Page 130 of Champagne Nights

“I heard. I brought you a mushroom, onion, and cheese omelet with whole wheat toast.”

“Thanks.”

“So spill. Tell me how coffee went,” he said as he sat down.

“It was nice. We had a very nice talk.”

“Nice?” he asked as he looked at me and took a bite of toast. “How old are you? Fifty? Who says, ‘It was nice,’ besides Mom?”

“Fine. It was great. It was great to finally talk to someone who I could relate to and who could relate to me. Someone who understood why I don’t like to go out and do things like I once used to. Someone who doesn’t look at me with pity because they know what it’s like to be looked at that way. Someone who tells me it’s okay to feel like I do.”

“I get it,” he said as he ate his eggs. “But I never look at you with pity. You know that.”

“He put his number in my phone.” I smiled as I bit down on my bottom lip.

“Are you going to call him?”

“No.”

“You’re weird. Why not?”

“I don’t know.”

He put down his fork and grabbed another piece of toast. “He gave you his number because he wants you to call him. I’m a guy. I know these things. If you don’t call him, he’ll feel rejected and unworthy of you. Is that what you want?”

“Shut up.” I laughed as I threw a piece of toast at him.

He gave me a smirk, and we finished eating our breakfast. Just as Keaton was leaving, he picked up Romeo and gave him a kiss.

“Oh, by the way, I’m bringing someone to family dinner tomorrow.”

“Who? Elena?”

“Nah. We’re still on a break. Her name is Brielle, and she’s smoking hot.”

“That’s real nice, Keaton.” I scowled.

“Okay, she’s more than that, but I can’t tell you because I’m not sure yet. She’s just great.”

His enthusiasm for this girl was nothing new to me. He got this way over all the new girls he’d met over the years. But for some reason, I thought Elena was different for him.

“Great. I can’t wait to meet her,” I said as I walked him to the door.

“I sense some sarcasm in that tone of yours. See you tomorrow, Paisley.” He waved.

I gave him a small smile and shut the door. Romeo strutted up and rubbed his body against me. He looked up at me with those big blue eyes and meowed. I bent down and picked up him, holding him close to me while I stared out the window and thought about Ben.

Ben

As I opened my eyes, the first thought that came to my mind was Paisley. The coffee we shared last night was great, and the conversation was even better. She was a beautiful and sweet woman who was still hurting from the death of her husband, like I was with Amy. At least I could share my thoughts and pain with someone who understood. She certainly didn’t deserve this deal in life, and neither did I. I climbed out of bed, put on my running clothes, and headed down toward the pier for my run. As I was jogging and listening to my iPod, I looked over to find David jogging next to me. I put my iPod on mute and took the earphones from my ears.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey, Ben. I saw you a few feet back. I didn’t want to interrupt you. You looked like you were in deep thought. I figured that you’d eventually notice me.”

“Do you always run here?” I asked.

“No. I was bored with my usual route, so I tried the pier. I used to jog here years ago. I’m up and out every morning before work. You don’t mind the company, do you?”

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