Page 61 of The Seven Month Itch
I muster up the strength to peel myself from bed in search of something to wear. An off-the-shoulder sweater and leggings will have to do. The doorbell rings. I let in the attendant with the food cart and notice a shiny gold envelope between the metal food domes. “What’s that?”
“Ah, yes. That is your formal invitation to your private dinner tonight, madam.” I must look dumb and lost, because he stares back at me and repeats himself. “The private dates from speed dating were last night.” He points to the envelope. “There is a special request for your presence tonight.”
Huh?
I smile at his frown to keep from looking like a bigger ditz but bare my teeth by accident. With a quick nod, he bolts through the door. The envelope weighs heavy in my hands when I catch a glimpse of Terrence on his way to the kitchen.
A special request?
“Want some wine?”
“Yeah, that would be great.” I’ll take the whole bottle.
He sits at the table with two glasses of white wine. “What’s that?”
“It’s an invitation…to a private date tonight.”
“Private what?”
I hand it over for him to open. His face goes blank when he looks inside. “I forgot about this” is all I get before he sets down the envelope, picks up his fork and knife, and digs into his food.
“I don’t understand why I have this. I didn’t turn in my card after speed dating.”
“Well.” He points his fork at the envelope. “It looks like you have a date with Preston tonight. Seems he pulled some strings to make it happen since he wasn’t there.”
Sure enough, a peek inside reveals he requested my attendance at a restaurant tonight at seven. This must be his way of making up for the dance class he missed. Guess we were both busy yesterday. “Who did you blow off?” If the private dates were last night, did Terrence stand someone up? Was it Madison?
He mumbles something and spoons in another mouthful of spinach.
“Come again, Mr. Reyes?”
He mumbles again.
“Yeah, I still didn’t hear that.” I wave a hand in the air. “Must be the altitude.”
He levels me with a stare and says with clarity, “No one.”
My fork drops to my plate. Did I hear that correctly? Because it’s not the answer I expected. “Wait. You mean to tell me, out of a sea of single women, you chosenotto go on a date with anyone?”
“You know the answer to that, Justice.” He wipes his mouth and eyes me with a look that says to knock it off.
Any woman would drop to her knees in front of this man. Terrence checks every box with his charm, heart of gold, and successful business. And that’swithouthis sexual appetite. I always assumed he enjoyed life as a bachelor, including with Madison, who’s done everything but throw her panties at his forehead. Hell, maybe she has.
Did he really hold out for us to get back together? That can’t be true, because I’ve seen him with her. There’s no way—
“You’ll give yourself a headache thinking so hard, princess,” he says with a chuckle. “If I did want a fresh start, it wouldn’t be with someone I met at a singles’ retreat. And before you ask meagainabout Madison, it wouldn’t be with her either. Did I havea knee-jerk reaction when you were with someone else? Yeah, I did. But a relationship with her is a road I already traveled, and it’s a dead end.”
I cut into my salmon. “Well, that settles it. You need to take Madison out tonight, and I need to go to dinner with Preston.”
Terrence opens his mouth to respond but snaps it shut. Based on that vein about to burst through his neck, I’d say he’s somewhere between blowing a fuse and taking me to a psychiatrist to have my head examined.
“Why the hell would we do that?”
“For closure, or whatever you call it when you lead someone on but need to cut it off.” I reach for his hand. “It’s not fair to them to pretend like nothing happened.”
Look at you being all mature.
“Justice…”
