Page 43 of One Sweet Day is Never Enough

Oh, just shoot me now.

“Okay, so, uh, thanks for letting me know.” Her cheeks felt even warmer. She lowered her head. “Um, so I should probably get going.”

She had to get out of there. Now.

He nodded but looked confused. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

Gia shook her head. Her heart still pounded out of her chest. “It’s okay, really. You’re right—you’re under no obligation to share your personal life with me. We’re just business partners,” she floundered. “I’d better go see if… Angela needs any help.”

It was the only excuse she could think of. She hurried off. Pine needles crunched under her sandaled feet as she made her way back to the fire, where she slid in next to Kira.

Kira’s brow tightened at her unusual approach. “Everything okay?”

“It’s fine. I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

Kira put her arm around her and pushed some of her blanket over Gia’s knees. “Okay, honey. No problem.”

Gia still almost held her breath. What a fool she was.

A few minutes later, Seth walked back up to the crowd around the fire and found Jake. He stuck out a hand. “Hey, man. Thanks for having me. I’m gonna take off. Early morning tomorrow.”

His voice sounded a little off, too. He was probably just as embarrassed as she was at the unpleasant conversation.

Why had he waited until tonight to tell her this? She never would’ve even invited him here if she’d known how uncomfortable she’d been making him.

Jake stood and shook his hand. “No worries. Glad you could make it. I’ll see you around.”

“All right, everybody, I’ll see you later.” Seth waved politely and made his exit, and they all said goodnight.

Gia’s ears were still burning. Her cheeks were still probably bright red, too. Fortunately, probably no one could tell in the darkness.

Tom sat across the fire from her next to a girl that Jake had introduced earlier as a friend of his. Gia followed Tom’s glance as he watched Seth leave. She met Tom’s gaze then frowned and looked away.

She hated to think it, but Tom had been right. She should’ve listened.

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