Page 93 of The Disasters of Dating
I can’t help but notice a tightness in her voice. Does that mean she wants to be my girlfriend? Crap. I should have prepared both of us more thoroughly before we came. I should have used the drive time to prep rather than talking about Paisleigh. Geez. It sounds like we’re in a fake relationship or something.
The others turn their attention to their menus. It’s likely difficult to watch the train wreck that’s happening across the table from them.
“I’m sorry about all this,” I say under my breath. “I guess I wasn’t prepared for what they would say.”
She reaches over and puts her hand on my arm. “It’s okay, Keaton. Really.”
I shake my head. This was the worst idea I’ve ever had. And this is surely my strike two. Does that mean I only have one more and then she kicks me to the curb? Man, I almost hyperventilate thinking about it.
CHAPTER 27
POPPY
It’s those you think you know best who may cause you the most shock today. Realize that you may have been taking them for granted. It’s easy to have hurt feelings when they haven’t let you in on this decision. But remember, just like you, they need to make their own way in the world.
I’m managingthe dinner conversation. I like Claire better than Jasmine. I just can’t get a read on that girl. But she definitely makes me glad that I let Paisleigh dress me. I’m fairly certain Jasmine would not appreciate my ‘Poppy style’.
Finally, we finish eating, and Keaton pays the bill. For the whole table. It had to be expensive. I wonder how much money he makes—which is an inappropriate thing to think, right?
When the server brings back his credit card and the receipt, Keaton signs the slip and tucks the card in his wallet. He then scoots out his chair. “This was great, guys.” He stands behind my chair. “But I promised Poppy we would go for ice cream.”
I glance over at him. Does he want to stay with his friends longer? I know he said they were only co-workers. But I don’t want to be the reason that he doesn’t become friends with them because he feels like I want to rush off. “We can do that another time, if you want to stay.”
He gives me a wide-eyed look. “No, I promised ice cream, and we will have ice cream. I’m nothing if not a man of my word.”
I’m not sure what he is trying to tell me. But when he reaches outand grabs my hand, I hold on. Perhaps a bit too tightly. I’m so out of my element right now. I’d felt all kinds of disappointment when he clarified I wasn’t his girlfriend. Which was the truth, right? I mean, we’ve known each other for two weeks. A fortnight does not a girlfriend make—at least not outside of a Regency romance.
I like the feel of my hand in his and can barely keep my stomach from jumping. And my knees? It’s that Jello-y feeling again. How can I enjoy this so much and still have so many doubts?
We walk out of the restaurant, and he clears his throat. “Are you still game for ice cream? Or did that experience cement for you that the universe is against us?”
I smile at his reference. “We didn’t have to leave,” I say as I bite my lip. I pull on the leg of my skinny jeans. Or rather, Paisleigh’s skinny jeans. Normally, we can’t wear the same pants. But Paisleigh said she is saving these for when she gets thin again. I’d rolled my eyes at her.
As far as I’m concerned, she can keep the pants. They are the most uncomfortable and confining things I’ve ever worn. I’d wager my Grandma Alice would love them. She’s all about confining and uncomfortable things.
“We didn’t leave because of you. We left because of me.” He frowns. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even consider if you were having a good time in there.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I have made one massive mistake after another, haven’t I? I should never have had you come. But now I’ve dragged you out when you were having an enjoyable time.” He closes his eyes, and his lips move like he’s chastising himself. “Seriously, this is like strike two for me, isn’t it?”
I squeeze his hand, which is still holding mine. “Hey, you didn’t drag me away from an enjoyable time. I was worried that you were having fun but thought you had to leave so you could take me for ice cream. I mean, I like ice cream as much as the next guy. But I can forego it if you want to stay here and visit with your…” I trail off, uncertain what to call them.
He looks down at our clasped hands and smiles up at me. “I’m only interested in visiting withyoutonight. So if you don’t want ice cream, we can do something else.”
We both laugh and relax at the same time.
“Would you mind too much if we went to my house so I can change into something more comfortable? Then we can figure out what we want to do.”
He nods. “That sounds like a great plan.”He walks around the car and opens my door for me. As he walks around the car, I release a deep breath.
My brain is going a million miles a minute. He said I wasn’t his girlfriend. But he also said I was the only one he wanted to spend time with. A smile steals across my face. So I’m not completely sure what I’m hoping for here. Could Paisleigh be right? Am I afraid of commitment? I shake my head at the ridiculous thought.
But then I grin. It’s funny that Brenden guy thought I wasn’t real. Does Keaton often make up fake girls?
I smile wider as I realize that Brenden thinking I’m fake means Keaton has mentioned me at work. All of them seemed to know about me—even if everyone but Claire thought I was some figment of Keaton’s imagination. I like the idea that he has mentioned me. Even if not everyone believed it.
Keaton gets in the driver’s seat, and we pull out of the parking lot. My mind continues churning out thoughts as we pass the Point of the Mountain and drop into the Salt Lake Valley. Finally, it’s too much for me to compute, and I turn on the radio to drown out my thoughts. I glance at Keaton. “Is that okay?”
He nods. “Sure.” I put it on the eighties station and Duran Duran and The Thompson Twins work to calm my thoughts. Although they can’t completely stop everything swirling about Keaton.
What about them calling him Lincoln? Is it weird that the two men I’ve recently found in my life both have the name Lincoln? Although Lincoln may have made up that name. We weren’t supposed to use real names after all.
