Page 69 of Book Boyfriends
“Ha!” A laugh barks out of me. “Thank you for believing in me even when I don’t always believe in myself.”
“Always.” He squeezes my hand, his palm’s warmth surges through me, unwinding my tension. “Now, don’t forget about my good heart when I grill you about my grandson.” His mouth twitches into a smirk.
“Excuse me?”
“Estelle said that there were so many sparks between you two on Sunday that she thought you’d set off the fire alarm.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Despite my dismissive laugh, the heat that crawls up my neck and claims my cheeks betrays my attempt to appear unaffected by the mention of Davis.
In no world do I want to talk to Doc about his grandson. Even if I hadn’t dry humped Davis like a horny teenager and then told him I couldn’t be with him, all in the course of five minutes, talking tohisgrandfather about a possible romantic entanglement is too mortifying.
“He often is ridiculous.” A deep voice steals into the room.
That now-familiar rich timbre causes me to twist in the chair to the open door. Davis stands there, a large to-go bag in his arms, and the ghost of a smile lifts at the corners of his mouth.
“Davis,” I breathe, ignoring the hope that swoops in my stomach that his almost smile is due to seeing me and not just about his grandfather.
“Georgia,” he says.
Georgia?My stomach drops, the sensation akin to falling to the ground.
Those two syllables reiterate who I am to him now. I’m Georgia, not Peach. It’s self-indulgent to mourn the loss of arelationship that was barely anything, especially one lost before it started because of me.
“Are you just going to stand there gawking? I’m starving.” Estelle tuts, pushing into the room. “Hey, Peach. I’m so glad you’re still here. We have plenty, if you want to join.”
I stand up. “Thank you, but I should go. Let you all have family time.”
“Pish-posh.” She flicks her wrist. “How else are we going to meddle with you two if you dash away?”
“Nan,” Davis groans.
I offer a small smile. “I really do need to head out. Thank you, though.”
With a quick head nod to Estelle and Doc, I turn and head toward the door. Davis remains like a watchdog beside the entryway, the bag of food in his hands, his stare jumping from me to the window. Whether he can’t or won’t hold my gaze doesn’t matter. It’s clear that I hurt him, and he wants nothing to do with me.
That truth reverberates with each click of my heels down the hall. The further away I get, the more realization unfurls inside me that I will never be anything but Georgia to Davis. It’s not that I’m someone other than who I am with Davis, but in his presence, there was a freedom to just be with someone without fixating on how things would turn out. The ember of hope flickered awake within me at the idea of a possible future with him, but not a story already written.
Reaching the elevator lobby, I press the button. My reflection stares back at me in the shiny metal doors. My eyes, devoid of any sparkle, are puffy. A frown anchors my face, my complexion pale from a night of little sleep. My hair unwashed and swept into a messy bun. The glossy pink lipstick and brightly colored clothes are a flimsy mask.
“Georgia, wait.”
I spin to find Davis jogging down the quiet corridor toward the small bank of elevators. With each step closer, my pulse ticks up.
“You left your purse.” He holds up my bag.
The roar of my pulse quiets with the realization that he’s not here forme. No sweeping romantic gesture. No declaration that, despite everything I’ve done, he still likes me.Seriously, no more romance novels. Only nonfiction from here on out.
“Thank you.” Nodding, I take it. “Sorry I left it.”
He shrugs. “It’s alright.”
“Is it?” I say, guilt thick in my throat.
His forehead creases.
“I led you on. I hurt you.” I gesture between us. “Here you are, all sweet and thoughtful, and I’m all ‘Let me stick my tongue down your throat and use you as a human scratching post with no forethought about how it may impact you.’ I’m the literal worst. All I was thinking is how much I like you and how adorable you are?—”
“You think I’m adorable?”
