Page 102 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
He sighed. “Don’t apologize. You’re entitled to your feelings. I’m not gonna lie—it sucks and I’m disappointed. But I’m glad you were honest. I mean, who am I to stand in the way of love?”
My stomach churned as I took in the kindness in his eyes. “I hope I didn’t mislead you. I swear, it wasn’t my intention if I did.”
“You always gave off a friends-only vibe. If I thought I could change your mind, that’s on me.”
“You’re a keeper. You deserve someone who’s all in with you.”
“Never heard that before,” he said, his lips twitching. “I like the sound of it.”
“As you should. I don’t just go around saying that to anyone, you know.”
His laughter came easier this time, and it filled me with relief. “You’re a keeper yourself,” he told me. “Youdeserve someone who’ll treat you right. Whoever the guy is, I hope he knows how lucky he is.”
If only I could say that for sure. “It’s complicated.”
“Isn’t it always?”
I raised my glass to him and finally took a sip. The coffee was watery from the melted ice, but at least we’d had this talk. It took one weight off my shoulders, though I regretted that I might have lost one of my closest friends.
“Hey. I’m still invited to your party, right?”
My eyebrows flew up. “Yeah, definitely. I’d love for you to be there, but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable or anything.”
“You mean because you rejected me before I had the chance to ask you out?”
I grimaced.
Kai chuckled. “I’m kidding. Of course I’ll be there,” he said earnestly. “It’s the last chance to chill before finals. Besides, I’m curious to meet this guy of yours.”
“I’m not even sure he’ll show,” I muttered.
“Seriously? To yourbirthday?”
“I told you, it’s complicated.”
He huffed. “Well, we’ll have a good time with or without him.”
If Gabe came and Kai realized who I was talking about—what then? But if Gabe didn’t, could I really hold on to the fantasy that things would change between us? There was a fine line between hope and delusion. Now I found myself wondering if I’d already crossed it.
gabe
“I’m back!”
I swiveled in my chair and smiled at Max, who bounded toward me. “About time.” I saved my file and put my laptop to sleep.
The faculty room had grown too quiet in Max’s ten-day absence. Without noticing it, I’d grown accustomed to his dramatic entrances and invitations to hang out. He’d become my go-to person to exchange ideas with and vent my frustrations to, having survived his own dissertation. I didn’t realize how much I needed that until he went on leave.
“Thanks again for covering for me,” Max said as he sank into the chair next to mine. “Remind me to pay for drinks next time.”
“You’re welcome. Glad to know your mother-in-law is doing better.”
He leaned back, getting comfortable. “It’s such a relief. Technically, she’s not my mother-in-law—I call her that because she’s a second mom to me. She accepted Paul’s and my relationship faster than anyone in my family.”
“I see. You never brought Paul along for drinks.”
“That’s it?” Max blinked at me. “No questions?”
Lifting my shoulders, I said, “I’ll rephrase. Why haven’t you brought him for drinks?”
