Page 39 of 28 Dates

Logan nods and steps back, lifts his hand in a goodbye gesture to Caitlin, and as he passes me, that hand falls. “Good night. I’ll take care of that bill.”

“Thanks.”

I stay where I am until I’m sure he’s left, and I know he’s gone when Caitlin’s gaze snaps from the end of the alley right to me. “What are you doing out here?”

Pissing in my corner, pretty much, which thankfully, I’m not dumb enough to speak out loud, but at her furious expression I lift my hands.

“Hey…you were the one who came here to make sure it’s safe for you. I was just following through on my part.”

“By following me outside and interrupting my time with him? That’s not cool.”

It’s not. But I hadn’t expected the visceral reaction to seeing her with someone, either, and I can’t even admit that because I haven’t told her Ashley and I are no longer a thing.

Freaking balls to the wall. I’m royally screwing this up. I’ll fix it. And soon.

I’ll just wait until she’s not looking at me like she wants to set me on fire.

“Okay, so I got pissed when I realized he left without paying, and I was worried. But that’s also part of my job, honey.”

Her head jerks at the endearment. It rolls so easily off my lips I don’t realize I’ve done it until it’s in the air, too late to pull back.

“I should go.” It’s not how I want this night to end although it’s definitely preferable to walking in on Logan’s mouth on hers in the alley. “Thanks. I guess.”

“Do you like him? Because if you do, I can smooth things out with him.”

I’ll do it. For her. Because she deserves everything she wants. I just happen to believe I’m the better man for her. Even if my behavior tonight says that’s bullshit.

Her lips pull to one side, and her shoulders slump. “He’s nice.” She shrugs. “And it’s weird even having this conversation with you. I like him, but…I dunno. Something’s not there, I guess.”

Halle-freaking-lujah. A heat presses throughout my chest, spreading to my arms. It takes everything I have not to raise a fist pump in celebration. Instead, I swallow thickly, forcing my grin to disappear with the words I want to say, and step back.

“Come on, I’ll wait for your cab to get here.”

“Ridiculous. You know how close I live.”

“Yeah, but it’s late and streets are busy. Get in the car. Andy ordered one for you and it’s probably out front.”

“Great,” she mutters, but she walks with me. I stay by her side, not speaking until she climbs into the car. And as she gets settled, I can’t stand the frown on her face. She looks so defeated, and there’s only one time I’ve seen that look on her…the day she said she wouldn’t even let me take her out on a date.

I can’t let her leave this way. Not tonight.

“Hey.” My arm is on top of the car, and I hold the door open with the other. “You okay? Because you suddenly look like someone kicked your puppy, and if it’s my fault I’m sorry, Caitlin. Truly.”

A flicker of a grin comes and goes. “I don’t have a puppy.”

“You get my point.”

She fluffs her hair, huffs out a breath, and her sad voice pierces my chest like an ice pick. “It’s okay. I’m just…I don’t know…losing hope, I guess.” She reaches for the door to close it, and it’d make me an even bigger jerk to stop her from the space she’s silently asking for.

I step back, but before the door closes, I assure her, “It’s not hopeless. I promise you, honey.”

“Thanks, Jonas.” She closes the door and is looking forward, ahead, away from me, before the car pulls out from the curb.

Before I can stop myself, I yank my phone out of my pocket and pull up PerfectMatch.

Quickly, I try to think of something that will make her laugh, right when she needs it.

What did Obi-Wan say at the rodeo?

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