Page 9 of Along Came Amor
And then the messy knot of feelings came tumbling out.
“It’s over, and I’m glad it’s over, but I have no idea what to do next with my life—which somehow feels worse than ending a ten-year relationship. What does that say about me? About my marriage?” Her voice rose as she picked up steam. “Plus my job sucks, my family is mad at me, and I can’t even order a fucking drink!”
She gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth, as if to stem the avalanche of oversharing, but the damage had been done. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know where all that came from.”
There was nothing judgmental in his expression. “I don’t mind.”
Embarrassment all but dripped from her pores. “You’re too easy to talk to.”
“So don’t stop,” he suggested. “I’m a good listener.”
“Ay Diós mío,” she muttered, and took another sip of the Negroni. “You must have somewhere you need to be.”
One corner of his mouth turned down in a half-grimace. “The only thing waiting for me is reheated leftovers at my desk while answering emails that can wait until tomorrow. I’ll go if you want me to. But if you don’t, take pity on me and join me for dinner.”
Her lungs swelled at the implication thatshewould be doinghima favor by eating with him. It was laughable. In the end, it was the vulnerability shining in his brown eyes that convinced her.
“I don’t,” she said, surprised at her own boldness. “Want you to go, that is.”
“Then I won’t.” He said it simply, like it was easy for him to stay, even though she knew it probably wasn’t. “Is that a yes for dinner?”
“It’s a yes.” Then, in a quiet voice, she added, “Thank you. For coming over. Just before you did, I was thinking...”
“What?” he asked, when she trailed off.
Channeling New Ava, she said, “I was thinking that I didn’t want to be alone tonight.”
He studied her face for a moment, not saying anything. Then he glanced down at her left hand on the bar. He covered it with his own, moving slowly, as if giving her time to react. He slid his fingers around hers and gave them the gentlest squeeze. “You don’t have to be.”
At his touch, desire curled in her belly, sending a thrillthrough her system. How long had it been since she’d felt attraction for someone?
Too fucking long.
For just a moment, she allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to be impulsive. To do something entirely out of the norm.
What would it be like to sleep with a stranger?
Hector was the only man she’d ever had sex with, and suddenly, it felt imperative that she change that.
Pulse racing, Ava screwed up every ounce of courage she possessed and stroked her thumb along Roman’s palm. But before she could do or say anything else, a commotion at the entrance of the restaurant interrupted. A group of about thirty people in colorful costumes streamed in, filling the booths and taking up the empty seats at the bar.
Whatever tension had been brewing between them broke as the volume inside the lobby ticked up from a three to a ten.
“Did you know there’s also an anime convention this weekend?” Roman asked wryly, and Ava laughed.
“I do now.” The bartender’s “other one” comment suddenly made sense.
He turned to her. “Do you want to go somewhere more... private?”
Her heart pounded. “Like where?”
He ran his thumb over her knuckles in a soft, but somehow companionable, caress. “The penthouse suite has a great view. We can have a meal brought up.”
She swallowed hard. His eyes on hers were intent as he waited for a response.
Old Ava would’ve been too nervous to act on the clear invitation. She’d ask for an order of French fries to go, then eatthem in her room while watching a movie and working on lesson plans.
New Ava is open to new experiences.
