Page 37 of Sean
“You’ve either got the shortest memory in the history of the world, or someone’s doing an end run around you.”Benjamin’s laugh echoed.“I almost hope it’s the latter.”
“What are you talking about?”He didn’t mean to shout, but nobody could get under Sean’s skin like his twin.Sean was sure Benjamin knew it, and did it on purpose.
“Getting my wish this early in the morning makes me all tingly inside.”Benjamin’s sarcasm was palpable.“You, me, Kinsley, and Monica.We’re having dinner.”
Sean closed his eyes.His brother had done a lot of underhanded things in his life, but this had to be one of the top five.“Please tell me that you didn’t—”
“I wish I could take the credit, but I didn’t do anything.This is something the girls cooked up on Thursday.Kinsley mentioned that we were having dinner tonight at Oakleigh’s.When Monica said that she’d never been, Kinsley invited the two of you to join us.We have a seven-thirty reservation.I thought you guys could ride with us.She didn’t mention it to you?”
Sean put his head into his hands.It didn’t take a lot of imagination to visualize the conversation between the girls.He wondered if Monica had engineered the invitation as payback for demanding her presence at Thanksgiving dinner.Part of him couldn’t imagine her being that sneaky, the other part of him gave her points for getting back at him so quickly.
“Let me call you back.”Sean swiped the call closed and scrolled his contacts for Monica’s number.
***
MONICA STOOD IN FRONTof a mirror and held up a harvest-gold midi dress.She liked the way the dress brought out the gold tones in her red hair, but she wasn’t sure it was right for the evening.She switched to the garment in her other hand, a lightweight navy-blue turtleneck sweater.The blue in the sweater brought out the blue in her eyes, and since the weather had taken a turn toward chilly since Thanksgiving, the warmth would be welcome.
Frustrated, she tossed both hangers across the bed.What did one wear on a date that wasn’t a date with a friend who she wished was so much more?It was a puzzle she couldn’t solve.And even thinking of theso much morefelt like she was being unfaithful to her own heart.
The opportunity to work with Matthew Wright’s ministry was once in a lifetime.
Each time she saw Sean, she felt sucked deeper into a black hole of desire to be with him and Jace.There were so many ifs in both scenarios.If she managed to impress Matthew Wright.If Sean could move past his grief.If she had the courage to choose when the time came.
So many questions.
Not a single answer.
Be patient, daughter, I have good things for you.
Monica mulled over the words.What did they mean?Sean and Jace, a career in Arizona, or was there a five-million-dollar Publishers Clearing House sweepstake in her future?She loved her Heavenly Father with her whole heart, but sometimes His words felt a little ambiguous.
The ringing of her phone interrupted her thoughts.When she saw Sean’s name on the screen, she was tempted to ignore it.There was only one reason for him to call this early in the day.Someone had spilled the beans about tonight’s dinner plans.
It rang five times before she snatched it up.She might be confused but she wasn’t a coward.“Hello.”
“Monica.”
“Sean.”She bit her lip while the silence stretched between them.She could almost picture him pacing, looking for words.She finally took pity on him.“Who told you?”
“I just got off the phone with Benjamin.”
“Ahhh...”
“You wanna tell me what’s going on?”
At least she’d thought this part through.“Sauce for the goose.”
“Excuse me?”
Monica didn’t even try to keep the glee out of her voice.“As in what’s good for the goose...”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.I’m not going.”
“OK.I’ll leave it to you to tell your mom and let her know that her plans for Jace are off the table for tonight.When she heard Kinsley and me talking about dinner, she volunteered to watch the baby.Something about Santa being at the mall and an opportunity to get a picture with the jolly old elf.But if you want to break her heart...”
“That’s blackmail.”
Monica almost laughed into the phone as the tables were truly turned.“Is it working?”The sugar in her voice was enough to sweeten five gallons of tea.
