Page 28 of Undone

She rolled her eyes, burping into her napkin.

“Cute.”

“You forgot to feed me last night.”

“Sorry. I was too busy feeding myself between your—”

“Smith!” Her cheeks turned pink as she slapped a hand over my mouth as our waitress dropped the check. I nipped her palm lightly causing her to giggle. I reached for my wallet, but Luce was quick. Before I knew what happened—she placed a fifty on top of the tab as she handed it back to the waitress.

“Why did you do that?”

“I ate more than you. Besides—I always pay my share.”

“Not with me you won’t.”

“I’m not with you…yet.”

“Are we having this conversation again?”

She sat back, shrugging. “My life is in Chicago. Yours is here.”

“We’ll see. Did you change your flight?”

“I did. I called while you were on your cell talking Club business.”

I linked our hands across the dinner table. “I might be the Club’s Prez, but I’m a simple man, Luce.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.”

“Will you take a chance finding out?”

“That depends…”

“On what?”

“On if you’ll wait.”

“Wait for what?”

“Me. I never went as far with someone as I did with you yesterday without at least dating them for a bit. Have you ever heard that expression ‘Always a bridesmaid, never a bride’?” She asked, sighing softly.

“Can’t say I have.”

“I have twelve. Twelve frilly, puffy, brightly colored bridesmaid’s dresses hanging in my closet. It’s become quite the joke back home. I’m always the girl who never gets to the end with someone. I always get left behind while the man rides away into someone else’s sunset.”

“That’s because you were meant to ride into mine, babe.”

“I need more than just words, Smith. I need you to show me. Prove to me you mean these pretty words.”

“Oh, I will. I promise you…” The ringing of my cell interrupted my words. “Yeah? Yeah, I have her. Tell your woman to stop screaming, I can barely hear ya’ Rog. I’m driving her back to Springdale, where else? Jesus… get your woman under control.”

I ended the call caught between laughter and anger.

“Devon thought you kidnapped me?”

“She did. Didn’t you text her that I was taking you back?”

“I forgot my cell charger. My phone struggled to find a signal where we were, and my battery drained.”

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