Page 107 of The Disasters of Dating
ALWAYS!!!
Keaton
I’m looking for an apartment and wondered if you wanted to come look with me?
He’s looking for an apartment? Does that mean he’s moving here full-time? My heartbeat picks up while my stomach clenches. What is wrong with me?
Sure. Where are you looking?
Keaton
South Jordan/Herriman area.
Why isn’t he looking closer to his work? He’s not choosing those areas because of me, right?
Nice areas. What time?
Keaton
I’ll pick you up at 4:30? Maybe we can do dinner after?
Sounds great. See you then.
I look at my watch and see that he’ll be here in only two hours. I guess I should clean this stuff up and work on it later. Keaton leaves tomorrow night, so I should have plenty of time overthe weekend to finish these up. I grab the special one that I made very first. It has three small stones tied together on a black cord. I tuck it into my pocket. I’ll wait for the right moment to give it to him.
Keaton knocks on the door at 4:30 on the dot. He was sitting in his car for ten minutes before that. I can only assume he didn’t want to catch me too early because then he might have to visit with my mom. And after the last time? I can understand why he’d want to avoid that.
I open the door and can’t help the smile that spreads across my face when he sees me.
“Hey,” I say.
He’s wearing a suit, and it takes my breath away for a moment. He looks amazing in jeans and a golf shirt. He also looks quite fabulous in shorts and a t-shirt. But the suit is a whole different kind of attractive. He looks…what? Powerful? Important? Successful? Maybe all three rolled into one.
I look down at my Hammer pants and flowy shirt. “Should I change? I didn’t realize this was a suit and tie kind of thing.”
He leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek. He’s smiling at me when he pulls back. “No, you look great.” He looks down at his suit. “I was in a meeting until it was time to leave. I didn’t have time to change. I hope you’re okay with this.”
I bite the side of my cheek as I give him another once-over. I take my time doing it. Hopefully, he’ll think I’m doing it as a joke, not just so I can fully appreciate what is standing before me.
I take a slow, measured breath. “I’m good with the suit if you are.”
He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Are you ready to go then?”
I reach over and grab my purse off the entry table. “Yep.”
He opens my door and helps me into the car. Then he settles in behind the wheel. “So, how did the talk go with your mom?”
My shoulder lifts. “As good as could be expected, I guess.”
“And how are you feeling about it?”
I sigh. “Fine, I guess. I mean, I think it’s going to take some time to get over the lying. I get why she did it, but it’s still going to be hard to get over, you know? I still feel betrayed.”
His body stiffens slightly, and he nods. “I get that. There is a level of trust that will have to be built back up again.”
“Yes,” I say slightly louder than I intend. “My mom couldn’t seem tounderstand that. She says the only lies she told were concerning Adam. And now that it’s out in the open, she has no reason to lie.” I frown. “But she doesn’t understand that in the back of my mind I’ll still be wondering if she lied about Adam, what else would she lie about? I’m not okay with lying.”
“Yeah,” he clears his throat. “It changes relationships. Whether you mean for it to happen or not. It just does.” Keaton is watching the road intently, his hands white knuckling the steering wheel. I wonder if he’s had a similar experience with someone lying to him and that’s what’s causing his reaction. I mean, I know he likes me, but I can’t imagine he’s that mad on my behalf. Or is he?
