Page 94 of Healing Hearts
“I meant to talk to you, but I’ve been embarrassed to do it.” She faces the bar again, avoiding eye contact. “I was too hard on you about what did or didn’t happen between us.”
“And I apologize too,” I say, “for not taking what happened seriously enough. For not understanding that your feelings might not be the same as mine.”
Then she rotates to face me, the drink that was just delivered in her hand. She scans me, and then she smiles. “I cannot believe you’re the same guy from two years ago.”
I let out a little laugh in response, and then I order my drinks with the bartender. “At the risk of hearing something I don’t want, why’s that?”
“I’m not going to be mean,” Lila says. “You just seem so settled, but lighter. I don’t know how else to describe it. You were fun and flirty, but some part of you felt held back. And I think that’s what I was reaching for. But I was never the one meant to unlock that. I can see that now.”
“Emily tells me you’re engaged,” I say as two of my drinks slide onto the counter in front of me. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” she says. “Meeting Henry made me totally realize why you and I weren’t a good fit. He and I just make sense.” She glances over my shoulder. “Like you and Emily. I’m really happy for you both. She deserves it, and so do you.”
Her statement doesn’t make me draw back, and I try to let those words land instead of slide off me. “That means a lot,” I say, my voice rough.
“I’m just glad I can say it and mean it. That we’re all back in a good place.”
“Do you still have any connections to the theater in Utica?” I ask. An idea has been half-formed in my brain the last few weeks.
“I know how to book it, if that’s what you mean,” she says.
“Is it expensive?” I ask.
“Trent Castillo, are you planning to strip again?”
I chuckle and shake my head. “No, but I have something I want to do there. Thirty minutes to an hour, tops.”
“You and…”
“One other person.”
A slow grin spreads across Lila’s face. “I spent a lot of time on the phone with the woman who does the booking. Assuming she remembers me, I’ll see what I can do. Leave it with me.”
“Thanks,” I say, and then I juggle to get all three drinks into my hands. “And Lila?”
She smiles.
“I’m glad we’re okay again.”
“Me too,” she says.
To pull this off, I utilized all my resources. Kelvin was here fifteen minutes ago, and he got the screen set up with everything I needed. Grady came and did a sound check, and Mia loaned me Pasha to get Emily here right on time.
I’ve got thirty minutes of free use before another group comes in to set up some sort of theater performance that’ll be running in this building for weeks. I’m not sure how Lila talked them into giving me access for free, but my bank account is grateful. It took a hit a few weeks ago when Maggie went shopping with me.
“Hello?” Emily calls out from the edge of the audience.
“Over here,” I call.
“What are you doing here? This has been the weirdest day. Pasha came to pick me up, and for the first time in forever, the English he was speaking made no sense. But I got in the car.”
“I’m glad you did,” I say. “This seat right here is reserved for you.”
“What is going on?” she asks, but she’s laughing. “Trent, are you going to strip for me?”
“Why does everyone think I’m going to take off my clothes?”
She eyes me.
