Page 72 of Love or Leave

She let out a sigh now that he was out of earshot and exited his car, cursing herself for ever agreeing to this date.

He came around the corner and she let him take her hand as they walked up the stairs, but she pulled away when they came to the door and reached into her purse for her key.

"I had a great time tonight," Jalen said.

She nodded and opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, he took her hand again, slowing her movements and forcing her to look up at him.

He moved in closer, put one hand on her cheek.

"Cara?"

She took in his dark eyes. "Yeah?"

"Can I kiss you?"

Her heart softened, and she questioned whether she was giving this enough of a try. Had she let her feelings for Antonio cloud her judgment about Jalen?

Oh, probably.

Maybe she needed to test the waters a bit with Jalen. Maybe it would help her lose her feelings for Antonio.

She nodded, and he leaned in close.

He smelled good. He looked good. He sounded good.

She hoped he'd kiss good, too.

But the moment his lips touched hers, she felt exactly nothing. It wasn't a bad kiss, but her heart wasn't in it. Nor was her brain.

Or her vagina, for that matter.

Any doubt about him being "the one" vanished instantly, like a fart in the wind.

Everything about him, to her at least, was just… meh. She really hoped that sleeping with Antonio hadn't ruined every other guy in comparison.

She pulled away from Jalen, feeling pretty down about everything, but when their eyes connected, she realized the feeling wasn't mutual.

"Wow," he said, rubbing his hands up and down her arms.

She gave him a half smile and glanced around the front yard, searching for words.

"Can I come in?"

Her eyes flew up to his and she could feel how wide they were. She forced them to relax and her brain to think.

"Uh… that's a little too fast for me," she said.

Okay, that was probably a weird thing to say. They'd been on several dates and had been talking for a couple of weeks by then. If she had no interest in being at home alone with him, wouldn't she know by now?

She was sending mixed signals for sure. Jalen seemed to think so, too. He gave a nod and looked around.

"We don't have to… I mean, we can just hang out for a while."

Cara shook her head before she realized how that might come across. There was just no way she wanted to be inside with him. Maybe if everyone else was home. But it was hockey night, so everyone was out.

Jalen seemed to get the point and gave a nod, then glanced back at his car.

"Okay," he said, taking a step away down the porch. "Maybe next time."

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