Page 10 of Finally Yours
Reina: Well, he does.
Me: I agree, he does. But until I’m over him, I can’t do this. I need to go home. I feel like a total bitch leading this guy on.
Reina: Nah girl, you don’t qualify as a bitch. Can’t join my club. Just be honest with the guy. Maybe he’ll understand. If he doesn’t, so what? Next!
Sophie: I agree, be honest.
Me: I think you’re both right. Wish me luck.
I take a deep breath as I step out of the bathroom.
Jonathan watches me warily as I approach the table. “You okay, Lyla?”
I sit down and send him a wan smile. “I think so.” I glance around the restaurant, at all
the happy couples. To our right, there’s a couple feeding each other. Ugh. Even if I was with Asher, that would make me sick to my stomach.Why do couples do that?
I feel a light touch on my hand. I glance up and meet Jonathan’s kind gaze. “We can go if you need to, Lyla. I feel like you aren’t really here. Like you haven’t been here the whole night.”
I shake my head and send him a sad smile. “I’m so sorry, Jonathan. I want to be present. I want to enjoy this date, but there’s something holding me back.”
“Something or someone?” he asks and raises an eyebrow.
“Someone,” I answer softly. “I wish there wasn’t because you seem like such a nice guy. In another life…”
He shakes his head. “No need to explain. Once you said I was a nice guy, I knew my time was over.” He sends me a cocky smile. “If this guy never comes around though, you’ll keep me in mind?”
I nod, feeling relief spread through my chest. “I sure will.”
Jonathan drops me off at the door with a kiss to the cheek.
As he’s walking down the front stoop, he turns back around. “Dr. Cannon is a lucky guy, Lyla.”
My face flushes. “What do you mean, Dr. Cannon?”
He smirks. “Neither one of you hide it well, sweetheart. That man is head over heels for you. He watches you like a hawk, and you sneak glances at him when you think no one is watching.Maybe you should let him know how you feel.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels.
“I did,” I say softly. “I told him, and he said it wasn’t going to happen.” I lift my shoulders and then let them drop. “I have to accept that and move on.”
“Honey, he may have said that, but he didn’t mean it.” Jonathan sounds so sure.How can he be sure?Are there signs I’m not seeing?
“How do you know?” I ask curiously. “How can you possibly know how he feels?”
A broad grin overtakes his face, and he cocks his head to the side. “Because he’s parked about two spaces down the road watching us. The man is obviously in love.”
With those words, he turns around and walks off, leaving me shell shocked.
I look down my street. Sure enough, a few spaces down there’s a black SUV that looks oddly familiar.
I ball my hands into fists by my side.That asshole.
Chapter Eleven
I’m just making sure she gets home safely. There’s nothing stalkerish about it. -Asher
Asher
I watch in my rearview mirror as Dr. Felix’s car finally pulls out of her driveway. My shoulders sag. That kiss on her cheek nearly killed me. What if he had kissed her on the lips? What would I have done?
