Page 12 of Speeding Hearts

As we cut through the square, I couldn’t help notice a scene by the ice cream shop at the other end. A guy with a bouquet of roses appeared to be professing his love to a slightly bewildered looking woman. She was pretty, with shockingly bright red hair. The moment was so sweet, so intimate, I felt a twist of pain in my chest.

When I glanced up at Dean, I could tell he’d seen them too. Was he thinking of… me? What the hell was the matter with me? Why was I suddenly tripping over myself, thinking of Dean in any way other than my friend?

“They’re sweet,” I said softly.

Dean nodded, his jaw working. He was probably thinking about Victoria. When he looked at me, his face was unreadable. My embarrassment grew thick, clogging my throat. I was an idiot. Why would I imagine my best friend might think of me that way? Why would I think of him that way?

Over his shoulder, I spotted a sign across the street. Gino’s Pizza.

“Isn’t that the place you always talked about?” I asked.

“Oh God yeah,” Dean said, sounding deeply relieved. “Best pizza west of New York City,” he said.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” I said, forcing brightness into my voice. “Let’s get a slice.”

* * *

When we pushedthrough the door, the scents and sounds of the pizza shop took over my embarrassment from that awkward moment outside.

Warm dough. Tangy sauce. Oregano. A giant stone oven glowed orange in the center of the half-open kitchen. There weren’t too many people at the tables—it was a Monday night, after all.

“Go ahead and seat yourself!” the server called from a table on the far side of the room.

He was serving a group of three women around our age, one of whom had a baby.

One of the other women, a pretty blonde, was staring directly at me.

“Shit,” Dean breathed beside me.

My stomach dropped. I knew, with total certainty, that it had to be Victoria. I wasn’t expecting to be confronted with the love of Dean’s life tonight. It shouldn’t have bothered me, but I suddenly felt like a caged rabbit. Like I didn’t want to see this part of him.

“Dean!” The woman called, seeming to recover from the shock of seeing him there with me as she got up and crossed the checkered floor towards us. “I thought you couldn’t make it?”

He had plans? With her?

“Dean?” I said. He looked a little sick. I looked back at the woman. “Hi,” I said. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t—”

“I couldn’t make it,” Dean said. “I had plans with my friend, Stella, here.”

Even though I should have been relieved—he wasn’t trying to hide me or anything, and using ‘my friend’ was the right way to describe me—I couldn’t help how small it made me feel.

And how plain I felt next to this gorgeous woman.

I was average all around. Average height, average brown hair, average everything. She was everything else.

“Nice to meet you, Stella. I’m Victoria.” She thrust out her hand. While her handshake was firm, I saw something waver in her eyes. It wasn’t cruelty or cattiness.

It was hurt.

Shame washed over me. I wanted to tell her don’t worry, we were totally just buddies. That I couldn’t care less about Dean and her.

But I’d have been lying.

I cleared my throat, determined to try my best. “My buddy Dean was just showing me around Oak Bend—beautiful town,” I said, emphasizing thebuddypart, even though it felt alien on my tongue. “We’re just getting a quick bite, then I have to get home. But maybe you can stay, Dean?”

Dean furrowed his brow. He looked confused. Or maybe wounded himself that I was so willing to ditch him. Well shit, now he knew what it felt like. “Oh—”

“Seriously,” I said, “I can take a cab.”

---