Page 18 of Crazy About Love (All About Love)

“If you reciprocate.” I push my fork at her steak, and her arm hits mine as she reaches for the gooey rice. We each take our one bite, and I let the meat sit in my mouth for a bit, hoping I can makeeverybite of my food taste like this one.

“Okay, it’s not bad,” she says after her first taste of the steak.

“Bullshit,” I say. “It’s the best thing at this place.”

She rolls her eyes but takes another bite. Something that feels a lot like victory bubbles up in my chest.

But the risotto isn’t that bad either.

—

We eat for a few seconds—or minutes; who the hell knows—in silence. The coughing bush behind her rustles. A clink of her fork sends my eyes up to meet hers, and I realize she is staring right at me. Maybe through me.

“Why are you a bachelor?” she asks.

“Huh?”

“You’re in your late twenties, right? No serious girlfriend or prospects?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Truth.” She sets her fork down and locks her fingers under her chin. “So…why not?”

“Haven’t met the right girl, I guess.”

“Bullshit.” She shakes her head. “Really, you should stop with the lies, because you’re no good at them.”

I didn’t even know I was lying. But I am. It’s not that I haven’t met the right girl; it’s because I’m still hung up on one.

“You sure you want the truth?” I ask. “Might ruin this.”

“I think I already know the truth. I just want you to say it.”

“Why?”

“Because it might help. First step on the road to recovery: admit there is a problem.” Her hands drop to her lap. “So, Alex with ac, what’s the problem?”

I take another bite just to avoid saying it. It will ruin this night, won’t it? Or will it help? Rian looks at me expectantly, and I can see that this girl could really know meandwant me. That’s enough, right? That’s what I’m missing right now.

So I swallow. Then gulp again to make sure my voice doesn’t sound like there’s a frog in my throat.

“I’m in love.”

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