Page 232 of Love in Riverbend
“You did.”
“You’re giving me another chance?”
“I realized if I didn’t show, I would be the one who didn’t follow through. For the record, I don’t want to be the reason you don’t follow through on your dream.”
“Thank you,” I say sincerely.
“Also, I Ubered here.”
“Good.” Offering her my arm, I go on. “I’ll drive. I like the idea of you in my car.”
At the sight of my arm, Marilyn narrows her eyes.
“If we’re dating, we should probably touch.”
“No strings.” She lays her hand in the crook of my arm. “There is something I need to warn you about. I learned today that my ex will be at the dinner.”
“Your ex?”
Together, we walk down the hallway to the outside door. The streetlights shine down through the darkening sky, sending circles of illumination onto the sidewalks and parking lot. I lead her to the passenger door of my Sonata.
“I expected you to drive a truck,” she says.
“I used to. This is a hybrid and better on fuel economy.” I open the door. “And isn’t filled with mud.”
Marilyn smiles as she sits down into the bucket seat.
I can’t help but notice the shapeliness of her leg as her dress rides up. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”
By the time I get around to the driver’s seat, Marilyn is buckled in. “About this ex? Were you two serious?”
“Not really. Remember when I told you I’d taken a date to the dinner before I was hired?”
Nodding, I start the car. “Real but didn’t last, is what you said.”
She inhales and leans her head back against the seat. “His name is Bryce, Bryce Perkins. He also works at Parker and Stevens. We met during my internship. He works in talent acquisitions.”
The car warms as we move into traffic. “So, he’s involved in hires?”
“He’s part of the team. I didn’t think about it when you first asked me. I didn’t think about it until earlier this afternoon when he asked me to accompany him to this same dinner.”
My smile grows. “You decided to go through with this dinner to get back at him. You still like him.”
“I don’t still like him,” she corrects. “He’s boring and narcissistic.” Her smile blossoms. “I guess Devan had a point.”
“What point would that be?”
“If I don’t like someone, I forget about them.”
“You didn’t forget about me.”
“That would be hard, seeing as we’ve been dating off and on.”
Chapter 14
Marilyn
“Besides,” I say, “I agreed to go to this dinner before you were an ass. Your being an ass shouldn’t have been a surprise. I stick to my word.”
