Page 53 of The Art of Falling in Love with Your Enemy
Etta stops and puts one hand on her hip, cocking her head to one side and looking at me with narrowed eyes. “You should have tried harder.”
She’s right. All I can do is agree with her, so I nod. “I could have, but I didn’t want to. We were having such a nice time when we had coffee the other day, I didn’t want to ruin it. I’d promised Brett and Lane I would…”
“What?” Etta’s head almost snaps off its axis. “They know, too? Great. Makes my embarrassment much more amazing. Now I’m the fool in two towns.”
I’m not going to lie: I’m sick to my stomach over the whole thing. I should have known this would be the outcome. Or at least prepared for it better than I have.
“You’re not a fool,” I say, shoving my hands in my pockets. Hands that want to reach out and pull her close to me right now, but I can’t. “I’m the fool. I’m the village idiot for doing this to you.”
Etta stands facing the street, her arms folded in front of her, leaving me to plead with her backside.
“I’m sorry, Etta, I really am.” I take a tentative step toward her. “Does it help to know that I want to go out with you, that I really did want there to be a date with you?”
Silence.
I take another step forward.
“Think about it. When we met, we didn’t get along. We haven’t gotten along since I came to town, but I’ve thought about you—and nothing but you—since I moved here.”
“You’re only saying that because my dog kept showing up at your work.”
At least she’s talking to me. I don’t want to get too excited, but I feel positive. I take another step closer to her.
“True. But it also gave me a chance to get your number, since I had to let you know where Thor was.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Please, Etta. Turn around and let me find a way to make this up to you.”
We stand here for a few more seconds before she begins to slowly spin in place, turning to face me. And the look on her face breaks my heart.
“Do you want to know how I found out?” She asks it as a question, but I know it’s not. “I was at the truck stop near Taylortown and I overheard your brother talking to someone about how he bet his brother a baseball card he could go out with some girl.”
I want to get mad and blame Tuck—he’s an easy target to use right now. But the fact is, I’m the one who took the bet, so all I can do is stand here and take everything I deserve.
Etta may be talking to me, but she won’t look at me…which breaks my heart. All I want is to dive into those teal-blue eyes of hers, but she keeps them downcast, staring at the concrete floor.
“You never should have heard about the bet like that, not that I ever should have made a bet.” I reach out to touch her arm, and she shrinks away. I may have taken three steps forward to meet her, but I feel like this is going to chuck us ten steps back.
She holds her arm where my hand almost grazed her skin, as if protecting herself from my touch. “No, there never should have been a bet. I know I was grumpy, Zac. I’ve been grumpy and cranky and really put off toward people for a few months.”
I open my mouth to agree, but she holds up a finger. “Let me finish.”
Nodding my head, I stand back and clasp my hands, listening.
“My ex really did a number on me as far as trust goes, and I told you that. I’ve been working really hard on myself so I can be happy—to think about dating again without being worried the other person is going to try to manipulate me or take something from me when and if it ends.” She shakes her head, chuckling at herself. “Do you know how hard it is to change your own mind?”
“As someone who has gone through his own self-help phase, yes. I do.”
“So why did you do it, then? Why take the bet when you knew in your heart, and after getting to know me, that you’re dealing with a vulnerable woman?”
Ouch. “When you put it like that…”
She rolls her eyes and throws her hands toward the sky. “I shouldn’t have to put it any way to anyone.” She taps her head. “You should have thought about it, Zac. That’s why this hurts so much.”
“Please believe me that I was trying to tell you about this all weekend. I really was and never had a chance to…”
“Stop.” She grabs her car keys out of her pocket and folds her arms in front of her chest again. “I actually cannot hear any more of this right now.”
“Okay, then can I come over after work tonight? I can bring some food and we can talk.”
Etta shakes her head. “I’m painting.”
