Page 54 of 28 Dates

Intrigued. And don’t worry about last night. Busy week at the bar, and I can’t get away. Any chance you can swing by tomorrow after dinner?

Which puts me there right before Michael wants to meet anyway. Which could be perfect or horrific.

But at least this way, I can settle things with Jonas before meeting him, and if Jonas is open tomeor to trying something again with me, then I can let Michael down in person and apologize.

Look at me…being adult and shit.

I pull up PerfectMatch and open my message string to Michael.Tomorrow sounds good. See you then.

And then I go to my text from Jonas.Six-thirty-ish?

Sounds great-ish. ;-)

I press the button to take me to Trey’s floor and step in, catching my reflection in the doors, and it’s only then I realize I’m smiling. Excited. Color has pinkened my cheeks and made feel alive.

The only question: Is it because of Jonas? Or Michael?

Chapter 19

Jonas

Tonight. It’s all I can think about, and I’m surprised with myself when I realize I’m almost skipping down the cobblestone street on my way to grab lunch before heading to Dirty’s. There’s a sweet little café, and while I normally eat something from the restaurant’s kitchen while I’m working, some days it’s nice to get out on the streets and clear my head, walk off the stress of my own job, and have someone else cook for a change.

Today is one of those days where I definitely need to do that. I’ve barely slept at all since I left Caitlin’s place. I didn’t want to do anything other than crawl into her bed next to her and make sure she didn’t get sick in the night.

The last thing I wanted to risk seeing was the look of regret on her face when she remembered she kissed me and tried to talk me into taking her to bed in a completely different way than I actually did. Yeah, it killed, but thankfully Trey was still awake when I called him, and he came right down. Little was said, but considering he already knows how I feel about her, he also knew I wouldn’t be leaving if it hadn’t been the absolute right thing to do.

I was shocked as hell when she texted me yesterday morning. Was she apologizing for getting too drunk? Hell, I didn’t even realize she’d had too much to drink until her face turned green. We certainly hadn’t been slinging back drinks left and right. Or was she apologizing for kissing me?

Tonight I’m laying all my cards out on the table, and I’m fighting for what I want. But after the weekend, there’s no way I can continue to try to be someone else through our messages, as frivolous as they are. She likes the jokes, and I only knew she’d like them before because I know her so damn well. If she were to take a single second, she’d start to figure it out. I don’t want to have to dig my way out of a hole any deeper than it already is.

I pull open the door to the Southside Café, an odd name considering it’s in central Portland, and quickly scan the retro, modern restaurant. Light wood chairs that are so thin they look breakable and stainless steel table legs with Formica tops that wrap from the floor across the top all the way to the floor on the other side. This little café has always made me feel more like I’m walking into a science lab in high school than a place for great food, but they serve some of the best and greasiest burgers I’ve found in the city.

I’m headed to the counter to place a to-go order when I catch on wide green eyes, and my steps slow. Caitlin has her back to the windows, and her fork, filled with green salad, is at her mouth that looks like it’s come unhinged. On the other side of her is a guy I recognize, because he’s turned in his chair to see what snagged her attention.

Logan? It is. It most definitely is the same guy.

She’s eating lunch with the guy she met at Dirty’s last week? The one where I freaked out and was a dick to before he could kiss her?

Holy fucking shit. Had I been reading Caitlin the wrong way entirely, and shewasinterested in this guy? My hands, shoved into the pockets of my coat to stay warm, clench into fists as the guy sitting across from her recognizes me.

Fuck this. My heart is racing, my jaw aches from clenching it, with shock…and what?

Frustration with myself for being sucked back into Caitlin’s damn vortex all over again. Jesus, this is just as painful as the day I told her I wanted to take her on an actual date, and she gave me a look filled with such pity it was almost impossible to scrape my balls off the floor as I walked away.

And here she is…on a damn fucking date the day I’ve been willing to risk that humiliation all over again.

Because I love her. Stupid, stupid me.

I can’t fathom the expression on my face, but she flinches at whatever look I give her, and I turn. I’m out of there, on the curb and almost a block away, before her voice echoes down the street.

“Jonas! Jonas! Wait!”

Damn me. I’m a sucker for punishment.

I stop and run my hand down my face, sliding it across my jaw as she reaches me.

“Hey.” Hey? That’s the best I’ve got?

---