Page 45 of Lovesick

Something softened in his face, and then he smiled.

“Well,” he said. “I’m excited to have you by my side at that dinner.”

18

DEAN

I couldn’t take my eyes off her, but neither could Dr. Hofstetter and his few colleagues he invited. Emilia looked stunning in her long, burgundy dress, and the shine of the silk made her skin glow. She was beautiful, and not just in the way that made heads turn. She had that quiet, effortless kind of beauty that crept up on you and left you speechless.

She laughed at something the doctor said, and it hit me in the chest harder than I expected. I never truly heard her laugh like that. Not even in our stolen moments. Back then, I didn’t appreciate her. Didn’t appreciate anything about her other than her body. And even that, I took advantage of.

God, I’d been such a bastard. I’d had her within reach and treated her like something optional. Like she was only part of my life when it was convenient. And even though I told myself I was protecting her from me…the truth is, I was protecting myself. From feeling too much. From being vulnerable.

But now, sitting here and seeing her beside me in public, knowing she chose to be here tonight despite everything, I couldn’t hide from it anymore.

I was falling for her.

No. That wasn’t right.

I’d already fallen.

I wasn’t sure when it happened. Maybe it was the first time she challenged me in a meeting. Or when she brought me coffee without asking how I liked it and got it exactly right. Or maybe it was the first time we ever touched in the elevator.

It didn’t matter when it happened. Just that it had. And that she was here now, giving me a second chance I didn’t deserve.

I watched her talk to Dr. Hofstetter, listened to her smooth voice threading between theirs like music, and something tightened in my chest.

I wanted to reach for her hand under the table. I wanted to say it aloud.

I have feelings for you, Emilia. Real ones. The kind that scare the hell out of me.

But not yet. Not here. This moment was hers. I’d already taken so much from her. Tonight, I just wanted her to feel safe. Seen. Wanted.

“I didn’t know Dr. Hofstetter had such a good sense of humor,” Emilia said as we walked out onto the street where I had parked my car.

I chuckled under my breath. “He usually doesn’t. I think he was just so smitten by you that he opened up like that.”

She laughed, softer now, and glanced at me as we kept walking. “I don’t think that’s why, but I had fun. I didn’t expect to actually enjoy myself,” she admitted with a small smile. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“I’m glad you came.” I meant it. “You were incredible in there. The way you handled their questions...Honestly, I think you impressed everyone more than I ever could’ve, and you didn’t even have to.”

She looked at me, her expression a little unreadable. “I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.”

“I know,” I said. “That’s probably why you did.”

We paused at the edge of the sidewalk, right by my car. It had gotten late, and the street was quiet and empty. A car drove by occasionally, and the wind kept lifting the hem of her long dress. Her curly hair moved gently as another breeze rolled in. For a moment, we didn’t speak.

“I didn’t think this would feel so…” she trailed off.

“Easy?” I offered.

She nodded. “Yeah.”

I leaned back against the side of my car, my hands in my pockets. “It’s not easy for me,” I admitted. “I’m doing everything I can not to mess this up.”

Emilia blinked, surprised by my honesty.

I looked at her then, and all the carefully guarded parts of me started slipping. “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how I treated you. About what I let myself ignore. You gave me more grace than I deserved. And somehow, you’re here.”

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