Page 41 of Dial L for Lawyer

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Me:

I would have been a nervous wreck, but I would have covered it with my usual witty barbs and sarcasm.

I would have tried to impress you by ordering something obscure and probably would have spilled red wine on you—or on me.

You would have laughed, but with your eyebrow raised. You have a killer judgey eyebrow BTW.

We would have debated the merits of pineapple on pizza for half an hour, and then you would have asked me to dance before dessert arrived—even though no one else was dancing.

I would have said yes.

I press send on each fragment, letting them land one by one. The dots appear and disappear. Audrey has gone rigid with anticipation. Layla is grinning into her rosé like this is her favorite TV show.

Caleb:

And then?

My chest squeezes. I picture him at his desk, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, reading my texts with that intense focus he gets.

Me:

I would have kissed you first, before I lost my nerve.

Before you could tell me no because we'd been drinking.

And then I would have freaked out and run away.

Layla is openly cackling now. "That's some Jane Austen shit right there."

"Except with more drinking and less embroidery," Audrey adds.

My phone vibrates again.

Caleb:

Always with the running.

Am I really that scary?

Me:

Well, you are a shark…

Caleb:

I guess I walked into that one.

I picture his smirk, that half-smile that makes my stomach flip.

Me:

You did. But no. You aren't scary. I'm just scared.

He doesn't text back right away, and for a nerve-shredding minute I worry I've said too much. That he's at his desk thinking,coward, flake, not worth it.

Layla must sense my panic because she squeezes my wrist. "Do not combust. You're doing emotional growth."

Audrey nods. "He's probably just figuring out how to respond without scaring you off."

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