the tension pops.

“You’re welcome.”

With a silent nod, she turns and pads to her room. When the door shuts behind her, I let out a breath.

“What are you doing?” I mutter aloud.

I don’t know what the hell the feelings swirling inside me mean, but I’m scared.

Terrified, really, that I’ve developed feelings for someone other than Annie.

It’s too soon.

---